Chapter 6
Unknown location
Outside of fire nation
Three years, it had been three years since he'd started training himself to become like Madara. He'd done the toughest training; he suffered broken bones, pain and blood loss. He locked himself for three years in his hideout. He forgot the warmth of the sunlight and the beauty of the sky and the shining rays of the moon.
The only thing he remembered was the sweat on his broken body and smell of his own blood. The katana in his hand and the memories of how to move it, the katana that he'd in his hand was a simple one. He was wearing black pants with black sandals. He was shirtless.
His Sharingan eyes blazing and spinning slowly. An army of Zetsu clones could be seen surrounding him with different kind of weapons. When they converged on him he didn't even move a muscle. He channeled wind chakra into his sword and raised it slightly. One of the Zetsu clones moved from behind and attacked him with a sword. He turned around and his katana bisected the artificial human into many pieces.
The next second, hundreds of kunais headed his way from all direction.
"Futon: Shinku Renpa (Wind Style: Vacuum Blast Barrage)."
Obito took a deep breath and exhaled several blades of wind at different angles by rapidly moving his head all around him. The wind blades struck not only the kunais that were heading towards him but also cleaved half of Zetsu's around him in half.
He took katana from his waist and blocked a strike from a Zetsu from his left. The kunai and Zetsu cleaved in half. Obito kicked another Zetsu on its jaw and sent him flying a few meters away hitting another Zetsu.
He turned around and saw an army of Zetsu running towards him with a roar.
"Katon: karyudan (Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bomb)."
He exhaled fire from his mouth that spread in the air and then turned into a fury of projectiles that hit their marks and turned the Zetsu into ashes. Obito saw there are many Zetsu that are still alive so...
"Katon: Goka Mekkyaku (Fire style: Majestic Destroyer flame)."
Obito expelled fire from his mouth that shaped into a massive fireball, which covered a wide area around him. Another wave of projectiles headed his way with tremendous speed, seeing no other option...
"Susanoo (He with the ability to help by all means)."
A ribcage of light blue color surrounded his body. It developed further and took a place of a humanoid figure. It had the characteristic tengu nose, forehead protectors like plating on its head, two locks of hair falling on either side of its face, a hole in its chin, and a vertical mark extending across its left eye. It had a katana but the most noticeable weapon was the Mangekyou-shaped shuriken that can wrap away targets on contact. Obito could be seen standing on its head.
Obito used his Susanoo to destroy every single Zetsu around him before dispelling his Susanoo. Black Zetsu appeared from the ground grinning.
"That's more like it Obito. You have become stronger, far stronger than I've ever imagined you'd become."
"I'd take this as a compliment. It's time for me to act on my plans now. Were you able to convince Danzo to do what I wanted him to do?"
"Yes, that old man was hard to convince but when I told him that Madara-sama will give him a Mangekyou Sharingan, well he bowed to me." Obito nodded his head, satisfied with the answer.
"After I get dressed, take me to him."
He waited for his agents to come with Uzumaki. He was alone; the agents that he'd brought with him had died in last battle with Shisui. He had been injured too, so he stayed behind to take some rest and to heal his injuries. They should have been here by now but it seems that they had been killed and failed to succeed in their mission.
Danzo didn't know what to do know. He'd done what he'd been asked to do. He was just now waiting for his partner to come to him and take him.
"They are dead; they are not coming." A figure with an orange swirl like mask wearing a black cloak with red clouds on it appeared in front of Danzo.
"Who are you?" Danzo stood up and stared at the masked man. He could tell that the masked man was hiding his real power. The way he'd appeared using a technique...and then Danzo saw a sharing in the masked man's eye.
"Uchiha Madara!" Danzo said with curiosity. Even the name held power. He doesn't think he will be able to say no to Madara. It was a trap, a trap to not only eliminate the Uchihas but weaken the leaf village as well. And Madara had used him as a pawn.
"Danzo Shimura, you did a good job eliminating the Uchihas. But your pawns were unable to take all of them. You even failed to capture the Jinchuuriki." He could sense disappointment in his voice. The crippled man swallowed when he felt him leaking some of his killing intent.
"I did my best; it's not my fault that the Yondaime killed all my agents. Now, where is my payment?" Danzo said with as much confidence as he could. He knew if that man was real Madara then it'd be impossible for him to win against him. But he was a shinobi during his youth. He would be able to put a good fight but to win…
"If you need your prize then you have to do another job because you were unable to do what I had asked you to do." Danzo seethed inside. Uchiha Madara or not...
"You're not planning to fight me are you Danzo." Madara mocked before appearing behind Danzo with a kunai on his throat. Danzo eyes widened. He hadn't even sensed or saw Madara move. So, that was true.
