Chapter 28: Everything Bleeds (Patreon)

The bar was quiet, save for the soft clinking of cups and the occasional murmur of patrons lost in their own thoughts. Tsunade sat across from Jiraiya, a half-empty bottle between them, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her sake cup. It had been a long day. Hell, it had been a long few decades.

Jiraiya poured himself another drink, his expression unusually serious. He wasn’t cracking jokes, wasn’t making some ridiculous comment about her drinking habits. No, this time, he was just watching her, as if trying to figure out where to start.

“You still drink like a fish,” he muttered.

Tsunade snorted. “And you still talk too much.”

Jiraiya huffed a laugh but didn’t argue. He swirled the liquid in his cup, staring at it like it held some kind of answer.

"Been a long time, huh?"

"Too long," she agreed.

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of old memories settling between them. It wasn’t often that they let themselves look back, to remember the things that hurt. But tonight, it seemed inevitable.

"Nawaki would have been Hokage by now," Tsunade murmured, her voice quieter than usual.

Jiraiya exhaled slowly. "Yeah. He would have."

She stared at her drink. "And Dan... He always told me I was running away. That I was afraid to stay in one place, to care about something enough to lose it."

Jiraiya leaned back, watching her with an unreadable expression. "Was he wrong?"

Tsunade didn’t answer right away. She lifted the cup to her lips, took a slow sip, and set it down.

"You came all this way just to guilt-trip me?"

Jiraiya shook his head. "No. I came to get you back where you belong."

She scoffed. "And you think the Hokage hat is where I belong? That thing's a death sentence."

Jiraiya smirked. "Funny, that’s exactly what Naruto said."

Tsunade froze, her grip on her cup tightening just slightly. "...Naruto?"

"Yeah. He’s got a mouth on him, that one," Jiraiya said, smiling a little. "But he’s not wrong. It’s not an easy job. Probably one of the worst ones out there. But..." His smile faded. "Someone's gotta do it."

Tsunade sighed, rubbing her temples. "Not me."

Jiraiya didn’t press her on it. Not yet. Instead, he poured her another drink.

"You met the kid," he said after a moment.

Tsunade frowned. "I did."

Jiraiya studied her expression. "And?"

She scoffed. "He’s a brat. A quiet brat, but still a brat."

Jiraiya chuckled. "That he is."

Tsunade’s fingers drummed against the table. "He’s strange. Not like Minato. Not like Kushina, either."

Jiraiya nodded. "No. He’s... different."

"How?"

Jiraiya hesitated for a moment, then exhaled. "He was always loved by nature."

Tsunade blinked. "What?"

Jiraiya leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "You don’t notice it at first. He doesn’t make a big show of it. But the wind moves for him. The trees lean toward him. Animals don’t fear him. The air around him just... listens."

Tsunade stared at him, trying to decide if he was messing with her. But Jiraiya’s face was serious, his tone low, thoughtful.

"He doesn’t even seem to realize it," Jiraiya continued. "It’s just always been that way. He’s quiet, blunt, naïve as hell sometimes, but not stupid. And he’s strong. Terrifyingly strong."

Tsunade’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Hiruzen let him get that strong?"

Jiraiya shook his head. "Hiruzen didn’t have a choice. The kid was already like that when we noticed. He trained himself, figured things out on his own. No matter what we did, no matter how much we tried to steer him, he walked his own path."

Tsunade didn’t like the sound of that. "That’s dangerous."

Jiraiya nodded. "Yeah. It is."

The silence stretched between them, heavier than before. Tsunade thought back to earlier, to the way Naruto had looked at her, those glowing sapphire eyes locked onto hers without a hint of fear. He had been so calm, so... detached.

"Did he care about Hiruzen?" she asked suddenly.

Jiraiya nodded. "One of the only people he did care about."

Tsunade glanced away. "Figures."

Jiraiya finished his drink, setting the cup down with a quiet clink. "He’s not like Minato, and he’s not like Kushina. He’s just... Naruto. And that’s something else entirely."

Tsunade exhaled. "He’s not normal."

Jiraiya smirked. "Understatement of the century."

Tsunade rubbed her forehead, suddenly feeling more exhausted than before. "So why are you telling me all this?"

Jiraiya’s smile faded. "Because you should know what you’re walking into."

Tsunade frowned. "Walking into what?"

Jiraiya leaned forward, his voice dropping slightly. "That kid’s not just some orphan brat, Tsunade. He’s a force of nature. And one day, whether we like it or not, he’s gonna shake the world."

Tsunade stared at him for a long moment, then sighed. "Great. Just what we need."

