Author's Note: Hey everyone, I first want to say thanks for all the support. I'm glad 'most' of you are enjoying the story so far. I wanted to briefly talk about my plans for this fanfiction. Firstly, as you can tell I've diverged way off canon and set into motion different plot points, so this is more of an slight AU, I guess. I am changing certain aspects of the Naruto story, for example, Kaguya does not exist in this story. There are no Ōtsutsukis in this story, no aliens or weird stuff. I will be changing the origins of the Rinnegan, Sage of Six Paths, the Ten-Tails, the Akatsuki, and other stuff as needed. Also, Infinity/Mugen is "nerfed" by having a time limit/cooldown, that is it... Stop complaining about this as it would be boring if he could use it at all times and plus this story would be pretty quick if that were the case. Do not complain in the reviews because something has changed, I will ignore those remarks. However, if you have a problem with the execution of said changes, please voice that concern. I welcome VALID and CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. I wanted to give y'all that heads up as from this point on the story is pretty much set in stone. I apologize for the pacing as recently there were a lot of fights, but we are going to slow down for a little bit. This chapter is more story based and provides explanations but there will be action, a lot of it, at end of the arc (parts 2-3). I appreciate your patience and thank you for your support with this story. I am also using ShadowRebirth's Map of the Naruto World for reference if you were confused about where characters are located geographically. There is an image of it on my profile I believe (If there is a way to add it to the story, please let me as I have no clue). I'm also looking for a beta reviewer or reader or whatever they're called, so please let me know if you're interested. Apologies for the long message, here's the next chapter and the beginning of the Hidden Mist Arc. Enjoy!
Chapter 9: Kirigakure, Part 1 - Arrival
KIRIGAKURE
The sky was cloudy, and the air was thick as two figures resided within an arboretum: one perched on a cliffside overlooking the village below and the other taking shelter in the trees.
The nearby waves crashed against the shoreline and the smell of fresh rain, saltwater, and an earthly fragrance filled the air. A heavy mist surrounded the area, blinding any onlooker from seeing what was underneath.
The figure near the coastal forest was leaning against a tree as she rubbed her hands together, blowing breath onto them, trying to keep herself warm. "Where is that idiot?" she said, through chills. "He should've been back by now."
The figure standing near the cliffside closed his eyes, sheathed the katana in his hands, and slung it over his back. Making his way to the freezing girl.
"Be patient Karin." He said, his voice firm and calm. "He'll be back soon." Well… hopefully, he mused to himself as he looked back to the cliffside and birds flying in the sky, reflecting on their journey to this new land.
It took them just over a week to reach the Nami no Kuni (the Land of Waves). There they had to hop aboard a ship to cross over the Kaizoku Sea, which was not a pleasant experience, and after a few days at sea, they finally harbored on the western side of the main island. This main island is the home of the country's capital – Kirigakure – their final destination.
"Yeah, I know Sasuke. I'm just worried about Kiyomi. I hope we can find her quickly," Karin responded nervously.
Sasuke turned back to his comrade, seeing her worried face, and gave her a comforting smile. "We'll find her," he replied. But truthfully, he was also worried about Kiyomi and what would happen after they returned to Konoha.
1 week earlier.
The three of them had made it deep into the Land of Fire, close to Konoha. However, when they reached a crossroads to head back to the village, Naruto elected to continue onward to Kirigakure.
"We can't return to the village… yet. We need to keep this little mission of ours a secret," Naruto said.
Karin looked at him with confusion. "But wouldn't it help to have more shinobi assist us in rescuing Kiyomi and retrieving your sensei's body?"
"True," Naruto responded, "but we don't know who leaked the details regarding our mission and information on my abilities. If we go back without knowing who the traitor is, they can alert 'Madara' or whoever he is. He'll most likely move Kiyomi somewhere different," he concluded.
Karin slightly nodded at his logic. She didn't know much about their village but what Naruto said made sense. "Wait, what about your village leader? The Hokage, right? Why can't we tell him?"
"He's a naive old fool who puts too much trust in people, what we tell him would most likely get leaked. He won't admit it, but the Konoha Council has him wrapped up around their finger," Naruto said with a disgusted expression. "I honestly want to kill every one of those bastards but that's for another time… But there's another reason why we can't send a large force into Kirigakure," he finished with a long pause.
"And that reason is?" Karin asked, she didn't know if Naruto was messing with her or trying to be dramatic for no reason.
Sasuke spoke up, breaking the silence. "If we assemble a full squad of shinobi to infiltrate and invade Kirigakure it could be seen as an act of war. Kirigakure is known for its isolation from the rest of the world; they are hostile and aggressive to all villages. Especially Konoha… the two villages share a bloody past. There are also too many unknowns on how and why Madara is involved with Kirigakure."
Naruto shot a finger at Sasuke, "Correct, you are my emo friend," he said as Sasuke just looked at him with a stoic expression.
He turned back towards Karin, "So you see my dear Karin we are the only ones who can do this 'mission'. Fear not, even though you are weak, we shall protect you," he said, giving her a thumbs up.
Karin's eyelids twitched at Naruto's antics. She was really starting to get sick of his constant joking, over-the-top behavior, and incessant jabs.
"~Did my words hurt your feelings, Karin-chan~?," Naruto mocked.
Sasuke watched as Naruto moved closer to Karin with his hands raised and a mischievous smile on his face.
"Get away from me you creep!" Karin said, taking a couple of steps backward as Naruto inched closer to her. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"~Oh, come on Karin, is this how you treat a fellow clansman~", Naruto said. "We can't be like the Uchiha who love to team kill each other."
Sasuke watched the two as he reflected on how Naruto had acted more and more like this since his battle with Orochimaru; the white-haired boy looked fine on the outside, but Sasuke could see that something else was going on with Naruto internally. He could see his eagerness to rescue Kiyomi and get their sensei's body back, even though he would never admit it.
"—I don't understand why it's so cold. It's the middle of March!", Karin said, her voice shaking Sasuke out of the past. "That idiot needs to hurry back."
Sasuke shook his head as he slowly blinked his eyes before rubbing his exposed left arm, feeling the cold wind blow over it. "Yeah," he muttered.
The trees rustled as a voice spoke from behind them. "Wow I'm hurt," it said, causing Karin and Sasuke to turn in its direction.
"Is this what I get for helping my comrades out," Naruto said with a smile. He had exchanged his bloodied clothing for a long black jacket with a high collar, dark black pants with bandages wrapped around his ankles, and still wore his black shinobi sandals. He got some new white bandages to wrap around his eyes that slightly pulled his hair upwards that also seemed to blend in with his snow-white color.
"Finally, what took you so long!?" Karin asked, angrily. "We've been waiting out here in the freezing cold. You better have gotten the right sizes."
Naruto waved her off as he tossed a bag in front of them. "Who do you think I am? Of course, I got the right sizes. You know, a thank you would be nice?" he replied, sarcastically.
Karin scoffed and quickly grabbed out a pair of navy-blue pants as she quickly put them over her knee-high stockings and shorts. She felt instant warmth and protection from the cold weather.
"Oh, feeling good, are we?" Naruto teased, pointing at Karin's beaming face.
"Oh, shut up and let me be!" She quickly retorted back.
Naruto laughed at her while Sasuke sifted through the bag, pulling out the items he requested: ninja tools, paper bombs, food pills, a gray flak vest, new shirts, and forearm guards.