"Now do what I'd asked you to do. Otherwise..." Madara again appeared in front of Danzo who was sweating. The killing intent that Madara was releasing was tremendous, he hadn't felt anything like it before. It was like he had become putty in front of him.
"W-what I've to do?" Danzo questioned in a defeated voice. He can't go anywhere. Konoha will send Hunter Nin after him. He doesn't have his agents with him. The only option he has now is to follow Madara and do what he would ask him to do.
"Zetsu will take you to Akatsuki hideout. You will join Akatsuki, I'll come back when I'll see fit. And remember we don't know each other." Madara said before disappearing from his sight.
One week after the Uchiha Incident
Kumogakure
"I'm sure you have heard the news about the Uchiha massacre." Onoki, the third Tsuchikage raised his thick eyebrow when he heard the Yondaime's suggestion.
"Are you saying we should attack now?" Onoki questioned. He saw 'A' smiled slightly before leaning back in his chair.
"No, the time is not right like you said in our previous meeting. There is someone who is making Konoha weaker and weaker day by day." A's eyes narrowed in thought before turning to Onoki.
"First the kyuubi's incident and now the Uchiha massacre...someone is doing this and in all of this they lost their talented shinobi, first the third Hokage, then Orochimaru and now Uchihas."
"Now according to me there is only one piece in this game that is dangerous and if it was taken down..." Raikage grinned deviously.
"Konoha will be conquered." Onoki's eyes widened and realized what 'A' was talking about.
"You are talking about the yellow flash."
"Of course, Onoki..."
"But how we will be able to take him down?" Onoki questioned. It seemed impossible. The Hokage would be the last line of defense for Konoha. If they wish to take him down than they have to do it from the shadows, which would be impossible. The Hokage would be surrounded by dozens of Anbus, and he will be sitting in the middle of Konoha.
A difficult task indeed.
"He is a Hokage; he will not participate in every battle. So, what do you say? Should we strike?"
Before Onoki answered his question, another voice spoke.
"Yes, we should." Both kages jumped from their seats...
"Who are you and how you get in here? Answer me before I dropped your head from your shoulders." A yelled, he activated his lightning cloak. It seems that his guards had been killed or were unconscious, but to take every anbu around his office without alerting him or Onoki...that man was dangerous.
"Relax, relax gentlemen. I'm not here to fight with you guys, maybe some other time but not now. Sit; relax...should I sit down...I should sit down." The masked man said with a faked cheery voice before sitting on the floor cross-legged. He took off his mask and revealed his face.
"I don't have to tell you who I'm, am I Onoki?" Madara questioned. Madara looked satisfied when he saw Onoki's eyes widened and he stepped back unconsciously.
"Uchiha...Madara." Madara chuckled and nodded his head, his Sharingan eyes glaring at A, who snorted hearing Onoki's response.
"I said sit down." Madara barked and Onoki obeyed while A stood there.
"Who are you to give me orders in my own village?" Madara sighed and activated his mangekyou Sharingan and cast a genjutsu on A.
"Now sit down." A did what he was told but tried to fight back. Madara sat there on the floor.
"A strong genjutsu isn't it?" Madara chuckled when he saw how A was trying to break from his genjutsu that was stopping his movements.
"Now gentlemen, I think it is time for me to give my support or aid to crush Konoha. You want to destroy Konoha as much as I want to. So why not shake hands and crush our enemy at the same time." Madara suggested. He smirked inwardly when he saw how A had stopped struggling and started thinking with his head instead of muscle.
"Now why should we believe you?" Onoki questioned. The idea to join forces was very appealing to Onoki but Madara was a very cunning man.
"You don't want to believe me then don't. I can go and join forces with Suna and Kiri. I'm sure they will appreciate my help and support, and not only that but we will also gain so much wealth and land when we will crush Konoha, even their bloodlines as well." Madara smirked again when A's eyes filled with hunger when he heard about the bloodlines. He turned towards Onoki and saw the same reaction on his face.
The fools, humans were fools, very easy to manipulate and shape them into what you want them to become. Can't they see, that they will bring suffering to their own people? And if Konoha won in the end, well it will not happen, because he will not allow it to happen.
They don't know, but thanks to his genjutsu, he was able to put Kiri in a civil war. Suna had the weakest military power. The other remaining villages would be going to war and it will become easy for him to take them down at the right time. A war will weaken them. Then he will strike a last single blow to defeat them all.
Than he will proceed with the next phase of his plan.
A lone tear slipped from her eye when she saw Naruto standing at the bank of the river staring at his reflection. He looked calm and motionless, his violet eyes staring at the surface of the river without any emotion and lost in thought.
