"Ahhhh! Why did it fail again?!"
"Isn't this exactly how you taught me?"
"Damn it—how did it end up like this?"
"Sorry, sorry—stop yelling, stop yelling!"
Konoha, at a training ground inside the village.
Naruto stood at the center of the field. The way he muttered to himself made Jiraiya cover his face.
Kakashi sat off to the side with a long-suffering look, while Sasuke alone stared at Kitagawa Gen, baffled.
"Senpai, what's with that guy?"
"Him? Just assume his brain doesn't work quite right."
Leaning against a tree, Kitagawa Gen glanced at Naruto cycling through expressions and couldn't help but chuckle.
His true body had already returned to Konoha; the God Tree clone he'd left inside the Moon was enough. Besides, the rematch for the Chūnin Exams was about to begin—there was no way he'd miss a spectacle like that.
"Yeah."
Sasuke nodded, which made a vein throb on Kakashi's forehead.
"Hey, Gen, isn't that a bit much to say?"
After all, Naruto had his sensei and his sensei's wife inside him—wasn't Kitagawa Gen going a little too far?
"I don't see a problem with it. Just look at how he's acting."
Kitagawa Gen pointed at Naruto, unconcerned, then sighed.
"And is he really suited for the Flying Thunder God? Is Flying Thunder God really that hard to learn? I remember that if the Pervy Sage hadn't wasted my time back then, I probably could've learned it even faster."
"…"
Kakashi was speechless for a moment, but thinking it over… it did seem true. The Flying Thunder God was, apparently, one of the techniques Kitagawa Gen had taken comparatively longer to learn.
"Still… is it really fair to compare Naruto to you?"
"Ha."
Kitagawa Gen smiled without answering; that was a question he truly had no good way to answer. He turned to Sasuke.
"Speaking of which, your match is tomorrow. Confident?"
"Senpai, I am!"
Sasuke nodded at once, his expression turning solemn.
"Good. Put on a good showing."
Kitagawa Gen nodded; Sasuke clenched his fist.
"I definitely won't let you down!"
…
Off to the side, Kakashi could hardly keep reading the book in his hands; he couldn't help sighing inwardly.
Sasuke had trained Chidori with him for so long, yet he was less respectful toward him than toward Kitagawa Gen? Had Konoha's education already decayed to this extent?
"He won't have any issues with the exam. You should think about his training afterward. As for me, I don't have any good ideas."
"Kakashi-sensei, aren't you a bit too lazy?"
Kitagawa Gen shot Kakashi a look of disdain, but he also rubbed his chin and began considering it seriously.
Sasuke's training couldn't be allowed to slacken, and without Orochimaru, it was indeed troublesome, only—
"Kakashi-sensei, what do you think of the Second Hokage?"
"Uh…"
Kakashi stared intently at Kitagawa Gen; that gaze even made Kitagawa Gen raise a brow.
"Kakashi-sensei, there's something wrong with your eyes."
"Then what kind of person do you think Lord Second was?"
Kakashi rolled his eyes and asked, while Sasuke wore a blank look—how had the conversation ended up on the Second Hokage?
"Strict?"
"Reliable!"
"Ruthless?"
"Cool-headed!"
"Insidious?"
"Wise!"
"High-handed?"
"Cut it out—he had independent judgment!"
Kakashi rubbed at his brow and shot Kitagawa Gen a glare. None of that was exactly wrong, but why did this guy have to blurt out the blunt truth? And, inexplicably, he noticed Kitagawa Gen's eyes seemed to light up.
"And he was good at research, too. Hm—"
Just like Orochimaru. Really like him.
And he seemed to recall that Sasuke and Uchiha Madara's younger brother, Uchiha Izuna, were practically carved from the same mold.
'So—'
"I feel like you're thinking something you shouldn't."
Kakashi couldn't help saying it. Kitagawa Gen came back to himself and shook his head.
"Nothing. I was just thinking about how to train Sasuke properly."
"Hey, hey—don't tell me you're cooking up something bad?"
Kakashi's eyes went wide; he felt his disciple was getting a bit too outrageous.
"All right, Kakashi-sensei, I know what to do."
Kitagawa Gen cut him off with a smile, then rubbed his chin again.
"By the way, Kakashi-sensei, that suggestion I gave you last time—you still haven't tried it, have you?"
"What suggestion?"
"For example, stuffing explosive tags into Kamui. Are you really that reluctant?"
"…"
"At the very least, throw in something to disgust him—like your graduation photo, and tear off his half on purpose."
"…"
Kakashi felt worn out.
