A Twist in the Cycle

by Sunga Azul

Madara committed a grave sin. By surviving when he should have died, he disrupted the cycle of reincarnations that had been ongoing for centuries, and now Ashura has reincarnated in an Uzumaki, which could only lead to more chaos. Fūinjutsu Naruto!

6. Wave Arc: Chapter III

Wave Arc: Chapter III - Invisible

The stars shone brightly in the cloudless night sky over Nami no Kuni, casting a soft glow over the land. The serene atmosphere was typical of these spring nights, untouched by the chaos unfolding within the Daimyo's mansion.

Laughter, music, and drunken shouts poured from the lavish estate, disrupting the otherwise peaceful night. Ever since Lord Toshiro had taken control, excess had become the new normal.

Every night was a party. Toshiro surrounded himself with sycophants eager to indulge in his debauchery, while Gatō funded the flow of drinks and drugs. Women, drawn by the promise of luxury, offered their company freely, basking in the hedonistic lifestyle the Daimyo encouraged.

The revelry lasted for hours before Toshiro, as usual, picked a handful of women and dragged them to his chambers. Watching this unfold from a distance, Raiga sat perched on a tree branch, observing the mansion's entrance as the last of the guests trickled out.

'Finally, peace and quiet.'

He didn't care about the Lord's lifestyle—Toshiro could drown in his own excess for all he cared—but the endless noise grated on his nerves.

"Raiga... when are we leaving here?"

The quiet whisper drew his attention. A rare softness flickered across his face as he turned to the bandaged figure on his back.

"Just a little longer, Ranmaru," he murmured. "Zabuza-kun should've taken care of the engineer today. Tomorrow, we'll attend his funeral, and the day after, we're gone."

"I see..." There was no hiding the relief in Ranmaru's voice.

The boy despised Nami no Kuni. Whether it was the thick humidity that clung to everything or the constant noise from the Daimyo's endless parties, he loathed every moment they spent here.

"Where are we going next?" he asked, a hopeful lilt in his tone.

Raiga exhaled, his gaze shifting to the horizon. "We have to report to the Oyabun."

Ranmaru let out an audible sigh.

The apology was already on Raiga's lips before he could stop himself. "You know how it is, Ranmaru. Without the Takikage-gumi, Kiri's oinins would be on us day and night. The Oyabun's protection keeps us alive."

Hidden beneath the bandages, Ranmaru's lips curved into a small, sad smile. He understood the reality of their situation. He just didn't have to like it. Ever since Raiga had taken him in, Ranmaru had tried to guide him away from a life of killing.

And he had been making progress.

Raiga wasn't the same bloodthirsty man he had once been. His lust for battle had dulled over time, but the Oyabun had a way of ensuring that his hands always remained stained.

Sensing his companion's shift in mood, Raiga forced a small smirk. "Forget about that, Ranmaru. I'm thinking of asking for some time off after this. So, start thinking about where we should go."

It was a rare promise, and it had the desired effect. Ranmaru's entire demeanor brightened.

"Really?! Last time we went to Mitsu no Kuni, so how about we go—"

Before he could finish, his expression twisted into a scowl. The glow behind his bandages flared red, burning so intensely that even through the fabric, it was visible.

Immediately, Raiga tensed. "How many?"

"Four. One is definitely jōnin level. The other three... at least chūnin."

'Tch. That level and formation… ANBU. But are they after me, or Toshiro-dono?'

Raiga's eyes narrowed. Without hesitation, he leaped into motion, racing toward the Daimyo's chamber.

"Cast an area Genjutsu," he ordered. "Make a replica of me in front of the mansion—nothing that reveals my abilities. I just need to see who they're after."

"Hai."

The glow in Ranmaru's eyes pulsed, and a perfect illusion of Raiga appeared in the courtyard, standing in plain sight.

Seconds later, Raiga burst into the Daimyo's chamber without ceremony.

CRASH!

"Kyaaaaaaa!"

The women inside shrieked in terror, scrambling to cover themselves. Fortunately, the night's entertainment had yet to begin, and Toshiro was still dressed—though his glassy eyes and sluggish movements betrayed his intoxication.

The Daimyo blinked at the sudden intrusion before scowling. "What the hell, Jaws?! Who do you think you are, barging into my chamber?!"

Raiga barely spared him a glance before speaking. "We have hostiles incoming. For your safety, I need to move you to a secure location."

His voice was calm, but the underlying steel left no room for argument.

Unfortunately, Toshiro was far too high to catch the threat laced in Raiga's words.

"Huh? That's what this is about? Get out there and handle it! That's what I pay you for!" The Daimyo scoffed before pushing himself unsteadily to his feet. "You know what? Forget it. If you're too scared, I'll go out there myself! I doubt anyone would dare touch a descendant of Kami!"

Raiga clenched his jaw. 'Fool.'

Toshiro staggered toward the door, his expression twisted in a crazed grin. Whatever delusions of grandeur filled his drug-addled mind, they gave him the confidence to walk straight past Raiga—

Only to be struck on the back of the neck.

The Daimyo crumpled to the floor instantly, unconscious before he even realized what had happened.

Raiga's once-polished expression contorted into something far darker. His lip curled back in a snarl, revealing his sharp, shark-like teeth, and his eyes burned with unmasked contempt.

"You're lucky I don't have time to hold a funeral for you, you worthless fool."

A single Mizu Bunshin flickered into existence beside him, its form lazily shifting as it scooped up the unconscious Daimyo without an ounce of care.

The women in the room screamed at the sudden act of violence, but Raiga didn't spare them a second glance. Their panic was meaningless. With a single fluid motion, he turned and leaped out of the chamber window, his clone carrying Toshiro in tow.

"They passed through my Genjutsu," murmured Ranmaru.

Raiga landed silently on a thick branch and shot a sharp glance at his companion. "Without dispelling it?"

A faint grunt of confirmation.

'So, they're here for that fool. Good. At least I won't hear complaints for hitting him.'

"Raiga, they're getting closer!" Ranmaru's voice, usually calm, held a rare edge of urgency.

"Tch. Faster than I thought." Raiga clicked his tongue in annoyance before giving his next order. "I'll hold them off. Prepare the Ketsu no Shinkai."

"Hai!"

Raiga came to an abrupt stop amidst the trees. His stance relaxed, almost casual, but his grip on his swords told a different story. The Mizu Bunshin carrying Toshiro continued moving further away.

Seconds later, four figures emerged from the darkness.

They moved like wraiths, gliding through the trees with trained precision. Black pants, sleeveless shirts, armored gloves, and gray protective plating—standard-issue for Konoha's elite. Their faces were concealed behind white porcelain masks, each depicting a different animal.

Raiga narrowed his eyes. 'Konoha ANBU... I'll have to be careful.'

On the other side, the kunoichi wearing a cat mask tensed, instincts flaring to life. It had only been two minutes since she and her team had killed this exact enemy. Yet here he stood, very much alive.

'Genjutsu? Or a clone?'

She flicked her gaze toward the ANBU wearing a bear mask. No words were exchanged, only the swift, silent motion of a hand sign.

'Real.'

Raiga's grin sharpened. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It's unusual to see Konoha ANBU in these parts. To what do I owe the honor?"

The words left his lips smoothly, almost playfully, but at the same time, his hands moved. A whisper of steel against leather, and both of his swords were drawn.

The instant the twin blades reflected the moonlight, the ANBU reacted. A silent ripple of understanding passed between them.

'The Kiba Blades.'

The Seven Mystical Swords of Kiri were legendary. Even among Konoha's ranks, failing to recognize them would be disgraceful.

'Then this must be Kurosuki Raiga.'

A single glance between them was all it took—this was no ordinary rogue. If they weren't careful, they would die.

Raiga tilted his head, his grin widening. "Not going to answer? How rude—"

He didn't get to finish.

In perfect synchrony, three of the ANBU sprang into action.

The first to reach him was Neko. Her movements were precise, measured. In one fluid iai strike, she drew her katana, aiming for his throat.

'Fast.'

But not fast enough.

Raiga shifted, twisting his wrist just enough to angle one of his Kiba blades. The impact sent sparks flying as her sword was deflected, and she shot past him.

Before he could press the advantage, another opponent was already on him.

Ushi, the largest of the ANBU, swung down with a tantō aimed at his ribs. Raiga barely adjusted in time, stepping aside as the blade whistled through the air where he had stood.

For a brief second, he considered countering—

But the third one was already closing in.

Kuma. His movements were sharper, his sword thrust precise. He aimed straight for Raiga's heart, but the rogue swordsman flicked his wrist, angling his blade just enough to deflect the attack.

Without hesitation, he leaped backward, widening the distance before his enemies could capitalize on his opening.

His muscles tensed. 'I can't underestimate them. If I let my guard down, I'll be dead.' Or worse—'Ranmaru could get hurt.'

His thoughts lasted only a fraction of a second before his opponents were moving again.

Bull was the first to reach him this time. Instead of a vertical slash, he adjusted his grip and came in with a diagonal strike aimed at Raiga's collarbone.

'This one—Ushi—has the strongest Kyouka. Best to avoid direct contact.'

Raiga exhaled sharply. A simple step to the side and the blade missed entirely.

And in the same fluid motion—

Slash.

A clean, precise cut. One of his Kiba blades dragged across Bull's leg, cutting deep into the muscle.

The fight was just beginning.

Raiga had no time to celebrate his counterattack.

With a flick of his wrist, he deflected a flurry of thrusts from the ANBU in the bear mask. Each strike was surgical, aimed between his ribs—deliberate, deadly.

'This one—Kuma—is the fastest and most precise. If I let him dictate the pace, I'll be on the back foot.'

But Raiga was already calculating his next move. Unlike the others, Kuma's Kyouka was weak. A few well-placed strikes, and his tantō would break. That wasn't the case for—

CLANG!

Instinct kicked in. Raiga raised his other Kiba blade just in time to block an incoming katana, the force behind it nearly staggering him. His opponent—Neko.

Outwardly, the rogue swordsman remained composed, but internally, his focus doubled.

'She's the most dangerous. As fast as Kuma, as strong as Ushi. I'll have to prepare her funeral first.'

Unfortunately, killing her now wasn't an option. Ushi had recovered from his injury, and with a determined grunt, he lunged again, tantō in hand.

Raiga was in a tight spot.

If he withdrew his blades from blocking Neko and Kuma, one of them would kill him. If he stood still, Ushi would tear his stomach open.

'If these were ordinary swords, this would be the end.'

But the Kiba blades were far from ordinary.

Lightning crackled to life along the jagged edges of his twin swords. Sparks danced across the metal, and in the next instant—

"Raiton: Bakurai!"

A surge of electricity erupted from Raiga's body, striking all three ANBU simultaneously.

They barely had time to react, their instincts kicking in just enough to reinforce their bodies with chakra. It saved them from severe burns—

But not from paralysis.

Their limbs locked up, muscles frozen under the residual charge of Raiga's ninjutsu. And that was all he needed.

'Die!'

A cruel grin split Raiga's face. He raised his swords, ready to decapitate all three in one swift motion—

"DODGE, RAIGA!"

The urgency in Ranmaru's voice left no room for hesitation.

Trusting his partner completely, Raiga aborted his attack and launched himself backward at full speed—just as a beam of searing fire ripped through the air where his head had been.

'Tch! That was too careless! I forgot about Yagi!'

His gaze snapped toward the ANBU with the goat mask, still perched high in the treetops, the embers of a completed Katon Ninjutsu fading from his fingertips.

Narrowing his eyes, Raiga was already preparing to counterattack the distant enemy when Ranmaru's urgent voice sounded once more:

"Raiga, your clone's been destroyed!"

"What?! Why didn't you tell me there were more enemies?"

The nukenin demanded indignantly. With his partner's kekkei genkai, there was no way an enemy could approach them without him knowing.

"That's what's strange - I can only sense your clone and the Daimyō!"

His eyes widened in surprise at this information. A thousand different thoughts flooded his mind as he searched for an explanation for this situation.

'Could there be a second enemy capable of deceiving Ranmaru's eyes? But that would be impossible!'

'I have no choice. If I lose that fool here, the responsibility will fall entirely on me...'

He exhaled sharply, decision made.

"Did you prepare it, Ranmaru?" he murmured.

"Hai."

That was all he needed to hear. Without another word, Raiga turned and fled.

The ANBU immediately moved to pursue—

Only to halt as two crimson pinpricks of light flickered from beneath Raiga's bandages.

Then, everything changed.

The dense foliage of the forest was gone. The moonlight, the ground beneath their feet—all of it was swallowed by a suffocating darkness.

A deep, wet weight pressed down on their bodies. Every motion, every breath felt sluggish, like they were submerged in an ocean of thick, cloying blood.

Their training kicked in. They strained against the invisible force, their minds struggling to break free—

But Ranmaru's Ketsu no Shinkai held fast.

Raiga didn't look back.

'This should keep them stuck for a while. A shame I can't take this opportunity to kill them.'

He moved swiftly through the trees, the night air cool against his skin. The further he got, the clearer his mind became. Even for a seasoned killer like him, ANBU weren't to be taken lightly. He had no doubt they'd escape eventually.

But by then, he'd be long gone.

Back with the ANBU, several long, grueling minutes passed before they finally broke free from the Genjutsu.

As soon as their senses returned, they collectively exhaled in relief.

Neko remained still, eyes locked on the path Raiga had taken. 'He could have killed us. But he didn't. Why?'

Behind her, Kuma's voice was still a little shaken. "Should we pursue him?"

Neko slowly shook her head. "No. Without a plan, that would be suicide."

The weight of her words sank in. They had all felt it—their lives should have ended back there. Yet, Raiga had chosen not to deliver the finishing blow.

But before doubt could creep in, Neko's voice turned sharp once more.

"But we were careless," she continued, her tone firm. "We'll analyze this encounter and find a weakness. He's one of the Seven Swordsmen of Kiri—of course, he wouldn't be an easy target."

She turned to face her team fully. "For now, let's regroup with Kakashi-senpai. If anyone has insight into someone of that caliber, it's him."

No more words were needed.

With a final glance at the darkened forest, the four ANBU vanished into the night.

---

Deep within the dense forests covering Nami Island, a two-story wooden house stood nestled in a small clearing. Though aged, it had a cozy charm, its weathered structure blending seamlessly with the tranquility of its surroundings. It was the perfect place for rest—something Team Seven desperately needed.

Sakura was the only one still awake.

After she and her sensei arrived at the safe house where Tazuna and his family were hiding, Kakashi had collapsed almost immediately, leaving her at a loss for what to do.

All she could do was rely on the hazy recollections of first-aid lessons from her Academy days while muttering under her breath, "I really need to start learning Iryō Ninjutsu."

Thankfully, none of her teammates or their sensei seemed to be in critical condition. Though still unconscious, their breathing remained steady, no signs of fever crept in, and their wounds—especially Naruto's—had already begun healing at an alarming rate.

Now, all that was left was to monitor them, keep an eye on the perimeter, and wait.

And that was exactly what she was doing.

Sakura had already set up rudimentary traps around the house and now sat by the window of the dimly lit room where her teammates rested, watching the sunrise creep over the horizon.

'I just hope it's over,' she thought, exhaling softly.

Her gaze shifted to the final occupant of the room—the enemy Kakashi had brought back with them.

At first, she hadn't given the so-called girl a second thought. Why should she? It was because of her and her accomplice that Team Seven was in this condition.

But throughout the night, muffled whimpers of pain had broken the silence, small and pitiful.

Sakura hated herself for it, but eventually, she caved. 'Damn it.'

Grumbling under her breath, she walked over to check the kunoichi's condition—

Only to freeze the moment she lifted the fabric of her top.

