"Hahaha! Those eyes… that's what I've been waiting for! The look of someone who wouldn't hesitate to kill!"
The maniacal cry came from a blond boy, laughing wildly—madly—as if he had finally found meaning in his life. Naruto stared at him coldly, killing intent surging within him as he faced the one called Tiger.
The scene shifted.
Naruto saw himself exchanging blows with Tiger, who screamed through a wide grin, "Haha! This is fun! Let's fight to the death! The world isn't big enough for two monsters like us!"
Another shift.
Naruto now watched himself drowning in bloodlust, driven entirely by emotion—guided by nothing but instinct.
(I'm not like you!)
He reassured himself, trying to push the visions away, but it was no use. The battle kept replaying in his mind like a cursed loop that rebuilt itself no matter how many times he tried to destroy it.
"This pain, this danger… this thrill of competition… There's nothing quite like it!" Tiger muttered through heavy breaths, bloodied and barely standing. Naruto wasn't in any better shape—both were nearing the end.
(That's not true... it's not true… but... why? Why do his words... almost make me happy? Am I... in the end... just a monster too?)
The memories stopped when both fell into a heap of scrap metal, Naruto completely losing consciousness—remembering nothing beyond that point.
(Did I... really kill him? Did I... kill someone...?)
He felt himself giving in. If he had truly taken a life, maybe it was better—
His thoughts were cut short.
That force again—dragging him back violently, refusing to let him die here.
Finally, he opened his eyes, weakly, staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling.
He heard the soft beep of a heart monitor. His body was too frail to move, but his fingers twitched—just enough to assure him he was alive. He had survived.
"Where… am I? What happened…?"
The words left his dry lips quietly. No one answered.
He turned his head slowly, confirming that he was in a medical room—but not the kind found in a hospital. As someone who had been hospitalized often, he could tell the difference.
(I can recognize hospital rooms now… Have I really been beaten near death that many times? How pathetic...)
He couldn't even laugh—it hurt too much. But then, the sound of a door creaking open made him turn cautiously toward it.
A woman in her thirties walked in, wearing a long white coat over a short green shirt that left her midriff exposed, and blue shorts that reached just below her knees. She wore sandals with slightly elevated heels.
She had golden blonde hair and stunning hazel eyes. Beautiful, undeniably so.
Her appearance made Naruto's eyes widen in shock. He barely held back tears as he whispered weakly, "...Granny Tsunade..."
Tsunade smiled at his voice—then suddenly slapped him across the face, yelling, "Who are you calling granny, you little brat?!"
"Oww! I'm sorry!!"
Naruto cried out, tears streaming down his cheeks. Even in this world, she still had that monstrous strength...
Tsunade sighed coldly and looked him over slowly before speaking. "Your body has already passed the danger zone. That's why you've regained consciousness, but it'll take time before you can move again. Honestly… how do two kids end up causing such fatal injuries to each other?"
Naruto's eyes lit up slightly as he looked at her. "Wait… does that mean… did Tiger survive?"
Tsunade was surprised that Naruto's first thought was for his enemy rather than himself. But she answered coolly, "No... he was already dead when I got there."
Naruto's smile vanished. He looked down, his eyes hidden beneath the shadow of his bangs. "I see…"
"But don't worry," Tsunade added. "His killer turned himself in. He's in custody now. I believe his name was Jin..."
Naruto's eyes widened, then he narrowed them and muttered, "I see… so Jin did it."
Tsunade glanced down coldly at the papers in her hand. "Ten million for the treatment, fifty million extra, and forty million for damages I've endured the past two weeks."
Naruto's face went blank. "Huh?"
Tsunade shot him a wicked grin. "What? Did you think I'd heal you for free? Don't be ridiculous! I used a technique beyond the comprehension of any fool in this world—even after a hundred years! You wouldn't have survived if I hadn't treated you myself! You should be grateful it's only a hundred million!"
"B-But I don't have that kind of money...!"
"Then you'll be my servant!"
"What?!"
"If you don't like it, just call your family. I doubt the Namikaze and Uzumaki can't afford a measly hundred million." She pointed at him as she spoke with a deadpan look.
"H-How do you know about that?!" Naruto gasped.
"Please, you think that kind of thing is hard for me to figure out? I'm one of the legendary three. The Doctor of Death!"
