Disclaimer:I don't own Naruto or Drak souls. Any similarities between real people, living or dead, or places, standing or demolished, in this story are just coincidences.
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Chapter no.27 The World Does Not Wait
The Judgment Hall—as it was unofficially known—was unlike any other space in the Hokage's building. It had been constructed decades ago, during the first generation of Konoha, when most shinobi occasionally needed to answer for their actions. It was a room of absolute authority, designed to strip away pretense and enforce the gravity of accountability.
The chamber was vast and oppressive, its walls swallowed by an endless, pitch-black void. No windows, no decoration, nothing to distract or comfort those brought before the Hokage. At its center, a single podium stood illuminated under a harsh, pale light that poured down like judgment from the heavens. This was where the accused stood—alone and fully exposed. Above and behind the podium, the Hokage's desk loomed like a throne of shadows, flanked by two smaller seats for his senior advisors.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado sat there now, their faces lit faintly by the same sterile light that illuminated the podium.
Today, however, the seat of the Hokage felt heavier than it ever had.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat rigidly, his hands folded before him, his expression carved from stone. Today, they would not be advisors; they would be witnesses to the fall of their comrade.
The heavy doors at the far end groaned open, their deep, resonant creak cutting through the chamber like the turning of fate's own gears. The sound lingered, bouncing off the high stone walls, marking the arrival of those who now stepped through.
King Enma entered first. His fur bristled with quiet tension, his sharp, golden eyes scanning the room. He moved with the deliberate weight of a being who had lived through wars, his presence both regal and watchful.
Behind him, flanking either side of the entrance, came Shibi Aburame and Tsume Inuzuka. Their expressions were unreadable, but the air around them was thick with the scent of calculation and barely restrained aggression.
And between them—caught in the eye of the storm yet unmoved by its presence—walked Shimura Danzo.
His posture was rigid, controlled, his steps measured and deliberate. His bandaged face revealed nothing, the single visible eye peering forward with the detached scrutiny of a man who had already weighed the worth of every person in the room.
The chamber felt smaller as he entered, the weight of his presence pressing down like a vice. The air grew stifling—not from heat, but from the sheer gravity of the moment.
Danzo moved with the confidence of a man who was never unprepared.
He stopped before the podium, pausing just long enough for his eye to adjust to the light.
From his place near the center, King Enma glanced toward Hiruzen, his gaze unreadable. And then, with a slow, deliberate nod, the monkey king vanished, departing for Mt. Huaguo without a word.
But the message was clear.
Be careful. This man is dangerous.
Shibi and Tsume melted back into the shadows, their presence lingering like the weight of unsheathed steel.
They did not speak.
They did not move.
Yet their silence was a threat all on its own.
Now, Danzo stood alone in the light.
Exposed. But not vulnerable.
His gaze swept across the chamber once, pausing only briefly on Hiruzen before continuing—measuring, calculating, adjusting.
"This is not the reunion I was expecting."
"You will speak with respect," Koharu snapped at Danzo's informal tone. "You are standing before the Hokage, Shimura Danzo, and you will remember your place."
Danzo's lips twitched, almost forming a smirk, though it disappeared as quickly as it had come. He inclined his head slightly.
"My apologies, Hokage-sama," he said smoothly. "To what do I owe the honor of being summoned from my long and quiet stay at the Fire Zen Temple? My pumpkins are in season, you know. It would be a shame to let them go untended."
Hiruzen said nothing.
"Shimura Danzo," Kohta began, "you stand accused of conspiracy against Konoha, of engineering the downfall of the Uchiha Clan, and of treasonous acts that have undermined the safety and stability of this village. How do you plead?"
"Oh," Danzo said softly, almost musingly, "so this is to be a trial." He let the word hang in the air. "How quaint. Normally, trials require witnesses, evidence, a formal process… and yet here we are."
His eye settled on Hiruzen.
"This seems rather unorthodox, even for you, Saru."
"You know why you are here, Danzo."
"I'm afraid I don't," Danzo said. "Perhaps you could enlighten me."
Hiruzen's gaze didn't waver. "Shisui Uchiha's corpse has been recovered," he said. "And a post-mortem analysis has revealed many things. Among them, evidence of your betrayal—evidence that you conspired to steal his Sharingan and eliminate him to further your own ambitions. Evidence that your actions directly led to the circumstances that necessitated the Uchiha Massacre."
"Interesting," Danzo said finally, his voice as calm as ever. "And you've brought me here to what? Confess? Explain myself?"
"I've brought you here to answer for your crimes."
"There are no crimes for me to confess to," Danzo began. "I assure you, I was not the one who attacked Shisui Uchiha and took his eye. But…" He paused, letting the word linger in the room. "Seeing as you've given me no time to prepare, no chance to gather evidence or even make my case, it seems you've already decided that I'm the culprit."
His voice cut through the room like a scalpel.
"Tell me, Hiruzen—what would Tobirama-sensei say about this? About a trial where judgment is rendered before evidence is presented?"
The trio remained silent.
"Well," the war hawk said finally, "it's most… regrettable what happened to the Uchiha, but I assure you, I am innocent." His words hung in the air with a cold certainty. "And, should you allow me, I can prove it."
Koharu's and Kohta's eyes widened faintly at his statement, but it was Hiruzen who replied. "Go on."
"First," Danzo said, "I would like Hiashi Hyuga to step forward."
For a moment, the room held its breath.
Hiruzen tapped his finger lightly on the armrest of his chair, a deliberate gesture that caused the darkness at the edges of the hall to ripple and shift.
Hiashi Hyuga emerged from the shadows, his long black hair flowing loosely over the traditional robes he wore. His pure white eyes glimmered faintly as he approached, his Byakugan already analyzing every detail of Danzo's form.
Danzo's expression remained unreadable. "It's good to see you again, Hyuga-dono."
Suddenly, a shadow stretched unnaturally from the darkness, as the tendrils of the Shadow Possession Jutsu latched onto Danzo, freezing him in place.
"Shikaku," the ex-elder said softly, "it seems Hiruzen has chosen to share his greatest shame with yet more people."
Neither Hiashi nor Shikaku responded.
Hiruzen had selected Shikaku Nara and Hiashi Hyuga for this trial for one crucial reason: Kotoamatsukami.
This insidious ability terrified Hiruzen on a level few jutsu ever had—to the point that, after the plan to stop the Uchiha Coup d'État was over, he would have commanded Shisui to destroy his Mangekyō.
Shisui Uchiha had once explained its nature to him: the Mangekyō Sharingan's power manifested differently in each eye.
The left eye, which Shisui called Kotoamatsukami's Amatsu no Me (Heavenly Eye of Truth), was undetectable and unbreakable—a perfect, untraceable genjutsu. However, it could only be used once every ten years.
The right eye, known as Kotoamatsukami's Yomi no Me (Underworld Eye of Control), was a weaker variation. Its effects were detectable by extremely powerful sensory shinobi, and with effort, it could be broken. Unlike the left, this eye could be used once a year. Though weaker, Yomi no Me was still dangerous enough to influence critical events.
The forensic analysis of Shisui's body had confirmed traces of Yomi no Me in the chakra residue surrounding his mutilated eye socket. Danzo likely wielded the weaker eye now. It explained why he hadn't simply enthralled Hiruzen or the Daimyō to seize control of Konoha outright.
Hiruzen glanced briefly at Shikaku. He was there to counter Danzo's subtle maneuvers, his brilliant mind anticipating deception at every step. Hiashi Hyuga was there to make sure Kotoamatsukami wasn't cast.
"Proceed, Danzo."
"If you would allow Hiashi-dono to examine my body with his Byakugan, he will find no trace of Shisui Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan. I assure you, whatever suspicions you have, they are baseless."
Hiashi's expression remained stoic, though his Byakugan flared as he focused on Danzo. His sight pierced through layers of muscle and bone, scanning for the chakra network abnormalities that would indicate the presence of the Sharingan.