Instead of the small frame she expected, she found herself staring at a lightly toned chest.

A rosy tint crept up her cheeks. A strange sense of déjà vu settled over her.

'First a girl disguised as a boy, and now a boy disguised as a girl… what's next? A demon disguised as a human?'

'If this keeps happening, we might as well become irōnin already!' Inner Sakura wailed, complete with an exaggerated nosebleed.

Sakura violently shook her head, dispelling the ridiculous thought and refocusing on the real issue—his injuries.

'Forget that—look at these bruises... if Kakashi-sensei was capable of causing this much damage, why didn't he just capture him properly? This is just cruel.'

Haku's torso was a mess. His normally pale skin was mottled with deep purple bruises, stretching from his stomach to his collarbone. The sheer extent of them made her stomach churn.

There wasn't much she could do.

She disinfected the cut on his arm, wrapped it in fresh bandages, and forced a painkiller down his throat, hoping it would at least dull the worst of the pain.

With her conscience slightly eased, Sakura returned to her vigil by the window, willing herself to stay alert.

But then—

The quiet rustling of fabric broke the silence.

She turned toward the sound, eyes widening in relief.

"Kakashi-sensei!" she blurted out, nearly jumping to her feet.

"Mah, good morning, Sakura-chan," Kakashi greeted, scratching the back of his head.

For a second, Sakura just stared, her breath hitching. Then, all at once, the tension that had been building inside her snapped.

"I-I'm so glad you're awake! W-when you passed out, I… I thought… sniff…"

Tears welled up in her eyes, and a lump formed in her throat.

She wasn't unfamiliar with her teammates relying on her. Ever since the Forest of Penance, she had pushed herself to be more useful, determined not to be the weak link in Team Seven.

But training was one thing. Reality was another.

For hours, they had all been unconscious, and she had been the only one left to protect them. The weight of that responsibility had been suffocating. What if enemies had attacked? What if she had failed?

The fear had clung to her like a shadow, keeping her on edge all night.

Kakashi sighed softly, watching his student struggle to compose herself. Guilt pressed against his chest. As her sensei, he should have been the one carrying this burden—not her. He had put her in a situation she wasn't ready for.

Still…

She handled it.

He gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Sorry about that, Sakura-chan. The fight was tougher than I expected, and I ran out of chakra. I'll be back to 100% soon, so don't worry."

That was all it took.

The dam broke, and tears spilled freely down Sakura's face. But at the same time, she let out a breathless, half-embarrassed laugh. It wasn't just relief—it was exhaustion, happiness, and frustration all mixed into one messy expression.

Kakashi's visible eye softened. He waited patiently as she wiped at her face, sniffing a few times before finally pulling herself together.

When she seemed ready, his tone turned serious.

"So, tell me—what happened after I passed out?"

Sakura inhaled deeply, forcing her emotions aside. "Sniff… I moved all of you up here with Tazuna-san and his daughter, Tsunami-san. After that, I set traps around the house and gave first aid to Naruto, Sasuke-san, and… the enemy you brought back."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow at her, his expression practically saying, "And me?"

She caught on immediately and let out a small, teasing smile.

"I even tried with you, but… there weren't any visible wounds. Honestly, that made me more worried about you than them."

Kakashi gave a sheepish chuckle, scratching his cheek. "Fair enough."

His amusement faded quickly, though, as he moved to his next concern. "And the other two? How are they?"

A flicker of hesitation crossed Sakura's face.

"Neither of them has woken up yet. But… Naruto's injuries are healing really fast." She frowned slightly. "It's actually kind of strange…"

As she said it, her mind flickered back to earlier—the oddity of Naruto's clone, the way it had behaved. Something about it nagged at her, like a puzzle piece she couldn't quite fit into place.

Unbeknownst to her, Kakashi was having similar thoughts.

'Could it be the Kyūbi's chakra?'

But if that were the case… something didn't add up.

'When he was using it before, his wounds weren't healing. If anything, they were getting worse.'

A silent sigh escaped him.

'Just one more thing to look into…'

"…As for Sasuke-san's condition—"

"I'm fine."

The calm voice cut through the conversation, startling Sakura.

At some point amid the talking, Sasuke had woken up and was now struggling to sit up, his movements sluggish, his mind still foggy.

"Sasuke-san! Wait, don't move so suddenly! We don't even know if—"

"I said I'm fine!" he snapped. Then, as his last memories flooded back, his expression shifted, a rare flicker of concern flashing in his eyes. "More importantly—where's the dobe?!"

His gaze darted around the room in search of his orange-clad teammate.

The second his eyes landed on Naruto, still resting peacefully, a quiet sigh of relief escaped his lips before he could stop it.

"He's okay, Sasuke-san," Sakura reassured quickly. "Actually, his wounds are healing even faster than yours! He'll probably wake up soon too!"

Sasuke simply nodded, but his mind was already elsewhere.

'I was sure I was going to die… And I was ready to throw my life away for that idiot… What the hell was I thinking?'

But in the end, they had both survived.

'Wait—how is that even possible? Did Dobe somehow—'

His thoughts ground to a halt the moment his eyes landed on him.

The enemy.

The one responsible for putting him in that near-death state.

Before he knew it, Sasuke moved. His instincts screamed for him to act, and his hand shot toward a kunai—

But the moment he lunged forward, pain tore through his body. His muscles locked up, and his balance gave out, sending him crashing to his knees.

"Sasuke-san! I told you not to move!"

Sakura was at his side in an instant, scolding him while trying to help him sit back down. "What if your injuries get worse?! We don't have an Iryō-nin here, you know!"

"Tch…" Sasuke gritted his teeth, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. Then, ignoring her completely, he shot a venomous glare at the unconscious shinobi. "Why is she here?"

Kakashi, who had been quietly observing, debated how to answer.

Saying he had brought Zabuza's accomplice for interrogation was simple enough—the real issue was explaining how the boy had ended up in such a brutalized state.

And, more importantly, who had been responsible.

It didn't take long to decide.

'Better just say I defeated him myself. If I tell the truth now, it'll only raise questions I don't even have answers to yet.'

As Kakashi weighed his options, Sakura, on the other hand, was visibly flustered.

"H-He's…" she stammered, voice barely above a whisper.

Sasuke, still glaring at the unconscious shinobi, shifted his attention toward her. "Hn?"

Sakura swallowed before forcing out the words. "I-It's not a 'she'… it's a 'he.'"

For a brief moment, silence filled the room.

Sasuke blinked. Then, as the realization set in, his gaze flicked between Sakura and Haku, his mind processing the new information.

And then—a thought hit him.

'Wait.'

'How does Sakura even know that?'

A second later, a possible answer came to mind. And with it—

One of the most humiliating memories of his life.

Slowly, his head turned toward her, an unreadable look in his eyes.

Sakura, sensing his stare, began sweating.

"N-No, I-I just—" she stammered, already on the defensive.

But Sasuke had seen enough.

His suspicions were confirmed.

"…Pervert."

The word left his lips with absolute certainty.

Sakura froze. Her jaw dropped. Her eyes bulged.

By the time she recovered enough to form a coherent response, Kakashi was already laughing.

"Hehehe, if you want, Sakura-chan, I can lend you one of my Icha Icha books," the jōnin teased. "Maybe then you'll learn to control your urges."

"KAKASHI-SENSEI!"

Sakura's voice cracked, her face burning hotter than the sun.

Kakashi kept chuckling, and even Sasuke let out a quiet snicker.

Meanwhile, the pinkette slumped into a corner, head bowed in utter defeat, muttering under her breath:

"…I'm not a pervert…"

"Alright, alright, that's enough teasing Sakura-chan…" Kakashi finally interjected, rubbing the back of his head. Then, with an exaggerated sigh, he turned to Sasuke. "As for your question, Sasuke-chan—I brought him in as a prisoner after defeating him. We're in enemy territory with no intel, and he's our best lead."

Though the reasoning made sense, Sasuke still felt a prickle of unease. Having the guy who nearly killed him in the same room wasn't exactly reassuring.

Sure, Kakashi must have taken precautions to keep him from being a threat. But even so…

'Tch. I'll have to sleep with one eye open.'

The thought barely formed before a realization struck him.

Eyes.

In an instant, his mind flashed back to the fight—the moment his vision sharpened, the strange awareness he'd felt, the power coursing through him.

Only one thing could explain that sensation.

His heart pounded as he channeled chakra to his eyes.

And just like that—his vision shifted.

A triumphant grin spread across his face.

'I did it! I finally did it!'

"Congratulations, Sasuke-chan," Kakashi said smoothly, his visible eye curving into a smile—though inwardly, he was thinking, 'And two tomoe already? You really are something special, aren't you?!'

Sakura, still recovering from her earlier embarrassment, turned toward Sasuke at Kakashi's words. The second she saw his eyes—now mirroring their sensei's—a sharp gasp left her lips.

But almost immediately, her shock melted into excitement.

"Congratulations, Sasuke-san!"

The Uchiha barely acknowledged the praise, his mind already shifting gears. His gaze flicked toward Kakashi, sharp and calculating.

Now that the Sharingan had come up… there was something else he needed answers to.

Kakashi met his eyes, instantly understanding the unspoken question.

The boy wanted to know why.

'Why does a non-Uchiha have my clan's bloodline?'

For the first time in the conversation, Kakashi's usual lighthearted demeanor faded. His expression turned thoughtful, his voice quieter when he finally spoke:

"Sigh… Remember when I told you my best friend gave his life to save me?"

Sasuke tensed slightly. He did.

Kakashi continued, his tone unusually soft. "His name was Uchiha Obito. And as a parting gift… he left me this eye."

For the briefest moment, a shadow of something distant—melancholy—crossed Kakashi's face.

Then, just as quickly, he pushed it away and met Sasuke's gaze with quiet honesty.

The Uchiha studied him carefully, searching for any trace of deception.

He found none.

Only grief.

Only respect.

Faced with that sincerity, Sasuke had nothing to say. There was no blame to place, no argument to make.

"…I see," he finally muttered, accepting the explanation.

Kakashi let out a silent breath.

The moment threatened to grow too heavy, so he swiftly shifted gears, clapping his hands together.

"Well! Now that that's settled—how about you two tell me exactly what happened?"

Sasuke and Sakura exchanged glances before nodding.

And so, the retelling began.

Each in their own way.

After hearing everything, Kakashi could only sigh—relieved, yet disappointed in himself.

He knew better than anyone that the death of his students wasn't some far-fetched scenario.

'They survived by luck… or rather, thanks to the Kyūbi's chakra.'

That thought alone twisted his stomach.

His gaze flickered over his students. 'Do I praise their courage… or scold their recklessness?'

He exhaled, making his decision.

"First, let me commend both of you," he started, his tone steady. "Facing a stronger enemy and surviving isn't the norm. Given everything that happened, you should be dead right now."

Pride laced his voice—but only for a moment.

Then, it hardened.

"You could have kept running. But instead, you ambushed an opponent whose strength you didn't even know. There's a difference between courage and foolishness—and guess which category your actions fall into?"

His visible eye sharpened as he let the weight of his words settle.

"So next time—and believe me, there will be a next time—you have to be more careful. Your lives are on the line, and you only get one. Don't throw it away."

Silence followed as his students absorbed his words.

Once he was certain they understood, his tone softened.

"That said… I am proud of you. You've grown a lot in just two months."

Sakura let out a small, relieved giggle, while Sasuke—surprisingly—flashed one of his rare, genuine smiles.

Kakashi observed them, satisfied—until a realization struck.

With a groan, he smacked his own forehead.

Sakura and Sasuke blinked in confusion.

"Damn it," he muttered. "I forgot Naruto's still unconscious. Now I have to give this whole speech again when he wakes up."

There was a brief pause—then the room erupted into laughter. Even Kakashi couldn't help but chuckle.

As the laughter faded, he turned his attention to Sakura, his tone shifting to one of concern.

"Go get some rest, Sakura. Your legs aren't fully healed, and you've been up all night. I'll take over—"

Before he could finish, a sudden blur accompanied by a soft puff of smoke appeared in the middle of the room.

Instantly, both genin tensed, muscles coiling in preparation for a fight—

But Kakashi's calm voice stopped them.

"Stand down. They're allies."

As the smoke fully dissipated, four figures in animal masks stood before them.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. 'ANBU… But why are they here?'

The question barely formed in his mind before one of them—taller than the others, clad in a standard black ops uniform—spoke.

"Overusing your Sharingan again, Kakashi-senpai?"

A woman's voice. Smooth, but edged with dry amusement.

Kakashi's visible eye crinkled slightly. "Good to see you too, Neko."

The kunoichi huffed before scanning the room, her gaze lingering briefly on the unconscious prisoner. "So, how's babysitting treating you? I thought after your last students, you'd have returned to the corps..."

Her tone was light, casual even, but Kakashi wasn't fooled.

'She's testing the waters.'

As her former commander, he recognized the unspoken meaning behind her words.

His response was immediate, resolute. "They're good kids. I'd trust them with my life—and I trust them to keep anything they hear to themselves."

A clear message: You don't need to censor yourself.

Neko sighed, but beneath her mask, she was smiling. She had expected nothing less from her senpai.

"Fine," she relented. "I assume you already know why we're here. We made contact with the resistance leader: Namiyoshi Umihiko, younger brother of Nami's current Daimyō."

Kakashi leaned back slightly, considering the implications. "A family feud… That simplifies things."

The political landscape of the shinobi world was delicate. Despite their military might, ninja never controlled nations. Daimyōs held the true legitimacy—descendants of the gods, their rule predating even the Rikudō Sennin.

Even the Sage, for all his wisdom and power, had chosen not to govern, reinforcing the idea that divine rule was absolute.

If they simply removed Toshiro and installed someone else, it would be seen as heresy—not just by Nami, but by the entire continent. Armies would rally, not to defend Toshiro himself, but to crush what they would view as an act of blasphemous rebellion.

"Exactly," Neko confirmed. "We presented the Daimyō-sama's terms, and Namiyoshi agreed immediately. So we moved to the next step: capturing Toshiro."

Sasuke, who had been closely following the conversation, quickly grasped the situation. 'Wait... Kakashi knew all along about Nami's true condition?'

Noticing his student's accusatory glare, the jōnin briefly turned his visible eye toward him—a single look that conveyed everything:

"e'll discuss this later, Sasuke."

The Uchiha merely pressed his lips together, reluctantly falling silent.

Kakashi then turned his gaze to his kouhai. "Given that you're here, I'm guessing that didn't go well."

Neko crossed her arms. "Hmph! Before we could capture him, we were detected. We tried pursuing him but were intercepted by who we believe is one of the guards hired by the Takikage-gumi: Kurosuki Raiga."

At the name, Kakashi's visible eye sharpened.

"Raiga… The Thunder of Kirigakure…" He exhaled. "I should have known another of the Seven Swordsmen would be involved."

Even through the mask, Kakashi could tell—Neko was startled.

His words had thrown her off balance, if only for a moment. Her entire body language radiated confusion.

"Another?" she asked cautiously.

Kakashi nodded toward the unconscious figure near Naruto. "My team was attacked by Momochi Zabuza—the Demon of Kirigakure. I managed to defeat him, but he escaped in the end."

Neko stiffened. "Escaped? From you, Kakashi-senpai?"

There was no sarcasm, only genuine disbelief.

Kakashi shrugged, unfazed. "I had to rescue my students. Zabuza wasn't alone—he had that accomplice over there." His gaze flicked toward Haku before turning back to her. "Anyway, continue from where you left off."

A brief pause.

Neko wasn't satisfied with his answer—he could tell.

But she let it go. For now.

"Right," she continued. "We engaged Raiga, but the situation quickly turned… complicated. His partner—we're still not sure who—cast a Genjutsu on us. A powerful one."

