Sasori lay flat on the ground.
The Third Kazekage puppet was in pieces. His Red Secret Techniques were reduced to scattered fragments. Even his own body had been torn apart and reassembled more than once.
He stared blankly at the ceiling.
If he had lost to Guy, he could've accepted it. Guy was an Elite Jōnin of Konoha, and taijutsu naturally countered puppet techniques. Losing would've made sense.
But Guy hadn't defeated him.
His disciple had.
The infamous Sasori of the Red Sand… beaten by a teenage boy.
What was happening to the ninja world?
Rock Lee's body steamed. His skin was bright red. He swayed and finally dropped to a seated position.
He had opened the Sixth Gate of the Eight Inner Gates.
Only then did he gain the upper hand.
The Third Kazekage puppet? Destroyed.
All of Sasori's puppets? Reduced to scrap.
Lee's fists and legs were like iron hammers. No matter how refined or deadly the puppets were, he smashed them apart one by one, scattering their pieces so thoroughly they were nearly impossible to reassemble.
"Lee! That was amazing!"
"Guy-sensei, I did it! I defeated him!"
"Well done! I'm proud of you!"
"Guy-sensei—"
"Lee—"
The emotional exchange between master and student only deepened Sasori's humiliation.
Click. Click.
Pieces rolled back toward him, snapping into place.
In seconds, he stood upright again, fully reconstructed.
His eyes were ice-cold. Murderous intent flickered within them.
But he didn't move.
Even if he attacked again—what would change?
He wasn't strong enough. Acting recklessly would only bring more punishment.
Silently, he gathered the remaining parts and walked out.
In a nearby room, Deidara lay motionless on the floor.
"Brother Sasori…"
The two defeated S-rank criminals looked at each other.
No words came out.
They supported one another and wandered through the proving ground like lost strays.
Eventually, they ran into Kakuzu.
Kakuzu looked… composed.
Age brought a certain calmness in the face of defeat.
"Konoha Village… is terrifying."
Sasori and Deidara nodded.
They had once feared no one. Even Konoha—the strongest of the Five Great Villages—had only been mildly concerning because of the Hokage.
Now?
They had been crushed by ordinary Konoha shinobi.
For the first time, they truly understood how vast the world was.
With the Akatsuki organization dismantled and Obito and Black Zetsu going into hiding, the ninja world gradually quieted down.
Red Sun TV broadcasts spread everywhere.
Reporters showed up across the world.
People restrained themselves—afraid their worst moments would be aired for everyone to see.
The change was subtle.
But steady.
Tensions between villages decreased. Hostility softened.
The atmosphere slowly shifted toward something better.
As Fifth Hokage, Naruto's life was comfortable.
Documents were handled by subordinates.
He only needed to show up occasionally at the Hokage building to prove he wasn't slacking.
At the Red Sun Society, he delegated authority completely.
His role was symbolic—a pillar of strength.
Still, he wasn't idle.
He walked through Konoha daily, observing shinobi missions, correcting mistakes, even demonstrating improvements personally when necessary.
"Hokage-sama, there's a mission requiring your decision."
An Anbu ninja found Naruto at a construction site.
"A mission? Aren't they graded and handled by the council? Even S-rank missions don't need me."
Naruto stepped back—
—and appeared directly in the Hokage's office.
"Ah!"
A white-haired girl gasped in surprise.
She was about twelve or thirteen. Pale, ice-blue eyes, calm but distant.
Beside her stood a young man with glasses, stepping protectively in front of her.
"Hokage-sama," Elder Akiyama Shige bowed respectfully.
"This is Lady Shion, the shrine maiden of the Land of Demons. And this is her bodyguard, Shiho. Lady Shion—this is the Fifth Hokage of Konoha, Uzumaki Naruto."
Naruto nodded.
So that's why this required his authority.
Foreign affairs.
"You're the Hokage? You're young."
Shion studied him with quiet curiosity.
Shiho began explaining:
"In the Land of Demons, a terrifying monster known as a sprite has returned. Years ago, Lady Miroku—Shion's mother—sacrificed herself to seal it. But eight years later, it has broken free again."
Shion had fled under guard to seek Konoha's assistance.
"If the sprite isn't sealed again," Shiho said gravely, "it could bring disaster upon the ninja world."
"Seal it?" Naruto's lips curved faintly.
"Yes. Only I can reseal it. That is the fate of the shrine maidens of the Land of Demons."
Her voice carried a trace of quiet sorrow.
"How long did your mother's seal last?"
"…Eight years."
"Only eight? And it's already back? How many shrine maidens does your country have? How many eight-year cycles can you afford?"
Shion froze.
Shiho bristled. "Lady Miroku sacrificed herself for her people—"
"I understand her greatness," Naruto interrupted calmly.
He looked at Shion.
"What do you want from Konoha?"
"I wish to hire Konoha shinobi to escort me to the Swamp Shrine so I can perform the sealing ritual again."
"Fine. Konoha accepts the mission. Rest for now. We'll arrange escorts."
Outside the office—
"That Hokage seemed disrespectful to Lady Miroku," Shiho muttered angrily.
"Stop," Shion said quietly. "This is Konoha."
She glanced back toward the office.
"That Hokage… he's incredible."
"He's known as the strongest Kage in the world."
"That's not what I meant."
Shion's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I can't see his future at all."
Shiho's face changed.
Shion possessed prophetic abilities. She could see glimpses of people's deaths. Even if unclear, there were always fragments.
But Naruto?
Nothing.
Just fog.
"I wonder what shinobi he'll send to escort us," Shiho worried. "If they aren't strong enough, the sprite's army will be unstoppable."
"Don't worry," Shion said softly, gazing toward the Land of Demons.
"This time, we will succeed."
Her ice-crystal eyes shimmered strangely.
"It won't escape again."
A faint smile curved her lips.
As if she had already seen something in the future.
And laughed at it.
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