"There is no Sharingan in Danzo's body."
The revelation sent a ripple of doubt through Koharu and Homura.
Hiruzen, however, remained calm. "We never spoke of any suspicion about you possessing the Sharingan."
"No," Danzo admitted, "you didn't. But it is something you would think, isn't it, Hiruzen? In your mind, such an action aligns perfectly with who you believe I am."
The room fell silent again.
"You've created quite the mess for yourself, Saru," Danzo continued after a moment, his eye gleaming faintly. "The Uchiha Massacre, Shisui's death, the fractured trust in this village… all of it rests on your shoulders. And yet you drag me out of my exile to sit here and entertain your doubts? Truly, it is unbecoming of the Hokage."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, his sharp gaze locking onto the bandages wrapped around Danzo's right side.
"As I've already proven my innocence in this matter," Danzo continued, "I have a proposal. Lift my banishment. Allow me to return to Konoha, and I will dedicate myself to uncovering the true culprit behind Shisui's death and the Uchiha's demise."
The room froze. Every gaze shifted to Hiruzen, waiting for his response.
But the chair where the Hokage had been seated was empty.
Suddenly, there was a sharp, tearing sound.
All eyes turned toward the podium, where Hiruzen now stood, gripping the tattered remains of Danzo's bandages in his hand.
Danzo's right side was exposed, and the sight drew collective silence.
His torso and right arm were marred by grotesque scars, half his flesh appearing as if it had been seared away. Jagged lines of burnt, blackened tissue ran along his ribs, and his shoulder was gnarled and twisted. Where his right eye should have been, there was nothing but a hollow, sunken void, ringed by claw-like burn marks. The wounds seemed ancient, yet raw in their horror—a testament to a trauma that should have claimed his life.
Hiruzen's gaze shifted from the exposed flesh to the torn bandages in his hand. His voice reverberated through the chamber.
"I remember the day you lost your right eye, Danzo. When Kinkaku, in his Nine-Tails cloak, clawed it from your skull. And your right side..." Hiruzen's voice grew harder. "Blown apart by Ginkaku's Tailed Beast Bomb."
Danzo's calm mask did not waver, but his voice—edged with subtle indignation—broke the silence.
"Might I remind you, Hiruzen, that it was I who shielded you—saved your life—when you foolishly pursued vengeance against the Kinkaku Force."
Hiruzen's voice cut him off.
"No," he said. "You didn't save my life. You were a burden I had no choice but to protect."
Danzo's single eye narrowed, but Hiruzen pressed on.
"That battle wasn't about you. It wasn't your vengeance. It was mine—against the men who murdered Tobirama-sensei. Yet you, Torifu, and Kagami decided to throw yourselves into that fight. Torifu died. Kagami died. And I was left to drag your broken body from the field."
"So that's how you see it!"
"Yes, Danzo," Hiruzen replied and flung the torn bandages at Danzo's feet. "That is how I see it. For decades, I let Torifu and Kagami's deaths weigh on me. For decades, I convinced myself that I owed you something because I failed to save them. I let that guilt blind me—to your actions, to your ambitions, to your betrayal of everything this village stands for. But no more."
Danzo's eye fell to the bandages at his feet.
"Truly hurtful to hear, Hiruzen."
"I doubt it," Hiruzen replied coldly. His hands blurred in a flurry of precise, calculated strikes, each jab landing on Danzo's torso with pinpoint accuracy. The motions were so fast, so surgical, that it was only when Hiruzen stepped back that the room realized what had happened.
Hiashi's eyes widened as he recognized the technique.
It wasn't the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist, but something close—an adaptation of chakra-blocking taijutsu that mimicked the Gentle Fist's effects without the Byakugan. Hiruzen had designed it himself, and it was a technique so secret it was taught only to the ANBU. Hiashi felt a rare flicker of respect—and unease—as he was reminded of the terrifying adaptability of the Third Hokage.
Danzo's body wavered. His exposed scars began to ripple unnaturally, and then his face… melted.
The transformation was grotesque, like wax dripping from a candle. The lines of Danzo's features distorted, his flesh reshaping itself as the illusion broke. Within seconds, the man standing at the podium was unrecognizable. His true form was revealed: a younger man with almond-shaped, gray eyes and smooth, shoulder-length black hair. His face bore a thin mustache.
Hiashi's Byakugan flared as he confirmed what everyone in the room already realized.
"Agari Kaisen… of the Kedōin Clan."
The room tensed.
The Kedōin Clan had joined Konoha during the Second Shinobi War, their unique jutsu allowing them to perfectly replicate the appearance—and even the chakra signature—of their target. But they had been all but wiped out during the Nine-Tails' attack on the village.
Agari Kaisen was supposed to be dead.
"How were you able to find me?"
Hiruzen's gaze was like iron. "You made two mistakes," he said. "First, you stretched Danzo's scars too far. The damage to his right side was extensive, but not to the degree you replicated. Second,"—Hiruzen's eyes flicked to the bandages on the floor—"his bandages lacked the hue of the healing ointments Danzo always uses. Subtle details, but enough to expose you."
Agari's calm demeanor faltered slightly, his lips pressing into a thin line.
"And," Hiruzen continued, "you underestimated my ability to know when I am talking to the real Shimura Danzo. That was your third mistake."
"You truly are the Professor. Nothing gets past your eyes, even at your age."
Then it happened.
A huge amount of chakra flared across Agari's chest. Intricate black symbols began to spiral outward from his sternum, forming a glowing seal.
"The unseen ones who support the great tree of Konoha from the depths of the earth..." Agari said, his voice eerily serene. "We are Root."
"Reverse Tetragram Sealing Jutsu!" Kohta shouted.
Hiruzen didn't hesitate.
Kohta had been trained personally by Tobirama Senju in the art of fūinjutsu, and his judgment in matters of seals was beyond question. The Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Jutsu, a powerful and fatal technique, was unmistakable.
Hiruzen's mind immediately worked through the implications.
The symbols etched into Agari's chest began to bleed, forming a black orb of chakra that rapidly expanded outward, threatening to pull everything within the sphere into the void.
Time seemed to slow for Hiruzen as he recalled every detail he knew about the jutsu. It was designed to erase all evidence, sealing everything within the user's corpse. For a fleeting moment, his thoughts drifted—Minato's Rasengan. He remembered the way Minato had explained it, how it required perfect chakra control to shape and compress energy into a devastating sphere. Then, his mind jumped again—Naruto's fireball technique. Hiruzen began to recreate it, adapting the principles of the Rasengan into something of his own. He had molded pure fire chakra into a compressed sphere, though it lacked the unexplainable life that Naruto's flames carried. His version was far less stable, far more dangerous to the user.
But right now, it was his only chance.
Hiruzen raised his scorched hand, summoning the unstable fireball, its surface flickering with volatile energy. With a swift, precise motion, he hurled it toward the rapidly expanding seal. The fireball collided with the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing sphere. The explosion was deafening, the two jutsu clashing with such ferocity that the chamber itself seemed to shudder. For a moment, it felt as though the air had been ripped from the room.
Then, silence.
The seal collapsed, its power exhausted by the sheer intensity of the fireball. The remnants of the black orb faded into nothingness, leaving Agari's lifeless body to slump forward on the podium. Hiruzen's hand trembled faintly as he looked down at it, the skin blistered and raw. The fireball was powerful, but it was far from perfect—dangerously so.
"Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen straightened, his mind snapping back to the present.
"Yes," he said. He cast a glance at Agari's lifeless body.
"Well, our suspicions have been confirmed. Shimura Danzo did, in fact, steal Shisui's eye and conspired against both the Uchiha and Konoha itself."
"Hokage-sama, Shimura Danzo is still out there."