Kakashi's brow furrowed slightly. "This Genjutsu… it affected your Byakugan?"

He directed the question at Kuma, who had remained silent until now.

The ANBU in the bear mask gave a curt nod. "Yes."

Kakashi hummed in thought. "That's unusual. If it interfered with the Byakugan's vision, then it's likely a kekkei genkai at work."

His gaze darkened slightly. "But that's strange… As far as I know, Raiga doesn't possess one."

Silence settled over the room as the implications sank in.

If Raiga didn't have a bloodline limit—how did he do it?

Sakura, who had remained quiet until now, hesitated before speaking.

"Uhh… Kakashi-sensei… how do you know it's a kekkei genkai?"

Kakashi turned to her, his demeanor shifting into a more instructional tone.

"Good question, Sakura-chan. Sasuke, pay attention to this too—now that you've awakened the Sharingan, this information will be useful for you."

Sasuke's eyes sharpened with interest, and seeing that, Kakashi continued.

"As you already know, every Genjutsu requires a medium—one of the five senses—to affect its target. The Shinrin Jubaku I taught Sakura, for example, uses wind as a carrier, stimulating the opponent's sense of touch before the illusion takes hold."

He paused for a moment, making sure they were following.

"However, once the Genjutsu is established, there are two primary types. The first maintains a continuous flow of chakra into the target, keeping the illusion active. These are easier to break because all it takes is disrupting that flow."

"The second is different—it injects a large amount of chakra all at once into the target's mind. Instead of needing a constant stream, it anchors itself in the victim's consciousness from the start. This type is much harder to detect and break."

Kakashi's gaze flicked between them before adding, "It can also bypass the defenses of Dōjutsu like the Sharingan or Byakugan, since it doesn't leave a traceable chakra link for them to follow."

Sasuke's breath hitched slightly.

That means… the Sharingan should be capable of something like this too.

"Of course," Kakashi continued, "this kind of Genjutsu is extremely rare. In all my years, I've only seen it used by those with kekkei genkai."

Sasuke's mind raced with the implications, but beside him, Sakura's hands clenched into fists.

As someone who had devoted herself to Genjutsu training, she knew how terrifying the field could be. But the idea that no matter how much she trained, she might never reach the level of someone with a bloodline limit…

'It's so frustrating.'

Sensing her mood shift, Kakashi offered a reassuring smile.

"Don't let it bother you too much, Sakura. People with kekkei genkai are already rare—those who master this particular type of Genjutsu are even rarer."

She gave a hesitant nod, though the frustration still lingered beneath the surface.

When Kakashi turned back to Neko, he found the ANBU captain observing him with an unmistakably amused look.

Seeing her former commander in full sensei mode was something she clearly wasn't used to.

Kakashi ignored it and got straight to the point.

"Neko, how about leaving Raiga to me? I already have an idea of how to counter his Genjutsu. You focus on retrieving Toshiro—I'll handle him."

Neko hesitated.

It wounded her pride to hand over the target so easily, but not enough to risk the mission's success.

"Fine, Kakashi-senpai," she relented. "But we need to go over the details—I doubt they'll just sit around waiting for our next move."

"Of course," Kakashi replied easily. "How about we all meet up tomorrow after interrogating that boy over there? Better yet, you can take him with you—just don't hurt him too much. He does have a kekkei genkai, after all."

Neko hesitated, her body language stiffening. Beneath her mask, she scowled.

'This mission just keeps getting more annoying…'

Konoha's policy on prisoners had always been relatively lenient—as long as a captive didn't pose an immediate threat to the Village, shinobi had the discretion to deal with them as they saw fit.

The problem was, kekkei genkai bearers were a different story.

A bloodline ability exclusive to a rival village was an invaluable asset. None of the Five Great Nations would willingly let such an opportunity slip away. They all had methods—both subtle and brutal—for acquiring foreign bloodline techniques.

And Konoha was no exception.

If the higher-ups found out that they had a chance to secure a kekkei genkai and simply let it go, it would be grounds for demotion—if not worse.

'All I can do is hope this kid cooperates without us needing… more persuasive methods.'

Suppressing her irritation, Neko stepped toward the unconscious prisoner, preparing to lift him—

Only for Kakashi's voice to stop her.

"Ah! Almost forgot. Neko, can you lend us Kuma for a bit? My students took some injuries during their fight with this kid."

Neko turned slightly, exchanging a glance with her teammate.

"Well?"

Kuma silently assessed his chakra levels. He had already spent some healing Ushi's leg earlier, but he had enough left to assist.

With a short nod, he agreed. "No problem, Kakashi-senpai. I'll take care of it."

The ANBU approached Sasuke first.

The Uchiha remained stoic, barely reacting as the warm pulse of medical chakra worked through his system, sealing his wounds with practiced efficiency.

Sakura's treatment was even quicker. Her legs hadn't suffered significant damage, and her exhaustion was mostly from mental strain rather than physical injuries.

Then came Naruto.

That's when the problem started.

"Hmm…" Kuma frowned. "This is strange, Kakashi-senpai…"

Immediately on edge, Kakashi's visible eye sharpened. "What's the issue, Kuma?"

The ANBU hesitated for a second before explaining.

"His wounds are completely healed—but there's some kind of foreign chakra affecting his mind. It's like… something is keeping him from waking up."

A chill ran down Kakashi's spine.

'The Kyūbi! Could it be… trying to take over Naruto?'

His voice was firm, almost demanding. "You can't dispel it?"

Kuma remained composed, but his next words were carefully measured.

"It's not that simple, Kakashi-senpai." He exhaled. "Without the proper equipment—and without knowing exactly what I'm dealing with—any mistake could leave your student in a vegetative state. If we're going to proceed, it's better to wait until we return to Konoha."

Kakashi's fingers twitched, his concern deepening.

He could handle any battlefield threat. But something messing with Naruto's mind? That was a different kind of danger.

For a split second, he seriously considered abandoning the mission. If Naruto didn't wake up soon, he didn't care what the consequences were—he would take the boy and leave.

Sensing his commander's distress, Kuma offered reassurance.

"Don't worry too much, senpai. The chakra doesn't seem to be damaging his mind. Let's give him time and reassess tomorrow. In cases like this, the foreign chakra usually dissipates naturally."

Kakashi nodded, but reluctantly. His instincts screamed at him to do something, but for now, there was nothing he could do.

Still, one question echoed in his mind.

'What's happening to you, Naruto-kun?'

---

He had no idea how long he had been there. Hours, days... maybe even years. Time had lost all meaning in this wretched place. The only certainty was the torment gnawing at his soul, an agony that refused to dull.

The memory replayed in his mind like a cruel, endless loop—his comrade, his friend, cradled in his arms as the light drained from his fading eyes.

He could already picture his team's reaction to his failure.

Sakura's face, pale and devastated, when she learned that the one she loved had died because of him.

Kakashi's unreadable yet piercing gaze, heavy with silent accusation, reminding him of the very first lesson he had ever been taught—he had forsaken a comrade for the sake of the mission.

And all because of his own arrogance. If he had just kept running. If he had swallowed his pride and fled instead of standing his ground, trying to face an enemy far beyond his reach…

But life didn't bend to "if's".

What had happened was set in stone. No amount of regret could rewrite it.

So, he remained there, knee-deep in filth, his reflection staring back at him from the murky water. The distorted image mocked him, warping his features into something monstrous, something unrecognizable. He cursed himself with every breath, every heartbeat, willing the pain to consume him.

Yet even this torment couldn't last forever.

At first, it came as a whisper, faint and insidious, slithering from the darkest recesses of his mind:

'Do I really deserve all this guilt?'

But the whisper didn't stop there. It multiplied, its venom spreading through his thoughts, until it festered like a sickness inside him:

'He chose to die for me—so why am I the one suffering?'
'He threw himself in front of that attack on his own! I never asked for his sacrifice!'
'I was always worth more than him anyway—his death was justified!'
'Truth be told... I'm glad he's gone. One less weakling holding me ba—'

His breath hitched.

He might have surrendered completely to those thoughts, let them coil around his soul and claim him entirely—had he not caught sight of his own reflection at that very moment.

It stopped him cold.

Staring back at him were crimson eyes, lifeless and devoid of compassion.

Not his eyes.

A stranger's.

The shock sent a jolt through his core. His breath came in shallow gasps as he wrenched himself away from the water's surface, pulse hammering against his ribs.

For the first time since arriving in this hell, Naruto stood up.

He truly looked around.

The dim tunnels stretched endlessly in every direction, a decaying labyrinth of rusted pipes, hissing steam, and stagnant water that sloshed around his legs.

Flickering yellow bulbs dangled from corroded wires, casting eerie, wavering shadows that danced along the slick walls. The stench of rot and mildew thickened the air, clawing at his lungs with every breath.

With a heavy exhale, Naruto clenched his fists, his nails biting into his palms.

"Wallowing in self-pity won't change anything," he muttered under his breath. "I need to face what I've done."

And so, he walked.

Through the endless corridors. Through the dripping, suffocating dark.

It wasn't aimless wandering.

Something was calling him. Pulling him deeper.

An irresistible force, dragging him toward… something.

Until at last, he reached what could only be the heart of this place—a vast, hollow chamber, waiting for him in the depths of the abyss.

It was the largest thing he had ever seen—easily towering as high as the very mountain where the Hokages' faces were carved.

The chamber itself was vast, stretching endlessly into darkness, its oppressive silence broken only by the faint, echoing drip of water.

And at the far end, dominating the space, stood a gate.

Massive.

Monolithic.

It loomed like the very mouth of the abyss, its colossal bars stretching upward until they vanished into the shadows above. Yet, despite its overwhelming presence, only a single, unassuming slip of paper clung to the center, serving as its lone seal.

Naruto swallowed hard.

Something primal—instinctual—screamed at him to turn back, to run. Whatever lurked behind that gate was not meant to be approached, not meant to be disturbed. It was something vast, something unspeakably dangerous.

But his feet carried him forward anyway.

With each hesitant step, his dread mounted, coiling around his ribs like a vice. It wasn't until he stood directly before the gate that he understood the true horror of his situation.

Two gleaming eyes ignited in the darkness beyond the bars.

Crimson.

Mirroring his own.

But these were not human eyes.

No human could possess such vast, soul-piercing orbs. No human could radiate such raw, undiluted malice.

Then, as if answering his unspoken fear, the beast's form slowly took shape.

Light—otherworldly and unnatural—traced its body, illuminating the dark orange fur stretching across its monstrous frame. Its ears, unnaturally long and pointed, twitched with predatory amusement.

And then, slithering like living specters, came its tails—nine in total—curling and unfurling through the void, stretching far beyond what should have been possible.

As though he had always known, as though the knowledge had been buried deep within him all along, the name slipped from his lips in a whisper:

"The Kyūbi no Yōko…"

And with it came a flood of sensations.

A weight crushing his chest.

A terror unlike anything he had ever known.

Hatred—overwhelming, ancient, and boundless.

Malice so thick it seemed to taint the air itself, seeping into his very bones.

It was too much. His body refused to move. He couldn't cry, couldn't tremble—he couldn't even sweat. He was paralyzed beneath the sheer magnitude of the being before him.

Yet strangely, none of this hatred felt directed at him.

No—this beast was hatred itself. It wasn't merely a creature. It was a force. A raw, undying embodiment of destruction.

Then, a deep, guttural laugh rumbled from behind the bars, low and sinister, vibrating through the very walls of the chamber.

"Kukukukuku... What brings you here, young one? Have you finally come to thank me for my help last time?"

The mocking tone cut through the haze of terror like a blade.

Naruto flinched, but the words struck something inside him—something stubborn, something that refused to be swallowed by fear.

He forced a breath past his trembling lips. Then another.

And finally, he spoke, his voice cracking:

"W-what d-did you do to me?!"

For a moment, the beast said nothing. Then, those monstrous eyes narrowed slightly, their glow curving in amusement.

"What I did to you?" the Kyūbi echoed, its tone laced with something almost condescending.

It exhaled, a slow, deliberate sound, before continuing.

"And what would I want with a runt like you? No… you were the one eager to take my chakra. And now you come whining about the consequences."

Naruto's breath hitched.

The words rattled him—not because they were cruel, but because, deep down, something about them felt true.

But… he had no memory of asking this monster for anything.

His hands clenched at his sides. His voice wavered, but he forced the words out anyway.

"W-whatever it is—take it back! I don't need it!"

Silence.

Then, impossibly, the fox's grin stretched wider.

Another dark chuckle reverberated through the chamber, sending a fresh wave of unease crawling down Naruto's spine.

"Kukukuku... How bold. To beg for my power, then have the audacity to claim you don't need it."

Then, something bizarre began to unfold.

The fox's fur began to peel away—shedding in thick, sickly clumps. But it didn't stop there. The decay spread like wildfire, consuming the beast's flesh, stripping it away layer by layer.

Within moments, the monstrous form before him was reduced to little more than a grotesque, rotting husk.

Yet, through it all, the Kyūbi's voice remained unchanged—smooth, taunting, as if it barely noticed its own deterioration.

"But you know what I think? You're lying to yourself."

Chunks of flesh sloughed off, plopping wetly onto the chamber floor. Beneath the disintegrating remains, something else was emerging.

"Without this power, you'd have been dead long ago—cut down by that human who deceived you… and you know it."

The voice no longer rumbled from the depths of the decaying beast. It was closer now.

Stepping from the putrid remains, bathed in fresh blood, was a figure.

A man.

Naruto's breath hitched.

It wasn't just anyone.

It was him.

An older version—taller, broader, his presence towering. His face bore every familiar feature, every scar and line he might one day gain. And yet…

Those weren't his eyes.

Where amethyst should have gleamed, there burned only demonic crimson, seething with something ancient and insidious.

As the last drops of blood dripped from his skin, the figure raised a hand and gestured to itself.

"This is who you are, child. Or rather—who you yearn to be."

The voice was velvety smooth, each syllable laced with dark certainty.

"You care for no one. Your existence has always been solitary. You revel in demonstrating your superiority. What you truly crave is worship—power beyond question, a legacy that will echo through eternity. You already know this. All you have to do is cast aside your fear, kneel before me… and claim it."

With each step, the figure advanced. The space between them shrank. By the final syllable, its bloodied fingers gripped the iron bars of the gate, its face pressing so close that Naruto could see his own reflection in those crimson depths.

His legs trembled.

The terror was overwhelming.

Every instinct screamed that resistance was futile, that submission was inevitable. The weight of it bore down on him, suffocating, inescapable—

Until.

A memory—sharp, searing—flashed through his mind.

A body cradled in his arms.

A friend, dying, because of him.

Split.

Something snapped.

The fox barely had time to react before a wet splatter struck its cheek.

The figure flinched, fingers brushing over its skin. It pulled them away—slick with spit.

Its glowing eyes widened.

Then widened further.

Because Naruto was smirking.

Arrogant. Defiant.

Something fierce and unbreakable ignited in his expression. He didn't know where it came from, but he knew one thing with absolute certainty—if he yielded now, it would haunt him forever.

"Take your damn chakra and shove it up your ass!" he snarled. "I don't need it! You said it yourself—I've always been alone! Then I'll achieve my dreams my way! Not by depending on the demon that ruined my life!"

As the words left his lips, something shifted.

The change was instant.

His whisker marks faded.

His eyes—once tainted crimson—reverted, gleaming once more in their natural, vibrant amethyst.

He braced himself for fury, for rage, for the monster to lash out in rejection of his defiance.

But the reaction that came was… unexpected.

The Kyūbi's disbelief lasted only a moment before its lips curled into something else—something darker.

And then—

"…kukukuKUKUKUKUKUKUKUKU!"

