Demon Flash of the Mist

by lunaluis1107

This is a story where Naruto gets banished from the leaf village and meets up with haku and new adventures await him. Naruto x fem haku.

31. 31

Naruto and Jiraiya finally arrived at the Land of Birds after a few hours of careful travel. The landscape shifted from the dense forests of the Hidden Waterfall Village to the rocky cliffs and rolling hills of the Land of Birds. As they walked, Naruto, lost in thought, broke the silence.

"You know, Pervy Sage," Naruto began, "I think I understand a little bit why the Third Hokage never told me about my parents, especially my dad. I never realized how much of an impact it could have on my life… and how other people would treat me because of him."

Jiraiya glanced at Naruto, noticing the rare serious tone in his voice. "You're talking about what Kurotsuchi said, right?"

Naruto nodded. "Yeah. I mean, I didn't even know my dad was the Fourth Hokage until recently, but apparently, people like Kurotsuchi already hate me because of what he did in the war. I get that he was a hero and all, but why should I have to deal with his past? That was his problem, not mine."

Jiraiya sighed, his usual carefree expression replaced by something more somber. "You're not wrong, Naruto. The burden of being the son of a legend comes with a lot of weight, and sometimes it's unfair. But that's just how the shinobi world works. People project their fears and their hatred onto symbols — and right now, you're a symbol of the Fourth Hokage. Whether you like it or not, you're walking in his shadow."

Naruto clenched his fists. "But I don't want to be in anyone's shadow. I just want to be me, Naruto Uzumaki."

Jiraiya smiled a little at that. "And that's exactly why people are so afraid of you. They're scared that you'll become just as powerful — or even more powerful — than your father. They're afraid of the next Yellow Flash, and they see glimpses of that potential in you already."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Yellow Flash Huh? Why is it that they call him yellow cause of our hair color?"

Jiraiya nodded. "Your dad earned that name because of his incredible speed and mastery of the Flying Thunder God Technique. He was feared and respected all across the ninja world. And from what I've seen in your training, you're already starting to work on mastering that speed. They're afraid of history repeating itself — but this time with you."

Naruto fell silent, thinking about what Jiraiya said. He had been training relentlessly, pushing himself to become stronger, but he hadn't considered how the rest of the world might perceive him. He knew that he was different, but the idea of being feared like his father had never crossed his mind.

"But I'm not my dad," Naruto muttered. "I don't want people to fear me."

Jiraiya patted him on the shoulder. "You're right. You're not your dad, Naruto. You're your own person, and you'll forge your own path. But the strength you have… the potential within you… that's what people see. And whether you like it or not, they'll compare you to your father. It's up to you to decide how you want to deal with that."

Naruto looked up, determination in his eyes. "I'll show them, Pervy Sage. I'll show them that I'm not just the Fourth Hokage's son. I'm Naruto Uzumaki, and I'll become strong in my own way."

Jiraiya smiled. "That's the spirit. Now, let's get moving. My contact should be around here somewhere, and the sooner we get this done, the sooner we can get back to your training."

Naruto sat outside the hut, kicking a small rock back and forth out of boredom. Jiraiya had gone inside, telling him it would only be a few minutes, but for Naruto, even that felt like forever. He sighed, staring at the sky, thinking about his training, and then about Haku.

Just as he was about to lose himself in thought, a young girl, probably no older than 7 or 8, approached him. She had wide eyes and looked a bit panicked.

"Excuse me, mister! Can you help me? I lost my ball in the woods, and I can't find it anywhere!" she said, tugging at his sleeve.

Naruto blinked, surprised by the sudden request. "Uh… sure, I guess. But shouldn't you ask an adult?"

The girl shook her head frantically. "No one else is around, and you look strong! Please, I really need help!"

Naruto scratched the back of his head. He didn't want to leave the area, but she seemed pretty desperate. Besides, it didn't look like Jiraiya would be done anytime soon. "Alright, alright. Lead the way."

He followed the girl into the woods, and as they ventured deeper, he started to get a strange feeling. The forest became denser, and the path narrower. After walking for several minutes, Naruto realized that something was off.

"Hey, where exactly is this ball of yours?" Naruto asked, narrowing his eyes.

Suddenly, the girl disappeared, her form distorting into a puff of smoke. In her place, Kurotsuchi stood, smirking with her arms crossed.

Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. "Kurotsuchi?! You again?!"

She didn't waste any time, throwing a kunai directly at him. Naruto swiftly caught it, staring her down.

"You're pretty persistent, aren't you?" Naruto growled, tossing the kunai aside.

Kurotsuchi's smirk grew wider. "I told you the next time we meet, I'd kill you. You should've listened."

Naruto clenched his fists. "You're still holding a grudge for something the fourth hokage did? You've got the wrong guy, you know. I'm from the Hidden Mist, not the Leaf."

"Doesn't matter. You may not be from the Leaf, but you're still his blood. That's enough reason for me." Kurotsuchi's tone was filled with animosity, but there was also a hint of uncertainty in her eyes, as if she wasn't entirely sure why she was so set on fighting him.

Naruto sighed. "Look, I don't want to fight you, but if you keep pushing this, I won't hold back."

Kurotsuchi tightened her grip on her kunai, preparing for an attack. "We'll see about that!"

She lunged at him with impressive speed, but Naruto sidestepped her easily. She followed up with a flurry of kicks and punches, which Naruto blocked with relative ease.

"You're fast," Naruto admitted, dodging another strike. "But you're not thinking straight. This isn't going to solve anything!"

Kurotsuchi gritted her teeth, clearly frustrated. "Shut up!" She formed hand seals rapidly. "Earth Style: Mud Wall!" A towering wall of mud rose between them, aiming to trap Naruto in place.

But Naruto had trained with some of the best. He quickly formed a hand seal of his own. "Water Style: Severing Wave!"

A stream of water shot from his mouth, crashing into the mud wall and breaking it apart. Kurotsuchi stumbled back, surprised at his counter.

"You know water style huh?" she muttered.

Naruto wiped his mouth, keeping his gaze on her. "Like I said, I've got nothing against you or your village. But if you keep coming at me, I won't go easy on you."

For a moment, there was silence between them. Kurotsuchi stared at Naruto, her breathing heavy from the exertion. Her expression softened, but the intensity in her eyes remained.

"Why don't you just fight me for real?" she demanded. "Why are you holding back?"

Naruto crossed his arms. "Because I don't want to fight you. I've got no reason to. And I think deep down, you don't either."

Kurotsuchi came charging at him grabbing a hold of his collar and yanking him down to the ground. He tumbled across the dirt as she tried to land a punch squarely at his face.

Naruto barely rolled out of the way in time, feeling the force of her fist hitting the ground beside him. He quickly pushed her off with a grunt, sending her back a few feet.

"Seriously?!" Naruto yelled, scrambling to his feet. Kurotsuchi's eyes burned with determination as she stood, fists clenched.

"I'm not done with you yet!" she shouted, darting towards him once more.

Kurotsuchi wasn't giving up. She immediately followed, her agility surprising him as she kept pace. Naruto glanced over his shoulder and saw her closing the gap between them.

"You're really persistent!" Naruto called out, dodging a kunai she threw at him. It embedded itself in a tree trunk just inches from his face. He sped up, hopping from branch to branch.

Kurotsuchi, undeterred, leapt after him. "I told you, I'm going to settle this! I won't let you walk away!"

Naruto sighed, annoyed. He didn't want to hurt her, but she clearly wasn't going to stop. As he weaved through the dense forest, he tried to think of a way to lose her without escalating things. He couldn't afford to cause a serious rift between their villages.

He swung around a large tree trunk, and as he did, he formed a quick hand seal. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Two clones of Naruto popped into existence beside him, and they quickly split off in different directions. Naruto hoped Kurotsuchi would take the bait and follow one of them.

For a moment, it worked. Kurotsuchi paused, eyes darting between the two clones and the real Naruto. She cursed under her breath, unsure which one to chase.

But then she smirked, forming hand seals of her own. "Earth Style: Rock Fist Jutsu!"

Her hand morphed into solid rock, and she slammed it into the ground, sending a wave of debris and sharp stones toward all three Narutos. The clones vanished in puffs of smoke, but Naruto managed to dodge, jumping high into the air.

"Okay, that's enough!" Naruto called out from above, frustrated. He landed back on a branch and faced her, arms outstretched. "What do you want from me?! Why are you so hell-bent on fighting me?"

