Author's Notes: And we return with more of this story. Admittedly, certain email issues have been eating at my sanity for quite a while now, but I'll try to do my best to keep up with any PMs that come through. That said, I'm very sorry if I don't reply immediately. In any case, I suppose my waffling has gotten boring, so I'll get right into the story once again.
Harem(Not in Order of Appearance): Fem!Jashin, Fem!Haku, Fem!Sasuke(Satsuki), Anko, Koyuki, Yugito, Ryuuzetsu, Fuu
Review Responses
Midnight Lost: Well, it is a different kind of story for me, lol. I intended for this story to be more emotionally driven, rather than the very choreographed fights like from my other fics. As for Jashin's presence, to not reveal too much, the idea was for her to be more neutral at the start, like even though she has a sort of contract with Kushina and Minato, her status as a Goddess forces her into neutrality.
Dragon and Sword Master: Well, it is very different from my other stories.
YaegerMeister31: For now, Minato and Kushina's souls no longer exist in the same plane. Might change in the future, we'll see. As for the outfit... I don't have much of an idea regarding it so far.
freedomringer: I'll do my best to maintain the mostly character-driven interactions from here on. As for Hidan... I intend, for now at least, that he'll be a mirror to this version of Naruto.
"Talking"
'Thinking'
"'Jashin speaking or thinking"
"'Jutsu or technique names'"
With all that out of the way, let's get right back into it.
-One Year Later-
With the afternoon sun hanging high in the skies of Konoha, students flooded out of the academy's doors, many being met by the warm smiles and embraces of parents who stood awaiting outside. Blended into the crowd, Naruto exited the academy alongside the other students, drawing several stares as he walked along.
"It's him... That demon child," One whispered to another.
"That's him alright... Ugh, just look at those marks on his face, like the Kyuubi couldn't pick a more
subtle form," The other replied, both sharing the look of disdain and disgust that had been pointed at Naruto.
"Wonder why they let him study here, did they forget what it did?" A third chimed in.
"Good thing my daughter stays well away from that thing," The first, a woman with blond hair set into a single bang before her face, began to say once again. "Who knows what it could do, it's probably a trick like they say."
"Trick? Don't be silly, it's not like the Kyuubi could ever fool anyone into thinking it was human," The second whispered.
'Just ignore them, just ignore them...' Naruto thought to himself, walking past the crowd before finding a seat at the swing of the tree that was situated in front of the academy's door. 'Another birthday...'
"Yet alone you are not," A voice of a woman suddenly stated, prompting the blond to prop up from his hunched position, looking around before the voice spoke again. "Relax, Naruto-kun. I mean you no harm."
'You don't? What are you?' Naruto asked back, thinking of the question rather than speaking it directly, fear still rising in his mind despite the lack of spoken words. 'Who are you?'
"Oh, you know exactly who I am," The voice stated with a gigglish tone as Naruto tilted his head downwards again. "We've met, after all."
'We have?' Naruto pondered, looking down at the ground as he soon droned out, 'I can't recall meeting someone in my head, unfortunately.'
"Heh, let's just say..." The voice continued, "I have a thing for gifts."
Opposite, Satsuki took slow steps out of the academy, storing a book back into the backpack she carried, before slinging it over her back again. Staring ahead, the raven-haired girl stopped in her tracks once again, coming face to face with Naruto, droned out and daydreaming on the swing, whilst the vague yet ominous silhouette of a woman wrapped her arms around him from behind in a manner not out of malice, but of odd compassion.
'What the...' Satsuki thought to herself, rubbing her eyes before looking ahead, only for the silhouette to vanish into thin air.
'I... You were that woman?' Naruto asked, not noticing the slowly approaching Satsuki. 'That one at the cemetery?'
"Oh, the very same..." Jashin giggled as her voice faded moments later. "We shall continue this soon, it seems someone else has spotted me."
'Spotted you? What do you mean by-' Naruto began to say, only to be interrupted by a newcomer moments after.
"Naruto," Satsuki began to say, having steeled herself moments prior, despite her still appearing slightly shaken. "... Are you alright?"
"Eh? Oh, Satsuki. I'm... Doing alright, I guess," Naruto assured, looking upwards and shaking his head moments after, before peering at Satsuki's shaken expression. "You holding up well?"
"You don't look like it, but I suppose I cannot judge," Satsuki assured nervously, eyes searching Naruto's for any hint as to the sight she witnessed, barely registering Naruto's following words. "Oh. Well... I suppose I'm doing alright."