That was the reason for her tears, she could tell he was hurting inside, wounded and grieving but his stubborn nature didn't allow him to discuss his problems and internal conflicts with anyone. She remembered what Minato had told her about Naruto. So soon, just a six-year-old child training to go to war, to protect Konoha, to protect the place where he was hated, to protect those people who always loathed him, why he wanted to do this?
"Why?" she questioned, a whisper, a plea, she doesn't know.
He turned and stared at her, his emotionless eyes softened slightly when he looked at her.
"It's the only choice for me."
'It's the only way for me to discover who I'm.'
"I don't want you to go." Kushina said stubbornly.
"You can't control my actions, and besides why are you not sending Nawaki to this program."
"Because this program is hell, please just..." She tried to say something but couldn't.
"I've given my word to Hokage." He finalized.
"Words can be changed."
"That's why we had wars. And another one is approaching as well." He turned his face towards the river again. His red hair that was reaching his neck now danced in the wind.
"I'll not forgive you." She pouted slightly at his stubborn nature. He smiled sadly and stopped when he was in front of her. He looked upward.
'That's what I want you to do.' He turned around and left Kushina standing there.
He knew now there was no turning back, he will come back either victorious or dead. The Hokage and everyone thought that he was doing it for Konoha, how wrong they thought. In the heat of battle, he was able to awaken Sharingan and in the heat of battle, he will be able to find and master his true powers. Having a doujutsu doesn't make you invincible.
He entered into his apartment and stared at his reflection in the mirror. He took off his shirt and stared at his left shoulder. An anbu insignia with red color could be seen on his left shoulder. He was not the only one, Sasuke Uchiha, Hinata Hyuuga, Neji Hyuuga, Sakura Haruno and many more. All of them had anbu insignia with blue color on their left shoulders but he was different.
"It's time to go." He turned his eyes towards Shisui who was standing there with a bored look on his face.
"I'll be there." Shisui disappeared without saying anything. Naruto changed into his shinobi gear, black anbu pants with black half sleeve shirt with anbu jacket on it, arm guards on his forearms and black shinobi boots.
Konoha war room
Everyone was sitting in their seats patiently waiting for Hokage's arrival. They were looking at the young kids wearing anbu gear standing motionless.
"The fourth ninja war has begun." The Hokage announced and murmurs started building in the room.
"This wasn't unexpected." Shikaku Nara stated calmly.
"The three villages Iwa, Kumo and Kiri are under one banner and seemed to have been preparing for war for some years now. They have formally declared war on us. Also, I've some good news as well." Everyone perked up at that, a spark of hope and anticipation.
"The rebel forces that are opposing the Mizukage in Kiri have agreed to help us, but on one condition." Some happy smiles could be seen on the faces of council members but Shikaku and Inoichi Yamanaka was looking at Hokage to say something more until Inoichi spoke.
"What do they want in return?"
"They want Uzumaki Naruto." Naruto eyes shot up and searched the Hokage's face like a hawk. He saw Minato glancing at him, Naruto narrowed his eyes at the Hokage who ignored him and turned his attention to the meeting.
Naruto saw everyone looking at him.
"They want our Jinchuuriki..."
"That's not what they want And Naruto is not a Jinchuuriki. They want someone who has a potential to become strong and end the civil war. They want someone who has been trained for only one purpose from the beginning." Of course they don't need someone to tell them the purpose of the training. It was obvious.
"That's was unexpected," Shikaku commented lazily and Minato snorted.
"What have you decided?" Fugaku looked towards the Hokage with a steely gaze, a look that was saying to make a right decision.
"It's up to Naruto. If he wants to go then the rebels will help us in this war and besides with Naruto there, we will be able to gather information on our enemies in Kiri. But I warn you Naruto, if you accept this then you will help them as a Kiri shinobi until the rebels won."
Everyone turned towards Naruto with hope filled eyes. Naruto was staring at the ground lost in thought. He knew that if he accepted this then he will not be able to become a Konoha shinobi until the civil war in Kiri solved. But going to Kiri and live with them, with new people and new friends, it will be difficult first. A small grin appeared on his face when he thought about the seven swordsmen of Kiri.
"I accept." He answered and saw everyone smiling and giving him thankful nods. But Minato was looking at him with a strange expression as if he had done something wrong.
"So, this settled then, the rebels have promised me to aid with 3000 shinobi in this war and most of them are bloodline users." That did it; Minato could see the hungry and excited look that appeared on their faces.
"Hokage-sama what about Suna, are they going to join in war or not?" Minato sighed and shook his head.
"They have decided to stay neutral in this war. The Kazekage has promised me that Suna will not go against Konoha. But we know how the shinobi work; we can't trust them to stay neutral."
"Those so-called allies, we should declare war on them too." Tsume Inuzuka said angrily.
