Uchiha Seiryu [235-237] (Patreon)

Chapter 235: First Meeting

However, as the fight continued, Shukaku started to notice something was off.

It was true that the Nine-Tails was weaker than the last time he'd beaten him up, but the difference was just whether he spun Shukaku around ten times or five times after hitting him. In front of a hyped-up Nine-Tails, Shukaku was still the one getting beat down.

"Damn it!" Shukaku roared, furious and frustrated. His massive claw slammed down, the tip packed with highly compressed sand, whistling through the air. "Take this! Desert Grand Burial Seal!"

The sand beneath their feet seemed to liquefy. A giant sand hand rose up from under Naruto, trying to drag him deep into the desert and seal him. At the same time, Shukaku gathered a terrifying surge of chakra in his mouth. "Wind Style: Drilling Air Bullet!" A dark purple chakra sphere, packed with compressed air and iron sand and inscribed with sealing runes, shot straight at the trapped Naruto!

"You really are going backwards. A tailed beast, stooping to learn human jutsu?" The Nine-Tails, using Naruto's body, mocked calmly even while caught.

But in the next moment, the Nine-Tails raised Naruto's right hand, forming a blue Rasengan tinged with golden light. Golden energy burst from his body. He broke free from the sand's grip and charged straight at the incoming Drilling Air Bullet.

The massive Rasengan, infused with immense chakra, shattered Shukaku's bullet in an instant. When Shukaku saw a golden figure wielding a chakra sphere bigger than his own head appear in front of him, a bunch of question marks popped up in his mind.

Isn't that a human jutsu too?

"Whoa, Kurama-bro, you even learned the Rasengan?" In the seal space, Naruto's voice was excited.

"This jutsu was originally your father's idea, inspired by the Tailed Beast Ball, so of course it's easy for me to use." As he pounded Shukaku with Rasengan after Rasengan, the Nine-Tails said, "It may not be as powerful as the Tailed Beast Ball, but it's more stable and lasts longer!"

With that, the Nine-Tails pressed the huge Rasengan onto Shukaku's forehead. The spinning ball of chakra blasted sand all over the place.

"Damn... fox!" Shukaku tried to shout, but his mouth was half gone from the beatdown, so the words came out slurred.

"So many years have passed, but besides your mouth, you haven't improved at all." The Nine-Tails taunted as he kept up the onslaught.

Shukaku couldn't even lift his head, his massive body shrinking under the relentless attacks.

Seeing this, Naruto had to speak up. "Kurama-bro, take it easy. That tailed beast belongs to the Sand Village. If we kill him, it'll cause a lot of trouble."

"Why are you worrying about this? You're a missing-nin now." The Nine-Tails rolled his eyes, but still eased up, stopping the Rasengan grind and kicking the now half-sized Shukaku away.

Shukaku crashed heavily into the ground, kicking up a cloud of sand. But in Naruto's senses, the huge chakra signature from Shukaku vanished in that instant.

"Tch, no fun." With Shukaku in hiding, the Nine-Tails lost interest and handed control back to Naruto.

Naruto scratched his head after regaining control, then stepped toward the center of the sand cloud.

Right then, the Sand Village ambush squad couldn't sit still any longer.

"Gaara!" Temari rushed out as soon as she saw her little brother might be in danger.

"Hey! Temari!" Kankuro gritted his teeth and followed.

"What are those two doing?" Elder Ebizo, running the ambush, was annoyed. "They could've waited till the enemy got closer or until the sealing team was ready! With patience like that, how can she hope to be Kazekage?"

"What now, Lord Ebizo?" Maki asked.

"Have the sealing team get ready. No matter what, we have to try to capture this tailed beast," Ebizo said.

"Yes!"

Naruto walked into the dust. Where Shukaku had disappeared, a red-haired boy was lying quietly. Naruto was about to check on him when two figures blocked his way.

"You are... Sand Village ninja?" In Kurama Mode, Naruto could clearly sense the hostility from the two in front of him. He frowned slightly.

