I do nOt own Naruto or any of its characters—except for the ones of my own creation—prancing around in this fanfic of mine.
Seriously, if I did, I wouldn't be writing this fanfiction—I'd be too busy making all the characters suffer even more for the sake of drama. So yeah, Masashi Kishimoto owns Naruto, and I'm just here borrowing his playground.
Talking. "A council meeting."
Thinking. 'A council meeting.'
OoO
(At Meiin Hospital)
Naruto's eyes blinked open, the brightness of the sun's rays piercing through the curtains immediately forcing him to shut them again. He groaned softly, the light stabbing at his senses. His body felt heavy, his body sore, but eventually, he cracked his eyes open, squinting against the golden rays until they no longer burned
The sterile white walls came into focus. The sterile smell of disinfectant hit him first, sharp and familiar, and the stiff feel of a hospital gown against his skin confirmed where he was. He blinked slowly, taking it all in.
A hospital.
The last thing he remembered was falling, his body giving out as darkness swallowed him whole. He let his gaze drift, taking in the faint hum of medical equipment and the rustling of the curtains. How he'd ended up here—or how long he'd been unconscious—was a mystery. But for now those questions could wait as his eyes flickered to the figures in the room with him.
Beside him lay Ayaka, her entire arm wrapped in bandages. Though her face was pale, the burns that had marred her body had subsided, thanks to the hospital's treatment. The faint rise and fall of her chest was the only sign she was still alive. That was enough for now.
Further down, Kenta lay on another bed. His face was dotted with small bandages over bruised areas, but otherwise, he looked fine. Compared to the others, his injuries seemed minor.
Naruto exhaled, relief washing over him. They were safe. At least, they looked safe. But there was one problem. Shikamaru was nowhere to be seen.
Perhaps Shikamaru had been laid in another room. If that were true, it meant his injuries were far more severe than Naruto had initially feared. The thought churned in his mind, twisting his gut. He couldn't sit still. He needed to see Shikamaru for himself.
Swinging his legs off the bed, Naruto winced. His muscles protested, soreness radiating from every part of his body. Bandages pulled comfortably across his chest and ribs, a reminder of just how much of a beating he'd taken. For a moment, he considered calling for a nurse to confirm where Shikamaru had been taken, but he quickly discarded the idea. Nurses in hospitals were always more terrifying than they needed to be—especially when it came to patients like him.
He grit his teeth and slowly rose to his feet, the cold floor biting against his bare toes. His knees buckled slightly, but he caught himself on the edge of the bed before he could fall. Taking a deep breath he steadied himself. He'd faced numerous adversaries, monstrous creatures, and life-or-death battles countless times. Surely, walking down a hallway couldn't be worse than that.
Except it could. Because he'd had experience dealing with angry women before—Sakura's fists and Tsunade's lectures were proof of that—but angry nurses were a whole different beast. Especially in a hospital, where they wielded authority like a sword and didn't hesitate to cut down anyone who dared defy their instructions.
The image of an irate nurse catching him out of bed flashed in his mind. He shuddered. Maybe they wouldn't notice. Maybe if he moved very slowly, no one would see him sneak out. Naruto took another cautious step, one hand gripping the bed frame to balance himself. His breathing was steady, but his nerves were anything but.
Step by step, he edged closer to the door. Every creak of the floorboards sounded impossible loud in the quiet room. His gaze darted toward Ayaka and Kenta, both still unconscious. Good. At least he wouldn't have to explain himself to them.
The door loomed closer. Naruto straightened as much as his aching body would allow. He reached for the handle, fingers trembling slightly. The moment he stepped outside, he'd be risking it all—the wrath of the nurses, and possibly his dignity. But if it meant finding Shikamaru and making sure his friend was alive, it would be worth it.
He hesitated for a moment longer, hand still on the door handle before stepping back entirely. Something gnawed at him, a small but persistent voice in the back of his mind telling him this approach wasn't going to work. It was too risky, too obvious.
The creaking of the door could easily alert the nurses patrolling the hallway. Even if he somehow avoided that, wandering the hallway was a gamble; he didn't have the slightest idea which room his friend was in. It was a recipe for disaster, and Naruto wasn't foolish enough to bet on sheer luck.
He leaned against the wall, his eyes narrowing in thought. What he needed was a solution that bypassed all these problems entirely. It had to be stealthy, efficient, and, above all, unpredictable. A smirk tugged at his lips. If there was one thing he prided himself on, it was his knack of being unpredictable. Nobody ever knew what he'd do next—not his teachers, not his friends, and definitely not the nurses.
His gaze flickered to the window. The cool breeze coming through it made the curtains flutter gently. And then, just like that, the answer came to him.
Perfect.
Sliding the window open, Naruto peeked down at the ground below. They were stationed on the second floor, which meant Shikamaru couldn't be far. A short climb, a quick look through the windows, and he'd find his friend in no time. The smirk on his face widened as he crouched on the windowsill, the breeze ruffling his hair.
As he positioned himself, a memory surfaced—Kakashi-sensei in the Land of Waves, introducing and teaching them the tree climbing exercise. At the time, Naruto hated it, thinking it was boring and pointless. He'd only gone along with it to prove he could master it faster than Sasuke. Now here he was, silently thanking his teacher. He couldn't help but chuckle at the irony before leaping forward.
His feet connected with the hospital's wall, sticking seamlessly thanks to his chakra control. To an outsider, it would've looked like something out of a dream—or a nightmare. A boy scaling the hospital wall like a gecko? Definitely not normal. But for Naruto, it felt as natural as breathing. He moved carefully, his eyes darting to each window as he passed, peering in to check who was inside.
The process wasn't without its challenges. At one window, a nurse walked in just as Naruto was peeking. He ducked immediately, his heart pounding in his chest as he pressed himself flat against the wall. After a tense moment, she muttered something about overworking herself, and when she finally left the room, Naruto let out a shaky breath.
"That was too close," he whispered, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow.
He pressed on, window by window, his frustration growing with every empty glance. Most of the rooms housed patients he didn't recognize—am elderly man with a bandaged leg, a woman reading a book, and even a toddler playing with a stuffed frog. "Come on Shikamaru," He whispered under his breath. "Where are you?"
Finally, he approached the last window. His fingers brushed against the edge of the curtain as he stared at the open window. He bit his lip, his chest tight with an unbearable mix of hope and doubt. If Shikamaru wasn't in this room… he didn't think he'd have the strength to keep climbing, to keep peering through window after window in this endless search.
