Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

_Konoha_

That was quite an unusual sight, Shikamaru sweating and panting. His eyes on his sensei, Asuma Sarutobi, in front of him. The older man had a grin on his face, his cigarette in his mouth, his hands on his hips. His jacket was open, his chest exposed, his muscles glistening with sweat. The two shinobi were sparring in the middle of the training grounds, the sun beating down on them. The wind rustled the leaves on the trees, the birds chirping in the background.

The two shinobi circled each other, their gazes locked, their bodies tense, ready for a sudden attack. The older man lunged forward, his fist aiming for his student's face. But Shikamaru was ready, his reflexes kicking in, his mind working overtime, analyzing his opponent's movements. He ducked and swept his leg out, trying to trip Asuma. But the older man was quick, his experience giving him the upper hand. He jumped over his student's leg, landing a quick jab to his stomach, knocking the air out of him. The boy gasped, stumbling back, his eyes wide, his breath rasping.

A chuckle escaped Asuma's mouth, his eyes full of amusement, his stance relaxed. He didn't expect his student to be this determined. Even though he wished that something other than Naruto's death would've triggered Shikamaru's spirit..He sighed to himself, knowing that it was inevitable. The young man had suffered a lot, losing a friend so early in life. He knew that it was a cruel world, but he didn't expect it to be this harsh.

As he was thinking, his student lunged forward, his fist aimed at his opponent's face. But the older man saw it coming, dodging with ease, his palm hitting the shadow user, in the back, sending him flying to the ground. The youngest one winced, his eyes narrowing, his body shaking slightly. He stood up, his breathing heavy, his eyes determined. He was not going to give up. His eyes on his teacher, his gaze focused, his body tense, ready for the next attack.

The two shinobi continued to exchange blows, their bodies dancing around each other, their strikes landing, their movements fluid and graceful. They were both exhausted, their energy fading, their movements slowing. Finally, Asuma decided to end the battle, his fist colliding with his student's face, sending him flying backwards, his body hitting the ground hard, his chest heaving, his eyes glazed over.

The older man approached his student, a smirk on his face, his breathing heavy, his body covered in sweat. He couldn't help but be impressed by the young man. He was more than a shinobi, more than a soldier, he was a survivor, a fighter. He had a determination and will that few could match. Asuma helped his student to his feet, his hand on his shoulder, his eyes locked in his.

"You did well, Shikamaru. You've improved a lot since we started training together. I'm proud of you."He said softly.

"Not enough.."Shikamaru mumbled.

Asuma sighed, his eyes drifting towards the clouds, his thoughts wandering. He knew that his student had a long way to go, a long way to overcome the grief and pain he was suffering from. But he could also see that there was hope for him, a light at the end of the tunnel. The older man knew that there would be better days ahead for the young man, and he was determined to help him get there.

"Let's take a break,"He suggested.

"Yeah..I guess.."Shikamaru mumbled.

The two shinobi made their way over to the shade, sitting down against a tree, their backs resting against its trunk, their eyes closed. They sat in silence, enjoying the sound of the wind in the trees, the chirping of the birds, the warmth of the sun on their skin. Asuma took out another cigarette, lighting it, taking a long drag, his eyes closing as he breathed in the smoke. He exhaled slowly, his mind at peace, his body relaxing. He glanced over at his student, seeing that the young man's eyes were open, his gaze distant, his mind elsewhere.

"What are you thinking about?"Asuma asked softly.

Shikamaru blinked, his eyes focusing, his body tensing slightly. He wasn't sure if he should tell his sensei what was on his mind, but he knew that the older man would understand. He had gone through something similar before.

"It's nothing, really. Just..thinking about Naruto.."he replied quietly.

"If it is..really nothing, why don't you want to talk about it?"He retorted.

The Nara sighed, his eyes dropping, his shoulders slumping. He knew that he wouldn't be able to keep his thoughts to himself, not with Asuma around. The older man had a knack for getting him to open up, no matter how hard he tried to keep things hidden. Shikamaru took a deep breath, his gaze still averted.

"It's just...I feel like...like a failure. Like I'm not strong enough. Not good enough. And..and it hurts. It hurts so much."He murmured.

