Forward into The Land of Steam, those who'd never been witnessed the source of its namesake. It was barely noticeable in the other seasons but incredibly obvious during winter. Clouds formed below the actual clouds before turning into snow. Their destination had nearly the entire sky covered in them. All couldn't help but admire the sight.

"Okay," Dosu said, "being a real ninja isn't that bad."

Kakashi hummed. "It has its moments."

"Travel the world, meet interesting people," Guy cheered, raising his fists into the air.

"And kill them," Kakashi finished. "I miss that slogan."

Sakura furrowed her brow. "Was that for the Academy?"

"Kind of."

Guy's smile widened. "Shinobi parents would tell it to their children." His father used it ironically, but he still liked it.

Tenten looked from Sakura to Lee. "Come to think of it, aren't we the only ones not from clans or shinobi families in our group?"

"What group?" Sakura asked.

Guy looked to Team 7 as a whole. "You haven't heard?" He grinned alongside Lee and Kiba when they made faces. "They're calling my team and your classmates The Raging Leaves!"

"Had a feeling that was what the dick-riding was about." Dosu didn't mind the odd-looks he got. "A bit much, don't you think?"

"They're calling your passing class specifically The Rookie Nine," Tenten said, ignoring him.

Sakura looked down. "...Nine, huh?" A hand on her shoulder from Sasuke perked her up somewhat.

Another awkward silence fell over. It was as Guy said when the subject first came up, the matter was long settled. Their feelings would remain the same regardless of how much they shared their thoughts. They had a mission to complete, and their emotions about another matter entirely would be a hindrance. Chances were they'd feel the same about many others things throughout their careers.

The capital of the land gradually came into view. It looked beautiful in the snow and was nearly the size of their village. A palace stood at its center with fortifications that stood out from the walls surrounding the grand town. While a powerful ninja could destroy or slip by, they would at least be somewhat impeded. No doubt the daimyo had his own personal guard to help as well.

"Onsen City." Sakura smiled.

Dosu looked to the distant wafting vapor. "Dipping into the hot springs would feel really great right now."

"Hell yeah!" Kiba pet a shivering Akamaru. "Hate this cold."

"First, we report to the Steam Daimyo," Kakashi said, crushing their dreams.

Guy stroked his chin and smirked. "I heard the palace has its own private spring." He gave a joyous cry alongside his two male students, the dog barking in excitement

"If that were true, we'd see steam over it." Tenten squinted as they deflated and Akamaru whined. "That doesn't mean we won't have time to go to one."

"This is a guard job, right?" Dosu almost sighed.

Sasuke kept his eyes on the path ahead of them. "We'll have to familiarize ourselves with the defenses so we can best know how to assist."

Sakura nearly rolled hers. "Let's just go after." She glanced at him. "It has been a while since we relaxed."

"That's the wisest course of action," Kakashi said.

"Alright!" Guy jumped alongside Lee. "Our celebratory hot spring time of youth waits after this!"

Dosu groaned. "Both of you are way too much."

"You get used to it," Tenten and Kakashi said in unison.

Civilians glanced at them, unused to seeing foreign ninja in groups beyond four. There were more than a few Steam Ninja around yet they seemed off. Sure, they were a notable number of obvious foreign ninja, but it was like they were expecting something. When they reached the palace's gates, the guards were relieved to see them. A few led by an old noble-looking man practically rushed them inside.

"Dosu," Kakashi whispered silent enough one would mistake it for the wind blowing.

He focused his voice to reach only the ears of his teammates. "We're safe." Beneath his bandages, his brow furrowed. "The guards are terrified, the ninja are scared, and the civilians know something is wrong. Nothing but talk about how off the officials are. They're afraid of even talking about it."

Kakashi's eye narrowed ever so slightly. "This is the real deal then."

They continued into the palace proper. Not a single corner of its halls looked dirty or ugly. Statues, paintings, carpets, and even potted plants decorated the place. Even Guy and Kakashi couldn't help but look around. It wasn't every day shinobi below the rank of Kage were invited into the highest nobility's residence. Their escort stopped them in the middle of what what had to be the throne room, as evidence by two thrones. A young, long-haired man several years older than them in a kimono wearing a headdress with vapor icons sat in one and a beautiful grown woman, also in a kimono, sat in the other.

"My lord." The old noble bowed and gestured towards the ninja. "These are the Leaf shinobi you requested."