"Whoever you are, don't come any closer! Otherwise, the Sand Village will treat this as an act of war!" Temari warned sternly. Even though she and Kankuro were no match for someone who could easily defeat the One-Tail, she couldn't stand by while her brother was in danger.

"But it seems like you guys are the ones about to attack me." Naruto, still in Kurama Mode, sensed waves of hostility closing in all around him.

In the next instant, the sand beneath their feet started spinning rapidly, forming a huge sand vortex with sealing runes appearing around the edge.

"This jutsu—?" Temari was shocked. She yelled to her comrades gathering at the edge, "If you use this technique, Gaara will die!"

"The village has given him enough chances. He assassinated the Fourth Kazekage—he's already a criminal. His rampage this time caused huge losses. If we can use him as bait to catch this unknown tailed beast, that's the last value he has." Ebizo said coldly.

"But—!" Temari wanted to argue, but then Naruto looked at the unresponsive Gaara and asked,

 "Is he important to you?"

"He's our little brother." Temari glanced at Naruto, gritting her teeth.

"I see, a brother, huh?" Naruto looked at the unresponsive Gaara, remembering his own situation before Kakashi took him in.

Though those Sand ninja were from the same village as this red-haired boy, Naruto could feel nothing but undisguised hatred from them—like they wished all four of them would just die right there.

"If it were me, Sasuke would probably make the same choice." Naruto thought, looking at Temari and Kankuro.

Because Sasuke was born two months earlier, he always tried to act like an older brother, though Naruto never admitted it. Still, Naruto knew that if he were in such a crisis, Sasuke would stand in front of him without hesitation.

"Give me your hand," Naruto said.

"Our hand? What are you trying to do?" Temari looked at Naruto warily.

"If you want your brother to live, reach out." Naruto extended his fist toward them.

"Who... are you?" Temari couldn't help but ask, seeing Naruto enveloped in golden light.

"Uzumaki Naruto, just a wandering ninja passing through." Naruto smiled.

Thinking they had nothing to lose, Kankuro and Temari, holding Gaara, each reached out and bumped fists with Naruto.

In the next moment, golden chakra flowed from Naruto's fist into their bodies, wrapping them in golden light and flooding them with chakra.

"This chakra!" Temari and Kankuro were shocked. Within a few breaths, the chakra surging into them was already ten times more than their own reserves. And yet, their bodies felt perfectly fine—in fact, warm and comfortable, like basking in sunlight.

"Hold on to your brother. Don't drop him," Naruto said, clapping his hands together and stomping the ground, creating a ripple in the sand. In a flash of golden light, he soared into the sky, two golden chakra arms grabbing Kankuro and Temari (who was holding Gaara), and all four of them shot into the air.

Naruto gathered his hands at his chest, forming a bud shape, and a pitch-black Tailed Beast Ball slowly formed in his palms.

With a shout, Naruto hurled the Tailed Beast Ball far away, using the recoil to fly the group out of the sealing jutsu's range.

"Goodbye, Sand Village!" Once they landed, Naruto waved at the Sand ninja, then led Temari and Kankuro away.

"Hey! Put us down first!" Temari yelled as Naruto carried them off.

Naturally, the Sand ninja didn't want to let them go so easily. When the sealing failed, Ebizo ordered a pursuit, but at full speed in Kurama Mode, Naruto left them far behind.

That night, beside a campfire under a rocky cliff in the Wind Country's desert, Naruto happily roasted a few sand mice he'd just caught. Temari and Kankuro watched over Gaara and kept glancing at Naruto, wanting to ask something.

"Just ask if you want to," Naruto said.

After spending some time together, Temari eased up a bit. Despite his strength, this blond ninja seemed pretty easygoing, and after all, he'd saved all three of them, so she hadn't tried to escape. She glanced around at the surroundings and sighed.

"Why did you bring us so far away? Now we can't even explain our way out of this," Temari said helplessly.

