The village gates came into view as we walked, Isobu's massive form moving behind us like a drifting island. His enormous shell rose above the treeline like a small hill, and every step sent a soft tremor through the ground.
The guards froze. One dropped his spear.
Another whispered, "Is that… the Three Tails?"
Word spread fast.
By the time we reached the open training field outside the walls, dozens of shinobi had gathered. Then hundreds. Villagers peeked from rooftops. Children pointed. No one screamed. No one ran. They stared. Not with fear. With awe.
Isobu lowered his head politely.
"I did not expect an audience."
Shisui chuckled. "Welcome to the Leaf."
Isobu rested in the wide clearing just outside Konoha's walls. Water still dripped slowly from the coral spikes across his back. His three tails shifted lazily behind him, stirring the grass.
Naruto's generation had grown up hearing stories about Kurama, about jinchuriki, about tailed beasts. But most of them had never seen one with their own eyes.
And unlike Kurama in the past, Isobu was calm.
He watched the crowd with quiet patience.
"Wow," Kiba said somewhere behind us. "That thing is huge."
Choji stared in open amazement. "He looks… kind of peaceful."
Shino adjusted his glasses. "His chakra output is immense."
Ino leaned slightly forward, studying the massive turtle. "I thought tailed beasts were supposed to be angry."
Suigetsu's eyes gleamed.
"Three tails," he muttered. "Man, that shell would make a great shield."
Karin smacked the back of his head. "Do not steal parts of the tailed beast."
Jugo simply looked up at Isobu with quiet fascination.
Nearby, Hinata watched the turtle with wide, pale eyes.
I had told them he was safe before we arrived.
Still, it was strange seeing a tailed beast sitting quietly outside the village like an oversized guest.
Shisui and I walked through the gates and toward the Hokage Tower. Guards stepped aside quickly. Inside, the building was quiet.
Kakashi sat behind the Hokage desk when we entered. His visible eye lifted toward us.
"Report."
I nodded.
"We found Isobu. We spoke with him. He was willing to come peacefully."
Shisui stepped beside me.
"And we were not the only ones looking."
Kakashi leaned forward slightly.
"Akatsuki?"
"Yes," I said.
I explained the battle quickly. Sasori. Deidara. Kabuto. And the masked man.
Kakashi's eye narrowed. "And Guy?"
"Poisoned," I said.
"Tsunade has him."
Kakashi's shoulders relaxed slightly. "She will handle it."
Shisui spoke next. "Isobu has agreed to cooperate."
Kakashi blinked once. "That was… easier than expected."
"He had already sensed Akatsuki watching him," I said.
Shisui nodded. "He understands the risk."
Kakashi leaned back in his chair. "So what is the plan?"
I glanced at Shisui.
Shisui sighed quietly. "Isobu wants to choose his host."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "And?"
Shisui rubbed the back of his neck. "He chose me."
Silence filled the office for a moment.
Then Kakashi nodded. "That makes sense."
Shisui looked mildly surprised. "You are not concerned?"
"You are one of the most stable shinobi in the village," Kakashi said. "If anyone should carry a tailed beast, it would be you."
Shisui looked thoughtful.
"And Menma can perform the seal," Kakashi continued.
I nodded, "I have mastered the Four Symbols Seal. And I can modify it so it is not binding. A partnership, not a cage."
The Flying Raijin had forced me to learn sealing at a level most shinobi never reached.
Kakashi nodded. "Good. Shikamaru should return from the Sand next week. We will need him for strategy."
Then I looked at Kakashi. "There is something else."
Kakashi tilted his head.
I glanced at Shisui. "Can I speak to Kakashi alone?"
Shisui raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Of course."
He turned toward the door. Itachi stood outside in the hallway, leaning quietly against the wall.
Shisui nodded toward him. "Walk with me?"
Itachi followed him down the hall, talking quietly. I heard Shisui say, "I do not know how to feel about becoming a jinchuriki," and Itachi answered, "You will not be alone."
When they were gone, I turned to Kakashi.
"There is something you need to know."
His posture shifted. "Go on."
"The masked man. The one calling himself Madara."
I took a breath.
"It is Obito."
Kakashi's breath caught.
Silence. The wind moved through the grass. Kakashi did not blink. Did not breathe. Did not move.
"That is not funny," he said quietly.
"I am not joking."
