The Sage Who Broke Laws Of Nature
After completing D rank after D rank missions, Team Ten finally stood in front of the Hokage. The children were visibly frustrated and eager for something more challenging.
Naruto was the first to break the silence. "Old man! We're tired of these useless, mundane tasks! We want something exciting and dangerous!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, looked at the group with a grandfatherly smile, his pipe clutched between his teeth. He turned his gaze to their sensei, Kushina Uzumaki, silently asking if they were ready for a higher-level mission. She gave a silent nod.
"All right, all right, calm down," Hiruzen said, holding up a hand. "Let's see what we have here." He began to sift through the stack of mission scrolls on his desk.
Cholo was munching chips loudly, his eyes wandering around the room as if searching for something interesting. Yuagō's eyes were twitching in irritation, her arms crossed over her chest. Naruto was tapping his foot impatiently, while Kushina lazily checked her nail polish, seemingly unfazed by the chaos around her.
The previous month had been filled with particularly annoying D rank missions. They had spent one grueling day chasing a rogue cat named Tora, which always seemed to slip through their fingers at the last moment. Another mission involved scrubbing the graffiti off the Hokage Monument, a task made more tedious by Naruto's complaints about how he should be the one having his face carved into the stone someday. And just last week, they had been assigned to babysit a group of rowdy children who ended up tying Cholo to a tree and pelting Yuagō with mud balls.
Finally, Hiruzen found what he was looking for. He picked up a red scroll and looked at them dramatically. "I have a mission for you," he announced. "You are to take this message to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire's palace."
Naruto's eyes lit up with excitement. "We'll take it, Old Man! This is the kind of mission we've been waiting for!"
Cholo's chips fell to the floor as he jumped up, "Finally, something interesting!"
Yuagō's stern expression softened into a grin. "I'm ready for this," she said, cracking her knuckles.
Even Kushina seemed pleased, a proud smile spreading across her face. "Looks like we're in for an adventure," she said.
Hiruzen handed the scroll to Kushina. "Remember, this is an important mission. The message must reach the Daimyo safely."
"We won't let you down!" Naruto declared, practically bouncing on his feet.
After leaving the Hokage's office, Kushina turned to her team. "We'll meet at the northern gate of the village at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow sharp. Don't be late."
The trio nodded enthusiastically before heading to their respective homes.
o~o~o
Back at home, Naruto was practically jumping in the living room. "A real mission! This is going to be awesome!" he shouted, doing a little dance.
Kushina, who was cooking stew in the kitchen, looked over her shoulder. "Naruto, you need to be vigilant during the mission. Don't do anything stupid, dattebane."
Naruto crossed his arms and pouted. "I'm not going to do anything stupid, dattebayo! You're the one who always gets into trouble!"
Kushina turned off the stove and walked into the living room, her hands on her hips. "Me? You're the one who once tried to fight a squirrel because you thought it was an enemy ninja!"
"That squirrel was suspicious, dattebayo!" Naruto shot back, grabbing a pillow from the couch and throwing it at her.
Kushina caught the pillow effortlessly and tossed it back at him. "Just promise me you'll be careful, okay?"
Naruto grinned. "I promise, Mom. We're going to complete this mission and make you proud!"
Just then, the front door opened, and Minato Namikaze walked in. "I'm hom—" he started to say, but was abruptly cut off when a frying pan, thrown by Kushina in the heat of the moment, hit him square on the head, knocking him out cold with a thud.
Naruto's eyes widened in horror. "Mom! You killed Dad!"
Kushina's face turned pale. "No, I didn't! It was an accident!"
"I'm an orphan and you're a widow now!" Naruto wailed, running around in circles.
"Oh no! But I'm only 23!" Kushina exclaimed, wringing her hands.
"I'm not even a—uhh…will we be arrested for killing him?" Naruto asked, pausing his frantic running.
"Uh…maybe," Kushina replied, looking genuinely worried.