The curtain was drawn tight, a foreboding mass of fabric that felt more like a barrier than an invitation. He hesitated, his instincts coiling like a spring. Something felt wrong—too still, too quiet, but he shoved the feeling down.
His hands trembled as he slid a finger between the fabric, creating a narrow gap to peek inside. Sunlight struggled to reach the corners of the room, its faint glow swallowed by shadows. A single lamp on a nightstand cast a dim halo of light, revealing stark, clinical walls and the pale gleam of tiled floors.
He took a slow, steadying breath and slipped through the window, carefully not to make a sound. The floor however, had other plans. A faint creak echoed in the silence, the sound as loud as a scream in the oppressive quiet. Naruto froze, his heart hammering in his chest. He glanced around, half-expecting something—someone—to emerge from the shadows. But nothing moved.
Gritting his teeth, he tiptoed toward the faint glow of the lamp, each step deliberate. Grasping it in his hand, his sharp blue eyes scanned the room.
It was sparse, clinical, and eerily empty, save for the bed that stood shrouded in half-drawn curtains on the other side of the room. The figure beneath the blanket was barely visible, the soft rise and fall of their chest the only sign of life.
Naruto's breath caught in his throat. His feet carried him forward before he could think, drawn by the fragile hope that it was Shikamaru lying there. The closer he got, the more he could make out—the stillness of the figure, the faint outline of their profile.
His hand trembled as he reached for the blanket, his fingers brushing the fabric. Slowly, carefully, he began to lift it, praying that it was Shikamaru who was lying there.
But as the blanket slipped away, his breath caught in his throat. His wide eyes locked onto the figure, shock rippling through him.
The groan of the door behind him shattered the stillness, bringing him back to the present. His body stiffened, his pulse roaring in his ears as the sounds of footsteps approached—quick, deliberate and unrelenting.
He didn't turn around. Instead, he held his breath, his mind racing. Then came the voice, low and irritated.
"Good grief. These nurses don't listen for crap. How hard is it to follow one simple instruction? Lights on. Always leave the lights on."
The voice was unfamiliar, yet it carried a no-nonsense tone that made his stomach knot. Before he could react, the fluorescent lights flickered on, flooding the room in harsh, sterile brightness. He winced, the sudden light stabbing at his eyes.
The voice let out a sudden shriek, sharp and brief. The person was clearly caught off-guard by his sudden appearance. But the shock seemed to fade quickly, replaced by quiet deliberate steps that drew closer with each passing second.
Naruto didn't need to turn around to sense their presence lingering behind him, their gaze heavy on his back, studying him carefully. The faint rustle of paper being flipped, followed by the rhythmic tapping of what sounded like a clipboard, filled the silence.
"Uzumaki Naruto," the voice began, calm and measured. "Is that correct?"
Naruto's throat went dry, turning his head slowly as his heart pounded."Uh… yeah."
The nurse squinted at him, examining the document in her clipboard while simultaneously looking at Naruto to confirm his identity. "Shouldn't you be in bed, catching up on your beauty sleep?"
Her easy tone softened the tension in the air, but Naruto remained silent, his gaze fixed on the figure lying motionless on the hospital bed. He didn't move, didn't blink.
The nurse, realising she wouldn't be getting a response anytime soon, exhaled quietly. Her sigh was one of practiced patience, a sound that spoke of long shifts and countless encounters with people carrying the weight of the world. Without a word, she stepped closer to the bed, positioning herself beside him.
Now that she was nearer, Naruto's eyes shifted to her. His eyes flickered to her name tag: Yui Taira. He studied her in detail, perhaps as a way to distract himself from the scene before him. She was young—probably no older than her early twenties. Her hair was dark, cascading just past her shoulders in soft waves that framed her face. Her skin was smooth and fair, with a subtle glow that made her look almost ethereal under the harsh fluorescent lighting. Her features were delicate yet striking, with high cheekbones and a faint dusting of freckles across her nose. Her eyes, a warm hazel, held a softness that was neither pitying nor overly concerned—just understanding.
Naruto acknowledged it silently. She was beautiful. Not in an overwhelming or unattainable way, but in a way that felt natural, effortless.
Her gaze met his gaze as he quickly turned his head to avoid being caught but she already caught on. "Caught you staring, Naruto-kun." She chuckled, her voice light and teasing. "You should try to be more subtle, you know."
He huffed, but he didn't respond. She stood up, her work evidently finished. Clutching her clipboard, she took a seat in the bed, claiming the space unoccupied by the unconscious figure. A light tap on the empty spot was her silent invitation.
Naruto glanced at her, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, before finally accepting. As he sat beside her, she began, her voice soft yet observant. "Naruto-kun, do you know this person?"
He hesitated, his eyes darting away from hers. She saw the flicker of uncertainty, the silent confession in his gaze. It was clear she already knew the answer, but she wanted him to say it.
He shook his head, a silent denial. Yet, a strange sensation tugged at his mind. It was as if he should recognize the face, a forgotten memory lurking just beyond his reach. But the man's features remained a blur, offering no clues.
The nurse regarded the boy with a flicker of doubt, but dismissed it with a shrug. Turning back to the man, her hand rested in the blanket, and she asked, "And what about him?" She tugged the blanket further, revealing a young boy clinging tightly to the unconscious figure, as if to anchor himself to the fading warmth.
His breath hitched as his gaze locked onto the boy in front of him. Recognition struck instantly, a wave of memories flooding his mind. How could he forget? This was the same boy who had stabbed Shikamaru in the back—a blow that had left his friend gravely injured.
His fists clenched at his sides, but not in anger. No, the rage he'd felt back then had long since cooled. In its place was clarity. Naruto had realized, even during the chaos of the forest, that the boy wasn't truly to blame. No child acted without influence, and the one pulling the strings had been the man Naruto had defeated before blacking out. Whoever that man was—master, captor, or something else entirely—he had been the real enemy.
The sight stirred something deep within Naruto's memory. Flashes of the fight in the forest surged forward: the blinding fury, the burning intensity of the Nine Tails chakra coursing through him, the relentless barrage of his fists connecting over and over again. He instinctively glanced at his own hands, wincing as he recalled the searing pain in his knuckles before blacking out.
His throat tightened as the weight of it all began to settle. Before he could fully process the gravity of what he had done, the nurse's voice cut through the thick silence.
