***This Chapter is under rework! Chapter Length will increase as well as some stuff being cut out!***
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The wall crumbled apart as the Jugo Clone broke through the mud wall that Orochimaru used to seal him off. "I'm free! I'm FREE!" He looked around and saw all the other scientists and Sound Shinobi. The clone smirked. He threw his arms down to his sides, creating large scythes on the side of his arms. "I'm going to kill you all! Who's first!?"
All the scientists ran to the exit, trying to desperately escape while the shinobis tried to apprehend him or kill him. "Cover the exits! Make sure he doesn't escape!"
"Yes sir!"
"Come on you bastard! Come on!" The leader yelled. He was wielding a kunai in each hand. Trembling in fear, the leader charged at the clone.
Only to be sliced in half at the waist by the clone's blades. "HAHAHAHA! I'm-!" Jugo clone sliced through two more shinobi who rushed at them. Cleanly slicing an arm of one, and cutting the gut open on the other. "Having fun!"
"Move it!"
The clone turned to see where the voice came from and saw all the scientists trying to cram through the doorway. Jugo made a sinister grin before he ran straight forward to them. The shinobi jumped in front of him and one of them even managed to kick the clone back. While the shinobi were distracting him, the assistant that showed Orochimaru the clone looked back and froze in terror. 'We-... we're not going to make it… I don't want to die. I don't want to die. Idon'twanttodie!' He looked around before he ran down a hall perpendicular to the exit. I have to hide! I have to hide! I have to' The assistant, Ren Tanaka, skidded to a stop so fast that he almost faceplanted into the floor. 'A locker! I can hide in here!'
As he opened the locker, he heard the screams coming from the shinobi fighting the clone. He hastily and shakily grabbed everything in the locker and threw them out and onto the floor. Everything that was in there was now scattered on the floor.
"AHH-!"
Ren quickly climbed in and quietly shut the door just as he heard the clone's maniacal laughter. His blood ran cold as he heard the screams of the scientist. He closed his eyes, softened his breathing, and began to silently pray to whatever deity was out there.
Jugo Clone, after slaughtering everyone that he saw, was now walking up the staircase. The brightness of the sun blinded him briefly. After his eyes adjusted to his surroundings he just ran straight, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.
Footsteps echoed down the hall of another Sound base. It was dimly lit, meaning the guards couldn't see who was coming until they were fifteen feet away from them. "Master Or-! Oh hey, it's just Kabuto."
"Oh yeah. Hey Kabuto, where's Master Orochimaru?"
"He's dead." He said while tilting his head just enough to make his glasses shine from the torch's light.
The guards are confused. "He's what?" One asked in disbelief.
"He's dead. So now, you guys are working for me, and so is everyone else."
"Why do we have to work for you now?" One yelled. "Yeah! How about I become the new boss!" Another one hollered.
Kabuto sighed as he now was close. His chakra scalpels hummed to life. He sliced one guard's tendon in the calf, while he sliced the other guard's bicep tendon. They screamed out in pain. They dropped to the floor and began writhing in pain. "You work for me, or I'll slice up your whole body from the inside. And after that, I guess I'll kill you and put you out of your misery."
"Alright! Alright, we'll follow you! Just please heal us!"
"Good," He crouched down and healed the two of them. "Now, follow me."
They continued to walk down the corridor until they reached a dead end. "What are we doing here?"
Kabuto ignored his question as he opened a hidden door that blended in with the stone wall. "Wait out here."
"Yes sir!"
Kabuto enters the hidden room and scours the room that's filled with files. "No, no, no-, ah! Here it is! Naruto Uzumaki. All his records seem to be poor or mediocre at best… so how on earth was he able to save a village while Kana's squad had him hopelessly outnumbered? Even with the help of Jiraiya-"
Wait… maybe Jiraiya could have taught him some extraordinary skills in a short time frame…
But Naruto was said to have been the moron of his class's graduates. He even witnessed Naruto's mediocrity.
Then HOW!?
It just doesn't make sense.
He slammed the table out of anger, making it dent with the force he put behind it.
It'd make sense for someone like Kakashi, someone like Kabuto. They both were sponges that absorbed everything given and shown to them…
"I'll need to observe him. I need to watch him. I have to know how he could've possibly helped protect that village. That woman was acting like Naruto was some kind of Savior. Someone doesn't have that much hope, that much life to be refilled in their eyes just by a picture or a transformation… with Jiraiya it would've been understandable. He was one of the Legendary Sannin… but she didn't mention him at all. Just Naruto."
With his mind made up, Kabuto left all the files there and exited the room with his guards following close behind. "Where are we going now, boss?"
"We're heading over to the base up North, approximately 32 miles from this current base. and then I can see just how much you've grown when I pit you two against each other, Naruto Uzumaki."
"Who's Naruto Uzumaki?"
"Don't worry about that. Just focus on being my brutes. That's all you two are good for anyway."
"I call Brute #1!"
"I- Ahh! You son of a bitch!"
'I wonder how long these two will last.'
With a bird's eye view over Konoha, the damage from the recent invasion was clearly visible but luckily not as bad as it could've been. The intel Kankuro gave them helped minimize the damage. The total cost of the damage Konoha received was approximately 52 million ryo. Konoha and Suna reached an agreement that they would pay all the damages that Konoha received after they financially recovered enough, along with a few other amenities given to Konoha, if they agreed to keep the treaty between the two villages. Konoha agreed and they even offered to deny most mission requests from the Wind Daiymo in a show of goodwill to Suna.
In the Hokage's office, Koharu and Homura were talking about what's the next big step for Konoha.
"Alright, Suna's compensation aside, we need to talk about selecting a new Hokage," Koharu stated.
"Right, who are the candidates?" Jiraiya asked as he picked up a folder and opened it to see it's contents. "Whoops, wrong file. Where's the candidates' folder?" Jiraiya placed the folder back down and looked around for another folder.
"There are no candidates but one, Master Jiraiya."
"It's you, Jiraiya. You're the only realistic candidate for the Hokage position." Homura proclaimed.
Jiraiya stared at the two elders for a few seconds before he burst out laughing. "You two can't be serious! Me? The next Hokage? Haha! You're crazy!"
"Jiraiya, you are the only logical option!" Homura yelled in protest.
"Listen, have you thought about all the other candidates first? Are you sure I'm the only one?"
"The only logical option, yes!" Koharu piled on.
"Alright, why me? What makes me so qualified?"
"You're one of the strongest, if not the strongest shinobi Konoha currently has! You're one of the Legendary Sannins! You finished off Orochimaru!"
"How do you know that part?" Jiraiya asked as he narrowed his eyes.
Koharu opened her mouth to talk, but Homaru beat her to the punch. "Several of the jonin heard you proudly and loudly exclaim you're feat the night of the invasion."