Sasuke took off his torn jacket and black shirt underneath, revealing his built upper body. Karin's face flushed pink and quickly turned away as Sasuke put on a black compression long sleeve before taking out some string and ripping off the Uchiha crest from his old shirt.
He stitched the crest onto a new black shirt with a high collar, put it over the long sleeve, and then placed the gray flak vest on top. Finally, he donned the forearm guards, fastened their straps, and sheathed the Sword of Kusanagi on his back.
Naruto raised an eyebrow, impressed by Sasuke's stature. "Wow, you look ready," He stated. "Wouldn't you agree, Karin?"
Despite being flustered, Karin quickly gained her composure and cleared her throat. "Yeah, uh, he looks, um, good," she managed to get out.
"~Awww, it looks like someone's got a crush~," Naruto teased. "I should've got some flowers to make the mood more romantic."
A tick formed on Karin's head, "Why you!?" she shouted, rolling up her arm sleeve to land a haymaker on Naruto.
"That's enough," Sasuke spoke with seriousness. "We need to focus on finding Kiyomi-san and Kakashi's body."
Karin reluctantly stopped her motion but shot daggers at Naruto while he sat down on a nearby rock and smiled at her.
"Naruto, have you been able to find any leads on either of them" Sasuke asked.
"No, this mist makes it impossible for me to track her signature. It's not natural and is laced with a dense chakra. I'm assuming it works as a defense mechanism against invaders. As for Kakashi, I haven't found his body in any of the cemeteries around. Due to him possessing the Sharingan, they most likely took it to some highly guarded prison," Naruto leaned forward in his seated position. "We are going to have to venture down and gather intel."
"Tch," Sasuke replied. He'd hope to avoid this; the more they stayed out of sight the safer it was. A large-scale battle was not good, especially since Karin was a non-combatant. They had tried to show her some moves during their time aboard the ship, but she simply had no aptitude for combat. If something did happen it would be difficult to protect her.
Naruto, reading Sasuke's thoughts, spoke up. "I know what you're thinking Sasuke but don't worry. You two will be going down there."
"Wait, why me? I can't fight," Karin said. "Also how are we going to communicate with you?"
"If we go and you stay, someone could sneak up on you which would be annoying to have to go rescue you as well. Besides Sasuke isn't a sensor; you are. I'll be close by, and we'll use," Naruto reached into his pockets before pulling out two earpieces, "these to stay in contact," he said, tossing one to Karin and the other to Sasuke.
Sasuke started to set up the earpiece while Karin looked at Naruto, dumbfounded. "How are we supposed to be stealthy with these things in our ears?"
Naruto put his hand on his head and sighed. "Do I really have to explain everything? You're a shinobi, aren't you? Use your brain."
Karin picked up a nearby rock and was about to chuck it at Naruto, but Sasuke put his arm out in front of her. "We'll use the Henge no Jutsu to blend in with locals," he said calmly. "We can gather intel discreetly and without suspicion."
"See, at least Sasuke's got a brain," Naruto responded, pushing Karin's frustration over the edge as she launched the rock at Naruto who simply put a hand seal up, catching the rock within his Mugen. "Hehehe, too slow."
KIRIGAKURE WEST GATE
Team 7 moved positions, to lower elevation, near a bush overlooking a trail leading into the western gate of Kirigakure. Merchants and shinobi walked through a heavily guarded checkpoint. Guards stood directing the flow of those entering and exiting as they collected papers and documents.
"We're lucky they let merchants pass through," Naruto said, before moving back in the tree lines. Sasuke and Karin followed his actions.
He pulled out two passports and handed them to Sasuke and Karin. They examined their identities as Naruto explained the plan to them.
"So, you two will be acting as an old married couple from Udon no Kuni (the Land of Noodles). You are here to sell your products. That product will be noodles, of course," he said. "Your names will be 'Megumi' and 'Shoko'. Any questions?"
Sasuke looked down at his passport and saw the face of an older man in his mid-60s with black hair that had gray streaks in it.
Karin's disguise was an old woman in her early 70s with red hair, baggy eyes, and wrinkling skin.
"Why do we have these names?" Karin asked. "They sound weird. Also, where did you get these pictures and why am I so much older than Sasuke?"
"Cut me some slack, they were the only names I could think of in a short time," Naruto said. "Being older makes you less of a target for any degenerate scum bags out there, hopefully. As for the pictures, let's say I borrowed them from a nearby cemetery."
Karin slowly blinked at Naruto, "You really have no shame at all," she stated.
"No, I do not," he swiftly replied. "But if there are no more questions. Let's get moving."
'Megumi' and 'Shoko' stood in line as they waited to hand their passports to the guards and enter the village. They moved up a spot and waited.
"When the guard comes for our passports, let me do all of the talking," he whispered.
Shoko nodded and gulped; she could feel her heart pounding out of her chest. It was her first time ever doing something like this and she was extremely nervous.
Megumi noticed this and touched her shoulder softly. "Don't worry it'll be alright," he told her. Shoko looked at him, feeling his touch and steeled herself.
Just in the nick of time as the guard called out to them; they were next.
The two walked up to a tall Kirigakure Jōnin, wearing all black clothing with a gray flak jacket and a Kirigakure hitai-ate on his forehead.
"State your name and business here," he said with a bored expression.
Megumi handed him his passport and so did Shoko, "My name is Megumi, and we are merchants from Udon no Kuni looking to sell our items for a profit."
The shinobi raised an eyebrow, "Udon no Kuni, eh? That's a long way from here, old man."
"It is my child. We've fallen upon hard times and had to venture out beyond to make a living. It's a struggle but I've still got some fire left in me," Megumi finished as he heard Naruto laughing through his earpiece.
The shinobi chuckled. "It must be troublesome since you've got to carry around this old hag with you," he said pointing at Shoko, "she's basically skin and bone."
"Ah, yes, my wife Shoko. Come here dear," Megumi said as Shoko stood there unmoving. After a few moments he looked back at the Kirigakure shinobi. "My wife's hearing has been poor these last few years."
The Kiri shinobi leaned against a post. "Hmm, but you said you're from Udon no Kuni? Where exactly?"
Megumi got a little nervous, "We are from a small village in the south near the Kanashii Ocean," he said, hoping his answer would suffice.
"No kidding, my parents are from around there as well," the Kiri shinobi responded with a smile.
"Oh my, this surely is the work of fate," Megumi replied and began to answer more questions the Kiri shinobi threw his way. Mostly about favorite foods, hobbies, and customs.
Shoko looked at them nervously, but Megumi was able to answer all his questions with convincing confidence, however, their conversation caused a massive slowdown in the flow into the village.
A disgruntled young man who had been waiting for over ten minutes, voiced his frustration. "Hey, would you two shut it! We've got to get this line moving, people have got stuff to do!" he shouted, getting the attention of the Kiri shinobi.
"Wait one second, sir," he said to Megumi, getting up and heading down to the disgruntled young man. "What seems to be the issue?"
The man's wife tried to stop him from speaking any further, but it was to no avail. "The issue is you taking so damn long. We've got shit to do—," was the last thing he said before his head was cleanly removed from his shoulders and fell to the pavement with a thud.
His wife screamed out in horror as blood sprayed across her face and she dropped to her knees sobbing. Three ANBU materialized around the woman and the decapitated man, blood spilling out from his neck and onto the ground.
"Dump his body and take the woman to my chambers. She'll serve as a nice plaything," the Kirigakure shinobi said, wiping the blood from his sword and placing it back into the scabbard attached to his hip.