"Think rationally Tsume-San, we are already at war with three villages, we can't go to war with them too. And with what forces are you going to attack them."
"And besides after the Kyuubi and Uchiha incident..." Choza Akimichi said.
"Yes, we don't have enough men power to defeat great three villages," Shikaku said and looked towards Hokage.
"I'm sure you have already come up with something to solve this problem. We should improve and upgrade our shinobi training programs. If our enemy have numbers than we must achieve quality. We have to make them stronger and powerful in a short amount of time." Everyone was impressed by Shikaku's suggestion. They can't disagree with his logic. You just have to improve the quality of your shinobi to defeat the large numbers of enemy.
"Actually, I thought something like that." The Hokage turned towards the young children who nodded their heads and came in front of the council.
"This is my solution; I don't know if it is going to solve our problem or not but this is the only solution we have." Minato then stood up from his seat.
"Remove your masks." The young kids removed their masks and bowed to Hokage before standing straight. Minato turned towards the council members and spoke.
"This is the future of Konoha. They are the sword and shield of Konoha. The root, a new tree will emerge from these roots that will be stronger and wider."
"Under the guidance of Itachi Uchiha and Hizashi Hyuuga, these young children will become the swords and shields that we need to defeat our enemies."
Later
The meeting ended and Naruto exited the council rooms. The meeting had been lasted for almost three hours and now looking at the setting sun. He doesn't know if he'd made a good decision by sharing his views and ideas with the Hokage when the Hokage had told him about the rebels. It will take time and good planning. It was a better choice. Living there away from Konoha and that's what he wanted for himself. He started walking towards his training ground to get some light training when he was joined by Nawaki.
"So, what's up?" Naruto turned his eyes towards Nawaki and sighed.
"Don't you have anything to do Nawaki? Go and bother someone else."
"So, you are going to Kiri huh." He ignored his remarks.
"Who told you?"
"Tou-san told me." He replied smugly, a wide grin on his face.
Naruto wondered why the Hokage had told Nawaki about him going to Kiri. Maybe Kushina allowed Nawaki to join the Root training program.
"You don't want me to go do you?" Naruto said before stopping in front of the training ground forty-four.
"I'm going to train for some time. Do you wish to join me?" The grin that appeared on Nawaki's face was the answer to his question.
At the same time
It was so easy for him to infiltrate the hidden leaf village, he doesn't know how but infiltrating Konoha was much easier than he thought it would be. Maybe it was because he was wearing Konoha Jounin attire and headband.
Dai looked around with his black eyes, expecting to be attacked by Konoha shinobi just in case, due to his sensory skills, he could tell that in this forest he was alone with his two targets. The most difficult thing was to infiltrate Konoha and find the suitable place to hide and spy on his target. It wasn't easy but today was the day when he would strike and kidnap the Hokage's son.
It was a mission from Raikage to kidnap the Hokage's son and bring him to Kumo. He knew it would be easy to kidnap him because the target was only six years old and don't know how to defend himself.
He was chosen because of his skills, his skills in infiltrating and because of his speed. Taking a deep breath, he disappeared into the shadows of the forest, waiting for his target to come to him, deep into the forest.
Naruto and Nawaki when reached deep into the forest stopped and looked around.
"This is where you train?" Nawaki questioned and looked around, the small clearing surrounded by large trees with target boards on different directions.
"Yes," Naruto answered and closed his eyes for concentration.
Dai was standing there not too far away from them looking at them.
'So, it seems that red haired boy knows how to fight if he trains here in this forest.' He thought and suppressed his chakra as much as he could. They were children but he cannot underestimate them. The Raikage had put his faith in him.
"Nawaki! we should go. I think it's late." Naruto replied with a sudden urgency in his voice. He eyes roamed around the forest.
"But what about training..." Naruto sighed and blocked the projectiles that headed his way with a kunai.
"I think it's too late to go kid. Just hand over the brat and I'll let you leave without any harm." Dai released as much killing intent as he could. He was satisfied when he saw his target frightened expressions. But the red haired kid was looking at him calmly and shielding him with his body.
"Nawaki...Nawaki..." Naruto said.
"Y-yes..." Naruto looked at the frightened boy and sigh.
"Here take this kunai and stay behind me," Naruto said without taking his eyes from his opponent. Nawaki did what was told and stayed in alert with a kunai in his trembling hands.
"You are not a Konoha shinobi, are you?" Naruto questioned and gripped his kunai in a reverse grip.
"Ha, as if I want to become a shinobi of a pathetic village like Konoha, prepare yourself Konoha scum."
"Such hostility, what have I done to you Shinobi-san?" Naruto questioned in a bored tone that irritated his opponent even more.
"You are a Konoha trash that's what you have done." He said and rushed towards Naruto at tremendous speed.