"Damn! That's the last time I go to a bar and get drunk after winning against a planned-out invasion. Oh well, you live and you learn right?"
"Jiraiya, please. Give this some serious thought. Konoha is on the verge of a power vacuum. If we can't agree on a next Hokage, then other villages will see this as a chance to finish off what Suna started."
"Koharu's right. The last thing we need is to appear scattered and leaderless. We need a Hokage."
Jiraiya let out a heavy sigh. He rubbed his forehead in contemplation but soon froze in his tracks. "Wait a minute, I'm not the only Sannin left alive."
"You plan on electing Tsunade as the next Hokage?" Homaru asked in disbelief.
"Why not? She's also one of the Legendary Sannin! The only one left other than me! Besides, she's way more responsible than I can ever be! Y'know, woman's intuition or whatever it's called."
"Jiraiya!" Koharu yelled out.
"Hey, I'm kidding!" Jiraiya laughed as he held his arms up in protest. "But I am serious about Tsunade being the better option for the Hokage position than me. Besides, I don't even know what I'll do with the title."
"That's why you have us to ease you into the job. We've been around long enough to watch the Second and help the Third and the Fourth Hokage into their jobs. We as the Elders of Konoha can help you get a better grasp on the responsibilities of being Hokage." Homura stated proudly.
Jiraiya let out a sigh before he stood up. "Jiraiya." The Sannin looked up and at Koharu. "Please, give this offer serious thought. You were always loyal to the Leaf Village. Even if you disagreed with how Hiruzen acted in his reign."
"Alright alright. I'll think about it. Now, if you excuse me, I have to go see how my apprentice is doing." Jiraiya said as he left the room. While walking down to the hospital, Jiraiya's mind raced with all the possibilities and ramifications his taking up the hat would make.
Weak.
Useless.
Sakura sat there, feeling overwhelmed with self-doubt and disappointment. She had worked so hard, and yet she still failed to make a difference in the fight against Gaara. Tears started to well up in her eyes as she thought about how weak she was compared to the others.
Her mind replayed the memory of jumping in front of Sasuke. Of jumping in between the two strongest genin their age. Her sight replayed the large clawed hand getting closer and closer until it covered her face.
She let out a sharp and loud gasp. She sat up as quick as she could and looked around herself, scanning her surroundings for Gaara or another threat. Nothing. She was in… in a hospital room? 'So Naruto and Sasuke managed to save me. They managed to stop Gaara.' Her fist tightened on her sheets. 'When will I be the one protecting them? When will I be the one saving them instead?' With eyes filled with anger and determination, Sakura threw the hospital sheets off of her body. She quickly changed into her clothes, which were folded and placed on a nearby chair, before she left the hospital. She needed to get stronger and she needed to do it fast.
The first stop is the library. She needed to read up on the basics and her first choice, genjutsu. It was the one that Kakashi tested her on… and the one she failed horribly at. She pushed that thought to the back of her mind. Instead, she focused on how her genin rank now allowed her to enter the more restrictive shinobi side of the library.
Memories of her classmates and friends trying to enter the shinobi side while they were still in the academy filled her mind. She fondly smiled as she recalled one time seeing Naruto and Kiba trying the enter only to be caught before they even stepped a foot in the section. She had just been there to study for a test coming up when she overheard the commotion.
"Excuse me, I'd like to enter the genin section of the library please." She told the receptionist, who was also the head librarian.
"Sure thing, can I please see your Konoha Shinobi Identification card?"
"Of course," Sakura smiled. She opened her ninja pouch and briefly ruffled through it. She soon pulled out her ID and showed the woman.
"Great, thank you, Miss Sakura Haruno."
"Oh please, just Sakura is fine."
"So you're not one for titles either? That's a relief. I can't tell you how many shinobi come in here that get offended whenever someone doesn't use titles or honorifics." The woman giggled. "I'm Akira Okubo."
The two chatted for a while longer as they felt the other was a kindred spirit. Both were bookworms in the academy but one graduated and became a full-fledged shinobi while the other decided to become a librarian.
Akira was too afraid to become an actual shinobi. She didn't realize the extent of shinobi life until she was tested by her newly assigned sensei. There, she had been tested and beaten. Just as she was standing back up, getting ready for some more, her sensei cast a genjutsu on her. One that showed what actually happened in a shinobi's life.
After her sensei broke the genjutsu, she puked and quit on the spot. Later that day, her ex-sensei approached her and told her why he did what he did. She felt that Akira was a kind and gentle soul, one not meant for the shinobi life and Akira couldn't agree more.
They finished talking and Sakura picked a book and went to go sit at a table. She opened the book and began reading, her attention was quickly captured by the book. She was so invested in the book, that she lost track of time.
"C'mon, c'mon! Dammit! I was so close!"
Ino let out a sigh as she made her way back up the staircase. She stopped just as she made it back up the three flights of stairs she fell down. "Okay, Maybe I need a running start." She moved back until her back was against the wall. She unconsciously stuck her tongue out as she concentrated. She sprinted forward as fast as she could… and jumped just as she reached the peak.
"Yes! I made it!" She yelled in triumph as her character was standing on the platform she needed to reach. "Now, where do I go from here?"
Ino was playing on her newly purchased game and console. The game was from when she was out with Naruto, but the console was something her father bought her. She mentally giggled as she remembered how fast her dad agreed. But she knew that she was Inoichi's princess, so he quickly went out and bought it without question.
His reasoning? "I'd prefer my princess playing games inside than going out and getting a boyfriend."
She giggled once again as the truth was she was playing games to get closer to her boyfriend. She desperately wanted to have more common interests with Naruto so they could both get closer.
*Knock knock*
Ino jumped out of bed and quickly made her way downstairs. She rounded the corner and ran straight past the living room to the front door. She opened it and saw that it was Hinata with her bodyguard Ko. "Hinata! Glad you could make it!"
"Hey Ino," said Hinata with a wave. She turned around and accepted the console and controls from her guardian. "Thank you for carrying them all the way here, Ko. I'm sorry my father made you come all the way here."
"It's my job as your guardian, Hinata-sama." He curtly replied.
Hinata simply bowed her head in acknowledgment. "I'll head home when I'm done." Ko returned the gesture before he left. "So Ino, what game are we playing today?"
"I was already playing some Dark Spirits 3 to just get the hang of it."
"And how'd it go?"
"Well, I figured out I'm not some secret prodigy at games." Ino laughed. "I'm getting there though."
"Well, you're further ahead than I am… Oh, I should've brought over my TV too."
"Oh, don't worry about that Hinata." Ino opened the door before she cleared her throat. "Daddy! Can me and Hinata use the living room TV to play games!"
"Sure thing sweetie! I'll bring it up in a second!"