"Is it that bad?" Naruto shrugged. "Just tell them you were kidnapped. Tomorrow morning you can take your brother back. You didn't scratch out your forehead protectors in front of the village; just explain when you get back."

"And anyway, I didn't have time to put you guys down," Naruto added.

"It's not that simple." Temari sighed. "Gaara's situation is special, and after this, he's caused too many incidents. The village has no place for him anymore."

"And if we come back unscathed after being taken away for so long, we'll be under suspicion too. Then I'll lose my last chance to save my brother."

"What did he do to make your village hate him this much? Even for a Jinchuriki, this is too much." Naruto was puzzled. After learning he was a Jinchuriki himself, he understood why people gave him strange looks, but at least in the Konoha, especially among the strong, they didn't show open hostility—just kept their distance. But earlier, he'd clearly felt the Sand ninja's killing intent toward Gaara.

"He lost control of his tailed beast and killed our father. And this time, the One-Tail broke out again, causing havoc before escaping. Both times, many villagers died because of him," Temari said.

"I see." Naruto frowned at Gaara.

Just then, Naruto sensed a surge of malice, and caught Gaara's arm as he woke up and tried to attack him.

Wild chakra surged in Gaara, his eyes blood-red and animalistic.

"Yes! That's it! Kill that kid! Kill the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails! Then you'll have my full power!" Inside Gaara's seal, Shukaku raged.

"Hmph!" Kurama in Naruto's body snorted, wanting to take over, but Naruto shook his head, refusing help. He swept Gaara's legs, knocked him down, and chopped the back of his neck.

"Wait, if Gaara passes out—" Temari started, worried that if Gaara lost consciousness, Shukaku would break loose.

But under the golden glow radiating from Naruto, Shukaku stayed put.

Chapter 236: Konoha Has a Professional Coup Team

Seeing the now-unresponsive Gaara, Temari was shocked. Did his tailed beast really get beaten into submission?

"Sorry about my brother just now…" After a while, Temari apologized to Naruto.

"Can you tell me what happened to him? Why is there only pure hatred in him?" Naruto asked after setting Gaara down.

"He…" Temari hesitated, but seeing that Naruto was a stable Jinchuriki, she decided he might be able to help her brother.

"It's a long story," Temari sighed, and began to recount Gaara's life: losing his mother at birth, his father the Fourth Kazekage treating him as a weapon, and constant assassination attempts to train him.

"Jeez! Was your dad nuts?" Naruto couldn't help but curse after hearing it all. Compared to Gaara's upbringing, even his own tough childhood was nothing.

Putting himself in Gaara's shoes, Naruto figured he wouldn't have made it to adulthood.

Temari and Kankuro fell silent. Though Naruto's outburst was rude, as siblings, they couldn't help but agree—their father must have been out of his mind.

"Let's think about what to do next," Temari changed the subject. "Who knows what the situation is in the village now. If we're labeled missing-nin, going back is just walking into a trap."

"And even if we get back, I probably can't become the Fifth Kazekage. If that's the case, Gaara's crimes can't be pardoned."

"You want to be Kazekage?" Naruto asked.

"Yes. Only if I become Kazekage can I keep the village from extracting Gaara's tailed beast and save his life. But now…" Temari trailed off.

After the Fourth Kazekage's death at Gaara's hands, Temari trained day and night to increase her strength. Now fifteen, she was almost at elite jonin level. Becoming a Kage might be a stretch, but given the Sand's current situation, if Gaara didn't rampage again, she had a good shot, especially with her status as the Sand Princess.

But now, even if she and Gaara weren't labeled missing-nin, they'd probably lose any chance at the Kazekage position. For Gaara, only the life of a missing-nin remained.

"Becoming Kazekage isn't the only way—you could stage a coup." Naruto handed them roasted sand mouse, speaking casually.

"What?" Temari frowned at Naruto.

"You could stage a coup. Your dad was Kazekage for years—he must've had loyalists. You, as the Princess, could rally them and take the position by force," Naruto said nonchalantly, not caring about Temari and Kankuro's shocked looks.

