Chapter 17
Realizations
Naruto : Uchiha Chronicles of the Uchiha
Outskirts a few miles outside of Konohagakure no sato…
A small bonfire crackled in the middle of a clearing, while a man sat on a log by its side. His trusted cigar rested on his lips, and his eyes scanned the details of the scroll unfurled in his hands, illuminated by the soft glow of the fire in the dead of night.
"So that's what you had planned if they hadn't gone through with it, huh, Tobirama?" the elder Sarutobi murmured to himself. He glanced up, noticing his three genin sleeping in their bags under the canopy of stars, blissfully unaware of anything beyond their enforced deep slumber.
He rubbed his temples with one hand, letting out a small sigh of exhaustion. Though he hadn't done anything physically taxing, the emotional weight was already taking its toll on him.
And he still had to speak with his students about recent events to gauge how each of them was holding up.
Another sigh escaped his lips. This teaching business was proving to be a far more demanding job than he had anticipated.
"Mm…" His eyes snapped up, glancing toward the three sleeping genin—only to notice the blonde member of his team squirming, clearly beginning to regain consciousness.
Naruto clenched his eyes shut, then blinked away the remnants of sleep as he sat upright. His gaze swept around groggily, still trying to regain its bearings, before landing on the sleeping forms of his two teammates.
In an instant, the events of the past few hours came flooding back, and his entire posture stiffened.
Sasuke's gaze flicked toward Naruto, catching the change in his frosty sky-blue eyes. The light in them seemed to dim, becoming duller in the flickering glow of the flames. Naruto stared down at his hands resting on his lap, his expression now blank, as if a shadow had settled over his features.
"Naruto…" Sasuke called softly, his voice tentative. He got no response beyond the slight twitch of Naruto's ears, a small acknowledgment that he was listening. Sasuke pressed on, undeterred. "Look at me, Naruto." This time, his tone held a newfound warmth and care, enough to draw a blank, almost hesitant glance toward his sensei—before Naruto quickly averted his gaze in shame.
Sasuke let out a soft sigh. He knew this moment would be hardest for the most empathetic of them all, and Naruto, as expected, bore that burden more deeply than anyone else.
Finally, Sasuke placed his hands on his knees and stood up. Walking over, he crouched down beside the boy, lowering himself on one knee. Naruto sat there, spaced out, staring at his open palms with glazed eyes, as if searching for answers that weren't there.
Without hesitation, Sasuke wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulders, gently pulling him closer. He tucked Naruto's head under his chin, patting his back in soothing, rhythmic motions.
"It's alright…" he whispered, his voice calm and reassuring. Just like that, Naruto clung to him, circling his arms tightly around his sensei as if he were a lifeline, the one anchor keeping him grounded.
"Sensei, I-I…" Naruto's voice cracked, choked with words he couldn't quite force out. Sasuke tightened his hold slightly, conveying without words that it was okay, that he understood.
Naruto didn't cry, though the tension in his body revealed how much he wanted to. Sasuke noticed the restraint, the sheer effort it took for the boy to hold back, and he felt a swell of pride for his student. It wasn't in everyone's heart, especially someone as kind as Naruto, to steel themselves like that—to suppress the raw tide of emotion when nothing was stopping them from letting it flow.
"Sensei-?" Naruto's voice broke through the quiet, hesitant and searching. Sasuke pulled back slightly, just enough to meet the boy's questioning gaze with one of warmth and understanding.
"What's the matter, Naruto? Tell me…" Sasuke urged gently. He knew bottling everything up wouldn't help; if anything, it would make things worse. Naruto needed this moment to unburden himself, to share the weight that had been crushing him.
Sasuke's mind drifted briefly to his own past, to the moment he had made his first kill. The memory was vivid, raw. Back then, they had been much younger, and the times had been darker, harsher. But he remembered the emptiness, the confusion, and the pain that came with it. He didn't want Naruto to bear that same burden alone.
"Why do we do it?" Naruto asked simply. Though the question was short, Sasuke knew the weight it carried in the boy's young mind and the impact it could have on his life.
Sasuke leaned back slightly, his gaze distant as he delved into years of experience as a shinobi, searching for the right answer. One that could satisfy the boy's curiosity and give him a semblance of understanding.
"It's just the way our world works, Naruto," he began, his voice weary. Sitting cross-legged, he rested his chin on his fist, thoughtful. Naruto's eyes remained locked on him, absorbing every word like a dry sponge soaking up water.
"We kill, or we get killed. It's as simple as that," Sasuke continued, exhaling a long drag of smoke into the cool night air. He noticed Naruto's gaze drop, his young mind wrestling with the bluntness of the explanation. It wasn't enough—not for someone like Naruto, whose heart sought deeper meaning in even the harshest realities.
"It's like this," Sasuke said, his tone steady as he elaborated. "Today, we were responsible for the deaths of a few dozen bandits." Naruto nodded hesitantly, his expression growing heavier at the thought. Sasuke pressed on, undeterred.
"Had we let them live, however, they would have gone on to murder dozens, maybe even hundreds, of innocent people. That's not counting the looting, the rapes, and other vile acts—things worse than death itself. By killing a few, Naruto, you saved countless lives today."
His words hung in the air, the weight of their truth pressing down on the boy. Naruto nodded again, though hesitantly, still grappling with the moral conflict. Sasuke placed a firm hand on his slumped shoulder, compelling the boy's downcast eyes to meet his own sharp, onyx gaze.
"Some people are just beyond saving, Naruto," Sasuke said, his tone low and resolute. "That's the lesson I want you to understand. You can—and should—try to save as many people as you can. But there will come a time when you'll face someone who has crossed the line, someone who can't be saved. When that happens, you'll have to make the hard decision to stop them, even if it means ending their life. Because if you don't, they'll hurt others—people who might be close to you."