The ANBU grabbed the body and woman and vanished from sight. Everyone nearby was extremely shocked and afraid. Shoko had to stop herself from shaking while Megumi looked on with a stone-cold expression.
The Kiri shinobi returned with a smile, "Sorry about that," he took their passports and placed a stamp of approval on them. "Enjoy your stay in Kirigakure."
The two nodded and headed into the village.
The pair moved through the streets of Kirigakure, a stark contrast to the bustling energy of Konoha. Silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the occasional gust of wind that stirred fallen homes along the deserted pathways. Sasuke's keen eyes scanned the surroundings, taking note of how few people roamed around.
"I thought there would be more people," Karin murmured, her voice barely audible, against the eerie quiet.
Sasuke nodded, his gaze sweeping over the desolate scene. There were no joyful conversations echoing off the walls, no laughter of children playing in the streets. Instead, the village seemed to be enveloped in a blanket of cold indifference.
"Even Kusagakure felt more alive than this," Karin remarked softly, her breath forming misty clouds in the frigid air.
A wistful smile tugged at the corner of Sasuke's lips as he glanced at her. "How so?" he inquired.
"There was a sense of belonging, a unity among the villagers," Karin explained, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "Unless you were an outsider that is, but here, it's like everyone is a stranger to one another. I couldn't imagine living here instead of Kusagakure and that's saying something."
Sasuke's expression softened with understanding. "Do you still have family in Kusagakure?" he asked gently.
Karin's reply was quiet, almost hesitant. "No. My father left my mother soon after I was born, and she passed away when I was still a child," she revealed, her tone heavy with sorrow. Memories of her mother's lifeless body littered with bite marks flooded her mind. "It's just been me for the longest time."
Sasuke offered a wordless nod of sympathy, his own past tragedies echoing in his thoughts. "Sorry that I asked," he said softly.
"There's no need to apologize," Karin replied, her voice tinged with sadness. "What about your family? Do you have siblings besides Kiyomi?"
Sasuke's expression darkened at the mention of his family. "I have an older brother, but I haven't seen him since the night our clan was nearly wiped out," he confessed, his words heavy with unresolved pain. "He disappeared without a trace, leaving me to witness our mother's death."
As they continued their somber journey, Sasuke's thoughts drifted to his father, a distant figure shrouded in solace. "My father is still alive, but he's always busy as clan head," he added, his voice tinged with bitterness. "Kiyomi was the only one who was there for me, but... I pushed her away. I despised how she kept a smile on and would spout pretty ideals. She even accepted my disposition on life."
Karin listened in silence, her heart aching for the pain Sasuke carried. "She cared about you," she responded.
Sasuke's gaze still drifted. "I didn't realize it until it was too late," he whispered. "I thought it was silly for her to care so much but now I see that I was wrong," he stated, raising up his left hand, staring at it. "I need to find her so I can apologize for being so stupid."
"Don't worry Sasuke," Karin said, grabbing his hand. "I'll help you find and rescue her. I promise. It's the most I can do in return for you saving me."
Sasuke's gaze met hers, gratitude flickering in his eyes as a genuine smile graced his lips as he squeezed her hand in return. "Thanks, Karin."
"Yeah, you're welcome," she responded softly, keeping their gaze locked.
However, their moment of connection was interrupted by laughter crackling over the earpiece, pulling them back to the reality of their mission.
"As much as I enjoy playing matchmaker, let's not forget we're on a mission here, lovebirds," Naruto's teasing tone was heard. "Get a room after we're finished."
Sasuke rolled his eyes, "Let's keep moving," he said as he released Karin's hand and resumed his pace.
Karin nodded, her own cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Right," she said, falling into step beside him as they continued their journey through the desolate streets of the village.
Sasuke and Karin looked up to see a sign for a bookstore. They peered through the windows, seeing no sign of other people. This would be the best place to learn what was going on in this village and reduce the risk of them being discovered and outed as foreign shinobi.
Upon entering they were created with a dimly lit store with bookcases and shelves littered across the walls in a neat and timely manner. There were also spaces to sit down, drink tea, and eat food. The inside of the store looked extremely old but had this aura of new and stable to it.
A fair distance in front of them was a counter where they saw the shadowy outline of a man reading a giant book. It was hard to see his face and body as the light barely filled the room.
The man ignored their presence and kept to his book, but Sasuke could tell he was watching from the shadows waiting for their next move.
Is he a threat or just suspicion of us entering his store? Sasuke thought to himself; however, his pondering was interrupted by the sound of the man's voice.
"Is there something you need?" his deep and booming voice echoed across the room.
"Ah, no, my dear. We are just looking around," Sasuke said, putting on his best impression of an elderly man.
"If you are just looking around, I ask you don't look in my direction" the man grunted.
Sasuke nodded, "Ah yes, it is hard to see this light, but I apologize." He looked at Karin signaling her to gather information, potentially finding a map or something that they could use. She walked in the opposite direction as Sasuke began looking through the shelves for anything useful.
As he walked through the aisles he could feel the glare of the man. Slightly glancing over his shoulders, he could tell that the man wasn't really reading the book in front of him but constantly watching the two of them. Especially Karin, she kept his gaze the most.
Sasuke couldn't see his eyes, but he knew the man's stare wasn't one filled with lust, but it was a stare of remembrance and confusion. What does he want? He pondered, tensing up but then relaxed. He's been watching us since we entered. It's probably suspicious because of how this village is. I doubt people regularly stop here. Damn, we need to be quick before he acts.
Underneath the transformation, he activated his Sharingan, scanning through the various books at high speeds until he came across 'History and Geography of Kirigakure' on the top shelf.
He was about to reach for it but felt the eyes of the man behind the counter peer at him. Sasuke deactivated his Sharingan and called out to the man. "Oh dear, would you help an old and decrepit man get this book."
The man walked from behind the counter into the light as Sasuke could finally see his stature. This man looked as if he were in his mid-60s, about 64 years old. He was built, stocky, and of average height. He wore black shinobi sandals with bandages around his ankles, dark gray pants, and a loose long sleeve with bandages wrapped around his wrists.
Sasuke could tell this man was powerful, regardless of his age, however, when he saw that man's face, he was shocked. The man had long blond hair with a dark hat on top, brown eyes, and a scar underneath his right eye. But that's not what shocked Sasuke, it was the weird respirator, underneath his nose, covering his mouth and most of his lower face that disturbed the Uchiha.
As Sasuke looked at this man and took in his features, he couldn't help but feel like he'd seen this face before in one of the old academy history books.
The man reached up, grabbed the book, and handed it to Sasuke. "Ah, thank you. My old bones can't move like they used to," he said, trying to be convincing.
The older man looked at him, saying nothing as he turned around, heading back to his position behind the counter.
"Uh, I didn't catch your name?" Sasuke called out, trying to lose suspicion.
The old man stopped, his back still facing Sasuke, and turned his head over his shoulders. "I have been called many names but right now I am referred to as Yaga."
"Ah, Yaga. Well, thank you for your assistance, Yaga," Sasuke replied, his mind was still trying to decipher where he'd seen the man's face.
Yaga simply turned his head back and walked to the counter taking his former position.
Sasuke carefully watched Yaga return to his place as he walked over to Karin, who was still searching for an intel, and whispered into her eye. "I've found something that may be useful, follow me."
