The bar reeked of alcohol and bad decisions. It was dimly lit, the kind of place where people came to forget, or maybe to remember the things they tried to drink away. Tsunade sat at the counter, slouched forward, a half-empty bottle of sake in one hand and a small cup in the other.
Her thoughts were still muddled from the previous night—Orochimaru had come, whispering poison into her ears, offering what she wanted most in exchange for his twisted salvation. Fix his arms. Reanimation jutsu. Bring back the dead.
But it wasn't that simple, was it?
Her fingers tightened around the cup, and she swallowed another shot of sake, letting the burn distract her.
The bar's door slammed open.
Tsunade barely turned her head, already annoyed. The last thing she needed was some drunk idiot staggering in and making noise. But instead, a very familiar white-haired pervert sauntered in, an easy smirk on his face.
Jiraiya.
Great.
He made himself comfortable beside her, all casual, like they weren't estranged old teammates with a graveyard of history between them. And right next to Shizune, a redheaded boy—no, a teenager—slid into the seat, completely unfazed by the bar's rough atmosphere. He had unnaturally bright sapphire eyes, glowing slightly even in the dim light, and he was munching on a carrot like some kind of oversized rabbit.
Tsunade squinted. What the hell?
Jiraiya leaned on the counter, ordering a drink like he had all the time in the world.
"You're a hard woman to find, Tsunade."
Tsunade exhaled through her nose. "Not hard enough, apparently."
Shizune shifted uncomfortably beside the redhead, already sensing where this was going.
Jiraiya took a sip of his drink before speaking. "Heard you had a visitor last night. Orochimaru."
Tsunade tensed, but she kept her face unreadable. "And? What's it to you?"
Jiraiya studied her. "What'd he offer you?"
Tsunade scowled. "Nothing worth listening to."
The redheaded boy finished his carrot in two bites, eyes lazily flicking between them.
Jiraiya set his cup down. "Konoha was attacked."
Tsunade finally turned fully toward him. "Yeah, I heard. So what?"
Jiraiya's expression remained unreadable. "Hiruzen's dead."
The words hung in the air.
Tsunade's fingers tightened around her bottle.
Jiraiya continued, voice steady. "The village needs a new Hokage."
That was it. That was the final straw.
Tsunade slammed her cup down so hard the counter cracked. "Are you joking?!" Her voice carried, making a few drunks at the back flinch. "After everything, after all the death and destruction, you think I'd take that job?"
Jiraiya stayed calm, like he was expecting this reaction. "I think you should consider it."
Tsunade laughed, sharp and bitter. "Right. Because being Hokage worked out so well for everyone else, huh? Let's go down the list, shall we?"
Jiraiya said nothing.
"First Hokage—my grandfather—died in battle. Second Hokage—my granduncle—died in battle. Third Hokage—our dear sensei—died in battle. And Minato, your precious student, the Fourth Hokage? Died like a damn dog!"
There was a shift in the air.
Naruto, who had been silent this entire time, looked up at her with those glowing eyes, calm and detached.
"You're loud," he said. "And nobody died like a dog. Dattebane."
Tsunade's breath hitched.
For a second, for just a second, she wasn't looking at some unknown brat. She was looking at someone else. Someone she hadn't seen in years.
Kushina.
The verbal tic hit her harder than expected.
She narrowed her eyes. "Who are you?"
The redhead blinked. "Naruto Uzumaki. Dattebane."
Tsunade frowned. Uzumaki? That was impossible. The only Uzumaki left were—
Her heart skipped.
No.
There was no way.
She looked at Jiraiya for confirmation, and the bastard just smiled slightly, like he was enjoying this.
Tsunade scoffed. "Right. You're telling me that this kid is Minato's?"
Jiraiya just sipped his drink.
Naruto stared at her. "Are you always this negative?"
Tsunade scoffed. "I'm realistic, brat."
"Realistic," Naruto repeated. "Or just bitter?"
Tsunade's eyebrow twitched.
"You think being Hokage is a joke, huh?" she challenged. "You think it's some noble, heroic job?"
Naruto blinked. "No. But I think calling them idiots for protecting what they cared about is stupid."
Tsunade leaned forward. "You don't know anything, kid."
"I know enough," Naruto replied, unbothered. "Enough to know that if something is precious, you protect it. If you care about someone, you stand with them. You don't just leave because it's hard."
Shizune stared at him in shock.