"Well, that's good," Naruto mumbled, standing back up and looking at her for a moment, gaze shifting away as he found himself unable to keep eye contact for too long. "Though, if nothing else, I suppose won't keep you..."
"Wait," Satsuki began to say, finding the courage to place a hand on the blond's shoulder. "... Would you like to grab lunch? And, well... Practice with me as well? I find Taijutsu easier to learn with a partner."
Pausing for a moment, Naruto turned back, nodding soon after.
"Sounds good to me," Naruto assured, still unable to meet her nervous yet hopeful gaze. "Lead the way."
"Very well," Satsuki assured, walking alongside the blond as he followed her steps, trying his best not to draw any gazes their way. "Do you have any preference for what you'd like to have?"
"... Ramen?" Naruto asked, forcing an indignant huff from Satsuki.
"Should've known," She mumbled, rolling her eyes before turning to leave soon after. "Fine, let's go."
The two walked along the streets of Konoha, a melancholy sense of loneliness surrounding them despite the crowded streets they walked on, streets that had only been accompanied by vibrant conversations happening throughout them.
Yet, Naruto and Satsuki walked on in silence, neither seeming willing to strike up any meaningful conversation with the other, as a familiar white began to gradually fall upon the village once again, prompting Satsuki to rub her shoulders moments after.
"Tch... Well, I guess it was supposed to snow today," Satsuki mumbled, looking up at the snow falling upon them, before looking over at her blond companion. "Cold?"
"Not at all," Naruto replied after a moment, returning her gaze with his own shifty one moments after. "I suppose it does snow a lot when we get ramen, huh?"
"In any case, let's make this fast," Satsuki stated, as she hurried her steps. "The weather today is most unpleasant."
"Alright, alright, let's make this quick," Naruto acquiesced, walking faster as per her request. "If anything, the ramen should make you feel warmer... Well, it works for me, anyhow."
After several moments more of silent walking, Naruto and Satsuki would find themselves before Ichiraku's, stepping inside and taking their seats soon after.
"Ah, been a while since these old eyes have seen you two here at the same time," Teuchi commented, turning his head to the back soon after. "Ayame! Fire up the stove!" The old man turned back towards Naruto and Satsuki soon after. "Got here just in the nick of time, actually. We were about to close up for the day, the weather isn't being too generous."
"I see..." Satsuki mumbled, throwing a momentary glance at Naruto, before turning back to Teuchi. "In that regard, we should let you close up for the day. Apologies for the interference."
"Eh, it's no matter," Teuchi assured, "What can I get you both?"
"Tonkotsu, please," Naruto requested.
"I suppose it's alright, then..." Satsuki began to say, "I'll have a bowl of Shoyu Ramen."
"Gotcha. I'll have them right out for you two," Teuchi assured, taking one last glance before walking to the back of the store and to the cooking area.
Before long, a familiar silence would follow for Naruto and Satsuki, both sitting next to each other, yet acting as if neither was in the presence of the other. Unsure of what to say, or if anything could be said, Satsuki shook off the snow that was in her hair, sighing in relief before turning towards Naruto. Steeling herself for a moment, Satsuki leaned closer, before moving to brush some snow out of the blond's hair.
"Eh- What are you...?" Naruto asked, tilting his head towards Satsuki who paused for a moment, before continuing nervously.
"Just getting some snow out of your hair," She stated quickly, her tone betraying no sense of nervousness before she pulled away moments later. "There. Can't have you walking around with snow in your hair."
"Well, I wasn't cold..." Naruto mumbled, not seeming to understand Satsuki's point as he returned her gaze with his shifty one.
"It's not about being cold, it's about not having snow in your hair..." Satsuki explained until she didn't, having no clue how to explain further as her heartbeat gradually increased. "Just... Makes you look more proper, I suppose..."
Naruto gave her a quizzical look, but did not attempt to protest further as their ramen arrived, wisps of steam offering a reprieve from the winter chill. Before long, both would fall back into a silent lunch, eating from their bowls whilst keeping mostly to themselves, only for Naruto to stand up moments after.
"I'll go pay now... Err, give me a moment," Naruto mumbled, nodding before walking to the back towards the payment counter.
"Take your time," Satsuki assured, looking up for a moment.
