221-225

*Chapter 221: Anniversary with Mrs. Mikoto*

During the day, he spent time with Mrs. Mikoto, Izumi, and Chika. The first half of the night, he met with Tsunade and Chikatsu; the second half, with his teacher, Kurenai; and at dawn, he checked on little Hinata, watching her grow day by day.

His schedule was meticulously planned.

Whenever he recalled these thrilling moments, Aizen couldn’t help but savor the memories.

"Dad, can you take us out to play today?" Chika blinked her big, adorable eyes, a hopeful look in her dark gaze. For the past three years, Aizen had taken them out to play nearly every month.

It had almost been a month since the last outing.

"Not today, I'm afraid," Aizen replied, shaking his head apologetically. He lifted Chika up and smiled. "Dad has a mission to go on, so why don’t you stay home and study with Mom and Aunt Izumi, okay?"

"But, Dad, I’ve already learned everything Mom and Aunt Izumi taught me from the academy. I even know how to use the Fireball Jutsu and Shadow Clone Jutsu." Chika was as gifted as her older sister Chikatsu. While she hadn’t unlocked her Sharingan or Observation Haki, she kept up with Chikatsu in nearly every other way.

Aizen hadn’t taught her anything beyond basic techniques because she was still young and he worried about her getting hurt.

Chikatsu, on the other hand, had both Observation Haki and the Sharingan, so Aizen allowed her training to progress more freely. Tsunade was overseeing her practice, giving her a freer approach to grow her strength, which was now far beyond his own at her age in the academy.

As Aizen organized his gear, Mrs. Mikoto overheard him mentioning his mission from the kitchen. She looked worried. "Will it be dangerous?"

Aizen gently patted his daughter’s head and set her down. He walked over to the kitchen and embraced Mikoto from behind. "You know my abilities, no need to worry. Want me to prove it later?"

“Stop being so improper.” Izumi face flushed as she cast a playful glare at him. Fearing he’d make a teasing comment or act out in front of the kids, she quickly changed the subject. "Alright, go take a bath. Dinner won’t be ready for a while, and after all that time, I’m sure you need to wash off the sweat."

"Sweat?" Aizen sniffed himself, detecting nothing. He hadn’t really sweated at all while in the mountain cave for the past five days.

As a mischievous thought crossed his mind, he looked at the bathroom with a smirk. "You're right, I probably do have a bit of a smell. I’ll go bathe now. Could you get me some clean clothes?"

Without waiting for Izumi response, Aizen dashed for the bathroom.

"Hey, wait! Mikoto in there!" Izumi quickly realized what he was up to, but it was too late.

Moments later, a shriek from Izumi echoed from the bathroom, followed by a rather unique "melody."

"Mama, what’s Dad doing with Aunt Izumi in the bath? Why are they screaming?" Chika looked at the bathroom in confusion and glanced at her mother.

"It’s nothing, dear. She probably just dropped the soap." Blushing, Mikoto diverted her daughter’s attention while quickly forming a seal. A talisman on the bathroom door glowed red for a moment, and suddenly, the sounds from inside ceased.

The barrier activated, and peace returned to the room.

By the time Aizen and Izumi emerged from the bathroom, half an hour had passed.

Izumi’s face was flushed all the way down to her neck, while Aizen had an expression of deep satisfaction as they took their seats.

Surprisingly, there was no awkwardness. Clearly, this wasn’t the first time such a thing had happened.

The family of four tacitly agreed to move past it and enjoy a precious, peaceful moment together.

The next day, Aizen set off for Sunagakure. Since Pakura was originally from Sunagakure and this mission involved her village, Aizen decided not to bring her along.

Before reaching Sunagakure, Aizen made a detour to where Kakuzu and Hidan had captured the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, Fuu, and released her.

In the system's storage world, time and space were completely frozen.

After releasing Fuu, a Senzu Bean began taking effect.

Aizen quickly unlocked her chakra points.

Leaning against a tree, her face pale and nearly colorless, Fuu began to regain some warmth and color.

Seeing her quick recovery, Aizen sighed in relief. The Senzu Bean couldn't cure diseases, but it could fully restore injuries and chakra.

