The incoming footsteps echoed through the dim walls with an impending air of doom. Orochimaru felt as though the impact of each step was driving a wedge between his calmness and the extreme hatred he felt for the person coming towards him. A second ago, he'd considered yelling out for him to just hurry up. If he'd ground his teeth any harder, he would have been toothless by now.
It wasn't often that Orochimaru felt intense hatred for someone. He couldn't even remember the last time he felt this pure unadulterated hatred for a mere mortal. Itachi had humiliated him. It was a dark day in his life. His pride as a Sannin had never been so carved up and filled with holes. But that unsmiling brat brought him to his knees, and he'd been forced to seamlessly flee, with his tail tucked between his legs. But still, he didn't hate the Uchiha. He wanted to return the favor, but he didn't hate him.
Naruto was the exception. Every fiber of his being felt contempt for him. If the cursed seal on his body could, anyone branded with them would feel the contempt as well. He'd raise hell if it existed just to see Naruto suffer. He'd give up his legs to Manda just to have Naruto captured and tied to his table of experiments.
The mistake Orochimaru had made was to capture one of those little Uchiha brats. Kabuto had executed it perfectly.
After his humiliation, he'd become even more convinced that the Sharingan could lead him to immortality and invincibility. What better way than to groom an Uchiha? And not just any other Uchiha, but an Uchiha who could use Mokuton. Everything had been planned out. Yamato was captured, and the research was complete. He could have created the perfect host for himself.
But, one child was enough for some people to turn the shinobi world upside down. A little brat! It was infuriating that his dreams were being threatened because of one simple child.
Thinking about it, Orochimaru exploded with a cold chuckle. He hadn't made too many mistakes or regretted his actions. However, this time, it appeared he had made a blunder.
The first thing that disappeared was the Sound. Naruto had gone to the Sound, destroyed all of its bases, and razed the capital city for hosting him. There wasn't even a country called the Sound anymore; it had disappeared when a certain Uchiha unleashed hell upon it.
A month later, Kabuto was captured. Then, one by one, his hideouts were destroyed. Orochimaru had hired rogue Shinobi to go after Naruto. However, the Uchiha clan head had destroyed everything like a force of nature. In pursuit of just one child, a little boy who didn't even have a Sharingan or even parents, Naruto had made the shinobi world unbearable for him.
There was nowhere to hide. Even the underworld became a hot zone. The many associates he'd made over the years turned on him. As the ruins of the Sound would testify, nothing would stand in the way of the Uchiha's vengeance.
His research, his treasures, the experiments he'd spent years perfecting...all had been turned to ash. And as long as Konoha kept Kabuto alive, they would find everything.
After what seemed like an eternity, the footsteps approached, and a shadow appeared. As the shadow became a visible figure, Orochimaru thought he was staring at the legendary Madara. Finally, they stopped, and the only beating sound Orochimaru could hear was the sound of his own heart.
He held out his right hand, feeling the thumping of veins through his arm. He was in disbelief. He touched his chest, and heard the wailing of his heart. If it could get any louder, the walls of this hall would tremble.
What was this feeling? Fear? Of Naruto? Orochimaru? One of the legendary Sannin, afraid? The very idea was ludicrous. He'd behead any of his subordinates who dared to insinuate such a thing.
"We finally meet, Orochimaru."
The cold, yet distinctly powerful voice snapped Orochimaru out of his thoughts. He rubbed away the idea that he was afraid and smirked from his snake-like throne.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there to welcome you when you arrived at my other hideouts," Orochimaru replied with a wide grin, a small mocking bow of his head, his voice even feigning respect.
Naruto's eyes glowed in the darkness. The distinctive pattern of his eyes shone in the dim lighting of the hall.
The disdain with which Orochimaru treated those who fell prey to his whims was horrifyingly dreadful. Men, women, and even children. The man did not discriminate; he defiled all life forms, creating new experiments and deformed species in a quest for the holy grail—immortality.
Humans were truly capable of just about anything they could imagine. Naruto had seen his fair share of atrocities. But Orochimaru took things to a whole new level. How someone like him could have been trained by the kindhearted Hiruzen was truly mystifying. Worse, there were suggestions this vile scum of a person had been his favorite.
Perhaps the saying was true, "opposites do attract."
Naruto's eyes stared straight into those of the hissing snake, sitting comfortably on its throne. The room received its light from candles blowing small flames against the mud walls. The snake-like throne was a little intimidating.
Yet, Naruto stood still, hands folded across his chest, staring at the miserable snake. He was in full battle gear. The bounty on his head had grown by the day and attracted much attention. Men who loved life stayed away. Greedy rogues came to him to be sent to the afterlife.
"One does not expect any form of decency when visiting the den of snakes. However, I have excused your lack of hospitality. Your numerous hideouts have served to calm my anger."
"Kukuku...," Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "Well, at least you've amused yourself."
"Not quite," Naruto replied with a wave of his right hand. "It's hardly amusing when everything crumbles at the first wave."
"Well, I'm sorry I didn't provide more entertainment for you."
"It's fine. You are here today," Naruto replied with a slight shake of his head. "Nobody defiles Uchihas and gets away with it. You've committed a taboo, and must be killed."
The simplicity with which he said those words made Orochimaru's skin crawl. There was no anger in his voice, and his eyes were just cold.
"I've welcomed you hoping we could talk."
Really, Orochimaru hoped for such. For the world he loved so much had become hell. No country would tolerate his presence; they didn't want to end up like the Sound. Filled with nothing but discomfort, he had no choice but to face the source of his headaches.
Naruto shook his head. "There isn't anything to talk about. Perhaps if we hadn't recovered the Uchiha, we could talked."
"Don't be like that, Naruto-kun."
"I've no interest in negotiations, Orochimaru. You simply have to die."
"I still have Yamato. I am willing to return him, provided you stop this. It's getting a little troublesome."
"Oh, him." Naruto fell silent for a moment before waving his right hand in a dismissive gesture. "Whether he lives or dies, I don't really care..."
"Sensei will not be pleased to hear you say that."
"You still call him 'sensei'?" Naruto asked.
"He taught me a lot." Orochimaru said.
"Certainly none of his humility."
"You won't negotiate with me even if I know Uchiha secrets?"
"There's nothing to discuss. I came here with a single purpose in mind — to send you to the afterlife."
Boom
The explosion was the result of Orochimaru's throne exploding into rubble after Naruto lanced forward in the blink of an eye. The throne crumbled down, with Naruto's fist tearing through it.