"Thanks Daddy!"
Naruto's eyes squinted before he slowly opened them. Bright lights once again blinded him, causing him to blink rapidly to adjust. 'Ugh, I'm back in the hospital. The least they could do is turn down the brightness of the lights.' He sat up in his hospital bed, feeling the familiar tightness in his chest. He slowly looked around his room and saw Jiraiya leaning against the window frame. "Pervy Sage? What are you doing here?"
"Okay, for the last time, it's Jiraiya-sensei when we're in public. I haven't been pervy around you since we-"
"You let Kiba know I was a… a fan of you." He choked out, embarrassment eating him alive. "Anyways, what are you doing here?"
Jiraiya let out a sigh before he walked closer and handed Naruto his usual black shirt, orange pants, and jacket. "We gotta go find the old man's replacement."
Naruto raised an eyebrow at his sensei's statement. "You mean-?"
"Yup. We're going to go find and retrieve the Fifth Hokage. So hurry and get changed and ready. We leave as soon as possible." Jiraiya left the room and Naruto quickly got changed.
He exited the room and there was Jiraiya outside waiting. "Do you know where the Fifth Hokage is?"
"No, but I do know someone who does. He's the head of my spy network."
"You have a spy network?" Naruto asked in awe. 'Aw, man! Pervy Sage just got a lot cooler!'
"Pfft, of course I do. But keep your voice down, we don't want everyone knowing that."
"Oh right, sorry."
"It's alright- Oh, this gives us the perfect chance for you to train in making the rasengan." Jiraiya put a hand to his chin and began to stroke his nonexistent beard. "But where would we get a whole stand's worth of balloons?"
"All you need is balloons? Leave that to me! I have over three stands worth of water balloons!" He cried triumphantly.
"Really? Why do you have that much?"
"Well, it comes in with being Konoha's #1 Prankster!"
"Well for Konoha's #1 prankster, I haven't seen you pulling many pranks since I got here."
"Well, that's because I was busy with training and other stuff."
"Like the exams?"
"That and also being a shinobi. Besides, I haven't had a reason to prank someone. I only prank people if they treat me bad."
"Got it." Jiraiya pulled out a notepad and scribbled on it briefly before he turned to face Naruto. "Do you also have any rubber balls? Those are needed for the second step."
Naruto briefly thought about it before he shook his head. "No, I haven't needed rubber balls to use in pranks."
"Well, some prankster you are," Jiraiya muttered under his breath.
"Hey-!"
"Alright, then we'll have to keep an eye out for that on our way to the Rain Village."
"The Rain Village? Where is that?"
"Approximately over 130 miles from Konoha."
"How long will that take?"
"It's about a two-day walk if we went nonstop. A day and a half if we run there with a break to sleep at a nearby village."
"Alright… it's not that bad I guess."
"Good, keep that mentality as you grow older. Now c'mon daylight is burning."
"C'mon, we're almost there," Kakashi called back.
"Why are we out here? And where is Sakura and Naruto?" Sasuke asked.
"" Sakura is still in the hospital recovering and Naruto went out with Master Jiraiya. He took on Naruto as his disciple."
"Naruto got a Master?"
"You sound jealous."
"Of Naruto? Never."
Kakashi chuckled but didn't respond to the obvious lie. They ran a little further ahead and stopped just as they saw the first body. "Alright, guess we're here."
Sasuke quickly stopped just next to Kakashi and he quickly saw the body. The first thing Sasuke noticed was that the person had six arms, then the fact that his chest was caved in, and finally that the figure was headless. He turned away, not wanting to get queasy, but Kakashi chastised him. "Don't look away. This is what it means to be a shinobi."
"Being a shinobi entails great risks," Kakashi said solemnly. "It's not just about honing your skills and being the best. You may have to face dangers that you can barely fathom. This is a reminder that no matter how strong you become, you can still be taken down in an instant. And this is why you must always be on top of your game, because one mistake," Kakashi gestured to the surrounding bodies, "could cost you your life." Kakashi turned and walked over to Sasuke. He placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "This is what we have to do to Konoha's enemies. To her threats."
In response, Sasuke nodded his head, his eyes becoming sterner and colder. He looked back at the corpse and felt nothing. "How are we going to clean up here?"
"We'll seal each body in a corpse storage scroll. After we're done, we take it to the forensics lab. There, they'll dissect and study each body."
"Alright, I see four corpses so I'll seal two."
Kakashi wordlessly handed him two scrolls before he looked around. 'Hm, Jiraiya said he finished off Orochimaru here… but where's his body? Oh well, maybe Jiraiya already sealed him up and took him to forensics right after he killed him.'
The two went to work, not caring about walking over the blood-soaked ground they were walking on. However, Sasuke noticed that his curse mark was trying to activate itself the whole time they were there, but he just ignored it.
Sakura let out a yawn as she peeled herself away from the book she was reading. 'I was reading for a while. I wonder what time it is?' The girl looked around and saw a clock to her right. 'It's 10:43!?' Sakura shot out of her chair before she quickly began to gather everything up. 'Shoot! Shoot! Mom's going to be mad that I missed dinner!'
She quickly ran to the front desk. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to keep you here this long! I'll just check out these books and head home."
"Hm? Oh, it's just you Sakura! Don't worry about it, I stay here until the library closes at 11 pm, or 23:00 for you shinobis." She said with a grin and a playful wink.
"Oh, I only use that when we're on missions." Sakura laughed. She watched Akira scan her books before she handed them back to her. "Thank you, Akira, maybe we can hang out sometime when we're both free?"
"Sure thing! Drop by whenever you want!" Akira smiled and began to wave at Sakura.
"Thank you! And I will!" Sakura waved back before she left.
A 15-minute jog, a little bit of Sakura's mom dotting on her baby girl later, she went upstairs and put the book on her desk before she opened it to the title page again.
'The art of Genjutsu By a Satsuki Uchiha.' She mentally read the title again, but only now did it truly register in her mind. "Satsuki Uchiha?! She was one of the world's strongest genjutsu users back in the warring era!" The pinkette remembered reading about her back in her academy days. 'Maybe I can get Kakashi-sensei to teach me more genjutsu… or Hinata's sensei. She was supposed to be a genjutsu specialist.'
Naruto covered his mouth as he yawned. "Pervy Sage, why'd we have to leave the hotel so early?"
"Because brat, we need to get there quick. I need to ask the head of my spy network a couple other questions. Like for example, why he didn't warn me about the invasion that Orochimaru was planning."
The Uzumaki's eyebrows briefly shot up. "Your spy network could tell something as big as that?"
"Pfft, it's the whole reason I have it to begin with!"
"Why doesn't Konoha have one then?"