She nodded and followed him back to the seating area where to begin to open the book and read its contents to learn more about Kirigakure. They learned that Mizu no Kuni (Land of Water) was comprised of eleven satellite islands with one larger main island serving as the primary location of Kirigakure. There was also Nagi Island and O'uzu Island, but these larger islands were independent and too far away to be considered a part of the region.
Each island had its own unique culture, politics, traditions, and clans. The major clans in the region were the Hoshigaki Clan, Hōzuki Clan, Karatachi Clan, Funato Clan, and one more, however the name was scratched out. Sasuke could see a 'Yu' but couldn't make out the rest, regardless the mainland, Kirigakure, was divided into a western and eastern side.
The sides were separated by a channel flowing into the Kaizoku Sea. The western and eastern parts of Kirigakure had a long history of a civil war and it looks like they are in another one right now. At least that's what the book indicates, however it is from fifteen years ago, so they didn't fully know.
"This doesn't have anything of value," Sasuke whispered, relinquishing his hold over the massive textbook. He took a deep inhale and exhaled as air flowed out of his nostrils rapidly, signifying his frustration. He clenched his fists in silent rage.
As soon as Karin was about to comfort him, he heard the door swing open as two Kirigakure shinobi walked through the door. They were dressed similarly to the checkpoint guard and looked to be about ten years older than them.
"Oi, old man! Come serve us some tea," one shouted.
Yaga slowly arose as he walked over to the seating area before heading behind another counter leading into a backroom.
The two shinobi laughed at him as they leaned across the countertop a fair distance away from Karin and Sasuke.
Karin tensed up at their presence, but Sasuke remained calm and locked eyes with Karin, uttering no words but saying they were leaving. However, as they were getting ready, Sasuke heard words that stopped him dead in his tracks.
"You heard about that new girl that was recently brought in?" one of them said.
The other gained a wicked smile. "Yeah, I heard. Got a beauty on our hands; tall, fair skin, and has long raven black hair," he said. "Supposedly she possesses a strong kekkei genkai."
"A powerful kekkei genkai, eh?" the other replied with a raised eyebrow. "Damn, I was hoping to have a shot with her, but it seems unlikely. I assume she was taken there."
"Yep, but you may still have a chance. They are doing the drawing tomorrow morning to see who gets her," he responded. "The Mizukage will hand selecting the winner."
Sasuke sat there as his mind raced at a million miles. Who are they talking about? Is it Kiyomi? What do they mean? Also, what is happening tomorrow morning? He shook his head. Too many questions and too many unknowns. All he did know was that tomorrow morning was their deadline to potentially save Kiyomi or learn who this girl is.
He must've looked off put as one of the shinobi noticed him and cried out. "Oi, old man! What's your problem?"
Sasuke didn't respond as he was lost in thought over this newly learnt knowledge analyzing a way to navigate these new waters.
The other shinobi looked at his friend. "Cat must've caught his tongue." The shinobi who called out, headed over to Sasuke and Karin.
Karin, seeing this, touched Sasuke's hand, breaking him out of his thoughts as the Kiri shinobi arrived at their table.
The shinobi slammed his hand down, shaking the table, as he grinned at Sasuke. "Didn't you hear me old man? I asked you a question."
Sasuke rubbed his ear, "Apologizes, my boy. My hearing isn't quite what it used to be," he said feigning ignorance.
"Hmm, I don't think I've ever seen you two around here before," the shinobi asked as his friend joined him over at the table.
"Ah, yes, we are travelers from Udon no Kuni and—," Sasuke started but was interrupted by another loud slam.
"I don't care where you are from! We don't like outsiders here," the shinobi said with a scowl.
Sasuke looked at the situation before him. Why is this guy so aggressive? He inwardly sighed. I need to calm him down without blowing our disguises.
"We mean you no harm, my child," Sasuke said, raising his hands off the table. "We are simply visitors."
"I don't think so," the shinobi said as he came up and took the book from their table. "Oh? 'History and Geography of Kirigakure', eh? Why would two travelers from Udon no Kuni need to know this?"
The shinobi moved behind Karin before quickly grabbing her and pressing a kunai against her throat. "Unless your spies are from another village?" he said with a sadistic smile.
The two Kirigakure shinobi had them cornered — one in front of Sasuke and the other holding Karin hostage.
Sasuke tried to keep his act up but quickly realized he needed to do something else, before things really got out of hand. Talking clearly didn't work. It just made them even more on edge. What should I do? He pondered.
If he attacked and removed their cover, the village would be alerted to their presence. But if he did nothing, Karin would probably die or worse. Sasuke inwardly cursed for letting himself be put in a situation like this.
Before anyone could make a move, a voice spoke out, "Enough." The words echoed with authority, cutting through the tension like a knife.
Sasuke and Karin turned to see Yaga standing near, shadows cutting across his face. His presence was imposing yet strangely calming.
The shinobi in front of Sasuke taunted Yaga. "Get a load of this guy," he said, laughing as he pulled out a kunai that had an inwardly curved edge. "Who do you think you are, old man?"
Yaga stepped forward, his eyes narrowed with a hint of disapproval. "Is this how modern shinobi truly act?" he asked, his tone laced with annoyance. "Release them and leave."
The shinobi holding Karin hesitated, glancing at the other nervously. He had this terrible feeling in his gut. His friend, however, did not get this same feeling.
"Wow, you've got some balls to challenge me! You better get ready cause I'll fucking murder you—" he said before being pummeled into the nearby bookcase.
The bookcase groaned under the force of the impact, its structure buckling and splintering as the shinobi's body crashed into it with bone-jarring force. Books tumbled from their shelves in a chaotic cascade, adding to the cacophony of destruction that filled the room.
In the aftermath, the shinobi lay sprawled amidst the wreckage, dazed and disoriented, his bravado shattered along with the bookcase. Yaga stood over him, an enigmatic figure cloaked in shadows, his expression unreadable.
Sasuke's eyes widened as he turned his head feeling the force of the swift and powerful attack. All he knows is that one moment the Kiri shinobi is here and the next he's over there. Such power and speed… I didn't even see him move.
Yaga grabbed the man by his throat, squeezing tightly as his grip was firm. "I am going to break every bone in your arms and legs."
"W-when I get out of this your fucking d-dead," the Kiri shinobi spat out.
In a blur, Yaga swiftly and precisely struck his arms and legs, the sound of snapping and cracking could be heard throughout the store. The shinobi screamed out in pain while his friend watched and dropped the kunai, he was pressing against Karin's neck, out of fear from Yaga's display of power and ruthlessness.
Karin left out a gasp for air as she rubbed the area where the metal was pressed against her.
Yaga relinquished his hold and the shinobi dropped to the ground, screaming, and crying. He looked over to the other shinobi. "Take your friend and go. Before I kill you," his voice boomed with authority and power.
The shinobi gulped before quickly grabbing his comrade and disappearing at high speeds.
Yaga turned to Sasuke and Karin, his expression unreadable. "You should be more careful," he said cryptically.
The two genin were in awe at the sheer power and speed displayed by Yaga. Who is this old man and why did he help us? Sasuke thought.
"Thought I was going to have to teleport in there," Naruto's voice buzzed through the earpiece. "Luckily, this mystery man saved you two."
Sasuke blew out a sigh of relief, his muscles relaxing after the intense encounter. "Thank you, my friend. I thought we would surely meet our end by their hands."
Yaga simply nodded, his expression unreadable as he reached for two cups filled with steaming tea. "Do not thank me," he replied calmly, his eyes fixated on the cups. "But here, take this as compensation for your troubles." He placed the cups on the table before them, the fragrant aroma of the tea wafting through the air.