The enemy had been too fast for Naruto to react and Naruto found himself in the air lifted by the man with his hands struggling to breathe.
"It was too easy to infiltrate Konoha, it seems that Konoha's security is not a much challenge to me. Maybe you would be able to give me more challenge, hmm." The man said with a grin and punched Naruto hard in his stomach then another and another.
Naruto could feel his consciousness losing him; with all his might, he gripped his kunai in his hand and slashed at the man's face. He fell on the ground coughing. Naruto saw his enemy wiping the blood from his face, a bloodthirsty look on his face.
"We lost our loved ones in the previous war, I think it will be fair if Yondaime loses his own son, I'd have loved to kill you but I don't have much time."
The man vanished and appeared in front of Nawaki who was on the ground with his back facing Naruto. Naruto stood and wiped the blood from his face before running towards his enemy. At the last second, the man turned around and slashed his kunai around Naruto's chest and then kicked him in his ribs.
A cracking sound came from his chest. More blood from his mouth and coughing. Breathing heavily, he stared at his opponent. That man was not underestimating him.
"Naruto?" Nawaki cried, he tried to stand up but his view was blocked by the enemy.
Naruto stood up on shaky legs and went through some hand seals.
"Futon: Shinkugyoku (Wind Style: Vacuum Bullets)." Naruto took a deep breath and exhaled wind chakra in such a manner that they dispersed over an expansive range.
The man had his back towards Naruto and thus the attack hit him head on but he got away in time, thus not taking heavy injuries. Dai appeared behind Naruto and slammed his right foot in his back that sent Naruto flying.
"Nawaki! Run," Naruto said coughing.
"But, you..." Nawaki looked frightened.
"Just run. Don't worry about me and bring some help." Naruto yelled. Seeing Naruto standing again on his legs...
"But..."
"I said run, damn it," Naruto yelled at him frustrated. Nawaki flinched and nodded his head before turning around and started running towards the village.
"Oh, do you really think you will be able to run away from me you little shit." Dai was about to move forward when three shurikens zoomed out of nowhere and slashed his chest. He looked around and found himself surrounded by shadow clones.
"Oh really, shadow clone...I never expected a civilian like you to know such a high ranking jutsu." Everywhere he could see was clones.
'Such tremendous amount of chakra...' He thought. Then more shuriken headed towards him and he started deflecting them.
When Naruto was sure that Nawaki had gone far away he activated his Sharingan and attacked his opponent hoping to put him in a genjutsu.
And he succeeded. Dai was busy deflecting shurikens when a real Naruto appeared in front of him with his Sharingan activated.
"Genjutsu Sharingan." Dai froze his eyes wide and mouth opened slightly.
Naruto sighed and deactivated his Sharingan before taking a kunai from his pouch. And the next second he buried his kunai into the man's chest.
"Puff..." The clone disappeared and Naruto felt a kunai at his throat, the feeling of cold metal on his skin, the feeling of dread, the feeling of losing his life and most of all the feeling of what would happen to Nawaki now.
"'I'm a Jounin for a reason you damn Uchiha." His voice carried pride and finality as if he was saying that he cannot do anything against him.
Slash
Naruto fell on the cold ground; blood covered his whole neck and shirt. He could feel his consciousness losing him. He saw through his half-closed eyes, his opponent running towards the direction where Nawaki had disappeared.
'Nawaki...' Naruto thought. Memories of him being with Nawaki flashed through his mind.
'I want to become my own person. I don't like when people address me as Yondaime's son. I want to become strong, stronger than my father. Will you help me with that Naruto?' The first time Nawaki had asked him to help him in his training. The first time he told him how he felt living in his father's shadow.
'I'm sorry I was unable to make you stronger Nawaki.' He closed his eyes to drive himself to sleep for forever when he felt red chakra appeared around his body.
The sound of hissing and the feeling of his wound closing and healing, his eyes opened again and he stood up. He heard Nawaki screaming and started running towards that direction. He doesn't care how the Kyuubi's chakra appeared around his body and healed his wounds without him doing anything. He knew he hadn't pulled the Kyuubi's chakra form his body.
So why it suddenly appeared and healed his wounds? He never liked that chakra. To use that creatures chakra was against his pride. He wanted to win every battle with his own strength.
Nawaki was running towards the village as fast as he can to get some help when he was attacked by that same man.
"Where are you going, kid? Come with me I'll give you a candy." He said with a faked smile.
Nawaki scoffed. "Cut the crap already. I know you want to kidnap me; I'll not go with you." Dai hummed and disappeared before punching Nawaki's face.
"You don't understand, do you? I'm stronger than you, I can easily kill you." He said before kicking him in his stomach. Dai then started beating Nawaki. Punching, kicking and slashing with kunai.
