Chapter 50 (Patreon)

Two tall men stood side by side atop Konoha’s outer wall, looking out over the village. Both wore straw hats and black cloaks patterned with red clouds. One carried an enormous sword on his back, wrapped in bandages.

“They avoided complete destruction, but the damage is severe,” Itachi said.

“To think a village that was once so prosperous would end up like this…”

Kisame chuckled. “That doesn’t sound like you. Still attached to your hometown?”

“No. Not at all.”

…

Naruto sensed Itachi and Kisame as soon as they entered Konoha.

Before the Uchiha massacre and Itachi’s defection, Hiruzen had promised not to alter the method of passing through the village’s barrier. That would allow Itachi to return and check on Sasuke whenever he wanted.

Itachi had readily accepted the arrangement. He had probably even felt grateful to the Third Hokage.

As far as Naruto knew, Itachi had come to Konoha for two reasons. His official objective was to capture the Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki—Naruto himself. His other purpose concerned Sasuke: to check on his younger brother and push him to grow stronger.

His visit might also be a warning to Konoha. Hiruzen, who had been involved in the secret agreement surrounding the massacre, was now dead. Itachi had reason to remind Danzō and the next Hokage to leave Sasuke alone.

Naruto had no intention of getting involved with either of them yet. For now, he needed to keep training and build his strength quietly.

Itachi’s Mangekyō Sharingan and Kisame’s Samehada were tempting prizes, but this wasn’t the right time to take them.

Even if he could kill both men with his current strength, the price would be considerable. It simply wasn’t worth it.

He would let them go. They would cross paths again soon enough.

For now, his training came first.

What Naruto didn’t know was that Itachi had a third purpose for coming to Konoha: another assignment from Akatsuki.

At the training ground, Naruto was running with weights strapped to his body. As he passed a tree, he added another mark to its trunk to keep track of his laps.

He had completed 1,300. Today’s goal was 2,000.

Fifty shadow clones occupied the center of the training ground, working through taijutsu movements and practicing how to put their strength behind them.

Nearby, Neji kept glancing at the clones. He could barely hide his envy—or how much he resented Naruto’s advantage.

Training alongside someone like that could make anyone feel discouraged.

Meanwhile, Might Guy and Rock Lee were making their way around the entire village on their hands.

Before long, Guy reached the river and found two groups facing one another.

Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai stood on one side. Itachi and Kisame stood on the other.

Guy immediately sent Lee to notify the ANBU, then went to help Kakashi, who had already fallen victim to Tsukuyomi.

Itachi had no desire to turn the encounter into a larger conflict. He could have killed Kakashi with Tsukuyomi, but he had chosen not to.

He also seemed to understand how dangerous Guy could be. Rather than let himself be held up, he withdrew with Kisame. They would look for another opportunity to approach Naruto.

…

Word of Itachi and Kisame’s arrival quickly reached Konoha’s leadership and several elite shinobi. Jiraiya, who already knew of Akatsuki’s plans, was among them.

The village’s two elder advisors, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, were asking him to become the Fifth Hokage.

But Jiraiya remained focused on his own dream. He had no interest in taking the position.

He did agree to find Tsunade and bring her back to become the Fifth Hokage instead.

Naruto would accompany him. That way, Jiraiya could protect the Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki and continue teaching him during the journey.

When Jiraiya found Naruto at the training ground and invited him on what he called a “festival tour,” the system finally issued a new mission after a long break.

[Ding! New mission: Find Tsunade and help her overcome her fear of blood.]

[Option 1 — The Virgin’s Choice: Win her over with compassion and inspire her with your dreams.]

[Reward: A kiss from Tsunade.]

[Option 2 — The Devil’s Choice: Stab her with a sword and force her to confront her own blood.]

[Reward: Senju Clan Sage Body.]

[Senju Clan Sage Body: Immense chakra reserves, exceptional chakra control, a natural aptitude for ninjutsu, Earth Sensing, and other innate abilities.]

Naruto’s eyes lit up.

He had wanted the Senju Clan Sage Body for a long time. He had considered buying it from the store, but it was so expensive that he couldn’t bring himself to spend the points.

“System, I choose the second option. The Devil’s Choice!”

Why would he choose a kiss from an old woman like Tsunade over a Sage Body?

Besides, he would much rather have a cute girl like Hinata kiss him.

Their first destination after leaving Konoha was nearby Shukuba Town. It served as a stopover for travelers on an important road, one of the many post towns built along busy routes or near major destinations.

Naruto had sandbags and steel plates strapped to his body, with a heavy backpack adding to the load.

This was the training Guy had assigned him for the journey.

Whenever Naruto felt he couldn’t keep going, he remembered Guy’s final kick against Madara—the attack that had nearly ended the battle.

He couldn’t stop imagining what might happen if he combined his Mangekyō Sharingan’s Time Reversal with the Eight Inner Gates.

The possibility filled him with excitement and drove him onward. He didn’t let himself ease up.

Watching him, Jiraiya nodded in approval. Naruto had talent, and he was willing to work hard. With both, he had every chance of becoming an exceptional shinobi.

An hour later, they reached Shukuba Town.

As a main stop for travelers going to and from Konoha, it was unusually prosperous. Vendors lined the streets, jugglers drew crowds, and people bustled between the stalls.

Naruto looked around curiously, stopping now and then to examine something unusual.

Eventually, he bought a pair of comically oversized black sunglasses and put them on. Their broad, dark lenses shielded his eyes from the sun.

Just after he and Jiraiya booked a room, a stylishly dressed young woman approached and gave Jiraiya a flirtatious wink.

It took little effort to lure the Pervy Sage away.

Naruto sensed Itachi and Kisame hiding nearby. The corners of his mouth lifted, and he headed upstairs to his room.

Meanwhile, Sasuke had learned that Itachi was back and intended to capture Naruto. He had begun searching frantically, drawing closer with every passing moment.

Knock! Knock!

Naruto ignored the sound and continued doing push-ups on the floor.

Knock! Knock!

“I’m underage! I don’t need any special services!” he called impatiently.

Bang!

Kisame kicked the door open.

Naruto stood up and regarded the two men in the doorway with a cold, bored expression.

“I said I don’t need any special services! And I definitely don’t want them from someone who looks like a shark!”

Kisame stared at him, his shark-like eyes narrowing. For a moment, he studied the ridiculous sunglasses covering Naruto’s face.

“Quite the look, kid. You seem like trouble.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? I’m just an innocent kid.”

Naruto’s mouth curved into a smile.

“You…”

Kisame began to answer, but Itachi interrupted.

“Kisame. Enough talking. He’s making fun of us.”

Naruto turned his smile on Itachi.

“Oh? You seem to know a lot about that sort of thing.”

“What?”

Kisame finally understood the joke. He raised Samehada and swung it at Naruto.

“I’ll cut you down, brat!”