"I see you recognise him," she said quietly, her sharp gaze darting between Naruto and the boy. "I can guess what you're thinking."
Naruto turned back to the nurse, his pips parting as if to speak, but no words came out. His attention shifted to the boy again, whose grip on the unconscious man remained firm as though afraid to let go.
"The child you see here before you is the reason you and your friends are safe right now. He was the one who came running to notify us about injured people in the forest. He led us to your group."
His brow furrowed in confusion, his gaze flicking between the boy and the nurse.
"You can thank him when he is awake," she said, her voice steady but tugged with unease. Her gaze shifted to Naruto, her expression hardening. "But there's still something troubling me."
She paused, scrutinising him before continuing. "According to the reports from the medics, you were found unconscious beside a man… His name was Tsubasa. His face…" She hesitated, her eyes briefly flicking toward the man before she let out a sigh. "His face was unrecognizable." This only deepened Naruto's unease, further solidifying Naruto's growing suspicion, confirming his darkest fears.
"This wasn't the work of a civilian or even an ordinary person," she added, her tone sharpening. "The injuries were far too severe. The blood found on your knuckles matches his wounds. Naruto-kun, I have every reason to believe you were responsible for this." She fixed him with a penetrating stare. Naruto's body language betrayed him—the rigid posture, the beads of sweat, the taut features, she knew she was right.
She exhaled heavily, the weight of her next words evident. "I'm not asking you to explain yourself, Naruto-kun," she said firmly, her tone softening only slightly. "Whatever reason you had for doing this, I'll leave it for you to decide when—or if—you want to share it. But I do think it's right for you to know exactly what you've done to him."
She adjusted the clipboard in her hands and continued. "Tsubasa's condition is critical. The fact that he is alive at all is, frankly, a miracle. But the injuries you inflicted…" She trailed off, her gaze flickering away from Naruto.
"His face bore the brunt of the damage. His nose is shattered, both orbital sockets are broken, and his jaw—fractured in several places—will require extensive reconstruction. Most of his teeth are either broken or gone entirely. Even with treatment, scars will remain. Scars that will tell the story of what happened here long after he recovers."
Naruto's fists tightened at his sides, his head lowering slightly as her words hit their mark. She pressed on. "The blows to his head caused cerebral hemorrhaging—bleeding in his brain. We've stabilised it for now, but the damage could have lasting consequences. He might experience memory loss, difficulty concentrating, maybe even shifts in his personality. We won't know the full extent until he wakes up, and even then, recovery will take time. A lot of it."
Her gaze softened for a moment, but the tension in her voice remained. "Naruto-kun, this isn't something that will go away overnight. Physically, he'll recover. But emotionally, mentally? Those wounds will run deeper than anything we can treat. We helped you because it's our duty as medics, but also because we realized you were shinobi and this whole situation might be related to a mission for your village."
Her hand found his shoulder. "I'm not here to condemn you. I don't know what led to this, and I won't pretend to understand. But you need to understand the weight of what you've done—not just to him, but to yourself." She withdrew her hand, rising to her feet. "We'll keep you informed on his condition. For now, all we can do is wait and hope for the best." She put her hand out. "I'll escort you back to your room."
Naruto nodded weakly, rising to his feet. He glanced one last time at Tsubasa, then met the medics gaze. "Please… don't tell the others. Just give me the information directly. Between us." His voice, barely above a whisper, carried a weight of fear.
The nurse nodded, a comforting hand on his back as they walked out the door. "Don't beat yourself up about this, Naruto-kun. Only you can judge your actions."
OoO
(Inside Orochimaru's Hideout)
The lair was a labyrinth of shadows and decay, its narrow corridors twisting like the coils of a serpent. The central chamber, where Orochimaru now resided, was cavernous and foreboding, its walls slick with condensation that gleamed faintly in the dim torchlight. The flickering flames danced erratically, throwing long, distorted shadows that writhed like phantoms. The air was thick with and cloying, heavy with the mingling odors of damp earth, stale blood, and the acrid tang of herbs brewing nearby.
Orochimaru sat slumped on a throne that seemed more a grotesque sculpture than a seat, its surface carved with serpentine motifs that curled and twisted into grotesque shapes. His body, once a vessel of unmatched power and elegance, was failing him. His pale skin clung to his bones, a sickly sheen betraying the feverish war raging within him. Every breath rattled through his chest, his once-smooth voice reduced to a rasping whisper punctuated by violent coughs.
Kabuto stood at a makeshift workstation, the surface cluttered with vials, pestles, and dried herbs. His hands moved with practiced precision as he ground the ingredients for yet another portion, though even he knew its effects would be temporary at best. The dim light caught the lenses of his glasses, making his sharp gaze all the more unsettling as he glanced toward Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru-sama, your condition is worsening. If you do not transfer to a new vessel soon…"
He let the implication hang, though it hardly needed stating. Orochimaru chuckled softly, the sound low and serpentine, but it quickly dissolved into a fit of coughing that left him clutching his chest. His long, claw‐like fingers gripped the armrests of his throne as though anchoring him to life itself.
"You worry too much, Kabuto," Orochimaru finally rasped, his voice a venomous whisper. "It's only a matter of time before Sasuke comes to me. His hunger for power will outweigh any doubts he harbours. He will come, and once he does, I will claim what is rightfully mine. His body… his potential… everything."
Kabuto hesitated, his hands passing over the mortar and pestle. "But what if Sasuke resists? He is not one to bow easily, Orochimaru-sama. If he turns on you—"
"Stabs me in the back?" Orochimaru interrupted, his lips curling into a thin, sinister smile. "Let him try. He is young, impulsive. His strength is raw, unrefined. I will shape him into the perfect vessel, and should he ever dare to challenge me…" His golden eyes glinted with malice, even in their dulled state. "He will find himself crushed under my heel."
The room fell silent after that, save for the soft scraping of Kabuto's pestle against the stone mortar. After a moment, Kabuto chuckled quietly. "You always have a plan for everything, Orochimaru-sama. It's what makes you… well, you."
With the portion prepared, Kabuto approached the throne, holding a bowl of steaming liquid that reeked of bitterness and decay. Orochimaru took it with a trembling hand, a faint smirk still etched on his face as he sipped the concoction.
"Before you leave, tell me—did you send them?"