Despite the absurdity of her explanation, Naruto looked oddly convinced—making Tsunade silently scoff to herself. (He's still just a kid, huh? Heh...)
A moment of silence passed.
Naruto then asked, "Where are we?"
"In my private clinic. It's safe here, so don't worry. Just focus on recovering."
"What about my family... my friends… do they know anything?"
"I contacted them. I kidnapped you after your fight, but your friends managed to track me down, so I gave them the honor of finding you," Tsunade said with a nostalgic smile.
Naruto looked thoughtful. He didn't ask anything foolish—he prioritized what was important.
"Since they know you're taking care of me... I'll overlook the kidnapping. But... are we alone here? More importantly, will you really let me go when I recover?"
Tsunade was a little surprised. "Not bad… you're sharper than I expected," she smiled. "But no... I'm interested in you."
She sat on the bed beside him, leaning close. Naruto was powerless to stop her—his body was too weak. She placed a hand on his face, whispering with an almost obsessive look in her eyes:
"Your body is strange… I've never seen anything like it. You have an inhuman regeneration ability—as if divine protection keeps you from dying. Even the wound on your chest that should've left a permanent scar… it's completely gone. I want to study you more…"
She breathed deeply, intoxicated—addicted to her insatiable thirst for medical knowledge.
Naruto blushed slightly, but fear quickly overwhelmed him. What would this madwoman do to study him? Would she cut off a limb to see if it grew back?
His spiraling thoughts made his breathing uneven. Tsunade noticed his growing panic and backed off, adjusting her coat.
"Relax. I have no interest in using you the way you're thinking. Human desire is just a drug that poisons the mind. I won't fall into that. Besides, you'd need to be at least twenty years older to even think about doing anything with me."
"That's not what I was thinking!!" Naruto shot back, coughing from the strain.
Tsunade chuckled. "What a silly kid…"
"I hear that a lot…"
A short silence followed.
Naruto then asked quietly, "So instead of money, you're going to use me for some goal of yours?"
"Exactly. I don't need your money—thanks to a certain idiot. But I do need you to help me accomplish some things," she said flatly, her eyes sharp.
"Do you know anything about the Akatsuki?"
"They're a secret criminal organization. I don't know much, but... they've been trying to kill me for ten years. It started with poisoning me…"
"That's right. They're led by someone seeking to control not just Japan, but maybe the Koreas and China too…"
"The whole world…"
Naruto whispered, then suddenly remembered. "Tiger and Jin..."
"Exactly." Tsunade smirked. "Someone was supporting Jin—covering his tracks, giving him influence and power. After you defeated Jin, suddenly he and Tiger allied? That was suspicious. Jin, who uses others, suddenly forms a partnership? That's when I knew someone was manipulating schoolkids for a greater goal."
She pointed at him. "And it all centers around you, Naruto. That leader—he's interested in you. He either wants you dead... or wants you as his heir."
Naruto was stunned. Finally, he understood—it hadn't been coincidence. Someone had orchestrated all the chaos around him.
"I confirmed it after I kidnapped you. That person moved to retrieve you. He even used the White Fang gang personally. I nearly had him, but he realized my plan at the last second, withdrew, and erased all traces."
Tsunade looked bitter as she turned away. Naruto took a deep breath, absorbing the truth.
(I have to get stronger. Fast.)
He looked at Tsunade with firm resolve. "You said my body is unique. Then I have a request… Help me unlock its full potential. I want to become strong enough to protect everything I care about."
Tsunade smiled. "I like that resolve," she said as she turned away. "But… it's impossible. Not with current technology. I can't push your body to its limits if I can't even see those limits."
She bit her lip in frustration. Admitting powerlessness as a doctor—it was humiliating.
"But if you let me examine you regularly… I might find something eventually. But I make no promises."
Naruto nodded gently, closing his eyes with a smile. "Then I'll count on you… Lady Tsunade."
She chuckled, turning to leave. "Heh… you've got some manners after all. If only you were born fifteen years earlier—I would've shown you a good time."
She closed the door behind her.
Naruto, face red, yelled, "That's NOT what I meant!!"
But deep inside, he thought to himself,
(Thank god she doesn't know my mind is already fifteen years older... Yes, I'll carry that secret to the grave—for the sake of my innocence…)
---
A few days earlier...