Kurotsuchi stopped, glaring up at him from the ground. "Because I need to prove something. Not just to you — to myself. I've heard too much about the Fourth Hokage and how everyone feared him. I want to see if his son is just as dangerous."

Naruto and Kurotsuchi clashed with swift, powerful punches, the sound of their fists echoing through the forest. Naruto weaved through her attacks, using his clones to keep up with her relentless strikes. Kurotsuchi was fierce, her determination shining through each blow she landed, but Naruto was faster, more controlled. He used his clones strategically, overwhelming her and knocking her back several times.

Finally, Naruto had enough. He spun away from her, sending one last clone to disarm her as he leaped back, his chest heaving with frustration. "Enough!" he shouted, his voice filled with raw emotion. Kurotsuchi skidded to a stop, glaring at him, but Naruto's words pierced through the tension.

"You wanna know why I'm so strong? You wanna know why I don't care about proving myself to people like you?!" Naruto's voice trembled with anger, not at her, but at the memories he couldn't escape. He stormed toward her, grabbing her by the collar, lifting her slightly off the ground.

"My childhood was hell because of him!" Naruto yelled, his eyes burning with tears of frustration. "Because of my own father—the Fourth Hokage! Everyone hated me, feared me, blamed me for something I had no control over. They treated me like a monster, not because of what I'd done, but because of what my father did!"

Kurotsuchi's eyes widened as Naruto's grip tightened. He wasn't just angry; he was hurt. His hands trembled as he struggled to keep his voice steady. "I grew up alone. No friends, no family, just pain. I didn't even know who my parents were until recently, and now all I hear is that I'm supposed to be this big hero, the son of the Yellow Flash. But I'm not him. I'm Naruto, and I've been fighting my whole life just to survive."

Naruto's grip loosened, and he let her go, stepping back as his breath hitched. "I'm not loyal to the Leaf. I'm a shinobi of the Mist now, and I don't care about their stupid war. I'm not gonna become the next Yellow Flash for the leaf and I'm not gonna follow in my father's footsteps just because people expect me to."

Kurotsuchi staggered back, staring at him in shock. The fire in her eyes had dimmed, replaced by a mixture of confusion and regret. She opened her mouth to speak, but Naruto cut her off.

"So just leave me alone!" he shouted, his voice cracking. "Stop dragging me into your problems! I don't care about the Fourth Hokage, and I sure as hell don't care about proving anything to you or anyone else. I'm my own person. I'm Naruto, and I'll never be like my father."

There was a long silence. The wind rustled the leaves above them, and Naruto stood there, his fists clenched at his sides, his chest still heaving from the emotional outburst. Kurotsuchi was speechless, the weight of Naruto's words settling over her like a heavy cloud. She had never thought of him that way, had never considered the burden he must have carried because of who his father was.

After what felt like an eternity, Kurotsuchi finally spoke, her voice quieter, softer than before. "I… I didn't know. I'm sorry."

Naruto's frustration boiled over, and he shot Kurotsuchi a glare. "Shut it!" he snapped, his voice harsh. "Do you have any idea what it's like? To be stabbed and left to bleed while the nurses refuse to care for you because they see you as a monster?" He felt the familiar anger rise within him, fueled by years of pent-up emotions. "I wished I was dead when I was a kid! I tried—countless times—but every single attempt just ended in failure. I'm still here, still fighting. But you? You probably had friends and family who didn't look down on you, who didn't treat you like you were less than human. You don't have to worry about your next meal or the next time someone's trying to kill you in your sleep."

He turned away, the weight of his past pressing heavily on his shoulders. He felt drained, both physically and emotionally. The anger was still there, but beneath it lay a deep-seated sadness that threatened to consume him.

Kurotsuchi stood silently beside him, taking in his words. She had always seen him as a rival, someone to challenge and prove herself against. But now, hearing his raw pain made her realize just how different their lives had been.

"I'm sorry," she finally said, her voice softening. "I didn't know. I was so caught up in my own anger that I didn't think about how you might feel. It's not fair what you've been through."

Naruto glanced at her, the harshness in his expression starting to fade. "You don't have to apologize for me being angry," he said, his voice quieter now. "You didn't know."