Kabuto nodded. "Yes. I escorted them to the border yesterday. By now, they should be nearing Konoha." He hesitated, glancing at his master. "Are you certain this was necessary? If something goes wrong—"
The glare he received from Orochimaru froze the words in Kabuto's throat. He straightened, adjusting his glasses in a habitual motion. "Forgive me, Orochimaru-sama. I should not have questioned your judgement."
Orochimaru acknowledged the apology. "Good. Everything is unfolding as I intended. Soon, Konoha will crumble, and with Sasuke's body, I will ascend to heights even the Sage of the Six Paths could not fathom."
Kabuto nodded and bowed and without another word, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, his footsteps fading into the labyrinth beyond.
Left alone, Orochimaru leaned back on his throne, the bowl slipping from his grasp and shattering on the stone floor. He stared at the fractured pieces, his lips curling into a faint smile.
Naruto Uzumaki.
The name lingered in his mind, a nagging thorn in his otherwise perfect plan. The boy was an enigma, a constant irritant who defied expectations at every turn. His victory over Neji Hyuga during the Chunin Exams, his triumph against the One-Tailed Jinchuriki, and even his ability to wound Kabuto—all of it pointed to a strength that was growing alarmingly fast.
"An anomaly," Orochimaru muttered, his voice barely audible. "But one that will soon be eliminated."
Naruto's existence posed a threat not just to Orochimaru's plans, but to his pride. The boy's relentless spirit, his ability to inspire those around him—it was dangerous in ways Orochimaru could not fully articulate. Eliminating him would not only weaken Konoha, but ensure that no unexpected variables disrupted the grand design.
With tensions brewing between Iwa and Kumo, the world teetered on the brunt of chaos. Orochimaru intended to exploit that chaos, to manipulate it until it bent to his will. But for now, he needed to wait, to bide his time as his body continued its slow, agonising decay.
The shadows in the room seemed to thicken, pressing closer as the torchlight flickered and wavered. Orochimaru closed his eyes, his thoughts spiraling into a vision of the future—a future where he held all the power in the world, where no jutsu was beyond his grasp, and where his name would echo through eternity.
It just required a little bit of patience. And soon, everything would be his.
OoO
The morning air was crisp, a sharp contrast to the stifling sterility of the hospital where Naruto and his team had spent the last five days. The sunlight filtered gently through the canopy of the towering trees, dappling the forest floor with warm, golden patches. The chirping of birds overhead was punctuated by the occasional rustle of leaves as a cool breeze swept through the landscape, carrying with it the earthly scent of damp soil. For the first time in what felt like ages, the team was outside, free from the constant smell of antiseptic.
Kenta stretched his arms wide, exhaling a deep sigh of relief as his joints cracked. "I thought I'd go crazy stuck in there for another day," He exclaimed, his infectious grin a stark contrast to Shikamaru's tired scowl.
Behind him, Ayaka adjusted the sling cradling her broken left arm. The fabric dug in her shoulder, and every step jolted the injury slightly, sending dull, aching thuds up her arm. Still, she walked calmly, her sharp eyes scanning her surroundings out of habit. Her white hair was tied back in a bun, a few strands framing her face, and her expression betrayed no hint of discomfort despite the obvious handicap.
Shikamaru on the other hand, lagged behind the group, his posture slouched and his hands stuffed in his pockets. His expression was a blend of irritation and exhaustion, his dark eyes half-lidded as if he were already halfway falling asleep. The bandages around his torso were hidden beneath his flak jacket, but every so often, he winced slightly when stepping over uneven ground.
Unable to endure the heat any longer, Shikamaru trudged toward the nearest tree, its broad canopy casting a merciful patch of shade on the sunbathed ground. He dropped beneath it with a heavy sigh, leaning back against the rough bark as he stretched his legs out. The shadow offered a welcome reprieve from the relentless sunlight, and he let his head rest against the trunk, arms folded behind it as a makeshift pillow.
The rhythmic rustling of the leaves and distant hum of cicadas lulled him into a sense of calm. With his eyes shut tight, he let out a contented exhale, deciding a short nap wouldn't hurt.
But just as sleep began to claim him, a sharp tug on his ear jolted him awake. "Ow, ow, ow!" he yelped, his hands flying to the side of his head as he turned, his face scrunching up as he looked to find Ayaka standing over him, her right hand on her hip and a no-nonsense expression on her face.
"What gives?"
She huffed and pointed down the path ahead. "The trip back to Konoha is going to take us four and a half days, and that's if we push ourselves. We don't have time for napping."
Shikamaru gave a dismissive wave. "We've already covered a decent distance today. A quick nap wouldn't hurt anyone. We're not exactly crawling back to the village."
Ayaka didn't bother responding right away. Instead, she turned around and looked over her shoulder, her sharp gaze focusing on something in the distance. Shikamaru's eyes narrowed in suspicion before following her line of sight.
There it was, the hospital had just left—a squat, familiar structure peeking out from behind a cluster of trees. It wasn't far at all, and its dull silhouette might be laughable if it wasn't so incriminating.
"Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered under his breath, punching the bridge of his nose before letting out a heavy sigh. With a resigned shrug, he pushed himself off the tree and dusted off his pants. "Fine, fine. Let's keep moving."
As he trudged toward Ayaka, his sharp glare fixed toward Kenta who was doubled over with laughter. Shikamaru rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath about teammates being more trouble than they were worth, while Ayaka huffed and started walking. "Come on. Daylight's wasting."
Silence enveloped the group as they trudged through the forest, a comfortable quiet that Shikamaru welcomed. The gentle rustle of leaves in the wind, the rhythmic crunch of their steps on the dirt path, and the distant calls of birds formed a soothing symphony that seemed to blend seamlessly with the calmness of the moment. Shikamaru let himself sink into the tranquility, his mind wandering to absurd daydreams of sleepwalking through the forest or collapsing dramatically just so Naruto would have to carry him all the way back to Konoha.
His gaze flicked to the blonde in question, who was walking a few steps ahead of him. Naruto's silence was… unusual. The boy wasn't muttering, humming, or even breaking the quiet with some ridiculous comment. For anyone else, it might've been normal. For Naruto? It was loud. Deafening.
Shikamaru narrowed his eyes slightly as he observed his teammate. Naruto's shoulders were tense, his head slightly lowered as if weighed down by thoughts. The unusual energy that radiated off him was dimmed, almost nonexistent, and Shikamaru couldn't help but feel that whatever was eating at Naruto wasn't something he could ignore.