"I am aware," Hiruzen replied, his tone measured but heavy with meaning. "And the fact that he sent Agari to this meeting tells us one thing: Danzo still commands resources. His network of Root agents survives in the shadows, and we know far too little about it."
The tension in the chamber was palpable.
"Hokage-sama, if I may." Hiashi continued, "I propose a joint venture between the Hyuga Clan and Konoha's leadership. We will conduct a full screening of all shinobi within the village, using the Byakugan to identify any hidden Root agents among them."
While the proposal seemed selfless on the surface, it was a transparent bid for prestige. If the Hyuga Clan were to successfully expose Root operatives, their political influence within Konoha would rise significantly.
Before Hiruzen could respond, Koharu spoke. "It won't work," she said bluntly.
"Pardon, Elder Koharu?"
"You couldn't detect Agari when he stood right in front of you, Hiashi. Even with the strongest Byakugan, you failed to see through his disguise. Do you take Danzo for a fool? He would have ensured that all his agents were trained in the Kedōin Clan's jutsu."
Hiashi hesitated, then bowed his head slightly. "You are correct, Elder Koharu. My eagerness to help may have clouded my judgment. My apologies."
Hiruzen's expression remained neutral, though he resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He had seen through Hiashi's motives the moment he spoke, but at least the man had the humility to accept his mistake.
"Thank you, Hiashi," Hiruzen said diplomatically.
Tsume muttered under her breath, "Fucking politics."
Hiruzen's voice was calm, but there was an edge of urgency. "We need actionable plans. Danzo will anticipate any overt attempts to dismantle his remaining network. We must operate as if every move we make is already being observed."
Shikaku tilted his head slightly, thinking aloud. "If we assume Danzo still has a network, he'll keep his agents compartmentalized. Root's operatives won't know each other's identities or locations. He's always valued control over efficiency. But… he has to communicate somehow."
Koharu frowned. "You think you can intercept his communications? Danzo doesn't operate through conventional means. He won't leave a trail for you to follow."
Shikaku nodded faintly, unfazed by her dismissal. "True. But if he's sending orders, they'll need to be encoded or delivered through intermediaries. That's a weakness. If we identify those intermediaries, we can begin unraveling his network."
Kohta adjusted his sleeves and addressed the room. "Danzo's network isn't just a collection of agents. It's a system. A machine built on secrecy and loyalty. To dismantle it, we have to dismantle the system. Start with his resources—cut off his supplies, his safe houses, his funding."
"Root isn't a rogue faction that operates in the open," Koharu interjected. "If anything, Danzo's hiding in the cracks of Konoha's infrastructure. Strangling his resources will take time—time we don't have."
"I agree with Kohta. Disrupting Danzo's network is the only way forward. However, it's not enough to dismantle his system—we need to flush him out."
"And how do you propose we do that?" Homura asked Hiashi. "Danzo has lived in the shadows for decades. He'll only come into the open if we force him to."
"I want a full screening of all former Root operatives currently residing in Konoha," Hiruzen began. "Each of them is to be monitored and tagged with a chakra marker unique to their individual signature. Ensure they are tracked, and any unusual activity is reported immediately."
The room shifted uneasily, the weight of the directive sinking in. Hiruzen didn't pause.
"I want Konoha's barrier system reconfigured," he continued. "The monitoring team assigned to the barrier must be handpicked and vetted, with their sole focus being the movements of all shinobi within Konoha. No exceptions."
"Hiashi," the Hokage said, "your clan will begin a patrol of Konoha and its borders. Coordinate with the intelligence division. I want your Byakugan to watch for any signs of Danzo's operatives or agents attempting to infiltrate—or exfiltrate."
Hiashi nodded, his expression stoic, though his mind clearly churned with the implications of such a task.
"Finally," Hiruzen said, "I want Shimura Danzo declared an international fugitive. Place a bounty on his head in the Bingo Book. Detail explicitly that he has Shisui Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan, that he killed Shisui, and that he is a traitor to Konoha."
"Why announce this to the entire world, Hiruzen?" Koharu demanded. "Do you realize how reckless this is? Konoha's enemies will leap at the opportunity to ally with Danzo, to exploit his knowledge of the village!"
Hiruzen's gaze didn't waver as he answered calmly, "And what makes you think Danzo hasn't already sought such alliances in secret?"
Koharu opened her mouth to retort, but Shikaku spoke before she could, his sharp mind already connecting dots others hadn't yet seen.
"Do you plan on Itachi Uchiha hunting Danzo down?"
The question cut through the air like a blade, drawing startled glances from the others. Hiruzen didn't respond immediately, his expression unreadable. But the slight shift in his gaze confirmed Shikaku's suspicions.
Hiruzen made a mental note to have a private conversation with Shikaku later.
Hiashi furrowed his brow. "Would that man even do it?"
"Of course, he would," Koharu interjected dismissively. "Danzo robbed Itachi of a battle with Shisui. Itachi would love to kill the man who stole his prey."
Hiruzen silently thanked Koharu for the quick lie. It would easily play into the narrative surrounding Itachi and serve to reinforce the image of him as the psychopath he pretended to be.
Before the conversation could continue, Hiruzen's attention snapped to the barrier jutsu surrounding the Judgment Hall. He felt a chakra presence outside and gestured to allow them entry.
In a swirl of leaves, an ANBU appeared, kneeling before the Hokage and presenting a sealed scroll. Hiruzen took it without hesitation, his sharp eyes scanning its contents. His face hardened, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening with intensity.
"Any word from Jiraiya?"
The ANBU nodded. "Yes, Hokage-sama. We've received word that Jiraiya-sama will be arriving in Konoha in a month. He has found a new lead on Orochimaru."
"Send Jiraiya a message immediately. Tell him to head to the Wave Country instead. He is to drop everything, even if Orochimaru himself is standing in front of him."
The ANBU bowed and vanished in a flicker of chakra.
"Must be something serious," Shikaku said, his tone curious but cautious, signaling for an explanation.
Hiruzen considered for a moment, then chose to share only what was necessary.
A few minutes later, he finished. Koharu's eyes narrowed.
"And you think the Nine-Tails granted Naruto something akin to Scorch Release?"
"Then it's imperative that Jiraiya checks on the jinchūriki's situation," Kohta added. "If it's true, this changes many things about how we approach his training and protection."
Hiruzen nodded, silently thankful for Kakashi's speculation.
"And Naruto's… armor?" Shikaku asked casually.
Hiashi frowned slightly. "What armor?"
Shikaku said with a poker face, his tone, however, amused. "Rumor has it Naruto Uzumaki's been running around the village in a full set of metal armor. Very… Uzumaki-like, wouldn't you say?"
Hiruzen's expression didn't change, though inwardly, he sighed. Shikaku was too perceptive for his own good sometimes.
"It's an heirloom," Hiruzen said smoothly. "A gift from his mother. Something passed down to the Uzumaki Clan's males."
Shikaku nodded, but the faint glimmer in his eye told Hiruzen the man wasn't entirely convinced.
"Hokage-sama," Hiashi interjected. "Jiraiya-sama may take some time to reach the Wave. I suggest sending additional backup to Team 7. Reinforcements who can assist… and perhaps help assess Naruto's unique situation."
Hiruzen considered this, nodding slowly.
"You have someone in mind for this, Hiashi-dono?"
Sakura sat silently in the small boat as it rocked gently over the black, still waters. The sound of the oars cutting through the surface was rhythmic, almost hypnotic. Her mind was numb, her gaze locked on the dark expanse beneath them. The water seemed endless, like a void that could swallow her whole.
The boat jerked to a sudden stop.
"Why… why did we stop?"
No one answered.
Instead, something began rising from the water—a shape, slowly breaking the surface.
"Murder…"
The voice was guttural, as though the speaker's throat was clogged with something thick and wet. Sakura's heart froze, her breath catching as Gozu emerged from the water in front of her.