He paused, letting the gravity of his words settle. "That's what I've learned over the years. Remember this lesson, Naruto. It may guide you when the time comes."
As his voice softened, Sasuke ruffled the boy's blonde hair gently. A small, reassuring smile touched his lips when he saw a flicker of that childlike spark return to Naruto's eyes. The boy nodded, this time more firmly.
Naruto shook his head slightly, brushing away the unshed tears that threatened to fall. He sat down beside his sensei, and the two shared a quiet meal of simple rations Sasuke had prepared from his meager supplies. As they ate, Sasuke recounted stories from his past—some lighthearted, others filled with lessons meant to prepare Naruto for the road ahead.
The comforting sound of Sasuke's stories slowly faded into silence as the older man leaned back against the log, exhaustion from the day's events finally taking over. Before long, Sasuke's breathing evened out, his eyes closing as sleep claimed him.
But Naruto remained awake.
His sensei's words echoed in his mind: "Some people are just beyond saving." The phrase lingered, but it didn't sit right with him. He stared at his hands, clenching and unclenching them as if trying to grasp the meaning behind the lesson.
Slowly, his gaze drifted upward, drawn to the canopy of stars glittering above. The vast expanse of the night sky seemed infinite, its beauty both humbling and comforting. For a moment, the weight of the day lifted, replaced by an awe that silenced his restless thoughts.
Is this the final fate of humans? he wondered. To save only those we can… and leave the rest to their own fate?
The stars twinkled back, indifferent and eternal. Naruto's thoughts wandered deeper, questioning everything he'd been taught. Why is the shinobi way the only way? he mused. Is there an answer to the truth of our existence? Is this the limit of what we're capable of?
He let out a soft sigh, lying back onto the cool grass, his hands behind his head. The sky stretched endlessly before him, an eternal ocean of stars. In their silent brilliance, he found a strange kind of peace—one that his world of conflict and bloodshed had never offered.
If humans could take every conflict out of their minds… if they could focus on something greater, something beyond themselves… could their potential be as boundless as this night sky?
Naruto's eyes traced the shimmering constellations, following their delicate patterns. His mind drifted, untethered by the constraints of his reality, lost in the beauty of the infinite. The stars seemed to whisper of endless possibilities, of a world where limits existed only where the eye could see.
For now, Naruto didn't have the answers. But under the serene expanse of the night sky, for the first time in what felt like forever, he allowed himself to dream—not of battles or survival, but of something far greater.
As the campfire crackled softly beside him and his teammates slept peacefully, Naruto lay there, basking in the stillness. His eyes remained fixed on the heavens above, wondering if humanity could ever truly reach for the stars.
Or maybe, he thought with a faint, tired bitter smile, it was just his overthinking. Perhaps the weight of taking a life lingered heavier on his mind than he realized.
Yet, from somewhere deep within, a thought flickered briefly—a question he didn't fully register, one that was gone as quickly as it came: Was being a shinobi worth it?
Next Morning
Sasuke watched his genin pack up their supplies and meticulously clear all traces of their presence, a small, proud smile tugging at his lips. Sakumo and Duy had taken the aftermath better than he'd expected. There had been tears—on both sides—after a heartfelt conversation, but now they seemed ready to move forward. Even so, he could see the newfound seriousness in their demeanor, the loss of innocence reflected in their eyes. It wasn't unexpected; in fact, he would have been more concerned if there hadn't been any repercussions.
"Alright, kids, we're going to take a detour," Sasuke announced casually, making all three of them pause and blink at him in confusion.
"Detour?" Sakumo asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty. He glanced at his teammates, who returned equally baffled looks and shrugged.
"What detour, sensei? Our mission is done, isn't it?" Naruto chimed in, earning a firm nod of affirmation from their teacher. "Then shouldn't we head back and report to the village, as per procedure? Where are we going, anyway?" he pressed, voicing the question all of them were silently wondering.
Sasuke nodded, acknowledging their concerns. "Yes, that is the procedure. But I have a secondary mission—and with it, a choice," he explained, stoking the flames of their curiosity further. "If you'd failed the previous mission, you would've had no say in the matter and would have accompanied me without question. But you didn't fail. You passed."
With that, he leaped onto a nearby branch, turning back to meet their curious gazes with a single visible eye.
"It is your choice children, whether you wish to come with me or not. The things you'll see next will not be something you would like to see…" he explained and got his three subordinates a bit nervous at his chosen tone of voice. "… you may very well return to the village, or you may follow me. Either way, it won't be held against you in the least. I'll be waiting for you by the river for five minutes. Those of you who wish to come, may come there. The rest may return to the village and we'll report in when I return, together." he drawled out and jumped ahead onto the next branch before repeating it quickly and disappeared within the foliage in mere seconds.
"What could he mean by 'not something you like'?" Duy finally asked and got a couple of nervous glances from his teammates which were followed by oblivious shrugs. They had no idea themselves.
"I say we follow him…' Sakumo finally broke the small silence that had settled in between them and got a surprised look from his teammates.
"I don't really know, I mean after last time who knows what it maybe…" Duy drawled out pointedly and got a nod from Naruto, who was agreeing with him on each and every word. The eccentric genin looked on at his final teammate who still remained to answer to see what he thought, it was a silent conversation between them.
Either they all went, or none of them that much every one of them knew.
Naruto looked up at the sky and let out a deep breath. The events of the past days weighed heavily on his psyche, a whirlwind of questions running through his head. It was overwhelming, and the mental strain felt like it might trigger a migraine. His mind was no longer fixated on the fresh kill from yesterday. Instead, his thoughts delved far deeper—questions he didn't have the answers to.
It made him restless.
He squinted his left eye as a beam of sunlight broke through the canopy, catching sight of a small bird feeding her chicks one by one, never missing a single one. The simple, nurturing gesture filled Naruto's heart with a sense of contentment, momentarily lifting the weight of his earlier turmoil.
