Chapter 23

Four years later

It's been four years since he went on a training trip, Uzumaki Naruto, the false Jinchuuriki of the kyuubi, the hero of Kiri but the villain in the eyes of villagers. The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in fiery hues. Naruto perched on a rocky outcrop, his long red hair dancing in the breeze. At 17, he'd grown tall and lean, his face losing its boyish roundness. He wore a black sleeveless shirt, dark pants, and combat boots. His sharingan eyes swept over the landscape.

"Four years," he muttered, his voice deeper now. "Time flies."

Shiro, his eagle summon, landed beside him with a soft rustle of feathers.

"You've come a long way, Naruto," she chirped, cocking her head.

Naruto's lips twitched, almost a smile. "Yeah, well... your training wasn't half bad." She had been a very good teacher, she taught him senjutsu and it was not a surprise from her when he mastered it. Naruto closed his eyes, remembering the grueling months spent mastering the eagle clan's senjutsu. The way his body had ached, the countless failures, and finally, that rush of power when he'd gotten it right.

"Hey, Shiro," he said, his voice casual. "Remember when I first tried to balance on that tiny rock spire?"

Shiro let out a squawk that sounded suspiciously like laughter. "How could I forget? You fell flat on your face!"

Naruto chuckled, a rare sound these days. "Yeah, yeah. But now? I bet I could dance on the head of a needle. "

He stood up, stretching his arms above his head. With barely a thought, he gathered nature energy, feeling it flow through him. His eyes took on a dark orange tint, and feather-like black markings appeared around them that were going down on his cheeks.

'So, you're finally leaving this wretched mountain?' Kurama, the Nine-Tails, growled. Naruto's face remained impassive. 'Got a problem with that?'

'Hmph. About time. Your moping was getting on my nerves.'

'Wasn't asking for your opinion,' Naruto replied coolly.

Kurama snorted. 'And what's your grand plan now? Take on the Akatsuki single-handedly?'

'Maybe. What's it to you?'

'Nothing,' the fox grumbled. 'But if you die, I die. And I'm not ready to kick the bucket just yet.'

Naruto's lips twitched. 'Worried about me, fur ball?'

'In your dreams, brat.' They have become civil. Kyuubi will not admit to his face, but he knows Naruto has become strong, ridiculously strong. He can take anyone out there except one person. Uchiha Madara. Who would win if they both clashed?

"Wow," Shiro breathed. "You've really mastered it, huh?" It still amazes her that he was able to fully master it. He was the first human in history who mastered it. Maybe it was because of rinnegan?

Naruto grinned, a hint of his old self shining through. "It's my ace in the hole. Nobody knows about it." And it's a major power boost for him. Not that he needs it. But he still mastered it because who knows when it can come in handy?

For the past four years he locked himself in the land of eagles, his sole purpose was to train and get stronger so that he could defeat Akatsuki. He wanted to find the man who was responsible for his miserable childhood.

As the shadows lengthened, his thoughts drifted to Konoha. To Nawaki. His brother's face flashed in his mind, and a frown creased his brow. He wondered how his brother was doing. He expects him to become stronger than him.

"Hey, Shiro," he said, his voice casual. "Heard anything interesting lately?" She was the only one who was keeping him company and Naruto would ask her to tell any news related to the elemental nations.

The eagle ruffled her feathers. "Well, there's been chatter about some Akatsuki movements seen in smaller nations."

Naruto's eyes narrowed. "Any names?"

"Nothing solid," Shiro replied. "But you know they will start going after the jinchuuriki. It's been four years."

Naruto's fists clenched imperceptibly. They will come after his brother as well but he's confident his brother will be able to handle them. He was being trained by Jiraiya of the sannin. He forced his voice to remain neutral. "Interesting. And Kiri? Any news from there?"

"Last I heard, things were... changing. But details are scarce."

Naruto nodded, his mind racing. Haku, Zabuza... were they okay? He hadn't received any news from them in the last four years. Maybe it's time to go back to his world and face people that he loathes and hates?

Shiro shuffled closer, her head tilting curiously. "You know, Naruto... it's been a while since you left Konoha. Ever think about going back?"

Naruto's face hardened, his eyes flashing. "Not a chance, Shiro. There's nothing for me there."

"But your family-"

"Family?" Naruto scoffed. "I don't have any ill intentions towards them, but I don't have any love either. I don't plan to stay there, I'll visit it, but I'll not stay." Even after four years he wasn't able to forgive. Maybe it was not in him to forgive them.

Shiro ruffled her feathers, her voice gentle. "People change, Naruto. Maybe things are different now."

"Yeah, right," Naruto muttered. "And maybe pigs will fly." He knew she's right.

"I'm just saying," Shiro pressed, "you've grown stronger. Maybe it's time to face your past."

Naruto stood up abruptly, folding his hands across his chest. "My past is exactly where it should be - behind me. I've got my own path now."

Shiro sighed, spreading her wings. "Alright, alright. I get it. So, what's next on this path of yours?"

A small smirk played on Naruto's lips. "Well, since you mentioned the Akatsuki... I think it's time we paid them a little visit. I'll hunt them down and kill them." He will go after the organization but not without planning. He still needs some time to take care of some things. Before going to Konoha he will visit Kiri and see what's going on there. After that he will decide what he needs to do first.

Meanwhile, far away from Konoha, Nawaki collapsed onto the grass, gasping for air. At 16, he was the spitting image of his father, with spiky blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He wore a light blue t-shirt and dark shorts, both drenched in sweat.

Jiraiya loomed over him, grinning. "Not bad, kid! Your wood release is getting pretty impressive." Jiraiya looked at him fondly. Nawaki reminded him of Minato. But Minato was a genius. Nawaki has come a long way, but it will take some more years to surpass his father, and Shodai in wood release.

Nawaki managed a weak smile. "Thanks, Pervy Sage. But man, this Nine-Tails is a real pain in the butt."

Jiraiya chuckled, helping him up. "You'll get there. No need to rush it." He can control the chakra up to 3 tails. They've tried to find different methods to control its chakra but all failed.