"Impressive," Naruto said, slowly turning around.
Boom
An ear-splitting explosion shook the podium where Naruto stood. The explosion was so powerful it caused a shockwave that hit the walls, causing the hideout to cave in. Flames erupted from the hole, as if a fuel tanker had caught fire.
Orochimaru stood on the edge of the hole, looking down at the flames, hands folded across his chest.
He'd been running away from this, but he didn't have a choice. It was cruel that Naruto didn't care about Yamato. Worse, the fact that they had gotten their precious Uchiha meant he didn't care enough to have a negotiation with him.
After a couple of seconds, Naruto burst through the flames, unharmed. He landed on the other side, facing him.
Orochimaru waited until the flames had died down before speaking.
"You're really being unreasonable, Naruto-kun."
Naruto wanted nothing more than to kill Orochimaru. He wasn't going to take any joy in it, nor the battle. This was just business. The Sannin had taken someone from Naruto's life, someone he'd sworn to protect him, and as a principle, he had to be killed. It was also a message to anyone out there, even in Konoha, that he would protect his clan members and those who betrayed them, would be hunted down and destroyed, even if it took months or years.
"As I was moving around, I heard you've also captured the three tails. Where did you take it? Was it given to Sunagakure?" Naruto asked with curiosity.
Orochimaru cackled. "Who knows?"
"Well, it matters not. There is no power out there that is beyond Konoha. All of Konoha's enemies will fall to their knees." Naruto said as a matter of fact.
"Kukuku... I wouldn't be so sure about that. I will have the last laugh in this game..." Orochimaru's words died on his throat as the ground beneath him exploded.
Scorching flames burst below him, punching holes as if they were bullets. The flames were as dense as lava. Orochimaru managed to leap away, but not before they completely erased his right leg from the knee. The flames turned it into ash in the blink of an eye. He didn't even feel the burn until he was in mid-air.
He quickly glanced up and saw hundreds of kunai falling down on him. He cursed Naruto. According to intelligence reports, the Uchiha wasn't afraid to dive into battle. As he narrowed his eyes, he couldn't see Naruto or even sense him. This was amazing considering the aura he gave off and the amount of chakra he exuded in battle mode.
Orochimaru crumbled into dust just before the kunai hit him. The kunai hit the ground, causing a small explosion that set off a chain reaction, causing more paths of the hideout to collapse and explode.
Orochimaru appeared a distance away from the column of flames, and fell onto his knees as he still had not regenerated his leg.
Naruto flashed behind him, and Orochimaru tried to turn around, but the Uchiha was swift. A merciless kick hit him across the side of his head, causing his neck to twist uncontrollably. The force of the kick sent him flying back into the column of flames. The momentum carried him through the flames. He crashed down onto the ground, face-first, and did not move.
After a couple of seconds, he turned around, lay down on his back, and opened his mouth wide. Hands popped out of his mouth before his full body emerged, and he discarded the damaged skin. Standing gracefully, he smirked as he turned to face an unbothered Naruto.
"You really do shed your skin like a snake," Naruto commented dryly. "I have sparred with Jiraiya. He is a strong shinobi and does deserve to be called a Legendary Shinobi. But he's still not quite up to the level the Third Hokage was at in his prime years. Old, but he still retains the agility that gives credence to some of his abilities. As a legendary shinobi, I won't treat you like a child."
Naruto may not have any respect for the Hiruzen for his leadership abilities, but as a shinobi, he deserved some respect. He didn't know what had possessed the old man, but some time ago, he'd requested a sparring match and Naruto obliged. The experience, the ability to bend any jutsu to his will, had been demonstrated with such ease that Naruto had been tempted to use all the abilities of the Uchiha clan.
"Kukukuku... well, at least you're taking this a little seriously," Orochimaru cackled. "Let us see the power of the Mangekyo Sharingan."
Naruto shook his head. "Don't mistake anything. My Sharingan is always active. If I wanted to disrespect you, I would have deactivated it."
"Well, thank you for the respect," Orochimaru said in a mocking tone. "I do wonder how well you can see, Naruto-kun."
"Hmm?"
Orochimaru's smirk turned into a grin. "I know overusing the Mangekyo will cause one to go blind. It is hardly a secret, but something I have confirmed."
"Well, if you think I'm blind, then you Sannin are nothing if you cannot keep up with me. It should be quite an embarrassment to lose to a blind man. There is no greater handicap than fighting someone who cannot even see the blood of their opponent."
"Kukukuku!" Orochimaru burst out laughing. "Let us see...," he said, drawing his blood before going into hand seals. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
A massive snake emerged from its realm in a cloud of smoke. Orochimaru swiftly leaped onto its head, and the serpent hissed menacingly as it whipped through the ground with surprising speed.
Before Naruto could even appreciate the danger, the ground beneath him trembled, causing him to leap into the air. A small snake burst out of the ground, its mouth opened wide, forked tongue hissing hot liquid. Naruto dropped his gunbai below him and used it as a springboard. The snake crashed into the gunbai.
The second the snake collided with the gunbai, Orochimaru appeared in front of him, twisting like a tornado. Naruto was forced to hold out both hands across his face to block the swift kick. Orochimaru's kick slammed into his wrists. The pain shot through his fingers as he was sent airborne.
He performed a single flip and gracefully landed on the ground.
The large snake charged at him, releasing a poisonous mist in the form of a cloud. Naruto burst into flames and then appeared above the snake's head. As soon as he touched it, the snake coiled and began rolling around wildly. This forced Naruto to leap into the air while performing hand signs.
"Katon: Flame Bullet!" He released a stream of fire that resembled a bullet. The flames from his mouth shot towards the snake in a straight line. The snake managed to shift its body to avoid a direct hit. The flames punched a hole through the ground, but they didn't explode.
Naruto flashed away, landing where his gunbai had fallen. He picked it up and strapped it onto his back. "It would have been nice to see it leave a hole through its skull," he said in a mild tone.
The snake dashed towards him once more, lunging with ferocity. Naruto didn't move, but simply glared at it with a look of annoyance. He grabbed the spear on his back, and then pointed it towards the snake. Just as it was a foot away from him, he released his jutsu.
"Lightning Bullet." As he channelled chakra through the spear, it became encased in lightning, and then a burst of thunder shot out from its tip. The lightning hit the snake squarely on the head before it could manoeuvre. The moment the lightning struck, the snake vanished into smoke, disappearing from sight.