They were stunned. Why did a coup sound so casual coming from him?

"Who are you, really?" Temari asked after a deep breath.

"Didn't I say? Uzumaki Naruto, a wandering ninja," Naruto replied.

"Uzumaki… Are you from the Uzumaki Clan of the Konoha? Is your tailed beast the Nine-Tails?" Temari's face changed. Only now did she realize, with his name and being a Jinchuriki, Naruto must be a Konoha ninja.

"Sort of," Naruto admitted.

"Sort of?" Temari was confused.

Naruto took out his scratched, lightning-scarred forehead protector.

"So you're a missing-nin from the Konoha?" Temari asked dryly.

"Yep," Naruto said openly.

"And you, a Konoha missing-nin, are suggesting I stage a coup in the Sand? Does that seem right to you?" Temari gritted her teeth.

"Why not? If you want to save your brother, do you have a better way?" Naruto shrugged.

"That's easy for you to say," Temari retorted. "It's a coup!"

"Huh? You've never staged a coup before?" Naruto was surprised. Growing up under Seiryu's tutelage, he thought all ninja heirs would learn this stuff.

"And you have?" Temari countered.

"Uh, a little, but not much." Naruto scratched his head. He'd learned some basics—recruit allies, suppress enemies, make more friends, fewer foes—but not the specifics. That was too much for him.

"Then what's the point of all this?" Temari sighed.

"Uh, I could get you a strategist?" Naruto offered awkwardly.

"A strategist?" Temari frowned.

"Yeah, the Konoha has a professional coup team. With their help, you could become Kazekage," Naruto said.

"You're a missing-nin and you can still get help from the Konoha?" Temari was incredulous, but a little tempted. It was the only way to save Gaara.

"My situation's complicated, but if I ask for help, the village will respond." Naruto was vague.

Temari looked deeply at him. This Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's defection was clearly not simple.

"So, will you consider it?" Naruto smiled.

He'd left the village to reduce the impact of future wars on civilians. Weakening the Sand, one of the Five Great Villages, was an opportunity he couldn't pass up. If he could plant a seed in the Sand Village, all the better.

"…Let me think about it," Temari said, still hesitant.

"What's there to think about? You don't want your brother to end up a missing-nin like me, right?" Naruto pressed.

Temari: …

After a moment, she glanced at Gaara, then gritted her teeth. "When can your professional team get here?"

"Give me a sec." Naruto put down his food and formed a few hand seals. "I think the summoning sign for Pakkun was…"

After a few tries, a puff of smoke appeared, and Pakkun, in his police uniform with the Canine 00001 badge, appeared, still chewing a steak.

"Naruto?" Pakkun blinked, surprised. Since becoming the police dog squad captain, Kakashi rarely summoned him, let alone Naruto.

"Where is this? What are you up to?" Pakkun asked, swallowing his steak and looking around.

"Hold on, help me deliver a letter to sensei." Naruto wrote a letter explaining the situation and handed it to Pakkun.

"Don't summon me for errands like this. I have status now, you know," Pakkun grumbled, but took the letter.

"Thanks, Pakkun," Naruto said.

After Pakkun left, Temari asked, "That's it?"

"Yep, now we wait for the professionals." Naruto smiled.

…

While Naruto and the siblings waited in the desert, the team headed to the Land of Demons was getting briefed by their client's retainer, Taruho.

"Sorry about Lady Shion's rudeness," Taruho apologized, bowing deeply as she served them tea.

"Is she always like this?" Sasuke finished his tea and toyed with the cup.

"Sorry, sometimes Lady Shion predicts someone's death," Taruho replied.

"Is that so? What happened?" Sasuke asked.

"Lady Shion's prophecies have never failed," Taruho said.

"So you think I'll die on this mission?" Sasuke sneered.

"I hate to say it, but that's what she sees. Fate that no one can escape," Taruho said, head lowered.

"Is that so? Ha… hahahaha." Sasuke shrugged, then burst out laughing.