Karin wasted no time as drank it without hesitation. Sasuke observed her, his gaze flickering between her and Yaga, before tentatively picking up the other cup and smelling it. He wasn't much of a tea drinker, but it smelled good and why not; the man had just saved their lives.
Sasuke took a cautious sip, the warmth of the liquid soothing his insides as he finished it all. "That was good," he admitted, glancing at Yaga, who remained silent, his inscrutable gaze still lingering upon Sasuke.
But as seconds passed, he suddenly felt a strange sensation creep over him as his vision blur and limbs grew heavy. Shit, I should've known better.
Across the table, Karin slumped over in her chair, her cup tumbling from her grasp. He tried to move, to reach out to her, but his body betrayed him, and he tumbled out of his chair, landing onto the cold floor.
"Hey Sasuke, is everything good? Sasuke…" Naruto's voice pierced through the haze, but it soon faded into the abyss as darkness threatened to consume him whole.
He tried to do anything, but his body would not move. In his final moments of consciousness, he locked eyes with Yaga's, a silent accusation burning before everything went dark.
KIRIGAKURE WEST GATE
Naruto leaned against a nearby tree, "Sasuke, you went out on me?" he called out casually, his voice tinged with amusement. He shook the walkie talkie in his hands and adjusted the settings, changing its bandwidth. "Is this thing broken or are you just ignoring me, Sasuke?"
He tried again, but the device remained silent.
"Karin, paging Karin," he said with a hint of mischief in his tone. Predictably, there was no response.
"Well, this thing is about as useful as a kunai with no point," he remarked nonchalantly, tossing the device over his shoulders. Pushing himself off the tree, he stretched his arms lazily. "Sending those two out alone was probably not the smartest idea," he stated, scratching the back of his head.
"You are a fool if you thought this plan of yours would work", a deep growl bellowed from within Naruto's mind, but he merely shrugged it off, unfazed by the voice.
Within a mere instant, he turned around and was standing in murky water with a massive gate and colossal creature.
Behind the gate, laid a gigantic red-orange fox with black fur around its eyes. The fox was resting its head on its forearms as nine tails swooshed around behind it.
"Why did you lie to them? You're wasting time and their lives by sending them out there," the fox said without opening its eyes.
Naruto smiled. "~What do you mean, Kurama-chan~?" he said as he walked closer to the massive fox, slipping past the iron clad gates and jumping on top of its snout.
Kurama opened his eyes, revealing his black slit pupils with red iris and stared at the boy atop his snout and said nothing in response. This brat was the most peculiar human he'd ever met throughout all his existence.
8 years ago.
"Oh, so you're the big bad demon fox that everyone seems to hate?" A voice cried out, breaking Kurama out of his slumber.
Blinking his eyes open, Kurama beheld a small boy with dark shades and white hair standing before him on the other side of his cage. "So, the jailer finally meets the jailed. What do you desire, brat? I know you came for something. All you humans crave power."
To Kurama's surprise, the boy did not react with fear or hostility. Instead, the white-haired boy smiled, and slightly lifted down his shades, revealing one of his blue eyes. "Those eyes…" Kurama mused.
The boy continued to speak, "I don't plan on using your power at all. I don't want your help or need it. I'll get strong on my own strength and power," he said with a determined look. "Then I'll defeat you and become the strongest. Believe it!
Kurama was not expecting a response like this. He chuckled, the sound echoing through the murky water around them.
"What's so funny?" the boy asked, his confusion evident.
"Throughout all my years of living, never has a mere child challenged me," he looked at the child more closely. "But you are strong boy, I can see the blood of Michizane Sugawara, the progenitor of the Uzumaki, following through your veins. He too possessed the Kekkei Mōra of the Mugaken no Jutsu and Rikugan."
"Michi- what's his name, who is that?" the boy asked with a confused expression. "Also, what's the Mugaken no Jutsu and Rikugan?"
"A legendary shinobi who existed during the time of the Rikudō Sennin (Sage of Six Paths) and fought alongside him. As for the Mugaken and Rikugan, I may tell you later, but what is your name, brat?" Kurama said.
The boy gained a wide grin and his eyes sparked as he exclaimed, "I am the great Naruto Uzumaki!"
"Well, Naruto, if you simply came here to state your desire to not use my power, then you may leave. You are disturbing my rest," Kurama said, closing his eyes and laying his head down. He waited for Naruto's presence to exit the mindscape, but to his surprise, it never happened.
After some moments, he opened his eyes to see Naruto sitting on his snout with a grin. "You didn't tell me your name? You must have one, right?"
Kurama sighed and reclosed his eyes. "Why would I tell you, my name?"
"You asked for mine and I gave it to you. That's not fair," Naruto refuted.
Kurama scoffed, "What's not fair is being imprisoned inside another against your will. Regardless, there is no obligation for me to give you mine."
Naruto jabbed a finger at him. "I think you're just afraid! You must have a dumb name if you won't tell me. It must be Shinji or something. Not wait, it must be Boruto! That's a terrible name!"
What is this brat babbling on about? Kurama thought as he tried to ignore Naruto's antics and attempted to return to his slumber.
"Come on, tell me your name!" Naruto waited for a response but got none. He sighed, but then an idea popped into his head. "I guess I'll have to just call you Kitsune-chan."
Kurama immediately opened his eyes and narrowed them. "Do not call me that," he said threateningly and reclosed his eyes.
Naruto laughed, ignoring his threat. "~Oh, Kitsune-chan~! ~Oh, Kitsune-chan~," he repeated. "I won't leave until I learn your name Kitsune-chan." He kept at this, repeating the name dozens of times as a small tick mark appeared on Kurama's forehead and grew larger and larger with every passing moment.
After ten minutes of Naruto's incessant chanting, Kurama had had enough. "SHUT UP!", he shouted, sending Naruto flying outside of this cage. "IF I TELL YOU MY NAME, WILL YOU PROMISE TO LEAVE MY ALONE!?"
Naruto landed on the ground, headfirst, and quickly got up and nodded. "Hehe, yeah, it's a pinkie promise. And to make it better, if you tell me your name, I'll free you from this cage."
The Kyuubi got serious at that last statement, curiosity, and hope flashing across his face, but he quickly shook it off. "You lie. If you free me, you shall perish."
Naruto shook his index finger. "I don't think so," he said, taking off his shades. "Due to my eyes, the Rikugan or whatever, my chakra control is perfect and is always balanced. Basically, my eyes have stopped our chakras from mixing." He put the shades back on. "You're lucky that I was born with these eyes, if not you would've been stuck with me until death. Now come on, let's shake on it," he said, raising his little finger forward.
Kurama looked at him with a perplexed expression. "You would truly do that for me. What about your village? I doubt they would allow me to roam free." Hesitation and doubt were heavy in his voice.
Naruto waved Kurama's skepticism off with a dismissive grin, "I could care less about this village and those old fools. I think it would be funny if you just walked around the village or something and all the villagers and jiji saw you. Their reactions would be priceless. So, what do you say?"
Kurama pondered the boy's offer for a moment. It seemed too good to be true, but the prospect of freedom after so long was tempting. He would be able to do as he pleased anyway from power hungry tyrants and kind-hearted fools. With a reluctant, yet hopeful sigh, he relented.
"Come on, come on, shake my finger," Naruto said, waving his little finger around.