Shaking her head as she looked at Naruto's slowly shrinking figure, Satsuki's eyes widened as the shadowy figure of the woman from before appeared once again, arms wrapped around him from behind in that very same compassionate manner. Unsure of what to say, Satsuki shook slightly as the silver-haired woman tilted her head back at her, offering a slight smile before vanishing once again.
'What the... That... Thing again...' Satsuki thought to herself, shaken to her core as she set down her chopsticks, only to nearly be sent flying out of her chair moments after.
"Hello there..." A woman's voice began to say from the spot next to Satsuki's seat, "You saw me just then, didn't you?"
'I-I did,' Satsuki mentally admitted as she slowly turned towards the source of the voice, coming face to face with Jashin moments after, the latter brushing a brown lock from the front of her face, 'Why are you here?'
"Why? Well, I'm just overlooking my ward, is that too much?" Jashin asked back, tilting her head in bemusement stemming from Satsuki's fear. "You do not need to fear me, you know? You've got a sinless soul."
'I... Think I'm not the right person to confirm that...' Satsuki admitted, hands shaking as she set them in her lap, 'Wait, ward?'
"Oh, that's right," Jashin began to explain, "Perhaps I'm not the best to explain... But Naruto-kun is my ward... Admittedly, I may not be the best at such a job, though... Judging someone's soul certainly is what I'm best at."
'I... See,' Satsuki pondered, trying her best to steel herself in Jashin's presence, 'Well, thank you for looking over Naruto... He's, to be honest, my only friend.'
"Oh, worry not, it's been my oath to watch over him, after all," Jashin assured as she stood up once again, "Though... I suppose I should thank you as well. Thank you for being Naruto-kun's friend. He may be too stubborn to say, but it means the world to him that you'd be willing to be there for him on his birthday."
'Birthday?' Satsuki thought, eyes widening in realisation as she leaned back into her seat and cradled her head in her hand. 'Oh, that's right... Can't believe that slipped my mind...'
"No worries, I'm sure we'll speak again soon," Jashin assured with a wry smirk, stepping back before fading into nothing moments after, leaving Satsuki with her head in her hand.
'Why didn't he tell me...' Satsuki thought to herself, rubbing her temple as she sighed softly. 'If I knew, I wouldn't have suggested training...'
"Hello?" Naruto asked, standing next to Satsuki again as he shot her a shaky yet distinctly confused look, "You alright? The cold seems to have gotten to you..."
Satsuki tilted her head for a moment, steeling herself as she often does whilst trying to stand up straight once again.
"It's... No matter, let's get going," Satsuki mumbled, looking around before walking out of the stall again.
"Well, do tell me if there's anything, I..." Naruto began to say, sighing as he walked alongside her. "Admittedly, I'm not the best at being very observant, so do tell me if there's anything I don't realise, alright?"
"I will, don't worry," Satsuki assured, tilting her head for a moment, looking over at Naruto's back before quickly adverting her gaze. 'Just... Who was that?'
The two soon fell into step once again, as Satsuki led Naruto along, shaking slightly whilst being unable to form or attempt any conversation with her companion, their journey coming to a head as both arrived at the Uchiha Compound moments later.
"Here we are," Satsuki mumbled, leading the way up the steps to a familiar bloodstained door. "Come with me, and... Well, please don't question the disarray some parts are in..."
"Oh, right, we're here..." Naruto mumbled, looking up at the door as his mind returned to that night one year prior. "Well, thank you for inviting me."
"You're welcome, thank you for agreeing to... This," She explained, opening the door and leading the way inside. "It's unusual for me to have a partner to spar with... So this session should prove fruitful for us both."
"Well, I'll do my best, then," Naruto assured, nodding as he followed along to the sparring area of her home. "Well... I'd say you've been practising a lot." Naruto whispered, tilting his head at the several broken wooden dummies on the ground, some stained with dried yet fresh blood. "How'd you like to conduct this spar?"
"Well... Err, I didn't think this one through..." She admitted silently as she looked away with a self-conscious glance. "I suppose... Until one of us can't continue?"
"Umm, I guess that would work," Naruto mumbled, stepping a fair distance back from Satsuki as he readied himself.
"Alright... Do tell me if I go too far, alright?" Satsuki requested as she held up a guard, "Admittedly... I'm not the best with stopping myself..."
"I'll do that, don't worry," Naruto assured as he held up his own, more makeshift guard. "Ready when you are?"
