Clap, clap, clap!
Shino suddenly started applauding from the side.
Kiba blinked in confusion and turned toward him. "Uh… what are you doing?"
Shino adjusted his glasses calmly. "Nothing. It just felt like… this moment deserved applause."
Kiba thought about it for a second—then nodded seriously and started clapping along.
Sakura, however, found herself feeling a pang of envy as she watched Hinata.
As a girl, she had always sensed Hinata's quiet affection for Naruto. Now, seeing them openly return each other's feelings… it made something twist in her chest.
She got what she wanted… but what about me?
Her thoughts drifted to Sasuke, and her eyes dimmed.
Yamato walked up beside Kakashi, smiling lightly. "Well, senpai, looks like in the near future, we'll be atattending someone's wedding."
Kakashi sighed, half in amusement, half in exasperation. "A wedding's great and all, and I'm happy for him. But really… of all times to fall in love, Naruto picked now?"
Naruto didn't linger on the romantic moment. There would be time for that later.
Right now, he had something far more important to do.
He released Hinata gently and said softly, "Sorry, Hinata… but I'll have to leave you for a few days."
Then he turned to Kakashi. "Kakashi-sensei, I'll have to leave the team temporarily. Please take charge of pursuing Sasuke."
Everyone froze.
They all knew how much Sasuke meant to Naruto—his bond with Sasuke was one of the most important things in his life.
For him to willingly walk away from that pursuit…
Kakashi's one visible eye narrowed. "Can I at least know where you're going?"
Naruto hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you right now. Please trust me. This is… really important—more than you can imagine."
Sakura frowned. "More important than finding Sasuke?"
Naruto looked at her, torn.
How could he explain that Sasuke wasn't in any real danger yet? That soon, Sasuke would meet his brother, Itachi—and everything would change from there?
He couldn't reveal any of that. Not yet.
"I'm sorry, Sakura," he said quietly. "I have my reasons. I can't explain for now—but believe me, Sasuke's safe. Nothing bad will happen to him… not yet."
Kakashi's expression hardened. "Sorry, Naruto. Given the current situation, as team leader, I can't just let you go. Not unless you tell me everything."
He gestured subtly to Yamato.
Yamato understood immediately. His hands formed seals, and thick wooden pillars burst from the ground, forming a Four-Pillar Prison that locked Naruto in place.
His Wood Release could suppress not only Naruto's chakra, but even the Nine-Tails' power within him—that was why Tsunade had assigned Yamato to this team in the first place.
Hinata ran forward anxiously. "Kakashi-sensei, please! Naruto-kun must have his reasons. He wouldn't hide something like this unless it was really necessary!"
Kakashi's expression wavered. He was conflicted—but he couldn't take the risk.
Naruto wasn't just any shinobi—he was the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki, a living weapon of Konoha.
If the Akatsuki were to capture him now, it would be a catastrophe.
Sakura looked at Naruto through the wooden bars, worry in her eyes. He stood motionless, eyes closed, as if deep in meditation.
He's changed, she thought. Something about him feels… different.
Naruto finally opened his mouth, voice calm and resolute.
"Sorry, Kakashi-sensei, Captain Yamato… I'm not asking for permission. I'm telling you."
His eyes snapped open—golden irises surrounded by orange pigmentation.
Senjutsu activated!
Before anyone could react, the natural energy swirling around him surged. With a single punch, the wooden prison shattered into splinters.
Everyone stared in shock.
Yamato's jaw dropped. "That's impossible! My Wood Release should have suppressed both his own chakra and the Nine-Tails'! How—?!"
Kakashi's visible eye widened as he realized what he was seeing.
"The markings… that's Sage Mode! Naruto, when did you—when did you learn Senjutsu?!"
Naruto turned to them, offering an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Kakashi-sensei. For now… I can't say."
And then—with a single leap—he vanished into the forest.
"Wait, Naruto!" Sakura shouted, running after him.
Kakashi grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
"Kakashi-sensei, why?!"
He shook his head, serious now. "Even if we wanted to stop him, we couldn't. Naruto's strength now… it's beyond any of us here. And besides—" he paused, watching the direction Naruto disappeared, "—I think he has his reasons."
He couldn't hide his astonishment.
Sage Mode—one of the rarest abilities in the entire shinobi world. Only those with immense chakra control and natural affinity could master it.
For Naruto to have achieved that…
When did he even have the time?
Kakashi quickly pulled out a messenger scroll, wrote a report of the situation, and handed it to one of his summoned ninja hounds. "Take this back to Lady Tsunade. Fast."
Once the dog darted off, he turned to the others. "We continue the mission. Naruto's on his own for now—everyone else, keep tracking Sasuke!"
Hinata lingered for a moment, gazing into the forest where Naruto had disappeared.
In her heart, she whispered, Naruto-kun… I'll be waiting for you.
Then she turned and followed the team.
In the depths of the forest, Naruto raced between the trees in perfect Sage Mode, his senses expanded far beyond normal range.
He could feel every chakra signature within miles—the texture, the weight, even the nature of it.
And then—something.
A distinct, ominous chakra presence, calm yet powerful.
He changed direction instantly, speeding toward it.
When he landed, he stopped and spoke quietly toward a shadowed patch of undergrowth.
"Come out… Uchiha Itachi."
From the darkness, two scarlet eyes flared open—Sharingan spinning lazily.
"…You noticed me," came the calm, low voice.
With a soft rustle, Itachi Uchiha stepped out of the shadows.
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