"Sasuke?" Neji looked at him, worried. Since Naruto left, he'd been concerned about his other teammate.

"I'm fine." Sasuke waved, smiling. "I think your whole country could use a theology workshop at Naka River."

Then his smile turned cold. "Konoha ninja don't believe in predetermined fate. If fate says I'll die, I'll shatter it with these eyes."

As he finished, his Sharingan spun into Mangekyo.

The pressure from Sasuke's eyes was overwhelming.

"Tell the priestess we'll set out to seal the demon tomorrow morning. Then I'll show her that the only value of her prophecy is for me to break it myself," Sasuke said after deactivating his Mangekyo.

"Yes," Taruho replied, steadying herself.

…

In Konoha's Uchiha compound, Seiryu finished archery practice when the butler reported Pakkun's arrival.

After reading Naruto's letter, Seiryu smiled. "This kid never holds back. Helping the fallen princess return to her loyal Sand Village? Interesting."

He summoned a messenger snake, sealed some chakra into a scroll, and sent it via Ryuchi Cave toward the Wind Country.

Chapter 237: Sand's Acting Kazekage

Naruto and the siblings waited by the campfire until dawn, when a white snake slithered out of the desert.

"It's here," Naruto said, perking up.

The messenger snake crawled onto his arm.

"Naruto." The snake spoke in Seiryu's voice.

"Sensei?" Naruto was surprised. He thought his teacher would send Neji or Sasuke, not come himself.

"Sasuke and Neji are busy. I sealed some of my chakra into the snake to keep in contact," the snake said.

"That makes Temari's coup even more certain," Naruto nodded.

"Let's get down to business." The snake turned to Temari. "Princess of the Sand, a pleasure."

"Um, may I ask who you are?" Temari asked cautiously.

"Uchiha Seiryu," the snake answered calmly.

"The Fifth Hokage?" Temari was shocked. She glanced at Naruto:

What kind of missing-nin can just call their own Kage for help?!

"Greetings, Lord Hokage," Kankuro said quickly. After the last tariff war, relations between Wind and Fire weren't great, but Seiryu was now recognized as the strongest in the ninja world. Even if it was just a snake with his chakra, Kankuro dared not be rude.

Temari composed herself and bowed. "Greetings, Lord Hokage. I don't dare call myself princess in your presence."

"No, you must remember—always see yourself as the Sand Princess, no matter who you face," Seiryu's voice said.

"If you want to be Kazekage, you must make everyone remember your father's contributions, how he supported the village's economy and gave them good lives," Seiryu advised.

"I understand." Temari nodded. She knew the legendary ninja was guiding her in the coup. "What else should I do?"

"Wait," Seiryu said calmly. "Your village's situation is unclear. Until your status is settled, gather intel and wait patiently. You have ways to contact supporters, right?"

"Yes, I can contact my uncle," Temari replied.

"Uncle? Even better." Seiryu was pleased. Uncles were always useful in coups, especially one with status in the Sand.

"For now, distance yourself from this incident," Seiryu said. "Before you become Kazekage, your Jinchuriki brother must remain a missing-nin. If you return, show you're actively hunting him."

"In other words, you need to temporarily cut ties. What Gaara did is a fact," Seiryu continued.

"But if I do that…" Temari hesitated.

"Are you worried that even if you become Kazekage, you can't pardon him?" Seiryu asked.

Temari nodded.

"You don't seem to realize how much power a Kage has. Once you're Kazekage and fully control the village, whether Gaara is a missing-nin will be up to you." Seiryu smiled.

"Like him?" Temari glanced at Naruto.

"Well, his situation is complicated, but you're not wrong," Seiryu said, and Naruto scratched his head awkwardly.

"But our village isn't run by the Kazekage alone…" Temari said. "Even my father sometimes had to listen to the elders."

"When you said you wanted to be Kazekage, what was the elders' attitude?" Seiryu asked.