He thought back to the hospital, to Naruto sneaking into his room over and over to check if he was okay. Shikamaru had caught him once, standing by his bedside with an unreadable expression, and the moment stuck with him. The guilt, the worry—it had been written all over Naruto's face.
Shikamaru sighed softly, stuffing his hands into his pockets. It wasn't just concern for his well-being. There was something deeper going on, something tied to that overwhelming chakra Shikamaru had sensed during the fight with Tsubasa. He hadn't asked about it yet, but the questions lingered.
What was that monstrous chakra? How had Naruto been able to summon something so raw, so destructive? And what exactly had gone down in that fight after Shikamaru had blacked out and taken away?
Shikamaru wanted answers, but he knew better than to press Naruto now. The silence wasn't just unusual—it was telling. Naruto wasn't ready to talk, and pushing him would only make him retreat further into himself.
Instead, Shikamaru let the quiet stretch between them. Eventually, Naruto would crack. He always did. Shikamaru just had to wait for the right moment, for Naruto to decide he was ready to share whatever burden was gnawing at him.
For now, he'd let the silence linger and focus on putting one foot in front of the other. The journey back to Konoha was long, and they had plenty of time.
The silence was soon broken as Kenta, unable to contain his curiosity, asked the question that had clearly been nagging at him. "So… how did the fight between your two and that guy back there go down? You two must've pulled off something insane to beat a guy like that."
Shikamaru felt the corners of his mouth tug downward slightly. Of course, someone had to ask.
Ayaka, who had been quietly walking alongside him, immediately snapped her head toward the pair. "I've been wondering that too," she admitted. "From what we saw, that guy wasn't exactly a pushover. So how did you two manage to even take him down?"
Shikamaru opened his mouth, prepared to throw out a quick explanation and steer the conversation back into blissful silence, but his words stalled as he gained at Naruto. The question had seemed to snap the blonde out of his daze, causing him to stop walking entirely. His head was bowed slightly, his hands clenched at his sides, and his eyes were fixed on the dirt path beneath his feet.
Shikamaru could practically feel the tension radiating off him. Naruto didn't meet their questioning gazes, his silence louder than any answer he could have given.
This wasn't good.
He sighed inwardly. It was too soon. Naruto wasn't ready to relive the fight, let alone explain it to others. Whatever happened back there wasn't something he could shrug off or share lightly. Forcing him to confront it now would only make him retreat deeper into his own thoughts.
"I'll tell you what happened," Shikamaru said casually, drawing both Kenta and Ayaka's attention back to him. "Naruto and I came up with a plan, executed it, and it worked. Simple as that."
Kenta blinked. "That's… it?"
"Yeah." Shikamaru shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Not every fight is some epic tale. Sometimes, a solid pain is all you need."
Kenta raised an eyebrow, clearly unsatisfied with the vague explanation. Ayaka however, wasn't buying it—not entirely at least. Her sharp gaze narrowed at him, silently demanding he elaborate.
He slung his arm around Naruto's shoulders. "I thought all of you understood by now that Naruto, with his unpredictability, and myself… well, let's just say a sharp mind and unpredictable chaos can be a very deadly combination." He gave a lazy grin. "It was simply a matter of execution. Of following the plan."
This only brought about less satisfaction from her. "And what exactly was this plan?"
He met her gaze evenly, rubbing the back of his neck in faux nonchalance while also letting the exhaustion in his voice carry his next words. "Look, it's too troublesome to go over every detail here. We'll explain everything once we're back in Konoha and safe. Deal?"
There was a pause before Ayaka gave a begrudging nod. "Fine," she said, though her tone made it clear she wasn't entirely convinced.
Kenta, on the other hand, was much easier to appease. "Fair enough," he said, scratching the back of his head. "But did anyone see him after the fight? Like did he get up or—"
"Nope," Shikamaru interrupted smoothly. "As far as I know, after we beat him, Naruto and I blacked out at the same time from exhaustion. When we woke up, I was being treated at the hospital. If he's alive, I doubt he's in any condition to cause more trouble."
Kenta seemed to accept this answer, nodding thoughtfully before turning his attention back to the path with Ayaka joining him.
Once they were far enough ahead, Shikamaru glanced at Naruto, who was finally starting to relax. The tension in his shoulders eased, and he lifted his head slightly, meeting Shikamaru's gaze. When their eyes met, Naruto gave him a small nod—subtle, but grateful.
Shikamaru nodded back, the silent exchange enough to convey what needed to be said. Then, without another word, he walked past him, falling into a comfortable pace behind Kenta and Ayaka, leaving Naruto a moment to collect himself.
They still had a long way to go, but at least for now, the silence could return.
OoO
Night fell swiftly, casting the forest in shadows and prompting Kenta and Ayaka to retreat to their tents for some well-earned rest. Naruto, having neglected to pack a tent, fully expected to take the night watch, as he had at the start of their mission. However, Shikamaru's unexpected offer to swap roles caught him off-guard. The Nara insisted Naruto use his tent while he himself handled guard duty. It was a tempting offer, one Naruto couldn't refuse—he hadn't slept a wink in the five days since the nurse had delivered the grim news to him about Tsubasa's condition.
So he lay inside the tent, trying to push away the flood of negative thoughts long enough to finally get some rest. But no matter how hard he tried, they refused to leave him alone, circling back relentlessly.
With a frustrated sigh, he gave up on sleep entirely and turned onto his side, squeezing his eyes shut in an attempt to block out the echo of the nurse's words.
'The fact that he is alive at all is, frankly, a miracle.'
'He'll recover physically, but mentally?'
'He may never forget what happened. Neither will you.'
The words replayed relentlessly, sharp and unforgiving, carving themselves into his mind.
He exhaled sharply and flipped onto his back again, glaring at the roof of the tent as though it held the answers he was searching for. But it didn't. The only thing it offered was silence, a heavy oppressive silence that gave his thoughts free rein to torment him any further.
Tsubasa's face flashed in his mind—battered, bloodied and utterly defeated. Naruto clenched his fists tightly, the full throb in his injured knuckles a stark reminder of how far he'd let himself go. It wasn't the fight itself that haunted him; it was the way he'd fought, the way he'd lost control, the way he'd let his anger dictate his actions.
He was supposed to be better than this.
The Nine Tails chakra had surged through him, fueling his every blow, pushing him to strike faster, harder, crueler. In that moment, he hadn't been thinking about protecting anyone. He hadn't been thinking about ending the fight. He'd been thinking about making Tsubasa suffer.
And he had.