The more Dai tortured him the more he felt satisfied. He then stabbed Nawaki in his arm and Nawaki screamed.
"I'm sorry, kid but I don't think you are going to live to see another day. And before you die I thought it would be better to tell you that your friend out there is already dead. I killed him. Why don't you go to him in the outer world and meet him?" He said before stabbing Nawaki in his stomach.
Nawaki cried in pain, covered in blood from head to toe, the only thing that registered in his mind was of killing Naruto.
'He killed Naruto, he killed Naruto, he killed Naruto.' Shock but most importantly he felt anger, that man has killed his friend.
It took time but Naruto found Nawaki on the floor bloodied and being tortured by that man. The look that Nawaki had in his eyes frightened Naruto, it was empty, like a dead person. Naruto was about to help Nawaki when he saw him moved and Nawaki screamed. The scream was not because of pain, it was filled with anger and hatred.
And then Naruto saw large long roots appeared from the ground and ripped the man that was torturing Nawaki into pieces. The roots soaked in blood fell on the ground motionless.
Naruto turned his eyes away from the scene. He shuddered. Blood, intestines, legs, head, and chest ripped in half. Nawaki stayed on the ground motionless but alive.
The most important thing that registered into his mind was how Nawaki had used roots to kill that man.
"Mokuton!" He whispered in awe and amazement. He can't believe that finally after so many years someone from Senju had been able to activate the Shodaime Hokage's bloodline.
Naruto woke up and found himself in the hospital bed. He looked towards his left and saw Nawaki sleeping there covered in bandages. Remembering about the events that had happened in the forest of death, he turned his gaze towards Nawaki and stared at his form.
The images of Nawaki awakening Mokuton was still fresh in his mind. The scene of him fighting with that unknown shinobi appeared in his mind. It seems he'd improved. But to think he was still beaten so easily was a proof that he needed to get stronger, he needed more training.
The door of the hospital room opened and Naruto drifted out of his thoughts. He saw Kushina standing there with a worried gaze. When her eyes landed on him and saw him looking at her she sighed in relief and headed towards him. She sat there, on his right side without saying anything.
"He will be okay," Naruto assured her about her son.
"I'm not worried about him. I know he will be okay." Kushina replied and took his hand in hers hesitantly. Her grip on his hand tightened when he didn't pull back.
"Why you lied to me before?" She questioned in a very soft voice. Naruto turned towards her and saw her misty eyes.
"Why you care about me so much?" Naruto questioned, there was only curiosity in his voice.
"Answer me Naruto?" She said sternly.
"I never knew. I still have to talk to Hokage-sama about it." He said referring to him going to Kiri.
"Do you really want to go there?" He knew she wanted him to stay here with her and learn funinjutsu every day with her. But there were other things that he would be able to learn if he went there. Maybe it was selfish of him to left her but…
"It's the only option I've?" He asked her questionable. As if he was asking her to give him some suggestions or show her other options. Seeing no response from her...
"Why you don't want me to go there. First, you were against me joining root and now you don't want me to go to Mizu no Kuni. Why?" He questioned again raising his voice slightly.
"I don't think I've answer to this question. I just want you to stay with me." She wiped her eyes with her right hand and turned her gaze towards the window.
Naruto looked at her, her eyes filled with tears, tears just for him. But to think that there was someone who wanted him to stay with him...he closed his eyes and suppressed his tears. The love and the care he felt whenever he was with Kushina.
He'd grown so much closer to her. And it hurt, to see her like that.
"I never knew about my mother or my father, and I don't think I'll be able to find something or anything about them. The time I've spent here in this village was hard, was filled with hardships and loneliness..." Naruto turned his eyes towards her, tears could be seen in his eyes. His throat tightened and words just came out of his mouth without any restriction.
"You were like a mother to me that I never had and Hokage-sama was like a father to me that I never had, and I'll always see you as my mother and Hokage-sama as my father," Naruto said it and found himself embraced by a crying Kushina. He hugged her back still lying on the bed.
"I see, you are awake." Kushina and Naruto turned towards the door and saw Minato standing with a smile on his face. He walked forward and stood behind Kushina and squeezed her shoulders.
"You are not even on a battlefield and you are ending up in a hospital after every fight." Minato joked.
"That's because I'm weak."
"You are alive and healthy is proof that you are not weak. Of course, there are many things that you need to do to make yourself stronger but you are doing well." Minato scowled and praised him at the same time.
"Do you know what happened to Nawaki?" Naruto questioned and wiped his tears away.
"Well, the man that attacked you and Nawaki was from Kumo. He was after Nawaki isn't he?" Minato questioned.
"Yes, he was." Naruto nodded and sat on his bed.
