Naruto and Sakura set out once more on the road to find Uchiha Sasuke.
Along the way, Sakura noticed something strange. Naruto had not spoken Sasuke's name even once since they left Konoha. The silence pressed on her, gnawing at her heart.
She had expected Naruto to burn with determination, to talk about Sasuke every few steps like before. But instead, he walked with steady calm, eyes fixed ahead. It made her wonder if he even cared anymore.
Finally, unable to hold it in, Sakura asked, her voice trembling slightly:
"...Naruto, do you really not care about Sasuke at all now?"
The moment the words left her lips, she regretted them. But they could not be taken back.
Naruto turned his head slightly, eyes calm.
"Oh, Sasuke… He has his own path to walk. Caring too much won't change that. It's meaningless."
Sakura froze. For a moment, she couldn't even breathe. The Naruto she remembered would have shouted that he would never give up, that he would chase Sasuke to the ends of the world. But this Naruto—this version—was different.
She opened her mouth to speak again, but no words came. Deep down, she knew: the Naruto before her no longer clung to Sasuke as he once did.
A quiet unease stirred inside her. It felt as though Naruto had other purposes, other plans hidden behind the excuse of "searching for Sasuke." But she didn't dare ask. She feared the answer—and she feared that pressing too far might push Naruto away.
And despite everything, Sakura didn't want to ruin what she had with him.
Suddenly, Naruto stopped walking. Sakura stumbled a few steps ahead before turning back in confusion.
"Naruto…?" she asked softly.
But she quickly realized what was happening. His body had stilled, his eyes closed. Natural energy swirled faintly around him. He was drawing in Sage Mode.
Sakura clasped her hands together nervously but didn't disturb him. She had learned enough to know what this meant.
In only a few seconds, Naruto's eyes opened again, golden with toad-like pupils.
"Let's move," he said simply.
Sakura nodded, following.
But Naruto was no longer focused on the path. With Sage Mode active, he was sensing the world around him. His perception stretched wide, covering miles in every direction.
Time passed as they traveled. After more than two hours, Naruto's eyes narrowed. He had sensed a familiar chakra signature—Uchiha Itachi. The elder brother of Sasuke was waiting ahead, dozens of miles away.
Naruto turned to Sakura.
"Sakura, let's split up. We'll meet again in the next village."
Her heart jumped.
"Split up? Why?!"
Naruto kept his tone calm, though it was laced with warning.
"I sensed an unknown chakra earlier. If we stay together, it'll only make it harder to escape if something happens."
Sakura hesitated, then gave a reluctant nod.
"...All right. But Naruto, be careful."
Naruto gave her a reassuring smile, then leapt away into the trees, heading straight toward the signature he had locked onto.
Sakura stood frozen for a moment, watching his back disappear into the forest. A heavy ache filled her chest. Sasuke had already left. And now… Naruto, too, seemed to be moving farther and farther away from her.
Naruto's speed increased once he confirmed Sakura wasn't following. He couldn't afford distractions now.
Elsewhere, Itachi was also searching. He had already separated from Kisame—there were things he needed to do alone.
Naruto finally halted, landing on the branch of a tall tree. His sharp voice cut through the quiet woods.
"Who's there? Come out."
A calm voice answered from the shadows.
"As expected of you, Uzumaki Naruto. Your perception has become impressive. With Sage Mode, you truly have the strength to stand on this battlefield."
From behind the trees, Uchiha Itachi emerged.
Naruto's expression stayed even, though his heart tensed.
"So you were waiting for me, Itachi? Aren't you afraid I'll drag you back to Konoha? You're an S-rank rogue ninja, after all."
Itachi's lips curved in the faintest of smiles.
"You won't."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "…And why not?"
But Itachi didn't answer that. Instead, he asked directly,
"Do you truly see Sasuke as your brother?"
"Of course," Naruto answered without hesitation. His voice rang with conviction. "Sasuke is my most important brother. He left Orochimaru—so I'll bring him back to Konoha no matter what."
The forest fell silent for a moment. Itachi's expression didn't change, but his eyes darkened.
"…I don't have much time."
The tomoe of his Sharingan spun. In an instant, Naruto felt the world warp and twist—the genjutsu took hold before he could react.
Even in Sage Mode, even braced for battle, Naruto couldn't resist the sheer mastery of Itachi's illusions. His vision blurred, and when it cleared, he was standing in a void filled with black crows.
The birds swirled around him, their cries echoing endlessly. Then they gathered into Itachi's shape once more.
"I will give you some of my power," Itachi said quietly. "When the time comes, you will need it to save Sasuke… to bring him back."
A single crow flew forward, a Sharingan glowing within its eye. Before Naruto could react, it flew straight into his mouth.
Naruto gagged, nearly choking. His whole body shuddered as the crow forced its way down. Disgust churned in his stomach, but he endured it. Compared to the power he had just gained, a little nausea was nothing.
Itachi's voice echoed as the world dissolved.
"That eye will awaken the moment you face my Mangekyō Sharingan. Remember this."
The illusion faded. Naruto opened his eyes to the real forest once more. Itachi was gone.
Naruto stood still, exhaling slowly. If he had wanted, he could have broken free with Sage Mode's natural energy. But he hadn't resisted. He had let Itachi's crow in.
Shisui Uchiha's left Mangekyō Sharingan—finally, it was his. Easier than he had ever expected.
Of course, controlling the crowd was another matter. The power felt locked deep inside him, sealed away by Itachi's technique. Still, Naruto was confident he could unravel it with time.
For now, it was enough.
When Naruto returned to Sakura, she nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of his landing behind her.
"Na–Naruto! You scared me to death. Why are you back so soon?"
Naruto's expression was serious.
"Just be careful, Sakura. If you don't stay alert, the enemy could kill you before you even realize what's happening."
Her cheeks reddened slightly as she lowered her head.
"I… I know. I was just lost in thought. It won't happen again. Thank you, Naruto."
As they continued, Sakura found herself looking at him differently. This Naruto felt more reliable than ever before. Stronger, steadier, more dangerous—and yet, safe to be near.
What she didn't know was that the true game had only just begun. With Shisui's eye now in his grasp, Naruto's next moves would decide everything.
And far away, Sasuke was gathering his own companions—Suigetsu, Karin, Jugo. His "Hebi" team was forming, and fate was pushing him toward a deadly confrontation with the Akatsuki.
Deidara, meanwhile, cursed under his breath as he walked alone.
"That idiot Tobi… because of him, I'm stuck doing missions alone. Capture the Two-Tails? Hah! Next they'll ask me to hunt the Three-Tails, the Four-Tails… tch, I've had enough."
But before he could continue his grumbling, four figures blocked his path. At their head was a young man with the Sharingan glowing in his eyes.
"Where is Uchiha Itachi?" Sasuke demanded.
Deidara's anger spiked. His clay hand twitched, already forming an explosive bird.
"Another arrogant brat speaking down to me… just like your brother. Hmph. Fine, I'll blow you to pieces!"
Sasuke's wings unfurled, the curse seal spreading across his skin. The battle was about to begin.
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