Kakashi stood slowly."That is impossible."
I continued.
"He survived the Kannabi Bridge. Madara found him. Saved him. Trained him. Manipulated him. He is alive. And he is the one leading the Akatsuki from the shadows."
Kakashi stared at me. "You are sure."
"Yes."
He looked away.
His hand hovered over his covered eye. "Obito…"
The name sounded strange coming from him.
"He believes he is saving the world," I said.
Kakashi closed his eye. "He always wanted to."
"He is not the same person you knew," I said. "But he is still in there. I could feel it."
His hand trembled once before he steadied it.
"Thank you for telling me."
I nodded.
"We need to finish the sealing."
Kakashi opened his eye again. It was steady now. Focused.
"Gather who you need."
The world flashed red.
Outside the tower, Shisui stood beside Itachi near the steps.
"How do you feel?" Itachi asked.
Shisui shrugged. "I suppose becoming a jinchuriki was not on my list of life goals."
Itachi almost smiled. "You will handle it."
Shisui looked toward the clearing outside the village where Isobu rested.
"I hope so."
I appeared beside them in a flash of red light.
"Ready?"
Shisui nodded.
I placed a hand on each of them. Another flash.
We reappeared in a secluded valley far from the village. The forest here was quiet. Private.
Karin and Hinata stood waiting nearby.
Karin crossed her arms. "You finally decided to tell me what the emergency seal practice was for."
I pointed behind her. Isobu slowly rose over the trees.
Karin froze. "Oh."
Hinata blinked. "That is… very large."
Karin adjusted her glasses quickly.
"And you said I would learn sealing?"
"Yes."
Her eyes lit up. "Now I am interested."
Shisui stepped forward. "Let us do this."
Hinata stepped forward. "We are ready."
Karin nodded. "I can reinforce the chakra pathways."
Isobu lowered his head, calm and steady. "I am prepared."
Shisui inhaled slowly. "So am I."
I stepped into the center of the clearing and drew the Four Symbols Seal across the ground with chakra-infused ink. The symbols glowed faintly, pulsing with life.
"Shisui. Sit in the center."
He did.
"Isobu. Lower your head."
He did.
Hinata placed her hands on Shisui's back. Byakugan active. "His chakra network is stable."
Karin placed her hands beside hers. "I will support the flow."
Itachi stood behind Shisui, silent and watchful.
I began drawing the seal across his stomach with chakra.
The pattern formed slowly. Precise. Ancient.
The Four Symbols Seal.
Chakra surged from my palms. The symbols lit up, bright as fire. The ground trembled. Isobu's body dissolved into raw chakra flowing forward like a tide, swirling around Shisui, merging with him, sinking into him.
Shisui's eyes widened. His chakra flared. His body shook once, then steadied. The light faded. The seal flared once. Then settled.
Isobu's voice echoed through the clearing.
"It is done."
Shisui opened his eyes. They glowed with a faint blue aura.
"He is calm," Shisui exhaled slowly. "He is… gentle."
I stepped back, letting the tension leave my shoulders.
"It worked."
Shisui stood, testing his balance. "I feel different. But not overwhelmed."
Itachi placed a hand on his shoulder. "You will adapt."
Shisui smiled faintly. "I suppose I have a new roommate."
Karin laughed softly. Hinata smiled.
I looked toward the village.
"We should return. Kakashi will want to plan our next move."
Shisui nodded. "Then let us go decide the future of the Three Tails."
We walked back toward the village together, the sun setting behind us, casting long shadows across the forest floor.
The war had shifted again. And the Leaf had gained a new jinchuriki.
The wind was calm that morning.
I stood on the roof of the Hokage tower, watching the village wake up. Shops were opening. Shinobi were already moving through the streets. Somewhere below, I could hear Kiba arguing with someone about training schedules.
Three days had passed since the sealing.
Shisui was adjusting to Isobu better than anyone expected. The turtle was calm, cooperative, and surprisingly patient. That helped. Still, becoming a jinchuriki was not something a person just woke up used to.
I leaned against the railing and let my senses drift across the village. Monkey Sage Mode sharpened everything. Heartbeats. Chakra signatures. Movement across rooftops.
Then something familiar brushed against my awareness.
Two chakra signatures. Both powerful. Both extremely familiar. I looked up.