"They do, it's just that everyone is so incompetent that it can't function itself unless there are multiple people to help sustain it." Jiraiya let out a sigh. "But it seems like mine isn't as good as I wished it was. But that's why we're heading there."
"Oh alright." Naruto distractingly accepted. He was still trying to pop the water balloon.
While Naruto was preoccupied with training, Jiraiya's head was no longer distracted and instead, it chose to think about the Hokage's position. More specifically, he was actually considering taking the Hokage's position.
'What am I thinking? There's no way I could take the position. First off, I have my research to do. Being Hokage will only interfere with my research.'
'But Konoha does need someone willing to whip her shinobi back into shape.'
Jiraiya let out a sigh. All this thinking about the Hokage's position will make his white hair even more white. He looked at Naruto out of the corner of his eye. His eyes briefly widened as he got an idea. Jiraiya began talking about the state of Konoha's shinobi and defense plans, criticizing them harshly. "It's no wonder why Orochimaru was able to launch a successful attack on the village. The shinobi are too complacent and the defense plans are too weak. It's only a matter of time before another attack happens," he said.
Naruto, who had been listening to Jiraiya, then asked, "If it's that bad, why don't you become Hokage and fix it?"
Jiraiya looked surprised and then laughed. "Me? Become Hokage? No, no, no, I'd much rather be researching than dealing with all that paperwork," he said.
Naruto could see the distress on Jiraiya's face. He thought for a moment then spoke up. "You should totally become the Hokage."
Jiraiya frowned at Naruto not listening to his reasons, but he decided to hear out Naruto's reasoning. "Why do you think I should become the Hokage?"
"You're strong, wise, and you know all sorts of jutsu! Plus, you already know how to fix up the village. You were just complaining about it earlier. So, who better to do that than you?"
"Being the Hokage is a big responsibility. It requires more than just strength and jutsu. Being the Hokage means making tough decisions, dealing with politics, and leading the entire village. It's not something to be taken lightly."
"I get it, I get it! But come on, Jiraiya, think about it! You'll be able to protect everyone and make sure nobody messes with our village! And you'll have all the power and respect!"
Jiraiya laughed boisterously. "Power and respect, huh? Well, Naruto, it's not about power or respect for me. It's about making a difference and ensuring the safety and well-being of the village.
"Yeah, yeah, I know! But you'll also get to wear that fancy hat and sit on that huge chair in the Hokage Tower!"
The Sannin was smiling now. His worries and self-doubt about taking up the Hokage position were now quiet. "Naruto, you never fail to remind me of the perks, do you? Well, I'll give it some serious thought. But remember, if I become the Hokage, you'll have to work extra hard to become a great ninja too."
Naruto cheekily laughed. "No problem, Pervy Sage! I'll become the best ninja ever and make you proud!"
Jiraiya chuckled but quickly stopped laughing as he heard the faint sound of rain in the distance. "Naruto, we're here." They stepped out of the forest and saw a wall of rain. "Stay right next to me Naruto."
"Okay."
They both stepped in the rain and… just waited.
"Pervy Sage, why are we just waiting here? We're just getting soaked."
"Shh. Someone's on their way."
"Huh?"
A couple seconds later, a swarm of paper appeared before they put themselves together. They soon revealed a beautiful woman with pale blue hair that fell in straight locks down to her waist. Her hair is parted in the middle, framing her face on either side. She has fair skin and sharp, piercing lavender eyes that seem to hold a sense of wisdom and determination. The woman's attire consisted of a dark blue cloak with a high collar. The cloak is adorned with a large, red cloud design on the back, which is the symbol of the Akatsuki.
"Konan, it's been too long!" Jiraiya bellowed.
The now-named Konan smiled. "That it has sensei. It's been, what? 2 years since your last visit?"
"Yeah, I've been pretty busy-"
"With your research. Nagato has already told me." Konan lightly giggled as he saw Jiraiya deflate. She focused her gaze on the blonde boy next to her old sensei. "Who's this Jiraiya-sensei?"
Jiraiya proudly smiled as he softly pushed Naruto forward. "This is Naruto, my newest student!"
"It's nice to meet you Naruto. I'll take you both to the base."
"Where is it now?"
"It's in the same place as last time."
"Oh, so you guys finally decided where you wanted the base? You guys changed its locations at least six times." Jiraiya laughed.
"... it was actually nine, but yes. We've decided to stay at that location."
"Alright, I'll body flicker over there with Naruto. See you there Konan!"
"Ha! Beat ya here!"
"It wasn't a race Jiraiya-sensei. Besides, I let you win."
Jiraiya laughed as he walked alongside Konan until she led them all the way to Nagato. Jiraiya went to talk to him while Naruto stayed still and tried to continue to pop the water balloon. 'Man, this is a lot more boring than I thought it would be!' Then an idea struck him. He turned to look at Jiraiya, noticed he was distracted by talking to the red-haired guy, and decided that now was the best time to go through with his idea. 'I got this. Rasengan!'
With his spare, free hand, he channeled his chakra through it and tried to recreate the rasengan Jiraiya made back when they had to save that village.
POP!
'Woah!' Naruto's chakra swirled wildly as Naruto didn't know he had to create a shell to keep the swirling chakra contained. His chakra slashed through the balloon. The sudden pop scared him, knocking him off balance. He fell backwards and to his sudden horror, the universe chose that exact time to make a bystander walk right behind him. His eyes widened in horror as he realized that his failed attempt at a rasengan would lash out and strike the bystander.
But then his fall was halted a second before his jutsu made contact.
By purple chains that absorbed Naruto's chakra that fueled the failed rasengan.
He followed the chain back to its creator and saw that it was the red-haired guy that Jiraiya was talking to. The redhead retracted his chains, releasing Naruto after his jutsu was diminished. He quickly bowed and apologized to the bystander before he made his way over to Jiraiya and the redhead. His sensei glared at him for his reckless actions while the redhead merely watched in interest.
"I'm sorry sensei. I got impatient. It won't happen again."
Jiraiya eased up on the glare and slapped on a grin. He tussled the boy's hair. "It's alright brat. As long as you know better but don't apologize to me, you didn't almost hit one of my men."
Naruto nodded as he turned to face the redhead. "I'm sorry. I got impatient and almost injured one of your guys. What's your name mister?"
"Hmph," The man chuckled. "It's alright, and my name is Nagato Uzumaki."
Clan/Bloodline: Uzumaki Clan
Naruto let out a gasp of shock. "Uzumaki Clan? You're another Uzumaki?"
"There's a clan?"
Both turned to look at Jiraiya, who already had his hands in the air. "In my defense, I completely forgot and I wasn't that bright."
"We know," said Nagato.
"You're probably only thinking of women Pervy Sage," said Naruto at the same time.
Both Uzumakis turned to face each other and continued talking, leaving behind a deflated Jiraiya. "I've never met another clansman before, mainly because I didn't know I was part of a clan." Nagato started.