He was bloodied and broken, his dark eyes lifeless yet fixed on her with an intensity that made her stomach turn. A kunai jutted from his neck, embedded deep, blood seeping in rivulets down his chest. His frame was twisted unnaturally, like a marionette held together by fraying strings.
Sakura scrambled backward, her palms scraping against the rough boards of the boat as she tried to put distance between herself and the horrifying figure.
She backed into something solid.
Sakura froze, her head turning slowly to see the helmsman standing behind her. Relief flooded her—she wasn't alone.
"Help me—" she started to say, but the words died in her throat as the helmsman's face twisted and morphed.
It wasn't the helmsman anymore.
It was Naruto.
But not the Naruto she knew.
His face was pale and angry, his blue eyes cold and accusing. His right arm, blackened and charred, hung limply at his side.
"If only you were faster," Naruto growled. "I wouldn't have lost my arm!"
Before she could react, his charcoal hand shot out, gripping her throat with inhuman strength. He lifted her effortlessly, his eyes burning with fury.
"Always so slow in everything, Sakura. You wanted to be the cog in the machine of Team 7, and yet… you're the reason I'm damaged!"
Naruto's voice roared in her ears as he slammed her down, plunging her into the icy black water.
The cold hit her like a shockwave, stealing the breath from her lungs. She thrashed against the crushing weight of the water, but it was like trying to fight against chains. Her limbs felt heavy, her movements sluggish. She opened her mouth to scream, but the water rushed in, choking her.
"Huh," Naruto's voice echoed in the darkness. "You did it, didn't you? You weren't fast enough on purpose."
Sakura's heart clenched. She couldn't see him, but his words surrounded her, suffocating her as much as the water.
"You were jealous. Jealous of me surpassing your precious Sasuke."
"No," she croaked, her voice barely audible even in her own mind. "No, I would never…"
"Don't deny it... Murder."
Gozu's hands reached up and pulled the blade free with a sickening squelch, blood spurting from the wound.
He raised the kunai high, and as Naruto's hands forced her deeper into the water, Gozu plunged the blade downward.
Sakura gasped, bolting upright as her lungs heaved desperately for air. Her body was drenched in sweat, her hands clawing at her throat as though she could still feel Naruto's charred fingers wrapped around her neck. Her heart pounded in her chest, the echoes of the nightmare clinging to her like a second skin.
"Sakura."
Her head snapped to the side to see Sasuke beside her, his dark eyes sharp but soft enough to hold concern.
"It's okay," he said. "It wasn't real."
Sakura's breaths were shallow and uneven, her entire body trembling. "I… I saw them," she stammered. "Gozu… and Naruto… they said—"
"It wasn't real," Sasuke repeated firmly. "You're safe."
Tears blurred her vision as she stared at him, the weight of the nightmare still pressing down on her. "Naruto said I let him get hurt… that it was my fault…"
Sasuke shook his head. "Naruto doesn't think that," he said bluntly. "He's an idiot, but he's not that kind of idiot."
Sakura let out a shaky laugh through her tears, her lips quivering as she tried to steady herself.
"Breathe," he said suddenly, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it.
"What?"
"Breathe," Sasuke repeated and took a slow inhale, expanding his chest, then released the air in a long, controlled exhale. "In through your nose, out through your mouth. Just focus on that."
Sakura hesitated, her heart still pounding from the nightmare, but she followed his lead. Slowly, shakily, she inhaled, letting the cold air fill her lungs, then exhaled just as slowly.
"Again," Sasuke instructed, his tone calm, almost soothing.
They repeated the exercise a few more times, and with each breath, Sakura felt her mind begin to settle. The pounding in her chest eased, and the edge of panic dulled into a faint ache.
When her breathing steadied, she looked around the room, grounding herself in the quiet reality of their surroundings. Tazuna's house was small, barely furnished, and the air was heavy with the scent of wood smoke. The old man had laid out a few thin mattresses for them, apologizing profusely about the lack of comfort. Times were tough, he had explained, and Sakura could see it in the worn walls and meager offerings.
Her eyes drifted to Naruto, lying unconscious on one of the mattresses, his face pale but peaceful. His right arm was swathed in thick bandages, and the faint smell of healing ointment hung in the air—an ointment Kakashi had taught them to make on their first day here.
"It's been three days," Sakura murmured. "He still hasn't woken up."
"Kakashi said the pressure dome jutsu did a lot of internal damage," Sasuke said, leaning back against the wall. "And that's not even counting what happened to his arm."
Sakura nodded, her chest tightening at the memory of Naruto's burned, charcoal-like hand. Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before she turned away, as if looking too long might make her tears come back.
"Don't worry," Sasuke added. "That idiot's too stubborn to die."
"Yeah, you're right."
But the smile faded quickly as her thoughts drifted. She could still hear Gozu's voice in her head, screaming at her. The memory of his bloodied, broken face haunted her every time she closed her eyes. It's not real. It's not real, she told herself, but it didn't make it stop.
"Thank you," she said softly, breaking the heavy silence. She wasn't even sure why she said it—maybe she just needed something, anything, to fill the void.
"Hn." Sasuke's response was his usual noncommittal grunt, but this time, he didn't move away. "You want to talk?"
"Yes, please," Sakura blurted out, her voice almost desperate before she caught herself, sitting up straighter and composing her tone. "I mean… if that's okay."
"You don't have to ask," Sasuke replied. "I don't mind. Silence… it's not always as comforting as it seems."
"I thought you liked silence."
"Not really," Sasuke said. "If I let the silence drag on too long, the voices start creeping in—for you, for me. It's better to fill the space before they take over."
"You can tell?"
Sasuke gave a short nod, his gaze distant. "Of course. After the Uchiha massacre, every day was a living hell. The voices of my clan wouldn't leave me alone. I'd hear them—crying, accusing, begging. 'Why did I die, Sasuke?' 'I was just a child. I didn't want to go.' 'Why did you get to live when we didn't?' It wasn't just anger… it was grief. Their pain, their fear—it was everywhere. I couldn't sleep without hearing their screams. I'd close my eyes, and I'd see their faces. My mother, my father, even the kids I grew up with. And every time, I'd ask myself the same thing—why me? Why was I the one who survived?"
"Sasuke…" Sakura whispered, her hands clutching the edge of her blanket.
"I don't need pity," Sasuke said bluntly. "The Yamanaka therapist called it survivor's guilt. Said it was normal to feel like that after… after everything."
"But why the screams? Why would you hear their voices?"
Sasuke's eyes darkened. "The therapist said it was my mind's way of punishing me. I lived, and they didn't. So now… it's like they're always there, reminding me of what I survived. Asking why I'm still here, why I didn't die with them."
"But Sasuke… you deserve to be here. You deserve to live."
Sasuke scoffed lightly, but it wasn't harsh—more like he didn't know what to do with the reassurance. "The therapist said the same thing. That it wasn't my fault. That I couldn't have done anything."
"Well… they're right."
"Maybe. But that doesn't stop the guilt. It doesn't stop the voices. Every time I let myself stop, let myself sit in silence… they're there." Sasuke let out a slow breath, his gaze drifting to the floor. "And they never stop asking why."
"Does it ever… go away?"
Sasuke's lips pressed into a thin line. "Not for me. The therapist said it might fade with time if I let myself grieve, if I 'forgave myself.'"
"And did you?" Sakura asked hesitantly.
"No," Sasuke said flatly. "I didn't see the point. Pretending to forgive myself wouldn't bring them back. It wouldn't make it better. So I stopped going to therapy and just… focused on training. Every time the voices came back, every time I felt the guilt, I used it. I trained harder. Pushed myself further. I told myself it would all be worth it when I got strong enough for revenge."
Sakura felt her chest tightening. "That's…" She paused, unsure of how to put her feelings into words. "That's a lot to carry."