Nature had a way of healing his wounds, whether they were physical or mental.
"Let's go, guys," he finally said, his voice steady. Sakumo gave him a small smile and nodded, and Naruto clasped his green-clad friend's shoulder in a reassuring gesture.
"Come on, Duy. Let's go," Naruto urged calmly, his earlier nerves dissipating. Duy gave a smile of his own, but Naruto quickly noticed a familiar spark ignite in his friend's eyes. His stomach dropped—he knew what was coming.
"Yosh! Let the power of youth explode!" Duy declared exuberantly.
Before they could react, he grabbed their wrists in his iron grip. Both Naruto and Sakumo exchanged panicked looks, but it was too late.
With an unstoppable burst of energy, Duy took off, dragging them along like rag dolls crashing through the bushes.
"Sensei! Let's go, we're ready!" Sasuke heard the shout and raised an eyebrow as he turned to the source of the voice. His ever-energetic student burst out of a bush, dragging along two disheveled teammates who were covered in leaves and looking thoroughly dizzy.
Duy blinked under his sensei's amused gaze, then glanced back at his companions. Realizing their state, he turned sheepish. Behind him, Naruto and Sakumo were trying to shake off their dizziness while brushing leaves and twigs off themselves, muttering complaints about their "youthful trip."
Sasuke couldn't help but smile. Watching his three genin bicker, it was as if the events of the past day had been momentarily forgotten. Together, they seemed fine—bonded by their shared resilience and camaraderie.
"Idiots…" Sasuke mumbled to himself, hopping off the boulder where he had been seated. He approached just in time to see Sakumo bonking Duy lightly on the head in mock punishment, scolding him as if he were the teacher while Duy apologized profusely, his youthful energy undiminished.
Despite their antics, Sasuke felt a swell of pride. They had all chosen to come. No matter the reason, these three never ceased to amaze him.
"Alright, break it off—let's go…" Sasuke drawled out as he jumped onto a tree branch, not bothering to look back and see if his three genin were following. Of course, they were—eyes fired up and determined.
"Sensei, what's the mission?" Sakumo finally let out the question that had been burning in all their minds. Sasuke hesitated for a moment, weighing his decision, then glanced back at their innocent and confused faces before looking ahead again with a tired look in his eyes.
'They need this,' he thought inwardly. 'They still don't know what they're going to be up against in the future. It's my burden to bear for them to grow up now…' he let out a long breath.
"We have another B-ranked assignment," he finally spoke up, breaking the tense silence. Naruto's feet met a branch, and he hopped onto the next one with a curious glint in his eyes.
"What is it, sensei?" he asked, and Sasuke glanced over to see his genin all focused on him, then turned his eyes ahead to the path ahead.
"It's a simple scouting mission—we need to get close to the nearby border and scout out all the happenings there," he explained. Naruto nodded.
"Then why is it a B-ranked mission, sensei?" Duy suddenly asked, catching them all off guard. The said boy blushed when all eyes turned to him and smiled sheepishly as the attention was fixated on him.
"You'll see…" was all they got from their sensei before he let out a burst of chakra to increase his speed. His three genin followed suit, zooming past the trees with a new-found pace.
A small clearing near the Konoha-Kusa borders…
Sasuke halted abruptly, raising a hand to signal his charges. Instantly, the three genin crouched down on their respective branches, their movements silent and precise.
Duy opened his mouth to ask something but froze when Sasuke placed a finger over his lips, signaling for absolute silence. The boy gulped and nodded, his question forgotten. Sasuke motioned them closer, pointing toward a small gap in the foliage ahead.
Naruto and Sakumo didn't need further instruction—the faint sounds carried by the wind had already drawn their attention. Their trained ears picked up the distinct noises of conflict ahead.
CLANG… CLANG… BOOM!…
Their eyes widened in unison as they peered through the leaves, their curiosity quickly turning to shock. Below them, a small ravine stretched out, a fierce battle raging at its depths. Shinobi clashed violently, their movements a blur of lethal precision.
Naruto's breath hitched as he witnessed a shinobi leap into the air and drive his kunai clean through another's jugular. The killer barely paused, moving to his next target without hesitation, as if the act of taking a life was as routine as breathing.
Duy's face paled, his wide eyes glued to the brutal scene below. Sakumo clenched his fists, his lips pressing into a tight line. The sheer ferocity and finality of the skirmish unfolding before them was unlike anything they had imagined.
The three genin stayed frozen in stunned silence as they continued to watch. The battle below reached its bitter crescendo, the echoes of clashing steel and jutsu tearing through the air. Blood stained the earth like a morbid canvas, and the faint cries of the dying mingled with the distant hum of the wind.
"Sensei..." Sakumo and Duy whispered, their voices trembling as they stared at the carnage before them. The elder Sarutobi kept his eyes especially fixated on his blonde subordinate, who seemed to be trembling, his wide eyes reflecting the horror of what lay before him. Tobirama had specifically told Sasuke to observe the boy's reaction. If it were any other shinobi, he might have dismissed the request as unnecessary, even biased. But now, watching Naruto's silent turmoil, he realized the wisdom behind it.
"What is this?" Naruto choked out, his voice strained as he fought to hold himself together the carnage before far brutal than the bandit he killed yesterday.. Before him, the battlefield was a macabre canvas of death, painted in shades of crimson and black. Severed limbs lay scattered among the debris, some still clutching weapons in rigor mortis. Pools of blood had soaked into the dirt, turning it into a sticky, viscous mire that clung to the bodies.
Here and there, charred remains of corpses smoldered, their twisted forms barely recognizable as human. The pungent stench of burnt flesh mixed with the metallic tang of blood filled the air, making every breath a struggle. Vultures circled overhead, their guttural cries a haunting prelude to the feast they were about to descend upon.