Humming, the man stood up. "You're their best?" He walked toward them, the woman following yet in a far more dignified manner, while stroking his chin. "Awfully young, aren't you?" His eyes drifted from surprised Sakura to surprised Tenten. "...And beautiful."

"Minoru," the woman scolded.

He jumped back. "My apologies!" The Steam Daimyo himself bowed, to the disappointment of his female company "You must have many questions."

"Am I right to assume you suspect a threat to your life, your majesty?" Kakashi asked.

"Yes." He rose. "No doubt, you've heard what happened to my predecessor." He frowned. "My father."

Guy murmured. "Our condolences."

"Thank you." Minoru cleared his throat. "What I'm about to disclose is information your village may find of some interest."

Kakashi raised his only visible eyebrow alongside several of the others perking up in interest. "Your majesty?"

He grimaced, pondering how to put it. "The Village Hidden in the Steam...has been infiltrated or home to a cult of murder-worshiping savages for some time." He looked at their confused and shocked faces. "And they want to sacrifice me in honor of their god. Specifically, the man thought to be their leader…" Drifting off, he shivered. "Red Reaper Hidan."

"...Who's that?" Kiba asked.

"Red Reaper Hidan…" Kakashi blinked. "I have never heard of him."

Guy hummed. "Me neither." He stroked his chin, pondering if it was another person he forgot.

The old official looked to the Steam Daimyo. "Your majesty, may I?"

"You're the one who told me, Yoshi." Minoru buckled under the woman's gaze.

He looked to the shinobi. "Red Reaper Hidan was the Hidden Steam's deadliest anbu agent. If they wanted someone dead, they sent Hidan. I was unable to learn the method as to how he does it, but he kills people by somehow puncturing their heart straight through without ever being near them."

Kakashi frowned beneath his mask. "Oh…" He heard of such occurrences long ago.

"When the Hidden Steam began to shift away from violence, Hidan did not take it lightly: he murdered a great deal of their shinobi before leaving."

"But they couldn't disclose anything about him without revealing who he was and what he did, which by extension was what the Hidden Steam did."

"Exactly." The old man inclined his head. "I knew because the previous Steam Daimyo told me and Lady Hitomi of this man should we ever require his services before he went on his rampage."

Sakura pursed her lips. "How did you find out he's targeting the current Steam Daimyo?"

Minoru frowned. "Kouta, the mayor of this city, had the threat carved into his chest while he was still living before his heart was punctured when he announced the new year's celebrations." He began shaking. "'The False Lord, in fear and despair, will know the wrath of The One Lord. All heretics will join him. The City of Sinners will burn. May His faithful children rule The Promised Land once more.'"

His servant put a hand on his shoulder, Hitomi doing the same to his other. "That will not happen." The stern looks on the shinobi's faces set some of the nobles' worries at ease.

"Either he intends to mislead in pursuit of another goal, is pulling some sick joke, or he really is a fanatic announcing an attack like that," Kakashi said. "Have you found any traces of espionage? Traps, explosives, or storage seals in the city?"

"Absolutely nothing."

Hitomi almost frowned. "Your job is to defend the Steam Daimyo with your life." Some of their faces shifted in recognition of what she meant. "Nothing more, nothing less."

"Mother!" Minoru scolded.

"Do you have any more questions?" His trusted servant asked. "If not, you will be led to your quarters." The two jonin sharing a look and shaking their heads made him gesture towards the soldiers. "Proceed."

The guardsmen nodded before leading them back through the palace. Works of art from earlier passed by until they were replaced by new ones. Eventually, they stopped by a sliding door. It was opened for them, not that it needed to be, so they walked inside. Packs dropped from their backs right after they picked out their beds. Dosu looked to Kakashi as if expecting something, which led the rest of Team 7 to do the same and draw the others into it.

"Back when I was in the anbu, this 'Hidan' was something of a legend without a name. His assassination method, as you heard, is unique and utterly unprecedented. Autopsy reports on the victims ruled out everything we suspected."

"So we're dealing with another monster." Tenten hummed.

"It has to be a jutsu, which means it's possible for our Sharingan to see." Sasuke activated his. "We should examine the Daimyo when we next see him."

Kiba raised a determined fist. "Me and Akamaru can track him from scent if we can find anything he could have placed nearby."

"I should tunnel underground to see if there are any he might have made to prepare for this," Sakura said.

Dosu nodded. "With my hearing, I can tell if something's different or if someone who shouldn't be here is nearby and throw my voice precise enough for only you to hear." He paid the surprised faces on the unaware ninja no mind.