Naruto had to duck below a roundhouse kick from Orochimaru. As he did so, he stabbed the spear toward the Sannin's outstretched leg. Orochimaru disappeared in a blur, appearing on his left flank. He attempted a frontal kick toward Naruto's midsection, and the Uchiha blocked it by positioning the spear in between. The kick slammed into the spear, forcing Naruto to step back a little.
Orochimaru twisted around, lifting his right leg and then slammed it towards Naruto's face. The Uchiha leaped back slightly before lunging towards him in a burst of speed that left him a little surprised. He came back to the right while he was still in mid-air, his leg still stretched from the momentum of his attempted kick. Naruto stabbed the spear towards Orochimaru's gut, but he bent his body as if he didn't have any bones.
Naruto grabbed the extended leg, and then yanked it toward him with force. The movement forced Orochimaru to be dragged toward him. Naruto lifted his knee, slamming it into Orochimaru's gut. He then grabbed the Sannin by his throat with his left hand and then slammed him to the ground.
While Orochimaru was buried underneath, Naruto attempted to drive his spear through Orochimaru's forehead; however, multiple snakes burst out of the Sannin's sleeve, rushing towards him with hisses. He was forced to jump back to avoid the snakes.
Orochimaru rose slowly from the ground.
"Multiple Hidden Snakes!" he cried as he released more snakes, and this time, they were huge. Naruto could only see a horde of hissing reptiles slithering towards him. They were no doubt poisonous. He put away the spear and then grabbed his gunbai.
He waved the fan forcefully towards the incoming snakes. The wave created a huge wave of fire in front of him, which burned the snakes completely.
A sword stretched out from the flames, moving toward him. Naruto jumped up, and then stomped on the blade as it moved beneath him. He then shot toward the flames, like a bullet. As soon as he reached the flames, another explosion erupted, forcing him to activate Susanoo to protect himself. He jumped out of the flames, with only the ribcage version of his Susanoo.
Upon landing, Orochimaru disappeared into thin air. Naruto only glanced back briefly, and Orochimaru found himself being strangled by a huge snake that had coiled itself around his body. Realizing he was trapped in a Genjutsu, he attempted to break free.
He found himself flat on the ground, his face buried in the dirt, pain shooting through his abdomen. Without twisting his body, his neck twisted around and he faced Naruto who was standing just a foot away, holding out his right hand.
"Please take my hand and stand up; you are embarrassing yourself."
"Kukukuku..." Orochimaru laughed. "Impressive, Naruto-kun. But I'm afraid you can't kill me with this. Show me more of the Mangekyo Sharingan's abilities."
"You've shown me nothing worthwhile. Jiraiya truly is the strongest among you Sannin. But quite frankly, both you and Tsunade are a disappointment. You have immense chakra, declared a once-in-a-generation genius, but you've neglected jutsu. You choose to keep your mind busy with experiments and ride on the waves of your status. Really, you're only difficult to kill, but that is all there is to it. I said I wouldn't hold back, but you disappoint me. It is no wonder you fled from Itachi..." Naruto said, his voice growing colder.
He pointed an index finger at Orochimaru. "You're not worth being at the mercy of the full power of Naruto Uchiha, but I shall make you experience a bit of it."
Orochimaru's body burst into black flames. The heat was so intense that even he held back a pained cry. He quickly rolled away from the Uchiha. He fell deep inside his own hideout as he rolled. He quickly opened his mouth wide and replaced his burning body. His new body fell onto its knees, panting slightly.
The body he shed was incinerated right in front of his eyes.
This was truly Amaterasu. He didn't think the flames burned this fast.
Orochimaru glanced up from the destroyed passage of his hideout. He could sense Naruto slowly moving towards him. It was maddening; the Uchiha was in no hurry, taking his sweet time. It was offensive. Orochimaru felt like he was being looked down upon, and then he hissed. The memory of his humiliation at the hands of Itachi flashed through his mind, and his mood darkened.
He shouted, "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" and slammed his hands into the ground, summoning Manda. The colossal snake appeared in a giant cloud of smoke. Its hiss reverberated throughout the area.
"Why have you summoned me, Orochimaru?" Manda demanded of the Sannin with a hiss.
"I need your help," Orochimaru said, jumping atop of Manda. "There is an Uchiha who is proving to be quite troublesome."
Manda lifted his head and his eyes came to face that of Naruto. Immediately recognizing the Mangekyo Sharingan, he cursed Orochimaru. "You dare bring me here for this? How are you going to pay me for providing my assistance?"
"The usual."
Naruto clapped his hands and settled down. "This is more like it, Orochimaru," he said. "I can try something out now. It works better when there's a sizable enemy." Naruto said, chakra glowing on his fingers. He slammed his hand onto the ground. "Uchiha Flame Formation!"
Before Orochimaru and Manda could do anything, flames burst out from the ground around them. The flames surrounded them, creating a huge barrier of intense flames. Manda charged towards the flames, headfirst. As soon as he collided with the barrier, his head was engulfed in flames. As the flames burned away at his body, he cursed Orochimaru before shedding his skin.
"How in the world are we going to get out of here?"
"If you have no other options, just say so," Naruto replied, chin resting on the palm of his right hand, watching Manda toil. "But if you have tricks, use them."
The very fact that he was watching them play behind his barrier made Manda mad. Were they a circus providing entertainment for the Uchiha? If Orochimaru were weaker, he would have killed him and just returned to his realm.
The barrier didn't even budge when Manda hit it, and Orochimaru was certain there was no other jutsu capable of breaking it, at least in his arsenal. "There are no tricks," he said.
"Disappointing. But at least I know in battle, the barrier activates quickly and even a Bijuu would find it difficult to break through." Naruto said, standing up. The barrier burst, freeing both Orochimaru and Manda.
The second the barrier burst, Manda slithered towards Naruto in a blitz. Orochimaru nearly fell off as the snake took off.
The snake was fast, much faster than the previous one. But as expected of the boss. Naruto activated his ribcage Susanoo.
Manda hit the brakes just in time, swinging his tail towards Naruto. The tail moved with such force and speed that it uprooted everything in its path before colliding with Naruto's Susanoo. It was a clean hit that sent Naruto flying away, even managing to break his Susanoo. It dispersed as Naruto was still airborne.
Manda didn't give him any time to land. The snake lunged at him while he was still airborne, cutting the distance between them in the blink of an eye. It opened its mouth wide, and then tried to crush him with its jaws. Naruto avoided being swallowed and crushed by the snake by using Shunshin to escape the entanglement.