"Should we hide the corpse—"
"Ugh…what happened…?" Minato groaned, slowly sitting up and rubbing his head.
"He's alive!" Naruto shouted, relief washing over him.
"I am what?" Minato asked, confused and still dazed.
"Nothing, Dad!" Naruto said quickly.
"I'm cooking, don't disturb me, dattebane!" Kushina huffed, marching back to the kitchen, leaving a bewildered Minato and a relieved Naruto in her wake.
o~o~o
The next day, Team Ten finally assembled at the northern gate of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Yuagō was already there, her backpack securely strapped on, a small katana hanging at her side. Cholo stood beside her, munching on an apple and looking eager. Kushina and Naruto arrived a few minutes later, with Kushina leading the way and Naruto bouncing with excitement.
Kushina looked at her team with a serious expression. "Listen up. This mission is important. We're delivering a very crucial scroll to the lord of the Land of Fire. There's a war going on, and we can't let this scroll fall into enemy hands. Be careful, stay vigilant, and stick together."
Yuagō and Cholo nodded in understanding, while Naruto pumped his fist in the air. "We're going to be unstoppable, dattebayo!" he yelled.
With that, they started their journey. They sprinted through the woods, leaping from tree branch to tree branch. The trees of the Village Hidden in the Leaves were gigantic, towering over the landscape like ancient guardians. These trees were a testament to the power of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, who created the forest around the village and in many areas of the Land of Fire using his unique Wood Release jutsu. The dense canopy provided a natural defense and a perfect environment for the village's shinobi to train and travel stealthily.
Hashirama's wood release was truly a marvel of creation so amazing that it stunned the world when it first appeared. The power to subdue tailed-beasts…it still awed the world. till this date, people cannot help but wonder how strong the man truly was? Little did they know that they will be soon witnessing the Era of Collapse— the time when power scales broke the chart.
As they moved through the forest, they saw a group of Hidden Cloud Shinobi resting in a clearing below. Kushina motioned for silence and whispered, "Be stealthy. We can't afford a confrontation."
The team moved with precision and caution, their movements barely disturbing the leaves around them. They circled around the clearing, keeping a safe distance from the foreign ninjas, and continued their journey once they were out of sight.
As night fell, they found a suitable spot to rest. They set up their tents, with Yuagō and Kushina sharing one, while Naruto and Cholo shared the other. Cholo, eager to surprise his team, wandered off to a nearby pond and returned with two gigantic fishes he had caught.
"Look what I got!" Cholo exclaimed, holding up the fishes proudly.
Naruto's eyes widened. "Whoa, Cholo! How did you catch those?"
Cholo grinned. "A secret Akimichi technique," he said with a wink.
They cooked the fish over a campfire and took turns keeping watch throughout the night. At dawn, they packed up and continued their journey.
Three days later, they finally arrived at the Palace of the Lord of the Land of Fire. The palace was an impressive structure, surrounded by high walls and guarded by vigilant soldiers. The grandeur of the place was evident in its intricate designs and the sheer scale of the buildings.
The guards at the gate stopped them. "State your business and present your certification."
Kushina handed over the mission scroll and their documents. The guards scrutinised them, then one of them went inside. After about ten minutes, he returned and told them to wait.
Kushina was soon summoned by the lord. "Wait here in the guest room," she instructed the kids. "I'll be back shortly."
However, the children's curiosity got the better of them, and they began to explore the palace. The palace was breathtakingly beautiful, with vast hallways adorned with paintings and tapestries, elegant furniture, and lush gardens. The floors gleamed with polished marble, and the ceilings were adorned with intricate frescoes.
They wandered into a courtyard with a stunning pool. The water was crystal clear, reflecting the surrounding flowers and trees. Just as Naruto was about to dip his hand into the pool, a boy, around six or seven years old and older than Naruto, appeared, wearing elegant clothes.
"You shouldn't be touching the pool," the boy said haughtily.