"It's better than sitting around feeling sorry for myself."
"But it doesn't make it any less painful," Sakura said softly.
Sasuke was silent for a moment, his gaze distant. "No. It doesn't."
Sakura hesitated before speaking again. "What if… what if you did try what the therapist said? What if you let yourself grieve, or tried to forgive yourself? Would it really be so bad?"
Sasuke gave her a sidelong glance, his expression thoughtful but skeptical. "Maybe. But I don't think it's for me. Not now."
Sakura bit her lip. "Well… for what it's worth, I think you're stronger than you give yourself credit for. You're still here, and you're still fighting. That has to mean something."
"Maybe."
The silence between them was heavy, but it didn't feel as suffocating as before.
"Want to try it?"
Sakura frowned, tilting her head toward him. "Try what?"
"The therapist's advice," Sasuke said, lying back on his mattress, his hands resting on his stomach as he stared up at the ceiling.
"I thought you said it didn't work for you."
"It didn't," Sasuke admitted. "But maybe it'll work for you. Doesn't hurt to try."
Sakura hesitated, her fingers twisting nervously in the blanket. She wasn't sure if it would help, but… it was worth a shot, wasn't it? Slowly, she nodded. "Okay."
She lay back on her mattress, mimicking Sasuke's posture, her arms crossed lightly over her chest. The room was quiet, the faint creak of the house settling mingling with the distant crash of waves. For a moment, it almost felt peaceful.
"What do you think about killing?"
The question hit Sakura like a wave, her chest tightening as the words echoed in her mind.
"What do I… think?"
"Yeah," Sasuke said. "You've done it now. Gozu. What do you feel about it?"
"I hate it," Sakura admitted quietly. "It feels… wrong. I keep seeing his face. Hearing his voice. And the blood…" She shivered. "It's like it's still on my hands, no matter how many times I tell myself it was necessary."
"Necessary doesn't mean it's easy," the boy said bluntly. "But killing isn't about what feels right or wrong. Sometimes it's just what has to be done."
"How can you say that so easily? How can you just… accept it?"
"I didn't say it was easy," Sasuke replied. "I said it was necessary. If it's you or them, hesitation isn't an option. You kill, not because you want to, but because the alternative is death. And if you die, who will protect your teammates? Your family? The people relying on you to stand between them and the blade?"
Sakura's throat tightened. "But doesn't that kind of thinking… doesn't it strip us of something? If we kill without hesitation, don't we lose what makes us human?"
"No," Sasuke said firmly. "It doesn't strip us of our humanity—it redefines it. Killing isn't about losing yourself; it's about surviving. The world doesn't care about kindness or fairness, Sakura. It's indifferent. People die every day, sometimes for no reason at all. If we hesitate, if we let guilt consume us, we don't just risk ourselves—we abandon everyone who's depending on us. That's not just failure. That's betrayal."
Sakura looked away, her hands gripping the edges of her blanket tightly. His words were brutal, but she couldn't deny their truth.
"Maybe Naruto's got it right."
"What do you mean?" Sakura asked.
"He doesn't see people like Gozu and Meizu as people," Sasuke explained. "He sees them as threats. Beasts that need to be killed to protect what matters. He doesn't get caught up in their humanity, and that makes it easier for him."
Sakura's eyes widened slightly. "That's… cold."
"It's practical," Sasuke said simply. "He's learned to compartmentalize. We were taught the same thing in the academy—remember those survival hunts in the forest? Every month, the teachers took us out there to hunt and kill animals, to learn how to survive. Naruto just adapted to it better than we did."
"Still," Sakura murmured. "I don't think I can see it that way. Not yet, anyway."
"You don't have to," Sasuke said after a moment. "You don't have to see it the way I do, or the way Naruto does. But you need to decide what it means to you. If you don't, when the moment comes again, you'll hesitate. And in that hesitation, the world won't stop for you. Someone will die. Maybe you. Maybe someone you care about."
Sakura stayed silent, his words sinking in like stones dropped into a still pond.
"What about you?" she asked after a long pause. "How do you deal with it?"
"I use it," Sasuke said finally. "The guilt, the voices, the anger. I don't let it stop me—I let it push me forward. Every time I kill, I remind myself it's for a reason. A purpose. My family, my revenge. That's what keeps me moving."
Sakura frowned. "That sounds… lonely."
"It is," Sasuke admitted quietly. "But I don't need anyone to understand it. I just need to get stronger."
Sakura turned her gaze back to the ceiling, her mind swirling with everything he'd said. She didn't know if she could ever see killing the way he did, or the way Naruto seemed to, but maybe that was okay. Maybe she didn't have to forget the pain of it or ignore the guilt. Maybe she could carry it and still move forward.
"Thanks for talking about this," she said softly, breaking the silence.
"Hn," Sasuke replied, his usual noncommittal grunt, but there was a faint hint of acknowledgment in his tone.
A few minutes of silence passed before Sakura stood, brushing her hands against her skirt.
"I'll change Naruto's bandages."
She left the room briefly and returned with a metal dish filled with water. Setting it down beside Naruto's mattress, she glanced at Sasuke.
"You know the drill."
Sasuke didn't say anything, but he dipped a finger into the water, a faint crackle of lightning chakra sparking around it. The water rippled as it began to heat, steam curling into the air.
"Thanks," Sakura said, kneeling beside Naruto. She hesitated for a moment, then began carefully unwinding the old bandages.
The smell hit her almost immediately, sharp and acrid, like burnt wood and scorched flesh. Her stomach churned, but she forced herself to keep going. Beneath the bandages, Naruto's hand looked no better than the last time she'd checked. The skin was blackened and cracked, and the healing ointment they'd been applying seemed to have done little, if anything.
Sakura swallowed hard, dipping the cloth into the warm water before gently cleaning the wounds.
"How do you think Naruto's going to take this when he wakes up?"
"Probably complain about having to learn how to eat ramen with his left hand."
Despite herself, Sakura let out a faint laugh. "Yeah, that sounds like him."
Her smile faded slightly as she glanced at Naruto's face. "You know," she said softly, "it amazes me how much he's changed. He's so different now, but… at the same time, he's still the same Naruto."
"Hn," Sasuke replied noncommittally, watching her work.
Sakura's brow furrowed as she rinsed the cloth again. "Sometimes," she murmured, "I wonder if the Naruto we knew before was real. Or if this is the real him."
"It was real," Sasuke said. "But things happened. He's still the same idiot—he just has more tools now."
"Aren't you curious? About where he got all this? The sword, the armor, the crazy jutsu… He lies about it all the time, but it doesn't change the fact that he has them. Don't you wonder?"
Sasuke's eyes flicked to the drake sword lying beside his mattress, its surface hidden beneath bandages. The blade looked less like steel and more like sinew, like torn muscle barely holding together.
"It doesn't matter," he said finally. "Kakashi and Lord Third don't seem concerned, so it's probably fine."
"That's not what I mean," Sakura said. She dipped the cloth into the water again, wringing it out. "It's just… Naruto used to be the loser. The one who—" She stopped, realizing how harsh her words sounded.
"The one who didn't seem special," Sasuke finished for her, his tone neutral.
"Yeah. But now… there's so much more to him. And sometimes I don't know how to feel about it."
"As long as he's strong, I don't care."
"Why?"
Sasuke didn't answer.
Sakura didn't push him, but after a few moments, she spoke again. "Sasuke," she said softly, "I'll get stronger too."
He glanced at her, a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Good," he said quietly. "I hope you and Naruto are strong enough to keep up." His voice softened. "I don't want to lose anyone else."
Sakura felt her chest tighten at his words. She suddenly realized why Sasuke always kept people at arm's length, why he never let himself get close. It wasn't because he didn't care—it was because he cared too much. He was afraid. Afraid of losing them, just like he lost his family.
Her gaze drifted back to Naruto, his face pale but peaceful.