In the end, Jinchuriki only died because, during the extraction of the tailed beast, their chakra was drained along with it.

As long as a Senzu Bean was taken before death, they could survive by quickly restoring their chakra.

After a moment, Fuu’s beautiful eyes fluttered as she struggled to open them, squinting against the blinding sunlight filtering through the trees.

“Am I dead?” were her first words.

“Yes, you were dead, but you came back to life,” Aizen’s calm, gentle voice reached her ears.

Fuu looked up and, seeing Aizen smiling nearby, hesitated a moment. “Um, who are you?”

Aizen chuckled. “Take a closer look, and you’ll know.”

Fuu examined him again. Noticing his red-clouded black cloak, similar to the ones worn by Kakuzu and Hidan, she recalled the scene of her capture and tailed beast extraction.

Fear crossed her face as she asked cautiously, “You’re with Kakuzu, aren’t you? Why did you save me?”

“Think of it as a whim. If you’d been a grumpy old man, I probably wouldn’t have saved you,” Aizen admitted.

"Are you trying to be my friend?" Fuu’s eyes brightened as she stepped closer, holding Aizen's hand.

Aizen said, "Sure, you can think of it that way. But since you’ve lost your tailed beast and learned a lot about our organization, I’ll need to erase your recent memories before I let you return. I hope you’re prepared."

“But I finally made a friend! Can’t you skip that part?” Fuu pleaded, clinging to his arm.

After a moment of thought, Aizen said, “How about this: I’ll cast a genjutsu so your memories return in a year. Then, we can be friends again.”

By then, the Fourth Great Ninja War would be over, and it wouldn’t matter if Fuu remembered or not.

“Could it be sooner?” she bargained.

“No.” Without giving her a chance to respond, Aizen’s right eye opened, revealing his three-tomoe Sharingan as he deleted and altered her memories.

In Fuu’s mind, she only recalled being attacked by an unknown enemy; everything else was gone.

*(End of Chapter)*

Chapter 222: Konoha’s Little Demon Queen, Chika

Konoha Village.

It was midday, and the sun blazed in the sky.

A cat and three people were darting through the forest.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Stop right there!"

"Quick, after it!"

Two boys and a girl—or more accurately, one boy, one girl, and someone who seemed halfway between both—raced after each other, finally reaching the bustling market district.

Their target was a cat with a bow on its head.

The chase left chaos in its wake.

Clotheslines, fruit stands, and even Ichiraku's ramen cart, ready for delivery, were all overturned.

Shouts of anger followed them.

Finally, they cornered the cat in a dead-end alley.

The three youngsters panted and grinned triumphantly.

"We’ve caught you, Tora!" The androgynous youth spoke in an ambiguous voice.

"Great job, Konohamaru! We finally caught it!" said the blonde girl with two pigtails.

The last one, a boy with big glasses and a runny nose, pointed at the cat and called out, "Go on, Konohamaru! Moegi and I will block it. Don't let Tora get away!"

These three were none other than Sarutobi Konohamaru and his teammates, Moegi Kazamatsuri and Udon Ise—staunch fans of Naruto.

Three years had passed, and they had finally graduated from the Academy to become Genin.

While Moegi and Udon hadn't changed much from their depictions in the original story, Konohamaru had undergone significant transformations.

Although his abilities were not vastly different, growing up influenced by Aizen's unusual treatment had led him to dress in a more feminine style, making him appear ambiguous.

Under the influence of Naruto, combined with the care of Ebisu and the Third Hokage—and lacking the sinister presence of someone like Orochimaru to corrupt him—he still harbored hatred for Aizen but hadn’t spiraled into darkness like Sasuke.

His personality had become somewhat twisted, almost reminiscent of a trickster.

"Alright, leave it to me!" Konohamaru shouted with a determined voice, leaping at the cat.

A struggle between human and feline ensued.

In the end, Konohamaru managed to grab the cat from behind, achieving a momentary victory.

"We did it!" Konohamaru exclaimed, holding the cat excitedly.

"A bow on its right ear. It's definitely the one," Udon said, wiping his nose.