Nawaki dusted himself off, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Hey, Pervy Sage... I think I'm ready to head back to the village now."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What makes you say that?" It's been 4 years. It's time to go back. They cannot train forever. The village needs them.

"Well," Nawaki said, scratching his head, "I feel like I can hold on my own now. Plus, I kinda miss home, you know?"

Jiraiya nodded, a smile playing on his lips. "I get it, kid. Homesickness is a real thing, even for tough shinobi like us." No doubt Nawaki can hold his own against most shinobi. But what about Akatsuki? He just has to have confidence in the blonde Senju. And Minato will make sure that Nawaki will never leave the village alone, but nobody can babysit him forever. They have done missions together in the past four years so that Nawaki can get real combat experience as well. The kid was a former Anbu but still he was not ready to face S-rank shinobi of Akatsuki.

"So... Can we go back?" Nawaki asked, hope shining in his eyes.

"Tell you what," Jiraiya said, crossing his arms. "Let's have one last spar. If you can land a solid hit on me, we'll pack up and head home tomorrow. Deal?"

Nawaki's face lit up. "You're on, Pervy Sage!" It was an easy deal. Landing one hit on him was a piece of cake for him now. As they squared off, Jiraiya couldn't help but think of another blonde-haired boy he'd trained years ago. He shook the thought away, focusing on Nawaki's determined grin.

"Alright, kid," he said, dropping into a fighting stance. "Show me what you've got!"

A thoughtful look crossed Nawaki's face. "Hey, Pervy Sage... do you ever wonder about Naruto?" Jiraiya's smile faded slightly. "Your brother? Yeah, kid. I do."

"It's been four years," Nawaki said, his voice quiet. "No one knows where he is." His posture relaxed slightly, and a frown appeared on his face. He wanted his brother to come back and reunite with the family. He wanted him to forgive about the past and move on.

Jiraiya sighed, ruffling Nawaki's hair. "That's true. But your brother's tough. Wherever he is, I'm sure he's getting stronger."

Nawaki nodded, then frowned. "Like Sasuke, you mean?" The air seemed to thicken at the mention of the Uchiha's name.

"Sasuke's... a different story," Jiraiya said carefully. "Going to Orochimaru... that's a dangerous path." Sasuke was a disappointment. They had tried to find his whereabouts in the last four years, but they couldn't find him.

"But they both left for power, right?" Nawaki pressed.

Jiraiya shook his head. "It's not that simple, kid. Naruto... he had his reasons. Sasuke chose a darker road." Naruto was different, he sacrificed everything for the village, and he respected him for that. But not everyone in the village thinks like that. To some, Naruto was a flying risk because he always did what he wished. He never stayed in the village for long. He never interacted with them and the villagers, and the council made an opinion about him.

Nawaki's brow furrowed. "I just want to understand why they left."

"Sometimes," Jiraiya said, his voice uncharacteristically serious, "we don't get all the answers. But hey, enough heavy talk! Let's grab some ramen, yeah?"

Nawaki's face brightened. "You're on, Pervy Sage!" Spar forgotten and Jiraiya thought it is his responsibility that Nawaki remain positive.

Across the village, Sakura's brow furrowed in concentration as she focused her chakra on her hands. At 16, her pink hair was longer now, tied back in a practical ponytail. She wore a red qipao dress.

Tsunade watched, a small smile playing on her lips. "Are you ready young lady?" Sakura disappeared in a blur and appeared in front of her and smashed her right fist in the ground. The ground shook, trembled, and cracks appeared around them. Tsunade raised her eyebrows when she lifted a huge chunk of earth with her hands and threw up in the air. She jumped high and smashed it with her right fist. The huge boulder shot towards Tsunade like a bullet.

Tsunade smiled proudly and smashed her right fist, shattering the boulder in small chunks.

"Well done, Sakura! I'm proud of you. You're no longer a mediocre kunoichi." Sakura beamed at the praise and bowed her head slightly.

"Thank you Tsunade-sama. I'll make you prouder."

In the Senju compound grounds, the clash of metal rang out as Kana and Kushina sparred. Kana, now 16, had grown into a beautiful young woman with long red hair tied in a high ponytail. She wore a light purple kimono-style blouse and dark shorts. Golden Chakra chains erupted from Kana's back.

"That's it!" Kushina cheered, blocking the chains with her own. "You've mastered them, sweetheart!"

Kana grinned, her eyes sparkling with determination. Her hands folded across her chest. "Just you wait, Kushina-sensei! I'll surpass you in no time!"

As night fell over Konoha, each of them felt the weight of their training, unaware of the challenges that lay ahead. And far away, on that rocky outcrop, Naruto gazed at the stars, his thoughts a whirlwind of memories and unanswered questions.

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting Konoha's sky in fiery hues. Nawaki stood at the village gates, his blue eyes wide with excitement. At 17, he'd grown tall and lean, his spiky blonde hair a mess from the journey. His orange and black jacket was dusty, but his grin was as bright as ever.

"We're home!" he shouted, pumping his fist in the air.

Jiraiya chuckled, ruffling Nawaki's hair. "Calm down, kid. The village isn't going anywhere."

But Nawaki was already racing down the main street, drinking in the sights. Konoha had changed in four years. New buildings stretched towards the sky, and the faces on the Hokage Monument seemed to smile down at him.

"Look, Pervy Sage!" Nawaki pointed at a new ramen shop. "Ichiraku's got bigger!"

Jiraiya rolled his eyes at the nickname but couldn't hide his smile. "Some things never change, huh?"

As they walked, villagers stopped to stare and whisper. Nawaki waved, his cheeks flushed with pride.

"Hey, isn't that the Fourth's son?"

"He's gotten so big!"

"Welcome back, Nawaki!"

They made their way to the Hokage Tower, Nawaki practically bouncing with each step. As they entered the office, Minato looked up from his paperwork, a warm smile spreading across his face.

"Welcome home, son," he said, standing up to embrace Nawaki.

Nawaki hugged his father tight. "Dad! Man, I missed you!"

Jiraiya leaned against the doorframe, a fond expression on his face. "Your boy's grown up, Minato. He might even be taller than you are."

Minato laughed, stepping back to look at his son. "I can see that. How was the training trip?"

