"The key is yours now. Whether you can master the Nine-Tails' power… that's up to you. Let's keep moving!" Jiraiya's voice rang across the road, confident and booming.
"Alright! Oh, and tell me more about my parents, Pervy Sage," Naruto said eagerly, his blue eyes bright with anticipation.
"Hah, fine, fine. I get it already!" Jiraiya laughed, scratching his hair.
Their voices carried on the wind as master and student disappeared down the road, two shadows slowly shrinking into the horizon.
But a few days after their departure, two other figures emerged outside Konoha's village walls. Both wore black cloaks patterned with red clouds and wide-brimmed straw hats that concealed their faces.
Konoha… it's changed so much. Itachi Uchiha stood at the edge of the wall, eyes calm yet distant as he gazed at the village he once called home. (Cue the sound of a lone guitar: a drifting melody of exile and sorrow.)
"What's this, Itachi? Feeling nostalgic for your old home?" Kisame grinned, rows of sharp teeth glinting as he glanced at his partner.
Itachi didn't answer. His gaze lingered on the rooftops, the winding streets, the faint laughter of children carried on the wind. Konoha had changed. He had changed. And yet, it was still his village. Still the place of his birth.
But sentiment had no place here. Not now. Not with Kisame standing beside him.
His mission came first, and no one could know the truth of why he had returned.
"Let's go," Itachi said quietly, finally turning away.
Once, he had been a captain of the Anbu. He knew every pathway into Konoha, every weakness in its barriers. Slipping past its defenses with Kisame at his side was as simple as breathing.
"So, what's the plan, Itachi?" Kisame asked, his voice curious but lazy, as though this was nothing more than a casual stroll.
"First, gather intelligence. We need to know where the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki is being kept," Itachi replied, his tone calm and measured.
But inwardly, there was something else. Another reason he had come. He needed to see Sasuke. To see if his little brother was safe. To see how much he had grown.
"Heh. As you say, partner," Kisame chuckled, revealing more of his shark-like grin.
Meanwhile, in Konoha's bustling snack street, life seemed perfectly ordinary.
Kakashi leaned lazily against the wall outside a dango shop, one hand flipping through the familiar pages of Icha Icha Paradise. His single visible eye curved in amusement as he turned a page.
Asuma and Kurenai approached, walking side by side, chatting softly. Their closeness drew a sly smile from Kakashi.
"Well, well, the two of you look cozy. Out on a date?" he teased, closing his book.
"Don't be ridiculous. I'm just helping Anko buy dango," Kurenai replied quickly, though the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her embarrassment.
"You seem awfully relaxed, Kakashi," Asuma commented, his tone easy but curious.
Kakashi gave a lazy shrug. "What can I say? My squad's scattered right now. Nothing much for a sensei to do. I figured I'd bring Sasuke here for a meal and pick up some offerings while I was at it."
His eye flicked toward the shop interior.
Inside, sitting at a table with a cup of tea, was a man in a wide straw hat. His hand tightened imperceptibly on the cup the moment he heard Sasuke's name.
Asuma and Kurenai noticed Kakashi's subtle look. If he was waiting outside rather than going in himself, it meant he had sensed something.
Their gazes followed his toward the shop. Two strangers sat there, cloaked in black and red, their presence distinctly foreign.
"I see," Asuma murmured, his tone deliberately vague. Then, with a knowing smirk, he added, "The offerings must be for Obito and Rin, then."
Kakashi's expression softened slightly. "Yeah. That's right."
Before the moment could linger, a new voice cut in.
"Kakashi-sensei? You're actually early this time?" Sasuke's voice carried a trace of surprise as he approached, Lily walking beside him.
Naruto and Hinata were away, leaving Sasuke to oversee Lily's training. To his credit, she had thrown herself into practice with a fiery determination.
"Hah, I don't always show up late," Kakashi said with a sheepish laugh, scratching his hair.
"Did you order yet?" Sasuke asked as he glanced toward the shop. But the table where the cloaked strangers had been sitting was now empty.
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed slightly. His suspicion was confirmed.
Asuma and Kurenai shared a look before vanishing in a blur, heading in pursuit.