The laughter erupted like a storm, shaking the very air around them. The humanoid form dissolved mid-mirth, flesh twisting and expanding, shifting back into the colossal beast with a final, thunderous exhale.

When the laughter finally died down, its gaze bore into him.

But this time, there was something new within those monstrous eyes.

Something almost akin to… respect.

"Kukuku… You truly are a bold young one."

A deep, amused hum vibrated through the air.

"Very well. I'll press no further. But sooner or later, you'll come crawling back, begging for my power…"

The chamber began to fade, dissolving with each word. The vast space crumbled into darkness, the Kyūbi's immense body vanishing into nothing—until only those glowing, crimson eyes remained.

"…And I'll be waiting eagerly for that day."

The black void swallowed the last remnants of the prison. But before it could claim everything, Naruto gritted his teeth, spitting one final defiance into the abyss:

"Yeah, keep waiting… 'cause next time I come here, it'll be to end you!"

---

Naruto blinked groggily as he slowly pushed himself up from the futon, his mind still heavy with lingering fog. The first rustle of fabric was enough to draw Kakashi's attention. Seated nearby, the masked jōnin turned his head at the sound, his sharp gaze softening slightly upon seeing his student awake. A quiet sigh of relief escaped his lips.

"Naruto-kun, how are you feeling?"

The redhead flinched at the voice, his gut twisting the moment he registered who it belonged to.

Kakashi.

A fresh wave of guilt crashed over him. His throat tightened, his mind instantly recalling the events that led him here. But through sheer willpower, he forced himself to speak.

"Huh? Kakashi-sensei… Sasuke, I—"

"Sasuke-chan is downstairs having dinner with Sakura-chan," Kakashi interrupted smoothly, anticipating the question before Naruto could even ask it. "The enemy missed his vital point by mere millimeters. If I had to guess, the wounds you inflicted must have thrown off his aim."

Disbelieving, Naruto instinctively stretched his senses outward, reaching for Sasuke's chakra. The moment he found it—exactly where Kakashi had said it would be—he felt an immense weight lift from his shoulders.

"Now," Kakashi continued, his tone calm but firm, "I've already given this speech to the other two, so I'll keep it brief." His visible eye curved slightly. "I'm proud of you all for completing the mission and surviving an opponent above your level. But I'm sure you already know the mistakes you made."

Naruto lowered his gaze, his shoulders stiff. He gave a small nod.

"I won't tell you never to take risks again. You're a shinobi—it comes with the territory. I just want you to learn from this experience so next time, you won't need such a close call."

Naruto clenched his fists. He met Kakashi's gaze head-on, and this time, his response was firm, unwavering.

"Hai, Kakashi-sensei!"

A faint smile formed beneath Kakashi's mask, but his expression quickly turned serious again.

"Now, changing topics… There's something you're not telling me, Naruto-kun."

The suspicion in his voice was unmistakable. Naruto's sharpened senses picked up on the subtle shift in his sensei's demeanor, the quiet intensity behind the words.

The redhead bit his lip, his hands unconsciously tightening over the sheets as Kakashi pressed on.

"You used the Kyūbi's chakra against that enemy. That much was expected. He was stronger than anticipated—I might have underestimated a pseudo-jinchūriki's potential—but…"

Kakashi hesitated for a fraction of a second, his fingers curling slightly at the memory of what he had sensed. A chill crept down his spine.

"When I forced you to stop using that chakra, what I sensed in your mind wasn't just remnants of the Kyūbi. A presence like that… only the real thing could produce it."

Naruto's breath caught.

He turned desperate eyes toward his sensei, his mind racing for an excuse, a way to brush it off—but Kakashi's stare was unyielding. He had already pieced together the truth. Nothing Naruto said would change that.

"I want to trust you, Naruto-kun. I really do." Kakashi's voice was calm, but the underlying weight of his words was heavy. "But I need you to trust me too—and tell me what you're hiding."

For a moment, Naruto looked lost, torn between instinct and resolve. But then—

The memory of his encounter with the Kyūbi flashed in his mind. His own voice echoed back at him.

'I told myself I wouldn't run from my actions anymore.'

His hands relaxed. His chest rose and fell with a slow, measured breath. If Kakashi hated him for lying, so be it.

When he finally spoke, his voice was clear, unwavering.

"Hokage-jiji told me not to tell anyone I'm the Kyūbi's jinchūriki. But that doesn't matter. Even if he hadn't, I wouldn't have told." His amethyst eyes gleamed with quiet defiance. "Not when you all bought that 'pseudo-jinchūriki' lie without question."

Kakashi's lone eye narrowed—not in anger, but in thought. His mind was already working through the implications, the inevitable confrontation this revelation would bring.

'As I feared…'

His fingers curled slightly against his knee. 'But how is this possible? What are you trying to hide with all these secrets and lies, Sandaime-sama?'

Yet before he could dwell too deeply on the Third Hokage's motives, something else caught his attention—something that sent a fresh wave of unease through his gut.

And for the first time since the conversation began, Kakashi found himself genuinely unsettled.

"And that whole story you told me last time? Was it all a lie?"

Naruto didn't hesitate. His gaze remained steady as he answered.

"Yeah. This sensory ability… I don't know where it comes from. It started after I first used the Kyūbi's chakra, and even when I stopped using it, it stayed."

Kakashi's visible eye narrowed slightly. "Then why lie? Why make up that whole story?"

Naruto's hands clenched into fists. "I was scared… You don't understand." His voice dropped, tinged with something almost desperate. "This ability is way more than just sensing chakra. I can feel what people are feeling—like right now, I can tell how suspicious you are of me."

Kakashi stiffened, but Naruto pressed on.

"What would Hokage-jiji do if he found out? What if he thought the Kyūbi was taking over? What if you thought that now?" His voice turned raw, the vulnerability cracking through. "I couldn't take that risk..."

Silence stretched between them. Kakashi exhaled quietly, running a hand through his silver hair as he took in everything his student had just admitted.

Naruto, meanwhile, kept his gaze glued to the floor, too afraid to see whatever expression his sensei was wearing.

Then, Kakashi moved.

Slowly, he stood and crossed the small space between them. When he reached Naruto, he crouched down to eye level.

And before Naruto could react, Kakashi grabbed the sides of his head and pressed their foreheads together, locking eyes with him.

"You're my student, Naruto." His voice was steady—unshakable. "The moment I took Team Seven, you became my responsibility. And I don't abandon my comrades."

His grip tightened just slightly, as if to emphasize his next words. "Even if the Kyūbi were possessing you, it would just mean I'd have to find a way to stop it. So don't worry about that, okay?"

Naruto's breath hitched.

He could feel it. The warmth of his sensei's presence. The weight behind his words. The sheer, undeniable sincerity radiating from him.

For the first time since this conversation started, something inside him eased.

A small, genuine smile tugged at his lips. "Yeah."

Kakashi gave a slight nod before finally releasing him and standing up.

"Good." He adjusted his hitai-ate, his tone turning lighter. "I'll talk to the Hokage when we get back. But until then, this stays between us. I'll tell Sasuke-chan and Sakura-chan you're awake—they were really worried about you. Go reassure them."

Naruto just nodded, watching as his jōnin sensei turned to leave.

And for the first time since this man had become his teacher… he could honestly say he trusted him.

But then—

Kakashi paused at the door. Without turning around, he called back:

"Ah, just to be sure… No more secrets?"

Naruto averted his gaze, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Uh, well… I kinda might've been working on some seals in secret?"

Kakashi let out a long, weary sigh before dragging a gloved hand down his face. "You know what? Whatever you're working on, I probably won't be much help. Just don't use it until we test it together, got it?"

Naruto grinned, throwing an exaggerated salute.

"Hai, Kakashi-sensei!"

---

Zabuza was doing his best not to groan in pain.

The only doctor available in Gatō's fortress was an elderly civilian whose trembling hands seemed to deliberately miss the spots they were supposed to stitch.

The phantom pain in his missing arm gnawed at his mind, and hatred for his executioner festered in his gut. The last thing he wanted right now was company.

Too bad Kami had other plans.

"How sad to see you in this state, Zabuza-kun. I hope whoever did this is dead by now."

Raiga entered without ceremony.

Zabuza turned his head, silent fury radiating from his glare.

Unfazed, Raiga grabbed a chair and placed it beside the bed. Before sitting, he turned to the trembling doctor, whose hands were shaking even more now.

"You may leave, Kusuri-san. Zabuza-kun and I have private matters to discuss."

No second warning was needed. The old man scrambled out so fast he nearly tripped over his own feet.

Zabuza, meanwhile, looked angrier than before—if that was even possible. But seeing that his glare was useless, he settled for a flat:

"What do you want?"

Raiga's polite smile remained, but there was a sharp glint in his eyes.

"Come now, Zabuza-kun. You've always been a smart boy. Don't play dumb. What happened?"

Zabuza spat, venom dripping from his words:

"The engineer's escort was Sharingan no Kakashi."

From there, he gave a brief account of his battle against the Leaf jōnin. Raiga listened in silence, then hummed thoughtfully.

'The Copy Ninja Kakashi, huh…'

Hatake Kakashi's name was well-known, whether for his own feats or his connections.

'To be strong enough to reduce Zabuza-kun to this state… I'll have to be cautious.'

Zabuza was no pushover. His title as the Demon of Kirigakure wasn't for show—most jōnin who crossed him never lived to tell the tale. That alone spoke volumes about Kakashi's strength.

"Even so," Raiga mused, "if you want to kill Yagura, defeating someone on Sharingan no Kakashi's level is to be expected. And now, without your arm, that dream just got further out of reach."

Zabuza clenched his remaining fist, struggling to contain the rage boiling inside him.

"You're better off leaving this to me." Raiga's voice was almost pitying. "You and that little follower of yours can stay here and guard Toshiro-dono."

At the mention of Haku, something flickered in Zabuza's eyes—brief, but unmistakable. Raiga didn't miss it.

His gaze narrowed. "What's with that look? His name was Haku, right? Where is he?"

Zabuza avoided eye contact, his voice a mix of guilt and simmering hatred.

"I ordered him to hunt down the engineer those brats of Kakashi's dragged off. Haven't seen him since... If he couldn't handle three genin, he was useless anyway."

Raiga studied him, his expression unreadable. Then, for the first time that night, something rare crossed his face.

Disdain.

"Useless, huh…"

Anyone who knew Raiga at this moment would call him a hypocrite—a man who, beneath his polite surface, was a bloodthirsty killer ready to slaughter anyone in his path. But the truth was far more complicated.

Once, he had been a kind and well-mannered child. His family was wealthy, and though his mother passed away early, she had cared for him with deep affection.

Everything changed with the academy's final exam.

In the days of the Blood Mist, Kirigakure's graduation test was unlike that of any other village. To prove their devotion to the mission, students were required to kill one of their closest comrades.

When Raiga learned of this, he despaired. His gentle nature would never allow him to take the life of his best friend, Terumi Kei. With no other choice, he had drawn a kunai, intending to end his own life instead.

But Kei was faster.

With a smile, he threw himself onto the blade, sacrificing himself for his friend.

From that moment on, Raiga's kindness faded, piece by piece. Whether it was the loss of his sensei, Ringo Ameyuri, who was stolen too soon by illness, or the countless comrades he buried in war, each death chipped away at the boy he had once been.

His bloodlust grew until he no longer valued life—only death, and the satisfaction of delivering it to his enemies.

Yet one thing never changed: his loyalty to his comrades. Every atrocity, every massacre he committed was, in his mind, for the sake of his village. That was why Yagura's purge of the kekkei genkai clans enraged him so deeply.

Men and women who had fought beside him, who had bled for Kiri, were now treated as vermin—not just by their leader, but by the very civilians they had once protected. It was too much to bear. So, he deserted.

After that, he wandered. Aimless. Killing those he deemed unworthy. Until he met Ranmaru.

The boy was a ghost of his past. His frail body echoed Ameyuri's tragic fate, and his gentle nature reminded Raiga of Kei.

He couldn't leave him.

So he became Ranmaru's guardian, carrying him wherever he went, showing him all the things his fragile body would never allow him to see on his own. His affiliation with the Takikage-gumi was nothing more than a means to an end—small jobs in exchange for safety, a way to keep Kiri's hunters off his back.

He had no interest in his former village.

So when Zabuza sought him out months ago, Raiga nearly killed him on the spot.

The only reason he hadn't was history—he had known Zabuza since he was a brat. And, more importantly, Zabuza's reasons were justified.

Upon learning that the Demon of Kirigakure had joined forces with Terumi Mei—the younger sister of his long-dead friend—to overthrow the Yondaime Mizukage, Raiga was willing to listen.

More than that, he was willing to help.

Which was why Zabuza's words now left such a bitter taste in his mouth.

A man who preached change, yet abandoned his own subordinates?

Nothing but a hypocrite.

"Hehehe… When you came to me with all that talk of changing Kiri, I was genuinely moved."

His voice was laced with amusement, but his eyes were cold.

"How foolish of me. In the end, you're no better than Yagura. I just regret that boy didn't even get a proper funeral… but maybe that's the price of following someone with ideals as hollow as yours."

At first, Zabuza only stared at his former senpai in silence. But by the end, his fingers had already closed around the kunai hidden beneath his pillow.

With a feral snarl, he lunged for Raiga's throat.

Raiga caught his wrist with ease.

As if nothing had happened, he continued, "Fortunately, knowing Konoha's shinobi, they probably haven't killed him yet. So we can still get him back."

And when Raiga met Zabuza's gaze, he smirked.

Because behind all that fury, all that rage, he saw what he had been looking for.

'So you do care... But you'd be better off saying it outright instead of hiding behind that façade, you know?'

Raiga released Zabuza's wrist, and the younger man stepped back, slightly calmer but still breathing heavily.

"Hmph!"

"So this is where you were, Raiga!"

Before either of them could continue, Gatō barged into the room, his face twisted in a scowl.

"What the hell did you do to Toshiro?! It took me hours to calm him down!"

At the mention of the drug-addled noble, a dark expression crossed Raiga's face.

'If it weren't for that piece of trash, we'd have one less problem.'

The night before, he had missed the perfect opportunity to wipe out Konoha's ANBU team—because of Toshiro.

During their escape, the fool had woken up in a hallucination-fueled frenzy, grabbed one of the Kiba blades from Raiga's clone, and—by some miracle—destroyed it.

When Raiga arrived and realized what had happened, it took every ounce of his self-control not to dismember Toshiro on the spot. He settled for breaking the bastard's nose with a single punch.

"Don't worry about that, Gatō-san. Why don't we get straight to the point?"

The short man still looked ready to argue, but one glance at Raiga's expression made him think better of it. With a huff, he let it go, and the three of them shared everything they knew about the current situation.

Gatō was the first to speak.

"Heh, looking at the big picture, we've got the upper hand!"

Raiga and Zabuza both gave him a skeptical look. Gatō rolled his eyes, staring back at them as if they were complete idiots.

"Tch. Listen. Knowing that ambitious moron Umihiko, he wouldn't have asked Hi no Kuni for help outright. No, he probably dangled the bridge in front of them—offering Hi control over it so their merchants could gain influence—before making his move to overthrow Toshiro."

A malicious grin spread across his face as he continued.

"But that sly fox, the Daimyō of Hi no Kuni, Kōen Enji, must've smelled the trap from a mile away. He likely sent the ANBU team to negotiate with Umihiko. They probably struck a deal: a covert mission to kidnap Toshiro and force him to abdicate."

His grin widened.

"But since they failed, now they're racing against time!"