Nawaki's eyes lit up. "It was awesome! I learned so many new jutsu, and I can even."

"Whoa, slow down," Minato chuckled. "How about we start from the beginning?"

They sat down, and Nawaki launched into a detailed account of their adventures. Jiraiya chimed in occasionally, correcting exaggerations or adding details Nawaki forgot.

"And then," Nawaki said, gesturing wildly, "this huge bear came out of nowhere! But I was like, 'No problem!' and I used my new Rasengan technique to-"

"Hold on," Minato interrupted, his eyes widening. "You mastered the Rasengan?"

Nawaki grinned, holding out his hand. A swirling ball of chakra formed, perfectly stable. "Pretty cool, huh? Give me a few more months and I'll be able to merge my element with it."

Minato's face lit up with pride. "That's incredible, Nawaki. It took me years to perfect that jutsu."

Jiraiya smirked. "Well, he is your son. And let's not forget, he's got that Uzumaki stamina too." At the mention of Uzumaki, a shadow passed over Minato's face. Nawaki caught it, his smile faltering.

"Dad? What's wrong?"

Minato shook his head, forcing a smile. "It's nothing. I'm just... thinking about your brother."

The room fell silent. Nawaki's eyes dropped to the floor. "Have you... heard anything from him?"

Minato sighed, running a hand through his hair. "No, nothing. We've haven't heard anything from him in the past four years. It's as if he has disappeared from the face of the earth. I've tried to send him letters, but they come back unanswered."

Minato held up his hand when he saw Nawaki about to protest. "It's not that simple, Nawaki. If it is Naruto, he... he might not want to come back."

"But why?" Nawaki's voice cracked. "This is his home. We're his family."

The room fell silent again, the weight of unspoken regrets hanging in the air.

Jiraiya cleared his throat. "Well, that's a problem for another day. Right now, we should focus on your training, Nawaki. You've got a long way to go if you want to be Hokage someday."

Nawaki's face lit up slightly. "You bet I do! Just you wait, Dad. I'll be wearing that hat before you know it!" He laughed awkwardly. He knew it was not that simple. No matter how much he wants his brother to forgive and forget everything, it's not that simple.

Minato laughed, the tension easing. "I don't doubt it. Now, why don't you go see your mother? She's been cooking up a storm all day, waiting for you."

As Nawaki dashed out of the office, Minato's smile faded. He turned to Jiraiya, his voice low.

"What do you really think, sensei? Are we really going to have a problem with him? You know that I'd be forced to mark him as a rogue ninja if he doesn't come back. The council is already asking me to do something about it, bring the jinchuuriki back to the village where he belongs."

Jiraiya's face grew serious. "Minato... we might have a problem on our hands. The boy's powerful, and he's got every reason to be angry with us. If you mark him as a rogue ninja, then he will have more reasons to turn against the leaf and his family as well."

Minato nodded; his eyes distant. "I know. But he's still my son. Somehow, someday... we'll make this right."

"You will have to make this decision very carefully." There was a long silence and both of them were lost in thought until Minato sighed and looked at Jiraiya with a smile.

"So! How far is he? Will he be able to handle Akatsuki on his own?"

"Nawaki is not in his prime yet but I'm confident he can handle Akatsuki on his own. I mean it will not be a piece of cake but he will survive."

Minato nodded his head. "Good! That's very good."

A few days after returning to Konoha, Nawaki found himself at Team 7's old training ground. He leaned against a wooden post, lost in thought, when a familiar voice caught his attention.

"Nawaki! You're back!" He turned to see Sakura jogging towards him, her pink hair bouncing with each step. She'd grown taller, more confident in her movements.

"Hey, Sakura!" Nawaki grinned. "Long time no see!"

They hugged briefly, then Sakura stepped back, eyeing him critically. "You've gotten taller. And stronger, I bet."

Nawaki flexed jokingly. "You know it! Pervy Sage put me through the wringer. How about you?"

Sakura's eyes lit up. "Oh, you wouldn't believe it! Lady Tsunade's been training me. Watch this!" She walked over to a nearby boulder, pulled back her fist, and with a thunderous crack, shattered it to pieces.

Nawaki's jaw dropped. "Whoa! That's awesome, Sakura!" They sat down on the grass, swapping stories about their training. As the conversation lulled, Nawaki's smile faded slightly.

"Hey, Sakura... have you heard anything about Sasuke?"

Sakura's face fell. "No, nothing. It's like he vanished." Nawaki nodded, his eyes distant. "Yeah, same with Naruto. It's weird, isn't it? Our team scattered to the winds."

Sakura placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll bring Sasuke back, Nawaki. I promise."

"And Naruto?" Nawaki asked, his voice quiet.

"He'll come back when he's ready," Sakura said, trying to sound confident. "He's got to, right?"

Nawaki nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "Right. And when they do come back, we'll be strong enough to knock some sense into them if we have to!" They both laughed, the tension easing. As they continued chatting, a flash of red caught Nawaki's eye.

"Kana!" he called out, waving. Kana jogged over, her long red hair swaying. "Nawaki! I heard you were back." She glanced at Sakura, nodding politely. "Hi, Sakura."

"Hey, Kana," Sakura replied, standing up. "I should get going. Training with Lady Tsunade. See you guys later!"

As Sakura left, Kana sat down next to Nawaki, fidgeting slightly. "So... how was your trip?

"It was great! Learned a ton of new jutsu. How about you?"

"My training is going great. I've improved a lot. Kushina-sensei is a very great teacher."

"That's good. It looks like everyone has grown."

Kana nodded, then bit her lip "Nawaki... have you heard anything about Naruto?"

Nawaki's smile faded. "No, nothing. I've also been waiting for someone to tell me something about him, but nobody knows anything about him."

Kana's shoulders slumped. "Oh. I just thought... maybe..." Nawaki put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, don't worry. He'll come back. Naruto's too stubborn to stay away forever."

Kana managed a small smile. "Yeah, you're right. I just... I miss him, you know?"

Nawaki nodded, his eyes distant. "Yeah, I know. We all do."