"They… didn't support me, saying I was too young, even though my strength is now at the top of the village. But I think they're just waiting it out, otherwise they would've started the election. Also, Elder Ebizo's attitude toward Gaara means he won't support me anymore."

"Isn't it obvious? If you want to take over by force, the elders are obstacles to be removed. Once you succeed, no one will block you from pardoning Gaara," Seiryu said.

Temari's eyes widened, then she understood.

Right—if she pulled off the coup, she'd have more power than any Kazekage since the First. Pardoning Gaara would be her call.

"I understand." Temari took a deep breath. "But if I leave Gaara now, what about him?"

Naruto smiled. "If you trust me, I'll look after him. With Kurama, Shukaku won't dare act up. I can also teach him to control his emotions."

Temari fell silent. Logic said, entrusting her brother to a missing-nin—especially a Jinchuriki—was dangerous; if they wanted the One-Tail, Gaara would be doomed. But when she connected chakra with Naruto, it felt like sunlight—no malice at all.

If only Gaara could be like him… she thought, gazing at Naruto.

"Letting Naruto care for him is a good choice. I believe he can help change your brother's warped personality," Seiryu added.

"Alright, I'll trust you," Temari said formally to Naruto. "Please take care of Gaara."

"Don't worry, I will," Naruto promised.

"My messenger snake will stay with you until the coup is done," Seiryu said.

"Okay." Temari let the snake crawl onto her arm.

"Alright, Naruto, take Gaara away. Temari, contact your uncle and find out the situation in the Sand. That'll help us plan our next move," Seiryu said.

…

At dawn, Naruto left with Gaara. After seeing them off, Temari contacted Yashamaru as arranged.

"You two should rough yourselves up a bit, or it'll be hard to explain," Seiryu reminded.

"Okay." Temari grabbed some sand and rubbed her face, then cut herself with a kunai. Kankuro did the same.

Seiryu nodded—these siblings were dedicated.

Two hours later, Yashamaru appeared on the horizon, running toward them.

"Temari, Kankuro, are you alright?" Yashamaru checked their injuries and, seeing only scrapes, relaxed.

"Where's Gaara?" he asked.

"I don't know," Temari replied as taught. "After we were taken, we passed out mid-flight. When we woke up, he and that man were gone."

Yashamaru was stunned. If Gaara was gone, the Sand had lost its tailed beast—a huge blow. But he masked his feelings and said, "As long as you two are safe. We'll keep searching for Gaara."

"Uncle, what's the situation in the village?" Temari asked.

"Uh…" Yashamaru hesitated.

"Uncle!"

"Alright, I'll tell you. After you disappeared, Elders Chiyo and Ebizo declared a state of emergency. They appointed elite jonin Ishi Nishigaku as acting Kazekage."

"Ishi Nishigaku?" Temari frowned. "He's a bit stronger than me, but not well supported."

"That's the elders' decision," Yashamaru said. "Last night, he had a succession ceremony and put on the Kazekage hat. His first move was to try to brand you and Kankuro as missing-nin for trying to rescue Gaara, but the Fourth's old guard opposed him, so it didn't pass."

"He's only acting Kazekage and already purging rivals?" Kankuro muttered.

"Don't worry, with me, you won't be mistreated," Yashamaru assured them. "But Gaara's already labeled a missing-nin, so him being taken may be for the best. Otherwise, he'd only face forcible extraction."

"Damn!" Temari gritted her teeth.

"In any case, let's go back to the village. The longer you stay out, the easier it is for him to justify calling you traitors," Yashamaru said.

"Okay." Temari nodded, and they set out for the village.

As Temari and Kankuro approached the Sand Village gates with Yashamaru, the guards stopped them.

Soon, a man in a green Kazekage hat and robe appeared. Seeing them, he ordered,

 "Well done, Jonin Yashamaru! Arrest these two suspected missing-nin and interrogate them about the Jinchuriki's whereabouts!"

Yashamaru blocked their way, frowning. "Acting Kazekage, even the elders haven't decided on Temari and Kankuro's status yet. Isn't it improper to label them traitors already?"