Without giving a response, the raven-haired girl dashed forward like a wolf pouncing on its prey, hands snapping ahead as she jabbed repeatedly at Naruto's midsection, two of the punches connecting with the blond directly, whilst the rest met his rushed yet firm defence as he held his arms together, wrists pointed forwards whilst attempting to weather the storm.
Tilting her head for a split second, Satsuki stepped back, halting her blistering assault before laying her hand open with fingers held flat, jabbing straight through Naruto's guard moments after, before grabbing him by the collar.
'What the-' Naruto thought to himself, mind racing with potential remedies to the situation as Satsuki threw him over her shoulder, causing him to plummet onto his back, taking a large breath as the breath was knocked out of his lungs. 'Ugh... She's really... Not holding back...'
Still slightly dazed from the force of the throw, Naruto rolled to the side, moving just in time to allow Satsuki's right elbow to slam down on the spot he originally was in, causing her to wince in pain as the blond slowly rose to his feet again. His head still spinning, Naruto waited a moment, as Satsuki slowly rose to her feet once again, before dashing ahead, throwing several sloppy punches and kicks repeatedly.
'Hmm... Not right...' Satsuki thought to herself as she narrowed her eyes.
With practised precision, Satsuki stepped backwards, parrying and blocking each attack thrown at her, before taking a step forward and flicking a swift jab to Naruto's solar plexus, knocking him back temporarily.
'It's like he's not trying... Or he's trying to make me think that...' Satsuki pondered, rubbing her chin as she looked over. 'Either way... There's no pattern.'
Taking a moment further to analyse, Satsuki raised her guard once again as Naruto shook his head, doing his best to focus once more.
'Tch... How do I even the odds here...' Naruto pondered, raising his guard as he slowly stepped closer to Satsuki, taking a moment before nodding. 'Got it.'
Not wanting to waste much more time, Naruto dashed forward, doing his best to maintain his form as he threw a new barrage of punches and kicks, yet making sure to fling his attacks at Satsuki nearly at random, throwing some early and some late, seemingly all with no set target in mind.
'What is he... Doing?' Satsuki pondered, stepping back and doing her best to block as many of the oncoming attacks as she could.
Springing forwards, Naruto lept up from his feet, seemingly flinging himself at Satsuki feet-first, prompting her to raise her guard before her face, only for him to duck down at the last moment, throwing a swift cross from the side where her guard hadn't covered, forcing her to take a step back.
'He's... Actually landed,' Satsuki thought, rubbing her cheek as she readied herself once again.
'That just worked...' Naruto pondered in near disbelief, raising his guard once again as Satsuki dashed over.
Not wanting to give Naruto much more time to react, Satsuki swiftly threw a punch to his stomach, proceeding with another to his upper torso a split second later. Keeping her momentum, Satsuki struck further, striking the blond in the chest with several more swift punches, ducking to the side in the face of an attempted counter-attack, before using her hands as springs to launch herself upwards, planting both feet into Naruto's chin and sending him onto his back once again.
"Huff... Huff..." Satsuki panted, taking a look over before shaking her head, eyes widening as she rushed to the blond's side. "I... Apologies, are you alright?"
Naruto looked up moments later, head spinning as he soon sat upright.
"I'm alright, just... Dizzy..." Naruto assured, attempting to meet her gaze, only to shy away just before making eye contact. "You... Uh... You're very good at this."
Rising to his feet once more, Naruto shook his head, looking over to Satsuki soon after.
"Let's go again... I'm very sorry if I was underwhelming, I'll give it another go," Naruto mumbled, raising his guard once again as Satsuki sighed and stood opposite him, raising her guard as well.
"... Very well," Satsuki murmured, taking a step forward soon after. "Please, do tell me if I go too far..." She began to say, her thoughts running wild soon after. 'Last thing I'd want is to hurt you...'
Seemingly eager for a better showing, Naruto dashed forward, planting his foot firmly before throwing a punch straight at Satsuki, forcing her to raise her guard before attempting to sweep her feet, only for her to leap up in the air upon the attempt being made.
'What is she...' Naruto thought to himself, raising his guard as he attempted a fast recovery.
Intending to deny this attempted recovery, Satsuki threw a quick kick to his side, spinning slightly from the momentum as the blond reeled back from the attack, gritting his teeth as he switched his stance and kept his legs close. Springing forward moments after, Naruto flung several punches in the same patternless manner as before, just as he launched his right elbow forward upon the first sign of her guard dropping.