He looked at Naruto's little finger and for the first time in a long time, he smiled, showing his sharp teeth and fangs. He reached out and, as gently as he could, 'shook' Naruto's pinkie. "You may call me Kurama."
"See that wasn't so hard?" Naruto replied. "Thanks… Kurama-chan!"
Kurama rolled his eyes, "You are truly something, boy. To release me, you need to remove that paper tag and unlock the doors with a key. The key is with Jiraiya of the Sannin. Seek him to free me. As for knowledge around your techniques and kekkei mōra. I would recommend searching your parents' scrolls; I know that you know who they are. If my memory serves me, your mother has scrolls with loads of knowledge pertaining to the history of the Uzumaki and their formidable fūinjutsu. You may also find certain techniques of the Fourth Hokage useful. One of Michizane's techniques worked similar to the Forth Hokage's Rasengan. It is powerful technique… that bastard used it against me long ago."
Naruto smiled at the Kurama. "Thanks, Kurama-chan! You've been extremely helpful!"
"Please stop adding the '-chan' at the end of my name," Kurama replied with a sigh. "You're not using the honorific correctly."
"What do you mean, Kurama-chan?" Naruto giggled.
Kurama took a deep breath, realizing he'd have to deal with Naruto's antics for a time. "Just go get that key and leave me," he said, watching Naruto start to skip away from him and leave the mindscape.
Things have truly gotten interesting, he pondered. It is no consequence that his boy was born with the Rikugan and Mugaken no Jutsu. I wonder what other long dead secrets and techniques this will bring back into the world, he thought to himself.
Kurama closed his eyes, surrendering his thoughts and entering another slumber. He would have to wait and see how things turned out.
"—Oh Kurama-chan? Are you still with me," Naruto said as he was staring into the large red eye that dwarfed him in height. He waved his hand in front of the unblinking eye.
Kurama blinked as he exited his thoughts and memories of the past. "Get your hand out of my face. You know what I mean. You are just wasting time."
Naruto smiled, while it was true he was wasting time, technically, he did not lie to them. The mist surrounding the village was affecting his sensory abilities but not to the proportion he exaggerated. Even though Sasuke and Karin were about 3 kilometers away, he could still sense them, at least faintly.
He simply wanted them to feel useful, but also, he knew there was a chance they didn't find Kiyomi or Kakashi sensei's body here which would make Sasuke cranky. Having Karin around would soften the blow if they did not find them, but Naruto had confidence they could complete this mission of theirs.
"Wow, I'm shocked, Kurama. I didn't think you cared about their safety," Naruto said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Kurama rolled his eyes. "I don't care about them. I care about getting freed from this place and never seeing you again. Jiraiya could be at Konoha this very instance and the longer you three take the longer—"
"You stay imprisoned and not free, blah, blah, blah. I know, chill out, would ya? How was I supposed to know that he wouldn't show up at the village for over 8 years? It's not my fault," Naruto replied, pleading his case. "But if you're done getting on my case, I'm going to go and find my teammates."
Naruto jumped off Kurama's snout and walked out the cage and disappeared from the mindscape. This brat is truly an idiot, Kurama mused to himself.
"I heard that!" the voice of Naruto echoed.
"SHUT UP!" the Kyūbi barked back at the echoing voice. He heard the chuckle of Naruto as he rested once again, extremely tired of his antics.
KIRIGAKURE UNKNOWN LOCATION
Sasuke slowly awoke to the flicker of a single lantern. The room remained shrouded in shadows, and his disorientation lingered. He lifted his head, eyes adjusting to the darkness. The ropes that bound him chafed against his skin, and the paper bomb tags kanji glistering on top of them. Beside him, Karin was similarly incapacitated.
"Karin!" he shouted, but his voice echoed back, hollow, and unanswered.
"Do not struggle," a deep voice resonated as Yaga emerged from the shadows, his figure imposing yet strangely calm.
"Who are you, really?" Sasuke's voice was sharp, edged with suspicion. "And what do you want?"
Yaga settled into a chair, the old wood creaking under his weight. His eyes bore into Sasuke, ancient and knowing.
"Who I am is of no concern to you," Yaga replied. "But what I want—that depends on how you answer my questions."
Sasuke's mind raced. We need to get out of here. If I make a move now, Karin and I will die. I have to wait for an opening.
"Tell me," Yaga continued, holding up Sasuke's ninja registration ID. "What is a Konohagakure genin, no less an Uchiha, skulking in Kirigakure? Is Konoha sending children to do its dirty work, or are you here for something else?"
Sasuke remained silent, confused by his statements, and still trying to come up with a solution to escape. Why does he think we're here to do dirty work? Who is he?
Observing Sasuke's silence, Yaga leaned back, intrigued. "You refuse to divulge information. Admirable. But tell me, where is the other member of your squad? Give me their location, and I'll release you and the Uzumaki girl."
Despite the temptation, Sasuke met Yaga's gaze with unwavering determination. "I won't betray my comrades."
Yaga's expression softened with a hint of respect. "Impressive, I'm glad you have courage in the face of death. Regardless, I don't see anyone here to save you. Do you even know where you are?"
Sasuke frowned and he looked around. The floor was wooden which meant they were not in some Kirigakure prison. "Your home... But why haven't you turned us over to the Mizukage?"
"Why indeed," Yaga mused, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "You'll find out later…"
Sweat rolled down Sasuke's face, he was even more confused.
Yaga chuckled seeing Sasuke's confusion. The sound sent shivers down Sasuke's spine. "Perhaps you don't recognize me. Or perhaps you're feigning ignorance to your true mission of silencing me."
"What are you talking about?" Sasuke's confusion deepened. "I don't even know who you are. Who would want you dead?"
"Many would and much more if they knew I was alive. But I guess I was wrong about you," Yaga responded, cryptically. "I'll have to let him know, nevertheless, why are you here?" he asked once more.
What's with the cryptic responses? I'm assuming he has history with the leaf, but I've never seen an image of him in the village's history. Sasuke attempted to summon his shikigami, only to find his chakra unresponsive. Frustration simmered beneath his calm facade. Maybe I should stall out until Naruto gets here… that is if he knows we are in trouble.
Yaga's look was stern and serious. "The poison I slipped into your tea won't be wearing off for a while. No need to struggle, I won't kill you. Again, I ask, why are you here?"
Sasuke hesitated, feeling Yaga's penetrating gaze. "Why would I tell you?"
Yaga leaned forward, his voice low and intense. "You seek answers, yet you hold them close. Remember this: not all battles are fought with swords. The greatest battles are often fought over the will and convictions of others." His gaze lingered on Sasuke thoughtfully. "I can see that you are smart, however, coming to Kirigakure was not a wise decision. This village is a vile, cruel, and degenerate place. You are not here to collect intel, invade, or kill me so it must be a personal matter. You must've lost someone to this village."
Sasuke tensed, but Yaga continued before he could respond. "A comrade, teacher, or friend? Family, perhaps? A sibling, maybe."
Sasuke's jaw clenched, but he remained silent.
"So, it is a sibling… I see now," Yaga nodded his head, understanding why the Uchiha was here. "You must have a sister that was captured. It must be that girl those Kiri shinobi were talking about. It's noble and admirable of you wanting to protect your loved ones but if you were captured by someone else, you, the Uzumaki brat, and your sister, would all perish. This mission of yours could also lead to war and the death of many innocents." He looked at Sasuke, narrowing his eyes. "So why come rescue her?"