"Ebisu-sensei, the target, lost pet Tora, has been captured," Moegi reported into a headset, informing their instructor, Ebisu, of their success.

But before they could celebrate, the cat in Konohamaru's arms started to thrash wildly, scratching his face and finally biting his arm.

With a yelp, Konohamaru let go, and the cat bolted away.

"Oh no! Tora is escaping!"

Just as the cat was about to flee the alley, and the trio prepared to give chase again—

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

Suddenly, three kunai flashed through the air, landing precisely in front of the cat and on either side, trapping it in place. Terrified, the cat froze, trembling.

"What's that...?" Moegi, Udon, and Konohamaru gasped in unison.

Footsteps echoed from outside the alley, and a graceful figure stepped into view.

Backlit by the sun, the figure's appearance seemed almost blinding to Konohamaru, making him squint slightly.

As she stepped closer, they could finally see her features.

Dressed in a blue high-collared outfit that protected her long, fair neck, with a Konoha headband tied at her throat, she exuded an air of cool detachment.

Her waist-length blonde hair was sleek and unadorned, matching her flawless features: delicate lips, perfectly shaped eyebrows, and clear brown eyes as deep as a still pond, without a hint of impurity—an almost ethereal beauty without flaw.

It was hard to imagine how breathtaking she would be as she grew older.

This girl was none other than Chika, now older.

Like Konohamaru and his friends, she had also graduated from the Academy. However, she only needed a year to do so, becoming the second person after Itachi Uchiha to graduate in such a short time.

This was largely due to Tsunade’s insistence.

Despite being far stronger than most ninja due to Aizen and Tsunade's extensive training, Tsunade, as the Hokage, couldn’t be seen as biased. Both she and Aizen also wanted their daughter to have a happy childhood.

As a result, Chika ended up defeating every Academy instructor and peer she encountered, causing such uproar that the entire school protested until she was allowed to take the Genin exam and graduate early.

"It's the Fifth Hokage’s daughter, the Demon Queen of the Academy, Chika!"

Seeing her face, Moegi and Udon immediately screamed and clung to each other in fear, retreating to the corner of the alley. Clearly, they were among those who had been beaten by her.

Konohamaru, however, just glared at her, though his pale face, clenched teeth, and tight fists betrayed his terror and frustration.

He was the grandson of the Third Hokage and vowed to kill Konoha's greatest criminal, the S-rank rogue ninja Aizen.

Yet here he was, intimidated by a girl five years younger, and powerless to change it. It was infuriating.

"You're all pretty weak, aren’t you?" Chika said coldly, glancing at them before picking up the cat and turning to leave.

Behind her, Konohamaru shouted angrily, pointing at her. "Hey! We caught that cat first!"

"But it got away from you, didn’t it?" Chika turned back, a serene smile on her face. "Ebisu-sensei said whoever catches Tora first completes the mission. Unless... you want to challenge me?"

Her voice was melodic, almost cleansing to the spirit.

To Moegi, Udon, and Konohamaru, however, it sounded like the devil's whisper.

Especially paired with that deceptively innocent smile—it always meant trouble was coming.

And they weren't wrong. Chika was in a bad mood, a very bad mood, because Aizen hadn't visited her in over a month.

She desperately needed to blow off steam.

And Konohamaru, who held a grudge against her father, was the perfect target.

That was the real reason she had intervened in this trivial mission.

"Konohamaru, let it go," Moegi and Udon whispered, tugging on his shoulder. They knew challenging Chika would only lead to one outcome: a severe beating.

---

*Chapter 223: Tsunade’s Resignation*

Konohamaru nodded slightly, swallowing hard. Just as he was about to follow his teammate’s advice, Chika's voice rang in his ear, “You're not much of a man, are you? Your mission target was snatched, and you’re just going to stay quiet.”

Nothing made Konohamaru angrier than being told he wasn’t a man. Enraged, he lunged toward Chika, trying to grab the cat back. The result? He was pounded by Chika for the sixty-third time.

Ten minutes later, in the Hokage’s office.

Konohamaru stood there with a swollen face, his teammates Moegi and Udon beside him;

on the other side stood Chika, looking quite pleased with herself.