They stood on the Hokage Monument, side by side, the wind pulling at their cloaks. Both wore sage robes. Naruto's was red and black, the same style Jiraiya used to wear. Sasuke's was the same cut, but black and deep blue, the Uchiha fan stitched across the back.
I smiled. I appeared behind them without a sound with the body flicker.
Both of them spun instantly, both dropping into stances.
Naruto blinked. "Menma."
Sasuke exhaled. "You are getting quieter."
I grinned. "You two improved."
I stepped forward and pulled both of them into a quick hug.
Naruto laughed. "Hey, what was that for?"
"Two and a half years," I said. "That is what that was for."
Sasuke shook his head slightly but did not pull away.
"You came back early," I said.
Naruto nodded. "We mastered Sage Mode faster than expected."
Sasuke crossed his arms. "And Jiraiya said there was no point wasting time once we hit the plateau."
Naruto smirked. "Plus, we missed everyone."
I placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "Hold still."
They both tensed.
Chakra pulsed quietly as the Flying Raijin mark formed beneath the fabric.
Naruto blinked. "What was that?"
"Insurance."
Sasuke looked down briefly. "Teleportation seal."
"Exactly."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "So now you can just appear next to us whenever you want?"
"Yes."
Naruto groaned. "That is terrifying."
Sasuke smirked faintly. "You walked into that one."
Naruto stretched his arms over his head.
"So what did we miss?"
"A lot," I said. "Come on."
We jumped down from the monument together and moved across the rooftops.
They followed easily. Their movement was smoother now. Sharper. Sage training had changed them.
We walked together toward the training fields. Naruto talked nonstop about Mount Myoboku. Sasuke added details when Naruto exaggerated. I listened, smiling.
When we reached the clearing, Shisui was sitting on a stump, eyes closed, breathing slowly. Isobu's chakra flickered faintly around him like a soft blue mist. Itachi stood nearby with Hinata, who was watching Shisui's chakra flow with her Byakugan.
Naruto waved. "Hey, Shisui."
Then he paused. His eyes widened slightly.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Wait."
They both stared at him.
Shisui scratched the back of his neck.
"So… funny story."
"Is that," Naruto whispered, "tailed beast chakra?"
Naruto pointed. "You are a jinchuriki."
Shisui nodded. "Apparently."
Sasuke looked at me. "You did this."
I folded my arms. "Surprise."
Shisui sighed. "I am still getting used to it."
Naruto stared. "You became a jinchuriki?"
Shisui nodded once. "Three Tails."
Naruto ran up to Shisui. "How does it feel?"
Shisui shrugged. "Like having a very large, very polite roommate."
Sasuke exhaled slowly. "That explains the chakra."
Shisui shrugged slightly. "Isobu is very calm. That helps."
Naruto looked excited. "I want to meet him."
"You will," Shisui said.
Sasuke smirked. "This village is getting strange."
Hinata smiled softly. "You both look stronger."
Naruto grinned. "Mount Myoboku training."
Sasuke nodded. "And we learned several new techniques."
Naruto leaned forward slightly. "You should see my new Rasengan."
Sasuke added quietly. "And my lightning control improved."
I nodded slowly. "Good."
Naruto looked around the clearing.
"So what have you been doing here?"
"Keeping the village alive," I said.
That made him laugh.
The next three days passed peacefully.
We trained. Naruto tested his Sage Mode against Shisui.
Sasuke sparred with Itachi.
Hinata and Karin worked on improving the sealing support technique.
Training. Talking. Resting. The village felt alive again.
Then the gate alarm sounded. I looked up immediately.
Two chakra signatures were approaching the gate. Weak. Unsteady. Wrong.
Shikamaru and Asuma staggered through the entrance.
Without Han.
The courtyard fell silent.
Shikamaru was covered in blood vest torn, his face pale, his breathing shallow.
Asuma was worse. His sleeve hung empty where his arm should have been wrapped in blood-soaked bandages.
Naruto stepped forward first. "What happened?"
"Hidan," he said. "And Kakuzu."
Asuma coughed, blood on his lips. "We were ambushed."
"Han," I asked quietly.
Shikamaru closed his eyes.
"We do not know."
The peaceful days ended in an instant.
Han was not just a jinchuriki. He was one of ours.
I vanished in a flash of red and reappeared in the forest. Coming face to face with Hidan and Kakazu, who stop in their tracks, carrying a battered Han over Kakazu's shoulder.