Naruto's stomach churned violently as his eyes fell upon two shinobi locked in their final, gruesome act of combat. One man, already missing an arm, plunged his blade into the other's eye, even as a kunai was driven into his throat. Both fell, collapsing onto the blood-soaked ground, their bodies convulsing before finally going still.
"This is the truth of what lies in wait for us shinobi," Sasuke said quietly, his voice heavy with sorrow. Yet, he made no effort to shield his students from the sight. To do so would only foster illusions—and illusions on the battlefield were deadly.
"But why, sensei? Aren't we allied neutrally with the others?" Sakumo managed to ask, his voice barely above a whisper. His gaze was fixed on the grisly scene: shattered weapons strewn about like discarded toys, the ground littered with faceless corpses, their features mutilated beyond recognition. Smoke rose in thin, ghostly tendrils from the remnants of a burnt-out camp, adding an eerie stillness to the massacre.
Sasuke cut him off before he could continue, his expression grim but resolute.
"Alliances are just that—mere paper and words of peace, Sakumo. They only ever matter if the allied nations truly believe in the peace they claim to be fighting for..." Sasuke explained in his wizened tone, emphasizing each word to drive his point home to the boy.
"Ugh—" a pained moan broke through the tense atmosphere, and Sasuke's eyes widened momentarily when he caught a small movement in the corner of his vision.
"No, don't—" he hissed, but his words came too late. His blonde genin leapt off the tree, landing smoothly on the ground. Naruto rushed forward, expertly sliding down the edge of the ravine through the dense greenery—a skill perfected in his childhood explorations.
As he sprinted across the battlefield, Naruto was struck by the devastation before him. Smoking craters marred the ground, and lifeless corpses lay scattered like broken puppets. It felt as though a fragment of hell had descended onto the earth.
His feet came to a halt by the only breathing figure left on what had once been a vibrant, lively battlefield. Naruto dropped to his knees, skidding slightly, and gently placed the man's head on his lap. Without hesitation, he began assessing the man's wounds. Spending time with Tsuna had its perks, though not on the same level as her, Mito Baa-chan had made sure to drill medical knowledge into him.
The man, clad in crimson armor, had a kunai lodged deep where his liver was supposed to be, blood seeping out profusely.
A fatal wound—one any shinobi would have been trained to inflict and proud to deliver on an enemy. Naruto's frosty-sky-blue eyes met the clouded brown ones of the man in his arms, who winced in pain, struggling to speak.
"W-…" the man tried to speak but was interrupted by a violent cough, blood sputtering from his lips. Naruto instantly wiped it away, leaning closer to place his ear near the man's mouth, making it easier for him to speak.
"W-Water…" the man wheezed out weakly.
Naruto nodded fervently, his left hand darting to his pack. He pulled out a small canteen, quickly unscrewing the cap. Gently, he tilted the bottle to the man's cracked lips, letting the water trickle down slowly. With measured care, he splashed some onto the man's face and eyes, washing away the blood and grime to minimize the risk of further infection.
So focused was Naruto on tending to the wounded man that he didn't notice the soft footsteps approaching from behind.
The man blinked, his bloodied face twisting slightly as he tried to process the sensation of the cool water against his skin. His clouded eyes began to clear, focusing slowly on the young blond kneeling over him.
Naruto glanced over his shoulder, his gaze filled with urgency as he looked at his sensei.
"Sensei, please… hand me some bandages. This man, he—"
SQUELCH…
Naruto's eyes widened slightly, then to impossible proportions, his pupils dilating in pure shock. Slowly, his head turned to the side, dread pooling in his stomach.
The man in his arms gurgled wetly, blood bubbling at his lips. A kunai jutted grotesquely from his jugular, the wound pouring crimson.
CLANG…
Naruto's gaze dropped to the ground, where a kunai slipped from the dead man's lifeless hand, bouncing once before lying still. His own hand shakily rose to his face, instinctively brushing against his skin. He froze as his fingers brushed against something warm and sticky.
Trembling, he brought his palm before his eyes, his breath hitching in his throat.
It was scarlet.
The sticky, thick substance coated his skin, glaring in the dim light, a visceral reminder of what had just transpired.
His head moved mechanically, as if not under his own control, to the other side. There, Sasuke stood tall, pulling his outstretched hand back to his side, his expression unreadable, calm, almost indifferent.
Naruto's gaze dropped once more, settling on the man in his arms. His lifeless eyes had rolled back, white and void of any trace of the life that had flickered in them moments ago.
Naruto sat frozen, staring into those unseeing eyes, his world spinning in silence.
"Why?" Naruto's voice was barely above a whisper, his words emerging in a trance-like state. His mind struggled to process what had just unfolded before him.
Sasuke let out a long, measured breath, his gaze steady as he replied. "He was going to kill you, Naruto. It was either you or him. I chose you."
"But… why?" Naruto mumbled, his voice cracking. His hands trembled as he clenched them into fists. "He was dying… I was trying to help him, and then—"
"Look at his headband, Naruto." Sasuke's voice softened slightly, though it carried the weight of his years of experience.
Naruto's eyes moved, almost unwillingly, settling on the red cloth tied to the man's forehead. The emblem of the Stone village gleamed dully through the blood splatters.
"He was an Iwa shinobi," Sasuke began, his tone calm but firm. "And skirmishes between the Leaf and the Stone have been escalating. You wouldn't know of it—only the higher-ups and the border patrols do. This is war, Naruto."
Naruto's head dipped slightly as he gave a faint, numb nod, the information sinking in like a heavy stone in his chest.
"But… I was just helping him…" Naruto's voice cracked again, his words barely audible.
Sasuke's hands moved, gripping Naruto's shoulders and turning him firmly to face him. His onyx-black eyes locked onto the boy's dilated, trembling blue ones.
"Listen to me, Naruto." His voice was sharper now, cutting through the haze clouding the boy's mind. "This isn't about a simple fight between two shinobi where you can afford mercy. This is a conflict between nations."