"Just wake up, Naruto," she whispered. "Team 7 needs you. Me, you, and Sasuke… we're stronger together."
As if on cue, Naruto let out a faint grunt, his face twitching. His eyelids fluttered, then slowly began to open.
"Naruto!" Sakura gasped, leaning forward.
Sasuke was already on his feet, his expression sharp with concern. "Dobe, can you hear me? How do you feel?"
Naruto mumbled something, his voice low and slurred.
"What's he saying?" Sasuke frowned, glancing at Sakura.
"Naruto, can you repeat that?"
Naruto's lips moved again, his voice just barely audible.
"I want to take a massive dump!"
Kakashi stood outside Tazuna's house, hunched over as he emptied the contents of his stomach into the bushes. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, exhaling shakily. The chakra pills he'd been relying on to keep him standing were taking a toll. Artificial chakra kept him going, but at the cost of his body breaking down further with each passing hour.
His mind was a tangle of exhaustion and paranoia. Zabuza's status was unknown, and the possibility of Gato sending another rogue weighed heavily on him. But most pressing of all was Naruto.
The boy hadn't woken up.
Kakashi had checked him repeatedly, even using his Sharingan to confirm the internal injuries. By all accounts, the Kyuubi should have healed him already. But days had passed, and while his wounds were closing, Naruto remained unconscious. Was it the sheer extent of the damage? Or was it tied to whatever had happened to his right hand—the charred and useless limb that still refused to heal?
He rubbed his temples, forcing himself to push the thoughts aside. There was no time to spiral. His students needed him. He swallowed another chakra pill, ignoring the sharp protest from his body, and forced himself to straighten.
Suddenly, Kakashi froze.
A flicker of foreign chakra brushed against his senses. It wasn't hostile—it was deliberate, like someone announcing their presence.
His body tensed, his mind sharpening as he analyzed the chakra's rhythm. Then he recognized it: Konoha's distinct signature.
Relief washed over him as four figures flickered into view, landing in front of him.
At their head stood Kurenai Yūhi, her sharp red eyes meeting his immediately. Her long, untamed black hair framed her pale face. She wore a red mesh armor blouse with its thorny pattern, bandages wrapped around her hands and upper thighs.
Kurenai Yūhi. The Scarlet Thorn of Konoha.
Kakashi was well acquainted with her, having fought side by side during the Third Shinobi War. He could still remember the day her father had stopped him, Guy, Asuma, and even Kurenai herself from rushing headlong into the chaos of the Kyūbi's attack on the village.
While Kurenai had earned her jōnin rank through her unparalleled skill in genjutsu, she was also a war medic, having served on the battlefield since the tender age of seven. Her medical prowess, honed under some of the best in Konoha, had been enough to secure her a path to jōnin rank on its own. But Kurenai had chosen another path, a more personal one.
"Kakashi… what happened to you?"
Kakashi waved her off. "Nothing. Just ate something bad," he lied, adjusting his posture to seem less strained.
Kurenai's frown deepened, but she let it go for now. Her eyes flicked to her team: Hinata Hyūga, Shino Aburame, and Kiba Inuzuka.
Hinata shifted nervously, her lavender eyes glancing at Kakashi before quickly looking away. He could tell her Byakugan had picked up the state of his chakra network—frayed, overstrained, and held together by sheer will. Shino stood calmly, his hands in his pockets, while Kiba looked ready to jump into action.
"Let's get you inside. You can debrief me while you rest."
Kakashi opened his mouth to argue but stopped himself. He wasn't in a position to refuse help right now. He nodded curtly. "Fine."
Before they could move, the sound of the front door creaking open made them all turn.
"Sensei! Naruto's awake!"
Behind the pink-haired girl, Sasuke emerged, one arm slung around a stumbling Naruto, who looked groggy but alive.
Naruto squinted at the misty evening air. "Seriously… who the hell puts the bathroom outside?" he grumbled, his voice scratchy.
"It's called an outhouse. Maybe if you'd read a book for once, you'd know that."
"After I take my dump, I am kicking your ass."
Sasuke rolled his eyes, but his arm stayed steady around Naruto's back, supporting him.
Kakashi watched the exchange silently, the tension in his shoulders easing for the first time in days. Relief flooded through him, his worries momentarily melting away.
Suddenly, to everyone's shock, chakra exploded in the clearing.
"Man-Beast Taijutsu: Fang Over Fang!" Kiba yelled, his voice ringing out as he and Akamaru spun into a violent blur of motion. The two launched themselves like twin drills, spiraling at high speeds toward their target.
"Naruto!" Kiba roared.
Sakura reacted instantly, her sharp instincts kicking in. She threw kunai to the side, clapping her hands as a glowing barrier materialized in front of Naruto just as Kiba's attack hit. The spinning force of Fang Over Fang crashed against the barrier, sending sparks flying as it absorbed the brunt of the blow.
As soon as Kiba stopped spinning, Sasuke appeared beside him in a blur of motion. His dark eyes burned with fury, his Sharingan spinning wildly as his foot arced forward in a precise, devastating kick. Chakra surged visibly around his outstretched leg, the sheer pressure of it causing the air to hum. If the kick landed, it would have cracked Kiba's skull like an egg.
But then, everything changed.
The scene melted away like mist evaporating in sunlight. Sasuke froze mid-kick, blinking as he suddenly found himself standing back in his original position. Beside him, Sakura lowered her hands, confusion and alarm written on her face.
"What the—"
A yelp broke the silence as everyone turned to see Kurenai gripping Kiba's ear, her fury palpable.
"What the hell are you doing, Genin Kiba?!"
Kiba squirmed under her grip, his bravado fading in the face of her anger. "Getting my payback!" he whimpered, his voice weak as he tried to tug his ear free.
"Payback?!" Kurenai's red eyes burned with fury as her grip tightened. "Do you even realize what you just did? Attacking a fellow shinobi without provocation?!"
Sakura and Sasuke exchanged glances, realizing the entire confrontation had been a genjutsu. They'd all been caught in it so smoothly that they hadn't even noticed—until now.
Kurenai took a deep breath, her hand still firmly on Kiba's ear. "Kiba, Shino—you're staying here to guard the area. And if you ever do anything like that again, I'll make sure your mother hears about it."
At the mention of his mother, Kiba froze, his face paling. "Y-You wouldn't!" he stammered.
"Try me," Kurenai said darkly, finally letting go of his ear.
Grumbling under his breath, Kiba turned to leave, casting one last glare at Naruto. "He started it," Kiba muttered before stalking off.
Shino, as composed as ever, glanced briefly at Naruto before following after his teammate.
Kurenai turned back to Kakashi, her face tinged with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Kakashi. I don't know what got into my subordinate. It won't happen again."
Kakashi's expression was unreadable as he folded his arms. "It's not me you should be apologizing to."
Kurenai frowned, glancing toward Naruto. "Naruto, I—"
Before she could finish, Naruto suddenly shoved past her, his face flushed and frantic. "Where the hell is the bathroom?!"
Hinata stood frozen, her hand trembling slightly as she pointed toward the outhouse at the edge of the yard.
"A-Ano… it's over there."
Naruto turned to look at her, his blue eyes locking onto hers for a brief moment.
Hinata felt her heart leap into her throat.
He wasn't glaring or angry—he was just looking—but the intensity of his gaze, combined with how much taller and more commanding he seemed now, made her pulse quicken.
"Thanks," Naruto muttered, his voice a little hoarse but still carrying that familiar tone she recognized. Without another word, he ran past her, slamming the outhouse door shut behind him.
Hinata didn't move. She just stood there, staring at the door, her hand still hovering where she'd pointed moments ago. Slowly, she placed it against her chest, feeling her heartbeat pounding furiously against her palm.
He's… still him, she thought, relief washing over her like a wave.