"What makes you say that?"Asuma asked gently.

Shikamaru swallowed, his throat feeling tight, his voice shaky. "Because..because I couldn't save him. I couldn't protect him. I failed him. I'm a disgrace of a Shinobi. I let him down. I-"

He stopped abruptly, his eyes wide, his breathing shallow and quick. Asuma moved closer to him, his hand reaching out, placing it on his student's shoulder. The gesture seemed to calm him, his breathing becoming steady again, his eyes softening.

"We all have our own ways of dealing with loss, Shikamaru. There is no shame in feeling sad or angry or confused. All of those emotions are valid and important parts of the grieving process. The only thing that matters is that we remember the people who loved us. We have to live for them and honor their memory by living the best lives that we can. That's how we move on. That's how we find the strength to survive. Do you understand, Shikamaru?"Asuma said.

"I understand...But..what do I do? How do I stop feeling this way? This guilt.."He questioned.

Asuma sighed, his eyes drifting towards the sky, his mind wandering. He understood what the younger man was going through, the pain and sorrow he felt. But he also knew that there was a way to deal with these emotions, a way to make them fade away.

"There's not really an easy answer to that question. Some people cope by surrounding themselves with the things and people that remind them of their lost loved one. Others seek comfort in religion or spirituality. And some simply learn to accept the fact that they cannot change what happened and focus on moving forward in their lives. The key is finding the path that works for you," he answered.

Shikamaru nodded, his eyes closing, his head leaning back against the tree. He understood what his sensei was saying, but he wasn't sure which direction to go in. He didn't know how to face the future without Naruto. Without one of his best friends. His world had been turned upside down in a matter of weeks. His mind and heart were still reeling from the loss of his friend.

"Have you ever lost someone close to you in such a manner?"He suddenly asked.

Asuma nodded, his eyes meeting the Nara's, his gaze solemn, his expression serious. Shikamaru could see the sadness and regret in his sensei's eyes, the grief that lingered in his words. Asuma's tone was heavy, his voice low and hoarse.

"Yes, Shikamaru. I have. When I was around sixteen years old, my mother died during the Kyubi's attack. I was devastated. She was everything to me, my whole world. Her death left a hole in my life that I never fully recovered from. Even now, it feels as if a part of me is missing. That part of me was her, and she will always be with me, even if it's just in memory. That's how we have to look at those we've lost. They're not gone, not truly. They live on within us, in our hearts and souls. We carry them with us wherever we go, in the most literal and figurative sense. As long as we hold onto that piece of them, then they'll never be far from us. They're always with us. Always," Asuma explained.

"I've lost friends during the last war.."He continued."And I know that pain all too well. Losing someone you care about is one of the hardest things in life.I lost my father, the third Hokage during Suna and Oto attack. So I'm aware of your pain..Your anguish and sorrow..The hole in your heart. The emptiness. The anger. The confusion. The loneliness. The numbness. The guilt. The blame. The helplessness. The fear. The doubt. The frustration. The despair. The questions. The self-loathing. The pain. The pain of the absence. The longing. The wish to turn back time and undo the mistakes. The wish to trade places with the deceased. The wish to give anything to get back what you've lost. But you can't. It's impossible. You must move on. You must face the world and the future without them. You must fight. You must survive."

Asuma looked up, his gaze falling on the clouds, his eyes glazing over, his mind lost in memories of the past. Shikamaru remained silent, his thoughts swirling, his feelings conflicted. He knew that his sensei spoke the truth, but he wasn't sure if he could follow that advice. He wasn't sure if he could face the world and the future without his friend. He wasn't sure if he could recover from this loss.

"How did you do it?"He finally asked.

Asuma sighed, his eyes returning to the present, his gaze locking with Shikamaru's. He could see the desperation in the young man's eyes, the need for guidance and support. He knew that his student needed help, but he didn't know how to offer it.

"I comfort myself, thinking they died for Konoha. That they fought for what they hold dear and believed in. That they fought until the end because that's what it meant to be a shinobi. A ninja. To give your life for something bigger than yourself. Because they didn't die in vain. Their sacrifice was not meaningless. They fought and died for a reason, a purpose, to protect this village and its people. That's what it means to be a shinobi of Konoha. That's what it means to serve the Village Hidden in the Leaves." Asuma stated. "This is the Will Of Fire.."

