A stream of warm liquid flowed down Aoiha's throat.
Instantly, warmth spread through her body — from her chest to her fingertips. The weakness that had overtaken her faded away, and strength returned. Her consciousness cleared, and she could breathe again.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk… you've been turned into a hedgehog. The Mist shinobi really don't mess around."
Naruto clicked his tongue as he shook his head, pulling kunai and shuriken one by one from Aoiha's body.
But as the blades left her skin, the wounds closed instantly — her flesh knitting together as if time itself had reversed. Within moments, her body was fully healed. Only the blood that still stained her clothes proved she had been injured at all.
"Who the hell are you!?"
A Mist ninja staggered back in horror, eyes wide. Aoiha, who should've been dead, was now standing again — alive and radiating killing intent.
"I saved you."
Naruto didn't even look at the Mist ninja. His calm voice was directed at Aoiha.
Aoiha silently nodded. Her sharp eyes studied Naruto carefully — the dark armor he wore, the aura around him — and something about it made her pupils contract.
"You can't go back to Sunagakure."
Naruto's words hit her like a blade. Her expression dimmed, and she said nothing.
She'd realized it too. The betrayal. The setup. The final words of her would-be assassin echoed in her mind. Her own village had offered her up to die.
"You'll follow me from now on."
Naruto's tone was simple, almost casual — but absolute.
Aoiha hesitated only a moment before nodding. She had nowhere else to go.
"Damn it, you bastard—!"
The Mist ninja who'd been ignored finally snapped, lunging at Naruto in rage.
Boom!
Naruto flicked his hand casually — and the man was sent flying, crashing into a rock wall with a crunch before collapsing unconscious.
"Let's go."
Naruto turned to leave the valley, Aoiha following close behind.
"Be careful!"
From both sides of the cliffs, another wave of kunai and shuriken rained down.
Aoiha instantly drew her weapon, ready to deflect the barrage — but before she could move, Naruto simply waved his hand.
Buzz.
The air trembled. Every flying blade disintegrated midair, turning to metallic dust that fell like glittering sand.
Aoiha froze. Even she, who'd seen countless battles, couldn't hide her awe.
The Mist shinobi hidden in the fog were equally terrified. None dared move.
"Quick, report to the Fourth Mizukage! A powerful intruder is here!"
"Who is he?"
"They called him Kira of the Red Sun!"
Within moments, the valley emptied as some fled toward Kirigakure while others shadowed Naruto and Aoiha.
"I just came to Kirigakure on a whim," Naruto said casually as they walked, "but running into you was a nice surprise. Since we're here already, might as well drop by the village."
He flashed her a grin. "You can call me President. I'm the head of the Red Sun Society — Kira. From now on, you're one of us."
Aoiha didn't respond right away. The name Red Sun Society was infamous — a shadow organization whispered about across the ninja world. And Kira, the man who had once forced Konoha's Third Hokage to bow his head in humiliation?
It was said he made Shimura Danzō flee for his life.
She followed quietly, her heart complicated, eyes full of wary curiosity.
Meanwhile, in the Mizukage's office…
"The Red Sun's Kira?"
Fourth Mizukage Yagura frowned, lowering his head in thought.
Behind him, the masked man with a swirling spiral mask trembled. A vortex opened up behind him, sucking him in as his cold voice echoed:
"Kill him. All of you. No matter the cost."
Yagura's eyes hardened. "Understood."
Within minutes, the Mist Village was in motion. Orders spread like wildfire. Every elite shinobi was summoned.
"Mizukage-sama, are we really mobilizing everyone?"
"Yes," Yagura said coldly. "Kira of the Red Sun has entered our territory. He's brought Sunagakure's Scorch Style Aoiha with him. This man is dangerous."
"Kira… the same man who made the Third Hokage back down?" one of the jonin asked in disbelief. "I've heard rumors, but I didn't think he was real."
Yagura's gaze darkened. "He's real."
Soon, Yagura led his forces — a sea of Mist shinobi — toward the gates of the village.
"No wonder it's called Kirigakure," Naruto said, hands in his pockets as he walked through the dense fog. "You can't see ten feet ahead."
"In Sunagakure, the air's dry. This place feels… suffocating," Aoiha muttered, wrinkling her nose.
Naruto chuckled. "Yo, is this massive army here to welcome us? That's quite the greeting."
In the mist ahead, hundreds of shinobi appeared — their chakra flaring like a storm. At the front stood Yagura himself, eyes sharp, staff in hand. The entire Mist Village had mobilized.
Even Aoiha, a veteran warrior, tensed at the sight. The sheer killing intent pressed down like a mountain.
Naruto smiled lazily. "Hi there. Is this your idea of hospitality? I'm touched."
"Kira of the Red Sun," Yagura called out, "why have you come to Kirigakure?"
Naruto shrugged. "Just sightseeing. Don't tell me travel's banned here? That'd be a shame."
He looked around the foggy surroundings. "You know, if you opened this place to tourism, you'd make a fortune from ticket sales. The scenery's unique — gloomy, but charming."
The Mist ninjas glanced at one another in confusion.
"Tourism? What the hell is that?"
"This guy's talking nonsense. Can I cut him already?"
"He's mocking us, I swear!"
Their irritation rose quickly — and before Yagura could respond, a petite figure stepped forward.
Crackle!
Lightning erupted across the sky, a booming roar shaking the mist as a thunderbolt split the air and struck down toward Naruto.
Naruto tilted his head, watching calmly as a small girl leapt forward. She had reddish-brown hair tied into high twin braids, sharp teeth flashing in a grin, and wild excitement in her eyes.
She was young — barely thirteen — but the electricity dancing around her body made her look like a living storm.
"Lightning Style: Thunder Shock!"
Her sword crackled with lightning as she slashed, sending waves of electricity straight at Naruto.
Ding!
Naruto lifted a single finger, blocking the blade effortlessly.
The girl's grin widened. "Let's see you handle this — Lightning Style: Thunder Cage!"
Lightning burst from her sword, forming a glowing prison that wrapped around Naruto like a sphere of crackling energy.
The bolts struck his body in rapid succession — boom, boom, boom! — shaking the ground and lighting up the fog.
When the light faded slightly, Naruto was still standing. Completely unharmed.
He yawned. "Was that supposed to tickle?"
He flicked his finger. Ting!
Her sword flew from her grip, spinning into the mist and vanishing.
The girl clenched her fists, teeth gritted. "Don't underestimate me! Lightning Style — Hundred Lightning Strikes!"
She formed seals faster than lightning. Chakra flared wildly as a hundred bolts of pure electricity rained down like a thunderstorm.
The explosions echoed through the entire village — boom, boom, BOOM! — shaking the cliffs and blinding everyone in blue-white light.
"Ringo's Lightning Style has gotten terrifying," one ninja whispered. "That's her original jutsu — the Hundredfold Strike! Even Three-Tails wouldn't take that head-on!"
"There's no way he survived that."
"Of course not. Legends are exaggerated anyway. Ringo alone could handle this fool."
The lightning storm slowly faded.
The Mist shinobi lowered their hands — and froze.
Naruto stood exactly where he had been, completely unharmed. In his right hand, he held Ringo by the neck — effortlessly lifting her off the ground like a misbehaving kitten.
Her legs kicked in the air, hands flailing, but it was useless.
Naruto sighed.
Up close, she really did look like a kid — small, fierce, but still just a child.
"…Man," he muttered, shaking his head, "this feels like bullying a kid."
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