A week passed and Nawaki roamed around the village and met all of his friends, especially the former members of Midnight. All were present and doing missions as chunin except Sasuke and Naruto. Nawaki was lost in thoughts, thinking about the last four years of his life. He and Jiraiya had tried to find any clues of the whereabouts of Orochimaru or Sasuke but they couldn't find any. He was walking towards the training ground of team 7 for a spar against jounins.

Kana and Sakura saw Nawaki coming lost in thought when a sudden explosion rocked the training ground. Smoke billowed up, and through it emerged Kakashi and Yamato, their faces serious. "What's going on?"

Kakashi's visible eye crinkled. "Pop quiz, kids. Show us what you've learned." Behind them there was a yellow flash and Minato, Kushina, Tsunade and Jiraiya appeared.

"Alright you guys! You've been training for the last four years. You guys are going to spar with Kakashi and Yamato here so that we can see how much you've improved. As former members of Midnight, I expect to be impressed by your performance." Having said that, the adults jumped up and landed on a platform made by Yamato to see the sparring match.

Sakura, Nawaki and Kana looked at each other. Their faces showing determination as they set their eyes on Kakashi and Yamato. Kakashi's hands were in his pockets, showing that he will be taking them seriously. Although his sharingan was not visible.

"Alright, kids," Kakashi drawled, "show us what you've got."

The three teens got into fighting stances. Kana's hands glowed with chakra, ready to form her chains. Nawaki cracked his knuckles, and Sakura pulled on her gloves.

"Begin!" Minato shouted.

Kakashi darted forward, aiming a kick at Nawaki. The blonde boy ducked, allowing Sakura to leap over him and throw a punch at Kakashi. The silver-haired jounin barely dodged.

Meanwhile, Kana's chains shot out, wrapping around Yamato's legs. He stumbled but quickly formed hand signs. Wooden beams erupted from the ground, forcing Kana to release her chains and jump away.

"Nice try, kids," Yamato smirked. "But you'll have to do better than that."

"Oh, we will," Nawaki said, he shot towards Yamato, jumped high and aimed his right foot towards his head, Yamato crossed his arms above his head and blocked his foot. He quickly leapt forward aiming his right elbow towards Nawaki's chest who was falling. The elbow connected but Nawaki 'puffed' indicating a clone.

"Not bad, Nawaki," he praised. "But remember, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve too."

The three teens faced off against the two jounin. Kakashi moved first, sharingan blazing, aiming a punch at Sakura. She dodged, retaliating with a kick. Nawaki and Kana tag-teamed Yamato, who was impressively nimble for his size.

"Not bad," Yamato grunted, blocking Kana's roundhouse kick.

Nearby, Minato, Kushina, Tsunade, and Jiraiya watched.

"Look at them go!" Kushina cheered.

"Nawaki's form has improved," Minato noted proudly. He is keeping up with Kakashi and Yamato. His speed has improved as well.

Tsunade smirked. "Sakura's not too shabby either."

"Hey, don't forget who trained him!" Jiraiya said. Nobody commented on that as they were busy watching the spar.

Back in the fray, Sakura landed a solid hit on Kakashi's shoulder.

"Nice one, Sakura!" Nawaki called out, ducking under Yamato's swing. Kakashi stumbled back when he was hit by Sakura, but he turned into a log. Nawaki, who was smirking, frowned.

Kakashi appeared safe from them and smirked. "Don't underestimate me."Kana used the distraction to sweep Yamato's legs. He stumbled but recovered quickly.

"Stay focused!" Kakashi warned, barely avoiding Nawaki's punch.

The fight continued, a blur of fists and feet. The teens were holding their own, but the jounin's experience was showing.

"Time to step it up," Sakura panted and Kana, Nawaki nodded

"Sakura, Kana, formation B!" Nawaki shouted. They nodded, instantly shifting positions. Sakura engaged both jounin head-on while Nawaki and Kana flanked them.

"Clever," Yamato muttered.

The new strategy caught the jounin off-guard. Sakura's powerful strikes kept them busy while Nawaki and Kana picked their moments to strike.

"That's my boy!" Kushina yelled.

"And my student," Tsunade added proudly.

Jiraiya chuckled. "They make a good team."

Minato nodded, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "They do."

The fight reached its climax. With a coordinated effort, the teens managed to push both jounin back.

From the sidelines, Minato, Kushina, Tsunade, and Jiraiya watched with interest.

"They've improved," Minato noted, his blue eyes tracking the fight.

Kushina nodded, a hint of sadness in her voice. "I just wish..."

"Naruto was here?" Jiraiya finished softly. Kushina nodded.

Tsunade crossed her arms. "He'll come back when he's ready. For now, let's focus on the kids we do have."

Back in the fight, Kana managed to trap both jounin in her chains. "Now, guys!"

Nawaki and Sakura rushed forward, their fists raised. Just before impact, Kakashi and Yamato disappeared in a puff of smoke, replaced by logs.

"Substitution!" Nawaki groaned. "Should've seen that coming."

Kakashi and Yamato reappeared, looking slightly disheveled but grinning. "We're not going to get hit by Sakura. We know what her punches can do." Yamato said with dread.

"But you guys are not bad at all," Yamato said.

Before anyone could react, Kakashi's Sharingan whirled to life. He lunged forward, hands blurring through signs.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" A massive dragon erupted from thin air, barrelling towards the group.

"Scatter!" Nawaki yelled. The three younger ninjas leapt apart. Kana's hands flashed, golden chains bursting from her back.

"Oh no, you don't!" Yamato called, slamming his palms on the ground. "Earth Style: Moving Earth Core!"

The ground beneath Kana's feet shifted, throwing off her aim. Her chains whipped wildly, barely missing Kakashi.

Sakura, eyes narrowed, charged at Yamato. "CHA!" Her fist connected with a wooden clone, splintering it to pieces.

"Nice try," Yamato's voice echoed from... everywhere?

Nawaki, thinking fast, formed a familiar seal. "Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!" A dozen Nawakis popped into existence, surrounding Kakashi and Yamato.

Kakashi chuckled. "Not bad. But..." In a blur of motion, he took out half the clones with precise Taijutsu strikes.

"You'll have to do better than that!" Kana, regaining her footing, lashed out with her chains again. This time, they wrapped around Yamato's ankle.