The Nara nodded, his eyes drifting away, his gaze focused on the clouds, his thoughts drifting. He understood what his sensei was saying, but he wasn't sure if he could accept it. He wasn't sure if he could believe that Naruto had died for a greater cause, for a higher purpose. He wasn't sure if that made his friend's death any less painful, any less devastating. He wasn't sure if it made him feel better about his own failures, his own shortcomings.

"But how can you say that when you don't really know what happened?"He whispered.

Asuma was quiet for a moment, his eyes drifting towards the sky, his mind searching for the right words. He knew that the young man needed to hear the truth, no matter how harsh it was. He knew that Shikamaru was not ready to accept it, but he had to try.

"It doesn't really matter what happened. What matters is what you choose to do with the information. I know you Shikamaru...At least enough to know that you aren't pleased with all of this and that you are strongly rejecting Naruto's death. Your mind might have accepted it but your soul is rejecting it, right?"Asuma inquired.

Shikamaru hesitated for a moment, his gaze shifting, his posture tensing. He didn't want to admit that his sensei was right, but he also couldn't deny it. He couldn't ignore the pain and grief that was eating away at him, that was consuming him from the inside out. He couldn't ignore the rage that was simmering below the surface, the anger that was threatening to erupt at any moment. He couldn't ignore the doubt and suspicion that were clouding his mind, the uncertainty that was gripping his heart.

"If you are so certain that Naruto didn't die then you have to find out what really happened there. You have to long underneath the underneath."Asume said.

The Nara sighed, his eyes downcast, his brow furrowing. He knew that his sensei was right, that he had to search for answers, but he wasn't sure where to start. He didn't know who to trust or who to ask for help. He didn't know who to turn to for guidance and support.

"I don't think I'm strong enough to do this." He mumbled.

"I don't either...That's why we'll upgrade your training."Asuma admitted as he took a chakra paper from his pocket.

"What's that?" Shikamaru asked.

"You've seen it before. Chakra Paper." Asuma answered as he showed the small white square to his student.

"Yes, but what for?"Shikamaru asked.

"It helps you to determine your affinity with nature. The basic elemental affinities are earth, fire, water, wind, and lightning."Asuma replied.

Shikamaru nodded, remembering the lesson that his sensei taught him not so long ago. He held his hand out, taking the piece of paper from his sensei, looking at it closely. He knew that he was supposed to channel his chakra into the paper.

"All you have to do is focus your chakra into it. Just put your thumb and forefinger together and channel your chakra through them. Then place that against the paper and let the chakra flow through the paper. Easy, right?"Asuma encouraged.

"I guess..."Shikamaru mumbled as he closed his eyes and focused his energy.

Shikamaru took a deep breath, his brow furrowing, his fingertips glowing blue. The paper burst apart, the pieces flying away in the wind, the chakra dissipating. Shikamaru opened his eyes, his gaze falling on his sensei.

"So you have a fire affinity."He chuckled."That's unexpected."

"I've already guessed that much...What's the plan then?"Shikamaru asked.

"For today? You go back home and rest. Tomorrow, we'll pick up your training."Asuma suggested.

"Alright.."He said as he got up and stretched. "Thanks, sensei.."

Shikamaru took off, heading for his home, his thoughts spinning. He was glad to have his sensei to talk to, but he knew that the older man didn't have all the answers. He would have to find the ones on his own. The boy sighed, his pace slowing, his mind racing. He didn't know where to start, but he was determined to find out the truth about Naruto's death.

Asuma grinned, knowing that this was only the beginning. He could see the fire burning in his student's eyes, his determination fueled by his desire for the truth. He knew that the young man would not stop until he found out what had happened to his friend.

The older man took another drag from his cigarette, his mind racing. He couldn't help but worry about his student, knowing that he was going to take this investigation seriously. He knew that he would do everything in his power to find out what had happened to his friend. He just hoped that it wouldn't be a waste of time, a fruitless endeavor.