He just couldn't understand how, in a little over ten years, Konoha's education had turned into this. Back in their day, things had been fine, hadn't they? What a failure…
"What are you talking about?"
Just as Kakashi's head started to ache, Jiraiya came over leading a dejected Naruto.
Looking at the three of them, Jiraiya couldn't help asking, curious, "And you, Kakashi—what's with that look?"
"It's nothing…"
Kakashi shook his head awkwardly, while Kitagawa Gen glanced at them with interest.
"Finished training? How did Naruto do?"
"Sigh…"
At that question, Jiraiya and Naruto both let out a sigh. Clearly, Naruto's training hadn't gone very well.
"Forget it. At his current level, he should be able to handle this round of the exam."
After a while, Jiraiya spoke, troubled—then quickly smiled.
"Besides, there's plenty of time. I believe this kid will only get better and better."
"Of course. No matter what, he's one of our team."
Kitagawa Gen nodded. Seeing Naruto still looking downcast, he thought for a moment and said, "All right, Naruto—no need to feel bad. You've actually done pretty well."
"…"
Naruto lifted his head and pressed his lips together, not sure what to say. Kitagawa Gen went on with a smile.
"Everyone has things they're good at and things they're not. What you've run into now is just something you're not good at. And do you remember the story I told you about Guy-sensei?"
"I remember."
Naruto nodded. Kitagawa Gen kept smiling as he continued.
"Since you know him, you should know the key to his success—his conviction and his hard work. Everyone who makes it through runs into difficulties and setbacks."
"But how you face those difficulties and setbacks divides people into different kinds. Some get knocked down; some get back up and keep moving forward."
"I'm curious—which kind will you become?"
Which kind? The question made Naruto pause, and his gaze firmed.
He had originally only wanted to become Hokage, but now he knew more—and had more goals.
He couldn't let the difficulties before him beat him.
"Sasuke, it's the same for you—now and in the future. What about you?"
Kitagawa Gen turned to Sasuke, who was resolute.
He bore the blood-debt of the Uchiha—he would never forget.
"Don't worry, senpai. I won't let you down."
"Me too!"
Naruto no longer looked dejected. He clenched his fist and shouted, "My goal is to become Hokage!"
Watching the scene, Kakashi and Jiraiya exchanged a glance and couldn't help a knowing smile.
Even the Fourth Hokage couple inside Naruto gave a small nod—Kitagawa Gen already carried himself with the bearing of a Hokage.
It was just a pity for Naruto, but surely the village would only grow better and better.
"Good—spirited!"
Satisfied, Kitagawa Gen nodded, but in the next moment his face hardened.
"Only… shouldn't you two be giving my book back?"
"Book?"
Naruto and Sasuke froze. In the next instant, their faces went stiff.
"That's right—the one I accidentally left behind. Pervy Sage's Icha-Icha Paradise."
Kitagawa Gen nodded and spoke with utmost seriousness.
"You've finished it, right?"
"…"
"Was it good?"
"…"
"Then you should return it to me, shouldn't you?"
"…"
Kakashi and Jiraiya both pressed a hand to their foreheads. They hadn't known about this at all.
Sasuke now wanted nothing more than to throttle Naruto, while Naruto truly wanted to die.
Because in his mind, Kushina's long red hair was already billowing wildly.
Watching the bedlam before him, Kitagawa Gen laughed.
'I wonder if Sasuke and Naruto can make it through the next three years…'
...
"How goes the investigation?"
Land of Rain, inside the Akatsuki base.
Uchiha Obito looked at Black Zetsu before him and asked in a low voice. Black Zetsu was perfectly calm.
"There are some findings, but we still need to probe further."
"Probe further?"
"That's right. The Sage of Six Paths left things to the Uchiha. So what do you think about the Senju clan?"
"Senju?"
Uchiha Obito was taken aback. He truly hadn't considered that—but thinking it through, it didn't seem impossible.
Having read the Uchiha Stone Tablet, he naturally understood the relationships and secrets recorded there.
If the Uchiha had such a thing, then the Senju ought to have one as well!
"How goes your search?"
"I've found a lead, but I need time."
Black Zetsu shook his head calmly. In truth, he had already forged most of what needed forging. It just looked too new; even with his methods, it would need time to weather.
"This thing is hidden extremely well. And with Kitagawa Gen in Konoha, I don't dare act rashly."
"Kitagawa Gen, huh…"
Uchiha Obito nodded, accepting the explanation. Kitagawa Gen was highly dangerous—he had to stay on guard.