Lee, following Kiba's lead, jumped and raised his to the ceiling. "And we!" Landing, he blinked. "...Will stand guard."

His new teammate put a hand on his shoulder while Akamaru made a pitying whimper. "You can come with us to help. This guy's probably strong."

"It's best we don't go around alone." Kakashi eye-smiled. "He could kill us off one by one with his assassination method. At least this way, there's a chance one of us will survive to witness how its performed and inform the others."

"...A bit grim, don't you think?"

Guy stroked his chin, lips a thin line. "Kakashi is right: if this is that man, we need to find out how he assassinates people to protect ourselves and the Daimyo."

Kiba flinched and Akamaru whined at his uncharacteristically serious tone. "I see." He looked to all of them. "So...that babe was his mom?"

"She looks younger than our sensei," Dosu, eye-wide, said.

Lee nodded. "Youth still burns vibrantly within her!"

"Are you seriously thinking about that at a time like this?" Sakura squinted at them alongside Tenten, making the green beast buckle.

"Nobles, shinobi, and rustic civilians try to have children young in spite of the risk because of the danger in our lifestyles," Kakashi said. "And you're all still going through puberty." He glanced at her blushing face to the other kunoichi's. "I saw how you looked at him."

Dosu gave an open eye-smile of his own. "And I could hear your heartbeats speeding up."

Sasuke almost scowled. "People are going to die." Ignoring them snapping out of it, he looked to the jonin. "We should split into pairs and start preparing immediately."

"You and Kiba will make a good tracking team." Kakashi glanced at Tenten. "You'll keep Dosu safe." Sakura twitched at a smiling Lee when his eye fell on her. "Can't exactly use ninja tools or weapons in tunnels now, can you?"

Guy pointed his thumb at himself. "And I will be with you, Kakashi!"

"Who else is left for me to be with?" He hummed. "We'll stand guard and patrol the immediate vicinity during the morning with Sakura and Lee. Sasuke, Kiba, Tenten, and Dosu will do the same at night, so you should get some rest right now."

"Let's at least do one sweep while we're all up in case we do find something."

Kakashi nodded. "Good idea, Guy." He turned to Sakura. "We'll join you and Lee." He glanced at Dosu. "You'll stay here with Tenten and tell us if anything odd is happening." His focus shifted to the last two. "Check the chakra signature and scents of the guards for anything that seems off before you check the palace's surroundings." He started walking toward the nearest door. "Let's get going."

They left and immediately spread out. Dosu and Tenten went to the center of the palace, Sasuke and Kiba walked around eyeing and sniffing respectively, and the sensei got out with their remaining students to dig beneath the earth, the two incapable of doing so clinging on to those that could with glee. Needless to say, the guardsmen were a bit taken back. It did relieve them to know the experts were on the case though. A few particular tensions remained between the ninja.

"S–"

"Don't talk to me," Tenten spat.

Dosu shrugged. "Fair enough."

Moving beneath the earth, Sakura groaned at small laugh-like hums. "Can you not sound so excited?"

"Forgive me, Sakura, but I fear I will never get an opportunity like this for sometime!" Lee blinked, realizing how he sounded like.

She knew he didn't mean it like that. "You got that right." Although, she meant that both ways.

Kiba, nose twitching alongside Akamaru's, glanced at his partner. "...How strong was he really?"

Sasuke murmured. "I'm not sure if he really was giving it his all, but he wasn't at full strength regardless." His Sharingan eyes narrowed, unintentionally making the guards shiver. "And I still lost."

"Of our entire group, he's the only one that could fight Kimimaro one on one." His hands clenched in frustration. "He almost fucking killed him when we could barely scratch the bastard before Neji, Lee, and Choji showed up."

"The second after he saw me, he realized Kimimaro played him. I don't think he expected any of us to survive. Either he had a strategy against Kimimaro that worked, was at his level, or beyond him."

Not knowing or wanting to consider how much Naruto must have grown after two months, they concentrated on their work. Each who faced the last Kaguya knew they still weren't able enough. Both were hardly the only ninja with such ability in the world. One was about to grace their presence, and he, like many, stood out. Power is manifold.

The Rice Daimyo's palace was easily the most fancy place Naruto had ever been in. Various knickknacks decorated its halls or hung from its interior walls. Servants meekly scurried about to ensure everything was in order but especially to avoid him and his company. A few beautiful women ran away or hid in nearby rooms. He didn't care for any of it though. Orochimaru was plotting something and he went along with it because he saw a potential opportunity.