Raiga raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

"Idiot! Now all we have to do is accuse Umihiko of conspiring with a foreign nation. Hi no Kuni will have no choice but to back off—unless they want Nami to become a battleground. If Hi openly picks a side, Kiri and Kumo will jump in just to stir the pot. But that's no good for us either."

"Which means we need to end this quickly," Gatō continued, his voice brimming with confidence. "We'll call in the favors we're owed by Nami's elite, gather a small army, and go after Umihiko. Once we capture him, we expose his conspiracy. By then, the price of interference will be too high for Hi no Kuni to pay."

"What about the engineer?" Zabuza asked.

"If Umihiko acted as I suspect, he promised the bridge to Hi no Kuni—but only after it was completed. We can't let that happen. Even if we argue that his contract is invalid, the Daimyō would still have enough justification to attack. And then we'd be forced to rely on Kiri or Kumo's under-the-table support—something the Oyabun wants to avoid at all costs."

Raiga leaned back, crossing his arms. As much as he despised Gatō, the man had a point. The bastard may have been a scumbag, but when it came to business and politics, he was the real deal.

"So, to sum it up: kill the engineer, capture Umihiko, and stop them from kidnapping Toshiro."

"Exactly," Gatō confirmed.

Raiga exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "In that case, leave Tazuna to me. Kakashi will probably be guarding him—that's his mission, after all. As for the other two..."

---

"The question now is whether Zabuza will stay behind to protect Toshiro or not..." Kakashi mused, scanning the faces of everyone gathered in the small room.

Present were not only Team Seven but also ANBU Team Ro, Tazuna, and Namiyoshi Umihiko—the younger brother of Nami's current Daimyō.

A full day had passed since Zabuza's ambush, and now, the key players had assembled not just to share intel but to decide their next move.

Kakashi raised his index finger.

"Raiga will undoubtedly come for me. I'm the strongest among us, just as he's likely the strongest on their side."

He lifted a second finger.

"Gatō will rally as many subordinates as possible to capture Umihiko-dono."

Ensuring everyone was following, he raised a third.

"Their safest play would be to station Zabuza as Toshiro's guard—but they might instead reinforce Gatō's forces to guarantee Umihiko-dono's capture. Or, they could decide that eliminating the strongest opponent takes priority and have Zabuza join Raiga in hunting me. If I were them, I'd observe our movements and strike on the final day."

Neko, already familiar with Kakashi's methods, recognized what this meant—he had already devised a plan.

"What countermeasures do you suggest, Kakashi-senpai?"

Expecting the question, Kakashi casually rested a hand on his red-haired student's head.

"Luckily, my student here has the perfect jutsu to impersonate Umihiko-dono without alerting the enemy. We'll keep the real one safe here until this end."

Naruto grimaced internally. 'Tch, guess my fūinjutsu training's on hold...'

The portly noble, who should have been relieved, instead scowled.

"Kakashi-san, if Gatō's assembling an army, I'll need to muster forces of my own. I have contacts in Nami who can help—but not if I'm trapped here."

Unfazed, Kakashi replied lightly.

"Use my student as an intermediary. Relay messages through him verbatim. He'll handle it." 'And this way, you can't scheme behind our backs,' he added mentally.

Seeing no better option, Umihiko nodded bitterly.

Neko, satisfied, concluded, "Then I'll assign one of my team to escort Naruto-kun while the rest of us track Toshiro's whereabouts."

"Perfect. I'll guard Tazuna-san, and my team will secure the house. You don't mind being bait, do you, Tazuna-san?" Kakashi's visible eye curved into an apologetic smile.

The engineer huffed.

"Humph! I've been risking my life since day one. No point backing out now, eh?" He smirked wryly.

"Then it's settled. Daily briefings at this time. Understood?"

After a round of nods, Team 7 dispersed—but as Kakashi turned toward the stairs, Neko pulled him aside.

"Senpai, the prisoner's interrogation isn't yielding much… Can't you work your magic?"

Normally, she'd resent relying on her former superior, but since Zabuza's accomplice was Kakashi's problem to begin with, she had no qualms about dumping it back on him.

Kakashi hesitated. 'I'm not fully recovered. Using the Sharingan now could slow my healing… and if they attack in the meantime…'

Yet just as he considered dismissing the lead, an idea struck. 'Naruto-kun's abilities might make this possible.'

"Hmm. Here's what we'll do, Neko. Bring him tomorrow, and I'll see what I can manage."

"Understood. Later, senpai."

With nothing left to say, the ANBU captain departed with her subordinates.

Kakashi resumed his path, but upon entering the room, he found his students staring him down. Scratching the back of his head in mild confusion, he asked:

"So, what's got my cute little genin glaring at me like this?"

Sasuke, his expression unreadable, replied flatly:

"Why did you hide the truth about this mission from us?"

He didn't even bother confirming his suspicion—to him, it was obvious Kakashi had known the full extent of Nami's situation from the start. When he pointed this out to his teammates, it hadn't taken much convincing, especially after seeing Kakashi's performance in the meeting.

Kakashi sighed.

"Because I wanted to see what decision you'd make. Before we left, the Hokage gave me full authority over this mission—I could've withdrawn at any time. If any of you had faltered or shown fear, we'd have turned back without hesitation."

"If I had told you the truth upfront, you might've felt a false sense of security, like I had everything under control. That would've skewed your genuine reaction in a high-stakes situation."

Tilting his head, his visible eye curved into a teasing smirk.

"Is that justification enough for you, Sasuke-chan?"

Sasuke merely grunted and looked away. He hated to admit it, but the logic was sound—much to his annoyance.

Naruto and Sakura, meanwhile, nodded in reluctant agreement. The redhead wasn't in a position to criticize Kakashi for withholding intel, and Sakura hadn't been particularly upset about it to begin with.

With the tension easing, Naruto finally blurted out the question that had been bugging him since the meeting ended:

"Kakashi-sensei, how's this whole 'replacing the fat guy' thing gonna work? Better yet—why me? That guy… I don't like him."

Throughout the meeting, if there was one thing that grated on Naruto, it was the emotions radiating off Umihiko. The corpulent noble was a coward at heart, his fear eclipsed only by his ambition—the very thing driving him forward.

He couldn't yet put into words what exactly felt off about the man, but he knew one thing: whatever it was, it wasn't good.

Understanding his student's discomfort, Kakashi scratched his head again, resigned.

"First off, you're the only one here who can use Kage Bunshin to impersonate Umihiko-dono. I'm not fully recovered enough to sustain a chakra-heavy jutsu like that. And yes, Naruto-kun, it has to be Kage Bunshin."

"Since it's a clone made entirely of chakra, it can maintain a Henge without being detected by normal means. As for Umihiko-dono… try to show a bit more respect. Regardless of what kind of person he is, his station demands it. You want to be Hokage, don't you? Then get used to this."

Naruto gave a bitter smile and nodded silently.

Just as everyone was finally preparing to rest, Kakashi casually dropped one last reminder:

"Ah, make sure you wake up early tomorrow. I don't know if you'll face anyone, but better safe than sorry. So be ready for some training."

---

"AHHH!"

A splash of water erupted as the red-haired boy plunged into the shallow creek near Tazuna's house.

It had been a few hours since Team 7 began practicing water walking.

That morning, Kakashi had given them a thorough explanation and demonstration of the exercise. As an advanced version of tree climbing, water walking required even greater control—constantly adjusting chakra output to stay afloat.

Sakura, as expected, mastered it effortlessly and was already attempting complex maneuvers, like rolling across the water's surface.

Sasuke was struggling. He could walk slowly, but a single lapse in concentration sent him sinking.

And Naruto? He was having the worst time of all. Chakra control had always been his greatest weakness, and he could barely take four steps before plunging into the creek again.

Dragging himself back to the bank, Naruto scowled at Sasuke, who was carefully inching forward on the water. Seeing the Uchiha outperform him only deepened his frustration—a feeling that didn't fade even when Sasuke eventually sank too.

The Uchiha trudged back to shore to restart the exercise. When he noticed Naruto glaring, his eyebrow twitched, and the two simultaneously turned away with identical huffs.

"Hmph!"

Leaning against a tree, Sakura frowned at their behavior.

'What's up with these two?'

As Naruto stepped onto the water again, he grumbled internally. 'Seriously, what's his deal? First he saves my life, then acts pissed every time he sees me. Does he like me or hate me? Make up your mind!'

Lost in thought, he sank again, memories of the past two days flooding back.

After their talk with Kakashi, Naruto had immediately thanked Sasuke for saving him—only to be completely ignored. At first, he'd assumed the Uchiha was just too proud to admit he cared about someone other than himself. But that theory fell apart quickly.

Every time Sasuke looked at him now, Naruto could feel the irritation radiating off him. It was so aggravating that Naruto had started glaring back.

Just as he was about to restart the cycle of glare-sink-repeat, Kakashi's presence flickered into awareness nearby.

'It's really a shame that I couldn't take them to a hot spring to learn water walking.'

"So, how's training going?" the silver-haired jōnin asked, materializing beside them.

"I've got it down. As for these two…" Sakura began, nudging Naruto to continue.

"Give me and Teme two days, and we'll master this stupid exercise," Naruto muttered.

Kakashi nodded. "In that case, you're dismissed, Sakura-chan. From now on, you can stay in the house and keep watch. Sasuke-chan, over here!"

Hearing his sensei's call, Sasuke turned and began painstakingly walking across the water toward the team.

Naruto, meanwhile, shot an envious glance at Sakura.

"Ahhh, what I wouldn't give to admire Tsunami-chan's figure for the rest of my life…"

With a dramatic fist pump, he declared, "Yoshi! I'll finish this exercise as fast as possible and make the most of the mission's remaining time!"

Sakura, eyebrows twitching in irritation, snapped, "How many times do I have to tell you to stop harassing Tsunami-san, you perv?!"

"Harassment?! How dare you make such baseless accusations, Sakura-dono?" Naruto gasped, feigning offense. "A gentleman such as myself is merely trying to ease that poor mother's worries!"

Ever since Naruto had first laid eyes on Tazuna's beautiful daughter, his gaze had been unmistakably filled with admiration. And without an ounce of shame, he had relentlessly flirted with her.

Sakura was scandalized by her teammate's behavior, while Kakashi and Tazuna simply found the whole thing amusing. As for Tsunami herself, she seemed to find the redhead's awkward attempts to woo her rather cute.

The pompous way Naruto spoke only further irritated the pinkette, but before she could voice her indignation, he continued his speech.

"I mean, someone with such a fine bu— err, I mean, beauty shouldn't be moping around with all these worries weighing on her! I just want to help!" Naruto nodded to himself in satisfaction.

To Sakura's horror, Kakashi nodded along as well.

"I wholeheartedly agree!" the jōnin said.

'First Kakashi reading that book in public, now Naruto hitting on the client's daughter, and somehow I'm the pervert?!' Sakura thought indignantly.

"You guys disgust me!" she exclaimed.

Instead of looking ashamed, Naruto simply flashed a fox-like grin and quipped, "Strong words coming from someone who strips prisoners naked..."

As the words registered, a furious flush of red spread across Sakura's face. Rage and embarrassment warred within her, and she was ready to fight her teammate to the death.

'Just because we want to become Iryō-nin to see hot bodies doesn't mean we're perverts! CHA!' Inner Sakura roared in protest, while the original cracked her knuckles.

"You're dead, N-A-R-U-T-O!"

Before Sakura could deliver the beating her teammate so richly deserved, their sensei intervened, as Sasuke had finally made his way back to shore.

"Alright, that's enough, you two," Kakashi said lazily. "Tsunami-san is waiting for us with lunch. Sasuke-chan, you can resume training after we eat. Sakura-chan already knows what to do."

The jōnin was already heading toward Tazuna's house when Naruto realized something.

"Oi, what about me, Kakashi-sensei?" he called out.

With one of his infamous eye-smiles, Kakashi replied cryptically, "You and I have someone to visit later."

---

It had been only a few minutes since the duo had left Tazuna's house, making their way deeper into the forest.

The vegetation in Nami no Kuni was quite different from that of Konoha—while the woods surrounding the Hidden Leaf were dense and difficult to navigate, Nami's forests were more open and flat, making the journey easier. Rather than leaping through the trees, the pair chose to walk along the ground.

"We're almost there. Instead of asking that every five minutes, why don't you tell me about that seal you've been working on?"

The redhead pouted, feeling wronged. 'It's only the second time I've asked… Next time, I'll make sure to annoy him on purpose!'

Silently making that vow, he pulled a fingerless glove from his pocket and handed it to his sensei.

Kakashi examined it carefully, his visible eye tracing every symbol in the intricate seal, attempting to decipher its purpose.

There was a clear reason why fūinjutsu remained such an uncommon art. The first was its sheer complexity—not everyone could grasp the intricate logic behind the symbols, let alone possess the talent to combine them into a functional seal.

The second was the lack of standardization. While a few universal rules existed, each village had developed its own unique system of writing and methodology over the years. This was largely due to compilation, the process of refining a seal into a more compact and practical form.

Compilation was absolutely essential for fūinjutsu, especially in combat. The more complex the seal, the more symbols it required—some spanning entire scrolls, miles long. This wasn't just impractical for creation; it also rendered the seal useless in a battle scenario. To counter this, shinobi used compilation to shrink seals into more manageable sizes.

The Uzumaki clan's mastery over fūinjutsu stemmed from their unparalleled refinement of this technique. Their advanced compilation method granted them greater flexibility in structuring seals, allowing for techniques far more intricate than those of other villages.

Once a seal was compiled, only a few disconnected symbols remained—no visible links, no apparent patterns. Without knowledge of the specific writing system, decompiling it was nearly impossible. Even recognizing a single symbol required immense expertise.

So, it was no surprise that, despite his intelligence, Kakashi could barely make sense of the glove's seal.

"Alright, I give up," he finally admitted, handing the glove back. "What's this supposed to do? I recognize the storage symbol, but the rest looks like a mess."

Seeing his sensei give up, a smug grin spread across the redhead's face.

"Pfft, pay attention, young Kakashi, because your sensei is about to explain!"

With an exaggerated flourish, he snatched the glove back from the jōnin and pointed at the central symbol.

"You were right about the storage seal. These others stabilize the whole thing, this one's a trigger, that one dampens recoil, and this one..."

For nearly five minutes, Naruto droned on about the seal's mechanics—so much that Kakashi seriously debated cutting him off just to shut him up.

'When it comes to seals, he gets way too excited… Sigh. Reminds me a bit of you, Minato-sensei.'

"Hey, young Kakashi! Are you even listening?!"

The redhead waved a hand in front of his face, snapping the jōnin out of his thoughts.

"Yes, yes, I'm listening, Naruto-sensei. How about you summarize, so I can see if I got it all?"

Kakashi's eye-smile widened at his student's suspicious glare.

"Alright, fine! Long story short—after seeing how much damage chakra could do during tree-climbing practice, I thought, 'What if I stored up a ton of chakra and released it all at once?' And that's how this beauty, the Shōgeki Fūin, was born!"

Rubbing his chin, the jōnin studied the seal again.

'Sealing chakra like this… So unorthodox. Definitely Uzumaki-style fūinjutsu influence.'

"Well then, let's see it in action."

"Leave it to me!"

Slipping the glove on, Naruto was just about to charge at a tree when Kakashi yanked him back by the collar.

"Hold it, idiot. Send a clone instead. I don't feel like carrying you back if the seal backfires and blows your arm off."

Rubbing his choked neck, Naruto shot his sensei a resentful look. "Tch! For your information, I've tested this thing plenty, y'know?!"

"Sure, sure. Now quit whining and do as you're told."

Grumbling, Naruto formed the familiar hand sign for Kage Bunshin and handed the glove to his clone.

The clone strode up to a tree, pressed its palm an inch from the bark, and activated the seal.