'Hmm... It seems I've blundered,' Satsuki thought, heart racing as she narrowed her eyes, frantically attempting to block or dodge the attack by any means possible.
Naruto stepped forward, committing to the blow, only for it to barely graze her cheek, moments before her elbow connected with his chest, forcing him back once more. Seizing the initiative once more, Satsuki leapt upwards once again, spinning slightly in the air before launching her heel at his side, only to be met with another sloppy block. Not wanting to relent, she tilted her slender frame, throwing a swift jab that grazed the blond's cheek, before managing her momentum and flipping over, launching her foot downwards and connecting with the blond's right shoulder.
As Satsuki landed on her feet, Naruto stumbled back a few steps, holding his shoulder before beginning to fall onto his back.
'I... Huff... Still no match...' Naruto thought to himself in dismay as his eyes gradually fluttered shut, only for his consciousness to remain. 'Huh...?'
Satsuki watched on, before dashing over in an attempt to slow or halt Naruto's fall, only for the blond to fade into his own shadow upon contact with the ground. Looking around, Satsuki took several breaths, attempting to steel herself in the face of what just happened, as a similar sound was heard behind her.
'What the... This pressure... It's just...' She thought to herself in a panic as she turned over, coming face to face with Naruto once again.
The blond reappeared behind Satsuki, panting several times as he grabbed his head, shadow growing larger as strange incantations and markings slowly emerged from his hands, moments before a large scythe composed of shadows formed in his hand.
'Just like that woman...' Satsuki pondered in alarm, eyes widening as she ducked to the side, narrowly dodging a wide arc from the blond. "N-Naruto... P-please... Stop!"
Seemingly oblivious to her words, Naruto stalked forward, eyes dead-set upon her as he held up the scythe in his hand once more, slashing forward and grazing her cheek, sending her tumbling onto her back as he loomed over her.
"Please... Naruto..." Satsuki begged, tears slowly streaming from her eyes as she held up her hands. "... Not you too..."
The blond soon brought the scythe down towards Satsuki, only to stop inches away from piercing her flesh, the incantations and markings from his hands slowly vanishing as tears slowly streamed down his face. As if by clockwork, Naruto's shadow normalised, the scythe vanishing into thin air before he fell onto his knees, falling forward before her soon after.
"I... I'm so sorry..." Naruto panted, breathing heavily as his vision grew blurry, soon fading to black soon after. "I... Didn't mean to..."
Satsuki sat on the ground for a moment, panting and gasping for air as the choking pressure of the room soon vanished, leaving her alone with her blond companion once again. Hearing his near-silent whisper, Satsuki reached forward, before taking his head gently in her hands.
"I... It's alright, just..." Satsuki began to whisper back, "... Thought I lost you too..."
Placing a hand on the blond's head, Satsuki sighed softly, before looking upwards immediately and looking around in alarm.
"Oh? Seems I may have been slightly late..." Jashin stated, appearing suddenly from the shadows of the room as she flicked a lock of brown hair aside, painted eyebrows barely visible as she took a knee before the two, still somewhat looming over them despite this, red-and-black kimono enhancing her already menacing shadow.
"You..." Satsuki mumbled, pulling Naruto slightly closer to herself as she steeled herself to return Jashin's glance. "... Was this your doing?"
"Oh my, how scandalous of an accusation..." Jashin chided as she leaned in closer and placed a hand on Satsuki's cheek, the wound on its surface patching up moments after. "Well now, before you run your mouth further, perhaps we should see to my reaper."
"W-wait... I thought... I thought you said Naruto was your... Your ward?" Satsuki asked, slowly rising to her feet as she did her best to hold Naruto up as well.
"Oh, he is both my ward..." Jashin began to say as she turned towards the door, "And reaper."
-Three Hours Later-
Resting silently atop a futon in another room within Satsuki's home, Naruto laid still for a period, eyes slowly opening after a long reverie.
"What... Where..." Naruto whispered, vision slowly focusing as he sat upright moments later, alerting Satsuki immediately.
"... Naruto," Satsuki murmured, stepping over and kneeling by Naruto's side. "Are you alright?"
"I... Oh... I..." Naruto stammered, looking up at Satsuki as he tried his best to maintain eye contact, eventually turning away as the memories flooded back to him. "I'm so sorry...