"Got you!" she crowed. Yamato smirked.

"Water Style: Raging Waves!" A torrent of water blasted from his mouth, forcing Kana to release her grip or be swept away. Sakura, seeing an opening, charged at Kakashi. Her fist glowed with chakra as she aimed for his chest.

At the last second, Kakashi substituted himself with a log. Sakura's punch obliterated it, sending splinters flying.

"Earth Style: Mud Wall!" Nawaki called, shielding himself and his teammates from the debris. As the dust settled, Kakashi and Yamato stood back-to-back, surrounded by the panting young ninjas except Nawaki.

"Not bad, kids," Kakashi said, his Sharingan spinning lazily. "But playtime's over." Nawaki exchanged glances with Kana and Sakura. They nodded, a silent plan forming.

"Bring it on, sensei!" Nawaki grinned, readying himself for round two.

Kana's hands flashed through the seals. "Raiton: Kaminari no Yaiba! (Lightning Release: Lightning Blade!)" A crackling sword of electricity formed in her hand. Nawaki slammed his palms together. "Mokuton: Jukai Kōtan! (Wood Release: Nativity of a Sea of Trees!)" Wooden pillars erupted from the ground. Sakura charged forward, her fist glowing with chakra.

Kakashi's visible eye widened. "Impressive," he muttered, dodging Kana's lightning slash. He turned around and thrust his right palm at her back. It was strong enough to send her flying into the trees.

Yamato countered Nawaki's wood jutsu with his own. "Mokuton: Mokujōheki! (Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!)" The clash of techniques sent shockwaves through the clearing. Jiraiya whistled appreciatively.

"They've grown strong," Tsunade said, a hint of pride in her voice.

Kushina's eyes sparkled. "Kana's lightning style is amazing!"

The battle raged on, a dizzying display of elemental jutsu and raw power. Nawaki combined water and earth techniques, creating mudslides that kept Kakashi on his toes. In the meanwhile, Kana came back looking murderous. She released multiple chakra chains from back that shot towards Kakashi with blinding speed. Kakashi heard whistling and formed an earth wall to protect himself from the chains. The chains tore through the wall like paper.

"You've to do better than that Kakashi-sensei."

"Yamato!" Kakashi called and he understood.

"Doton: Doryūheki! (Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!)" Nawaki called out, raising a barrier to block Yamato's wood spears that were aimed to block Kana's chains.

Sakura's fist connected with the ground, creating a massive crater. "Shannaro!" Kakashi suddenly disappeared and reappeared behind Nawaki, it was so fast Nawaki wasn't able to track his movements. Kakashi's right foot connected with his back, sending him flying like a bullet towards the trees. He disappeared again, his sharingan blazing and he put Sakura in a genjutsu. Sakura halted in her attack for a second to release herself from the genjutsu but it was too late. Kakashi's left punch connected with her stomach, sending her towards Kana.

In the meanwhile, Yamato's wooden spears fought for dominance with Kana's chains. She saw Sakura getting punched and flying towards her, her eyes leaving her chains and Yamato as well in an attempt to catch Sakura. But Kakashi and Yamato both disappeared again.

Yamato appeared behind Kana and strangled her with his wooden spears. Kakashi charged towards Nawaki. His movements blur.

Nawaki stood up and shook his head before looking around the clearing to find Kana and Sakura. He was about to run towards Kana when he saw Yamato attacking her from behind, but Kakashi appeared from underneath the ground and grabbed his legs. He pulled him in until only his head was visible.

"Well done, all of you," Minato said, beaming. "You've come a long way."

The Uchiha and Senju clans had a long, tangled history. Both had done so much for the village, but the Uchiha often got the short end of the stick. They'd put their lives on the line countless times, like when Shisui died fighting off the Sand invasion. But they never complained, of course there were some rebellious elements present in the clan. It was bound to happen when you ignore a clan just because of fear of their visual prowess. The kyuubi attack sixteen years ago didn't help either. It was a great excuse for Danzo at that time to push them to the outskirts of Konoha, where the criminals lived. Though, they never asked for special treatment. They just wanted fairness, and Minato doesn't want to think what would have happened if he'd sacrificed his life during the kyuubi invasion. Sandaime had come from the retirement and Danzo influenced him to attack the clan and wipe them all out. He's not in favor of those who rebel against the leaf, rebellion needs to be crushed before the enemies take advantage of the situation and attack the village. Minato knew there's someone strong enough to fool everyone in this village and whisper rebellion in the ears of the Uchiha, but the clan stayed strong, stayed true to Konoha.

The Uchiha sacrificed their lives, Shisui lost his life during the invasion.

Now, with Itachi being considered for Hokage, it felt like things might be changing. Maybe the Uchiha would finally get their moment in the sun. It was a story of loyalty, sacrifice, and maybe, just maybe, a happy ending. Minato knows he's getting old. He's already past his prime and he knows fresh blood is needed in this office. He chose Itachi because he knew it would clear the image of the Uchiha clan in the eyes of the villagers. Itachi's love for his village and loyalty is unquestionable.

The door opened and the ninja who was occupying his thoughts entered.

"Hokage-sama!" Itachi said and bowed. The stoic expression on his face was visible.

"Itachi! Mission went well?" He was not concerned about itachi being killed on a mission. Itachi prowess was known throughout the elemental nations. Nobody was better at genjutsu than him.

"Yes, the mission went well. I've been able to locate several hideouts in Otogakure. I was ready to confront Orochimaru but I didn't find him anywhere. But the intel that I collected suggests that Orochimaru and Sasuke are there." Minato nodded his head.

"You did good, Itachi. You can go now." Itachi bowed his head again and left. He still needs to discuss the next Hokage situation with the council as well. He still has time though; he will not be going to hand over the village to Itachi right now. There are threats that need to be dealt with.

Itachi sighed as he started walking towards the Uchiha compound. Things have changed very much in the last four years. His father stepped down as clan head and he took over. Nowadays his father rarely leaves his room. The Uchiha took a major blow to their reputation and strength when Danzo and his agents attacked. The Hokage did a fabulous job in controlling the collateral damage. But Danzo had done what he wanted to do. He spread the seeds of hatred within the villagers when he was a counselor. It took years of hard work and missions to restore the reputation of his clan. For the last four years his reputation increased tremendously across the elemental nations. Because of that the villagers started looking at the Uchiha in a new light.