Naruto flinched but didn't break eye contact as Sasuke continued. "The moment his eyes focused on you, he didn't see a savior or a kind hand. He saw the Leaf symbol on your headband. That was all he needed to decide he would use his dying breath to kill you—make his death mean something to his village." he explained sternly, watching the boy's eyes squirm around but he held them firm by cupping his cheeks in his palms and making him look into his own even more forcefully.
"Naruto, we are almost at war..." Sasuke whispered, his voice low yet heavy with meaning, shocking even the two genin behind him.
Sakumo, taken aback, opened his mouth to argue, to bring up the treaty of neutrality and the logic behind it. But Sasuke's stern voice cut him off.
"The last few missions we've been doing over the past few months—just what were they?" Sasuke asked, his gaze shifting to the strategic thinker of the group. Sakumo pursed his lips, jogging his memory as he tried to piece it all together.
"We've been bringing supplies from nearby farming villages into our secure warehouses, occasionally handling some filing work for village records, and…" his words faltered, only to be interrupted by Sasuke once again.
"When does a shinobi village begin restocking its supplies?" Sasuke questioned pointedly.
Sakumo's eyes widened, and his blood ran cold as realization dawned. His teacher's words carried a weight he hadn't fully grasped until now.
Sasuke turned his gaze back to Naruto, who stood there as if lost in a daze. His wide, unfocused eyes seemed to reflect nothing of his usual lively spirit, but Sasuke knew they needed to hear this truth, however harsh it might be.
"Look around you, Naruto..." Sasuke's voice was soft, almost a whisper, but it carried the weight of the moment. Naruto's eyes scanned the devastated battlefield, the scorched earth littered with bodies and smoldering remnants of the skirmish.
"...We are in one of the most tense situations with the other nations that we've faced in over a decade," Sasuke continued, his tone steady but somber. "The Hokage knows it, but he's keeping quiet to avoid causing panic among the civilians or destabilizing the village. The higher-ranked shinobi know it too—we are standing on the edge of war, Naruto. And this..." he gestured at the carnage around them, "...this is what it will look like when the first spark ignites the flames."
His voice was calm, but it only deepened the dread swirling in Naruto's chest.
Sasuke crouched before the trembling boy, his dark eyes locking onto Naruto's darting, frightened gaze. With a gentle motion, he cupped Naruto's face and gave his cheeks a light slap, just enough to bring his focus back.
"You are the one who worries me the most, my child. Even now, when you saw a man injured, you ran to him without hesitation, not stopping to think if he was an enemy or an ally. That kind of heart is rare, Naruto—but not everyone will think like you. The world isn't what it seems."
Sasuke's voice softened, but his words remained firm. "This...this is what many lands will look like in the days to come. You need to understand that, and you need to harden yourself, Naruto."
He trailed off, noticing the small tear pooling at the corner of Naruto's vivid blue eye. Without another word, Sasuke pulled the boy into a firm, comforting embrace, holding him close as if to shield him from the reality he had no choice but to face.
"Sensei—" the boy sniffled, clutching Sasuke's shirt tightly in his small fists. He buried his face into his chest, his body trembling as the harsh truths finally sank into his heart, leaving behind only agony and acceptance.
"Kindness, in the times to come, will often lead to despair—and sometimes even death," Sasuke said softly, his voice heavy with both sadness and resolve. "This scouting mission was a choice I had to make. To show you this...or to shield you from it if I thought you weren't ready. But I need you all to be prepared. Because when the time comes, I won't always be there to protect you."
His words hung in the air, the weight of reality settling over his three students. Sasuke's gaze drifted between them, his heart clenching at their tear-streaked faces. "The truth is, children, we'll be short on manpower. Missions with me accompanying you will become fewer and farther between. When the time calls for it, you must promise me—promise yourselves—that you will be ready to do what must be done."
Naruto sniffled against him but gave a small nod, his fists still gripping Sasuke's shirt as if it were the only thing anchoring him. Sasuke glanced over his shoulder to see Sakumo and Duy, their faces streaked with tears, trying and failing to stifle their sobs. With a quiet, beckoning motion, he opened an arm toward them.
The two rushed into his embrace, and Sasuke wrapped his arms around the three of them. He held them close, his grip firm yet gentle, resting his chin atop their heads as their muffled cries filled the air. He kissed each of their foreheads softly, his own eyes closed, drawing a tired sigh from his lips.
"Let it out," he whispered. "All of it."
For what it was worth, he was proud to be their teacher—even if it meant being the one to shatter their innocence. Better they faced this now than froze on the battlefield later, their unpreparedness costing them their lives.
He loved these idiots too much to let that happen.
A few days later…
Konohagakure no sato
The great walls of the Village Hidden in the Leaves loomed on the horizon, visible to the group of shinobi who now walked at a slow and serene pace. Their silence was comfortable, yet it carried an unspoken weight as they closed the remaining distance to their home.
Sasuke couldn't help but notice how subdued his team had become over the past few days, ever since their last scouting mission. It tore at him to see them so uncharacteristically quiet. While their usual antics would occasionally resurface, they felt fleeting—lacking the vitality they once held.
Their eyes, in particular, had changed.
What worried him the most was the blonde Uchiha. Over the past few days, he had grown increasingly unresponsive, almost closed off, with a faraway look in his eyes. It was a look Sasuke had only seen before in Tobirama's: a distant gaze that hinted at a brewing storm, stirring just beneath the surface.
But what truly unsettled Sasuke was the calm, calculative expression on his face. It wasn't a natural calm—it was too measured, too cold, as though he were steeling himself for something inevitable.
"Welcome back to the village, Sasuke-sama…" The gate guard's greeting broke Sasuke out of his thoughts. Offering a curt nod, he signed his team in, his genin standing silently behind him.