Naruto frowned. "Why not? It's just water, dattebayo!"
The boy smirked. "Because I'm the son of the lord, and you should respect your seniors."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "I'll only respect you if you've done something to earn it, not just because you're riding on your father's name!"
Everyone was stunned by Naruto's bold statement. The boy looked taken aback, clearly not used to being spoken to in such a manner.
A couple of hours later, Kushina returned, a smile on her face. "We've successfully delivered the scroll. The mission is a success."
"Can we go now?" Naruto asked, still fuming from the earlier encounter.
"Yes, we're heading back to the Village Hidden in the Leaves," Kushina confirmed.
They began their journey back, the excitement of their mission's success mingling with the anticipation of returning home.
o~o~o
The team was resting in a clearing beside a small, babbling stream in the heart of the forest of the Land of Fire. The sound of the water gurgling over rocks was soothing, and the late afternoon sun filtered through the canopy of trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Birds chirped merrily, and the occasional rustling of leaves added to the peaceful ambiance.
Yuagō was lying on her back, her hands behind her head, looking up at the sky through the gaps in the leaves. "When we get back, I'm going to spend the whole day at the hot springs. Just soaking and relaxing. Maybe get a massage too. My muscles are killing me from all this jumping around."
Cholo, sitting cross-legged with his back against a tree, grinned. "I'm going to eat. Eat and eat and eat until I can't move. There's this new ramen place I've been dying to try out. All-you-can-eat buffet. It's going to be glorious."
Naruto, lying on his stomach and idly drawing patterns in the dirt with a stick, perked up at the mention of food. "I'm going to go to Ichiraku Ramen and have every single type of ramen they have! Dattebayo! And then maybe I'll prank some of the villagers for fun."
Kushina chuckled, leaning against a rock with her arms crossed. "You kids and your simple pleasures. I'm just looking forward to a long, uninterrupted nap. And maybe catching up on some reading. I've got a few novels I've been meaning to finish."
Just then, a rustling noise from the nearby bushes caught their attention. Instantly, the team snapped into defensive stances, eyes scanning the surroundings. A tense silence hung in the air, the only sound the faint rustle of leaves and the distant call of a bird.
Suddenly, a volley of shurikens flew towards them. Kushina's chakra chains shot out with lightning speed, deflecting the projectiles effortlessly. Another moment of silence followed, filled with a sense of foreboding.
Then, they heard it – the sound of footsteps, many footsteps, approaching from all directions. Dozens upon dozens of Hidden Cloud shinobi emerged from the woods, their expressions grim and determined.
The leader of the group, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, smirked as he looked at the young team. "Well, well, what do we have here? A bunch of kids led by a woman. Hidden Leaf must be scraping the bottom of the barrel to send you lot out. You'll regret this, mark my words."
His eyes settled on Kushina, and his smirk grew wider. "Ah, the vessel of the Demon Fox. Capturing you would be a great boon for the Village Hidden in the Clouds."
Kushina's eyes narrowed. "Kids, stay together and don't engage unless someone approaches you. I'll handle this."
The Hidden Cloud shinobi laughed derisively, and then the battle erupted. Kushina's chakra chains lashed out, her katana a blur as she fought off the attackers. The ground shook as she channeled the Kyuubi's chakra, a red aura enveloping her. The Hidden Cloud shinobi found themselves overwhelmed by her sheer power and ferocity.
"Damn it!" one of the shinobi cursed as he was thrown back by a powerful strike. "She's a monster!"
Kushina's movements were a deadly dance, her chains wrapping around enemies and flinging them away, her katana slicing through their defenses. The Kyuubi's chakra made her almost unstoppable, her attacks devastating.
The leader of the Hidden Cloud shinobi began to reassess the situation. They were elite shinobi, yet they were being defeated by this woman as if they were nothing. He needed to retreat, but returning without any gain would be a disgrace. His eyes fell on Naruto, the red-headed boy in the team. From the boy's features, it was clear he was related to Kushina. An Uzumaki… capturing him would be a valuable prize for their village.