Ebisu, standing between them, looked helpless. As the grandson of the Third Hokage and the daughter of the Fifth Hokage, neither party could be offended. As a Jonin, this was an awkward spot for him.

On the Hokage's desk, a lost cat named "Tora" looked pitifully at the hefty woman holding him in her arms.

As the Hokage, Tsunade sat behind her desk, looking at the six people, feeling at a loss.

“Thank you so much, young Chika! As the Fifth Hokage’s daughter, you really live up to expectations—returning my Tora in just a few minutes!” the woman praised Chika.

“Auntie, it’s all part of my duty as a Konoha ninja,” Chika responded politely.

Her former cold, brutal demeanor was nowhere to be seen.

Little did the woman know that during those ten minutes it took Chika to retrieve the cat, most of it was spent beating up Konohamaru.

“Oh, such a polite young lady! Hokage-sama, here is the reward. Tora, let’s go home.”

The woman, satisfied, smiled, left a pouch of money, and left with her cat, exiting the Hokage’s office.

“This is your mission payment; come and get it,” Tsunade said with a sigh, glancing at her grinning daughter and then at Konohamaru and his teammates.

The three exchanged glances. Moegi pointed at herself in disbelief, asking, “Um, Tsunade-sama, is this really for us?”

“Of course. This cat-finding D-rank mission was assigned to your team,” Tsunade confirmed.

“But we didn’t actually catch the cat,” Udon sniffled.

Tsunade stood up, sighing in resignation. “I know how Chika can be; it was my daughter who gave you trouble. I’m making her apologize.”

“Hurry up, Chika, apologize to Konohamaru and the others,” Tsunade directed.

But Chika had no intention of apologizing. Though she knew her mother meant well, she was unwilling to apologize to those who resented her father. She had already thought of a way to change the subject.

Just then, she sensed two powerful, familiar chakras approaching the village. She smirked and calmly said, “They’re back.”

“What do you mean, ‘they’re back’?” Everyone looked at Chika, puzzled.

“Uncle Jiraiya and Naruto are back. They’re at the village gate,” Chika replied seriously.

In an instant, the entire Hokage office burst into commotion.

Everyone looked shocked—not only by Naruto and Jiraiya’s return but also by how Chika knew about it.

Tsunade, knowing her daughter’s abilities, seized the opportunity to explain, “Chika is a sensory-type ninja. She can detect chakra. It seems like Naruto and Jiraiya really are back.”

Hearing this, Ebisu had a sudden realization.

Meanwhile, Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon, all die-hard Naruto fans, became so excited that they forgot about their payment, jumping out of the office window and dashing toward the village gate, announcing to everyone they passed, “Big Brother Naruto is back!”

“Hey, you three!” Ebisu, exhausted, watched his students bolt off without even saying goodbye, quickly apologizing on their behalf.

Tsunade, however, didn’t mind.

After handling Konohamaru’s team’s mission reward, she exited the Hokage office.

In the end, only Tsunade and Chika remained in the office.

The two exchanged a look. Tsunade seemed about to scold her daughter, but Chika quickly moved behind her, massaging her shoulders and pouting, instantly defusing Tsunade’s anger.

“Mom, you’re not mad anymore, are you?” Chika blinked playfully.

“Hmm?” Tsunade nodded instinctively, but, maintaining her motherly authority, she added in a stern tone, “So, tell me, why do you keep clashing with Konohamaru?”

“Because of Dad.” Chika stopped massaging, answering seriously.

“Oh, that guy…” Thinking of the grudge between her husband and the Sarutobi clan, Tsunade felt a headache coming on.

Sarutobi heir had been kind-hearted and showed no desire for revenge.

But Konohamaru and Asuma Sarutobi were different; both openly declared they wanted to defeat Chika’s father.

If things continued, they’d be at each other’s throats sooner or later.

As for her husband’s strength, Tsunade knew it well. With his craftiness, he could easily wipe out Konohamaru and Asuma—and potentially destroy Konoha.

Not to mention the threat in the Akatsuki organization that even her husband was wary of.