When they stopped, they were in the main hall or what could be considered a throne room with a fancy mat in place of a proper throne. The man in a stylish black kimono sitting on it was grown yet not old enough to have wrinkles. His hair was styled short and complimented by a headdress adorned with grain-like scribbles. A beautiful woman sat on mats to his left and right, embracing him from them. Neither needed clarification to know what purpose they served.

He smiled at them. "Ah, my dear friend!" His eyes drifted to the young man he didn't recognize. "You haven't come with a guest in years!"

"Tadanaga Akio," Orochimaru said in his true voice, "I'd like to introduce Naruto Uzumaki to you."

He blinked. "The Naruto Uzumaki?" He laughed, prompting his concubines to giggle. "I shouldn't be surprise after how well he did in the Chunin Exams!" Shifting to the stoic boy, he grinned. "I heard all about you from the dignitary I sent in my place. Kills me to know I missed out, but…you both know how that whole affair ended."

"While I was busy and thought him recovering from injuries, he took over Mori Town."

Naruto turned to him. "Is that what it's called?" He rolled his eyes at the genuinely confused look on his transformed face. "Didn't seem important to know, and I didn't really care."

"Oh yeah!" Tadanaga tilted his head. "What was his name again? Tatsuki? Dasuki?" He snapped his fingers, close to the answer.

"No Head Fire Sword."

His laugh was again complimented by the women giggling. "You remind me of that little minx, Anko." He blinked at him frowning. "I didn't mean it like that: my interests lay in only women." He smacked the rumps of his company to punctuate his statement, prompting them to nuzzle his collar from opposite sides.

Aya, pouting, stomped out of one of the side-halls toward him. She didn't bother acknowledging either of the women. With a whimper, she stopped behind him. Her body draped over his and her lips met his ear. Lustful spite burned in her eyes when she glanced at the young man.

"I see…" He squinted at him. "You're one of those."

"What?" Naruto twitched.

Tadanaga stroked Aya's cheek. "You hate beautiful women!" He set his thumb on her lip and bounced it.

"Do you like it when they're the ones that try to fuck you?" Tilting his head, He squinted back. "I mean, do you really think that's befitting of a woman?" He raised a hand to pause him as he parted his lips. "I get wanting women to want you, but isn't it better when they offer themselves instead of going for it?"

He closed them and shifted his hand from the kunoichi's annoyed face to his chin. "...That's." His fingers snapped. "Because you're the man!"

Naruto snapped his own. "Exactly!"

"Respect." He thumped a fist against his chest.

He laughed, making him and therefore his concubines to. "I thought I was going to kill you, but I like your style." He nearly flinched at realizing he said that out loud before the man kept laughing. "Huh?"

"Our good friend here wouldn't let you!"

Orochimaru broke out of his surprise caused by them getting along so well. "Actually, I wouldn't be able to stop him if he tried."

"That's a good…" He drifted off at the serious look on his face. "Oh." Looking back to Naruto, he smiled. "Can I interest you in a few of my concubines? They're your type."

"I don't like women who pretend to be interested in me out of fear." He waved it off.

"Unfortunately, that's all men of our station will get, even with arranged marriages." Tadanaga scoffed while his concubines tried to make him feel their affection. "Especially with arranged marriages."

"Relax, I'm over it."

"Great!" He turned to Aya's pouting face. "Show them to the guest quarters." A frown formed on his lips as hers grew more pronounced. "And behave."

Naruto rolled his eyes at the approaching kunoichi's hateful glare. "How do you know we're staying?"

"My dearest friend never just comes and leaves." Tadanaga smiled at them before they started following her. "Besides, you'd miss the fireworks if you did."

Both rogues looked on ahead without paying particular attention to the help. Her walk was specifically trying to gain one of their notice. Natural inclinations as a man tempted him, but he was really tired of being tempted. As great as his passions and tolerance for grief were, it wasn't worth the effort nor the obvious risk. She was on his potential kill list anyway.

Aya stopped in front of a sliding door. "We're here." She turned to Naruto and became far more demure. "I would gladly warm your bed if you'd have me."

"No," he slid it open before following Orochimaru inside, ignoring her twitching face.

Hinata, still on the branch, wistfully sighed. "You will always be mine and mine alone." She froze when Anko jumped back up and draped an arm over her shoulder.

"Don't forget who you belong to."

"R-R-Right." Her lips pursed. "Naruto and Orochimaru are staying for the new year's celebration."