Turning to them, Sasuke caught their curious, expectant gazes as they waited for his next instructions.
But not today.
"Go on home, you three. I'll handle the report to the Hokage. Get some proper rest and sleep—you've earned it." His tone shifted, softening into something warm and fatherly. He patted each of their heads, drawing small, tentative smiles from them. They nodded in silent understanding and began walking toward their homes.
Sasuke watched them go, his eyes lingering on their retreating figures before turning toward the center of the village. His gaze fixed on the largest structure dominating the skyline—the Hokage's office. Without hesitation, he began making his way toward his destination, his steps steady and resolute.
Hokage Tower
Hokage Office
This time, the jounin instructor of Squad Seven didn't bother using Shunshin to reach his destination. Instead, he took the classic route on foot, walking through the hallways of the Hokage Tower. Along the way, he received several smiles and nods of recognition, all of which he barely acknowledged.
The receptionist seated outside the main office noticed him approaching and greeted him with a polite smile.
"Sasuke-sama, Hokage-sama is a bit busy right now, but if you could wait for a few minutes…" Her words trailed off as Sasuke walked right past her, not even glancing in her direction.
Reaching the door, he raised his fist and knocked twice, receiving a curt, annoyed response from inside.
"I'm busy," came the voice, sharp and tired.
"It's me," Sasuke replied simply, standing patiently as silence settled on the other side of the door. Taking the moment, he retrieved a cigar, lighting it calmly.
"Come in," came the eventual reply, tired but resigned.
Twisting the doorknob, Sasuke stepped inside and closed the door behind him, leaving a baffled and slightly gaping secretary in his wake.
His brow arched in mild surprise at the scene before him. Tobirama was seated on the couch instead of his usual place behind the desk, a cup of tea in his hand and his eyes closed. Sasuke moved to a chair across from him and sat down.
Tobirama, unbothered by his guest's arrival, didn't even open his eyes. Instead, he took another measured sip of his tea, his calm demeanor unbroken.
"They did it." Sasuke's voice broke the silence, his words simple but heavy with implication.
"I see…" Tobirama replied, setting aside his now-empty cup. His sharp crimson eyes turned to fully focus on his old friend.
"All of them?" he asked, his tone devoid of surprise but laced with gravity.
Sasuke gave a single nod, and Tobirama hummed in thought, processing the confirmation. A tense nod followed as he made his decision.
"Very well," Tobirama said curtly, his tone clipped and resolute. Sasuke moved forward, placing a scroll containing the written report in the scroll holder atop the desk.
"Don't give them any missions for a week. I request—" Sasuke began, only to be interrupted when Tobirama raised a hand, silencing him.
"I'm not going to," Tobirama stated evenly, his stoic voice brokering no argument. Sasuke quirked a curious eyebrow but remained silent, watching as Tobirama stood and strode to his desk.
The elder Senju pulled open the bottom drawer, rummaging through its contents before withdrawing a scroll. Without a word, he tossed it to Sasuke, who caught it deftly.
"What's this?" Sasuke asked, his gaze flicking to the scroll in his hands. The seal of the Iron Country was emblazoned upon it, catching the flickering light of the room. Adjusting the cigar between his lips to the left side, he tilted his head slightly for a better view of the intricate markings.
"Read it," Tobirama said simply, his tone dismissive. Sasuke knew better than to expect anything more from the man.
Tobirama turned and walked toward the window, his hands clasped behind his back as he gazed out over the village he had sworn to protect. His sharp, stoic eyes reflected the weight of his unyielding duty.
Unfurling the scroll onto his lap, Sasuke began reading. His eyes scanned each line, moving swiftly from left to right. With every word, his expression grew more incredulous, disbelief etched deeply into his features by the time he reached the final sentence. Lowering the scroll, he shot an incredulous glance at Tobirama, now fully understanding why the man had handed it to him.
"You can't be serious!" Sasuke's voice rose, tinged with disbelief and frustration.
Tobirama didn't flinch, nor did he move a muscle to acknowledge the outburst. But Sasuke knew better—he was listening.
"Kumogakure no Sato is proposing to settle the skirmishes along our borders once and for all by arranging a meeting between myself and the Raikage," Tobirama recited evenly, as though quoting directly from the scroll. "It is only logical to—"
"It's a trap, you dumbass!" Sasuke snapped, cutting him off.
His voice was sharp, his temper finally flaring. Tobirama turned his head slightly, raising an eyebrow as his crimson left eye regarded Sasuke briefly, before he returned his gaze to the village below.
Sasuke glared, but he knew his anger would roll off Tobirama like water off stone. The man's calm, stoic demeanor rarely cracked, even under pressure. Yet Tobirama let Sasuke's outburst slide—a privilege granted only to him. After all, their bond ran too deep to count the number of times they had saved one another's lives.
This was why he had been the only one who he would go for counsel upon that matter. He trusted him enough to be blunt and honest with it, and to have a safeguard for any rash decisions he himself might be prone to make in a situation as precarious as this.
That was completely unacceptable to a man who prided in perfection above all else, thus why, here he was.
"Tobirama…" Sasuke hissed in a low whisper, catching his shoulder to turn him forcefully for meeting his gaze, when the words died down within his throat. The man's eyes weren't the lifeless or emotionless ones he had remembered seeing for as long as he could remember, they looked so tired and defeated as if he had accepted an unavoidable fate, a grim one at that.
"This is a trap, you know it then-" Tobirama caught his hand and pulled it off his shoulder only to give a tired shake off his head.
"I know it's a trap Sasuke…" he finally drawled out, he hadn't been a Kage for so long to pick on berries. The scent of a trap was clear as a day to him as well.
Sasuke was speechless, he couldn't for the life of him wonder why the hell he was even considering going to this facade of a peace meeting in the first place then.