Naruto was sweating profusely in his sleep. His nightmares were full of darkness, of screams, of blood, of pain. He saw Guren's face, her eyes blank, her body broken, her face covered in blood. He saw his own face, his eyes empty, his mouth open, his face wet with tears. He was shaking, his breathing ragged, his muscles tense. Tayuya woke up from her sleep and tried to comfort the boy having a nightmare. She didn't understand why he was so shaken. She hugged him, her body pressed against his, her scent filling his nostrils, her warmth comforting.

The boy wasn't calming down. He was mumbling in his sleep, his words unintelligible, his voice full of pain. His eyes were clenched shut, his body trembling. His mind was racing, his thoughts jumbled, his heart racing. Tayuya tried to wake him up, her hand gently touching his face, her voice soft.

"Naruto...Naruto...Wake up.."She whispered.

Her words echoed in Naruto's mind. The boy looked around, seeing the familiar place, his prison. He looked down at his hands, his body. His orange jumpsuit was gone. He was wearing the same outfit, however it wasn't torn nor dirtied. His heart sank as he realized he was once again trapped in his mindscape.

He tried to speak, but no sound came out. He felt alone, cold. He heard voices, whispers, echoes. He saw images of Guren, of his friends, of people he didn't know, of strangers.

"Why..Am I here.."He thought.

His mind was a mess. His heart was heavy, his body aching. He didn't understand what was happening, nor did he know what to do. His thoughts were full of fear, his heart racing. He tried to calm himself, tried to focus.

The boy felt as if he was sinking into darkness. His mind was spinning, his vision blurry. His thoughts were jumbled, his memories fuzzy. He was panicking, his heart beating faster, his breathing uneven. He felt as if he was drowning, his mind sinking into a dark abyss. He felt lost, afraid. He tried to swim, tried to reach the surface, to find anything that would help him escape. But he couldn't. His body was stuck, his limbs too heavy, his mind unable to comprehend what was happening.

All he could think about was the way he crushed Guren with his clones and rasengans, her face a complete mess, her bones broken, her body mangled. And he realized he was the reason for this..He killed that woman..And he felt so alone, so helpless, so scared.

He felt as if he was being pulled by an invisible force, as if he was being dragged down, deeper and deeper into the dark abyss. His heart raced, his eyes widened, his breathing erratic. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't think. He was drowning. He couldn't move, he couldn't scream. His lungs burned, his eyes stung. He felt as if he was suffocating. He felt as if he was dying.

"Naruto..Naruto...Naruto..Please wake up...Naruto.."He heard Tayuya's voice, gentle and kind, concerned.

And then in front of him...Kyubi, the nine-tailed fox, the monster he always feared, the demon that ruined his life..He was right there, its eyes full of rage, its fangs bared. His voice was deep, guttural, menacing. Naruto felt fear like he never knew before. The creature was huge, its fur crimson red, its claws long, sharp, deadly. It glared at him, its eyes burning with hatred, its mouth opening wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth.

"Naruto...What do you want?"He said.

His voice echoed in the boy's head. It was loud, booming, commanding.

"I..want to wake up...Please..."Naruto whispered, his voice barely audible. He could hear Tayuya's voice. He wanted to see her.

"You are already awake. You have been dreaming. You're feeling miserable about the girl you killed. I don't know why you hide yourself in front of my cage though."The demon replied.

"Guren...Was she really dead?"The boy asked.

"Yes, you made sure of it when you shattered her with your rasengans and crushed her spine. What do you even expect me to say? That you are not evil after all? Get real. Now, let's go back to sleep, "It sneered.

Naruto felt anger boiling inside him, his hands clenched into fists.

"You...What is your problem anyway?! Why do you hate me so much?!"He yelled.

"I don't hate you, brat. I merely find you annoying. There's only one person I hate."The beast growled.

"Who?"The boy asked, curious.

"Madara Uchiha."The creature answered simply.

Naruto frowned. He had no idea who that person was.

"Why do you hate him so much?"The boy inquired further.

"He used manipulated me into doing his bidding. He forced me to kill. He forced me into obedience with his sharingans. All of that to fight that dumbass Hashirama Senju."The Kyubi snarled.