The Uchiha bit the inside of his cheek. His mind churned with questions, doubts, and conflicting emotions. What's his game plan? He took a deep breath, refocusing himself. I'll just have to go along with it.
"I want to save people unequally. I don't care if it's right or wrong. I want to be an instrument to spread fairness to good people in an unfair world and my sister… is one of these good people so I'll do whatever it takes to save her," Sasuke spoke, his words coming out with a determined edge.
Yaga leaned forward, his gaze piercing through the dim light of the room, fixing onto Sasuke's gaze. "Your conviction is admirable, Sasuke Uchiha. But it's built on shaky ground."
Sasuke's brow furrowed, a flicker of defiance igniting within him, but it was quickly overshadowed by a wave of uncertainty. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," Yaga began, his voice steady and resolute, "that while you may believe in saving people unequally and serving as an instrument for karma and retribution, there is still an objective right and wrong in this world."
Sasuke's response was automatic, almost rehearsed. "We decide what's right or wrong based on our own experiences and beliefs. There is no moral law guiding this world, if there was, evil people wouldn't exist."
Yaga shook his head, his tone heavy with reflectance. "Subjectivity clouds our judgment and free will produces the possibility of evil, Sasuke. But deep down, we all know that certain actions are inherently good or evil. It's the choices we make that define us."
Sasuke did not respond; his mind was becoming a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. Yaga's words stirred a tempest within his heart.
"Consider this," Yaga continued, his tone solemn, his words cutting through the silence like knife. "Imagine saving a 'good person' but in the process of saving them, you sacrifice innocent lives. Is this truly just? Can you still justify your belief that there's no objective right or wrong? Would your actions be good or bad?
Sasuke's expression was contemplative as he wrestled with the hypothetical scenario. "My actions would ultimately be…bad," he admitted.
"Exactly," Yaga nodded. "Because deep down, you recognize the existence of objective morality. Intentions alone don't absolve the consequences; the outcome of an action determines if it is right or wrong. You may see yourself as a harbinger of justice, but even justice has its boundaries."
Sasuke's gaze faltered; a seed of doubt planted within him. Would he go this far to save Kiyomi, no he wouldn't… would he?
Yaga placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, his touch surprisingly gentle. "Solidify your conviction, Sasuke. But ground it in the understanding that while our perceptions may vary, there are universal truths that transcend individual perspectives. Only then can you truly navigate the complexities of this world."
Sasuke remained silent. The weight of the old man's teachings hung heavy in the air, pressing down on Sasuke's shoulders like a burden too heavy to bear. He struggled to reconcile Yaga's philosophies with his own convictions, each conflicting idea pulling him in a different direction.
Yaga watched Sasuke intently, his eyes piercing through the dim light of the room. "Consider this, young Uchiha," he began, his voice carrying a solemn weight. "Justice and peace are not mere abstractions. They are forged in the crucible of character, moral principles, and love."
Sasuke's gaze sharpened, a flick of uncertainty dancing in his eyes. "What do you mean?"
"I've seen men who wielded power, believing they were arbiters of justice," Yaga continued, his voice tinged with regret. "Yet their hearts were cold, their methods ruthless. They justified their actions, blinded by their own convictions."
Sasuke listened, the words sinking in like seeds of doubt taking root within him. "True justice isn't about vengeance or rigid rules," Yaga went on, his tone resonating with a somber wisdom. "It's about compassion, about understanding the pain of others. It's about recognizing that sometimes, the path to peace requires sacrifice, but not at the cost of our humanity."
Sasuke absorbed Yaga words, his heart and mind still conflicted by the old man's words. "Why are you telling me this?" he asked, frustration, confusion, and slight anger in his voice. "Why do you care so much about my conviction?"
Yaga's gaze softened, a rare glimmer of empathy shining in his eyes. "I can see that you are different," he replied, his voice gentle yet firm. "You remind me of myself when I was younger, led by my own convictions. I searched for a way to bring peace into this world," his eyes fell to the ground. "But I lost sight of my conviction and pursued power and domination over others. Even though I sought peace… All I did was bring Pain into the world."
Sasuke fists clenched to his side, the turmoil within threatening to overflow. He was tired of sitting here and listen to this man monologue; a man who knew nothing about him. He couldn't take this any longer. "So, your entire speech has been to convince me to bring peace into this world? You want me to fix YOUR MISTAKE?! To help you find closure and redemption. How can I do that!? Tell me, how!" he shouted, losing his composure. "I'm not a hero or some sage…"
Yaga said nothing and stared at the boy who was clearly in emotional distress.
"I couldn't save my clan, I couldn't save my mother, I couldn't save my sensei, and now I'll probably won't be able to save my sister," he said breaking down. "I should've died on that night... I don't know what to do anymore."
Silence and despair filled the room.
"Listen here, death is not the end," Yaga's voice pierced through Sasuke's despair. "The loss of conviction is the end. When you lose purpose and meaning this is when you truly die. Don't lose sight of it, Sasuke. Even shadows can find their purpose. Do not make the same mistake I did. And do not fear, you'll find your sister. I believe you can."
Yaga stood up from his chair and began to walk away. "It seems the poison is wearing off soon. When you awake, you'll find something that will help you in your quest to save her."
"Wait," Sasuke cried out. "How did you know I was searching for my sister? There's no way you could've known that from looking at my face. And how did you know we were using a disguise?"
Yaga turned his head, impressed at Sasuke's intellect and ability to think critically. Unknown to Sasuke, a smile had formed on his lips underneath his respirator. "Hmm, let's say someone who cares about you deeply is watching you and wanted me to check up on you. As for knowing that you two were using a disguise. Your Uzumaki friend took the picture of my dead wife who recently passed," Yaga said, somberly. "She too was an Uzumaki."
Sasuke's eyes widened. He's experienced loss too… he didn't know how to feel right now; he had learned nothing and only gained more questions and doubts about himself and his purpose.
He looked down and saw that paper tags were igniting and Yaga continued to leave. "Wait! Who sent you? What's your plan?" he said, hoping to get some answers.
Yaga simply chuckled and kept walking, "All your questions with be answered in due time."
And with that Yaga disappeared from Sasuke's view as a great white light blinded and encompassed the Uchiha, filling the entire room.
Sasuke's mind buzzed with fragmented memories, his thoughts swirling like leaves caught in a tempest.
Yaga's cryptic words echoed in his mind, casting doubt upon the very fabric of his memories. But he was jolted back to reality by a familiar voice.
"Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke!" A feminine voice cried out at him as he slowly opened his eyes to find Karin kneeling beside him, her tear-streaked face a mirror of worry and relief. He felt her arms wrapped around him, offering warmth and solace amidst the confusion.
"Hey," Sasuke muttered, his voice hoarse with disorientation, as he gently patted her shoulder before lifting himself off the dusty floor.
As his eyes adjusted to the dim light of the abandoned bookstore, he scanned the familiar surroundings, noting the broken bookcase where the Kirigakure shinobi had been dispatched. The memory of their encounter with Yaga lingered at the edges of his consciousness.
"Welcome back to the land of the living," a voice broke through his thoughts, and Sasuke turned to see Naruto standing nearby, his hands nonchalantly tucked into his pockets.
"Thought we'd lost you there," Naruto continued, his expression a mix of concern and relief. "When I lost contact, I hurried over here to find Karin holding your body trying to heal you. You've been out for a couple of hours. There was poison in your system. It wasn't deadly, but it took a while to get out. Thank Karin for that."