As the Hokage, with one side being her family and the other Konoha’s ninja, all Tsunade could do was prevent conflicts, keeping her husband from causing harm to Konoha. That was her limit.

---

*In the Land of Wind, Sunagakure.*

Now Kazekage, Gaara was in the meeting room, listening to reports from the Sunagakure officials.

“In recent years, our village’s strength has stabilized, and our interactions with allied villages have increased.”

“Especially with the introduction of Konoha’s practical training programs for our new recruits, the results have been remarkable. The many new Chunin promoted during the recent exams are proof of this.”

“And then…”

Baki, Gaara’s old teacher, droned on.

It wasn’t until Yura, a spy under Sasori’s control, mentioned the Akatsuki that people started paying attention, “The recent Chunin exams were successful, but there were troubling rumors.”

“What rumors, Yura?” Baki asked gravely.

“Have you heard of the ‘Akatsuki’ organization?” Yura asked, looking at Baki.

At this time, Yura, still under Sasori's brainwashing technique, was unaware he was a spy and thought of himself as a loyal high-ranking Jonin of Sunagakure.

*Chapter 224: The Hunt for Tailed Beasts Begins, Aizen Takes Charge*

Yura explained seriously to the gathered crowd, “The organization known as ‘Akatsuki’ is composed of about a dozen ninjas, all of whom are highly dangerous S-rank criminals listed in international bingo books.”

“We know of some of its members, such as Uchiha Itachi, a former Konoha ninja who wiped out his entire clan overnight.”

“Then there’s Kisame Hoshigaki, once part of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, known as the Monster of the Hidden Mist.”

“And Orochimaru, who plotted to destroy Konoha and assassinated the Fourth Kazekage. It’s said he was also a member of this organization.”

“But the most troubling member is Aizen Fujiwara. Three years ago, he caused chaos in Konoha, orchestrating a scheme that ‘framed’ Konoha’s higher-ups. In the Forest of Death, he effortlessly defeated Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, and other Jonin. He, too, is part of Akatsuki.”

“Rumor has it that while Orochimaru assassinated the Fourth Kazekage, it was Aizen who actually did the deed.”

“Aizen Fujiwara?” Gaara, who had been silently listening with his arms crossed, finally spoke.

Hearing the name triggered memories of their first and only encounter three years ago in the Forest of Death, causing his pupils to contract.

He was a man even the tailed beast inside Gaara feared.

Moreover, Aizen was connected to Naruto, the first person Gaara considered a friend.

“Yes, Kazekage-sama,” Yura said with a respectful nod, a bit surprised by Gaara’s reaction. “I assume you’ve met him before. The source of this intelligence is Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin.”

“I took the liberty of notifying everyone to bolster the village’s defenses before this meeting. Elite Anbu units have been deployed on the outskirts, making it difficult for any powerful ninja to break through.”

“It’s been reported that Akatsuki members wear black robes adorned with red clouds. I’ve issued an order: if anyone is seen wearing such attire, they must be engaged with full force.”

The room erupted in murmurs of approval.

The upper echelons praised Yura’s diligence.

But no one in the room knew that this loyal Sand Village official would soon betray them.

Amidst the sweeping sands of the desert, the wind howled, occasionally punctuated by the sound of chimes.

Deidara, dressed in a black robe with red clouds and wearing a conical hat adorned with bells, trudged through the sand alongside Sasori, who hid within the puppet Hiruko, heading toward the Sand Village.

Their path was marked by deep footprints and a trench carved by Sasori’s puppet but quickly obscured by the shifting sands.

“Hey, Sasori-san, the Sand Village isn’t far now. What’s up with Aizen? Didn’t he say he’d come to appreciate my art? Why isn’t he here yet, hmm?” Deidara grumbled, carrying a bag of clay bombs.

“Who knows? He’s probably with his wife and kid again. He’s that kind of person—someone who once slaughtered the Sarutobi and Shimura clans for his family and always puts them first. Even in an organization filled with killers, he stands out as unique.”

Sasori spoke with Hiruko’s raspy voice, a faint trace of envy seeping into his words.