Determined, he made his move towards Naruto. However, before he could reach the boy, Yuagō stepped in, her katana at the ready. The leader's experienced eyes quickly calculated the odds. With a swift kick, he disarmed her, sending the katana flying.
"Yuagō!" Cholo yelled, making a hand sign. "Partial Expansion Technique!" His hands bulged and extended towards the Hidden Cloud shinobi.
But before Cholo could reach him, Naruto finished his own hand sign. "Wind Style: Devastating Breakthrough!" The powerful wind jutsu blasted through the area, sending enemies and debris flying.
"Kids…" Kushina panted, the Kyuubi chakra slowly fading. "Run… we're outnumbered. I'll distract—"
"No!" Cholo shouted, his usual calm demeanor shattered. "No, sensei, we won't leave you!"
Yuagō retrieved her katana, determination etched on her face. "We're in this together."
Naruto grinned, though it was tinged with nervousness. "Yeah, we can do this, dattebayo!"
Kushina sighed, knowing it was futile to argue with them. "Alright then," she said, her Kyuubi chakra gone. "Leave this to me. Stay back and cover me!"
Golden chakra chains emerged from her palms once more, and she leapt back into the fray. The remaining Hidden Cloud shinobi attacked with renewed ferocity, but Kushina met them head-on. Her chains blocked and countered their strikes, her katana flashing in deadly arcs.
Yuagō, Cholo, and Naruto stayed back, deflecting projectiles and supporting their sensei with ranged attacks. Naruto's wind jutsu kept the enemies at bay, while Cholo used his expansion technique to protect his teammates. Yuagō's precise strikes with her katana kept any attackers from getting too close.
Despite their efforts, the Hidden Cloud shinobi were relentless. The leader, seeing his chance, made another move towards Naruto, but Kushina intercepted him with a powerful chain strike. The force of the blow sent him sprawling, but he quickly recovered, a look of grim determination on his face.
"You won't take my son!" Kushina yelled, her voice echoing through the forest.
The leader sneered. "We'll see about that."
The battle raged on, the clearing filled with the sounds of clashing metal, shouts, and the crackling of chakra. Birds scattered from the trees, and the once-peaceful stream now seemed a mere background noise to the chaos unfolding around it.
Naruto, Yuagō, and Cholo fought with all their might, their teamwork and determination pushing them beyond their limits. Kushina's chains lashed out in all directions, a whirlwind of golden light and steel. The Hidden Cloud shinobi were slowly but surely being driven back, their numbers dwindling.
But the fight was far from over. The leader of the Hidden Cloud shinobi, bloodied but unbowed, rallied his remaining men for one final assault. "We're not leaving without the boy!" he shouted.
Kushina, breathing heavily, tightened her grip on her katana. "Over my dead body."
And with that, the battle reached its climax, the outcome hanging in the balance as the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the forest clearing.
The leader, who had been attacked by Naruto's Devastating Breakthrough, now stood up, battered but not beaten. He assessed the situation rapidly. Fighting these Leaf Shinobi—kids and a woman, though they were—had proven more challenging than expected. Their teamwork and skills were formidable. Retreating was the best option, even if it was humiliating. But he had a plan. A sinister grin spread across his face as he quickly formed hand signs.
"Lightning Style: Electromagnetic Murder!" he declared, electricity crackling at his fingertips. Kushina's eyes widened as she realized the danger and immediately moved to shield the kids. But then, to her shock, the lightning attack veered off course as the shinobi added a new hand sign. "Split!"
"Cholo!" Everyone screamed in unison as the deadly attack honed in on him with alarming speed.
Cholo's eyes shut tight, bracing for the inevitable.
But before the lightning could strike, a small red blur leapt in front of him. It was Naruto.