Naruto's frustration boiled over, and he shot Kurotsuchi a glare. "Shut it!" he snapped, his voice harsh. "Do you have any idea what it's like? To be stabbed and left to bleed while the nurses refuse to care for you because they see you as a monster?" He felt the familiar anger rise within him, fueled by years of pent-up emotions. "I wished I was dead when I was a kid! I tried—countless times—but every single attempt just ended in failure. I'm still here, still fighting. But you? You probably had friends and family who didn't look down on you, who didn't treat you like you were less than human. You don't have to worry about your next meal or the next time someone's trying to kill you in your sleep."

He turned away, the weight of his past pressing heavily on his shoulders. He felt drained, both physically and emotionally. The anger was still there, but beneath it lay a deep-seated sadness that threatened to consume him.

Kurotsuchi stood silently beside him, taking in his words. She had always seen him as a rival, someone to challenge and prove herself against. But now, hearing his raw pain made her realize just how different their lives had been.

"I'm sorry," she finally said, her voice softening. "I didn't know. I was so caught up in my own anger that I didn't think about how you might feel. It's not fair what you've been through."

Naruto glanced at her, the harshness in his expression starting to fade. "You don't have to apologize for me being angry," he said, his voice quieter now. "You didn't know.

Kurotsuchi looked at Naruto, a newfound respect gleaming in her eyes. "I respect the fact that you're strong enough to leave your village, despite the fact that your power belongs to another nation. It takes guts to walk away from what's expected of you," she said, her voice steady.

Naruto shrugged, a hint of a smile creeping onto his face. "It's not like I had much of a choice. I needed to find my own way, to become my own person."

"Right," Kurotsuchi replied, nodding. "For now, we'll be rivals. I hope one day I can fight you again—at your best." She paused, glancing back toward the direction of the Hidden Stone. "But for now, I need to head back to my village. It seems I got a little carried away with the whole 'spying' thing."

Naruto raised an eyebrow, half-amused. "So, you were spying on me?"

Kurotsuchi smirked, her demeanor lightening. "You could say that. It was never my intention to start a fight, but it looks like you have a habit of attracting attention."

"Yeah, well, that seems to be my life," Naruto said, running a hand through his messy hair. "Just promise me that if we cross paths again, we can actually have a real fight. No more sneak attacks."

"Deal," she replied, her tone teasing. "And I'm sorry again for how I treated you. I guess I was just projecting my own frustrations."

Naruto waved it off. "No harm done. We're both fighting our own battles, right?"

"Exactly. Well, I better get going before someone realizes I'm gone." Kurotsuchi turned to leave but paused and looked back at him one last time. "Take care, Naruto. I'll be waiting for our next match."

"You too, Kurotsuchi," Naruto replied, watching her retreating figure with a mix of admiration and determination.

As Naruto made his way back to the hut, he spotted Jiraiya emerging from the bushes. The older man had a knowing look on his face, clearly having witnessed at least part of the confrontation.

"So, how'd it go?" Jiraiya asked, crossing his arms with an amused smirk.

Naruto shrugged, his expression a mix of relief and frustration. "It was… complicated. I thought we were going to fight for real, but we ended up just talking. I think she's starting to see me as someone other than just the 'son of the Fourth Hokage.'"

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "So you think you made some progress?"

"Yeah, I guess so. We kind of agreed to be rivals," Naruto replied, a small smile forming on his lips. "It's weird, but it felt good to get that off my chest. I even got to tell her about my past."

Jiraiya chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I was worried I might have to intervene. It looked intense for a moment there. But honestly, it's a good sign. Better than how the Kage from the Leaf and Stone usually treat each other."

Naruto nodded, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. "Yeah, I guess so."

"Learning to respect each other despite those struggles can build a better future—especially between villages," Jiraiya said, a hint of pride in his voice. "You've done well, Naruto. Now let's head back; we still have a lot of training to do."

With that, Naruto and Jiraiya made their way back to the hut. As they walked, Naruto couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter with Kurotsuchi would serve as motivation for his training. If she was a rival, he would need to push himself even harder to surpass her.

As Kurotsuchi made her way back to the Hidden Stone Village, she was met by one of her senseis, a tall, stern-looking man with short hair and a serious demeanor. "Kurotsuchi! Where have you been? You weren't supposed to leave at this hour!" he reprimanded, arms crossed tightly over his chest.