The effect was instant. Though the front of the trunk showed little damage, the back was completely obliterated—sending the tree toppling straight toward them.

Not keen on being crushed, the two leapt aside just in time. The clone, however, wasn't so lucky.

Kakashi shot his student a withering 'See why I said to use a clone?' glare.

Naruto scratched his head sheepishly. "Y'know what they say, young Kakashi—accidents happen when you least expect 'em! Gotta be careful!"

The silver-haired jōnin's eye-smile did nothing to mask his irritation. "How reassuring, Naruto-sensei. Now I can sleep soundly knowing you won't get yourself killed by a falling tree."

The redhead laughed awkwardly as Kakashi sighed, turning his attention to the devastation.

'That much damage, and most of it internal… You've got a real weapon here, Naruto.'

"So? What d'ya think?!" the boy asked eagerly, bouncing over.

"Not bad. Damage is at least C-rank, maybe B with refinement. Could be a solid addition to your arsenal."

Naruto pumped his fists, already vibrating with ideas. "YES! You have no idea how many upgrades I've got planned—first, I—"

Kakashi ruffled his hair to shut him up. "How about you explain while we walk? We're almost there, and we've wasted enough time here."

"Right!"

A few minutes later, the duo found themselves standing before a massive tree. It was easily the widest in the forest—though oddly, not the tallest—with an almost unnatural disproportion between its gnarled base and slender upper trunk.

Naruto frowned, tilting his head. He didn't get what was so special about it, but when he turned to ask, he found Kakashi already watching him.

"Listen, Naruto," the jōnin said, voice low. "Inside this tree is the shinobi you and Sasuke fought. The ANBU team couldn't extract intel through standard interrogation, so now it's our turn to handle this."

It didn't take long for Naruto to piece together his role.

"Let me guess—you want me to read his emotions while you ask questions?"

"Exactly." Kakashi nodded.

With that settled, he approached the tree, forming the Ram hand seal. A fūinjutsu mark shimmered into existence on the bark. Peeling it away revealed a door-sized hollow in the trunk.

Naruto's eyes sparkled with curiosity as he stepped inside, marveling at the craftsmanship. 'This has gotta be ANBU work…'

To his disappointment, the interior was sparse—just the remnants of a campfire, a hole likely serving as a latrine, and their prisoner: the masked enemy from days before, slumped against the curved inner wall.

Focusing on the emotions radiating from the captive, Naruto's brow furrowed. He'd expected hatred, maybe even fear—but the boy felt… empty.

Kakashi shot him a questioning glance when he paused, and Naruto quickly shook himself out of it, following his sensei deeper inside.

It wasn't until they stood directly in front of Haku that the prisoner even registered their presence. Lifting his head, his hollow eyes widened in recognition at the sight of Naruto—a spike of fear flashing through him before dissolving into numb resignation.

Studying Zabuza's subordinate, Kakashi recalled Neko's report:

"We ran standard protocols for high-resistance prisoners—starvation, thirst, Genjutsu—but he gave us nothing. If you can't crack him, senpai… we'll have to resort to brute force."

Clearing his throat, the silver-haired jōnin began.

"Ahem. I'm sure you recognize us. We're here to ask a few questions. Cooperate, and this'll go much smoother—so think carefully before answering, got it?"

Haku showed no reaction. Kakashi continued as if he'd replied anyway.

"What's your name?"

A whisper, barely audible:

"…Kill me."

Kakashi ignored it.

"How old are you?"
"Are you from Kiri?"
"What's your kekkei genkai?"
"How long have you served Zabuza?"

No matter what Kakashi asked, Haku's answer never changed. Yet the jōnin pressed on, unfazed—as if this were all part of the plan.

Naruto, in turn, furrowed his eyebrows even deeper. It wasn't just Haku's answers that were always the same—the emotions he radiated were too, almost as if he had already given up on life.

Seeing they weren't getting anywhere, the redhead pulled his sensei aside and whispered,

"Sensei, this isn't working. He's always like this… almost as if he's already dead."

Kakashi didn't seem too surprised by his student's remark. He'd had enough experience with this sort of thing that he didn't need a sensory ability to recognize someone who had already given up.

"Why didn't those ANBU just… y'know, do it?" Naruto asked, somewhat uncomfortably.

The jōnin arched an eyebrow at his student's question. It was a little unusual for someone who was squeamish about torture to ask why it hadn't been used.

"It's complicated, Naruto-kun…"

He replied, weighing whether he should be completely honest with his student or if the boy wasn't mature enough yet to accept the darker actions of the village.

Konoha wasn't as obsessed with kekkei genkai as Kumo—already having a number of powerful clans, they had no reason to actively seek more. Still, they wouldn't turn one down if the opportunity arose.

The real issue was that the village's higher-ups couldn't just accept anyone who showed up claiming they wanted to join. The risk of them being a spy was too great.

Not to mention, there was no chance a new clan would be established. The delicate balance between the clans that had shaped the village for decades could collapse if a new player suddenly appeared.

So, when a shinobi with a kekkei genkai was captured or offered themselves to the village, the method of integration wasn't exactly humanitarian. The individual was forced to reproduce with the clan whose traits best complemented the "volunteer's" kekkei genkai.

This considerably weakened the original kekkei genkai, but at the same time, it strengthened the members of a clan already loyal to the village—enough to maintain the balance without disrupting it.

Though not common, this method had already been used with the Inuzuka and Aburame, who were already feeling its effects—such as increased chakra for the Aburame and greater savagery for the Inuzuka.

Of course, this practice had its opponents, especially after what happened with the Kurama clan, not to mention clans like the Hyūga, who refused to "dilute their purity."

That's why they had to be careful handling Zabuza's accomplice. As the possessor of a kekkei genkai, they were obligated to bring him back to the village intact.

Some violence was tolerable, but anything causing lasting trauma was discouraged—there had been more than one case where a prisoner killed themselves during reproduction when paralysis seals had to be removed.

In short, when it came to kekkei genkai users, the veteran mindset was: Just bring them to the village and let the higher-ups deal with it.

Kakashi sighed inwardly. 'Better not tell him anything… at least for now.'

Instead, he dropped the subject and simply said,

"Anyway, it's not that the ANBU can't do anything. It's just that if they're not careful, they might end up causing problems for themselves."

To Naruto, it was clear that his sensei was hiding something—and whatever it was, it wouldn't be good for the fake Ōinin.

He couldn't help but glance at the prisoner with pity. Despite their battle, he held no hatred for him.

At that moment, an idea began forming in the redhead's mind. He turned to his sensei and said,

"Kakashi-sensei, I've got an idea. Just don't interfere, alright?"

Without waiting for an answer, Naruto stepped back in front of Haku.

Crouching to eye level, he spoke in a calm voice,

"Shinobi-san, I wanted to thank you. During our fight, I thought you weren't going all out because you underestimated me… but thinking back, you really didn't want to kill us."

He dipped his head slightly in gratitude and finished,

"Thank you. If my teammates and I are alive today, it's also because of your compassion."

For the first time since the interrogation began, Haku reacted—his disbelieving eyes locked onto the redhead before him.

Haku couldn't understand how someone who had sworn to kill him in the cruelest way possible now wore such a genuine expression.

'Just… what is he?'

Noticing the shift in the prisoner's mood, Naruto seized the opportunity.

"That's why I need to know—why would someone like you serve a scoundrel like Zabuza?"

The question caught Haku off guard, making him snap back without thinking.

"Don't speak of Zabuza-san that way!"

"Why not? From what Kakashi-sensei told me, he's a bastard who slaughtered his own comrades to become a shinobi. How is someone like that not a monster?"

Earlier that day, Kakashi had briefed his students on their enemies—he wanted them to know exactly what they were facing so they wouldn't falter in battle.

Haku snarled, his eyes burning with rage.

"I told you not to speak of him like that! You know nothing about Zabuza-san!"

"Then tell me," Naruto replied, unfazed. "If you don't, this is the only impression I'll ever have of him."

Calming slightly, the fake Ōinin lowered his gaze, his voice thick with emotion.

"I-I… When I was five, my father killed my mother… then tried to kill me."

The unexpected tragedy made Naruto's eyes widen in shock.

Kakashi, however, had a good idea of what this was about.

"The persecution of bloodline holders…"

Naruto turned to his sensei, raising a questioning eyebrow.

Noticing his student's look, the jōnin explained,

"After the last war, an anti-kekkei genkai movement began in Kiri. They believed the bloodlust and warmongering of the clans were what dragged Kiri into a war that only brought misery."

"Over time, the movement grew strong enough to completely isolate the clans from civilians. Since then, conflict has been constant—murders and persecution are the norm on both sides. The harsh truth is… Kiri is on the brink of civil war."

Naruto swallowed hard, realizing just how dire the situation was.

As if confirming Kakashi's words, Haku continued his story.

"After that, I wandered the streets completely alone. My mother's clan hated me—they wanted nothing to do with a child born from someone who had abandoned them, especially one with 'impure' blood running through their veins."

Haku's eyes filled with melancholy as he recalled those days.

"With no one to turn to, I roamed the streets. No matter how much I begged, no one paid me any attention—as if I were a plague. They pretended I didn't exist… like I was invisible."

"I ate scraps from the trash, drank rainwater, slept in alleyways… just surviving, one day after another. But what hurt the most wasn't the hunger or the cold—it was the lack of purpose. 'Why am I alive?' That's what I asked myself every day. No one needed me. I had no dreams, no goals… nothing. The truth was, there was no reason for my existence."

'He's…' A look of absolute sorrow crossed Naruto's face. Haku's story was painfully familiar—too familiar. Every hardship, every doubt—he had lived through it himself. Hearing someone else who had endured the same pain was almost too much to bear.

"The one who saved me was Zabuza-san. He took me off the streets, taught me everything I know… he gave me a reason to exist. I live only to be a weapon for Zabuza-san. But now that I'm just a burden, there's no reason for me to keep living. Do whatever you want—I won't say anything that could interfere with Zabuza-san's ambitions!"

Seeing the resolve in Haku's eyes, Kakashi thought there was nothing left to say.

He was wrong.

"Oh? So that's it? You're just giving up?" Naruto's voice cut through the silence like a blade.

Haku stared at him, confusion flickering in his gaze.

"You say you're Zabuza's weapon, that you only exist for him… but during our entire fight, you hesitated to kill. And now, at the first chance, you throw your life away. You're just using Zabuza as an excuse—the truth is, you never wanted to be alive in the first place!"

Haku's eyes widened in shock. His lips trembled before he bit them and looked away.

'Am I… using Zabuza-san?'

"Zabuza's still alive, you know. We don't want to kill him—but we might have to if he attacks old man Tazuna again."

Naruto's gaze sharpened, his voice steady and unwavering.

"Now, you need to decide if you care about Zabuza or not. If you give us the information we need, we can avoid fighting. But if all you care about is dying, then stay silent."

Haku hesitated, his resolve shaken.

"And if you're lying?" he asked warily. "What if you just want information to kill Zabuza-san?"

"Telling you to 'just trust us' won't work. So at least believe this: Our mission is to protect Tazuna, not to kill Zabuza. If we can avoid battle, we will."

The false Ōinin lowered his gaze, struggling to sort through his thoughts before stammering out a reply.

"I-I—"

But Naruto cut him off.

"You know what? Think about it some more. We'll come back tomorrow—then you can give us your answer."

Without another word, the redhead turned on his heel and strode away, his sensei trailing behind him—leaving a bewildered Haku in their wake.

Once outside the hollow tree, Kakashi resealed the entrance with a quick hand sign before turning to his student. There was an unfamiliar glint in his eye—something Naruto couldn't quite place.

"What?"

"Well… it's not every day you see a genin talk like that."

'That didn't feel like an interrogation… more like an older brother's lecture.'

Kakashi kept the thought to himself. The more time he spent with the boy, the more he was struck by him. Naruto had his flaws—who didn't?—but there was something about him that drew people in, made them trust him.

Kakashi was certain that if he'd said the same things to Haku, it wouldn't have had nearly the same effect. Hell, he wouldn't have even thought to handle it that way.

'Maybe that dream of becoming Hokage isn't so far-fetched, Naruto-kun…'

Naruto raised an eyebrow at his sensei's remark before shrugging.

"That was nothing special. I just got pissed off. All that crap about being a 'weapon'… in the end, he still hasn't found a reason to live. He's just leaning on someone else."

His gaze drifted downward for a moment before he turned and started walking back toward the house.

For a brief moment, something like sympathy flickered in Kakashi's visible eye—before it was smothered by a swell of quiet pride.

Catching up, the jōnin roughly tousled the redhead's crimson hair, ignoring any protests.

"Either way, you handled that well. So take some pride in it."

Naruto scowled at the sudden hair ruffle but couldn't completely suppress the small, genuine smile tugging at his lips.

With a firm nod, he picked up his pace—this time, his steps a little lighter.

---

Instead of heading straight back to the house, Naruto decided to continue his training at the creek.

When he arrived, he spotted Sasuke already there—walking across the water's surface. Unlike earlier, his steps were much steadier now. At this rate, it wouldn't take the Uchiha more than two days to master the exercise.

Seeing his teammate's progress lit a fire of determination in Naruto's chest. But before jumping into training, he stripped off his shirt and pants.

No way was he soaking another set of clothes. And since it was just him and Sasuke, there was no reason to worry about showing a little skin.

The rustling of fabric caught Sasuke's attention, making him glance toward the noise—only to freeze at the sight of Naruto standing there in nothing but his underwear.

The shock was so great that he lost focus and plunged straight into the water.

Startled by the splash and the sudden spike of emotion, Naruto spun around.

Sasuke slowly emerged from the creek, his face burning with embarrassment.

Naruto just raised an eyebrow.

"What's the big deal, Teme? Never looked in a mirror before?"

Sasuke averted his gaze with a huff.

"Hmph."

Baffled, Naruto decided it was best to just ignore him.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in relative silence, both doing their best to focus on training.

For some reason, though, Sasuke kept sneaking glances at him. And every time Naruto caught him, either Sasuke would lose his balance and sink, or Naruto himself would falter under the Uchiha's intense stare.

The whole situation was just plain weird. Sasuke had been acting strange for a while now, but this was getting out of hand.

So when Sasuke left early, Naruto thanked Kami under his breath.

'Seriously, at first it was just a joke… but I'm starting to think Teme might swing the other way…' Naruto mused as he attempted to walk on the water. '…Worst part is, if I ask him, he'll just curse me out.'

For a few minutes, he racked his brain for ways to handle the situation—considering everything from asking Sakura or Kakashi for advice to subtly letting Sasuke know about his suspicions.

With his mind so preoccupied, it was no surprise he couldn't focus on training.

Realizing he wouldn't make any progress like this; he called it a day.

With a sigh, he pulled his clothes back on and made his way toward Tazuna's house.

Not even five minutes later, Naruto arrived. Stepping inside, he glanced around to see who was around.

Kakashi sat by the window, casually flipping through Icha Icha Paradise. Umihiko was nowhere to be seen, while Tazuna occupied a chair in the kitchen. But the real prize was Tsunami, standing by the stove, preparing dinner.

"That smells amazing, Tsunami-chan!"

Startled, the young mother turned, but her surprise quickly melted into a warm smile.

"Perfect timing, Naruto-kun! Dinner will be ready in two minutes."

Seizing the opportunity, Naruto turned on the charm.

"Lucky me! But two minutes feels like an eternity when it's your cooking, Tsunami-chan~"

She laughed, clearly flattered. "Oh, stop it—you're going to make me blush!"

Grinning roguishly, Naruto pressed on. "Seriously, your food is the best I've ever had. I wouldn't mind eating it for the rest of my life!"

