Under the night sky, the lights of Konoha twinkled, as dazzling as a field of stars.
At the Yakiniku Q, the Konoha 12 were gathered together. It was the only time since their graduation that the entire group had been present. They chatted animatedly about their missions, their experiences, and their personal growth.
As the center of attention, Naruto was naturally warm and engaging, talking with everyone and making sure no one felt left out. At the same time, he shared some of the more interesting stories from his own missions. In his telling, Aburame Neri and Rock Lee were extremely reliable teammates. With their help, his missions had all gone smoothly.
They had wanted to have a drink, but after objections from Kakashi and the other supervising Jonin, they had given up the idea.
After eating and drinking their fill, they all went their separate ways, heading home in small, laughing groups. Sakura and Ino, the two best friends, decided to walk home together, chatting about private matters along the way. Sasuke, of course, had his hands in his pockets, striking a cool pose as he set off on his own.
Watching them all depart, Naruto's smile faded. He turned and walked down a dark street.
In the Konoha of the night, Jiraiya was still hard at work. He sat in the Hokage's Office, a miserable look on his face as he dealt with official business. Tsunade, on the other hand, had long since returned to her residence and was sleeping soundly.
"I didn't ask for a Hokage, I asked for a damn freeloader," Jiraiya lamented, on the verge of tears.
Inside the Root headquarters, Danzo and his researchers were also working through the night. They were diligently studying Naruto's blood cells. In another laboratory, the Hollow, having been tortured to the point of collapse, lay weakly on the experimental table, almost completely devoid of any negative emotions. Under the cruel research of the Root scientists, all this Hollow wanted was to die on the spot.
"The cell activity is so high, and the energy within is incredibly abundant." The researchers crowded around the sample of Naruto's blood as if they had discovered a rare treasure.
Danzo stood behind them, watching everything calmly.
As Naruto had grown, his strength had become undeniable. The Naruto of today probably already possessed Kage-level strength. On one hand, it was due to his own diligent training and inherited talent. On the other, it was because of this special Kekkei Genkai.
Danzo frowned, deep in thought. A simple Kekkei Genkai that could control genjutsu had, under Naruto's development, become a tool of many means. If he could master this Kekkei Genkai, perhaps combined with the Sharingan, his own genjutsu abilities could reach a new level. He might even… be able to control all five senses!
The researchers in the lab worked like wind-up toys, their movements frantic. Three days later, all of them had bloodshot eyes and looked utterly exhausted, as if they could drop dead at any moment.
Danzo's patience, however, remained. The more powerful a Kekkei Genkai was, the more difficult it was to understand. He quietly waited for the experimental results, occasionally coming by to inspect their progress.
During this time, Naruto had also visited the Root headquarters, making small talk with Danzo and reporting on the current situation. In the end, Danzo had told him that there would be no missions for him in the near future, and that he could enjoy his vacation.
In the Village Hidden in the Sound.
Over the past few days, Haku had recounted Zabuza's past life to him, piece by piece, giving Zabuza a deeper understanding of himself. So, he had been a rogue ninja.
Learning the truth, Zabuza's expression was somewhat dazed. From what he had gathered over this time, rogue ninja were almost all ruthless killers who wouldn't bat an eye. What surprised him was that the leader of this peaceful Sound Village, Orochimaru, was also a rogue ninja from Konoha.
"Lord Zabuza, in this chaotic world, there is no absolute justice. Although Lord Orochimaru is a rogue ninja, the village he established has sheltered countless civilians," Haku said with a smile. After deciding to follow Naruto, he had shed his former innocence and immaturity. He understood deeply that there was too much darkness in the ninja world. We cannot force others to be just, but at the very least, we can be true to ourselves.
Haku's words sent Zabuza into deep thought. In the Pure Land, all he had known was slaughter. There was no room for mercy. After coming to the Sound Village, he had experienced a different way of life, and a strange feeling seemed to be budding in the depths of his heart.
"Lord Zabuza, we both have sad pasts. It is precisely because of this that we yearn for peace so much. The you and I of the past were like that. I believe the you of today is the same."
"I hope you will join me in helping Lord Naruto achieve his great goal: to bear the darkness of the entire ninja world and bring about peace."
Haku's words at that time had moved Zabuza, but he had just snorted, slung his Executioner's Blade over his shoulder, and headed for the nearby forest to train. However, before he left, he had left one sentence behind:
"I'm not interested in any of that peace stuff. But if there's an opponent worth cutting down, you can call me."
This familiar brand of tsundere was a hint in itself.
After saying this, Zabuza couldn't help but clutch his chest. A fiery emotion seemed to be surging from the hole in his chest, so strong that it startled him.
What is this? Every word Haku says makes my heart react so strongly. What's wrong with me?
"As expected. Even as a Hollow, Lord Zabuza is the same as before. He still has a soft spot in his heart," Haku said with a gentle smile that could topple nations, watching Zabuza's retreating figure.
Beside him, Karin looked at Haku with a strange expression, muttering to herself, "Why do I feel like there's something strange about those two?"
A few days later.
The Land of Demons.
Haku and Minato had already met up with Shion. Since Karin and Zabuza were not part of the plan, they had been left behind in the Sound Village.
Haku looked curiously at the beautiful Shion, who in turn looked at him with considerable hostility. All because… Haku was too beautiful. Compared to such a beauty, Shion felt inferior. No wonder Naruto was indifferent to her. It was because he had such a beauty by his side.
Perhaps sensing Shion's gaze, Haku pointed to his Adam's apple. "I'm a boy!"
Shion was stunned. This shock would likely last for at least a year. She subconsciously reached out and, before a bewildered Haku, squeezed his flat chest, then looked down at her own. Finally, as if a great weight had been lifted, she let out a sigh of relief, lifted her fair neck, and let out a proud, delicate huff.
In that case, Naruto is still mine!
Minato watched all of this with a hint of amusement, his gaze towards Shion gentle. Shion was good-looking and had good abilities. She was a fine candidate for a daughter-in-law.
After a simple self-introduction, Shion led Haku and Minato to the palace and ordered that no one be allowed to enter.
After she released her Shikai, the black gate to the Pure Land opened, and an intense, oppressive aura washed over them, making their hearts uneasy.
"What an amazing Shikai," Haku couldn't help but praise as he followed Shion into the Pure Land.
The wind and sand in the Pure Land were fierce, kicking up a yellow haze that filled their vision. This landscape was far from beautiful.
Shion was barefoot, her jade-like feet stepping on the scorching yellow sand, yet they seemed completely unaffected by the heat. Haku, on the other hand, condensed a layer of frost on the soles of his feet to resist the burning heat.
Shion looked at Haku, her tone indifferent.
"As soon as Naruto gives the signal, we will gather the Grand Fisher. Minato-san will locate Naruto, and I will command the Grand Fisher. Combining their power, we will open a Garganta and descend upon Konoha to welcome the return of our new king!!"