"I was just… training," she replied, a hint of defiance in her voice. "I needed some fresh air."

Just then, her grandfather, Onoki, emerged from the shadows, his presence commanding immediate respect. He approached Kurotsuchi with a furrowed brow. "And what kind of training involves sneaking away from your sensei?" he asked, his tone stern but not unkind. "You need to be more responsible. Your actions can have consequences, especially when it comes to our village's relations with others."

Kurotsuchi sighed, feeling the weight of his words. "I understand, Grandpa. I just wanted to see what was out there. You know how it is."

Onoki studied her for a moment, then narrowed his eyes. "Did you really see him? The next Yellow Flash?"

Kurotsuchi hesitated, her mind racing back to her encounter with Naruto. "No, I didn't see him," she lied, the words slipping out easily. "Just some random shinobi from the Mist. I think he's just trying to make a name for himself."

Onoki's expression softened slightly, but he was not entirely convinced. "You need to be careful. Rumors can spread quickly, and we cannot afford any misunderstandings with the Mist. Keep your focus on your training and stay out of trouble."

With a curt nod, Kurotsuchi watched as her grandfather turned to leave. "I'll handle this matter personally," he called back, his voice steady. "I'll summon the ANBU to gather more information on this shinobi you encountered."

Back with Jiraiya and Naruto as they were in a secluded area in a forest as Jiraiya clapped Naruto on the back, a wide grin on his face. "Alright, Naruto! Get ready for some serious training! We're heading to Mount Myoboku, the home of the toads!"

"Mount Myoboku?!" Naruto exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "I've heard so much about it! What are we going to do there?"

Jiraiya chuckled, "You're going to learn how to harness the power of sage mode. But first, let's get there." He formed a series of hand seals and summoned a large, majestic toad that appeared with a loud thump beside them.

"Jiraiya-sensei!" the toad said in a deep, gravelly voice. "You called?"

"This is Fukasaku, one of the elder toads," Jiraiya explained. "He'll help us get to Mount Myoboku."

Naruto nodded, feeling a mixture of awe and excitement as he mounted the toad along with Jiraiya. "Let's do this!"

With a quick leap, Fukasaku performed the reverse summoning technique, and in an instant, the world around them blurred and faded away. When the colors of the landscape returned, they found themselves standing on the lush, vibrant grounds of Mount Myoboku.

Naruto's jaw dropped as he took in the vast scenery. Giant trees surrounded them, their trunks thick and ancient. The air was filled with the sounds of chirping insects and croaking toads. In the distance, he could see a massive stone statue of a toad, and streams of water flowed down from rocky cliffs. The entire area was breathtaking, radiating an aura of tranquility and power.

"Wow! This place is amazing!" Naruto exclaimed, spinning around to absorb all the sights.

"Yeah, it's pretty great, huh?" Jiraiya replied, a proud smile on his face. "This is where you'll learn to tap into the natural energy that surrounds us and become a true sage."

Fukasaku nodded in agreement. "It's a place of great training and wisdom. But be warned, Naruto: mastering sage mode takes discipline and focus. You must learn to gather natural energy without losing yourself to it."

Naruto's excitement shifted to determination. "I'll do whatever it takes! Just show me how!"

"First, we need to meet with the other elders. They'll help you get started on your training," Jiraiya said, leading Naruto deeper into the village.

As they walked, Naruto couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging, a connection to the legacy of the toads and the powerful ninjutsu he was about to learn. He was ready to prove himself and take another step toward his goal of becoming stronger for his friends and for Haku.

Back in the Leaf Village, Haku focused intently on her training with Tsunade, Sakura, and Ino. The sun streamed down on the training grounds, casting long shadows as the four girls engaged in various exercises. Tsunade observed their progress, pushing them to their limits, her voice firm and encouraging.

"Keep your stance low, Haku! Channel your chakra properly!" Tsunade called out, her tone commanding yet supportive.

Haku nodded, her brow furrowed in concentration. She could feel her body tiring, but the thought of Naruto fueled her determination. She remembered the bracelet he had given her, a symbol of their bond. Every time she glanced at it, a wave of warmth washed over her. I'll become stronger, Naruto. I won't let you down, she vowed silently.