For weeks, she had worried, replaying the terrifying moment from the graduation class in her mind. She had seen it, felt it—the way his chakra had turned dark and oppressive, like a heavy storm cloud blotting out the sun. That wasn't the Naruto she knew, the one she had admired for so long. She had braced herself to see that Naruto again—the cold, unrecognizable one. She had been afraid that the boy who had inspired her, who had always been so bright and resilient, had disappeared.
But then, just now, when he had looked at her…
Hinata smiled faintly, her fingers tightening slightly around her jacket.
It's still him.
Yes, he had changed—he seemed taller, stronger, and carried an air about him that was unfamiliar, almost intimidating. But there was something else beneath it. The warmth that had always been there, the essence of who Naruto was—it hadn't gone anywhere.
If there was one thing Naruto never thought he'd have to deal with, it was the long-term effects of being in a coma. But now, as he sat trapped in the outhouse, gripping the edges of the rickety wooden seat like his life depended on it, he realized that bodily functions didn't wait for heroics.
"This is hell."
The last hour had been nothing short of agony. His stomach twisted, sweat dripped from his forehead, and every muscle in his body ached from sheer exertion.
"I'd rather fight Hellkite again."
His body was purging itself after three days of being motionless. Apparently, when you were trapped in a comatose state, your body didn't just hit the pause button—it still functioned, but inefficiently. The digestive system slowed to a crawl, meaning everything he had eaten before losing consciousness had just… sat there. Festering.
Now? It was making up for lost time.
Naruto groaned, resting his forehead against the wall of the tiny outhouse, utterly drained.
"Okay. Never going into a coma again."
With that ordeal finally over, Naruto turned his attention to the bigger problem.
How the hell did I end up like this?
One second, he had been trapped in Zabuza's Water Prison, drowning with no escape. The next—nothing but searing pain and darkness.
And now?
His right arm felt wrong. Not injured, not broken—just wrong. It was numb, heavy like dead weight, yet tingling like it was both there and not there at the same time. A phantom limb attached to his body.
He tried to move his fingers.
A faint, sluggish response. Barely anything.
His stomach tightened.
With growing unease, he summoned his HUD, the golden glow of the interface filling his vision. His eyes scanned through the menus until he saw it. Something was different. His right-hand weapon slots were greyed out.
[R1 Weapon: Zweihander]
[R2 Weapon: Pyromancy Flame (Cursed)]
"Cursed?"
Experimenting, he swapped the Zweihander to his left hand. To his relief, it worked—the familiar weight of the greatsword settling into his grip. But when he tried the same with the Pyromancy Flame, the interface refused. No matter what he did, it remained locked. Naruto narrowed his eyes, opening the item description.
[ Item: Pyromancy Flame (Cursed) ]
[ Description: A flame born of an unnatural hunger, warped by chakra and bound by the curse of the witch. This flame, once a tool of creation, now seeks destruction, feeding on the body and soul of its wielder. It whispers of demonhood, promising power at the cost of humanity. The transformation was interrupted, leaving only a grotesque remnant—a hand touched by chaos. ]
Naruto stared at the text, unblinking.
Slowly, he lowered his gaze to his right arm. He exhaled shakily, his mind spiraling.
"It's my fault."
The realization settled in his gut like poison.
No matter how much he tried to rationalize it—he had done this to himself. He had felt it. That wrongness. The Pyromancy Flame had reacted when he forced chakra into it—twisting, mutating, devouring something inside him.
"I had no choice."
But was that true? Or was that just an excuse?
Naruto clenched his jaw, his breath uneven. He wanted to punch something, to vent his frustration, but even the thought of moving his right arm sent a wave of phantom pain shooting through his nerves.
A knock on the door startled him.
"Naruto?" Sakura's voice. He didn't answer immediately. "How are you feeling?"
Naruto closed his eyes, trying to push the thoughts away. What he really wanted to do was go to Lordran. To find answers.
"Kakashi-sensei asked you to come to the kitchen. Kurenai-sensei wants to check up on you."
Naruto exhaled through his nose. With a quick motion, he summoned his Estus Flask, the warm golden glow swirling within.
The effect was instant.
Strength returned to his limbs, his muscles repairing themselves, the stiffness from days of atrophy fading away. He stood, pushing the outhouse door open.
Sakura was waiting outside, her expression a mix of concern and relief. Despite the fact that he was fully healed, she still reached out, steadying him as he stepped forward.
"I'm fine, Sakura."
She shot him a pointed look.
"You were in a coma for three days. Forgive me if I don't believe you."
Naruto didn't argue.
She guided him toward the small kitchen of Tazuna's house, where Kurenai was already waiting. Her red eyes softened as she saw him, but Naruto could only look at the floor.
"Sit down, Naruto," she said, gesturing to a stool.
He obeyed silently, his mind still racing.
Kurenai moved behind him, placing her palms lightly against his back. Her hands glowed a faint green as the soothing warmth of her chakra flowed into him.
"Sensei," Naruto asked, his voice quieter than usual, "what's she doing?"
"This is the Mystic Palm Jutsu," Kurenai explained. "It's a healing technique. By covering the hands in chakra and channeling it into the wounded area, she can repair tissue and promote recovery."
Naruto barely processed her words. His thoughts were still stuck on the cursed description of the Pyromancy Flame.
Suddenly, Kurenai gasped.
Kakashi stiffened immediately. "What is it?"
"His body is completely healed, no signs of muscle atrophy," Kurenai said.
"And what about the arm?" Kakashi asked, relieved to see that the boy's natural regeneration was kicking in. At least the Kyuubi was good for something.
Naruto's body tensed as she moved toward his charred limb.
"Wait!" the young Uzumaki blurted out, making both Kurenai and Kakashi pause.
"What's wrong?"
"I-I was just wondering… Sensei, is there chakra inside chakra paper?"
Kakashi was confused at the sudden, seemingly unrelated question. "Yes, Naruto. Chakra paper has trace amounts of chakra in it. That's how it reacts to your chakra nature."
Naruto froze. His thoughts immediately snapped back to what had happened the last time he injected Pyromancy Flame energy into chakra paper. That horrifying, demonic creation of life...
He didn't even want to think about what would happen if Kurenai—someone else's chakra—got too close to his cursed hand.
"Naruto," Kurenai said gently, her hands still hovering near his arm. "I know this is uncomfortable, but we need to assess the damage. I promise to be careful."
"I think this is a bad idea," Naruto said firmly. "This happened because I tried to inject chakra into my fire. I don't want to hurt you, Miss Kurenai."
Kurenai blinked at him, then smiled softly before reaching out and pinching his cheek. "Thank you for your concern, Naruto, but I'm a professional. I know what I'm doing."
No, you don't. Naruto wanted to scream it, but the words stayed locked in his throat. Pyromancy Flame wasn't chakra, and no amount of training or expertise would prepare anyone for what might happen.
His eyes darted to Kakashi, pleading. "Sensei, please—"
"Naruto, how else are we supposed to figure out what's wrong with your arm? We need to understand it if we're going to help you."
"I know what it is," Naruto said. "It's a curse."
The room fell silent. Kakashi's gaze softened, but there was no sign of understanding in his expression. To everyone else, it must've sounded like a tantrum—an overwhelmed genin grasping for an explanation.
Kurenai, however, took a different approach. She studied Naruto carefully, noting the tension in his shoulders, the way his voice wavered slightly. He wasn't being stubborn—he was scared.
"Naruto," Kurenai said gently, her tone taking on the calmness of a medic. "I know this is hard, but I need you to trust me. If you're hurt, it's my job to figure out how to help you."
Naruto opened his mouth to protest again, but before he could say anything, Kakashi suddenly wavered on his feet.
"Sensei!" Naruto shouted as Kakashi collapsed, and Kurenai moved quickly to catch him before he hit the floor.
"What's going on?" Sasuke's sharp voice called as he, Sakura, and Hinata rushed into the room.