He landed a few feet away from the colossal snake.
He was immediately surrounded by hundreds of snakes; some small, others large. They hissed towards him, some bearing replicas of the Sword of Kusanagi. Naruto summoned the skeletal form of his Susanoo. He gave it some muscle, only forming its upper body and two hands, which sprouted chakra blades.
The Susanoo swung the blades forcefully through the ground, causing a slight shockwave. The movement sent some snakes flying backwards, and debris flying all over. Naruto didn't stop; he continued to randomly swing his sword while spinning around. The result was the Susanoo slamming its swords into the ground, each time the ground would explode and send shards of rock flying.
There was nothing but chaos all around him.
When it settled, marks were formed on the ground, with no snake still charging towards him.
Manda burst onto the scene from behind. Naruto turned around and swung the blade on his right in a downward swing, aiming for Manda's head. The snake slithered to the side, avoiding the blow as the sword crashed into the ground. The snake then crashed into the Susanoo with its head, but its momentum had been slowed down and it couldn't break through.
Naruto swung the other blade in a vertical slash out of nowhere. The strike was timed perfectly; as Manda crashed into his Susanoo, Naruto wasn't aiming at Manda, but at Orochimaru. The strike hit the Sannin, cutting him in half.
Manda hissed and slithered away from him. He didn't seem to care about Orochimaru; the Sannin's two halves hit the ground. His lack of concern may have been due to the fact that Orochimaru was durable. Snakes burst from the lower half and attached to the upper half, and just like that, Orochimaru was whole again, standing on his feet.
Naruto disperse his Susanoo and faced Orochimaru without any worry. "I've been generous, allowing you to give your all. Of course, I just wanted to show you that your power means nothing to me. You can strategize, summon all the snakes, and even hide, but in the end, I will end you."
"Big words when you haven't even come close to killing me. I can go all day."
Naruto laughed. "You're fighting with a Summon, so how about I also summon something? That would make things fair."
"Kukukuku... Do you have any summons, Naruto-kun?" Orochimaru laughed.
Naruto bit his finger and then performed hand seals. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu."
A massive cloud of smoke appeared as soon as Naruto released his jutsu. This was followed by a low growl, filled with hatred, and then the tails started to swing, dispersing the cloud.
The nine-tailed beast was revealed in all its majesty.
Orochimaru could only stare, stunned by this development. How the hell was he supposed to fight the Kyubi? The Kyubi. How come Naruto even had it as a summon? That was just wrong. How was this even fair?
"I'm not fighting the Kyubi. Under such conditions, I will not fight." That was Manda delivering a knife through Orochimaru's empty heart. And just like that, the Snake boss was gone, leaving Orochimaru alone to confront the beast.
"Why did you summon me?" Kurama demanded of Naruto.
Naruto chuckled, scratching his head. "To kill a snake but it has fled" he said. "Well, this is a little embarrassing. It'd be bad for the Uchiha name if it got out that I attacked my opponent when his summon abandoned him... You can go away. I don't need you." His mood quickly shifted, and Kurama didn't even reply; he simply disappeared from the battlefield.
"You'll regret that, Naruto-kun," Orochimaru said in a serious tone; the mirth he had become synonymous with was now gone, merely a memory.
Naruto shook his head.
Orochimaru gritted his teeth in pain as Naruto suddenly appeared before him, delivering a brutal blow to his upper body.
Orochimaru tried to ignore the pain and open his mouth, but Naruto drove a flaming fist straight into his mouth and then shot out the flames, filling his stomach to the point where it exploded.
Naruto's spear then pierced through Orochimaru's forehead before he could make sense of how Naruto had moved fast enough to even put his hand inside his mouth.
Naruto lifted the spear and then stared coldly into Orochimaru's eyes. "Don't take time to regenerate after this," he said. Then the spear burst into flames and shot straight through Orochimaru's head, leaving a gaping hole.
The Sannin fell to the ground, and small snakes crept out of his skin, connecting together and binding Orochimaru's body into one piece.
As soon as he was stitched together, Naruto tried to pierce through Orochimaru's head once more with his spear, but the Sannin rolled away and then leapt into the air, landing a distance away.
Orochimaru only saw Naruto lift his spear and heard the sound of lightning crackling. The next thing he knew, there was a gaping hole in his chest, his body twitching as lightning coursed through it.
Naruto closed the distance between him and the Sannin. He didn't attack him, but stood inches away from him, staring at him coldly.
"You'll tell me where you Yamato is, and then you'll disappear, Orochimaru."
White surveyed the area for a couple of moments before glancing at the immobile figure of Naruto. The Uchiha clan head was standing still, surrounded by rubble, snakes and blood. He was leaning against his favourite spear, the gunbai already strapped on his back. The Uchiha had become famous for his use of the fan. Any man who faced Madara in battle would suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder just by glancing at Naruto.
The Uchiha Clan Head didn't have the same status as the Yondaime Hokage. There was no requirement to flee on sight. White thought Naruto didn't need it. He was the sort of person who made you flee on sight whenever he got serious in battle. He was saying that, but White couldn't remember the last time he had actually seen the Uchiha get serious.
"Naruto-sama." White kneeled, his expression blank behind his mask. The rest of his team was at a safe distance.
It might have felt insulting to be kneeling before a former teammate, but Naruto demanded respect. He didn't walk around demanding that everyone kneel before the Uchiha. The aura around him demanded that he be treated with respect.
"Have you found anything?" Naruto asked, staring at White with narrowed eyes.
White shook his head. "Nothing," he said. "But we know that there's another hideout in the Land of Steam. Our main objective was to deal with Orochimaru. Now that it's done, let's head back to Konoha and regroup."
Orochimaru had touched many walls, poked into different areas and turned many against the Leaf. Worst of all, Sunagakure's animosity with the Leaf had grown exponentially. The village had grown and there was the fear that it now held two Jinchuriki.
"You head back home, I'll visit the hideout in the Steam."
White could only nod. He opened his mouth to speak and then shut it. After a moment, he asked, "That wasn't an illusion, was it?"
"No," Naruto said with a slight wave of his right hand. "I suppose the Sandaime will faint behind his desk." He added with a small smile, "A pity I won't be there when you break it to him."
White asked with concern, "He doesn't know?"
Naruto shook his head. "Nobody knows," he said. "It's troubling that we don't know what Orochimaru did with the Three-Tails. Kiri has been worried that it can't track down its other Jinchuriki. Sunagakure is desperate."