He wasn’t envious of Aizen but of Aizen’s daughter, Chika, who had grown up surrounded by love and family.

“Lame. Even though Sasori-san and I have different views on art, what’s so great about women anyway? Art is way more important, don’t you think, Sasori-san? Hmm.” Deidara patted his clay pouch, scoffing.

Sasori didn’t respond directly and instead shifted the conversation, looking at Deidara’s bag, “By the way, is that bag enough? The opponent is not only a Jinchuriki but also the Kazekage of one of the Five Great Nations.”

“Come on, we’re talking about that kid who Aizen knocked out with one hit back in Konoha. It’s no big deal, hmm,” Deidara replied dismissively.

Sasori cast him a sidelong glance, his voice dry, “Underestimating opponents can get you killed. Besides, you don’t want to embarrass yourself in front of Aizen, do you?”

Hearing that, Deidara’s expression grew serious. “This time, I’ve come prepared. Sasori-san took down the Third Kazekage, Aizen finished off the Fourth, so as your comrade, I won’t fall short. The Fifth is as good as dead, not even God can stop me.”

Sasori paused, “That line sounds familiar.”

“Haha… I just think Aizen’s words are artistic.” Deidara let out an awkward laugh.

It was unclear whether he felt guilty for using someone else’s words or embarrassed that Sasori caught on.

The two continued in silence until midday, finally arriving at the Sand Village’s entrance known as ‘The Gorge.’

“Hey, Deidara, Sasori, you’re late. I’ve already had lunch.”

On the left side of The Gorge, a large parasol provided shade. Beneath it sat a lounge chair, where Aizen lay comfortably wearing sunglasses.

Yura, Sasori’s spy, stood nearby with blood-stained clothes, ready to serve.

Upon seeing Sasori, Yura rushed forward and knelt, “Sasori-sama.”

Sasori’s brow twitched at seeing how Aizen had commandeered his subordinate. “Good work, Yura. Looks like you’ve remembered everything.”

“Yes, Sasori-sama,” Yura replied solemnly.

“Well, it’s not like I’d forget my ninja skills,” Deidara interjected, then turned to Yura. “When did Aizen get here? How is he earlier than us?”

Sasori looked at Aizen. “When did he arrive?”

“Aizen-sama arrived half an hour ago. Following his instructions from you, Sasori-sama, I had him dine in the village, arranged a parasol and chair for him, and set up this waiting spot. All guards have been neutralized,” Yura reported.

“Hey, when did I order my subordinate to cater to you?”

Hidden in Hiruko, Sasori’s expression twitched with irritation as he looked at Aizen, who was still lounging.

Aizen sat up, “Don’t worry about it. Since I came all this way to be a spectator, I deserve a VIP seat, don’t you think?”

“Yura, move the chair and parasol to The Gorge so I can watch the fight between Deidara and the Kazekage with Sasori.”

“Yes, Aizen-sama,” Yura replied, hurrying to comply.

---

End of chapter

*Chapter 225: Naruto Learns About Sasuke’s Defection, Jōnin Karin*

"Did you put a genjutsu on him? I don’t remember Yura obeying anyone but me after regaining his memories," Sasori's Hiruko puppet asked Aizen. Red threads of tension flickered in his eyes as he watched Yura go off to fetch a rocking chair.

Aizen just shrugged it off with a carefree smile, then shifted his gaze to Deidara. "Deidara, it’s your turn now."

“Just watch me, Aizen-nii. Hmm.” Deidara was brimming with confidence.

Moments later, Yura returned quickly. “Master Sasori, Master Aizen, Master Deidara, everything is ready. Please follow me.”

Soon, the three of them followed Yura through a narrow passage into the heart of the Hidden Sand Village.

From this vantage point, they had a perfect bird’s-eye view of the whole village. The dense arrangement of sand-colored buildings caught Deidara’s attention.

“This village has an artistic quality to its architecture,” he mused. “Which makes it all the more valuable to destroy.” He turned to his companions. “Aizen-nii, Sasori, you guys can stay here and watch.”