He pressed his trembling hands to his face, as if he could hide from the shame that clawed its way up from within. After a moment, he lowered them, his gaze falling to the hastily wrapped bandages covering his hands. He'd done it himself—wrapped them up so he wouldn't have to see them. But it didn't work.
This wasn't him. He wasn't like this. He didn't want to be like this. And yet, he had been. That suffocating truth refused to let him breathe.
"I did the right thing," He whispered to himself, the words barely audible. But they sounded hollow, even to his own ears.
The right thing?
If it were truly the right thing, why couldn't he shake this guilt? Why couldn't he stop thinking about the boy—the one Tsubasa had used, manipulated? The same boy who clutched the man tightly as if he'd leave if he let go? The boy had looked at him with fear, the same fear that had flashed in Tsubasa's eyes in those final moments before Naruto's fists met his face one last time.
The thought made Naruto swallow hard, the dryness in his throat making it feel like sandpaper.
Maybe he'd done what needed to be done. Maybe Tsubasa had deserved every bit of pain he'd dealt him. But that didn't erase the fact that Naruto had let his anger consume him, that he'd crossed a line he couldn't uncross.
He'd always thought of himself as someone who fought for others, someone who stood up for what was right. But what he'd done to Tsubasa…
He wasn't so sure anymore.
The sound of rustling leaves outside the tent snapped Naruto out of his spiraling thoughts. He turned his head slightly, listening intently. It was probably Shikamaru, keeping watch like he said he would.
Shikamaru.
His chest tightened at the thought of his teammate. Out of everyone, Shikamaru was the one who might have an inkling of what he was going through. He'd defended Naruto earlier when Kenta and Ayaka had pressed for answers, sparing him from having to relive the fight.
But Shikamaru wasn't stupid. He knew something was wrong, and sooner or later, he'd ask. They all would.
And what was he supposed to say?
That he'd nearly killed a man, not out of duty, but out of anger? That he had the Nine Tails sealed inside of him? That he'd let the Nine Tails' chakra take over, fuelling his rage and turning him into something he'd barely recognized? That he'd failed to be the kindest person he always believed he was?
Naruto's hands curled into fists again, his nails digging into palms. He wanted to scream, to cry, to let it all out, but he couldn't. Not here, not now.
Instead, he lay there in the suffocating silence, staring at the tent's roof, the nurse's words still echoing in his mind.
'He may never forget what happened. Neither will you.'
And as much as he hated to admit it, Naruto knew she was right.
He would never forget, not for the rest of his life.
The night was still, broken only by the faint chirping of a cricket nearby. Naruto lay in the tent, staring at its darkened ceiling, unease gnawing at him. The thought of Shikamaru pulling guard duty while injured didn't sit right with him. Shikamaru needed rest far more than he did, and Naruto—wide awake despite his exhaustion—figured he might as well take over.
With that resolve, he unzipped the tent as quietly as he could and stepped out, his foot landing softly on the ground. His attempt at stealth was short-lived though, as the sharp snap of a twig under his foot echoed in the stillness. A startled yelp sounded from somewhere nearby, freezing Naruto mid-step.
Frowning, he scanned the area. The campfire, now reduced to faint embers, cast barely enough light to make out the surrounding trees. Shikamaru was nowhere in sight—not lounging near the fire, not leaning against a tree, not anywhere Naruto expected him to be.
Deciding to look further, Naruto zipped up the tent and took a few steps into the darkened woods, but a thought stopped him. Why not use your new ability? The realisation hit him like a flash—he'd completely forgotten he could sense chakra now.
Settling down cross-legged, he closed his eyes and focused, letting his senses extend outward. The faint hum of chakra became clearer as he concentrated, and soon, he picked up a familiar signature in the bushes nearby.
But something was off.
There wasn't just one presence—there were two. A second chakra signature, unfamiliar, hovered close to Shikamaru's. The discovery sent a ripple of unease through Naruto, his mind racing through possibilities as he rose to his feet. Whatever was going on, it didn't feel right.
Naruto's hand instinctively slipped into his pouch, fingers curling around the handle of a kunai. He moved toward the bush with deliberate caution, each step calculated and silent. The unease prickling at the back of his neck only grew stronger. The thought that Shikamaru might be in trouble was the only explanation he could come up with for his teammate's mysterious absence.
As he neared the bush, he crouched slightly, his eyes narrowing. Slowly, he reached in to part the leaves. But before he could get far, a kunai shot out of the foliage toward him. Reflexes kicked in, and naruto parried the attack with his own weapon, the sharp clang of metal against metal slicing through the quiet night.
The blonde didn't hesitate. He pulled back from the exchange, his other hand darting forward into the bush. His finger latched onto a wrist, and with a sharp tug, he yanked the attacker out into the clearing. His kunai was already poised, aimed toward the figure's face, but he froze mid-strike.
It was Shikamaru, his face a mixture of frustration and pain, his wrist twisting slightly in Naruto's grip. He glared at Naruto, his voice sharp as he finally spoke.
"Seriously, Naruto? A little warning would've been nice."
Naruto released Shikamaru's wrist and took a step back, giving him space to stand. Shikamaru dusted himself off as he rose to his feet, his expression turning sour.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, vice low but firm. "Shouldn't you be asleep?"
Naruto didn't answer right away. His eyes drifted towards the bush, narrowing slightly as if he could see past the thick foliage. The motion sent a ripple of unease through Shikamaru, though he tried not to let it show.
"Hey, knucklehead! I asked you a question," Shikamaru said, his voice sharper now though still quiet enough not to disturb the others.
Naruto blinked, his attention snapping back to Shikamaru. For a moment, their eyes met—one nervous, the other scrutinising.
"Who were you with in that bush?"
Shikamaru's eyes widened ever so slightly, but he quickly masked it, his expression shifting back to neutral. "No one," He said, shrugging as casually as he could manage. "I was just taking a piss."
Naruto's frown deepened. "No, I'm pretty sure there's someone else in there."
Shikamaru grit his teeth, the tension in his shoulders betraying the calm facade he was trying to maintain.
"Look," Shikamaru started, his voice lowering even further, "you're imagining things. It's late, you're tired. Go back to sleep."
But Naruto didn't budge, his kunai still in his hand, his gaze flicking toward the bush again. "Then you won't mind if I check?"
Shikamaru stepped in front of him, blocking his path. "Don't be ridiculous. There's nothing to check." He insisted, though the edge in his voice betrayed him.