Once pressed against a wall, a rat will do anything. The Sand had lost the support of its feudal lord. With its back pressed against a wall, it would grasp at anything to prevent itself from sinking into the depths of the abyss.
Konoha's leadership was still indecisive. The invasion of Suna should have happened long ago. If the desert were their home ground, it wouldn't have required the might of an army to trample on Suna; only the Uchiha and Suna would be dragged to their knees, allowing the Leaf to enjoy peace.
"At this point, it is safe to assume that they have captured the Three-Tails. Orochimaru was working with them. We should also be concerned about the possibility of the Six-Tails being in their possession as well."
Naruto nodded in agreement. "That might even convince Iwagakure to participate."
"That would be concerning."
"Indeed, my friend."
"We'll have more information when Jiraiya-sama returns."
"Hopefully, it's good news," Naruto said. "I don't like sitting around while our enemies arm themselves. I have a promising lead on the next hideout. I should be able to find Yamato there."
Konohagakure
The sun was setting behind the mountains, casting an orange glow upon the scattered clouds. The streets were alive with noise as children from all corners of the village ran rampantly. A few adults swore at them as the kids strolled without care, colliding into others as if they were oblivious to anything in front of them.
For Itachi, nothing could comfort his heart more than seeing this peace and joy, even more so than seeing Sasuke's growth.
Even when the lights started to flicker, the Sandaime Hokage would still be in his office. His wife was dead. He lived for his role. The sacrifice was an everyday experience. Each day he gave a piece of his life, for the sake of Konoha. Once the village had taken everything, someone would have to be pulled into place, to become the next sacrificial lamb who'd keep the fire burning.
The air in the office was tense; the Sandame's body language was tense. And yet, Shikaku looked as relaxed as ever. Then again, Itachi couldn't recall the last time he saw the man panicked or looking as spooked as a child would be if their worst nightmare showed up from under the bed.
"Please sit, Itachi," the Sandaime motioned for the Uchiha to sit beside the Nara clan head.
Itachi gracefully sat down on the Nara's right side and then nodded his head to acknowledge the man. His eyes went back to the Sandaime. He looked his age. His eyes were weary, the wrinkles deep, and his body was shrinking so much that his seat would be larger than he was in a year or two.
Yet as he spoke, it felt like a lion had roared.
"I was speaking with White. An incredible thing happened right before his eyes. For some reason, Naruto has decided to inform us that he has the Kyubi with him and summoned it in battle against Orochimaru. Of course, it didn't fight, but it seems the reason was to inform us that he possesses it."
Itachi blinked in surprise. The situation was completely mysterious to him. It was also incomprehensible since Konoha had a Jinchuriki, who housed the Kyubi. It shouldn't have been possible for Naruto to summon the Kyubi. He had already seen the child in whom the beast was sealed.
"My first thought was wondering if White had been fooled by an illusion," Shikaku spoke in Itachi's silence, his voice dripping with some amusement, despite the Sandaime's stern expression.
"And he didn't?" Itachi asked. "That would be more believable than what this suggests. It shouldn't be possible for there to be two Nine-Tails. Unless the seal allows it to be summoned...?"
"Except it is very much possible," the Third said in a serious tone.
"How?"
"That's the beauty of Fuinjutsu."
"But Naruto doesn't know any Fuinjutsu. Neither did my father. Without question, if Naruto has it, he got it from my father." It didn't surprise Itachi if his father was the source. There were a lot of things his father told Naruto that he never told him, his own son. His reasons were founded, so, Itachi didn't take offense at it. Besides, Naruto did have a particular role within the clan. "Is he also a Jinchuriki?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "No," he said and fell silent. There was not a sound in the office. "I suppose we don't have to ask if you knew about it."
"So, it seems," Hiruzen glanced at Shikaku, giving him the room to explain.
"Naruto is not a Jinchuriki; there are questions only he can answer. However, it is possible for there to be two Kyubi. This could only have happened through the workings of the Yondaime Hokage. Your father had a great relationship with Minato. It would appear that in the midst of it all, he arranged this. We know that your father was the last person to speak with him. Why this was never revealed is apparent. And why now is also very apparent."
The Sandaime took over to explain some things. "Minato used a forbidden jutsu when he sealed the Kyubi. I always did wonder why he used that seal knowing he would die if he used it. I believe that Minato used the Dead Demon Consuming seal to separate the Kyubi's Yin and Yang chakra. He sealed one half into a Jinchuriki and another half into something else, possibly temporary. If Naruto summons the Kyubi, then it is not sealed. The Kyubi could be hidden somewhere only Naruto knows."
"The problem lies in Naruto's wielding of too much power."
Of course, that would be the problem. Over the past years, Naruto had been fair. He did nothing to warrant ire within Konoha. He didn't play politics with other clan heads despite the Uchiha clan returning to its former glory. While the villagers had come to accept him as clan head, nothing changed within the political rooms, at least in terms of his position. However, to say he didn't hold any political power would be foolish. He wasn't above being gracious with the villagers. The villagers held a high opinion of him. Itachi had seen him so often casually chatting with villagers who surrounded him, with smiles and the grace of the Third Hokage.
Of course, he wasn't like that. But he realized the power they wielded. If the Sandaime didn't want to give him the power, Naruto would create a situation where he didn't have a choice.
Over the years, Naruto had done as told. The Uchiha clan head had earned the love of the villagers. Over the years, he had done dangerous missions no clan head would have volunteered to take. No matter where the abyss was located, Naruto dove in. Sometimes alone, sometimes with Pakura, and he always returned with positive results.
His crusade against crucifying Orochimaru had done nothing but cement his place among the villagers. Orochimaru's treachery wasn't forgotten. The fact that he conspired with Sunagakure for the destruction of Konoha made things worse, but Naruto crushed all those plans with a mighty hand that left all enemies shaking.
"Indeed," Hiruzen conceded. "He has followed orders and given us nothing that would cause us to mistrust him. On many occasions, he has been transparent. The Military Academy has produced top talent."
"Having the power of the Kyubi will help Konoha, no question," Shikaku said. "With the Kyubi alone, we could destroy Sunagakure if it were to declare war upon us." Having witnessed the power of the Kyubi, Shikaku had absolute confidence in its power. "But with that much power in his hands, it means that Naruto becomes too powerful for the village to act against him without due cause."
