It's been days since they returned to the base, where Naruto introduced Zabuza and Haku to Pein. This was a big opportunity for them since the Mist Village was in war. If Akatsuki went there to help, they would be seen as heroes.
Naruto wasn't worried about Obito and Zetsu for now, because he knew Obito wouldn't refuse this since it would help Akatsuki's goals—making themselves look like superheroes while actually being villains. That would be Obito's thought.
Pein, however, had one major concern. It was Konoha.
"What do you mean?" Naruto stood in front of Nagato in confusion. "What's that gotta do with me?" He already told them what he wanted to do. Konoha was still his home, but right now those people hated him. He was pretty sure no one would care except the Third Hokage, Iruka, and Kakashi, as they were the only ones he knew and who knew him.
"It's going to be invaded by Orochimaru," Nagato told him. "His target is Sasuke Uchiha."
That was old news. Of course Naruto knew. "Yes? Again, they have elites. I'm sure they'll protect Sasuke—wait, why are you worried about him?" Why was Nagato worried about Sasuke?
Now it was Nagato's turn to look confused. "Wasn't he… your friend?"
"Not here… Honestly, right now he's aggressive, traumatized, his trigger word is Itachi, and finally he's jealous…" Naruto spread his arms. "I'm currently stronger than him. Sasuke right now has a HUGE urge to kill everyone in his path who stops him from killing Itachi. I already told you all about it." Except that Naruto has a system, and it gives him tasks and rewards.
Naruto is conflicted about reality right now; he's just playing along. This system has confused him. He remembers very clearly when the screen panel appeared before him while he was dying and what he chose at that moment.
He woke up in his apartment.
And now he's here in Akatsuki, being one of them and trying to stop the whole 'Let's capture the Bijū to bring peace.' That's literally Zetsu's doing, not Obito's. He's being mind-controlled.
Naruto knows how things go from here on out. He isn't going to play the hero. No, no, he's going to live his life. Screw everyone!
Whatever this system is, Naruto won't rely on it for long.
"And if I, the Deadlast, appear in front of him with flashy jutsu and overpower him, he gets even more jealous, pushes himself harder, and ends up joining Orochimaru— No, wait, that is going to happen no matter what!"
Nagato coughed. "Can't you change his mind? Like you did with Zabuza?"
Naruto shook his head. "My Talk-no-Jutsu is a forbidden technique… If I were to use it on him—" He paused. Wait. Huh! "Actually, you know what? I wanna visit my old home. You don't mind if I take Kisame with me, do you?"
The sudden change of heart made Nagato wonder what just happened. "He won't join you. He and Itachi were given a mission…"
"Dang it… All right, I'll take Haku then," Naruto muttered, then groaned. "Oh wait, Zabuza won't let me take him. Argh! Fine, I'll go on my own! See you later, cousin!" With that, Naruto left the room to pack his things and head to Konoha.
"What was that about?" Konan asked, entering the room. "I saw Naruto running in a hurry. Did you give him a mission?"
For some reason, Nagato felt like he might have triggered something horrible and given Naruto a bad idea. He had heard about the 'Talk-no-Jutsu' from Kisame, who was terrified just mentioning it.
"Nagato…?"
"Konan, immediately send a message to Itachi. Tell him to join Naruto Uzumaki on his mission to Konoha. ASAP."
Still confused, Konan didn't question it. "All right."
Kami, he prayed Itachi's younger brother wouldn't end up more traumatized than he already was. What had he done?
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"A little bit of this, little bit of that…"
Haku sat on his bed, watching Naruto pack his clothes. "Is it a mission?"
"Yup! Sadly, you can't come with me. I mean, Zabuza wouldn't let me, and the fact that I'm going to Konoha… yeah, it's better if I go alone." Naruto closed the bag. "All done! Anyway, if Kisame returns, tell him I need his help with B-rank missions. Those bandit missions… lots of loot to collect!"
"You sure you'll be fine on your own? I can come with you. Zabuza wouldn't disagree."
"Nah, it's cool. You guys shouldn't appear outside too much yet."
"All right, if you say so."
Naruto put on his backpack. He wasn't wearing his Akatsuki cloak — it would be a dead giveaway, and he had no desire to drag the Akatsuki into the chaos he was about to cause. Why didn't he think of it earlier? His Talk-no-Jutsu could literally put enemies into a coma!
Like that one time, in the future when he was Hokage, talking to a prisoner in the hospital. He gave that whole speech to change the prisoner's mind and get the location of the bandits. All Naruto wanted was information and to steer the 22-year-old onto a better path. He couldn't even remember what he said — the guy fainted.
Sakura, after examining him, said he was in a coma!
Right then and there, Naruto was told he was banned from interrogating prisoners. It was an official ban.
How could people ban the Hokage's speech?!
Shikamaru would hand him a paper and tell him what to say, like he isn't a toddler!
"What's wrong?" Haku noticed Naruto wasn't moving and was staring ahead. "Did you forget something?"
Naruto shook his head. "Nothing." He walked out of the room. "I am gonna traumatize the Shinobi world." He grinned wider. "Hehehe… HAHAHAHA!!"
Haku shuddered in the room where he heard Naruto laughing like a madman. What is going on inside the blonde's head???