"What happened?" Sasuke asked, eyes sharp.
"Nothing good. Likely a couple of intruders," Kakashi said calmly. "Konoha's been unsettled since the invasion. Some rats were bound to sneak in."
"Do you want me to go?" Sasuke's brows drew together. His voice was cold, determined.
With Naruto and Hinata gone, he felt the burden of protecting the village heavier than ever.
"No need. Asuma and Kurenai are more than capable," Kakashi replied lightly.
But Sasuke's eyes lingered on the table inside. On the empty plates of dango, the tea cups still warm.
The food tugged at something deep in his memory. Sweet dumplings… Three-colored dango… Who had loved those?
His breath caught. His entire body stiffened. No… could it be?
A chill swept over him. Murderous intent flared in his gaze as he turned sharply toward Kakashi.
"If it's who I think it is, they're not opponents Asuma and Kurenai can handle. We need to go after them!"
Kakashi's expression hardened.
By the riverside, Asuma and Kurenai had already intercepted the intruders.
"You two clearly aren't from Konoha. What business do you have here?" Asuma demanded, twin trench knives gleaming in his hands.
"It's been a long time, Asuma… Kurenai," came the low voice from beneath the hat.
Their eyes widened.
"You know us?" Asuma asked, his tone sharpening. If this man recognized them but refused to show his face openly, there was only one possibility.
A rogue ninja.
Konoha had already been attacked by Orochimaru, one of their own traitors. And now, yet another had come crawling back.
Slowly, the man lifted his hat.
Scarlet eyes gleamed in the fading light, three tomoe spinning lazily in their depths.
Asuma felt a bead of sweat slide down his temple.
"It's you… Uchiha Itachi," he whispered, trench knives tightening in his grip.
Beside him, Kurenai's expression darkened.
"Oh? Old friends, are they?" Kisame pulled his hat free as well, revealing his shark-like features. "Guess I should introduce myself too. Hoshigaki Kisame. A pleasure to meet you."
He sounded almost sincere, like he genuinely wanted to be on friendly terms. But the razor grin on his face shattered any illusion of kindness.
Asuma's jaw clenched. "The only pleasure will be cutting down two traitors in one stroke."
"Itachi, your old comrades don't seem to like you much," Kisame teased lightly.
Kurenai's gaze shifted to Kisame. "You're Hoshigaki Kisame. The rogue of Kirigakure. An S-rank criminal."
Her eyes hardened as she turned back to Itachi. "And you, Itachi Uchiha… Konoha's very own S-rank traitor. After what you did to your clan, you dare set foot in this village again? Bold. Or foolish."
Asuma's voice grew cold. "Don't think Konoha's recent wounds make us weak enough for you to walk in unchecked. This is still our village."
Itachi's reply was calm, almost detached. "Asuma. Kurenai. Don't get involved. I've no intention of killing you."
The matter-of-fact way he said it was more chilling than any threat.
Their anger flared.
"You slaughtered your own family. You show your face here, and you think you can just tell us to step aside?" Asuma's trench knives gleamed as he shifted into stance. "Tell us the real reason you're here."
Itachi's expression didn't change. His voice was steady, unflinching.
"Our organization Akatsuki seeks the tailed beasts sealed within jinchūriki. That is why we've come. For Naruto Uzumaki."
The bluntness of his words hit like a hammer. He had given away their intent openly, as though daring them to resist.
Kisame sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Heh, you talk too much. Should we just get this over with?"
His hand drifted toward Samehada, the massive sword at his back. Men like him trained in assassination rarely wasted time with chatter.
"Keep it quiet," Itachi said evenly. "Your jutsu draws too much attention."
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Already hooked by this cosmic shinobi journey? Share what drew you in your words and reviews keep the flames of youth burning bright. And every 300 Power Stones will unlock a bonus chapter, pushing Naruto's path to the stars even faster!
Naruto's dream has only just begun, and the Unbound Evolution of his destiny is far from over. Stay with Naruto: Set a Goal, Conquer the Universe and reach beyond the horizon together!
[email protected]/_tey
Change @ to a