Tsunami giggled at his clumsy attempt at flirting before replying gracefully, "I'm sure a handsome young man like you will find someone who cooks even better than me."

Naruto scratched his cheek, his grin widening at the "handsome young man" comment.

Tazuna watched the exchange with a mixture of irritation and relief. His gamble with Umihiko had cost his family dearly—their once-comfortable city life had been stripped away, forcing them into hiding in this forest shack, bought with his last savings. His daughter had been living on edge, constantly terrified of Gatō's men.

Seeing her smile again was a balm to his guilt.

'At least if things go well, I won't have to endure this red-haired brat flirting in front of me much longer…'

"So, where's Sakura-tan and the Teme?" Naruto asked mid-banter.

"They just went upstairs. I think Sakura-san mentioned something about not disturbing them…"

Naruto's expression darkened.

Ino's parting words echoed in his head:

"Don't leave those two alone! That's all I'm asking, Naruto!"

To be fair, he had honored the blonde's request—until now. This was probably the first time Sasuke and Sakura had been alone together since the mission started.

Sighing, he stood up. "Well, since dinner's almost ready, I'll go get them. Be right back, Tsunami-chan!"

Kakashi watched his student leave, the faintest smirk tugging at the edge of his masked face - as if he could already predict the disaster about to unfold. The jōnin turned a page in his Icha Icha, already anticipating the inevitable explosion from upstairs.

Inside the room, Sakura carefully rewrapped the bandages around Sasuke's developing chest, her fingers working with practiced precision.

"I don't know how Naruto didn't notice these showing through your wet shirt earlier, Sasuke-san," she murmured, tugging the fabric taut. "We should wrap a bit lower around your abdomen too—just to keep him from suspecting anything."

Sasuke responded with a terse grunt.

And it was at that moment that the bedroom door opened without warning.

Of course, Naruto wouldn't knock. The boy had been raised as an orphan, learning social norms through sheer osmosis rather than proper guidance.

"Hey guys, din—"

The words died in his throat.

Naruto froze, jaw dropping.

In the middle of the room stood Sasuke—shirtless.

Sakura was behind him, holding what looked like freshly removed bandages.

But that wasn't what shocked Naruto.

No.

It was the small, unmistakable breasts on Sasuke's chest—breasts that only a girl would have.

Before he could process it, the door slammed shut in his face, barely blocking the storm of kunai that followed.

"I'LL KILL YOU, DOBE!"

The roar left no room for doubt—whatever Naruto had just seen, Sasuke never wanted him to know.

'What the fuck?!'

As Naruto's brain short-circuited, Sakura's frantic attempts to calm the furious kunoichi spilled into the hallway.

The commotion drew Umihiko from the neighboring room. "What's all this noise? Are we under attack?!"

"N-nothing, fatty—er, Umihiko-dono! Just a little accident with my teammates!"

The plump man narrowed his eyes at the slip, but before he could retort, the door flew open again—and Sakura yanked Naruto inside with a sharp:

"Sorry, Umihiko-dono, but I need to have a chat with this idiot!"

The door slammed shut.

Left standing in the hallway, Umihiko huffed. "These ninjas are all uncivilized barbarians…"

Once inside the room, the Uchiha—now wearing her shirt—shot a piercing glare at the redhead.

"Give me one reason not to kill you here and now, Dobe!"

Her voice was quieter now, but the cold edge in it promised Naruto a world of pain if his answer wasn't good enough.

Sakura watched the two with mixed feelings. As much as Naruto was at fault for barging in unannounced, she wasn't in any position to criticize him—not when she herself had discovered Sasuke's secret in an even worse way.

"How about not killing the life you saved?" Naruto shot back, unshaken. "Since we're on the subject, why don't you explain why you're so pissed at the person you almost died for? And while you're at it—why the hell are you a girl?!"

With every word, Sasuke's fury deepened. By the time Naruto finished, she looked ready to lunge at his throat.

"I don't owe you any explanations!"

Her hands clenched into fists as she struggled to rein in her temper.

Naruto raised an eyebrow, unfazed.

"Let me get this straight—you throwing yourself in front of me, giving your life for mine, is fine, but explaining what's going on is too much?"

The reminder struck a nerve.

"I shouldn't have done it!" Sasuke snapped, her voice rising. "It was a mistake, and you should just forget it ever happened!"

Naruto didn't flinch, even as her words stung. Every emotion radiating from her told him she didn't truly mean it.

"Well, it did happen—whether you like it or not. And I don't care if you think it was a mistake. I'm grateful for it, and I always will be. So how about you stop being so damn childish and accept that we're friends?"

"Hrrr!"

The comment hit its mark. With no comeback, Sasuke could only growl in frustration.

Seeing that letting them argue would get them nowhere, Sakura finally stepped in.

"Okay, enough. Both of you—calm down."

She turned to Sasuke first.

"You know Naruto. Now that he's seen you, he won't stop pestering you until you explain. He's our teammate—he won't go blabbing about it."

Then, she turned to Naruto.

"And you—first, apologize for barging in! Then, if Sasuke-san agrees to explain, you don't interrupt until she's finished!"

Naruto huffed but knew she was right. With a sigh, he bowed his head in genuine apology.

"Sorry for coming in without knocking."

Sasuke, now slightly calmer, gave a curt nod of acceptance—but inwardly, she cursed the whole situation.

As much as she knew Sakura had a point, she still wasn't sure if she could trust Naruto to keep his mouth shut.

No, that was just an excuse—she knew the redhead well enough to know he kept his word.

The truth was, she was afraid.

Afraid to open up.

Afraid to form bonds again.

Afraid of the pain she'd feel when those bonds were inevitably broken.

So she tried to escape. Tried to pretend they weren't close, that she hadn't been willing to die for him.

But it was already too late.

She knew it.

He knew it.

Even if she pulled away now, she would still suffer—just like she was suffering now.

With a sigh, she made her decision.

After what felt like an eternity, Sasuke finally met her teammate's gaze.

"Two months from now... on the last day of June, it will have been five years since my brother slaughtered my entire clan."

"The day I abandoned my name."

Silence filled the room. Even Sakura, who had already heard parts of the story, listened intently—this time, Sasuke was sharing more than she ever had before.

Naruto, meanwhile, mentally smacked himself.

'I'm an idiot! Back then… she said her brother was still out there. If I'd just thought for two seconds, I would've realized!'

Sasuke's voice remained steady, but there was a weight behind her words—an echo of pain long buried.

"I was that man's younger sister—Uchiha Itachi's. The daughter of the clan head. My father never wanted me to become a kunoichi, so I attended a civilian school. That day, for the first time in a long while, I was walking home alone..."

Naruto and Sakura hung onto every word.

"At first, I didn't notice anything was wrong. But as I walked through the streets… the silence crept in. No voices, no footsteps, nothing. Then, as I got closer, I started seeing them."

"Bodies, mutilated and scattered across the streets. I ran home as fast as I could."

Naruto felt a pit form in his stomach.

"When I finally got there… he was standing over the bodies of Mom and Dad, blood still dripping from his tanto."

Sasuke's voice wavered just slightly—but she forced herself to continue.

"I didn't want to believe it. He was my older brother—the same brother who always looked after me, who secretly trained me against our father's wishes, who always spoiled me... The brother I loved."

"So I denied it. With everything I had. I begged him to tell me who did it. I prayed, I pleaded for him to deny it, to say something—but he admitted it without hesitation."

A heavy silence settled over the room.

"Worse… he used a Genjutsu to make me watch. Thousands of times. I watched him kill them—over and over and over again."

For the second time that day, Naruto swallowed hard.

To someone like him—who had never known family—blood bonds were something idealized.

Which was why stories like this always hit him so deeply.

The whole thing was so twisted, he found himself wondering…

Could someone who did that to their own family even be called human anymore?

"I crawled on the ground, begging him to tell me why he did it. I needed an explanation. Sometimes... I wish he hadn't given me one. Hehehe..."

A hollow laugh escaped the girl's lips as tears streamed down her face.

Sakura moved closer, placing a hand on Sasuke's shoulder in a silent attempt to comfort her.

The Uchiha glanced at the pinkette, mild surprise flickering across her features before she took a steadying breath and continued.

"He said he did it to test himself—to see how strong he was, and how much stronger he could become."

Her voice turned flat, emotionless.

"Before he left, I chased after him, making one last desperate attempt to deny the truth. Deep down, I still hoped he was just an impostor pretending to be him."

Sakura's fingers unconsciously tightened on Sasuke's shoulder.

"Under the light of the full moon, he finally confessed—"

"That none of it had ever been real."

"Every moment we shared, everything he did for me... was just an act."

"All to test whether I had potential. Whether I was worth killing that night, or if he should let me live."

Naruto's hands clenched into fists.

"Then he cursed me," Sasuke went on. "Told me to hate him. To seek power. To awaken the same eyes as his and hunt him down for revenge."

By now, the tears had dried.

Only hatred remained in those crimson eyes—hatred so raw, so searing, it was as if she were staring into the face of her tormentor at this very moment.

"After that, I blacked out. When I woke up, I was in a hidden wing of the hospital, with only the Sandaime Hokage beside me. He asked me what I wanted to do next—said if I chose to live as a civilian, he'd make sure I was taken care of, no questions asked."

Sasuke exhaled slowly.

"But by then, just like now, my path was already decided. I needed revenge. So I begged him to let me become a kunoichi."

"He agreed... with conditions. Since I wasn't in the program to begin with, it'd be difficult to enroll me without the Council's approval. They'd argue it was too risky to send the last Uchiha—a girl, no less—on missions." Her voice dripped with scorn. "Pure nonsense."

"So the Sandaime proposed a plan—a false identity. A distant clan member, one so diluted in bloodline that awakening the Sharingan would be nearly impossible unless pushed to the brink of death. Someone whose descendants might only inherit the eyes once in a hundred generations."

"I agreed immediately. More than that—I made a vow."

Her fists clenched.

"As long as that man still breathes, I have no right to my name."

"I would live as Sasuke."

Silence fell over the room.

Everyone was too absorbed in her words to speak.

A full two minutes passed before Naruto finally broke the quiet.

"Heh... I'd be a damn hypocrite to blame you for hiding something like this..." The redhead rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly before his gaze sharpened.

"I won't judge you for wanting revenge. Shit, if it were me, I'd have gone after him before I was even ready. But—"

The memory of Haku flashed through Naruto's mind.

"You shouldn't make Itachi your only reason to exist."

Hearing those words, fury boiled in the Uchiha's stomach once more, rising swiftly to her throat. She was on the verge of snapping at the redhead for the nonsense he was spouting—

But he cut her off, raising his palm as if asking her to let him finish.

"Like I said, I'm not telling you to let it go or some stupid crap about being the 'better person.'" His voice was steady, firm. "What I am saying is—don't give him the satisfaction of being the only thing in your life."

A gentle smile spread across his face as he continued.

"We're right here, y'know? We're your friends. We can help you with this. Even if you wanna face him alone, we can still help you get ready for it. You're more than just that bastard. You said it yourself when you introduced yourself—you wanna kill him, but you also wanna rebuild your clan."

He leaned in slightly.

"So live for that too."

She wanted to argue.

She wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, that she didn't exist solely for her tormentor—

But no words left her lips.

As if he'd said all he needed to, Naruto stood and headed for the door. Only when he reached it did he pause, glancing back at her one last time.

"But hey, that's just how I see it. If you wanna keep going like this, I'll still be your friend—even if you punch me for it." A smirk tugged at his lips. "Either way… I'm looking forward to hearing your real name. Knowing you, it won't take long."

Her eyes widened.

Ever since killing Itachi became her goal, most people had looked at her like she was insane—like it was something she'd never achieve. But the unwavering belief in Naruto's voice only tangled her emotions further.

Sakura, who had stayed quiet until now, turned to her with soft eyes.

"You know, Sasuke-san… I agree with Naruto."

The pinkette then stood up.

"Ever since you told me about this, I've tried to get closer—to show you I'm here when you need me. But maybe…" she exhaled, steadying herself. "Maybe I was just scared you'd push me away."

Then, with quiet conviction, she said:

"I'm your friend. Whatever you want to do—whoever you want to kill—I'm here to help."

They locked eyes for a long moment.

In Sakura's emerald gaze, Sasuke saw nothing but pure sincerity.

And she had no idea how to respond.

As if sensing her turmoil, Sakura simply stood and left the room, giving her space.

For the first time in years… she had something to truly think about.

---

"Fuck you Kakashi!"

The loud shout startled the birds resting among the trees, sending them scattering into the sky.

The sun was already high that morning, and lunchtime wasn't far off—something that filled the redhead standing in front of the massive hollow tree with dread.

Because inside that tree, Haku was still being held.

Naruto had been there since early morning on Kakashi's orders. The jōnin was supposed to accompany him to see what decision Zabuza's accomplice would make, but since today was the day Tazuna returned to work on the bridge, Kakashi had to act as his escort instead.

Which meant Naruto had been left alone.

Worse yet, Kakashi had the audacity not to tell him how to disarm the seal protecting the tree. His only instructions? "Figure it out yourself—it's training."

Normally, the redhead wouldn't have minded. He liked training. But there was just one little problem—

He'd grown too accustomed to using Kage Bunshin.

Since he already had a clone disguised as Umihiko, he couldn't create another one to practice water-walking, which was what he was supposed to be learning right now. He even considered saying screw the rules and making a hundred clones anyway, but the daily dizziness from dispelling his Umihiko clone reminded him that wasn't a great idea.

Under these circumstances, he'd spent the entire morning trying to decipher the seal. He'd modified it multiple times and was just one step away from breaking it—

But the final stage refused to budge.

Which led to this moment, where he was cursing his sensei's entire bloodline.

Recompiling the seal once more, he paced back and forth, racking his brain for a new solution. It wasn't until a few moments later that someone entered his detection range.

He barely had time to react before a purple-haired, cat-masked ANBU appeared in front of him, katana already drawn—its blade dangerously close to his throat.

"What are you doing here, Naruto-kun?"

Sweat trickled down the redhead's cheek as he fought to keep his expression neutral.

"K-Kakashi-sensei sent me here to finish the interrogation." He forced out a grin. "Can you believe that lazy bastard didn't even tell me how to get past the seal, Neko-san?"

The ANBU studied him for a moment before sighing and sheathing her katana.

"Step back. I'll deactivate the seal."

Relieved but not showing it, Naruto took a few steps back. Then, curiosity got the better of him.

"Huh, Neko-san, why'd you come here? Weren't you supposed to be with my clone?"

Over the past few days, he'd grown somewhat familiar with the purple-haired ANBU—or rather, she'd been keeping him in line to make sure his Umihiko disguise wasn't blown.

"I ran into your sensei earlier. He said you should've finished interrogating him by now, so I came to bring some food and water so he wouldn't die."

Naruto's eyebrow twitched.

So Kakashi not only abandoned him with no instructions, but he also had the nerve to act like he should've been done by now?

And to top it all off, this ANBU had questioned him just to scare the crap out of him?

He didn't know who pissed him off more—Kakashi or her.

"Hah… sorry to disappoint you both," he muttered, offering a crooked smile.

The ANBU said nothing, but behind her mask, a small, amused smirk was barely visible.

With a few swift hand seals, the seal on the tree unraveled. The entrance reappeared, revealing the darkened interior.

Without another word, the two stepped inside.

It didn't take long for Naruto's eyes to land on Haku's half-conscious figure.

Worried, he quickly approached his former enemy, only to let out a sigh of relief when he saw that Haku was still breathing.

Neko arrived a moment later, showing no urgency as she stepped closer. Once she reached them, she placed a firm hand on the redhead's shoulder and said,

"He's just hungry and dehydrated. A bit of this will get him back on his feet so you can finish what you came here to do."