As she practiced her healing techniques, she couldn't help but wonder how Naruto was faring on his training journey with Jiraiya. Would he be learning new jutsu? Was he still the same bright, determined boy she had known? The more she thought about it, the more motivated she became to master her own skills.

"Focus, Haku! You're drifting!" Ino shouted, snapping her back to the present.

Haku took a deep breath, shaking off her distractions. She glanced over at Sakura, who was practicing her medical ninjutsu with remarkable precision, and at Ino, who was refining her mind techniques. They're doing so well, Haku thought, pushing herself to match their intensity.

After a particularly grueling set of exercises, Tsunade called for a break. The four girls gathered around a nearby tree, panting but exhilarated.

"You're all doing great! Haku, I can see your potential. Just remember to keep your emotions in check when you fight," Tsunade advised, her gaze steady.

"Thank you, Tsunade-sama," Haku replied, her heart swelling with gratitude. "I want to be strong enough to protect everyone—especially Naruto."

Ino raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "You really care about him, huh?"

Haku nodded, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. "He's given me so much happiness. I want to be there for him, no matter what."

Sakura smiled warmly. "You will be. Just keep working hard, and you'll be able to help him when he returns."

With renewed vigor, Haku nodded. She looked at the bracelet again, determination burning in her heart. When we reunite, I'll show him just how much stronger I've become.

As they prepared to resume their training, Haku's mind was clear. She would not only train to become a better medic but also a shinobi capable of standing beside Naruto. Her journey was just beginning, and she was ready to embrace every challenge that lay ahead.

In Orochimaru's secret base, the dimly lit cavern echoed with the sound of machinery and distant dripping water. Kabuto stood beside a strange contraption, carefully injecting a glowing serum into a syringe.

"This will enhance your chakra usage, but it's just a taste of what you're capable of," Kabuto said, his voice a mix of clinical detachment and excitement. "With this, you should be able to push your limits further than ever before."

Sasuke took the syringe, his expression unreadable, and injected the serum into his arm. A surge of energy coursed through him, and he felt his chakra respond, pulsating with newfound intensity. With a determined glint in his eyes, he stepped into an open area of the cave where training dummies and various targets were set up.

As he prepared, Orochimaru emerged from the shadows, his presence commanding. "Let's see how well you've adapted, Sasuke," he said, a serpentine smile playing on his lips.

Sasuke nodded, mentally gearing himself for the challenge ahead. Orochimaru activated a machine that suddenly whirred to life, unleashing a torrent of intense flames that surged towards Sasuke. Without hesitation, he called upon his lightning chakra, channeling it through his body.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Flash!" he shouted, extending his hand as bolts of electricity crackled around him. He released a powerful blast that clashed with the flames, illuminating the cave in a dazzling display of power. The two forces collided, but Sasuke pushed forward, overcoming the flames and forcing them back until they extinguished entirely.

"Impressive," Orochimaru commented, his eyes gleaming with interest. "You've made significant progress since we began this training. But it won't be enough."

Sasuke clenched his fists, frustration bubbling within him. "What do you mean?" he snapped, his brow furrowing.

Orochimaru's gaze turned serious. "I have eyes everywhere, Sasuke. My spies have reported back that Naruto is alive and well. He's training with Jiraiya, and it seems he's become stronger than ever. You must realize what this means."

Sasuke's eyes widened slightly, but then a smirk crept onto his face. "So he's still around," he said, the fire of determination igniting within him. "I won't let him outpace me again."

Orochimaru tilted his head, intrigued. "Is that so? You understand, then, the importance of your training. You cannot afford to falter now. If you want to surpass Naruto and achieve your goals, you'll need to pick up the pace significantly."

"I know what I have to do," Sasuke replied, his resolve hardening. "I'll become stronger—strong enough to defeat Naruto and anyone else who stands in my way."

With that, he returned to his training, channeling the intensity of his emotions into each strike and jutsu. The cave filled with the sounds of his determination—the crackling of lightning, the impact of his fists against the training dummies, and the roar of his ambition. He would not stop until he was stronger than anyone else, especially Naruto.

As he trained relentlessly, Orochimaru observed from a distance, a satisfied smile on his face. He knew Sasuke's obsession with strength would lead to greater results, and perhaps, one day, it would serve his own ambitions as well.