Tobirama turned around, Sasuke was about to continue his rant when he saw the man's hands behind his back closely this time. His knuckles were clenched, nerves fleshed out upon his skin from the pure pressure he was exerting while holding himself back from doing something reckless to take out his temper.
Sasuke placed a hand on Tobirama's shoulder once more, but this time it carried understanding and compassion instead of anger. His eyes softened, a glimmer of worry shining within them for his old friend.
"What's the matter, Tobirama? What aren't you telling me?" he asked quietly.
For a moment, silence lingered between them, and then Tobirama's mask cracked. His sharp eyes narrowed, and the pure cold fury burning within them was unmistakable. Yet Sasuke knew the rage wasn't directed at him. He held his ground, unfazed, even as the air around the Kage shifted.
A pulse of Tobirama's chakra erupted, raw and unrestrained, cracking the ground beneath their feet. The entire tower seemed to tremble under the oppressive force of his hatred and killing intent.
Any other man would have fled, overwhelmed by the suffocating pressure. But Sasuke wasn't just any man.
Tobirama raised his fist, the action radiating controlled menace. Sasuke remained still, unflinching, even as the Kage's arm descended with terrifying force.
The blow passed harmlessly by Sasuke, but the table behind him bore the full brunt of the strike.
The wood buckled under the sheer impact, splintering apart as a shockwave rippled through the room. Scrolls scattered into the air, tumbling a foot above the ground before landing in disarray.
Tobirama stood there, breathing heavily, his tightly wound composure fraying at the edges. The room was silent again, save for the faint creak of the damaged table settling into its broken state.
"They have them…" Tobirama whispered, his voice barely above a growl, yet it carried the weight of his barely contained rage. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple, betraying nerves that were completely unlike him.
Sasuke stood in silence, stunned. Tobirama never shouted—he hadn't seen him raise his voice in all the years he had known him.
But this… this was as close as Tobirama had ever come to shouting. Whatever the matter was, it was serious enough to push even him to the brink of losing control.
"They have Misa and Roku. They have my brother's children, Sasuke. They have Tsuna's parents…" Tobirama finally revealed, his voice low but vibrating with pure, unadulterated fury.
Sasuke's eyes widened in horror as the weight of the revelation hit him. He knew how close Tobirama was to his extended family, and now they were in enemy hands.
But how? How could such a thing have happened?
Misa and Roku weren't combat shinobi. They were medics—dedicated to their work in the hospital and rarely, if ever, stepping onto the battlefield. They had chosen their profession to remain close to their loved ones, serving the village in their own vital way.
"They had gone to Suna," Tobirama continued, his voice cutting through Sasuke's racing thoughts. "For rare herbs—needed urgently for a surgery at the hospital."
Sasuke's lips pressed into a tight line as his mind reeled, running through possible scenarios. His expression shifted from shock to contemplation, his sharp eyes narrowing as he pieced together the fragments of the situation.
Something didn't add up.
"Then the scroll…" Sasuke asked, his voice steady despite the weight of his thoughts.
Tobirama gave a slight nod, acknowledging the younger man's sharp deduction. Had their roles been reversed, he would have asked the same question.
"It was found on the border between Suna and Konoha. Along with these…" Tobirama reached into a drawer, pulling out two Leaf headbands and one from Kumo.
The implications struck Sasuke instantly. He didn't need further explanation.
The scroll was bait—a calculated missive designed to draw Tobirama out. This alone was an act of provocation, one that could easily be interpreted as a declaration of war. If this ever reached the Shinobi Council, the ramifications for Konoha would be severe.
"What are you going to do then?" Sasuke asked, his tone heavy with the weight of the situation. It was the question that mattered most.
Tobirama sank back into his chair, visibly drained. The storm of chakra and killing intent that had filled the room moments ago dissipated completely, leaving only the man behind it.
"What do you think I'm going to do?" Tobirama responded, his tone sharp, almost dismissive.
Sasuke didn't hesitate. He stepped forward, grabbing Tobirama's shoulders and looking him square in the eye, his own gaze firm and unyielding.
"Tobirama, you're not thinking straight. You need to think this through. It's a trap," Sasuke said, his voice calm but insistent. "You'll be allowed only one bodyguard, while the Raikage could bring as many as he wants—gods know who or how many. For all we know…"
He hesitated, seeing Tobirama's crimson eyes narrow dangerously, daring him to continue. But Sasuke pressed on.
"For all we know, Misa and Roku are already dead, Tobirama," he said bluntly, the hard truth slicing through the air like a kunai.
Tobirama's hand lashed out, slapping Sasuke's grip away with a harsh motion. The words hit him harder than any blow could, planting a seed of dread deep in his chest—a truth he had tried desperately to ignore now staring him in the face.
"But there is the chance that they are-" his words were cut off when a loud voice rang within his office.
SLAP!
Tobirama stared at Sasuke, his eyes widening slightly, utterly stunned by what had just transpired. Slowly, he raised a hand to his stinging cheek, rubbing the reddened skin in disbelief. Sasuke, unshaken, withdrew his outstretched hand, his expression firm and unwavering.
"The condition was met," Sasuke stated flatly, his tone carrying the weight of a promise fulfilled.
Tobirama's eyes narrowed in realization as the meaning behind those words sank in. He had given Sasuke permission—long ago, during a private and vulnerable moment—to do this if the situation ever called for it. If Tobirama ever strayed toward reckless, self-serving actions, Sasuke was to stop him by any means necessary.
"You're being reckless, old friend," Sasuke said quietly, crouching down on one knee. He flicked his cigar aside, clearly in no mood for it now.
Tobirama let out a dry, humorless chuckle, the sound devoid of any mirth. The realization of his own behavior settled over him like a heavy cloak.
"I know," he admitted, his voice low and resigned.
Sasuke's brow furrowed, his worry deepening. It wasn't like Tobirama to be this open, and it only heightened his unease.