"Then we will return to our rest," Sai said.

Anko glanced at them, looked away, and clucked her tongue. "Before you do, you should know Orochimaru can't use jutsu." She turned on the branch to look down at them. "We won't have a better chance to kill him."

His eyes betrayed no emotion. "We are aware." Her confused face didn't stir him in the least. "Naruto Uzumaki takes priority. Assassinating Orochimaru and neutralizing the Rice Daimyo are lesser objectives."

She watched them tunnel back through the earth together. "...That old fuck." Frowning, she looked to her understanding student. "I know he can't trust me but still." She almost wanted to pout.

Hinata murmured. "Should we?"

"If either of us sees an opening, yeah, but my cuddly-wuddly is more important." She blinked at her thinned lips. "...Are you jealous?"

Her cheeks turned pink. "N-No." She rested her chin on her hand. "Just thinking about what comes after this and what to prepare for."

"Good idea." Anko looked back to the palace.

Inside, Naruto and Orochimaru, back to his normal self, sat on their respective beds in silence. They hadn't been alone together since they picked up Jugo, not counting their journey to The Land of Rice's capital. Naruto knew he was plotting something. Orochimaru knew he knew he was plotting something. As little as either cared, there was tension, although for a reason entirely unrelated only one of them knew.

"So, I'm stronger than you right now," Naruto said, breaking the silence.

Orochimaru hummed. "That's debatable." He smirked. "You can barely use either of your hands."

He scowled. "At least I can use more than basic jutsu."

"I was wondering when or if you ever noticed." He held them up and wiggled his fingers. "Better than they used to be but not ideal."

"How'd the old man fuck you up?"

It was his turn to scowl. "The same jutsu your father used on The Nine-Tails." His hands clenched into fists. "While I knew what it summoned, I didn't know the extent to what those beings could do."

"You are little more than motes of dust to the Shinigami." Kurama growled. "Even I cannot comprehend what they are."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Sealed away your arms." He almost scoffed.

"Stupid old man ripped my soul out and the Shinigami cut them off."

"Hardcore."

"Indeed." Orochimaru laughed. "Now all the Hokage save Princess Tsunade are fighting for eternity in the Shinigami's stomach."

"Wait, what?" Naruto said in unison with Hinata

"I summoned Hashirama and Tobirama from death to reunite the old man with them; give them time to see how much he'd grown before he died, but he sealed them along with my arms. After, I planned to make them witness the destruction of the village they worked so hard to build. Last kindnesses and so on."

He shook his head. "You are one twisted fuck." Smiling, he chuckled. "But I respect that."

"Naruto," Hinata scolded.

Anko leaned her head in, like a spectator to a sports show. "What's going on?"

"He's complimenting Orochimaru."

"That fucking bastard."

"So you think taking my body will heal your soul?" Naruto asked. "How, if taking that one didn't?"

Orochimaru nearly laughed. "I don't and it won't."

"Arms or no arms, I can still kill you."

"But you won't." His smile grew. "Besides, I have a proposal that will benefit us both." It became all too wide at his questioning face. "I keep training you in return for Sasuke Uchiha: he's still alive."

"What is with you and those stupid fucking eyes?" He twitched.

"Are you jealous?"

Naruto scowled. "Oh please." He laid back in his bed.

"Despite how much they disgust you, kekkei genkai are absurdly powerful." Orochimaru laid on his own. "What would you pick if you had to?"

"...The elemental ones, like ice and sound, seem pretty interesting." He groaned at a scoff. "Not everything has to be eyes!" Turning on his side, he hummed. "But I think I would choose the Byakugan."

"What are you thinking!? The Rinnegan is the only correct choice! You'd be perfect and unstoppable with it."

'I don't want absolute power that isn't really mine.'

"Even now, you somehow keep reminding me of the old man…"

"And here I thought you disliked that Dojutsu."

Naruto frowned. "Neji's dumbass made me hate it by association. In terms of Taijutsu, I can do without the Gentle Fist. What I want is the complete lack of blind spots, but I think I'd love seeing what I could do with full body tenketsu emissions. Just imagine me not limited by access to my hands." He smiled, doing exactly that.

Orochimaru hummed. "Anko never told you about Tetsu."

"Who?"

"Tetsu Hyuga. He was a branch family member and one of my students alongside Anko and Hiraku Kosuke."

"She...said the two of you used him as a guinea pig." He blinked, remembering he had her memories.

