On the outskirts of Konoha, two tall figures stood side by side on the village's perimeter wall, their black cloaks adorned with red clouds swaying gently in the breeze. Wide-brimmed hats cast shadows over their faces as they gazed down at the remnants of the once-thriving village.
Behind one of them, a massive, blade-like object wrapped in bandages rested on his back.
"Though the village was spared total destruction, the damage is severe," Kisame remarked, his shark-like features twisting into a mockery of sympathy.
"Such a pity," he added, "this place used to be so prosperous."
Itachi, his stoic demeanor unshaken, responded calmly, "I have no nostalgia for this place."
Kisame chuckled. "Really? Doesn't seem like your usual tone."
"None at all," Itachi replied flatly.
By the time Itachi and Kisame entered the village, Naruto had already sensed their arrival.
This wasn't surprising—Third Hokage had, years ago, made an exception for Itachi. Despite his defection, the village's barriers were deliberately left unchanged to allow Itachi to enter Konoha whenever he wished to check on Sasuke.
At the time, Itachi had accepted this arrangement, likely grateful for the Hokage's gesture.
Naruto knew the reasons behind Itachi's visit today: officially, it was to capture him as the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. Unofficially, it was to check on Sasuke and provoke him into growing stronger. Perhaps there was even an implicit message to Konoha's leadership, warning them to stay away from Sasuke now that the Third Hokage was gone.
Still, Naruto had no intention of confronting Itachi or Kisame. While he had his eye on Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan and Kisame's Samehada, now wasn't the right time. His strength wasn't sufficient to face them head-on without a heavy cost.
For now, his focus remained on training and accumulating power for the inevitable future clash.
What Naruto didn't know, however, was that Itachi had a third mission: a task assigned by the Akatsuki.
At the training ground, Naruto was running laps with weighted gear strapped to his body. He had already completed 1,300 laps of his 2,000-lap goal. Shadow Clones stationed at the center of the field were practicing various physical techniques and refining new power moves.
Nearby, Neji observed with a mixture of admiration and envy. Training alongside Naruto was no easy task, especially when Naruto's determination seemed limitless.
Meanwhile, Might Guy was leading Lee through the village with handstand sprints, showcasing his own unique training regimen.
By the riverside, Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai found themselves face-to-face with Itachi and Kisame. Kisame's massive Samehada rested ominously on his back, ready for battle.
Might Guy, upon noticing the confrontation, instructed Lee to alert the Anbu while he rushed to assist. Itachi, however, was uninterested in an extended skirmish. He had no intention of killing Kakashi and recognized Might Guy's potential as a serious obstacle. With this in mind, Itachi and Kisame retreated, planning to seek Naruto at another time.
Word of Itachi and Kisame's presence spread quickly among Konoha's leadership and elites. Jiraiya, who was already aware of the Akatsuki's intentions, was approached by the village elders. They implored him to take up the mantle of Hokage, but Jiraiya had no interest in the role. Instead, he proposed finding Tsunade to assume the position.
Jiraiya also decided to take Naruto with him on this journey, partly to keep him safe and partly to provide training.
When Jiraiya approached Naruto at the training ground, the system chimed in with a new mission:
"Ding! Mission released: Find Tsunade and address her hemophobia!"
The Path of Compassion: Convince her with love and dreams.
Reward: Tsunade's kiss.
The Path of Force: Use blood to confront her fears and inspire her.
Reward: [Sage Body of the Senju Clan].
The second option caught Naruto's attention immediately. The Sage Body, with its immense Chakra reserves and enhanced abilities, had been on his wish list for a long time.
"System, I choose the second option!" Naruto declared.
A kiss from Tsunade? He preferred someone like Hinata.
The first stop on their journey was a bustling town near Konoha. Despite carrying heavy gear as part of his training, Naruto's curiosity led him to explore the lively streets, where he purchased an oversized black toad-themed pair of sunglasses.
After settling into an inn, Jiraiya was quickly distracted by a flirtatious woman. Naruto, meanwhile, sensed Itachi and Kisame nearby and decided to wait for them in his room.
When a knock sounded at the door, Naruto ignored it, continuing his push-ups.
Knock-knock.
"I'm underage! I don't need special services!" Naruto called out.
With a loud crash, Kisame kicked the door open.
Naruto stood up and glanced at the two Akatsuki members with disinterest, his exaggerated toad glasses gleaming.
"I told you, I don't need special services! Especially not from a guy with a shark face!"
Kisame's shark-like features twitched in amusement. "You've got guts, kid."
Naruto smirked. "Nah, I'm just pure."
Itachi sighed. "Kisame, stop wasting time. He's mocking us."
"You brat!" Kisame growled, hefting Samehada and swinging it toward Naruto. "You're asking for it!"
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