All the comrades who had gone on the mission to rescue Naruto had gathered at Tsunade's secret hideout. The Doctor of Death herself had made sure they were safe and not being followed before beginning treatment on their wounds.
The ones who were awake sat quietly together, exchanging soft conversation. It was Rin who broke the silence first, glancing at the children with gentle concern as she asked,
"Are you all alright, little ones? Are you feeling better now?"
The children nodded faintly in response, and Rin let out a small sigh before launching into a soft lecture about their recklessness. Shino tried to exchange a few words, feeling responsible for Naruto's disappearance, but Rin eventually managed to silence him.
At last, she sighed again, then smiled.
"That said, I'm proud of you all—for coming together to save your friend. You're all heroes."
Kakashi and Obito smiled at her words. This was the Rin they had always known—someone who cared deeply and sincerely for others.
Then a question echoed across the group.
"More importantly... why would someone like Naruto—someone from the Sarutobi family—be so important to my teacher and to dangerous organizations? Could his background really be that deep?"
It was Izumi who asked, coldly, the shadows under her eyes darker than ever, like they had become part of her identity.
"Oh? You've been calling the Doctor of Death 'my teacher' for a while now... How long have you known Lady Tsunade?" Kiba asked, glancing curiously at her.
"She taught me human medicine... I didn't even know she was involved in all this. You know Tsunade is a professor at Konoha Central University, right? One of the legendary three—along with Orochimaru, the genius of science, and Jiraiya, the genius of combat."
"Ohh... so you're studying human medicine... That explains a lot."
"That's right. Though I dropped out halfway. But that's not the point. Don't any of you know anything about that boy Naruto's background? My curiosity is killing me..." Izumi said coldly.
A strange silence followed.
Sakura, Ino, Kiba, Kakashi, Rin, and Obito all went quiet—too quiet. The others—Lily, Carol, Kon, Kojiro, Ringo, Shino, Rock Lee, and Izumi—immediately noticed the shift in the atmosphere.
Izumi was just about to ask again when the door suddenly opened.
Two figures stepped out—Tsunade, the Doctor of Death, and Sasuke, his head wrapped in bandages.
Sakura stood quickly to go to him—but stopped as Ino rushed ahead of her, throwing herself into Sasuke's arms.
"Sasuke… Sasuke... I'm so glad...!" she whispered through her sobs, wrapping her arms tightly around him.
Sakura froze in place, biting her lip.
(So... this is how they really felt...)
She finally understood. Understood what her childhood friends had been through.
Sasuke gave a faint smile, leaning against Ino for support.
"Why are you crying like I'm dead? I'm still alive, you know…"
Ino continued crying softly in his arms until she calmed down. The others gave them space.
"How's Naruto? And the others?" Kakashi asked calmly. Naruto and the Red Devil were both his students, after all.
"They'll be fine," Tsunade replied. "That red-haired brat can leave whenever he wants, but Naruto will remain in my care. You should all go home—you're disturbing me."
Tsunade turned to leave, but Sakura called out,
"What about Naruto? When will he wake up? When can we see him?"
"I'll call when he's ready. Until then, go live your lives. Don't worry about him anymore."
The weight in her voice made it clear—this was for Naruto's safety. To protect him from the organization. And no one, not even Kakashi, could argue. There was no better person than the Doctor of Death to treat his wounds and monitor his condition.
"We would've relied on you either way," Kakashi said as he stood. The others followed his lead.
Tsunade gave them a cold stare.
"Good to see your brains are still functional. I'll give you one bit of good news—he might wake up this week. But I can't promise anything."
With that, she turned back toward her room, raising a hand in a half-hearted wave.
"Leave whenever you want. Just don't show your faces again until I contact you. Goodbye…"
A few seconds after Tsunade vanished, the Red Devil stepped out behind her, his body wrapped in thick bandages. His expression was grim as he muttered,
"I'll be going first."
With nothing more to say, he walked out, heading home.
Moments later, the rest began to trickle out one by one, until only the adults and Sakura remained.
"I'll drive you home, Sakura."
She nodded silently, then cast one last glance toward Naruto's room—a sealed-off chamber filled with the most advanced medical equipment, far from the rooms where Sasuke and the Red Devil had been treated.
(Naruto… Please be safe…)
She thought quietly, then closed the clinic door behind her.
---
To be continued...