Deidara reached into his clay pouch, and the mouth in his palm bit off a chunk of clay. Molding it with his chakra, he formed a large bird. After performing a hand sign, the bird expanded in size. He leaped onto its back, and with a flap of its wings, it soared into the sky, soon becoming a speck on the horizon.

“Now, we just wait here and watch,” Aizen remarked, reclining on the rocking chair.

Sasori glanced at Aizen and clicked his tongue in mild annoyance. “Yura, you can leave now,” he ordered.

“Yes, Master Sasori,” Yura replied respectfully before vanishing at the village gate. Sasori then focused on the village, joining Aizen in watching the direction Deidara had flown off.

---

*Meanwhile, in the Hokage’s Office*

Naruto had returned to the Hidden Leaf Village, only to learn that Sasuke had defected shortly after he and Jiraiya had left to train. Bursting into the office, he confronted Tsunade. “Granny Tsunade, is it true? Did someone from Orochimaru really take Sasuke away?”

Beside him stood Sakura, now a skilled medical ninja. Shikamaru and Temari were also present, planning the upcoming joint Chūnin Exams between the Sand and Leaf villages, along with Jiraiya, who had helped train Naruto.

“You’ve heard, then,” Tsunade sighed, noticing the others in the room: Sakura, Shikamaru, and Temari, all key players during Sasuke’s defection. With a heavy heart, she explained the situation.

Upon hearing that the retrieval team had defeated the Sound Four but still failed to bring Sasuke back, Naruto fell silent, cursing himself for not being there. If I had been there, I could have saved him, he thought.

Shikamaru was equally burdened by guilt, remembering how his strategic errors had nearly cost Neji and Chōji their lives. Jiraiya leaned against the wall, arms crossed, reflecting on his own history with Orochimaru. He silently acknowledged Naruto’s pain. Temari, too, said nothing, her gaze complex as she watched the boy who had changed Gaara’s life.

Sakura, however, couldn’t hold back her tears. Nearly three years had passed, and yet the pain and loss felt fresh. But she quickly composed herself, brushing away her tears, and looked at Naruto. His shoulders trembled as he lowered his head, his eyes hidden in shadow.

Just as Sakura was about to comfort him, Naruto clenched his right fist and declared loudly, “I’ve decided. One day, I’ll bring Sasuke back to the village. Believe it. That’s my ninja way.”

He raised his fist and gave everyone a thumbs-up, his determination infectious. The once somber atmosphere in the room lifted, and even Tsunade couldn’t help but smile slightly. Only Chika, standing behind Tsunade, remained skeptical, thinking, So this is Aizen’s “Talk no Jutsu”? How ridiculous.

“Well then,” Tsunade said, her expression turning serious. “It’s time to see the results of your training, Naruto. And Sakura’s, too. This evaluation will determine your future.”

“An evaluation?” Naruto and Sakura exchanged confused looks.

Resting her chin on her hand, Tsunade grinned mischievously. “It means facing a certain opponent. He’s been preparing for days without any missions. Your opponent is…”

A knock at the door interrupted her. “Come in,” Tsunade called.

The door creaked open, and Shizune entered with Karin beside her. “Lady Tsunade, I brought Karin as you requested.”

“Thanks, Shizune,” Tsunade said.

Naruto immediately recognized Shizune, but when he saw Karin, his confusion deepened. Though he had briefly met her during their mission to recruit Tsunade as Hokage, he had been too focused on training to pay her much attention. Now, seeing her grown up, he struggled to place her.

Sakura gave him an exasperated look. “This is Karin-senpai, Karin Uzumaki. She’s from the same clan as you. Back in the Chūnin Exams, she was forced to represent the Grass Village because her mother was taken hostage. But Lady Tsunade rescued her and made her a Leaf ninja. She’s now a Jōnin, like Neji.”

Karin greeted Naruto with a friendly smile. “Hello, Naruto.”

Naruto was stunned, recalling the younger version of Karin he had seen years ago. Now, with her signature red hair a bit unkempt, glasses giving her an intellectual look, and dressed in a stylish purple crop top, black shorts, thigh-high socks, and ninja sandals, she seemed so different. She looked cuter back then, he thought.

---

(Chapter ends)