I don't like this position. I don't like this plan. But these Kumo guys... Well, they lost someone close. That, I can respect. That's why I asked Shikamaru to come with me. What I didn't expect was for Tsunade to assign two jōnin from Kumogakure to my team. Still, they seem as determined as I am to make those bastards pay.
Thinking about it brings me back to how we met a few hours ago.
< o >
Tsunade called me in personally. She said it bluntly, as always.
"Asuma Sarutobi, because of your diplomatic experience, I believe you're the right person to work with some ninja seeking to capture those responsible. These are Daizen and Kasumi, both jōnin from Kumogakure. They'll be at your disposal for this mission."
I looked them over from head to toe. Their eyes were sharp, their stances ready for combat. Still, I asked "I heard there were three jōnin from Kumo..."
Kasumi replied quickly, without losing composure. "Our comrade Rugen is directly pursuing the woman who was kidnapped. We will be joining the hunt for the assassins of our fellow shinobi."
I glanced at Tsunade, and without much more, she gave me two names. "He's been assigned with Kiba and Shino. They have the ability to find her... and rescue her."
I thought for a few seconds. I couldn't refuse. Not this time. But if I was going in, I wanted the best chances possible.
"I'll need Shikamaru on my team."
She nodded without hesitation. "Very well. Everyone involved should be assembled upstairs."
< o >
So I introduced the two jōnin to Shikamaru. He raised an eyebrow, that usual expression of his like everything was just another annoyance. But he knew me well. He knew this was personal. Akatsuki had killed Chiriku. My friend. And that wouldn't go unanswered.
"Can't you let another team handle this?" Shikamaru murmured as we walked.
"Not this time."
My instincts told me there were two places where they might try to sell the body for the bounty. And one of them operated on specific days of the week. Tomorrow was one of those days.
I was sure Kurenai wouldn't approve. Especially after the warning Hinata gave me. But I couldn't ignore it. So I coordinated with the group to switch supervision and act directly.
To our pleasant surprise, Kasumi turned out to be a highly capable sensor.
Daizen is young, but he moves with precision. A natural swordsman, and his use of Raiton Jutsu is solid. Together with Kasumi, they make a dangerous, well-coordinated pair.
When we arrived at the site, Shikamaru started outlining strategies like he was playing a game of shōgi. Scenarios, variables, escape routes. He made it clear what to do depending on how things played out. His core idea: divide and conquer.
Thanks to Kasumi, we knew the exact moment Akatsuki arrived without revealing our presence. One of them went inside. The other waited outside.
Shikamaru immediately said, "Plan 3 is in motion," without raising his voice. "We take the one outside. Fast. Quiet."
The plan was simple: they move in pairs. If one enters to negotiate the price, we ambush the one left outside. Take him down by surprise. Then we go for the second with numerical advantage, drawing the fight toward the trap-laden zone we prepared beforehand.
"Then the game begins," I thought, as my fingers brushed the lighter in my pocket.
<<<< o >>>>
According to Kakashi-sensei, there were two places near the Fire Temple where it was most likely for the Akatsuki to show up and claim a bounty. He said Asuma had managed to swap with the team assigned to watch one of those sites, and that Tenzo had secured coverage for the other. Still, I decided not to rely on that alone and sent my clones to both locations. Meanwhile, Kakashi-sensei and I waited at a midpoint.
When I heard an explosion in the distance, I knew something was happening in Asuma's area. I created a clone beside me and immediately dispelled it so the original—me—would know exactly what was going on and move with clarity.
I had to be ready. I didn't know what kind of monster I'd be facing, so before moving… I breathed. Just for a moment. Inhale. Exhale. And in that moment, the wind and I became one. It surrounded me, guided me, held me.
And as I moved, I couldn't help but remember...
< o >
During a rest, I returned to Yumegakure. Those dreams… or whatever they were. When I opened my eyes, she was there. Hinata. Waiting for me with a calm smile, like she already knew I'd come.
"It's so good to see you here, Naruto… I promised I'd help you with the samurai breathing. And even though I'm not a ninja anymore, I keep my word. After all, you inspired me to be that way."
Before I could answer, she took my hand with gentle but firm strength and guided me through a silver portal.
"Hinata? What is this?" I asked, amazed.
"One of the silver nodes of Yumegakure… Here you'll meet someone who'll teach you about the breathing of air."
As soon as we arrived, I saw an old house nestled between hills and grey stones. And beside it, a man with red hair and a calm posture filled with history. He felt ancient. As if the very air respected his presence. A sword rested across his legs, and the chakra around him moved in harmony with the wind.
The man opened his eyes, looked at me intently, and spoke:
"Hinata-sama, is this the young man you mentioned?"
She nodded. "Naruto, you're going to learn under the guidance of Master Kenshiro Uzumaki. He's part of your clan too. I'm sure you'll have a lot to talk about."
Kenshiro stared at me in silence, then let out a loud, deep laugh.
"Uzumaki... Hinata-sama always brings surprises to my door. Very well, young Uzumaki. Let's not waste any time."