Jiraiya hid his smirk behind his cup.
Tsunade's temper flared. "You have no idea what you're talking about."
Naruto's gaze didn't waver. "You ran away because you were scared. That's all."
Tsunade saw red.
She moved fast, her hand going to poke his forehead—
But Naruto caught her fingers mid-motion.
The force behind his grip was instant, unnatural, an overwhelming pressure that nearly cracked her bones on contact.
Her eyes widened in genuine shock.
Jiraiya's expression shifted. "Naruto. Let go."
Naruto didn't move.
His glowing eyes stayed on hers, unwavering, detached.
For a moment, for the first time in years, Tsunade felt a real sense of danger.
Jiraiya placed a firm hand on Naruto's shoulder. "We'll talk later."
Naruto released her fingers immediately.
Tsunade rubbed her hand, narrowing her eyes. "You're a freakishly strong brat, I'll give you that."
Naruto didn't react.
Jiraiya stood up, patting his stomach. "Well, this was fun, but we gotta go. See you around, Tsunade."
Tsunade crossed her arms, watching them leave.
Naruto walked past her without a second glance.
She exhaled slowly.
Shizune whispered, "That kid… he's not normal."
Tsunade didn't answer.
She just sat back, finishing the last of her drink, thoughts in turmoil.
—ToT—
The inn was quiet, the kind of quiet that pressed against the walls, stretching out in long, heavy silences. Jiraiya sat on the edge of his futon, absently swirling a small cup of sake in his hand, while Naruto sat cross-legged on the floor, watching the candlelight flicker against the wooden walls.
Jiraiya exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Tsunade's not bad, you know. Just... broken."
Naruto didn't say anything.
Jiraiya looked at him, studying the way the boy's glowing sapphire eyes barely reflected any emotion. It was strange. He had Minato's face, Kushina's hair, but there was something else entirely behind those eyes. Something old, something unreadable.
The sannin sighed. "She's lost a lot. More than most. She doesn't hate Konoha, even if she acts like it."
Naruto hummed. "Didn't ask."
Jiraiya snorted. "Brat."
A small silence stretched between them, filled only with the distant sounds of the night.
Then, Jiraiya shifted slightly, giving Naruto a look. "So... you know about Minato?"
Naruto blinked. "That he was my father?"
Jiraiya nodded.
"Yeah."
"The Third told you?"
"No." Naruto tilted his head slightly, voice calm as ever. "I just knew."
Jiraiya frowned. "Since when?"
Naruto's gaze flickered over to him. "Since always."
Jiraiya stared at him for a long moment, trying to gauge if he was joking, but Naruto's face remained impassive.
Finally, Jiraiya sighed, standing up and stretching. "I'm gonna get a drink. Don't cause any trouble while I'm gone."
Naruto didn't answer, just watched as Jiraiya left, his footsteps fading down the hallway.
A few minutes passed.
Then, a knock at the door.
Naruto stood up, walking over and opening it without hesitation.
Outside stood two figures, one taller, wrapped in a black cloak adorned with red clouds, the other slightly shorter, carrying a massive bandaged sword on his back.
Naruto blinked once, then tilted his head slightly. "Weasel."
The taller man's lips curled into a faint smile. "It's been a while, Naruto-kun."
Naruto's gaze flickered to the man beside him, noting the sharp teeth, the gills on his face, and the faint scent of the ocean clinging to him.
"Who's your friend?"
The blue-skinned man grinned, gripping the hilt of his sword. "Hoshigaki Kisame. Nice to meetcha, kid."
Naruto's eyes flicked back to Itachi. "You need something?"
Itachi's expression didn't change. "We need to talk."
Naruto stepped back, allowing them inside without hesitation.
Kisame raised a brow. "Not even gonna ask what we're here for?"
Naruto sat back down on the floor, unbothered. "If it was to kill me, you wouldn't have knocked."
Kisame let out a short laugh. "Hah! He's got a point."
Itachi took a seat across from Naruto, calm as ever, while Kisame leaned against the wall, idly tapping his fingers against the hilt of his sword.
For a moment, there was just silence.
Then, Itachi spoke. "How is Sasuke?"
Naruto blinked. "Alive."
Itachi's lips quirked slightly. "And?"
Naruto tilted his head, considering the question. "Angry. Obsessed with killing you. Still grumpy."
Kisame chuckled. "Yeesh. Family issues, huh?"