Shikaku smiled. He hadn't thought it would actually happen, but now that it was obvious to him that Naruto had no interest in winning the 'love' of the village Council, he'd thought this would happen, but he hadn't thought that Naruto would become so powerful, even without the Kyubi.
Itachi's power was known throughout the shinobi world. He was famous for his skill. Even before Naruto's crusade with Orochimaru, Itachi's fame had surpassed that of Shisui. There was no one who could speak with confidence that they could defeat Itachi; not even Jiraiya.
Naruto was a different prospect altogether. Jiraiya had faced him once and admitted he didn't want to do it again. He spoke in harsh terms that if Naruto ever turned against Konoha, he could do nothing.
"Soon, the villagers will begin questioning why Naruto is not part of the village council, just like all the other noble clans."
"That is a clear possibility," Itachi said. "But it also raises more questions if I am placed there," he said.
"Yes."
Luckily, the Sandaime had said there was a possibility for Naruto to return.
"He has given everything. Not once has he shown contempt towards me. No matter the mission, he has accepted and has served Konoha well. His love for this village cannot be questioned."
"However, you can see it in his eyes that he has bigger dreams."
Once Itachi was gone, Hiruzen released a long breath. He was weary and just wanted to retire. Even if he died at this point, he wouldn't have any regrets. More than ever, it became obvious that the only way he would be leaving this office was with a lifeless body.
At least, he could rest in peace knowing that Orochimaru was dead and no more children were being used for his experiments. The things Naruto had found had sickened him. Hiruzen was ashamed of his failure to deal with his beloved student even when he saw the evil within him. He'd basically allowed him to go free and continue his reign of terror—but, at least, that had come to an end.
"Sunagakure is a more pressing matter. The information we've gathered from Kabuto has shown us that Orochimaru has been working extensively to strengthen it in preparation for facing us. If nothing drastic happens, we will be forced into a war."
Shikaku nodded in agreement. "Iwagakure will take part."
"But not the Cloud."
"You want to avoid the collision?"
"Yes."
"That will be challenging," Shikaku conceded. "Suna isn't just fighting us because of anger or hatred. This is something much deeper. It is a fight for survival. Rasa may be thinking he is backed against a corner. When we were only taking the missions, they could survive, but once their feudal lord fully turned on them, they were on the edge of a cliff and now they are trying to grab anything they can to survive."
"Which is why we must ensure they don't have the power. We need to begin diplomatic relations with Iwagakure. I was hoping you could go there."
Shikaku raised an eyebrow.
"This is a special mission. The Tsuchikage is stubborn. You'll go with Naruto to convince him he needs to go to the negotiating table. He is not blind to power and will act in the best interests of his village."
"As you command."
Land of Hot Water
A force of nature, destruction incarnate; those were just some of the few things said about Naruto. Of course, there was a lot of exaggeration.
"What a surprise," Naruto said as he blinked, not turning around to face the two people standing behind him. He cut the steak on a plate in front of him and gently shoved it into his mouth. He was sitting on a stool, beside a small bar-like restaurant. The establishment served a variety of food, catering to tourists like himself.
"Do you mind if we join?"
Naruto shrugged; his mouth was busy chewing his food.
Samui sat on the far right, while Yugito sat immediately to the right of Naruto. It was her first time being in his presence. He was so calm and relaxed you would never have guessed he was a man who had wiped out the Sound from the face of the planet.
Then he gave them a quick glance. The mere glance didn't seem intimidating; he was merely looking at them with mild curiosity. He said nothing and continued to enjoy his meal.
She nudged Yugito gently.
"You're far from home."
Small talk. Yugito was lousy at this. But she didn't know how to go about her business. As far as the spies were concerned, Naruto had been in the country for a week. Once his presence was known, she was dispatched.
"Is that why you came?"
"A-sama invites you to the Cloud for a casual conversation."
"Is he trying to recruit me?"
"What gives you that impression?"
"History."
"No."
"What does he want?"
"To start a conversation."
Naruto pointed at the man whose head lay on the counter. "I'm on a mission. I've just rescued this man, and he needs to return to Konoha."
"We can look after him in the cloud."
"No. He's a wielder of Mokuton; I don't want Kumo spying on him."
"The Cloud is just across the border," Samui said in a casual tone. "You'll meet A-sama before the day ends and then be on your way back tomorrow. Who knows, it could be the beginning of normal relations with Konoha."
Naruto glanced at her for a moment. She seemed a little cold, but she was a beautiful woman. Quite different from the usual people in the Cloud. Aside from that, there was nothing particularly interesting about her. She neither wielded great power nor had a Bijuu inside of her. And so, his eyes fell on Yugito.
Samui spoke again, a bit annoyed.
"Are you coming or not?"
"I haven't given it a thought. I am still trying to finish my meal."
"Will you think about it now? The sooner we know where we stand, the better we can get out of your hair."
"What does the Yondaime Raikage want from me?"
"Last time I spoke to you, you gave me the impression that you were holding a grudge over the Hyuga incident."
"He must have scoffed at that."
Yugito did not concede, even though it was true. "You haven't been kind to Kumogakure shinobi over the years."
"I haven't done anything," Naruto shrugged. "I've heard he values strength above all else. Does he think I've grown stronger and that bothers him?"
"The Sandaime Hokage is old. Some say you're the strongest shinobi in Konoha. That means you could be in line to become the next Hokage."
Naruto laughed. "Playing for the next in line, eh?" He said with amusement. "Sure, I'll speak to him." He said, getting up. He picked up Yamato and put him on his shoulder. "Lead the way, ladies. I must be on my way back to Konoha by nightfall."
"You're not going to spend the night?"
"No."
"Bounty hunters?"
"Yeah."
"They can't be a problem for you."
"It's annoying," Naruto said. "You just want some peace sometimes." It was frustrating having to constantly swat away flies from your face.
"It must be, for someone as famous." Samui seemed to sympathize. "You've killed Orochimaru, haven't you?"
"Ah, yes... it happened a few days ago." Naruto replied with a shake of his head. He glanced at Samui through the corner of his eye for a moment before staring up into the sky. There was still a bit of time before nightfall. But to reach Kumo, they'd have to increase their pace. Rest would await him in the Hidden Leaf.
Konoha
Shisui stared at the Naka River through a blurry vision. Years of using the Mangekyo Sharingan had resulted in this damage to his eyesight. Naruto had already offered him an eye for vision. His blind eye would still function even if he lost his sight. The good eye would help him locate targets. Even with one eye, he could still use Susanoo. He hadn't thought it was possible, but Naruto had confirmed it.