"... It's alright, please... Stop..." Satsuki began to say, placing a hand on Naruto's as she looked straight at him. "It's alright now... Please... Stop blaming yourself."
"She's right, you know?" Jashin asked from the side, legs crossed as she sat in front of both of them. "Long time no see, Naruto-kun."
"I... It's you..." Naruto mumbled, looking over at Jashin as he shook his head, "I'm sorry... I... Couldn't control it like... Ugh... Like how I practised..."
"Practise?" Satsuki asked, looking between the two as she did so, eyes focusing on Jashin soon after. "Okay... Err... Right. First, who are you? You claim that Naruto is your ward... And reaper, but who are you?"
"Well, if you must know, I suppose I don't mind telling you," Jashin joked, moving a hand and rubbing off the painted eyebrows from her face, the other moving to pull off the brunette wig she wore, allowing wild, silver locks to run down her shoulders once again. "My name is Jashin, and I am the Goddess of Blood and Carnage."
"... Goddess of Blood and Carnage...?" Naruto asked, unsure of how to feel as he positioned himself slightly more between Satsuki and Jashin. "... Why bother with me, then? Why come to me last year at the cemetery...?"
"Simply put, I have a greater purpose for you," Jashin stated, "Many moons ago, two noble souls forsakened themselves to eternal damnation for your survival. For me, that meant containing that fox inside you. We all know what those villagers mean by identifying you as a demon."
'... So that's the ward part...' Satsuki thought to herself as she watched the conversation unfold, instinctively moving closer to Naruto. "What about the reaper part?"
"Well, last year, let's just say I gave Naruto-kun a little gift," Jashin stated as she folded her arms, "Those shadows of his don't do the things they do naturally, you realise? They are learnt. They are practised, though they are yet to have been mastered. As for becoming a reaper... That's more of a title for a job I require Naruto's help with."
"A Goddess... Needs my help?" Naruto mumbled, unable to believe what he was hearing, "Why?"
"Why? Well, you are only alive because of I, are you not?" Jashin chided, shaking her head soon after. "Since you are alive because of my magic, you gained portions of my abilities and my potential. Though... All things have their price. I believe you should understand that fair and well. In exchange for my will keeping you alive... You are to assist in my duties... To banish the souls of the corrupt, and to redeem the souls who are not yet lost."
'That explains the scythe...' Satsuki thought, pondering the idea for a moment as she looked over at Naruto, before turning back towards Jashin.
"Granted, don't worry, you'll still be able to become a shinobi," Jashin assured, "Just make sure to carry out your duties in tandem. That is all I ask of you."
"That is all?" Naruto asked back, taking a moment to ponder the situation.
"It is, I believe we're done here for now," Jashin stated, standing back up before ripping another hole in reality with a swing from her scythe. "Oh, and don't worry. I don't need an answer now... I already got it one year ago."
Not awaiting a response from either Naruto or Satsuki, Jashin stepped into the portal and vanished, leaving the two behind in the aftermath, moments before Satsuki turned towards Naruto, the latter looking down at his hands.
"Naruto... Please," Satsuki began to say, reaching over and squeezing his hand gently. "I... I'm not the best at this, but... Please, tell me. What is going on?"
Naruto took a breath, heart skipping a beat as he slowly turned towards Satsuki, eyes shifting before finally managing to meet her glance.
"I... Alright. I'll tell you... I'll tell you all of it," Naruto assured, nodding as he did so, "... Just..."
"Please don't worry... I... I've no right to judge," Satsuki promised, "Please just tell me... And... And I'll do my best to understand... Just like you would."
Naruto nodded, taking a breath before opening his mouth to speak, only for Satsuki to hold up a hand soon after. Hesitating for a moment, the raven-haired girl leaned in, wrapping her arms gently around her blond companion.
"And... Also, before I forget..." She began to say, a tear rolling down her cheek as Naruto soon returned the hug. "Happy birthday."
Author's Notes 2: Well, unexpectedly, I finished this chapter before the weekend. Admittedly, my initial plans for this chapter were to dive right into Naruto and Satsuki's beginnings as genin, but I do now believe that a further development chapter would work better. Though, should this chapter not be as good as the previous one in a tonal or character sense, do let me know. I'd be happy to rewrite this chapter if necessary, as this is only one of the few versions of this chapter I envisioned throughout the writing process.
In any case, do tell me what you guys thought about this chapter in the reviews down below! I'm always eager to see what you guys have to say!