Kurenai's hands lit up with the green glow of Mystic Palm Jutsu, her focus entirely on Kakashi's limp form. She grimaced as she assessed his condition.
"What... happened?"
"Chakra exhaustion. He's been holding himself together with chakra pills."
Sasuke frowned. "But he hasn't used any big jutsu in days."
"That doesn't matter," Kurenai said bluntly. "Your sensei's been in this state since his fight with Zabuza. He's been running on fumes, and I'm honestly surprised he lasted this long."
"Will… will he be okay?"
"Yes," Kurenai said to Naruto. "But he needs rest—at least a month of it. He'll have to eat healthy, avoid any strenuous activity, and let his body heal naturally. No exceptions."
Her words hung heavy in the room. The reality of their situation hit her like a wave. Not only were they in enemy territory, but their strongest ally was now a liability. On top of that, there was Naruto's mysterious injury to figure out and the mission to protect Tazuna.
Kurenai pressed her lips into a thin line, her mind racing through the situation. Do I call for more backup? What about Naruto's arm? And the mission?
"Ma'am?" Naruto's voice cut through her thoughts, bringing her back to the present. "Can I get some fresh air?"
"Go ahead, Naruto."
As he turned toward the door, something about his posture made her pause. There was a distance between them—a gap she hadn't bridged. If she was going to lead this team, she had to make an effort.
"Wait," she said, her tone softer than before. "Naruto, you don't have to call me 'ma'am.' 'Kurenai-sensei' is fine."
Naruto's hand hesitated on the door handle. Slowly, he glanced back at her, his blue eyes unreadable.
"You have to earn the right to be my sensei," he said simply.
The air in the room stilled.
Sakura's gasp was immediate. "Naruto! That's rude!"
But Kurenai didn't flinch. She held his gaze, searching for something beneath his words. Then, just as quickly, Naruto turned back and slipped out, the door clicking shut behind him.
Sakura let out an exasperated sigh, bowing her head. "I'm sorry, Kurenai-sensei! He didn't mean it like—"
"There's no need to apologize." Kurenai's voice was steady, her expression unreadable. "He's right."
Sasuke and Sakura both looked at her, confused.
Kurenai exhaled slowly, forcing herself to confront the truth she had been pushing aside. These kids are trusting me with their lives. That's not something I can take for granted. Her hands curled into fists at her sides. She had been chosen as a Jonin for a reason. If she hesitated now, if she wavered under the weight of responsibility, she wasn't worthy of leading them.
She took a slow breath and turned back to the team. "Hinata."
The girl stiffened, eyes wide. "Y-Yes, Kurenai-sensei?"
"Come here and check Kakashi's chakra network," Kurenai instructed. "Tell me where it's most strained, and I'll handle the rest."
Hinata nodded, stepping forward as she activated her Byakugan.
Kurenai crossed her arms, watching her student work, but her thoughts remained elsewhere—on the boy who had just walked out that door.
You have to earn the right to be my sensei.
A small smile curved her lips.
Alright, Naruto. If I have to earn it, I will. Consider your challenge accepted.
Author's Note:
Let's take a moment to unpack this chapter because there's quite a bit to discuss.
Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan & Its Two Abilities
First and foremost, Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan and the idea of it having two distinct abilities—this is purely my own addition, not canon. But the reasoning behind it stems from patterns we've seen in the series.
Every known Mangekyō user in canon has had two unique abilities, one per eye. Given how revered Shisui's genjutsu was, I thought it made sense to expand on the mechanics of Kotoamatsukami. This is where the distinction between Amatsu no Me (Heavenly Eye of Truth) and Yomi no Me (Underworld Eye of Control) comes in.
Canon tells us that Ao recognized the effects of Shisui's genjutsu when Danzō used it on Mifune. What's crucial here is that Ao was able to break Mifune free from the illusion—suggesting that this form of Kotoamatsukami wasn't absolute. Contrast that with what we see in the Fourth War: Itachi, under Edo Tensei's control, uses Shisui's eye on himself to escape Kabuto's influence. That instance was instant, untraceable, and unbreakable. It established a hierarchy of power between the two eyes.
So, I ran with that.
The left eye, Amatsu no Me, represents the pinnacle of genjutsu—a perfect illusion that no one can detect or break, but with a decade-long cooldown.
The right eye, Yomi no Me, is a weaker variation—still incredibly powerful but detectable by high-level sensors and requiring effort to break. Unlike its counterpart, it has a shorter cooldown of a year, making it more practical for repeated use.
This also gives a solid reason why Danzō didn't simply enthrall Hiruzen or the Daimyō—he had the weaker eye, one that wasn't foolproof.
Danzō's Survival & His Role Moving Forward
Now, onto Danzō not being eliminated here.
A lot of you seemed certain he was done for, and honestly? That surprised me. If you've been following the story closely, you'd know that Danzō is too entrenched, too knowledgeable about Naruto, and too deeply embedded in Konoha's underbelly to go down this easily.
He still has:
Key operatives
Hidden resources
A role in Naruto's development
So no, this wasn't an easy exit for him. But make no mistake—Hiruzen's actions change things. Danzō is now a criminal in the eyes of Konoha. The question is, how does that shift the balance of power moving forward?
Tobirama's Squad & The Kinkaku Force
Then there's the added detail of Tobirama's squad meeting their end at the hands of the Kinkaku Force.
This was an extrapolation on my part—canon never clarifies what happened to Kagami Uchiha or the other team members after Tobirama's sacrifice. Since the Kinkaku Force was notorious for being strong enough to kill a Hokage, it felt fitting that most of his squad wouldn't have survived either.
This also served as a way to add weight to Hiruzen's backstory—his revenge against the Kinkaku Force wasn't just about fulfilling his duty. It was personal.
And the fallout from that mission—losing nearly everyone close to him—created the vulnerabilities that Danzō exploited for years. Hiruzen carried that guilt, and it shaped many of the choices he made regarding Danzō's unchecked influence.
That's the kind of nuance I wanted to explore.
Hiruzen & Naruto's Fireball Technique
Hiruzen recreating Naruto's fireball technique was very intentional.
I wanted to show that chakra, when understood at a deep enough level, can be manipulated in ways that mimic even techniques from Lordran.
This raises a crucial question: If Naruto himself begins to apply these principles, what happens when he attempts to reconstruct jutsu through magic instead of chakra? Since this is a Dark Souls crossover, you can bet that's something we'll be exploring in due time.
Kurenai's Past as a War Medic & Her Role in Naruto's Training
Alright, let's talk about why I made Kurenai a war medic before shifting her into genjutsu.
The biggest reason?
I needed Team 8 to be involved in the Wave Arc in a way that wasn't forced—something that added real development to both the plot and their characters.
But this wasn't just a random change—I've had this planned for a long time.
If you go back to the chapter where Asuma meets Kurenai, you'll notice his confusion about her becoming a jōnin through genjutsu—because to him, she was always a war medic.
And honestly? I think this adds a lot to Kurenai's character.
In canon, let's be real—she doesn't have much depth.
She's a genjutsu specialist, sure, but there's barely any exploration of what that means or how she got there.
Making her a war medic first gives her a past rooted in conflict, one where she was constantly exposed to the brutality of battle.
Imagine being a medic: Watching people die in front of you. Healing soldiers only to send them back out to die again. That kind of experience changes a person.
So what does she do? She pivots. She moves from saving lives on the battlefield to controlling the battlefield itself. Instead of healing the wounded, she learns to break the enemy's mind before they can even raise a blade.
Genjutsu becomes her scalpel—a tool to manipulate, deceive, and disable without a single drop of blood spilled.
Now, you know exactly where Naruto and the sensei title is going—so, what should Kurenai teach Naruto to gain her sensei title?
As always, thank you for your support, feedback, and amazing ideas. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this chapter's developments!