The Uchiha held his head, feeling a throbbing pain. "Where's Yaga?" he asked.
"Who?" Naruto's brow furrowed in confusion underneath the bandages wrapped around his eyes.
"The owner of this bookstore," Sasuke clarified, his tone urgent. "He saved Karin and me from two Kirigakure shinobi. Where is he?"
Naruto exchanged a puzzled glance with Karin, both equally perplexed by Sasuke's insistence. "We don't know what you're talking about," Karin said, her tone laced with concern. "We never got attacked. We entered a tea shop and drank some tea. That's when you passed out, and Naruto and I brought you here."
Sasuke's confusion deepened, his mind grappling with the dissonance between his memories and the reality before him. "What is going on?" he muttered, more to himself than to the others. I know what happened before I drank that tea was real. That bookcase is still destroyed from earlier. I guess Karin can't remember... who are you really, Yaga? he pondered. And who sent you?
Naruto observed Sasuke's perplexed expression, a furrow forming between his brows. "You good?" he asked, genuine concern evident in his voice. "You must've hit your head pretty badly to not remember what happened."
Sasuke shook his head, pushing aside the lingering confusion for the time being. "Yeah... I'll be fine."
I should probably ask him what happened later, Naruto pondered, before dismissing Sasuke's strange behavior. "Anyway, did you find any information regarding Kiyomi or Kakashi-sensei."
Karin started to speak with Naruto about what she had learned, which was nothing, as Sasuke felt something in his pockets.
Sasuke's fingers brushed against the sealed scroll in his pocket, a nagging curiosity tugging at him but then he remembered Yaga's words. He bent down and unfolded the scroll. Upon fully opening the scroll and placing his palm on the seal, a poof of smoke formed.
The rustle of paper drew Karin and Naruto's attention, their conversation tapering off as they turned their focus to Sasuke.
As the smoke cleared, revealing the contents of the scroll: there lied a kusarigama, a sickle-type weapon with a chain attached to it, a stack of documents labelled "Darkness in the Light", and a map of Kirigakure with marked locations.
"Whoa, where did you get this?" Naruto exclaimed, his enthusiasm evident in his tone as he leaned in to inspect the map and documents.
Sasuke's response was characteristically understated. "I'm not sure," he murmured, his voice tinged with quiet contemplation as he considered the implications of Yaga's mysterious gift. He stowed away the kusarigama, into his shadows, and resealed the documents; he would look through that at another time.
"Well, whoever gave it to you has labelled a boat load of information on it. Locations of prisons, residences of high personnel, and even supply caches" Naruto continued, "but we still don't know where Kiyomi-chan is."
"I believe I have an idea. Give me the map," Sasuke said, grabbing the map from Naruto. From a quick glance the map looked basic, even with the amount of information on it. I wonder, Sasuke thought as he activated his Sharingan, quickly scanning over the surface.
To his shock he found hidden words written near a prison located by the Mizukage's tower. "She's here," Sasuke said pointing at a spot on the map, "Kiri no Kankoku: Onna no Yōshi no Boru (Mist Gulag: The Breeding Grounds of Women)."
Sasuke's revelation sent a chill down Karin's spine, her features contorted in a mixture of horror and disbelief. The mention of the Mist Gulag struck a nerve deep within her. "Kiri no Kankoku: Onna no Yōshi no Boru..." she murmured, her voice trembling with suppressed anger and revulsion. "I can't believe such a place exists... It's barbaric."
Naruto's smile dropped immediately, his expression hardening with resolve. He clenched his fist, his muscles tensing as a surge of determination coursed through him. "I'll kill those bastards," he declared, his voice low and fierce, radiating confidence and strength. The room seemed to tremble with the intensity of his chakra; the floor and walls splintering underneath his pressure. "This is truly a degenerate place," he added, his voice resonating with conviction as he exuded an aura of unwavering resolve.
"Don't worry," Sasuke interjected, his voice full of reassurance, quelling the emotions of Naruto and Karin. "We've got until 9am tomorrow before anything bad happens to her. We still have time. We will save her." His words carried the weight of a solemn vow, a beacon of hope amidst the darkness.
Naruto calmed himself and put back on a smile, "Hmph, yeah, I guess you're right." He stood up and dusted his pants off. "I'm going to go check out vantage points near the prison. I'm working on a plan that's mostly finished. You two stay here. It'd be best to crash here for the night. Don't worry, I'll be back with food. Ciao," he said, clasping his hands together and vanishing in a blur of white.
Sasuke's gaze lingered on the departing figure of his teammate, his thoughts drifting back to Yaga's cryptic words and the weight of their implications. As the low angle of the sun cast an orange glow over the landscape, his eyes fell upon a small grayish-purple salamander perched on the window frame. The creature's graceful movements as it navigated the broken glass held a silent allure, a fleeting reminder of the mysteries that lurked in the shadows.
"Sasuke are you alright?" Karin's soft voice beckoned, shattering his gaze.
Sasuke rubbed the back of his head, "Yeah, I will be."
There would be a lot of questions he needed to find the answer to but right now, all he could do was focus on the present.
The grayish-purple salamander traversed the streets of Kirigakure, its delicate feet navigating the labyrinthine paths with ease. Eventually, it reached the coastline, where Yaga awaited, his figure silhouetted against the backdrop of the Kanashii Ocean.
Bending down, Yaga allowed the salamander to climb onto his outstretched finger. "It is done," he murmured softly, his words carried away by the gentle sea breeze.
Nearby, a figure with a distorted image refracted in an array of spectral colors stood, its presence enigmatic and foreboding.
"I'm surprised you didn't deliver the message yourself," Yaga remarked, his voice tinged with curiosity as he addressed the figure.
"Unfortunately, he wouldn't have reacted well to my presence," the figure responded cryptically. "It's been too long since we last spoke. You were the better choice, Hanzō."
Hanzō grunted in acknowledgment, his gaze lingering on the distorted figure. Without another word, he strode into the water, where a large salamander emerged, its jaws gaping wide.
"Hmph, I knew about that Uzumaki kid and his potential, but I can tell Sasuke also possesses something greater. I guess that shouldn't be a surprise, given that you're his older brother," Hanzō said as he disappeared into the salamander's maw.
The creature closed its mouth and submerged beneath the waves, leaving the distorted figure alone on the shoreline. With his crimson eyes fixed upon the setting sun, Itachi stood in silent contemplation, his thoughts veiled in shadows as the pink and orange hues gave way into night.
/END OF CHAPTER/
Ramblings: So, how about that ending, huh? Moving on to other topics, I would agree with a review left a while back that Naruto does not feel like a main character. The thing with him is that his important story beats/character moments are happening in the near future. I've set most of them up and in the next chapter (or two) you'll learn more about a secret that will change him. Naruto will be the focal point for most of it and the following chapters as well. The issue currently is that Naruto has to be developed physically in order to get to emotional scenes/character moments while Sasuke has to be developed emotionally and have character moments in order to get stronger physically. There's going to be two more things with Sasuke, one thing is this arc and another after the Chunin Exams. Sasuke's been the "main character"/the method of which the plot has progressed but again, Naruto is the focus of the second half of this arc and everything following until the end of Part 1 (I've got no idea if I'm going to write Part 2 as I have a completed outline of Part 1). Kiyomi's character is still up in the air, let me know if have suggestions. Thanks for reading, please leave a review. Take care and God Bless.