Naruto brushed past Shikamaru without a word as he pushed his way into the bush. Shikamaru followed close behind, his steps quick and deliberate. By the time he caught up, he was ready to offer an explanation for whatever Naruto had seen, only to stop short when they had found nothing.
The space was empty.
"See?" Shikamaru's tone was laced with irritation. "You're imagining things. Now, go back to bed." Without waiting for a response, he began steering Naruto out of the bush, clearly eager to put the matter to rest.
Naruto's eyes narrowed but after a moment, he let it go. Maybe Shikamaru was right. The lack of sleep must've been playing tricks on him. The second chakra signature he'd sensed? Probably just a fluke. With a sigh, he stepped back, letting Shikamaru push him out of the bush's vicinity.
Before he could explain that he wanted to take over guard duty, a sharp, high-pitched shriek echoed through the clearing. His body tensed, instincts flaring as he turned toward the sound, only to freeze when a small figure bolted out from the shadows.
The child flung himself at Shikamaru, nearly knocking the older boy off his feet. "A–a snake! I saw a snake!" The boy cried, his arms wrapping tightly around Shikamaru's waist.
Shikamaru groaned in pain, clutching his midsection. "Ow, kid, take it easy. Geez…",
Naruto blinked, staring at the boy now clinging to Shikamaru like a lifeline. Something about the child tickled at his memory. He took a cautious step forward, studying him more closely, and it didn't take long for recognition to strike.
This boy… he was the same one the nurse had shown him back at the hospital. The same child who had clutched Tsubasa's body in desperation. The same child who had found help by alerting the hospital staff and—the same child who had stabbed Shikamaru back in the forest.
His grip on his kunai tightened momentarily, but he quickly relaxed his hand, slipping his weapon into his pouch. His gaze flicked to Shikamaru, whose expression was a mix of confusion and irritation as the boy continued to cling to him.
"Shikamaru," Naruto's voice was barely above a whisper. His tone was calm, almost unnervingly so, as his eyes flicked toward the boy. "Who… who is he?"
The question wasn't about identity—it was about why he was here. Why he was with Shikamaru.
Shikamaru sighed, his usual nonchalance cracking just a bit as he rubbed the back of his head. "Alright, you caught me," He admitted. "This is Denji." He glanced down at the boy clinging to his leg. "Denji, this is Naruto."
Denji peeked out timidly from behind Shikamaru's leg, his small hand lifting in a hesitant wave. His eyes, wide with fear, met Naruto's. But when the blonde didn't return the gesture—his intense stare licked on the boy—Denji shrank back, hiding him again.
Naruto hadn't meant to ignore him. He hadn't hadn't realised he was staring. His mind was elsewhere, replaying the haunting image of Denji clutching Tsubasa's body. That scene had etched itself into Naruto's memory, and seeing the boy now only brought it back in vivid detail.
Shikamaru's voice broke him out of his thoughts. "Denji here saved Ayaka back in the forest. When you were fighting Tsubasa, his men cornered her. Denji stepped in and stopped them. After that, he ran to the hospital and got help. That's how we were found just in time."
Naruto nodded slightly. He already knew about the hospital, but the part about saving Ayaka was new. His lips parted, a silent gratitude struggling to find voice. He yearned to thank the boy, but the words remained trapped, refusing to leave.
Shikamaru reached down and ruffled Denji's hair, earning a shy smile from the boy. "After everything went down, Denji told me Tsubasa left. Turns out he has nowhere to go now. No family, no home. I couldn't just leave him out there, running and hiding for the rest of his life."
Naruto's eyes narrowed slightly. "So you decided to bring him along?"
Shikamaru shrugged, his expression half-apologetic. "Figured I'd have him tail us until we reached Konoha and see if his situation could be helped. Better than leaving him out here, right?" He paused, giving Naruto a pointed look. "It was going fine until you caught us."
Naruto's gaze lingered at Denji, who clung tightly to the edge of Shikamaru's flak jacket. The boy's innocence, hsi trust in Shikamaru, contrasted painfully with the storm of emotions brewing inside Naruto. Confusion, guilt, and something he couldn't name churned in his chest. Shikamaru's plan sounded reasonable, logical even—but the boy's presence still left him uneasy. How could he stand so close to the child he'd made an orphan without feeling like he might break apart?
He cleared his throat, forcing his voice to remain steady. "I was actually going to ask if you were okay with me taking over guard duty." His eyes flickered briefly toward Denji before returning to Shikamaru. "He needs sleep too, you know."
Shikamaru considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Fine by me. I only took the shift so I could grab him some food anyway." He placed a hand on Denji's shoulder, guiding him toward the direction of his tent. As they walked away, Shikamaru turned back, his expression serious. "Don't mention this to the others."
Naruto nodded silently, his eyes following the pair. Denji moved with a lightness in his step, a bundle of happiness despite everything. It was a stark contrast to Naruto, who felt like he was unraveling with every passing second. How could he even talk to the boy? What would he say?
Denji didn't know it yet, but Naruto was the reason his life had crumbled. Hell, maybe he did know and that's why the child was so scared of him. He had destroyed the boy's home, ripped his world apart, and left him with nothing. And now here he was, trailing behind the child he hurt so deeply as if that alone could begin to make up for it.
Just like Tsubasa's condition, the same applied to Denji. He knew he'd never forget this, not for the rest of his life.
OoO
The journey back to Konoha dragged on longer than anyone had anticipated. An extra day had been tacked onto their travel time, primarily due to Shikamaru's inexplicable habit of vanishing at random intervals. He'd reappear just as suddenly, as though nothing was amiss, much to Ayaka's mounting frustration. Her patience, already thin from her broken arm and fatigue, snapped each time Shikamaru had wandered off. She berated him relentlessly, accusing him of derailing their return for no despicable reason, especially since he was the one most eager to get back home.
Shikamaru, unfazed by her outbursts, would shrug it off with casual excuses: he'd either be taking a really long piss or zoned out and realised too late he'd fallen behind. His nonchalance only fueled Ayaka's ire, though she didn't know the truth. Unbeknownst to Ayaka and Kenta, Shikamaru was sneaking off the check on Denji, ensuring the boy remained safe and unseen. Several times, he'd come dangerously close to being caught, but Naruto had his back. With quick thinking, the blonde spun plausible explanations for Shikamaru's absences, pacifying Kenta and Ayaka enough that they eventually stopped pressing the issue. They simply accepted that Shikamaru would reappear when he was ready.