Jiraiya grinned. "Oh, you have no idea.”
—ToT—
The night was still, save for the distant croaking of frogs and the rustling of leaves in the wind. Shizune burst through the inn’s door, her breath ragged, her face pale. Jiraiya was slumped over the table, his head resting awkwardly on his arm. The smell of alcohol mixed with something else—something Tsunade had slipped into his drink.

“Damn it!” Shizune hissed, shaking him violently. “Wake up, you idiot!”

Jiraiya groaned, his eyelids fluttering weakly before he slumped back down. Whatever Tsunade had used, it was strong.

Naruto, sitting by the window, exhaled through his nose. “He’s not waking up anytime soon.”

Shizune spun to face him, desperation in her eyes. “Then you have to go after her!”

Naruto didn’t immediately respond. He just sat there, staring out the window, his red hair catching the moonlight. His glowing sapphire eyes reflected the night, unreadable, calm. Then, as if sensing something, he lifted his chin slightly.

A soft flapping noise filled the air.

A flock of birds gathered outside, perching on the windowsill, the rooftop, the streetlamps. Their beady eyes locked onto Naruto.

Shizune took a step back, unnerved. "What...?"

Naruto blinked once, then exhaled. "Warehouse," he said simply.

Shizune stared at him. "What?"

Naruto stood up, dusting off his pants. "She's in a warehouse. Near the cliffs."

Shizune was too stunned to respond for a moment. "How do you—?"

Naruto glanced at her, his expression as blank as ever. "They told me."

He gestured lazily to the birds. One of them, a small sparrow, chirped once before flying off. The others followed, dispersing into the night.

Shizune’s blood ran cold.

Naruto cracked his neck, stretching his shoulders. "I’ll go get her."

Shizune found herself frozen in place as Naruto vanished, slipping through the window like a shadow.
—ToT—
Orochimaru felt it before he saw it—the air shifting, the temperature dropping.

Then, the warehouse wall exploded.

Dust and debris scattered in every direction, wooden planks snapping like twigs. In the dim light, a silhouette emerged from the wreckage. A hoodie draped over his head, red hair barely visible beneath it. Three-quarter pants, sandals scraping against the shattered floorboards as he stepped forward.

Naruto.

Tsunade, still kneeling beside Orochimaru, froze. Her breath hitched.

Orochimaru’s golden eyes widened. His pulse spiked.

Naruto cracked his knuckles, then his neck, his glowing sapphire eyes locking onto Orochimaru like a predator sighting prey. “You,” he said, voice calm, almost detached. “Are going to die. Dattebane.”

Tsunade’s stomach twisted.

She had heard rumors, whispers, little hints here and there. But this—this cold, absolute statement, delivered without a hint of hesitation—this was the first time she truly felt why people feared Naruto Uzumaki.

Orochimaru had faced Naruto once before, in the Forest of Death. Back then, he had barely escaped, and that was with the use of his jutsu. Now, with his arms still weak, still recovering, he stood no chance.

His breathing became shallow.

“Naruto-kun,” Orochimaru said, voice smooth, composed. “What an unexpected—”

Kabuto moved first.

Fast. A blur of movement. His glasses gleamed as he lunged at Naruto, chakra scalpel forming in his hand.

Naruto lifted a single hand.

The ground trembled. A thick pillar of earth shot up from the floor, slamming into Kabuto’s ribs and launching him backward. His body crashed through rusted metal rods, snapping them like twigs before he hit the ground hard, coughing blood.

Silence.

Naruto’s gaze flickered back to Orochimaru. His expression hadn't changed.

Orochimaru felt his muscles lock up. He had faced death before, but something about Naruto was different. Something primal. Something unnatural.

Kabuto groaned as his body stitched itself back together. His wounds sealed, muscles reknit, and his breathing steadied. The impact from Naruto's attack had left him rattled, but he wasn’t out of the fight just yet. He wiped blood from his lips, pushing himself to his feet, his golden eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation.

Orochimaru was still standing, though tension lined his face. His hands were twitching, still weak, still not fully healed. He couldn't fight like this. Not against Naruto.

"Enough," Orochimaru muttered, his voice sharp, decisive. "We don’t fight forces we can’t understand."

Kabuto’s eyes widened in realization. "You mean—?"

Orochimaru bit his thumb and slammed his hand onto the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!"

The earth cracked. A massive puff of smoke exploded across the warehouse. The wooden beams groaned, the ground trembled beneath their feet.

From within the smoke, two enormous, slitted yellow eyes opened.