Taking the canteen from her hip, Neko unscrewed the cap—but before offering it to Haku, she pulled a pill from one of her pockets and forced it down his throat. Only then did she tilt the canteen to his lips, making him drink.

Desperate for relief, Haku bit down on the mouthpiece, refusing to let Neko pull it away until he'd drained every last drop.

A quiet sigh escaped his lips as he finally released it.

"Hmph."

Snorting, Neko wiped the canteen clean with a cloth before returning it to her hip.

Now that Haku had regained some clarity, Naruto met his gaze.

"So… what's your decision?"

Ever since their conversation the day before, Naruto's words had lingered in Haku's mind. No matter how much he tried to refute them, in the end, they were true.

His choice could only be one.

"I'll talk…"

And so, over the next few minutes, he revealed everything he knew. Most of it was already familiar to Neko, but the details about Gatō's base layout and the boy Raiga carried on his back were invaluable intel—the kind that could mean the difference between success and failure for this mission.

'Without this, I'd never have guessed Raiga's "kekkei genkai" was actually a boy he carries—one who possesses it instead.'

Turning to the redhead, Neko said,

"That settles it. Report what you heard here to your sensei. Understood?"

"Hai, hai," Naruto muttered, exasperated.

With nothing left to discuss, the pair prepared to leave. Just as Naruto was about to step outside, he glanced back at Haku one last time, his expression flickering with sympathy.

Outside, Neko resealed the tree. Before she could finish, Naruto's voice cut through the air, heavy with unease.

"Neko-san… what's gonna happen to him when we get back?"

The ANBU showed no visible reaction, but Naruto felt the weight of her presence shift—an almost imperceptible change that told him he wouldn't like the answer.

"He'll be imprisoned for attempting to kill Konoha shinobi. As a kekkei genkai bearer, he'll be forced to breed with carefully selected individuals… and then executed. If Konoha has a bounty on his head, you'll receive it."

A mix of disgust and disbelief twisted Naruto's face.

"…You're serious?"

Neko didn't answer. She didn't have to.

Seeing his reaction, she regretted being so blunt. 'I knew I shouldn't have said it… Sigh. At least this'll help him mature.'

Though she hadn't shown it, Neko had grown fond of the boy over the past few days. As much as his antics as Umihiko's stand-in had been a hassle, he was a breath of fresh air amid the grueling missions she usually endured.

Naruto didn't press further. He simply turned and walked away.

But as he did, he swore to himself—

He would help Haku.

He'd be damned if he let someone who'd already suffered so much endure something so horrific because of him.

'Just wait, shinobi-san… I'll fix this!'

---

Tsunami smiled warmly at the lively scene before her. It had been so long since she'd experienced such animated dinners as the ones they had enjoyed these past few days.

Seated around the table were the three students of the man hired to protect her father—and, of course, their masked sensei, who somehow managed to eat without ever removing his mask. How he did it remained a mystery, but she simply chalked it up as another ninja thing.

Her father, who had just returned from working on the bridge, ate with a ravenous appetite, though Umihiko-sama, seated beside him, was devouring his meal even faster.

When the nobleman first arrived, she had worried about accidentally offending him. But to her surprise, he was remarkably easy to get along with. She wasn't sure if it was because her father and late husband had been among his biggest supporters or if this was simply his natural personality—either way, she was grateful.

Even her usually withdrawn son sat at the table, eating peacefully.

For the first time in a long while, she could truly smile again—a smile that only grew wider at the sweet compliments the redheaded boy kept showering her with.

"Seeing your lovely smile after dealing with those old geezers all day is a blessing, Tsunami-chan!"

Having just dispelled his clone, Naruto was still assimilating its memories and emotions, causing him to blurt out what his clone had done rather than the training he'd undergone with Sasuke that afternoon.

Tsunami giggled lightly, about to respond, when Umihiko suddenly turned to the redhead, panic written all over his face.

"Old geezers?! Tell me you don't call them that while disguised as me, Naruto-dono!"

Sweat beaded on the nobleman's round face, but Naruto quickly reassured him.

"Huh? Of course not, Umihiko-dono! I'm a shinobi, y'know? I can fool anyone! Don't worry, I followed your instructions exactly!"

Despite his confident words, the truth wasn't quite so flawless. On the first day, Neko had nearly dispelled his clone multiple times. When Kakashi found out, he had scolded Naruto harshly, reminding him how crucial it was to the mission that his disguise remain perfect.

Naruto had tried to excuse himself by claiming he was terrible at lying—only for Kakashi to respond, "You seemed plenty convincing when you lied to me."

After that, he had no choice but to step up his game, carefully mimicking the same act he had pulled on his sensei.

Luckily, his sensory skills helped him avoid detection, giving him constant feedback on whether his words were raising suspicion.

The portly noble sighed, reluctantly accepting the boy's reassurance. If he were honest, he was still worried—but there was nothing more he could do. With a nod, he moved to close the subject.

"Right. Tomorrow's letter is already prepared. You can take it after dinner so you won't have to wake me up early tomorrow."

'Gyahahaha! More like so you won't have to be woken up early, right?!' Naruto jeered internally.

"Sure! Where's it headed?"

"Deliver it to the guild's accounting secretary—and don't forget, do it in secret!"

"The merchant guild? Damn."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, questioning the reaction. Sakura, realizing she was the only one who hadn't been to town yet, filled him in.

"The merchant guild is on the main street. It's impossible to walk there without someone trying to pick your pocket. Just today, I got pickpocketed twice while escorting Tsunami-san."

As the Uchiha nodded in understanding, the portly nobleman averted his gaze, shame creeping onto his face. No matter how flawed he was, it still embarrassed him to know that the country he would soon rule had fallen into such disrepair.

Naruto, however, had latched onto something else entirely—Tsunami had gone into town. He seized the opportunity without hesitation.

"Tsunami-chan, a beautiful woman like you shouldn't walk those streets alone! It's too dangerous! But don't worry—next time you need to go, just ask me! I'll escort you and protect you with my life!"

Tsunami giggled, a faint blush dusting her cheeks.

Sakura, on the other hand, clenched her fists. She wasn't sure what infuriated her more—the implication that she wasn't pretty enough to be in danger, or the idea that she couldn't protect Tsunami herself.

But before she could snap at her teammate, someone else beat her to it.

"WHY DON'T YOU JUST SHUT UP?!"

Tsunami's son—the quiet boy named Inari—slammed his hands onto the table, tears streaking his furious face.

"Stop lying! You won't protect anyone! No matter what you do, Gatō is way stronger than you! The only thing you'll accomplish is getting yourself killed!"

The once-rowdy dinner table fell into an uncomfortable silence, broken only by the boy's ragged sobs.

Naruto turned to him, expression eerily blank.

"You done?"

He had tolerated the kid's attitude until now, knowing full well the brutal fate his stepfather had suffered. Truth be told, half of his flirting with Tsunami was just to keep her spirits up.

But there was a limit to his patience—and Naruto wasn't known for having much.

"How long are you gonna keep crying in corners like a damn coward?"

"Naruto, that's enough! He's just a kid," Sakura interjected, her voice tight as she tried to defuse the situation.

But Naruto wasn't finished.

"No, Sakura. He needs to hear this." His tone was sharp, unwavering. "Your grandfather is out there risking his life while you cower and cry in your room. If you wanna keep living like a miserable brat, fine—but don't you dare insult the people fighting every day to make your life better!"

Pushing back from the table, Naruto cast one last glance at Tsunami before turning toward the door.

"Thanks for dinner, Tsunami-chan. It was delicious, as always."

Without another word, he strode out into the night, disappearing into the forest.

Sakura bit her lip, torn between chasing after him or staying behind—until Sasuke placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I'll handle it. There's something I need to talk to him about anyway."

She hesitated but eventually nodded, watching as the Uchiha stood and followed Naruto at a measured pace.

The moonlight bathed a small clearing in the forest, casting long shadows over the figures locked in combat.

Multiple copies of the redhead clashed against each other, each mirroring his movements with relentless precision.

The original wove through the chaos, his footwork clumsy but determined. He knew his own fighting style well—but facing an opponent who fought exactly like him was an entirely different challenge.

So it was no surprise that by the time he dispelled the last clone, he looked far worse for wear.

Leaning against a tree at the edge of the clearing, Sasuke had been watching in silence. Naruto had sensed her presence long ago but paid little attention—until she stepped forward and dropped into a fighting stance.

That made him pause, one eyebrow arching in question.

They hadn't spoken since last night, even though they'd trained together earlier that day.

In answer, the girl activated her Sharingan.

Naruto straightened, matching her stance, his gaze locked onto those crimson eyes—the same ones Kakashi hid beneath his hitai-ate.

No words were exchanged. There was no need for them.

The fight began.

At first, Sasuke had the upper hand. Somehow, she understood his movements better than ever, reading his attacks with unsettling accuracy. He had to push himself twice as hard, trying to break past her guard. But soon—slowly, inevitably—the balance shifted.

For the first time since their very first spar, they were evenly matched. Blow for blow. Strike for strike.

With every exchanged punch, Naruto felt like he understood her a little more. It was almost as if she was speaking to him through their movements.

'I get you.'

'This pain... I feel it too.'

'We're the same.'

He didn't know why he felt that way—only that it wasn't just his sensory skills at work. There was something deeper, something he couldn't quite name.

So he poured everything into his strikes, responding to the words she wasn't saying.

Minutes stretched into eternity. By the time their fists finally landed—his against her jaw, hers against his—both collapsed to the ground, breathless.

For a while, the only sound in the clearing was their ragged breathing.

Then Sasuke broke the silence.

"You were right."

Naruto turned his head toward her, smirking weakly.

"Heh, I've been right about a lot of things. Gonna have to be more specific, y'know?"

Rolling her eyes, she exhaled sharply.

"About me and Itachi… You were right. I was only living for him."

The redhead opened his mouth to respond, but she pressed on.

"I just… I didn't know what else to do. All I could think about was the pain he caused me. So I locked myself in it, terrified… terrified that if I cared about anyone else, they'd just be taken from me. Or worse…"

Her fingers curled into the grass.

"…betray me like he did."

Naruto bit his tongue, scratching the back of his neck as he debated what to say. After a moment, he sighed and just went with his gut.

"Look… I can't say I understand a hundred percent. I've lost friends, been betrayed—but nothing like what you went through. All I know is, I'd be damned before I let someone who hurt me decide how I live."

Memories of Mizuki and the days that followed flickered through his mind, casting a somber glint in his eyes.

"It's hard. Really fucking hard. I've lost count of how many times I've faltered—how many nightmares I've had, how many times I let my anger at others hurt the people I care about. But I can't let that define me."

He exhaled; gaze distant.

"For the longest time, I kept asking myself—who am I? Why do I exist? I searched desperately for answers, wasting so much time focusing on the people who hated me. So, I thought, what's the point of winning in life, of achieving my dreams, if it was all fueled by hatred for those I despise? No—my life has to be more than that."

He looked at her then, expression softer.

"I still wanna prove them wrong. Show them I matter. But at the same time, I know that can't be all there is. I have to protect the people around me. What's the point of happiness if you've got no one to share it with?"

Sasuke listened in silence. His feelings were different from hers, yet somehow familiar—and for the first time, she could see a path beyond the one she'd been walking.

Then, the redhead grinned and spoke again.

"I don't know my real name—just that my parents were merchants who had the bad luck of being in Konoha during the Kyūbi attack. But you can call me Naruto. I don't know my birthday, so I always celebrated it on the day of the attack."

"My favorite food is ramen—not just 'cause it's good, but because it was the first real meal I had after months on the streets. I hate cowards 'cause they remind me of who I used to be. And my dream? To carve my name into history as the greatest Hokage, have a family, and be happy. Nice to meet you."

Understanding what he was doing, Sasuke allowed herself a small smile and answered in turn.

"I abandoned my name as a vow. My parents were killed, along with the rest of my clan. Now, I go by the name the Sandaime gave me—Uchiha Sasuke. My favorite food is tomatoes, the way my mother used to prepare them."

"I don't think I need to say who I hate, but right after him come all the sycophants trying to use me. My dream is to restore my clan's honor by killing Itachi. Nice to meet you."

Naruto tilted his head slightly, then held out a fist. "Finally admitting we're friend, Teme-chan?"

Sasuke smirked faintly and tapped her fist against his. "Hn, in your dreams Dobe-kun."

With matching smiles, they pulled each other to their feet and slowly made their way back to Tazuna's house.

Unbeknownst to them, for just a few minutes, they had gone unnoticed by the watchful eyes of Ranmaru—who, perched on Raiga's back, had been scanning the forest for one specific chakra signature.

It didn't take long to find it.

Standing before a thick-based, narrow-topped tree, the rogue-nin smirked and confirmed with his partner.

"You're sure Haku's here, Ranmaru?"

The boy nodded. "Yes, Raiga."

To Be Continued

---

Glossary of Techniques

Raiton: Bakurai (Lightning Release: Depth Charge):
A B-rank Lightning Release ninjutsu used to generate an electric discharge from the user's body. While effective at burning and paralyzing targets, its range is very short, reaching no more than 2 meters.

Genjutsu: Ketsu no Shinkai (Illusion Technique: Bloodstained Abyss):
An A-rank genjutsu that traps the target at the bottom of a heavy seaof blood, immobilizing them completely. As a high-level illusion, it affects four of the five senses: touch, sight, hearing, and smell. The drawback is that only those with a specific kekkei genkai can use it.

Fūinjutsu: Shōgeki Fūin (Seal Technique: Shockwave Seal):

One of Naruto's original seals, designed to store chakra and then release it as a shockwave attack. According to Kakashi, its power rivals a B-rank ninjutsu. However, it requires an A-rank's worth of chakra to activate and has an extremely short range—requiring the user to be inches away from the target.

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Responses to Reviews

Dragon master 124:
My mistake—what I meant was that Hiruzen was the only one who's ever appeared in the fanfic who knows about it, not necessarily the others mentioned. That leaves it open whether Jiraiya knows, but at this point, I might as well confirm: Jiraiya doesn't know. That said, there's someone else who either knows about the redhead's lineage or has strong suspicions.

About the Rasengan, don't worry—I get it. It's frustrating when a very different Naruto doesn't even keep his signature techniques. I've tried to write this fic as close to canon Naruto's personality as possible while adding my own twists where they fit the story's events. If I stripped away all his techniques, he'd feel more like an OC than an alternate Naruto. So yes, expect the Rasengan and Sage Mode—just in a very different way.

As for Kakashi, I hope you liked how things unfolded this chapter!

TheSlySage:
I won't lie—that was my first idea too, but now I'm not so sure. I already have plans for how some of the redhead's flirting will play out, but I'm still undecided about Satsuki and another certain character. As for more gender-bending, I'd love to, but adding more pairings would be overkill. I'm barely managing to avoid turning this into a harem (which I promise won't happen).

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Author's Notes

Well, that's it for now. This chapter might have more errors than usual since I rushed to post it today. I'll revise it tomorrow and, God willing, won't need to change much.

In this chapter, I tried to explain ninja techniques better. Ever since I started this fic, I've wondered how to write fights in a way that makes them fun to read. Just writing "X kicked Y, who blocked and countered with a punch" feels boring (at least to me).

So I concluded that the most engaging fights are the mental/strategic ones. For those who follow Hajime no Ippo, think of Volg's world title fight. The downside? I'll need to be very creative when writing them—though I already have ideas for this arc's battles.

Oh, one last thing: The whole Naruto being a hagmaxxing is just a joke, nothing serious lol.

That's all! The next chapter wraps up the Wave Arc. Ja ne!