He glanced back, hearing the footsteps of Itachi.
Days passed in a breeze. Not long ago, a treacherous turmoil infested the Uchiha clan. A demon was being raised. Had it been allowed to grow from its infancy, both the clan and the Leaf would have been reduced to ashes, mere memories, relics of the past, with enemies spitting on those ashes.
But, things worked out. The Uchiha fell. Their power had been mocked. For an entire Military Police force to be murdered by a bunch of Root forces had made some even question their might. Recent events have turned the tide. Now, they were baffled. They couldn't comprehend how even Fugaku could be murdered.
When Itachi stopped on his left side, Shisui smiled. He hadn't thought he'd ever see this day, much less witness his clan-mate grow into the fine shinobi he had become. Already, he was part of the Leaf's history books.
With each passing day, he praised Fugaku's decision-making skills.
"Had things gone the way Danzo wanted, you would be a rogue shinobi, the Uchiha no more, and Konoha on the verge of destruction," he said with a smile. "Instead, here we are, alive and the Uchiha in a better position than before. Konoha is strengthening. We have enemies, but we are more than capable of protecting Konoha."
Itachi looked grim. He'd been wrong. Maybe he'd been blinded by his love for this Great Nation, that despite his genius, he failed to see the future. Maybe Danzo had been taking advantage of his desire to protect Konoha and his need to avoid bloodshed.
He had been a fool.
Of course his mother refused to call him a fool; she firmly believed that others could have made the same decision. But Itachi had always thought that anything Naruto frowned upon must be disgusting.
His clan head's morals were only reserved for his clan. The kindness and love he displayed towards the children of the clan was genuine affection. Then again, he'd always loved the clan more than anything. Itachi had even come to suspect that even if his father had not died, Naruto could have awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.
"I've started to see things better. Sasuke is growing up with a good childhood. It's a pity, he never got to experience our father as Naruto and I did."
Shisui put a comforting hand on Itachi's shoulder. He squeezed a bit as he replied, "Everything has turned out just fine. The clan is much stronger, and it is not hatred that binds us."
The Uchiha had never been this united. You insult one, you've insulted all of them. "Our clan head takes it to an extreme level," Itachi said. "The Sound didn't have to be destroyed."
"Yeah," Shisui agreed. "But at least he's still rational."
Itachi nodded. "I was speaking to the Sandaime… he told me about the Kyubi…" he glanced at the older Uchiha. "You knew?"
Shisui removed his hand from Itachi's shoulder and adopted a more serious expression. "Yes."
"He told you to keep the secret?"
"It's more than that," Shisui said with a sigh. "It was hard keeping it a secret from you. But I thought Naruto told me just to test me. That is just me being me...The Kyubi is somewhere else, and there is a contract designed for it. Naruto holds the contract, but he wanted me to know about it in case something ever happens to him."
"Can you summon it?"
"I can but haven't." Shisui fell silent and then asked. "Feel bad?"
"I understand," Itachi said. "Naruto has done everything for our clan and Konoha. He even gave me my father's eyes, despite admitting that Father wanted him to have them. He also gave him the Sword of Totsuka."
That made Shisui pause. "You realize what that means? You can only gain the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan from a close relative. So does that mean you're closely related to him?"
"Possibly, but I don't know. However, Naruto always has his Mangekyou Sharingan active. I've tested him a couple of times; he doesn't seem to be suffering."
"More questions," Shisui said. "But the Uchiha clan is not facing the same problems it once did. I have no doubt, even if I die now, the clan's future will be bright."
Among his fellow Uchiha, Naruto despised weakness. He frowned upon anyone who displayed it. The children were not even allowed to wear the Uchiha clan crest until they had proven themselves. However, he loved everyone. But those who aspired to become shinobi faced another side of him. Mediocrity was a sin in the eyes of Naruto.
The kids were growing fast and becoming capable shinobi. Naruto took care of their training himself. In the eyes of the village, the Uchiha clan had regained its status as the most powerful and prestigious clan within Konoha.
But above all, the unity Naruto fostered was unshakable. Itachi's only concern was that the clan members were far too detached from the rest of the village. Clan members kept to themselves and the few available were on military duty.
There was just the right amount of presence, but not too much.
"What happens when the Uchiha have achieved their desires?"
"We'll be at peace. But that shouldn't be what we strive for. We are shinobi of Konoha. The Uchiha cannot be at peace when Konoha is not at peace."
Yugito asked, "You don't want to take him to a hospital?" The man hadn't moved since they started their journey, and she was beginning to worry about him.
"He is fine."
"If you say so."
"I'm going to rest. You'll take care of the rest?"
They'd run a little because of Naruto's insistence of coming here and then leave. He wasn't like a Jinchuriki who ran on almost infinite energy, but he sure had massive stamina levels.
Samui left without another word, but Naruto wasn't even looking at her. His eyes were fixed on the tower of the Raikage. There was nothing to marvel about its design. He didn't even care for such matters; he only wondered about the man who once occupied the place.
"Don't mind her."
"Sure." Naruto said. "Did you ever face the Sandaime Raikage?"
"He is the one who made me a Jinchuriki."
"Oh?" Naruto kept his stare on the tower. "I wish he were still alive. He boasted of having an absolute defense. He faced ten thousand men alone in battle. That's legendary."
"The strong desire to meet the strong…" Yugito said with an expressionless mask. "A-sama is just as strong."
Naruto's snort was loud enough for Yugito to take offense.
"Are you saying he is weak?"
"I'm saying he is not as strong as his father."
"He is the fastest shinobi alive."
"We're supposed to surpass the previous generation, but it seems shinobi are growing weaker with each day... The Sage of Six Paths' power is still unattainable even today. While the Third Hokage was hailed as a god of shinobi, his power still can't compare to Hashirama's..." Naruto said, barely hiding his contempt.
"Some people will say the Sage of Six Paths is a myth."
"Do you?"
"It is hard to say that with a straight face when Kumo possesses his tools."
"Perhaps we should claim them."
"What?"
"Uchiha and Senju are descendants of the Sage."
"Doesn't give you the right. And who says you are?"
Naruto laughed. "You're not stupid. Don't make me think you are. There is a reason why the Uchiha and Senju were always the most powerful clans in the shinobi world." He glanced at Yugito as he spoke. "Let's go. I'd like to speak to your Raikage, rest for a bit, and then immediately head back to Konoha."