"Same here! I thought I was the only one! Tell me about yourself! How did you grow up? Did you have parents growing up? How were they? Were they both Uzumaki too? Woah, why are your eyes like that?" Naruto yelled as he realized his eyes were purple and rippled.
"Oh, this is called the Rinnegan," Nagato explained. "I gained it when I turned 18."
"Woah! What can it do?"
Nagato smirked before he pulled out a kunai and threw it to his right. Just before it buried itself into the wall, Nagato stuck his palm out and uttered, "Almighty Pull." The kunai froze in its tracks before it suddenly flew backward and straight into his open hand.
"Woah! That's so cool! I wish I had a jutsu as cool as that!"
"Well, unfortunately, you can't learn this jutsu as it's only possible with a rinnegan. But the chakra chains I could make before I got the rinnegan. Maybe you could learn it too."
"Really!?"
"That's something Kushina Uzumaki, Naruto's mother, was capable of making also. It is an Uzumaki clan jutsu."
Both Uzumakis turned to face Jiraiya again. "So you knew there was an Uzumaki clan."
"...yes."
"And you didn't say anything, because?"
"...I was busy-"
"Busy writing porn," Naruto said while pinching the bridge of his nose. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Hey! That's no way to talk to your Master and favorite author!"
"You read what he writes?" Nagato asked out of disbelief.
"...yes." Naruto falsely admitted. 'Kakashi-sensei. You have singlehandedly ruined my reputation.'
"Ah, ahh, Achoo!" Kakashi sneezed. 'Hm, Naruto must be talking about me.'
"Anyways, how do I do the chains jutsu?" Naruto asked, steering the conversation back to the main topic and away from his embarrassing lie.
"They're called Adamantine Sealing Chains." Jiraiya supplied. "Naruto, your mother was a master at wielding those since she mainly used them to suppress the Nine-Tails."
"Really? How do I do it then? Tell me, tell me!" He excitably yelled.
"You just have to concentrate on making chains out of your own chakra. Start with a single link, and then you'll move up from there. There's really no trick or shortcut to creating these.' Nagato supplied.
"Really? So it's kinda like the Rasengan?"
"Kind of," Jiraiya answered. "With Rasengan, there are multiple different ways you could go about to get the same outcome. Your father was the-"
"My father?" Naruto asked in a quiet voice, all excitement about learning a new jutsu gone. "You knew my father too?"
Jiraiya ruffled the boy's hair. "Yup, and I'll tell you all about them on our way to find the Fifth Hokage."
"Really?" Jiraiya nodded. "Thanks Jiraiya-sensei."
"Oh, now you call me by my name!" Jiraiya laughed. "Anyways, before you so rudely cut me off. You're father was the one who invented the jutsu and it took him almost three years! He showed me the way you're learning as a way to speed up the process."
"Really? It took my dad three years to create the Rasengan!?"
"No, it took that son of a bitch a week. You're father was such a genius that he made me look like an idiot in comparison." Jiraiya laughed.
"Well Jiraiya-sensei, I have terrible news for you." Nagato joked, causing Jiraiya to lightly punch the man's shoulder.
"Alright Naruto, I still have some business to talk about with Nagato so why don't you pause on the Rasengan and Adamantine Chains training and just go look around the base. Hey Nagato, why not have Yahiko or Konan show him around?"
"Those two? Oh, they went out on a date already. I asked her if she could bring you here right before they left to go on their date. Man, you should've seen the face Yahiko gave me."
"Well, can you have someone else show him around? I don't want him accidentally getting into more trouble while we're here."
"Oh, Naruto can just look around by himself. There's no harm in that."
"Alright, be careful not to break anything!" Jiraiya yelled as he spotted Naruto already walking away.
Naruto waved his hand as he turned the corner. He walked past room after room. Wanted to see what was inside them, but did not want to cross a line as he did earlier with his failed rasengan. He walked down more and turned down a dead end. He was about to turn and walk back the way he came, that was until he heard a sound come from a room with its door opened. It sounded like something heavy fell.
Naruto looked around, seeing if anyone was close by before he made his way closer. Just as he was outside of the room, he heard what sounded like a choked sob. "Hello?" He gently asked out loud to not frighten whoever was in there. The blonde gently pushed the door, opening it wider and allowing light from the hallway to flood inside the dark room. Only then was Naruto able to see a person on top of their bed with their knees pulled close to their chest? "Hello? Are you okay? Do you need help?"
The figure shook his head.
"Oh, okay… do you want me to leave?"
…
The figure shook his head again.
"Do you want me to come inside?"
…
…
"I don't have to if you don't want me-"
"Yes." The figure softly spoke.
Naruto looked around again, spotting no one. He let out a breath before he entered the room. Naruto just awkwardly entered and stood right in front of the doorway. He didn't know where exactly he should stand or if should even sit.
"You can sit on my bed if you'd like." The figure spoke. Naruto knew that this tone wasn't just offering, it was a begging tone.
"Alright… um, sorry. What's your name?" He awkwardly asked, making the figure choke out a laugh.
"My name is Itachi."
"Itachi? That name sounds nice." Naruto stuck his hand out. "Well Itachi, my name is Naruto Uzumaki."
Itachi shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you too, Naruto Uzumaki."
"So Itachi, what are you doing here? Are you just visiting like me and my master? Or are you part of Nagato's group?"
"I'm part of the Akatsuki." Itachi softly spoke.
"That's cool!" He gently shouted. He didn't want to hurt Itachi's ears by being his regular loud self as he could faintly feel the turmoil Itachi was feeling. "How'd you join the Aka- what was it called again?"
Itachi chuckled at the boy's forgetfulness. Just being around the boy was making him feel better. "The Akatsuki. And Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko accepted me into the group after I stumbled my way into this village."
"So you weren't from around here?"
"No…" Itachi hesitated before he let out a sigh. "I was born in the Leaf Village."
"Really? Why'd you come here then?"
"That's… a long story."
"Well, I have time." Naruto turned to face Itachi before he crossed his legs.
Itachi stared at the young boy before he reluctantly nodded his head. "Okay."
He told Naruto how he was once a beacon of hope within the Uchiha Clan, a prodigy like no other. He was a prodigious shinobi with extraordinary talent and intellect, someone who had always been regarded as the pride of the Uchiha clan. However, the constant tension and power struggle within the village took a toll on his mental well-being. He became disillusioned with the world around him, as he witnessed the suffering caused by the never-ending cycle of violence.
Itachi Uchiha's life took a dark turn after witnessing the relentless conflict that plagued his family and village. The weight of the whole situation burdened him with severe depression, slowly eroding his spirit.
