The report came swiftly, delivered by a returning team of shinobi who had just completed their mission. Their faces were grim as they entered the Hokage's office, their voices low as they recounted the horrifying sight they had come across at the gates. Two guards, both dead, their bodies mangled beyond recognition.
Minato sat silently, listening to the team's report. His mind drifted back to the earlier incident with the villager, to Naruto's cold declaration: "I'm done with all of you." His heart sank. The boy who had once been his bright, cheerful son was now a storm of anger and resentment, leaving destruction in his wake.
What have I done? Minato thought, his mind racing. I should have been there for him. I should have seen the signs. He felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. He had been so focused on training Menma and Naruko, believing they were the key to the village's future, that he had neglected the very son who needed him the most.
Minato knew what had to be done, but his mind was a battlefield of conflicting emotions. If he found Naruto, would the boy even listen to him? Would he come back willingly? If not, Minato dreaded the thought of what might happen. And if he succeeded in bringing Naruto back to the village, what then? Could he punish his own son for these crimes?
Pushing those thoughts aside, Minato stood with renewed resolve. He couldn't let his personal feelings stop him. He needed to find Naruto before things escalated further.
Minato called for the Anbu and gave them swift orders. "Find Tsume Inuzuka. Bring her to my office immediately." Without waiting for their acknowledgment, he vanished in a flash, reappearing at his home to prepare.
When Tsume arrived at the Hokage's office, she found Minato waiting, his face grim and lined with worry. Kuromaru, her loyal ninken, growled softly, sensing the tension in the air.
"I need your help, Tsume," Minato.
Tsume nodded, her expression serious. "What do you need me to do?"
Minato handed her some of Naruto's clothes, recently worn and imbued with his scent. "I need you and Kuromaru to track him down.
"I fear he may be in danger, or worse, he may be a danger to others. He's out there alone, and I can't let him get hurt or hurt anyone else."
Tsume's eyes narrowed. "Naruto? The kid finally snapped huh?"
Minato nodded grimly. "It's worse than you think. The guards at the gate... he killed them."
Her sharp intake of breath was all the reaction she gave. Without hesitation, she handed the clothes to Kuromaru, who sniffed them intently. The ninken let out a low bark, signaling he had the scent.
Minato, Tsume, Kuromaru, and a team of Anbu set out immediately, following Naruto's trail.
The scent trail led them outside the village, to the edges of a dense forest. There, the trail abruptly ended.
Kuromaru growled in frustration, sniffing the air for any lingering traces, but there was nothing. "The boy's scent vanishes here," Tsume
Minato frowned, his instincts kicking in. "He must have teleported or transported away from here," he speculated,
Minato clenched his fists. Naruto... Where have you gone?
Flashback
Not long before Minato and his team arrived, Naruto had been wandering aimlessly, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and muttered ramblings. The air around him felt charged, as though the universe itself was conspiring against him.
Suddenly, a swirling vortex formed around him, attempting to suck him in. Naruto stopped, watching it with a mix of curiosity and irritation. The force of the vortex tugged at him, but he didn't bother activating Lion's Heart to nullify it. Let it take me, he thought. Anywhere is better than here.
The vortex spat him out unceremoniously in front of a dark, ominous cave. Naruto brushed himself off, muttering angrily about the interruption.
Flashback end
Naruto's ramblings were cut short as another vortex appeared nearby. From it emerged a man in a swirling mask.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Who the hell are you? What's your deal, dragging me here?" He began ranting, pacing back and forth, his words sharp and disjointed.
The masked man, Tobi, chuckled lightly, his tone almost mocking. "You should be thankful, Naruto. If it weren't for me, your father would have dragged you back to the village by now."
Naruto stopped pacing, his expression darkening at the mention of Minato. "So he did come after me," he muttered before launching into another tirade. "Of course he did. He's probably furious about the guards. They shouldn't have stood in my way. They violated my rights."
Tobi watched him silently, waiting for Naruto's rant to end. When the boy finally paused, Tobi spoke again. "I didn't bring you here out of the goodness of my heart, you know."
Naruto crossed his arms. "Then what do you want?"
"I want you to join my organization, the Akatsuki," Tobi stated, his voice smooth and persuasive.
"I Naruto scoffed, shaking his head. "I don't want to satisfy anyone's agenda but my own."
Tobi smirked, "You're free to do whatever you want in your free time, as long as you perform for us."
Naruto shook his head. "No deal. I don't take orders from anyone."