They slowly trotted toward the Raikage tower. There were no interruptions. Nobody seemed to recognize him. Then again, words travelled faster than images.
For this reason, people ran around in his name. It was offensive and if he had the means, Naruto would hunt down anyone who impersonated his name and brought shame to it.
The Raikage was still as large, but not as imposing. Weights were still present in his office. He hadn't lost any muscle over the years. He was growing, but maybe only getting stronger.
Naruto placed Yamato on a chair in front of the desk and then settled down to relax. He deactivated his Mangekyo and kept his normal sharingan activated. He couldn't even remember the last time he saw the world through the black eyes he was born with.
"Leave us, Yugito."
"Hai."
A turned to Naruto with a sharp eye. He had hoped that there were some exaggerations in Naruto's power, but it was evident, even from the way the Uchiha carried himself, that there was no exaggeration.
"You told Yugito you held a grudge against us."
"I did."
"Do you still feel that way?"
"Yes."
"That is a problem."
"I'm not going to become Hokage."
"Doesn't matter; you could influence things."
Naruto shrugged.
"Aren't you even a little worried to admit you have those feelings towards Kumo? The moment you leave, I could place a bounty on your head and make you a security threat to Kumogakure. With what you said, I'd be justified. The Sandaime would even thank me for not demanding your head."
Naruto scoffed and stared at the Raikage. "I'll just maul everyone you send to me. If you make me your enemy, then you become mine and I have to act accordingly."
Nodding, the man replied, "A diplomat wouldn't talk to me like this. I can trust what comes out of your mouth." The man smiled as he spoke. "The Hyuga incident was long ago. It shouldn't be a problem."
"We Uchiha had to carry the humiliating task of acceding to your demands. I can't forgive that. You were wrong, and forced us to kneel." Naruto stared coldly. "Winners do that. But you're not a winner. It was the mercy of the Third Hokage."
"Take your complaints to him."
"Why am I here?"
"Would you wage war against Kumo?"
"No." He smiled. "Maybe yes. It just depends on your attitude. But there is no reason to wage war. I may hold grudges, but I'm not unreasonable."
"Is Kiri independent?"
"You snuck that one." Naruto laughed.
"Then?"
"Yes."
"Then I have no reason to worry."
"Unless I become Hokage."
A frowned deeply. A war with Konoha wouldn't accomplish anything. He didn't want that, but he wasn't going to apologize for his past actions. He did what he did, and if circumstances presented themselves, he would still do the same thing again.
The Cloud had no allies. It seemed Iwa was leaning towards Sunagakure. But he'd heard the Sandaime Tsuchikage had no intention of starting another war. However, anything was possible with Onoki.
It was just amazing how fast things could change in this world. It seemed like only yesterday that Konoha had no allies, Sunagakure hovered dangerously close to its doorstep, the power of the Uchiha no longer protecting it, no more Triple Threat of the Sannin, no Yellow Flash, and the man once hailed as the Professor, a mere shadow of his former glory.
In the blink of an eye, Konoha had gained an alliance with Kirigakure. Weakened, but still a powerful ally.
"I can't take advantage of things like I once did," A conceded. "It worked then because the Leaf was backed into a corner... but now..." He sighed deeply and leaned against his chair. "I want to form a healthy relationship with the Leaf."
"You're speaking to the wrong person."
"You should remember whom you speak to."
"It seems you've forgotten whom you're speaking to, Raikage-sama. Whether or not you wish to become an ally of Konoha is none of my concern, and I will not assist you in any way. However, should you decide to become an ally, you shall be treated accordingly."
"I have a letter I want you to deliver to The Sandaime Hokage."
"Give it to a messenger."
A narrowed his eyes.
It then truly dawned on him that Naruto truly held a grudge. It felt like the Uchiha was telling him he wasn't about to be made to bow before him and apologize for something he didn't do, only to be turned into a messenger.
"I'm seriously considering airing my concerns with your Hokage."
"You can even quote me and I won't deny anything I have said."
He was serious — dead serious. But he also said he wasn't going to get in the way of an alliance.
"The Tsuchikage would send his Jinchuriki to kill you the moment you left his village if you spoke to him like that."
"I'd deal with it, let him watch me wreck havoc in his village and let him live with the regret."
Naruto said those words with simplicity and arrogance, which irked A. He held himself back from slamming his fist onto his desk while reprimanding Naruto's arrogance. He was speaking with a man who had absolute confidence in his power. However, A also had confidence in the Cloud's power.
"Don't second-guess me, Raikage-sama," said Naruto, holding out both of his hands. "If the Tsuchikage comes to shake your hand, I'll shake mine." He looked at Sasuke. "You're either a friend or a foe. Right now, you're neither."
"You've made it clear that you hold a grudge. How could I not be your enemy?"
Naruto smiled. "I have no enemies, Raikage-sama. My enemy is dead. Simply because I hold a grudge doesn't make you my enemy. It just means, I'm watching you, and if you look at me the wrong way, I'll grab your throat."
"Because you already have a reason," he finished. "How about this...face my brother in battle, and if you win, I'll admit I was wrong, but only to you and it will end there."
"If I lose?"
"You lose."
"Interesting," replied Naruto, standing up. "But no. Like I said, you're neither my enemy nor my friend. If you want to become friends, I'll accept it. Just know, though, that I know what you did." He smiled.
A stood up and then held out his right hand. Naruto took it; it was a firm grip.
"I respect those who are strong and shinobi who are not cowards in standing up for what they believe. If you do anything against Kumo, you will become my enemy. If not, we can get along."
"Excellent," Naruto said. "I'll be on my way then. I've been away from home for a little while. I wish you well, Raikage-sama."
"I hope you stay safe until we meet again."
"Likewise." Naruto picked up Yamato and once again, hung him over his shoulder.
"Is he fine like that?"
"Konoha has the best medic."
"You're reckless."
"Because there is a medic who can heal almost anything."
"Have you said what you said before me because you believe I can take it without secretly ordering your death for being a threat to my village?"
"There is that." Naruto said. "I believe you're not as irrational as your actions make you seem. Sure, you threatened war with Konoha over the death of an insignificant man who were too happy was dead, but, you did so only because you were certain the Sandaime wouldn't dare you. If you can throw punches, be willing to take them."
"If not?"
"There is nothing to talk, is there?"
"I must warn you; you do something against my village, and I will consider you a threat."
"Likewise, threaten war with Konoha, and you will get it."
End of Chapter