The boy was surprised. He didn't expect to get a straight answer from the fox. He also didn't expect for the demon to be so talkative. It seemed he was willing to share a little bit of information about itself. Maybe that was a sign that he was finally getting through to him? He didn't know, but he felt hopeful.

"Then...How did you end up sealed in me?"Naruto said softly.

"While giving birth...Your mother's seal weakened..A man attacked your parents which let me enough time to break free...Your father fought that guy and managed to make him.. Then as I saw that he planned to seal me in you I tried to kill you but both of them shielded you with their body..He managed to seal inside of his newborn...That's pretty much it...I can tell that you aren't happy to know that the source of your problems was your own parent's actions.."The fox scoffed.

Naruto fell silent. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. His parents sacrificed themselves to protect him...Even if he was the cause of all that trouble, they still loved him enough to die for him. He felt his heart ache, his throat tighten. His eyes filled with tears, his hands shaking, his chest heavy. He never imagined that the Kyubi would feel anything other than hate, anger or bloodlust. He didn't know what to make of it, but he felt his heart sink into his chest. He didn't know whether he was glad or sad that his parents sacrificed themselves for him. He didn't know if he should pity the beast or despise him. He didn't know how to handle these conflicting emotions. He didn't know what to do anymore.

"Who...Who were they...?"Naruto asked weakly.

"They were ninja...Good ones too...Well...Your old man was better."The creature grunted.

"No! I mean..What were their names..Where are they buried? Is there a grave for them? Who else knows about them?"The boy pressed on, eager to know more.

"Their names were Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze...I guess you've seen that yellow-haired bastard few times...As for burial...I don't have a damn idea...Maybe your village has a graveyard or something...As for who knew about them...That guy you call Kakashi sensei was Minato's student...Jiraya did know them as well...He was your father's sensei...Perhaps the council..."

"Wait..Kakashi was my dad's student? Jiraiya is my godfather?"

"I don't care...Now shut up brat and let us go back to sleep."

The next moment, his eyes snapped open. He sat up, breathing heavily, his chest heaving. Sweat dripped down his face, his shirt clinging to his skin. He looked around, his mind still foggy, his eyes adjusting to the light. His surroundings were familiar, but he couldn't remember where he was. Everything was blurry, he couldn't think straight.

"Naruto? Are you alright? "A soft voice whispered, a familiar voice.

His heart rate calmed down, his breathing evened out, his body relaxed. He looked at his hands, his fingers clenched tight. He was shaking slightly. To his eyes, his hands were red...Covered in blood..Guren's blood..The woman he killed..

He couldn't hold it in any longer. His emotions in turmoil. He didn't understand what was happening. His parents. Guren's murder. Sasuke. Konoha betrayed rolled down his cheeks, his body trembling uncontrollably. He sobbed quietly, his heart aching painfully, his lungs burning. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't stop crying. He felt lost, helpless, hopeless. He felt empty. He felt as if everything he held dear to his heart was taken away from him. He felt as if he lost everything.

"Shh...Naruto...It's okay...It will be fine...Everything will be okay..."A gentle voice soothed him, a warm hand rubbing his back.

He turned towards the voice, his eyes blurred by tears. A pale face came into view, framed by long crimson hair. His vision cleared, his heart skipped a beat.

"T-Tayuya...What...What happened..."

She smiled at him softly, her amber eyes filled with compassion, her hand stroking his cheek tenderly.

"You were having a nightmare...Don't worry..I'm here..I'll protect you..."She whispered reassuringly.

The boy wiped away his tears, sniffling a little. She held him close, her arms wrapping around him, her warmth comforting him, easing his pain. Her scent filled his nostrils, calming his nerves, soothing his soul.

"It was only a dream...There's no need to cry..."She cooed softly.

Naruto nodded slowly, relaxing into her embrace. She gently caressed his head, running her fingers through his messy blond locks, her touch gentle and caring. The boy sighed deeply, resting his head against her shoulder. He felt safe, secure, protected. It felt right. It felt like home. He closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling, savoring every second of it.

"Thank you..."He murmured gratefully.