Itachi's expression didn't change. "And you?"
Naruto blinked again. "What about me?"
"You seem... different."
Naruto stared at him for a moment before shrugging. "People change."
Kisame smirked. "Even brats like you?"
Naruto picked up a small piece of dried fruit from the table, chewing on it lazily. "Especially brats like me."
Kisame chuckled. "Well, ain't that interesting?"
There was a pause, then Itachi spoke again, his voice as calm as ever. "We have a job."
Naruto hummed, unimpressed. "Okay."
Itachi studied him. "You'll have to come with us, Naruto-kun."
Kisame waved a hand. "Why are you asking him? Just put him in a genjutsu or something."
Naruto blinked, still chewing his food. "Pervy Sage told me not to cause trouble. Going with you sounds like trouble."
Kisame grinned, adjusting the grip on his sword. "Then we may have to force you."
Naruto swallowed his food. "That also sounds like trouble. Dattebane."
Kisame finally unslung his sword, resting it against his shoulder. "You're a weird one, kid."
Naruto's gaze flickered back to Itachi.
"Are you here to kill me too, Weasel?"
The room went silent.
Naruto's voice was as calm as ever. "Just like you killed your clan, your father, and your mother?"
Itachi didn't answer.
Naruto stared at him for a long moment, then exhaled softly.
"So I need to fight you."
His fingers curled slightly.
"Huh. Okay."
—ToT—
The streets of Tazuna Gai were quiet, bathed in the dim glow of lanterns, the night carrying a stillness that felt almost unnatural. It was the kind of silence that settled deep, the kind that made people wary, made them listen just a little harder. But nothing seemed out of place. No screams, no alarms. Just the usual hush of a town tucked into the late hours of the evening.
And then—
The ground trembled.
A low rumble that turned into a full quake as a section of an inn's wall exploded outward, wooden beams snapping like twigs, debris crashing onto the street. The lanterns overhead swayed wildly, flickering against the sudden chaos.
Two figures burst through the dust and smoke, running at full speed.
Kisame Hoshigaki was covered in blood, his normally smug grin wiped clean, replaced with something grimmer. His breath came in sharp pants, muscles screaming as he pushed forward, dragging his massive sword with him.
Itachi Uchiha was slightly ahead, his cloak torn at the shoulder, a thin line of blood trailing from his mouth. His crimson eyes flickered with urgency, scanning for any possible escape route.
Behind them, walking at a calm, almost lazy pace, was Naruto Uzumaki.
His red hair caught the moonlight, strands drifting slightly as if the wind itself was hesitant to touch him. His glowing sapphire eyes were half-lidded, expression unreadable, body relaxed in a way that sent warning signals through every instinct honed for battle.
Then—he vanished.
A blur, faster than thought, faster than reaction.
Kisame barely had time to register the shift in the air before Naruto appeared right in front of him.
A single strike. A simple kick.
Kisame felt his body lift off the ground, helpless against the sheer force behind it. His vision blurred as he was sent flying, crashing through a row of buildings before finally smashing into the distant hills, rock and dirt exploding around him.
And just like that, one of the most feared members of the Akatsuki was taken out of the fight.
Itachi didn't hesitate.
With a flicker of chakra, the skeletal form of an incomplete Susanoo materialized around him, ribs forming a shield just in time to block Naruto's next move. The impact sent deep cracks through the ground, splitting the earth beneath his feet.
For a moment, there was silence.
Naruto stood in front of the glowing, ethereal bones, head tilted slightly, eyes scanning the defense with detached curiosity. His hands remained loose at his sides, posture still relaxed, still eerily calm.
Itachi's fingers twitched. He was already analyzing, already calculating, but the truth was undeniable.
This had been a mistake.
They had underestimated him.
Kisame, still struggling to get up in the distance, coughed out a mouthful of blood, his vision swimming. He gritted his teeth, gripping Samehada tighter. "Shit… He's a monster…"
Itachi remained silent. He had known. Somewhere, deep down, he had known this was a bad idea.
Naruto had always been an enigma, even when he was just a child. Itachi had once been assigned to watch over him in ANBU, a silent guardian from the shadows. Back then, Naruto had been strange—never fully a child, never fully normal.
But the moment he had used Tsukuyomi on him, Itachi had learned the truth.
Naruto hadn't flinched.
No panic. No screams.
Just… scenes.