Being the head of Root and the Uchiha clan was not easy. In these four years he trained the Uchiha Military police force differently. He changed their thinking; he made sure they knew how to act when dealing with civilians. With the help of Hiashi he was able to build a new MPF consisting of ninjas from all clans including ninjas from civilian background.

Itachi looked around and smiled thinly in satisfaction when he saw the villagers greeting him warmly. He felt pride in accomplishing the strength and respect.

His thoughts turned to his little brother, and he frowned. He was a disappointment. He wished his brother was here so that he could help in restoring the Uchiha name. Itachi loved Konoha, more than his own clan. But he wanted the Uchiha to serve Konoha without questioning anything, without expecting anything in return. And his little brother might destroy what he'd achieved. He will not let him do that. He knows he will have to deal with him sooner or later.

He entered the Uchiha compound, and everyone greeted him warmly and with respect. He was a good clan head, and he made sure the new generation knows the value of brotherhood and sacrifice.

Entering his office, Itachi leaned back in his chair and sighed tiredly.

"Back to work again? You just came back, Itachi-kun." Itachi opened his eyes and saw his wife Izumi standing in front of him smiling. "You need to rest. Izuna will take care of clan matters."

Itachi smiled warmly. He got married to Izumi when he became a clan head. "I need to know what he is doing in my absence. I'll rest after I get updates from him." Izuna was a few months old when his parents were killed during kyuubi attack. He reminded me of Itachi or Shisui. He loved Konoha and clan. He awakened his sharingan when he was nine years old, good with sword and shunshin.

"Alright! I'll be waiting for you in the kitchen. Dinner is ready." Itachi nodded his head and started going through the reports on his desk while waiting for Izuna to come.

The council chamber buzzed with tension as Konoha's elite gathered. Minato sat at the head of the table, his blue eyes scanning the room.

"Let's begin," he said, his voice calm but authoritative. "First order of business: the next Hokage." Minato sat at the head of the table; his usually cheerful face etched with worry.

"As you all know, it is a right of a Hokage to choose his successor. I've been thinking about it and have put a lot of thought into this. The council has the authority to voice their opinion on this matter and they can also recommend the candidates to the Hokage." Everyone nodded their heads. Shikaku, being the jounin commander leaned forward and spoke. "Itachi Uchiha is the obvious choice. His strength and loyalty is unquestionable."

Hiashi frowned. "An Uchiha as Hokage? That's unprecedented." The rivalry between the two doujutsu clans was not hidden from anyone. If an Uchiha becomes Hokage, the clan will become the strongest in the village. Although, they are the strongest clan in the village, even after most of their members were killed in battle.

"Times are changing," Shikaku drawled. "Maybe that's what we need."

Tsume barked a laugh. "What about Kakashi? The guy's a legend."

"If he'd show up to meetings, maybe," Inoichi muttered with a smirk.

"Jiraiya of the sannin is a good choice as well." Shibi Aburame spoke stoically.

"Jiraiya-sensei will not accept the position." Minato held up his hand. "We'll consider all options. I don't think we have many options. Kakashi is a good candidate, but we need someone who is much stronger than him, someone who can defend Konoha from any threat."

"I believe Kakashi is strong as well. He is known throughout the elemental nations as copy ninja Kakashi. His loyalty to the village is not questionable and he doesn't belong to the clan who have a history of rebellion." Koharu spoke. Her eyes lingered at Itachi to see his reaction, who didn't show any.

There was a prolonged silence before Shikaku spoke. "I believe it was made clear by Hokage-sama that we're not to discuss this matter again in this room."

"Koharu-san! You know that there are enemies hidden in the shadows who manipulated the clan. They've been dealt with, and we must not speak about it again. It must be removed from the history of the village." Choza Akimichi said in a strong voice.

"The Uchiha are the founders of this village, and their strength cannot be ignored. The villagers love them. I'm ordering it to never speak of this again." Minato said.

The room fell silent. Reo, the Uzumaki clan head, spoke up. "I think we should give some time on this issue; Itachi-san should be given time to consider it and if he agrees then we don't have any issue with him."

"We heard your son Nawaki has returned from the training trip, what about the jinchuuriki?" Homaru spoke.

Minato wanted to avoid this topic but damn those old geezers. He slammed his hands on the table.

"His name is Uzumaki Naruto, not a Jinchuuriki." Minato took a deep breath to control himself. "The members of this council know that Nawaki is the true jinchuuriki of the kyuubi. That night I sealed half of kyuubi chakra in him and half in myself."

Minato shook his head. "And the answer to your question Homaru-san, no. My letters remain unanswered."

"He's a risk," Anbu Commander Makoto said flatly. "We should declare him a rogue nin."

"Now hold on," Reo protested. "He's just a kid who's been through a lot."

Hiashi's eyes narrowed. "A 'kid' with immense power and no loyalty to the village." That Uzumaki kid lost his respect the day when he found out he put his daughter through a genjutsu. How dare he use those cursed eyes on a Hyūga. It doesn't matter if he is Minato's son.

Minato sighed. "Let's not jump to conclusions. Naruto's intentions are unclear, but he's still my son."

"With all due respect, Hokage-sama," Koharu said, "your personal feelings can't interfere with village security. We cannot let him do as he wishes." There were several nods around the table.

"I worked with Naruto when he was in Anbu." Itachi spoke and he looked around the table to see everyone looking at him and he continued, "Uzumaki Naruto did what he was told. He never made a mistake and never failed a mission. Of course, he expressed his beliefs and thoughts about the village and the leaders of this village that were negative in nature. But looking at his past, the villagers and the leaders have done nothing but give him pain and misery." There was silence around until Homaru spoke.

"It's just an excuse, Itachi-san. If he has those thoughts then we should have acted then. Every ninja must express unquestionable loyalty to the village."

"Homaru-san! In the eyes of the world Uzumaki Naruto is the jinchuriki of this village. If we had him killed there was a chance other nations had attacked us head on. If we had him exiled every other nation would have been happy to take him in. Don't forget he has sharingan and is the hero Kiri. He is an asset that can boost Konoha's military strength tremendously." Shikaku Nara commented.