"But do you know what happened to Nawaki?" Naruto questioned again.
"Don't tell them Naruto. I'll tell them myself." Everyone turned towards Nawaki who was looking at their direction.
"Nawaki! thank God you are okay." Minato and Kushina rushed towards Nawaki and Naruto stayed in his bed.
"It's about time." The door opened again and Tsunade entered the room.
"How are you feeling you brats?" She questioned with her hands on her hips and looked towards Naruto who nodded his head.
"I'm fine Tsunade-baa-chan."
"Nawaki what happened to you. What are you not telling us?" Minato questioned worriedly.
"I can't explain here. It would be best to show you guys what I can do." Nawaki stood up from his bed.
"Where do you think, you are going brat?" Tsunade questioned and pushed Nawaki into bed.
"Oh, come on baa-chan I'm fine to let me go." He whined loudly.
"Not before the examination." She said and examined Nawaki and then Naruto before they exited the hospital with Tsunade.
They were walking in the training ground, and for almost half an hour they were following Nawaki who hadn't decided to stop yet.
"I don't know what you want to show us. But whatever it is Nawaki just show us already." Tsunade whined.
"I know what he wants to show you guys." Naruto said.
"Naruto, don't you dare. I want them to guess." Nawaki glared at him.
"SHOW US ALREADY," Tsunade yelled frustrated.
"Fine, fine geez..." Nawaki stopped and closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them. Everyone waiting for him to show something amazing and it was amazing.
They were standing in the forest surrounding the Senju compound when Nawaki crouched and placed his hands on the grassy ground.
Small tendrils of wood come out of the ground. Nawaki looked at his mother, father and grandmother grinning. His grinned widely when he saw the shocked expression on their faces.
"Mokuton..." the three exclaimed without taking their eyes from the roots.
"A-amazing..."
"Do it again," Minato instructed still not sure about his son awakening Mokuton. Nawaki did and did many times.
"I never thought I'll see my grandfather's Mokuton again in my life," Tsunade whispered and looked at Nawaki with awe and amazement.
"That's just amazing. My son can grow trees." Kushina said happily and hugged Nawaki with all her might.
"K-Kaa-chan can't breathe..."
"You are not going to force him into joining root, do you?" Naruto questioned in a quiet tone to Minato who nodded his head.
"I think that makes you a good candidate for root."
"No way am I'm allowing my son to join this program," Kushina said sternly.
"Hokage-sama let him go with Jiraiya-sama on a training trip," Naruto suggested.
"Yes, that's a good idea." Kushina and Tsunade nodded their heads.
"Okay. Fine, fine, he can go with Jiraiya on a training trip but not until he knows how to control his ability." And which means he would join root to control his ability. Of course the ladies don't need to know.
"Nawaki! I'd recommend to not tell this to anyone not even to Sasuke," Minato said.
"Don't worry Tou-san I'll not tell anyone." Of course his childish part wanted to show to Sasuke and rub it on his face. But he can't disobey his father's and leader's orders.
"You knew about it, didn't you?" Naruto said to Shisui. They were on the training ground with Itachi standing not too far away from them.
"I knew but Hokage-sama had forbidden me to tell you about it."
"How is your new job going by the way Itachi?" Naruto changed the subject. Itachi turned his onyx eyes towards him and nodded slightly.
"Nawaki will be joining the root in the future." Itachi raised an eyebrow at this.
"But I thought that Kushina-sama was against the idea."
"Oh, yes she is but you will see. He will join root." Itachi doesn't know how Naruto could be so sure about it. To convince Kushina was almost impossible.
"So, you are going to Mizu no Kuni, what are you expecting?" Shisui said with a smile.
"What should I expect?" Naruto said to Shisui.
"I don't even know when I'm going and who will be escorting me," Naruto said.
"I don't know why Hokage-sama is you allowing you to go there. You are weak Naruto and the most dangerous place in our world is Mizu no Kuni, with civil war and shinobi like seven swordsmen. I heard that they don't like Konoha shinobi because the father of Mito Guy defeated all of them in a single fight." Naruto ignored everything Itachi had said except Mito Guy.
"But most of them are dead..." Shisui argued with Itachi.
"That man with thick eyebrows and green jumpsuit." Naruto's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"Yes, he is the strongest and fastest taijutsu master in Konoha, Hokage-sama is the fastest man in our village but Mito Guy is the second fastest man in our village."
"But how..."
"He uses weights to increase his speed that's how." Itachi cut him in. Seeing Naruto's confused expression on his face Shisui decided to elaborate further.