A monstrous, scaled head rose, towering over them all. Manda, the colossal purple serpent, hissed, forked tongue flicking through the air. His massive coils crushed the remains of the warehouse, snapping thick wooden beams like twigs.

Naruto barely glanced up.

Manda’s gaze flickered down, settling on Naruto. His tongue darted out, tasting the air.

And then—Manda recoiled. His massive body, poised for attack, suddenly withdrew. His tail coiled tighter, his eyes wide with something rarely seen on the face of a summon that powerful.

Fear.

"N-no," Manda hissed, voice reverberating through the warehouse. "I refuse. I will not fight that."

Orochimaru stiffened. "Manda, I summoned you—"

"I do not care," the serpent cut him off, his massive body shifting back. "You expect me to battle something that isn't even fully human?"

Kabuto looked between them, confused. "What are you—?"

Then he saw Naruto’s expression.

Calm. Unbothered. His glowing sapphire eyes locked onto Manda with something unreadable. Not anger. Not fear.

Just observation.

Manda’s tongue flicked again, and then, with a final hiss, he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Orochimaru’s face darkened.

"Tch."

Kabuto gritted his teeth. "Then we do it the old-fashioned way."

Before Naruto could react, Kabuto moved. Faster than before, chakra surging through his legs.

He lunged—straight for Tsunade.

She barely had time to move before Kabuto was behind her, one arm wrapped around her throat, the other pressing a kunai against her jugular.

"One more step, and I open her throat," Kabuto threatened, his voice sharp, serious. Tsunade went rigid. Blood. There was already blood on the floor. More would spill.

Naruto didn’t move.

Kabuto smirked. "I suggest you listen."

Silence.

Then—Naruto vanished.

Kabuto’s eyes widened.

A split second later, his world tilted.

His vision shifted, and before he could comprehend what was happening, a wet, gurgling sound escaped his lips. His grip loosened from Tsunade’s throat. His kunai clattered uselessly to the floor.

His head hit the ground.

Or rather—his body did.

His severed head rolled a few inches away, eyes still wide with shock.

Tsunade’s breath hitched.

She hadn’t even seen Naruto move.

Blood pooled around her feet, fresh, warm, metallic. A sharp contrast to the coldness that suddenly wrapped around her heart.

Kabuto’s body twitched once. Then went still.

Tsunade’s hands trembled. More blood. There was always more blood. Always.

She stumbled back, barely able to keep her balance, her eyes locked onto the boy standing before her.

Naruto turned to her, his expression as blank as ever.

"You should get over it," he said. "Blood is part of life. Everything bleeds."

Tsunade stared.

Naruto tilted his head. "You act like it's different because it's human."

The words sent a shiver through her spine. His voice was so…odd. Blunt. Naïve, yet laced with something unnerving.

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

"Even trees bleed if you cut them deep enough," Naruto continued, as if explaining something simple. "It's just red instead of sap."

Tsunade swallowed. "You don’t…understand."

Naruto blinked. "I do. You just don’t like it."

Something in her cracked.

Orochimaru took the moment of distraction to move.

He turned, his body twisting, his chakra flaring—he had to escape. He had to leave now.

But before he could take a single step, a hand gripped the back of his neck.

Panic shot through him.

He was lifted off the ground. Effortlessly.

Naruto’s grip was like iron. Orochimaru struggled, his legs kicking uselessly as he tried to pry Naruto’s fingers off him.

It was pointless.

Naruto's voice was quiet, but firm. "Why did you attack Konoha?"

Orochimaru wheezed. "Why does anyone do anything?"

Naruto didn’t react. He just watched.

Orochimaru gritted his teeth. His body ached. His arms were weak. But his tongue, at least, still worked.

"My curiosity," he admitted finally. "I wanted to learn every jutsu ever created. And for that, I needed time. I needed knowledge beyond human limitations."

Naruto didn’t loosen his grip. "So?"

"So," Orochimaru exhaled, his golden eyes gleaming despite the pain. "I wanted to achieve immortality."

The silence stretched.

Then—Naruto tilted his head.

"Trust me," he said. "Immortality is not as pleasant as you think."

The words sent something cold through Orochimaru’s spine.

But before he could respond, the earth beneath them trembled.

The ground cracked, split apart.

Naruto shifted, and the ground opened beneath Orochimaru.

And below—flames.

They roared up, licking at the edges of the chasm, hungry, waiting.

Orochimaru barely had time to scream before Naruto let go.

His body fell, swallowed by fire.

The chasm closed a second later.

Tsunade stood frozen, her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes remained locked on the space where Orochimaru had been.

Had.

Naruto turned to her, still as calm as ever.