Haunted by the knowledge of the impending massacre, Itachi felt trapped in a web of conflicting loyalties. The village leadership, mostly led by Danzo, saw the Uchiha as a potential threat and sought to eliminate them preemptively. Itachi, however, loved his family and sought a peaceful resolution. But the growing darkness within him was becoming impossible to ignore.
Then came the day Itachi dreaded, he reached his breaking point. Consumed by a mix of grief, guilt, and rage, he made a drastic decision that would forever change the course of his life and the fate of the Uchiha clan. He snapped.
In a moment of madness, Itachi confronted Danzo, the architect of the Uchiha massacre. The anger that had been building up inside him exploded into a terrifying display of power. He awakened his Susanoo. With a single stroke of his avatar's blade, he extinguished Danzo's life, leaving the village in shock and disbelief.
But the cold and logical side of Itachi knew he couldn't just stop there. Danzo may have been the one instigating the Uchiha, but by this point, they were too far gone to be saved.
The massacre that followed was swift and brutal. Itachi, driven by a twisted sense of duty and desperation, eliminated each Uchiha member, sparing only his younger brother, Sasuke. The once-thriving Uchiha district now lay in ruins, its inhabitants silenced forever.
Itachi's actions were not without consequence. The weight of what he had done sat heavily on his conscience, exacerbating his depression. The burden of his guilt threatened to consume him entirely.
So he left.
He left the village and just wandered around aimlessly. With no goal or motivation in mind, he walked for miles until he stumbled his way into the Rain Village. There, Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan found him pale and almost lifeless. They capture him and bring him back to their base. They questioned him but Itachi didn't speak a word. Why would he when all he wanted then was to just die?
Nagato, as a last resort, decided to see just what he was doing there with the interrogation part of his Naraka Path ability. Only then did Nagato truly understand what the boy was going through. Using Naraka's restoration ability, he healed Itachi to perfect condition and immediately made him part of the Akatsuki.
Itachi soon grew to accept his new life and made protecting and helping the Akatsuki his new life's purpose.
After Itachi finished his tale, he turned to face Naruto who was now pale as a ghost.
"So… so you're- you're Sasuke's-"
"Yes. I'm Sasuke's older brother. The one that massacred most of the Uchiha clan."
Naruto was left silent. According to what he gathered from watching Sasuke's behavior whenever he talked about him, and from the bits and pieces of info that Naruto gathered about Itachi from others, he was supposed to be this crazy psychopath.
But that was not who was sitting across from Naruto. No, this was someone just as broken as Haku.
Maybe even worse.
"Is all you said true?" Naruto asked in a quiet voice.
Itachi lowered his head. "Yes."
"Then I think I can get Sasuke to come here to see you."
The Uchiha flinched at hearing Sasuke's name. He slowly looked up and into Naruto's eyes. "I don't think he'd come. Even if he did, he wouldn't hear anyone not. Not after what I did to him."
"Well, what did you do to him?"
Itachi let out a sigh before he looked into Naruto's eyes. His sharingan being morphed into his Mangekyō.
Naruto felt a brief flash of vertigo before he found himself in a grey-scale world where the moon and sky were painted red. "Where am I?"
"This," Naruto turned around and saw Itachi standing fifteen feet away. "Is one of my Mangekyo Sharingan's abilities. Tsukuyomi. A genjutsu world that I can craft at will." Itachi morphed their surroundings until it mirrored the Uchiha compound. "And, this is what I did to my brother. This is what I did to Sasuke."
Naruto watched in horror as Itachi used his newly awakened Mangekyō to slaughter the Uchiha. He used his partial Susanoo, his Tsukoyomi, and his Amaterasu to massacre all the men, women, and children. All except Sasuke.
Who had been in his room during the events.
Sasuke heard a loud crash coming from his parent's room. Being the curious child that he was, he went to investigate. When he opened the door, he saw the moonlight illuminating his mother's corpse on the ground bleeding out.
"Mom!" Little Sasuke yelled as he ran forward. "Mom-!"
He heard a loud thud behind him. He quickly stopped and turned around. He saw a figure standing in the shadows with his father's corpse barely illuminated on the ground right in front of him. "Fath-!"
Little Sasuke was cut off as he was pinned to the ground by the tall figure. Its eyes furrowed in anger and were red with the three spiraling curves around the pupil being painted black. Sasuke whimpered in terror just as the moonlight shifted just enough to illuminate the figure's face. "Big brother?"
Hearing the tone and finally processing the owner of the voice, Itachi's eyes widened in horror. He backed away, dropping the sword that he almost used to impale his younger brother. 'No. no no.' Itachi looked around in horror. He had been snapped out of his blind rage and his mind was finally thinking clearly.
"Big brother, what did you do?"
Itachi looked into Sasuke's eyes. Innocent and scared met horrified and experienced.
"I-, I-," Itachi panicked. He was scared. He didn't know what to do. What to say. He wanted Sasuke to know that he didn't mean any of this. He didn't want to do any of this. But he was forced to. He had to. He needed Sasuke to know.
With this being his strongest desire, and still barely getting a grasp of his mangekyo, Itachi accidentally cast his Tsukuyomi on little Sasuke, showing him everything he did that night. It got about halfway through before Sasuke let out a horrified scream, making Itachi's blood run cold and unconsciously cancel the Tsukoyomi.
"Sasuke! Sasuke are you okay?" He asked worriedly as he rushed to his side.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why would you show me that?"
"Show you what Sasuke-?" Itachi's blood froze in his tracks as he realized what he had unconsciously done.
"Show me all that! Why would you show me how you murdered our clan!" Sasuke cried out in rage.
Itachi took a step back out of fear. Then another out of shame and guilt. Before he knew it, he left his sword and entire life behind in that house as he ran away from the mess he had caused. Ran away from the consequences that he knew would befall him.
Itachi canceled the illusion just as Jiraiya and Nagato barged in. Jiraiya pulled Naruto away while Nagato placed himself in between Jiraiya and Itachi.
"Why would you accept him into the Akatsuki Nagato! I told you he was nothing but trouble!" Jiraiya heatedly yelled.
"What?" Naruto confusedly asked. One second he was in a genjutsu, the next he was out and half a second everyone was yelling. "What's going on?"
"Itachi placed you in a genjutsu! Stay away from him! Who knows what he wants!?"
"Jiraiya-sensei! I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation for this! Right, Itachi?"
"I- I was just-"
"I was just what? Luring in Naruto before you killed him?!"
"No. I-, I-"
"Pervy Sage! Itachi was just showing me what happened." Naruto yelled over his sensei, trying to diffuse the situation.
"You showed a little kid what you did? You son of a bitch!"
"I asked him to!" Everyone turned to face Naruto, but Naruto turned to face Itachi, who was currently trying to pull his knees to his chest in an attempt to close himself off. "Itachi, what you did was an accident."