"Left out the specifics, yes" He stroked his chin. "We tried mingling his body with some Uchiha flesh I grew for experimenting." A pout formed on his lips. "Unfortunately, it had disastrous results like every other time I tried it." He almost whined. "If I only had my hands on that survivor."

"You wanted to combine the Sharingan and the Byakugan?" Lifting his upper body, he squinted at him. "Wait, that's what you meant back at the forest?"

"Yes, though the anbu agent is from trying to replicate Hashirama Senju's Wood Release."

Naruto hummed. "So you used Yang Release for those, like body modification jutsu." His nod made him tilt his head. "I know this might sound batshit crazy but maybe try Yin too?" The curious look on his face was neither approval nor disapproval. "As much as you can manipulate life, it still has its limit, so you have to start from the ground up: nothingness."

"What you propose is a hypothetical Yin-Yang Release." He lifted himself up. "I thought so once too, but it, even for me, is impossible." Frowning, he looked up. "Such a thing would require an understanding of chakra beyond anything that has ever been shown." His lips pursed. "...Anko once suggested the same thing to me long ago."

"Old Man Sage could do that."

"Oh, shut up."

"Feel whatever you may toward her, the two of you share much in common."

"I'm serious: that is literally what Old Man Sage did to create us."

'Do you know how?'

"He had the Rinnegan. Your basic elements may as well have been kid's toys to him."

'Then I guess I'll have to figure it out on my own.' He laid back down with a smirk. 'And I'm still not going to use it to get kekkei genkai.'

Hinata hummed. "Anko-sensei, Orochimaru...seems sad when he mentions you."

She shook her head. "That unbelievable fucking asshole." Her eyes narrowed at the palace. "Now, you feel bad about what you did to me?"

"And Naruto…"

"He hates me, I know." He had to have known she kept the truth a secret from him too by that point.

"No." Hinata turned to her. "His feelings are a mess, but the thought of you at least snaps him out of it."

She blinked before scrunching her face. "Snaps him out of what?"

"He's back to his old self...if he really did act out on his worst impulses."

"...That's bad, isn't it?"

"Remember when I told you how he jumped out of a window on graduation day?" Her nod almost made her laugh nervously. "On a scale of one to five, that was a one." She focused longingly on his desire swirling into despair. "He's at five."

Somewhere else in the palace, Tadashi began molding his chakra into a sensory form as he always did around that time. It expanded from him and stopped when they crossed one of that particular guest. He dropped to his knees before vomiting the contents of his stomach out. Orochimaru, out of paranoia or consideration, kept his chakra in a far more tolerable and unnoticeable form almost on reflex. Naruto wasn't near Karin, so he didn't bother keeping his in check.

"We might not need Torune's insects to keep the sensor ninja from checking for signatures."

"How the hell are you keeping it in then?" she scoffed.

Hinata held her blushing face. "I love him." It grew as Anko embraced her.

"You're a good girl." She smiled. "And Naruto's been a bad boy." Nuzzling her red face, her smile shifted into a grin. "We need to make him understand."

"Understand what, Anko-sensei?"

"Our pain, Hinata. That this all his fault, and there's only one way for him to take it all back."

"Returning with us to the village."

"From what you told me, he's probably going to put up a fight, so he has to be broken first." She giggled. "I'm going to use you to do that."

Hinata nuzzled her back. "...Right, Anko-sensei."

Neither knew Naruto considered both lost to him. Seeing either would provoke a mix of strong emotions. Both revealing themselves would test his limits. Discovering what happened while he was gone would cross them. There was no telling what he'd do after.

AN: Hidan, logically speaking, would be a ridiculously difficult assassin to place down. We only ever see him in direct combat. Honestly, a waste of his abilities, but what are you going to do? They partnered him with someone who has no need of his skillset. S-rank is still S-rank and Asuma's squad still did suboptimal against him. And I do mean just Hidan. Kakuzu only came in after he got decapitated. Hidan could've killed Asuma the second he got the circle down but wanted to show off because he's that kind of guy.

For the record, Naruto can't use Yang or Yin release at the moment. He just learned what they are over the timeskip.

Something I've been forgetting to mention for the past several chapters is that we're now over 800 followers! Thank you so much for going along with me. And for those of you that thought the stations of canon were bringing this fic down, I hope I didn't correct too much. Although, I did want to do this for this fic's part 2. Simply because Shippuden is where all the cracks in the series are, granted they're mostly in the latter half.

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the form of a review or PM.