"But this… this is something I have to do," Tobirama continued, his laughter fading as his gaze turned serious once more.
Sasuke opened his mouth to protest, but Tobirama's next words stopped him cold.
"I won't be able to face my family if I don't. I won't be able to look Hashirama in the eye in the afterlife, Sasuke. This time… I have to be reckless."
The admission hung heavily in the air, laden with emotion. For once, the logic and precision that had always defined Tobirama were cast aside, overtaken by something far more profound: duty to his family, a responsibility he could not ignore.
Sasuke met his gaze, their eyes locking for a long moment. In that silent exchange, no words were needed. Tobirama's resolve was absolute, and Sasuke understood—no argument, no reasoning would change his mind.
"This is turning into a personal vendetta, Tobirama, and I don't like it—not one bit," Sasuke said firmly, his voice laced with disapproval.
Tobirama clenched his jaw, forcing himself to hold back the sharp retort bubbling just beneath the surface. But before he could come up with a measured response, Sasuke continued, driving his point home.
"So be it," the elder Sarutobi said at last, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Tobirama looked at his friend, shock and surprise flickering across his normally stoic face.
"I'll accompany you to the summit myself," Sasuke declared, his voice resolute. "I don't trust anyone else to look after your old, wrinkled self better than I can."
Tobirama shook his head, already beginning to object. "I need you here, Sasuke. I want you to act as the Kage in my stead should anything happen to me—"
His words were cut off by the sharp look Sasuke gave him.
"You aren't going to die, Tobirama. That's not up for debate," Sasuke said, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "We have far too much to live for to throw it all away now. Dying would be the easy way out, and we both know it. We owe it to the people who look up to us not to abandon them."
He crossed his arms, his voice growing more resolute with every word. "Install a state of emergency. Hand your powers temporarily to the shinobi council. Inform them of the summit, but keep the abduction under wraps for now. It's not something they need to know yet. We'll come back, Tobirama. I don't feel like dying today, and neither should you."
Those final words struck something deep within Tobirama. In an instant, the spark of life returned to his eyes.
Without hesitation, he reached out, clasping Sasuke's hand in a firm handshake—a manly show of mutual respect and determination. Their grip tightened, their nerves bulged, and the muscles in their arms became defined as the handshake shifted into an airborne arm-wrestling contest, just like the ones they used to have in the old days.
For the first time in what felt like ages, their lips twitched upward into faint, matching smiles.
"Till the end, then," Tobirama said, his voice steady as he locked eyes with his old friend.
"Till the end, old friend. But it's far from the end right now," Sasuke replied sternly, ensuring his point landed as clear as a bell. Tobirama nodded firmly in agreement.
"We leave the day after tomorrow. I'll inform the council of this update tomorrow," Tobirama stated decisively.
Sasuke gave a curt nod. "You do that. I'll inform my team about our absence," he said, popping a new cigar into his mouth as he turned to leave. He struck a match, lighting the cigar, but it hissed and went out almost immediately.
He shot an annoyed glare over his shoulder at Tobirama, who stood with his arms crossed, a faintly amused glint in his eyes. The subtle lift of his brow was as playful as the stoic Senju could ever manage.
"Those things will kill you one day," Tobirama pointed out dryly, his tone as sharp as ever.
Sasuke chuckled, shaking his head with a knowing smirk. "But not as fast as you would, you accursed Senju," he retorted, equally playful.
That earned him a faint smirk from Tobirama.
"Now go, before I take you in for insubordination to your Kage," Tobirama shot back, his voice dismissive and edged with mock authority.
With a small flicker of flames, Sasuke disappeared, leaving the room in an instant.
Tobirama's gaze dropped to the map of the Elemental Nations encased within the glass of his desk. His fingers traced the edges of the frame absentmindedly, his thoughts turning grim.
How many more times would he see this map before the inevitable was upon them?
Before war was finally upon them…
He let out a quiet sigh and leaned back in his chair, his eyes closing for a moment. His mind drifted—not to the Raikage, nor the council, nor even the looming conflict—but to a certain blonde-haired fool of an apprentice.
Tobirama smirked faintly despite himself. That insufferable idiot had a knack for optimism that bordered on infectious. No matter the odds, no matter the obstacles, his apprentice never stopped believing there was a way forward.
Maybe that was rubbing off on him.
The thought gave him pause. Tobirama Senju, a man of logic and calculated precision, taking a page from that loud, chaotic fool's playbook?
He chuckled softly under his breath, the sound low and unfamiliar in the quiet of his office. Perhaps not all hope was lost.
Not yet.
Author's Notes:
I took my time with this chapter, hoping it will be worth the wait. I've set up the foundation for the continuation I'm planning after I catch up with the original story. There are things I've thought about—if you compare the original chapter with this one, although there may not be much difference, I've added and made some changes to my version. For the upcoming chapters, I've hit a snag in deciding on the kind of changes I want to make. For now, my plan is to catch up with the original story and then devise the plot for the next arcs.
Now, onto the review section: Naruto has not fully awakened the Mangekyo yet—having his first kill is going to have an impact on his mind for now. In short, my Naruto hasn't awakened the Mangekyo but might have gained something significant from his first kill.
For a simple comparison, Naruto has awakened a false Super Saiyan, not Super Saiyan.
I have very different things planned for my Naruto. Though this is just a retelling of the original, dear readers, I've changed some things here and there. If you observe, I've subtly blossomed Naruto's and Tsunade's romance. I've changed the fight scene when Tsunade was kidnapped; in the original, Naruto faced off against only one Jonin, but I made him face two Jonin and a Chunin, where he nearly got decimated but still managed to survive to tell the story.
I may not be very strong in the romance section—could any readers suggest slow-burn romance books? It would help me a lot.
Next chapter will take some time—look for updates on the 27th and the next chapter on the 31st.
Until next time,
Happy reading!