"What?! Did you brainwash him?"
"Jiraiya-sensei!" Nagato yelled. "Shut up and let them talk." Jiraiya glared at Nagato but reluctantly listened to his former student.
Itachi looked into Naruto's eyes and saw that he truly, wholeheartedly meant what he said. He eased out of his stance and sat himself at the edge of his bed. "I'll tell Sasuke that he should come over here to see you. Maybe you guys can talk it out then."
"Okay. Thank you, Naruto Uzumaki."
Nagato, Jiraiya, and Naruto all left Itachi's room, with Naruto waving as he left, and they walked toward the base's training grounds. "Alright Naruto, Jiraiya agreed that you guys should stay the night here so you can try to learn the Adamantine Sealing Chains."
"Really? Thanks Jiraiya-sensei!"
Jiraiya gave him a thumbs-up as he walked toward the exit. "We found out where the Fifth Hokage was located so we'll take off in the morning. So while you guys train, I'm going to go do some more research. I haven't been in the Rain Village for a while!"
Naruto and Nagato both let out a sigh of disappointment before they went back to their training. "Okay," Naruto started. "How do I make the chain again?"
"Just envision your chakra taking the shape of a chain. Make sure that you put a lot of chakra in the jutsu otherwise, it'll just keep collapsing."
"Okay, a lot of chakra, mold it into a chain. Got it."
'Hmm, does he truly have that ability?' Hagoromo thought to himself after he witnessed everything. The Sage of Six Paths channeled a bit of his chakra into his staff before he tapped the floor of Naruto's mindscape. His surroundings wavered and soon he was seeing a close-up of Naruto's genetic material. 'Hmm.' He made a single chain link in the palm of his hand and observed how the chakra was molded and what genetic material was needed to make the jutsu. 'Ah, I see. He needed his genetic material to be ACG right here, but instead, he has ACC.'
Hagoromo paused and thought of what he should do. 'Well, if he's going to eventually be my successor, then eventually my own genetic material will merge with his. What's the harm in tweaking his just a bit right now?'
New Jutsu learned!
Uzumaki Clan: Adamantine Sealing Chains
Basic Mastery 0%
'Sweet!' Naruto internally cheered. 'I got it added to my jutsu list! That means I'm on the right track!'
Nagato frowned just as Naruto's facial expression changed into one of excitement. 'That's weird. It was brief, but I felt another chakra signature come out of Naruto for a split second. Maybe I just imagined it.'
"Alright, more chakra this time!" Naruto yelled as he pumped as much chakra as he could, trying to shape it into a single chain link right above his palm.
Chk!
Uzumaki Clan: Adamantine Sealing Chains
Basic Mastery 10%
Naruto and Nagato both stared at the single chain link sitting atop Naruto's hand. The older Uzumaki walked over and grabbed the chain link before he had to quickly let go of it. "Wow, yours drains chakra a lot faster than mine does!"
"Really!" Naruto exclaimed excitably, "Is that good?"
Nagato laughed as he patted Naruto's back. "Yes, it's supposed to do that. However, your chain link is… a lot thicker than mine." Nagato held out his palm and created a single chain link that was roughly 20% smaller. "You can adjust the size at will," Nagato shrank and grew the chain link as a demonstration. "For heavy stuff, the thicker chain is better, but for everyday stuff, a smaller chain is recommended."
Nagato threw his arm out to the side, creating a long chain that wrapped around his drink. He pulled it back and caught it with his free hand before taking a sip of his water. "Ah that's cool but you're just showing off," Naruto whined.
"Sorry," Nagato smirked. "Couldn't help myself."
"So how'd you get your eyes again?"
"Hm? Oh, you mean the rinnegan? I got it by"
"Nagato! Wait wait! Let him read my book! Let him read my book!" A man in his twenties yelled as he rushed over, waving around a book all the while.
Nagato took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Who's this?" Naruto asked.
"This is one of my newest members. He's kind of-"
"I'm his biggest fan!" The man yelled. He crouched down, forcibly grabbed Naruto's hand, and shook it before he forced the book into the boy's hand. "My name is Shinpei Sakamoto! I'm the author of this book!"
Naruto glanced down at the book. 'The Prodigy Within: Nagato Uzumaki's Unique Journey.' He glanced at Nagato who mouthed an apology.
"You should read it! It's one of my best works so far!"
He glanced back at Nagato and saw him clasp his hands together. "Fine, I guess I'll give it a try."
Introduction:
In the hidden village of Amegakure, tales of prodigies are not uncommon. However, there is one extraordinary individual whose story stands out among them all - Nagato Uzumaki. From a young age, Nagato displayed exceptional talent and abilities that set him apart from his peers. This unique story delves into the mesmerizing journey of Nagato Uzumaki, a true prodigy destined for greatness.
Chapter 1: The Awakening
Nagato's prodigious journey begins with the awakening of his innate skills. As a child, he quickly grasps complex ninja techniques and demonstrates a remarkable understanding of chakra control. His natural affinity for all five nature transformations astounds his mentors and peers alike. With each passing day, Nagato's abilities grow exponentially, leaving everyone in awe of his potential.
Chapter 2: The Rise to Prominence
As Nagato matures, his reputation as a prodigy spreads throughout the ninja world. His exceptional talent caught the attention of influential figures, including the legendary Sannin, Jiraiya. Recognizing Nagato's extraordinary abilities, Jiraiya takes him under his wing, becoming his mentor and guide. Together, they embark on a journey to hone Nagato's skills and unlock his true potential.
Chapter 3: The Trials and Tribulations
Nagato's path to greatness is not without its challenges. In this chapter, he faces numerous trials and tribulations that test his physical, mental, and emotional strength. From intense battles against formidable foes to confronting his own inner demons, Nagato's determination and resilience are put to the ultimate test. Through it all, he learns valuable life lessons and gains a deeper understanding of his prodigious abilities.
Chapter 4: Unleashing the Prodigy Within
In this climactic chapter, Nagato reaches the pinnacle of his prodigious journey. He masterfully combines his exceptional skills in ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu, creating awe-inspiring techniques that surpass the boundaries of imagination. Nagato's unique approach to combat leaves his adversaries bewildered, as he effortlessly outmaneuvers and overpowers them. The world watches in awe as Nagato Uzumaki unveils his full potential, as he unlocks his rinnegan.
Chapter 5: The Legacy of a Prodigy
As the story draws to a close, Nagato's legacy as a prodigy is cemented in history. His unparalleled abilities and unwavering determination inspire future generations of ninjas. Nagato's name becomes synonymous with excellence and serves as a beacon of hope for those who seek to follow in his footsteps.