"Some shinobi use different methods to increase their speed. There are two methods that are most common in our world. One is through seals and another one is through weights. By applying gravity seal on your body, you will be able to increase your speed through training, that's the most effective method but it is quite dangerous for those who don't know anything about seals. The other method is using weights. By applying physical weights on your body, you will be able to increase your speed through training." Shisui finished his little lecture and turned to Itachi.
"By the way Itachi I think we should use weights for young roots to increase their speed."
"Yes, I was thinking the same thing but first we need to build their stamina endurance. We should go now; I've some work to do." They waved at Naruto and disappeared from his sight.
Mikoto was in the kitchen when Sasuke rushed into the house and disappeared into the bathroom. She shook her head and returned to her work. Then she heard Sasuke screaming excitedly.
"Sasuke-chan is everything alright?" She questioned loudly.
"Yes, Kaa-chan yes." He replied. After a while, he came from the bathroom and said.
"Kaa-chan I've something to show you." Mikoto turned towards her youngest son who was looking at her with a small grin on his face.
Mikoto turned around with a plate in her hand.
"Okay. What do you want to show me?" She questioned with a small smile on her face.
"Just see," Sasuke said and closed his eyes and after a while, he opened them getting a gasp from his mother. Mikoto just stared at her son's eyes and in a shock, the plate in her hand fell to the ground shattering into pieces.
"How were you able to?" She questioned with a shocked look on her face. She crouched and looked into his eyes. Mikoto grabbed Sasuke in a hug.
"Congregations Sasuke-chan, you were able to awaken Sharingan at the age of six. That's amazing." Sasuke grinned and hugged his mother back. Happy to receive praises from his mother.
"Have you told your father and big brother about it?"
"No Kaa-chan you are the only one who knows. I wanted to show you first." Mikoto smiled and kissed his forehead.
"So sweet. How were you able to awaken it?" She said hesitantly.
"I don't know. I was training with kunai and shuriken when my vision suddenly becomes more precise and clear. When I went to the bathroom and saw my reflection in the mirror and saw Sharingan in my eyes." Sasuke said with an excited look on his face.
'It must have awakened when he saw the dead bodies of his clansmen.'
Mikoto chuckled and returned to her work.
"Okay. You should get ready, we are going to Senju compound." Sasuke nodded his head and disappeared from his mother's view.
"Itachi told me about what happened yesterday. I thought when they will be released from the hospital then I'll visit them." Kushina just nodded her head and stared at her son who was practicing kunai and shuriken with Sasuke.
"I'm very worried about him Mikoto. Sasuke also has joined root as well...are you okay with it?"
"I'm fine about it I guess," Mikoto said and turned her gaze towards the blue sky and sighed.
"He will be with Itachi and I'm sure Itachi will take care of him. Our world is dangerous Kushina and I think letting our children grow up as soon as it is possible is the only way to protect them from harm." Kushina hummed and rubbed her hands together nervously.
"You are more worried about Naruto than even you own son," Mikoto said while looking at her friend as if she was asking her to tell her what she was hiding from her.
"I don't want him to go there."
"Where is he going?"
"I thought you knew?"
"What are you talking about Kushina?" Now Mikoto looked completely lost.
"The rebels in the mist village have signed a treaty with the Hokage. They will help us in the coming war. Something is better than nothing and Minato agreed to it. But they had one condition."
"And that is..."
"They wanted Naruto, the Jinchuuriki of this village to help them in their civil war." Mikoto just sat there listening to her friend.
"It was either Nawaki or Naruto. According to them, Naruto is the Jinchuuriki of this village which is not correct. Nawaki and Minato are the Jinchuurikis of this village."
"But why then Minato agreed to their condition. Why he agreed to send Naruto there?"
"It was either Naruto or Nawaki and he picked Naruto because Naruto is stronger and smarter than Nawaki and has potential to become a spy." Mikoto eyes widened and she stared at her friend.
"Mist village will be ours in no time."
"Minato..." Mikoto whispered.
"Naruto will become a shinobi of mist village. He will live with them, fight with them, bled with them and eat with them and will form bonds with them...and one day he will conquer Mist village with them."
"Minato is very smart if he was able to..."
"It wasn't Minato who come up with that scheme..." Mikoto gasped.
"You mean to tell me that it was Naruto who..." She saw Kushina nodded her head grimly.
"I'm worried about his mentality Mikoto. At the age of seven, he was able to come up with that scheme just imagine what he will do when he will become a leader."
"And do you really think he needs to become a leader to do what he wanted to do," Mikoto said raising an eyebrow.
Kushina shook her head and sighed.
"You are right, I guess. I don't know what future holds for us but we should get ourselves in shape Mikoto. I think it's time to become active shinobi again."
"You know what, that's not a bad idea." Mikoto grinned. Kushina stood up from her seat and cracked her knuckles.
"Let's go wild." She yelled and rushed towards her oldest friend.