"Exactly! He is the false jinchuuriki of the kyuubi. We've Nawaki as a jinchuuriki and the Sharinghan in the Uchiha clan. We'd have not lost anything." Koharu spoke sternly.

"Enough!" Minato spoke in a hardened tone. "I'll not allow anyone to speak about him like that. I admit his loyalty towards the village is questionable. But he defended the leaf in every step of the way. He defended the leaf during the invasion. He never expressed he wanted anything in return. I'll not have him discussed like this until I've solid proof that he has betrayed the leaf." The debate raged on, with Reo defending Naruto and others expressing concern. Minato remained neutral, his face a mask of calm.

"You said your letters remain unanswered. What if he's dead? What if Akatsuki or Orochimaru got to him?" Inoichi Yamanaka looked around the table, expecting several nods in agreement, he continued. "It's a possibility that we cannot ignore Hokage-sama."

"It is very much a possibility." Itachi said stoically. "But he has immense potential. He defeated the Yondaime Mizukage when he was thirteen years old. Not an easy task to kill him."

"Moving on," Hokage said finally. "Any news on Akatsuki?"

Itachi spoke up. "They're on the move. We've heard whispers of rogue ninja wearing black cloaks with red clouds roaming around the nations."

"And Orochimaru?" Choza asked.

"Still in hiding," Itachi replied. "Along with Sasuke Uchiha."

Minato nodded. "Itachi has brought solid intel about Orochimaru's hideouts in Otogakure. I'll soon dispatch a team to retrieve Uchiha Sasuke."

As the meeting wrapped up, Minato couldn't shake the feeling that storm clouds were gathering on the horizon. He just hoped they were ready for whatever was coming.

It's been two weeks since Jiraiya and Nawaki came back from their training trip. He did a few missions, met with his friends, Shikamaru, Choji, Neji, Hinata. Neji has been promoted to Jounin rank. Everyone was here except Sasuke and Naruto. He missed his brother, and he wished he was here so that he could spar, eat ramen and do missions with him. His brother will come back, sooner or later but he needs to go out and find Sasuke.

"Nawaki!" Looking back to see Kana and Sakura were coming towards him, they were in a hurry.

"You've been called to the Hokage's office as well?" Kana said.

"Yes. It must be a mission." Together they entered Hokage's office and saw Minato and Kakashi waiting for them.

"Team Kakashi! You're to go to Otogakure and find Orochimaru and retrieve Uchiha Sasuke. We've received intel that one of the Akatsuki members will be meeting with Kabuto. The location is in this scroll. All you've to do is go to that location and follow Kabuto. He will lead you to Orochimaru. Under no circumstances you're engaged in battle. Do not blow up your cover. Your main priority is to retrieve Uchiha Sasuke. Am I understood?"

"Hai! Hokage-sama!" All of them said and Minato dismissed them.

"Kakashi, you stay behind." When they left Minato leaned back in his chair.

"Make sure Nawaki doesn't lose control. He's emotional. If he does start to lose control, place this seal on him. It will subdue the kyuubi." Kakashi pocketed the sealing tags and nodded his head.

"I'll make sure the situation doesn't come to that."

1 week ago

Uzumaki Naruto stared at the gates of the village hidden in the Mist. Lots of emotions going through his mind and heart but nothing coming out in the open. His face was stoic, not showing anything. The thick fog swirled around him, a familiar sight that brought back memories. He thought of Zabuza and Haku, their tragic story etched in his mind. They'd shown him the harsh reality of the shinobi world, but also the power of bonds. The village had come a long way since then. Under Mei Terumi's leadership, the Bloody Mist era was over. Naruto appreciated her efforts to bring peace and stability. He recalled Chōjūrō, the shy swordsman who'd become one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. His growth was impressive. Naruto's thoughts drifted to the alliance between Mist and Leaf. It wasn't perfect, but it was progress. Both villages were working towards a common goal. As he gazed at the misty landscape, Naruto felt a quiet respect for the resilience of its people. They'd overcome their dark past and were forging a new path.

This place was like home to him. He wouldn't mind spending the rest of his life in this village. He started his shinobi career here, he studied here. He was taught here. He fought for this village. A rare smile appeared on face when he released a tiny bit of his chakra and saw guards stiffing and focusing on his form. They'd their weapons drawn and were waiting for someone to appear who was responsible for the flare of chakra. Few Anbu surrounded him around the trees. He could feel their presence, their killing intent, as if warning him to stay away. Thick fog was hiding his presence, but he calmly walked towards the village and flared a little bit of chakra around him to make the fog disappear so that the guards could see him.

The Anbu were alerted when they felt a chakra signature, a rather strong one appearing in front of the village gates. Ao immediately went with Anbu to see who it was and dealt with the threat before it crossed the village gates. He saw someone appearing from the thick fog, the person flared his chakra to make the fog disappear around him. The enemy will not reveal its location by flaring its chakra. The person was either a friend or a very deadly foe who had enough confidence to alert them of its presence like that. The person was wearing a black cloak with an Uzumaki clan symbol on front and back that was covering half of his face up to his nose. There was a red swirling pattern with black tomeos on both of his upper arms of his cloak. He was wearing black shinobi pants and black boots. A straw hat was on his head with a bell that was ringing as he walked. The person was wearing fingerless black gloves. He was wearing a black ring with red stone with kanji for 'moon' written on the stone in his left ring finger. Another one was in his right ring finger that was white in color with yellow stone with kanji for 'sun' written on it.

Ao activated his byakugan to try to see what's hidden behind that black cloak but all he saw was an ocean of chakra, it looked familiar but it was so deep and powerful that it tried to suck him in. He quickly deactivated the Byakugan and was about to stumble when the anbu took hold of his arm. Guards stationed at the gates spoke. The anbu captain placed his hand on his arm and shook his head.

"Let's see what he says." Anbu captain said.

"Who're you? State your name and the purpose of your visit." The guard mustered all the courage they had and almost shouted. The man stopped and remained unmoving for a while.