Conclusion:
This unique story captures the essence of Nagato Uzumaki's journey as a prodigy. Through his extraordinary abilities and unyielding spirit, Nagato rises above the ordinary, leaving an indelible mark on the ninja world. The story of Nagato Uzumaki serves as a testament to the power of talent, hard work, and the unwavering pursuit of greatness.
He flipped to the next page and saw that it was blank. He quickly checked the remaining pages and saw that they too were blank. "That's it? That was only two pages!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Well, it's a work in progress," Shinpei admitted. "But how was it? It was good right!"
"It was sh-"
"It was shockingly outstanding!" Nagato interrupted. "Thank you so much for writing that. It truly means a lot to me."
"You mean it?" Shinpei asked with stars in his eyes.
"Absolutely. Why don't you go and work on it some more while I train with Naruto?"
"Alright! See you later Nagato-senpai!"
The two Uzumakis watched the man run off. When he turned the corner, Naruto turned to face Nagato. "What's his issue? Why were-"
"He's the younger brother of one of our stronger members. He asked if we could be nice and kind to him as he doesn't have that many friends." Nagato let out a sigh before he snapped his fingers, infusing a little bit of chakra into it to fully get Naruto's attention. "Alright, let's just get back to training. Now, to get a longer link…"
Hagoromo tuned out Naruto's senses and instead chose to look around his mindscape. He had been in here for a while now, but he never really checked his surroundings. He wandered around until he found where the Nine-tails, or Kurama as Hagoromo named him, were being kept. Not wanting to cause any issues between Kurama and Naruto, Hagoromo used the properties of Ninshu to make himself invisible. He got closer to the gate and quickly noticed that it had a piece of paper on there with a seal inscribed on it.
The Sage used senjutsu to sense Kurama's current condition and found him fast asleep. With no need for the invisibility, he dropped it and examined the seal closer. 'Hmm, what's this? Why are there two chakra signatures sealed right,' Hagoromo placed a finger directly over where the storage competent was drawn. 'Here?'
Poof!
Kushina Uzumaki's and Minato Namikaze's chakra essence popped out of the seal and were now staring blankly at Hagoromo. All three stared at each other in an awkward silence before Hagoromo broke it by clearing his throat. "Hello."
"Who are you?" Kushina asked flatly.
"Kushina!" Minato exclaimed.
"No, it's okay. My name is Hagoromo Otsutsuki."
"Okay, what are you doing here?"
"Kush-! Wait, I'm actually curious about that too. Minato confessed.
Might I ask something first?"
Sure. Kushina agreed with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Who are you two?"
"Naruto's parents. Which explains why we're here. What's your excuse?"
Hagoromo didn't answer and instead wordlessly sealed them back up. "I'll deal with that at a later date… actually, maybe I can make Naruto open it up so they'll warm up before I talk to them. Yes, I'll have to assign him an emergency test when the time is right."
Hagoromo turned back around and stared within the cage. He truly wanted to free Kurama and to work out the relationship between the two… but he knew that he couldn't interfere. This wasn't his life, but instead theirs. He wasn't going to meddle until they allowed him to or until he was forced to.
"Man today was a long day. I wonder if Nagato's information was a day or so late. She might not even be here anymore." He let out a sigh as he rolled his right shoulder. "Either way, it's a good thing I left Naruto at the inn. I desperately need a drink right now."
He walked through the shop's curtain and froze in place. Jiraiya's eyebrows jumped in surprise when he saw Tsunade in the booth in the back. He walked over and spoke in a voice mixed with concern and determination. "Tsunade, I've been searching for you. It's been far too long since we last saw each other."
She glares at Jiraiya, her voice laced with bitterness. "Jiraiya, what brings the 'Toad Sage' here? Don't tell me you're here to beg for my forgiveness or offer some empty words of comfort."
"No, Tsunade." Jiraiya sincerely said. "I'm not here to patronize you or ask for your forgiveness. I've always admired your strength and resilience, even in the face of tragedy."
Tsunade rolls her eyes before downing the sake in her cup. "Spare me the flattery, Jiraiya. The world is cruel, and life has dealt me an unfair hand."
Jiraiya wordlessly grabbed the sake bottle and refilled his old teammate's cup. "I understand your pain, Tsunade. But let me remind you of the incredible skill you possess: your medical expertise. Countless lives could be saved if you returned to the hospital."
Tsunade bitterly replied, "What good does it do? Healing others won't bring back the people I've lost. It won't erase the pain or fill the void in my heart."
"I know it won't bring them back, Tsunade." Jiraiya softly spoke. "But imagine the lives you could touch, the families who won't have to suffer the same heartache. You have the power to make a difference, to bring hope to those who have lost it."
"Hope?" Tsunade mocked with tears welling up in her eyes. "What good is hope when the world keeps taking everything away? It's all just empty promises."
Jiraiya nodded his head and gently spoke, "Tsunade, I know you've faced unimaginable loss, but that doesn't mean your life has to be defined by bitterness. We can honor the memory of those we've lost by using our talents to protect and heal others."
Tsunade pauses and is actually contemplating Jiraiya's words. "You always were a persuasive talker, Jiraiya. But don't expect me to become some saintly savior."
Jiraiya smiled warmly. "I don't expect you to become a saint, Tsunade. I only hope you'll find solace in helping others and discover a new purpose in life. The choice is yours."
"You sound just like Sarutobi. He believed in the same ideals until he was crushed by the weight of this world."
"Sarutobi was a weak man." His words caught her off guard. "He was weak-willed, but he was wise in some areas. He understood the sacrifices that came with being a leader. But that doesn't mean we should give up. We owe it to our fallen comrades, to those we loved, to keep fighting."
Tsunade paused as she looked down at the sake in her cup. "I've lost so much already, Jiraiya. I can't bear to lose anyone else. I've seen too many lives wasted and dreams shattered."
"Which is why I want you working in the hospital. I want you to save lives. I know the pain you've endured, Tsunade. But running away won't solve anything. We must confront the darkness head-on and work towards a brighter future." He sat up from the booth. "Just, think it over Tsunade. I'll find you in the morning."
In the Hidden Hot Springs Village, one of the lands between Kumo and Konoha, tensions had been rising between a Kumo squad and a Konoha squad. These two groups, normally allies, found themselves locked in a heated conflict that soon spiraled out of control. The clash between them was intense, and casualties were inevitable.
When the dust settled, only one survivor remained, a nin hailing from Kumo. However, this nin was far from being a heroic figure. In fact, he was known to be a selfish coward. Faced with the fear of admitting his role in instigating the fight, he made a fateful decision that would have far-reaching consequences.
Rather than accepting responsibility for his actions and facing the wrath of the Raikage, the Kumo nin betrayed Konoha. He threw them under the bus, shifting the blame onto them to protect himself.
This would be the catalyst for what would soon be known as the Fourth Great Shinobi War.