"Let’s go back to the village," he said. "Dattebane.”
—ToT—
The gates of Konoha stood wide open, welcoming the return of its newest leader.

As Tsunade, Jiraiya, Shizune, and Naruto stepped into the village, a wave of noise crashed over them. Cheers erupted from every direction. People filled the streets, their voices rising in celebration. Shinobi and civilians alike gathered, faces alight with something Naruto didn’t quite understand.

Joy. Relief. Excitement.

Tsunade barely reacted to the commotion. She walked forward, shoulders squared, a lazy smirk playing on her lips. It was almost like she was drunk—except Naruto knew she wasn’t. Not this time.

Jiraiya grinned, soaking in the atmosphere like a man who had just led a grand parade. "See?" he nudged Tsunade. "They love you already."

Tsunade scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Tch. They’ll change their tune soon enough."

Shizune smiled, though her grip tightened on Tonton. "They believe in you, Lady Tsunade."

Naruto said nothing.

The crowd's excitement didn’t touch him. He kept walking, gaze flickering from face to face, noting the way people cheered, the way their eyes shone.

They never looked at him like that.

Not when he was a kid. Not when he had saved their lives during the invasion. Not now.

And that was fine.

He didn’t need them to.

His fingers brushed over the cold metal around his neck, his thumb tracing over the green gem of the locket Tsunade had given him.

Why had she done that, again?

Something about her little brother. Nawaki.

Naruto frowned slightly. She said he reminded her of him. Something about his dream to be Hokage.

Except Naruto had never said he wanted to be Hokage.

Not once.

So why did she give him this?

He didn’t get it.

But whatever.

As the crowd swarmed around them, Naruto let his steps slow. Tsunade and Jiraiya were at the center of attention. They could handle that. He had no interest in getting dragged into whatever speech was about to happen.

His apartment sounded better.

Without a word, Naruto turned and slipped away.

The sun had barely set when he reached his apartment.

The moment he stepped inside, the air was warm. Something smelled good.

Karin.

She was at the stove, stirring a pot, her hair tied up messily, red strands falling over her face.

Naruto didn’t announce himself. He just stepped in, letting the door shut behind him.

Karin, without even looking back, sighed. "You smell like a long day."

Naruto blinked.

Karin turned her head slightly, adjusting her glasses. "Well?"

Naruto tilted his head. "Well what?"

"Are we under a new dictatorship, or is Granny Tsunade actually cool?"

Naruto thought about it. Then shrugged. "She’s fine, I guess."

Karin raised an eyebrow. "That’s it?"

Naruto shrugged again.

Karin snorted. "Wow. You’re brimming with excitement."

Naruto wandered toward the couch and flopped onto it, stretching out like a cat. "The village screamed a lot. Jiraiya looked like he won the lottery."

Karin smirked. "He kinda did. He doesn’t have to take responsibility now."

Naruto rolled onto his side, facing the back of the couch. "I don’t get why she gave me this."

Karin blinked, glancing over. "Gave you what?"

Naruto raised a hand, showing the locket. It caught the light, the green stone glinting softly.

Karin frowned. "Where’d you get that?"

"Tsunade."

Karin stared. "Why?"

Naruto didn’t answer immediately. He just ran his fingers over the cool metal again. "She said I remind her of someone."

Karin scoffed. "That’s a weird reason to give someone jewelry."

Naruto hummed in agreement.

Silence stretched between them for a moment.

Then—

"Food’s almost done."

Naruto’s ear twitched.

Karin smirked, hearing his stomach growl.

Naruto stayed still for another second. Then—he moved.

Not walked. Not stood.

Moved.

One second, he was curled on the couch. The next, he was at the kitchen counter, standing behind Karin, staring at the pot.

Karin jumped slightly. "Holy shit—"

Naruto peered over her shoulder. "Ramen?"

Karin rolled her eyes. "No, it’s poison. I was gonna kill you."

Naruto sniffed the air. "Doesn’t smell like poison."

Karin turned, pointing a spoon at his face. "Because it’s not."

Naruto blinked. "Then why’d you say it was?"

"Because sarcasm, dumbass."

Naruto stared. Then reached for the pot.

Karin smacked his hand.

"Wait for it to finish!"

Naruto pouted slightly.

Karin narrowed her eyes. "Don’t give me that face. You’ll live."

Naruto made the face anyway.

Karin groaned. "God. You’re like a puppy."

Naruto’s stomach growled again.

Karin sighed. "Fine. Just—get the bowls."

Naruto moved instantly.

Karin shook her head, hiding a small smile. "Hopeless."

Naruto didn’t argue.

He was too busy getting bowls.
—ToT—