"Uggggh!" Naruto cried out as the electricity surged through him. He fell to his knees, smoke rising from his small, trembling form.
"Naruto!" Cholo yelled, rushing to his friend's side. Yuagō stood frozen in shock.
Seizing the moment, the Cloud shinobi began to retreat, hoping to regroup. However…
Everyone gasped as they turned to see Kushina's eyes slitted like a fox, her canines elongating. She was losing control, the Kyuubi's chakra contaminating her own.
But then…
"I am fine."
The voice cut through the chaos, freezing everyone in their tracks.
Kushina blinked and turned to see her boy standing beside Cholo, whose face was full of concern.
"Naruto, are you—" Yuagō's words were cut off by Naruto.
"Cloud Shinobi?" Naruto tilted his head, his voice devoid of its usual cheerfulness. Everyone, including the enemies, felt a chill run down their spines. His eyes… they were hollow. The air around him seemed to grow heavy and ominous.
"Hey, Naruto, you look… different," Cholo said worriedly.
"Hmm, perhaps." Naruto's voice was almost commanding, as if he were an old warrior with a rank that surpassed even Kushina's. "You should step back, Mom. This will only take a while."
"Huh?" Kushina blinked, but something about her son's voice compelled her to obey. She subconsciously stepped back.
The Cloud shinobi, now standing together, snarled. "A brat thinks he can take us all at once?" Even if he said that, there was no confidence in his voice.
Naruto made an unfamiliar hand sign. Kushina's eyes widened in recognition. Of course she knew that sign. She had seen it once before.
...
"Kushi-chan…"
"Jiji… are we going to… die?"
"No, Kushi-chan, Jiji's here. Now, listen, you go and hide inside the Shinjuu tree of our ancestors. I'm sure my niece will send people for aid."
"Mito-oba-chan?"
"Hmm,"
"But won't you hide?"
"Ha, ha, ha! Listen, my dear! The shadow must always be there for its origin. And as I am the Uzukage of this village… I'll be there for it till the end and beyond."
She had hidden inside the tree, but even from such a distance, her Uzumaki eyes caught the glimpse of the hand sign her grandfather—Ashina Uzumaki, the man who had eradicated seven thousand shinobi in that moment—had made. The very hand sign her son was making now.
...
"Kinjutsu." Naruto uttered as he held the sign. "Watatta yō ni shinu."
BEGONE, FOR YOU HAVE CROSSED THE LINE.
Then, IT happened.
A portal materialised above the Cloud ninjas, swirling with dark energy. The shinobi were paralyzed, unable to move as a faint dark white chakra seeped from the portal, forming into a massive hand…no, it was… a claw.
The claw plunged into the leader's body. His eyes widened in horror before rolling back. The claw retracted, pulling out a neon-coloured essence that was more than just chakra.
Cholo snapped his eyes shut, unwilling to witness the horror.
In twenty seconds…
Thirty-nine lifeless bodies fell to the ground.
The portal closed with a final, ominous hum.
"Naruto…" Kushina said weakly as Yuagō dropped to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. "What…"
"The Uzumaki Art, Mom." Naruto replied quietly. "I learned it from Dad's scrolls."
But they both knew that wasn't true.
No one survives after summoning the Shinigami without the Shinigami Mask. Unless…
"We should head back," Kushina stated, her voice trembling.
"H-hai," Cholo and Yuagō responded in unison, their voices shaky, while Naruto gave a gentle smile.
But it wasn't a smile of victory.
It was a smile of sorrow and immense grief.
o~o~o
'Reset number: three hundred and three.
Previous timeline details: the Leaf fell.
Casualties: Seventeen thousand and four hundred.
Uzumaki family: Failed to save either, killed by the Mizukage and Raikage.
Progression: None.
Current reset number: Three hundred and four.
Time of essence transfer into the body: 7 years after the death of Sakumo Hatake.
Success rate: 45%.'
TBC