"I'm disappointed in all of you. You were not able to recognize me, a man who saved your village and granted you freedom." Ao felt a shiver running down in his body when he heard the voice. It was strong, filled with immense power. He knew the person in front them was addressing all of them. Then his right hand moved, and he took off the straw hat from his head. Spiky shoulder length red hair appeared with two bangs framing his forehead. His eyes were deep purple, and his eyelids had black outlining and his skin was pale. His eyes were sharp, taking everything in but had no emotion in it. It was as if he was bored. He was around seventeen years of age and six feet tall.

He waited for the guards to recognize him, when they didn't, he spoke.

"Come out Ao! These children do not recognize me." Ao blinked and sighed in relief. He thought about what the redhead said and came to a conclusion. It's Uzumaki Naruto. He shunshine'd in front of the guards greeted him.

"Welcome to Kirigakure Uzumaki-san. If you'd informed us of your visit, we'd have been prepared for your welcome." The guards blinked, looked towards each other and smiled. They bowed towards Naruto.

"Welcome to Kirigakure Naruto-sama!" They didn't raise their heads. Ao looked at their shivering forms before sighing.

"Would you mind suppressing your chakra? It's making others uncomfortable." Ao said to Naruto with a hesitation in his voice. The guards were not the only one who were feeling uncomfortable, he and even the anbus were feeling suffocated.

Naruto blinked and then the feeling was gone. The air became breathable again and the guards straightened and sighed.

"My bad! I forgot I was leaking chakra. I've been trying to suppress it to the best of my ability." Of course, he was trying to suppress it to the best of his ability, but he was trying to intimidate them as well. They should know who they are dealing with.

They walked in silence, Ao was on his right. Anbu jumped from one roof top to another in the direction of Mizukage tower. It was in the center of the village. In the last four years the village has improved greatly. Shinobi and civilian populations have increased. They looked happy. He could sense their emotions if he used his rinnegan and senjutsu but didn't bother.

They soon arrived outside of Mizukage's office. The door opened and Naruto entered. He saw Mei standing in front of her working desk waiting for him. Her hands folded in front of her loosely with a serene smile on her face.

"Naruto-kun! Where have you been? I'm so happy to see you." Mei stepped forward and hugged him briefly before leading him towards the couch.

"You can go now, Ao." Mei dismissed him and she sat on his right side.

"I've been busy." Naruto said and with a flick of his finger his cloak disappeared revealing him wearing a dark red half sleeve shirt and mesh shirt underneath. There were storage seal tattoos on his right and left wrists. He was wearing black earrings in the shape of tomeos.

"You've grown!" She said with a smile.

"Time does do that to people Mei. How're you? How things are going in the village. Everything okay?" Naruto asked with genuine concern. It was not like he was in Konoha. It was Kiri, his home.

"Yes, everything is fine. We've been busy rebuilding the village. People are happy."

"And how's Kage life treating you? You look like you can take some break?" Mei sighed with a smile.

"You can say that. There is always a fear of a new threat arising, fear of other villages attacking. But the last four years have been peaceful aside from some things." Mei said with a frown. Her expression filled with sadness as she lost in thought.

"What happened?" Giving Naruto a smile, she spoke.

"These things can wait. You must have a long journey. Why don't I show you to your apartment."

"I don't need rest. I'm not tired. Tell me Mei! Is there something that I should be worried about?" Naruto said in a tone that left no room for arguments. Mei looked at Naruto in thought. He'd grown not just physically. She could only guess his strength but the way anbu described his presence before he entered her office left her no doubt that he could take anyone in battle and win. Naruto always had the potential to become a once in a generation legend.

Mei glanced at him and saw him looking at her with expected eyes.

"I'm waiting, Mei." Sighing, she began.

"Iwa and Kumo," Mei explained, her voice tight with anger. "They ambushed them on a mission. It was... brutal." There was a long pause. "Three years ago, our six tail jinchuuriki, Utakata, was under threat. The villagers feared and because of that he stayed outside of the village. But one day he sent us a stress signal and I dispatched Zabuza and Haku along with some anbu to see what's going on. He was ambushed by Iwa and Kumo. Kumo had brought their two tails jinchuuriki to capture him alive, but Zabuza and Haku were able to force them to retrieve but it cost them their lives. Only one anbu survived."

Mei placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Naruto. I know they meant a lot to you." Naruto's mind raced with memories - Haku's kind smile, Zabuza's gruff attitude. And they were killed. He cared about them. He saved them when they were in prison. He saved them from Yagura's tyranny.

"Why did they do it? Didn't they know it will disrupt the balance of power in the nations? And because of that other nations will attack."

Mei's expression darkened. "Politics, greed, fear... take your pick. The world of shinobi is cruel sometimes."

"Not sometimes, it's cruel all of the time." He was lost in thought. One year into his training, one year into his absence and he lost two shinobi of his village. Controlling his emotions and taking a deep breath, Naruto asked a question.

"Did you do something about it?"

"I sent a letter to the Raikage and Tsuchikage, asking them to explain themselves. They said if I cannot control my shinobi then let us have them."

"Did you discuss this with Konoha?"

"I did. But they said it will only lead to war as both are stubborn."

"And where is Utakata now?"

"He is in the village under surveillance." Naruto leaned back and closed his eyes.

"We can't let them get away with this." He said with his eyes closed.

"The matter is cold now; it's been three years. I've tightened the security around the borders. But I know you won't stay still like this. You will take action, but you must be smart about it. rash action could lead to war. I want you to promise me that you will not do anything that will lead this village to war."

Naruto stood up from the sofa and went to the window to look outside. It was a pleasant afternoon. The sun was shining. Looking down, he could see children playing around laughing and smiling. The village was bustling.

"If they can come after the six tails then they surely will try to capture the three tails when they appear. And they are not the only ones who have their eyes open to capture it." Looking back at Mei, Naruto gives her his answer.

"I've spent some of my childhood years in this village Mei. I studied here and graduated from this village's academy. I risked my life for this village. I saved the people of this village. People love me here. I don't have to listen to taunts, to whispers filled with hate here. I'm a part of this village and I cannot let anyone go unpunished when they've threatened my people like this."

.../