< o >
When I arrived, I saw Asuma in the act of decapitating one of the Akatsuki members with his wind blade. The other, with an apathetic expression, just watched. Shikamaru, clearly exhausted, was still holding his Jutsu, keeping the enemy immobilized while the two jōnin from Kumo protected him.
And then, before our eyes… the decapitated head dissipated into nothingness, meanwhile fragments of paper materialized into a new head, until it was whole again. The black thorn was still in his hand, aimed straight at Asuma's chest. He was wounded. He wouldn't be able to react in time.
The wind guided my steps. My speed responded.
I focused chakra into my right hand while I deflected the spine with my kunai in my left. My momentum carried me just behind the enemy, who was still stunned by my sudden arrival.
My rasengan was already formed. And it wasn't a regular one. It was infused with wind chakra, powered by the breathing of air.
The impact launched him like a leaf caught in a storm, sending the Akatsuki ninja flying dozens of meters away.
"Looks like you guys needed a hand…" I said with a grin, as the wind still swirled around me.
<<<< o >>>>
Of course… that wasn't the end.
The first thing I noticed was that the guy I had sent flying—Hidan, according to Kakashi-sensei—was getting back up. The hole in his chest was reconstructing itself in an unnatural way... like a cloud of paper reassembling. And we all saw it.
Next to him, his partner moved fast. He stretched his arm in an inhuman way to grab the three-bladed scythe lying on the ground, and without losing hold of the briefcase he was carrying, he stood beside him. He dropped the scythe at Hidan's feet and said with that casual, mocking tone that made my skin crawl: "Looks like you need help after all, Hidan…"
The other one—the one who had come back from the dead like nothing had happened—grabbed the scythe without even looking and replied with contempt: "Shut up, Kakuzu. I didn't expect that damn brat to show up."
"You're Hidan and Kakuzu, right?" I asked. "A lot of people are waiting to see you fall."
"I'm flattered," Kakuzu murmured.
"Tch. Let's get this over with," Hidan growled, spinning his scythe and charging at me.
I moved. Dropped my kunai. My hands moved on their own, forming the seals for the Jutsu Kenshiro-sensei had taught me.
Fūton: Dai Toppā. (Great Breakthrough)
Breathe. Wind.
A devastating gust swept the field. Kakuzu reacted faster than I expected: knowing he couldn't dodge it, he grabbed his partner and used his body to shield the briefcase. The two of them were launched violently into the trees.
I saw Asuma rise to his feet, more stable now, and Shikamaru joined him. Kasumi and Daizen wasted no time. They took advantage of my Jutsu to charge at the Akatsuki, hoping the blast had disoriented them.
I felt Shikamaru behind me. He whispered:
"How much time do you need, Naruto?"
I raised my hand behind my back. Four fingers.
He understood immediately. Pulled out a soldier pill and passed another to Asuma. I was already on the move with Kasumi and Daizen, dashing through the trees like lightning as they unsheathed their blades.
Up ahead, Kakuzu seemed to use a Doton Jutsu to bury the briefcase. He was still protecting it.
Meanwhile, Hidan had fully regenerated. His face was twisted with rage, and his movements were getting more erratic. He started swinging his scythe like a madman—all of it directed at me.
I breathed. Focused on the air. On how it moved, on how it spoke to me. My steps began to flow. I dodged, redirected, slipped through his strikes. But each blow felt more desperate… more savage.
I saw Kakuzu facing the two Kumo jōnin. Their swords cut the air, but he moved like an old and deadly shadow. Black threads emerged from his back, used to trap, block, and counterattack. It was like fighting someone with ten arms.
A mistake. I got distracted. Hidan didn't.
A slash nearly cut me. I couldn't let this clone take even a single clean hit. I couldn't afford to vanish now.
This clone had already used too much chakra. Whatever I did next had to be pure taijutsu—and wind breathing.
Shikamaru didn't let me down. He gave me a quick signal. A direction, and a single raised finger with his other hand.
I smiled.
I started running, dodging Hidan's wild attacks, leading him exactly where I wanted. His rage was my bait. My rhythm, his downfall.
When we reached the spot, Asuma and Shikamaru were waiting. I saw Shikamaru's finger lower.
"Time's up."
I gathered my chakra. Focused it in my right palm. The wind wrapped around me. I felt the scythe approaching my back, and at the same time, slammed the wind-infused rasengan into Hidan's chest. The ground shook beneath us.
I knew this clone couldn't hold any longer. I vanished with a smile as the scythe passed through me and the chakra holding me together finally faded away. But I could see Asuma and Shikamaru—ready. I knew they had a plan.
My real body received it all instantly. The memory, the experience, the exact location.
I was already on my way.
I ran. Rasengan in hand. I arrived at the clearing just in time to see Kakuzu still fighting against Daizen and Kasumi—both injured and exhausted.
I didn't hesitate. I attacked from behind, but the guy reacted like a shadow: he released the Kumo duo and turned to face me.
It didn't matter.
Because above, like a shadow cast by a storm… Kakashi-sensei appeared, Chidori already roaring. He dropped from the air and drove it straight through Kakuzu's heart without hesitation.