"What is it? What's on your mind?.."She whispered, her lips brushing his ear.

Naruto swallowed hard, trying to gather his thoughts. He took a deep breath, his mind racing, his heart pounding in his chest. He hesitated briefly, unsure if he should share his burden. He decided to trust her, to confide in her, to rely on her. He opened his mouth to speak, his voice cracking, his words faltering.

"...I...I talked with Kyubi and he told me about my parents..."

"What did he say?"

The boy recounted the details of the conversation he had with the nine-tailed demon, leaving nothing out. He spoke calmly, his voice steady, his expression serious. His mind replayed the events in his mind as he explained the situation. He tried to describe the feelings he experienced during the exchange as best as he could. He was worried that she would think he was crazy, that she would judge him for being so vulnerable. But he knew that she wouldn't. She had been nothing but supportive throughout their time together. She listened attentively, her eyes focused, her body leaning towards him. She nodded occasionally, her fingers stroking his arm lightly.

As he finished his tale, he sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping, his gaze distant. He didn't know what to do now, didn't know where to go from here. He felt lost, adrift, his world crumbling around him.

"That's...That's quite a lot to process. "She said softly, her hand reaching for his face, wiping away the tears that were rolling down his cheeks.

Though, she didn't seem that surprised by the young boy's revelations.

"You're not shocked..Or weirded out that I talked to Kyubi?"Naruto mumbled.

"No..I'm not..You forget that I control three demons...Kyubi is different but honestly, nothing can shock me in this shinobi world of ours."She explained.

"How does it work though? Your doki summoning thing?" He asked

"It's pretty much the same as your toads or Ochimaru's snakes. I signed a contract with them. Well, it's a bit more complex than that. I got lost during a mission in the Land Of Demons. I stumbled upon a hidden shrine and found a scroll that was written in a language I couldn't understand. I took it with me and returned it to Orochimaru later, and he translated it. It turns out the scroll contained the technique to summon them. I found out that there were more than those three you saw but I'm not strong enough for now."

"But you're not a demon right? So why can you summon them?"

"You're not a toad, right? So how can you summon toads?"She smirked.

Naruto rolled his eyes. Her logic was infallible. She grinned smugly, amused by his reaction. The two sat in silence, enjoying each other's company.

"Though, I'm the only person who ever contracted with them."She suddenly said.

"What do you mean?"Naruto wondered.

"I'm the first and only one to summon them. The scroll was left behind in that temple for who knows how many years. If not for me, nobody would've been able to use that technique. Like, when you signed your contract with the toads. You saw that there were names prior to yours, right?"She pointed out.

Naruto nodded.

"Well, it's the same for me except, I'm the only person who signed a contract with them."She continued.

"So, you're the one and only.."The boy grinned.

"Yep. The one and only."She chuckled.

The two exchanged glances, their eyes sparkling with amusement, their smiles widening. They stayed in comfortable silence for a while until the redhair spoke up.

"Let's finish looting this place and get our ass out of here."

"Yeah...I'm sick of this place."He mumbled.

The two got up and went back to exploring. The place was mostly empty, with some equipment that seemed useful, like medical supplies and weapons. They gathered everything they could carry and stored them in a sealing scroll.

As they searched, they stumbled upon a room that seemed to be used as a laboratory. There were several cages stacked against a wall, each containing a human or what's left of a human. There were some tanks filled with fluid as well as people inside of them. Naruto approached the nearest tank, his eyes fixed on the people floating in the liquid. He couldn't identify their features, their faces and bodies distorted by the greenish substance. But he was certain that they were alive. He looked at Tayuya, his expression grim.

Tayuya was looking at some research files, her fingers flipping through the pages, her brow furrowed. She seemed to be reading something that was making her frown deepen. She looked up at the boy, her eyes serious. Her eyes stopped when it mentioned Sakon and Ukon's kekkei genkai as well as the mention of Kimimaro. All of those persons in the tanks were Kimimaro's clones...It seems Orochimaru tried to make functional clones of the Kaguya and upgrade it through Sakon and Ukon's kekkei genkai. Adding new information and techniques in his dna. Through the pages of the research she found her name as well alongside Guren and a couple of other people under Orochimaru's orders.