Three thousand different deaths, played back through Naruto's own memories. Three thousand different ways humans had died—some slow, some quick, some horrifyingly creative. And Naruto had merely stood there, watching alongside him, expression unreadable.
Itachi had never felt something like that before.
Even now, as Naruto took another step forward, the sheer weight of his presence sent something cold down his spine.
Naruto raised a hand, chakra swirling, a green Rasengan forming with a hum of power.
It was smaller than Jiraiya's, more refined, its glow casting sharp shadows against the broken street. But that wasn't what made it terrifying. It was the way Naruto held it, casual, like it was just another tool in his hands, something as natural as breathing.
There was no hesitation. No killing intent.
Just inevitability.
Itachi knew they wouldn't be able to hold out much longer. Even with Susanoo, even with every technique at his disposal, Naruto's strength was simply too much. His raw, unfiltered power was on a level beyond reason.
And that was when Kisame made his move.
Even through his injuries, even through the pain wracking his body, his instincts as a shinobi kicked in.
A distraction.
Kisame let out a sudden laugh, dragging himself to his feet, wiping the blood from his lips. "Damn, kid. You really don't hold back, huh?"
Naruto's gaze flickered toward him, just for a fraction of a second.
That was all Itachi needed.
In that instant, he moved, chakra surging, a blinding burst of speed carrying him toward Kisame.
Naruto's eyes sharpened, realization flashing through them, but by the time he turned fully—
They were gone.
A flicker. A jutsu.
Vanished.
The only thing left was the faint smell of blood and ozone lingering in the air.
Naruto remained still for a moment, eyes staring at the spot where they had disappeared.
Then, without a word, he closed his hand, dissipating the Rasengan, and turned away.
He could chase them.
He could track them down and finish what he started.
But he didn't.
Instead, he walked back toward the remains of the inn, stepping over debris, his mind already shifting away from the fight.
The night was still again.
The quiet returned.
Tazuna Gai remained standing, unaware that death had just brushed past its streets.
—ToT—
Jiraiya returned to the inn expecting a quiet night, maybe some grumbling from Naruto, maybe even a dumb prank because the brat liked to mess with him when he got the chance. But instead—
What the fuck?!
The entire front wall of the inn was missing. Not damaged. Not cracked. Missing.
Chunks of wood and stone littered the street, dust still thick in the air. A support beam had snapped clean in half, teetering dangerously as the second floor leaned just slightly, groaning under its own weight. The lanterns that had once been hanging outside were shattered, their flames long extinguished, glass glittering across the road.
And in the middle of all of it, standing like this was just another Tuesday, was Naruto Uzumaki.
He was brushing dust off his clothes, his red hair catching the moonlight, his glowing sapphire eyes dull with boredom. There wasn't a single scratch on him. Not a drop of blood. Nothing.
Jiraiya's gut clenched.
Naruto was fine. Which meant… whoever did this wasn't.
"What the hell happened?" Jiraiya demanded, stepping over the wreckage, his voice sharp.
Naruto blinked at him. "Two people came. One weasel, one shark."
Jiraiya felt his stomach drop. Weasel and shark? No way.
"You fought them?!"
Naruto tilted his head slightly. "They started it."
Jiraiya exhaled through his nose, rubbing his face. He could already feel the migraine forming.
"Where are they now?"
"Not here," Naruto said simply. "They ran away."
Jiraiya stared at him. The kid was standing in the middle of a disaster zone, looking mildly inconvenienced, and he had the audacity to say that Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki just ran away like it was nothing?
He looked around again, at the wreckage, at the deep cracks in the ground, at the fucking crater in the side of the hill in the distance.
Jiraiya pinched the bridge of his nose. "Naruto… did you just solo two Akatsuki members?"
Naruto shrugged. "I guess."
Jiraiya almost choked. "YOU GUESS?!"
Naruto frowned slightly, like he didn't understand why Jiraiya was freaking out. "They came to take me. I didn't want to go. So I fought them. Dattebane."
Jiraiya ran a hand down his face. "Holy shit."
This wasn't normal. None of this was normal. He had expected Naruto to be strong, sure. The kid was a walking mystery, his power something Jiraiya couldn't even begin to categorize. But this?
"You fought Itachi. And Kisame. And they ran away," Jiraiya repeated, trying to make sense of it.
Naruto nodded. "Yes."
Jiraiya swore under his breath.
TBC