"It seems this will indeed take time to handle."
"Exactly. But I more or less have a direction."
Black Zetsu spoke evenly. After a moment studying Obito, he went on, "Once I find it, I'll tell you immediately. After all, if it's like the Uchiha Stone Tablet, I won't be able to read what's written on it."
"I see…"
Obito was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Let me know when you find it. I'm genuinely curious what it says—I want to see it for myself."
He really was too curious. Ever since that "Ōtsutsuki Genshiki" had jabbed at Black Zetsu, Obito had harbored doubts about him. Even so, he knew that now—and in the future—he still needed Black Zetsu's help; otherwise, many things would be hard to move forward.
Thinking of this, he sighed inwardly, and his tone softened. "Then I'll be counting on you."
"It's nothing. I should remind you, though—during this period, we'd best keep quiet."
Watching Obito, Black Zetsu could tell he'd been steadied, which eased him considerably.
"Nagato has recovered—he's even better than before—but his previous injuries were too severe. The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path will need time to recover."
"About how long?"
"Perhaps around two years. To be safe, let's call it three."
"Three years?"
"That's right—three years. We should use those three years to prepare. Besides, Orochimaru is badly injured."
Orochimaru truly was grievously wounded; even for someone as adept at clinging to life as he was, recovery would take time. And Akatsuki did need Orochimaru—Black Zetsu himself needed him. He really didn't want to stir up more trouble.
"We have to give Orochimaru time—not only to recover, but to study Impure World Reincarnation. We've lost too much."
"Agreed."
Obito nodded. With Black Zetsu's assistance, his thoughts grew much clearer. "Our losses were severe; we do need to recuperate. What about Kumogakure?"
"Kumogakure was taken by Kitagawa Gen and even attacked by Ōtsutsuki Genshiki. Their defeat is already a settled fact," Black Zetsu explained; he had prepared for this in advance. "Now, as long as Konoha moves in, even those who are unwilling will choose compromise and negotiations. This is our chance."
"The unwillingness of the losers?"
Uchiha Obito let out a sigh, then quickly shook his head in disdain.
"Tch. Have we fallen so low that we have to work with losers?"
'We're the losers ourselves, you know…'
Black Zetsu couldn't help sighing inwardly as well. Somehow, they had sunk to this point.
A perfectly good Akatsuki had been turned into a ramshackle troupe. It was truly headache-inducing.
"Relax. Even losers can stage a comeback."
Even so, Black Zetsu still tried to reassure Obito.
"Three years. Just three years. Once everything recovers—once all of us grow stronger—I believe we can pull it off."
"That's right. Whether it's Kitagawa Gen or that so-called Ōtsutsuki Genshiki, before the Ten-Tails and Infinite Tsukuyomi, they're nothing."
Obito clenched his fist, speaking in a low voice. "I've always believed—we'll win!"
"That's right. We'll win."
Black Zetsu nodded as well; after all, he had already laid his plans.
Once he finished the aging work, he would go guide Kitagawa Gen; he was even thinking about how to give Kitagawa Gen a few benefits over the next three years—
—to help him grow stronger, so he could face that Ōtsutsuki Genshiki.
'That last chakra eruption from the Moon felt so much like Mother. Could it have been her?'
Black Zetsu couldn't help his curiosity, but he figured it was fine—otherwise, he would have disappeared already.
Truth be told, he didn't want to wait that long either, but there was nothing to be done.
'Three years. As long as we make it through these three years, everything will return to normal—and I'll definitely be able to rescue Mother.'
Pumping himself up, Black Zetsu watched as Obito prepared to leave.
"I'll go check on Nagato. I'll leave Konoha's investigation to you. Let's hope time moves a little faster."
"Only three years—nothing but the blink of an eye."
Black Zetsu answered without thinking, then jolted inside; fortunately, Obito didn't seem to notice.
Or rather, he too felt it was just three years.
He had already waited so long, steadfast in his resolve to create a "world of peace."
Waiting three more years wasn't much of a problem.
"Hm?"
But the moment he opened the Kamui space, something felt off.
[BOOM—]
A violent detonation thundered through Kamui, and his whole body was blasted backward—sent flying under Black Zetsu's stupefied stare.
His body was burning, half an arm already blown off. He froze for a heartbeat, then erupted into a curse.
"Trash, Kakashi! You really are that despicable!"
"No wonder you could teach that despicable wretch, Kitagawa Gen!"
"You both deserve to die!"
Watching Obito like this, Black Zetsu's mouth twitched. A thought flashed through his mind.
'Can we… really last these three years?'
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