As she read further, she found the words "Kekkei Genkai's fusion" and "Test Subject". She paled, her body shaking. She didn't want to believe what she was reading, but she had to. She swallowed hard, her eyes glazing over. She was disposable. She was worthless. She served the Snake as long as she could remember, to the point she could've almost considered him the closest thing to a father. The red haired girl slammed the file on the table, her face turning crimson, her hands balling into fists. She couldn't contain her anger, her rage. She screamed in frustration, her eyes blazing, her voice echoing through the room.

"Orochimaru you son of a bitch! You won't get away with this!"She shouted.

"What do you mean?"Naruto wondered.

"You will see! When I get my hands on him, he's going to wish he had never been born. "She hissed.

The boy nodded, understanding the fury that was building inside her. He knew that she was planning something, that she was plotting revenge. He couldn't blame her. He would've done the same. He was angry as well, furious. But he had to keep his cool. He had to focus. He had to help her.

"Make some clones and tell them to bring me every research file, sheet of paper, book, whatever that is readable, they find. I don't want a single paper left in this shitty laboratory." She almost hissed.

Naruto nodded and summoned four shadow clones. They scattered, searching the entire building, gathering anything that seemed important. They brought back folders, books, and papers. She grabbed them, her eyes scanning the text, her mind racing. She was determined to find a way to defeat Orochimaru, to make him pay for his betrayal. She was determined to prove her worth, to show him that she was more than a mere pawn in his game. She was a shinobi, a warrior, and she wouldn't let anyone or anything stand in her way.

As she was going through the documents, she noticed something strange.

"Naruto, check if there's some other rooms besides this one. And hurry."She urged.

"What am I looking for?"

"Sharingans. Something else as well...It's labeled 'Hashirama's Cells'."

"Hashirama? As in Hashirama Senju? The First Hokage?"He exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, him. I don't know how, but it's possible he still has cells in him. Make sure to grab anything related to him."

"Alright, I'm on it."He nodded and began to look for eyes in tubes and any other parts of the First Hokage.

After a while, he found a drawer labeled with a number. Inside, he found a bunch of vials, each with a different label. He picked one up, his brow furrowing. He took a closer look, his eyes widening in surprise. The label read "Konoha" and underneath, he saw the word "cells". His stomach lurched, his throat tightening. He quickly grabbed all of the vials, stuffing them in a storage scroll. He also spotted a small notebook, his fingers trembling as he reached for it. He opened it, his eyes darting across the page. He saw scribbles and notes, most of them illegible. But one entry caught his attention. "Experiment 832: Successful transplant of Hashirama's cells. Result: Full recovery from previously lethal injury."

Naruto's jaw dropped, his eyes wide, his breath catching in his throat. He couldn't believe what he was reading. It didn't make any sense. How could someone have successfully transplanted cells from the First Hokage to someone else? It was impossible. It was insane. It had to be a joke.

He flipped to another page, his eyes skimming the text, his brain struggling to comprehend what he was seeing. "Experiment 915: Failure. Rejected. Reattempted multiple times. No success. Test subject perished."

He froze, his hand gripping the paper, his breath coming in gasps. The boy felt sick, his stomach churning, his head spinning. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. It was horrific, it was barbaric. It was madness. He closed the notebook, his fingers shaking, his face pale. He didn't want to see any more. He didn't want to know anything else. He knew that he had to tell Tayuya about it. He knew that she had to see it. He rushed back to the room, his feet pounding on the concrete floor. He couldn't wait to show her what he had found. He had to tell her. He had to warn her. He had to stop her from doing something rash.

As he entered the room, he saw her standing in the center, her eyes locked on papers and she chuckled.

"Did you find anything?"He asked.

She nodded, a smirk on her face. "Experiment 666: Success. Transplantation of Hashirama Senju's cell. Successful. Transplantation of Shin Uchiha's arm. Success. Name of Patient: Danzo Shimura."

-Some Words-

Happy New Year!

Once the story will reach 10 chapters or so I will clean it up and edit it.

I don't have questions this time so I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Reviews and Comments! Something something!