And so, after what felt like eternity, the gates of Konoha finally came into view. The site of the bustling entrance, with villagers and shinobi coming and going, was a welcome relief. Ayaka immediately insisted that the team report to the Hokage to confirm their return. But before anyone could protest, Naruto disappeared, darting off without a word. Shikamaru stayed behind, claiming he needed to speak with Izumo and Kotetsu, the gatekeepers, and would catch up with the team shortly. Ayaka's injury likely saved him from a beating—he'd been testing her patience the whole journey back and her broken arm and exhaustion were all that kept her from chasing him down.
Once Kenta and Ayaka were out of sight, Shikamaru discreetly brought Denji to the gate. He explained the boy's situation to Izumo and Kotetsu, who, much to his irritation, teased him mercilessly. They called him 'soft' and 'adorable' for taking in the kid, their laughter earning him a glare that could've stopped a charging bull. Despite their jokes, they agreed to keep quiet and let him handle the matter.
Minutes later, Shikamaru and Denji found themselves outside the Hokage's office. Shikamaru crouched down to the boy's eye level, his voice soft but firm. "Wait here. I'll call you when it's time, alright?"
Denji nodded silently, clutching the edge of his shirt nervously as he made his way to one of the seats and got himself comfortable. Shikamaru straightened up, took a steadying breath, and stepped into the office, bracing himself for the discussion ahead.
Shikamaru's entrance was met with a chorus of stares—Ayaka, Kenta, Shizune(clutching her pet pig, Tonton), and Tsunade herself, whilst jaw ticked with visible irritation.
"Nice of you to join us, Shikamaru," she said, her voice syrupy sweet, a tone Shikamaru recognized as a warning rather than a welcome. A chill ran down his spine as he met her gaze and bowed deeply.
"My apologies, Tsunade-sama. I had soemthing bread to attended to."
Tsunade scoffed at the excuse, crossing her arms behind her desk. "Don't pretend you want to be here. You're just like your father—your whole clan, in fact. Lazy to the core." Despite the jab, her expression softened. "Ayaka has already fill me in on the mission details, damages, and everything else. The two of you will report to the hospital and ket the nurse's take care of you. For now, you're relieved of all your duties until you're fully healed. Is that clear?"
Shikamaru nodded, hiding his relief. The entire mission had been a drag, and the prospect of a break was more than welcome.
"That's all," Tsunade concluded. "You'll receive your mission pay. You're excused."
Ayaka and Kenta bowed and keft the office promptly, but Shikamaru lingered, stepping forward hesitatlntly. "Forgive me, Tsunade-sama, but u have something I need you to look at."
Tsubase raised a brow at his request but nodded. Before she could respond further, she asked a question of her own. "Where's Naruto?"
Shikamaru rubbed the back of his neck, averting his eyes. "He took off the moment he saw the gates of Konoha. My guess is he's either at home or stuffing his face at Ichiraku Ramen right now."
Tsunade muttered a curse under her breath, causing Shikamaru to narrow his eyes in curiosity. "Is there something you need from him?" he asked cautiously. "I could fetch him if you'd like."
Tsunade dismissed the offer with a wave of her hand. "No, it's fine. It's just… let's just say he might be in for a surprise when he get's home. I wanted to warn him, but if he couldn't bother to show up here, then whatever happens is on him."
Shikamaru frowned, her cryptic words leaving him with more questions than answers. But seeing the Hokage's stern expression, he wisely decided not to press further. Instead, he nodded and prepared to bring up what he had originally intended.
OoO
Naruto didn't know what came over him when he saw the gates of Konoha. Soemthing about the sight of the familiar walls stirred soemthing inside—comfort, maybe even peace. Maybe it was because he hadn't seen them in so long. Maybe it was because, after the gruelling mission, the village felt like it was calling out to him, welcoming him with open arms.
His first instinct was to head straight to Ichiraku Ramen, to drown out the swirling voices and relentless images in his head with the sweet, familiar taste of miso ramen. But he stopped himself. Teuchi and Ayame would see right through him—they always did. They'd ask questions, offer concern, and Naruto wasn't ready to open up. Not now, and quite frankly, maybe not ever.
What he needed was to be alone.
Home. That's where he wanted to be. To sink into the solace of his small apartment, where the faint, lingering smell of ramen clung to the air. To collapse onto his bed—the one place that silently held him through countless nights of sadness.
When he reached the door, Naruto bent down to retrieve the key he kept hidden under the mat. He paused, gripping it tightly as he stared at the familiar sight. The small details—the feel of the cold metal key, the worn texture of the doorknob—felt more important now.
He was finally home.
Sliding the key into the lock, he turned the knob—but the door creaked open before he had the chance. He froze, confusion flickering across his face. The door was already unlocked.
His first thought was Jiraiya, but the old old had no reason to be here. This wasn't the type of place Jiraiya would crash unannounced. It wasn't Kakashi either—his sensei never used doors, preferring to sneak in through windows. And Sakura? She was probably at the hospital, keeping an eye on Sasuke as he recovered.
Cautiously, he pushed the door open and stepped inside, closing it quietly behind him. Slipping off his sandals, he scanned the living room. It was exactly as he'd left it the day he left for his mission—clean, untouched. But the uneasy knot in his stomach tightened as he made his way towards the bedroom, staying alert for anything, or anyone, who might suddenly appear.
The bedroom was the same. Or rather, almost the same. It wasn't the usual mess he'd left behind. His scattered clothes, the stray cups of instant ramen—they were gone. The room was spotless.
But that wasn't what shocked him.
Naruto's eyes widened as he took in the sight of two figures lying on his bed. One was a woman, clearly an adult, her bright red hair falling across the pillow. Beside her, clutching her tightly, was a young girl—not older than seven—with the same striking red hair. Both were fast asleep, their faces peaceful.
They looked… calm. Completely unbothered, as though they belonged there, as though this had always been their home.
He stood frozen in the doorway, his mind racing as tried to process what he was seeing. Finally, he managed to choke put a single phrase:
"What the hell?"
OoO
This has to be my favourite chapter so far. What? Surprised I actually managed to publish it on time? Come on, guys, have a little faith in me! Miracles do happen, you know.
But seriously, buckle up, because this? This is where the real story kicks off.
Imagine Tsubasa's face—I'll leave the details to your imagination. Must be so horrifying that its making our poor Naruto questioning himself. So sad.
Kaiokenika out!