Tobi's demeanor shifted, and he leaned closer, his voice low and threatening. "Then I'll have to use force to convince you."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "What right do you have to force obedience on me? That's a violation of my rights." Without waiting for a response, he unleashed a wave of wind, imbued with the power of Lion's Heart. The attack tore through the ground, but passed harmlessly through Tobi.
Naruto's expression twisted with displeasure. He tried again and again, each attack as ferocious as the last, but none of them touched Tobi.
The masked man smirked. "Is that all? My turn." He summoned giant shuriken from his dimension, hurling them at Naruto with deadly intent.
Naruto activated Lion's Heart, the authority making him impervious to Tobi's shuriken.

"You're not the only one who's invincible," Naruto said, a smirk playing on his lips. He kicked some pebbles toward Tobi. The pebbles, imbued with Lion's Heart, became deadly, but the attack phased through Tobi effortlessly.

Tobi attempted to trap Naruto in his Kamui dimension, but Naruto's Lion's Heart rendered the vortex ineffective. Tobi stared in shock as the boy stood unscathed.
Naruto seized the moment to ramble about his superiority, declaring himself above Tobi, his family, and the villagers who had wronged him. "You think you can control me? I'm better than all of you!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the cave.
As Tobi studied Naruto's movements, he noticed the boy's exhaustion, despite his bravado. "We should call it a draw," Tobi suggested, his tone shifting to one of negotiation. "Your power is impressive, but it's too much for your body to handle right now."
Naruto hesitated, the weight of his fatigue pressing down on him. Reluctantly, he agreed to the draw, though it left a bitter taste in his mouth
The two struck up a deal, with Naruto laying down stipulations for his potential involvement with the Akatsuki. He was determined to maintain his autonomy, unwilling to be a pawn in anyone else's game.
As they discussed the terms, Naruto felt a flicker of hope. Perhaps this was the beginning of a new path, one where he could finally assert his rights and carve out his own destiny.
---
After their negotiations concluded, Tobi placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, a gesture that felt both familiar and unsettling. In an instant, the world around them blurred, colors swirling into a vortex of light and shadow. When the chaos subsided, Naruto found himself standing in a dimly lit alleyway, the air thick with moisture and the scent of rain. They had arrived in the Hidden Rain Village.
The atmosphere was heavy, a stark contrast to the vibrant life of Konoha. The sky above was perpetually overcast, casting a gloomy pall over the landscape. As Naruto took in his surroundings, he felt a mix of unease and excitement. This was a new beginning, a chance to redefine himself away from the judgmental eyes of the villagers and the expectations of his family.
---
Moments later, Zetsu emerged from the shadows. He had been watching the entire confrontation, intrigued by the exchange between Tobi and the young boy.
Well, well, well," White Zetsu said, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Did you see that? The kid has some serious guts! I mean, standing up to Tobi like that? Bold move!"
Such potential," Black Zetsu mused seriously, "but also such unpredictability. Tobi seems to think he can mold him into something useful, but can he really control that kind of personality?"
White Zetsu shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You're such a downer! Lighten up! Maybe we can teach him a few tricks. How to be a ninja and make him a legend. That could be a bestseller!"
Black Zetsu sighed, a hint of exasperation in his voice. "This isn't about writing a book, you idiot. The Akatsuki has it's fair share of loose cannons. We don't need another one who might act on impulse, especially one with that level of power. Tobi may be underestimating the risks involved.
White Zetsu leaned in closer, a grin still plastered on his face. "You know, you could use a little fun in your life. Maybe we should take him out for ramen! Nothing like a good bowl of noodles to calm the nerves!"
Black Zetsu shook his head, a faint smirk breaking through his serious demeanor. "Ramen won't solve our problems.
He sighed, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. "Tobi is always so optimistic. He sees potential where others see danger. But I wonder if he truly understands what he's getting into. Naruto is not just a tool; he's a person with emotions, desires, and a will of his own"
"But I'll admit, keeping an eye on him might be necessary. If he's going to be part of our plans, we need to ensure he doesn't spiral out of control."
As White Zetsu continued to joke, Black Zetsu's thoughts turned serious." Naruto's presence could complicate my plans to resurrect mother. If he becomes a threat, I'll have to deal with him. But if he can be controlled, he might just be the key to gathering the power I need. I'll have to tread carefully. The storm is brewing, and I must be prepared for whatever comes next."
After their discussion Zetsu joined up with Tobi and Naruto.