243Naruko UzumakiAI Model: kimi-k2-instruct-0905Chapter 243: Uzumaki Naruko
After delivering his gift, Naruto left the funeral site.
He had no feelings for Danzo.
Staying would have been pointless.
[Congratulations, host, for unlocking the achievement 'Pot-Carrying Hero': +3 attribute points, 3 destiny stones.]
Nice—another free achievement unlocked.
Danzo died exactly as he should have.
That pot truly buried everything.
Only pity is I can't dump blame on him anymore.
Resurrect him with Edo Tensei?
Too cruel, he decided; didn't fit the hero he wanted to be.
Two more days passed.
The gloom Danzo had cast evaporated completely.
Hardly anyone missed him.
Only the former Root members might still remember he existed.
'Naruto, Lady Tsunade wants you.'
Shizune appeared at the Hyuga Compound.
'On my way.'
Naruto waved goodbye to Hinata and hurried to the Hokage Office.
Besides Tsunade, Sasuke was present.
He blinked, shooting her a questioning look.
'Yesterday Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigakiraided Hidden Mist Village,'
Tsunade said, expression grave.
'I'm going!'
Sasuke answered at once.
Any mission involving Itachi, he would take.
'Details?'
Naruto patted his shoulder, telling him to stay calm.
'After a skirmish, Mei Terumī and Chōjūrō vanished; they're probably being hunted right now.'
Tsunade's eyes showed worry.
The Akatsuki Organization's strength rivaled Tianming's.
With more members, they'd struck every Great Village.
Without Naruto piloting sky city, Suna's Shukakuwould've been taken.
'Sasuke and I will go,'
Naruto murmured. 'Mist is our ally, after all.'
He'd helped Mei ally with the Land of Fire back in Artisan Village.
They'd later cooperated on seabed resources; a rescue was only right.
Even without that, Sasuke would go.
Because of Itachi.
He hoped this time his brother wouldn't run.
Instinctively Sasuke's hand went to his sword hilt.
If not for Orochimaru's interference, he might have settled Itachi long ago.
'Be careful—especially you, Naruto; Akatsuki wants you too.'
Reluctantly Tsunade agreed; against Itachi and Kisame, only these two had a real chance.
Neither she nor Jiraiya felt confident.
Naruto nodded.
Leaving the Hokage Building, he contacted Uzumaki Menma for intel.
'Two-Tails, Four-Tails, Five-Tails, Six-Tails—all captured.'
'Ichibi host is Gaara, Three-Tails is Chōjūrō, Seven-Tails is Fū, Eight-Tails is Killer Bee.'
Naruto pondered. 'Once Three-Tails falls, Nagatowill move personally.'
Seven-Tails Jinchuriki Fū was at Langya Pavilion.
Currently Merlin, Sasori, Neji and sky city were all there.
One could say she was under Tianming's protection.
Two Akatsuki operatives couldn't manage it alone.
Eight- and Nine-Tails were even safer.
Next target might be One-Tail.
'Keep an eye on Gaara for me,'
Naruto said. 'If I were Nagato I'd handle One-Tail first—the Gedo Statue absorbs in order.'
'Same thought here,'
Menma sighed. 'Just hope Sister Nan has time for a few more concerts.
I'm still short on the World's Top Idol achievement.'
Naruto shrugged. 'Let fate decide.'
He cut the link, set a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, and activated Flying Thunder God.
Rain poured from the sky.
Chōjūrō sat collapsed, drenched in blood.
Mei Terumī looked slightly better,
but still a wreck,
nothing like her usual poised self.
Kisame Hoshigaki needed no introduction—
a Mist Ninja whose strength they knew too well.
But Uchiha Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan was terrifying.
Had he not wanted to conserve Dōjutsu Power, Mei and Chōjūrō would never have escaped.
'Mizukage-sama, leave me,'
Chōjūrō coughed, face pale.
'Idiot! What are you saying?'
Mei snapped. 'If I abandon you, how do I face Hidden Mist?'
Chōjūrō's lips moved.
He understood, yet continuing meant both would die.
The Ninja who'd escorted them had fallen along the way.
Hidden Mist was crippled once more.
'Looks like you're in rough shape.'
A sudden voice put them on guard.
Mei raised her hands, ready to strike.
The curtain of rain tore open.
'Space-Time Ninjutsu?'
Mei blinked—could it be…?
Sasuke's Mangekyo Sharingan spun as he searched for Itachi.
Naruto greeted them cheerfully.
But Mei's gaze locked on Sasuke.
Not from attraction—she had no mind for that now—
but because of those eyes.
She'd tasted their terror firsthand.
'Allow me: in our organization he's codenamed Wheel of Fortune.'
Naruto pointed to Sasuke.
'Wheel? I thought he was The Fool.'
Mei collected herself, bowed. 'Thank you both for the rescue.'
'No need,'
Naruto said, lifting a hand. 'Consider it a trade—just send a Byakugan to Konoha later.'
'Then you're getting the short end.'
Mei relaxed.
Byakugan wasn't that valuable—
certainly not compared to their lives.
'We'll recoup elsewhere.'
Naruto glanced at Chōjūrō. 'I'll fetch a medic-nin.'
He returned to Konoha and brought Sakura along.
After three years' study she was fully qualified.
In the original story she'd be dueling Sasori about now, hitting her first high note.
Dragged over without warning, Sakura's mood lifted the instant she saw Sasuke.
Totally worth it.
Only pity: she wouldn't get to heal him.
Ugh, what was she thinking?
Best if Sasuke never got hurt.
She knelt and began treating Chōjūrō.
'He's not nearby.'
Sasuke finally spoke.
His tone sounded worse than Chōjūrō's injuries.
'Their target's here; they'll come.'
Naruto reassured him.
Mei tensed. 'You're waiting for Itachi and Kisame?'
'Some personal business.'
Naruto shrugged. 'Once they show, I'll escort you back to Hidden Mist.'
Mainly he wanted to give the brothers a solo stage.
A duel upon the summit—no, an Oscar-worthy performance.
Mei hesitated, then nodded.
She wanted revenge, but she could read the situation.
Chōjūrō was critical.
Her own Chakra nearly spent.
Staying would be pointless.
Itachi and Kisame hadn't expected Naruto and Sasuke.
News of the Mist assault would spread.
But Itachi assumed only Sasuke would seek him, not rescue Mei.
His little brother wasn't the type to be swayed by beauty.
'Found them.'
Kisame grinned.
Heavy rain was his element.
With superior Water Release he could do plenty—
like spotting Mei and Chōjūrō through the downpour.
'Let's move—no more delays.'
Itachi said flatly.
Inside, though, he felt a stir of uncertainty.
Word had come: Danzo was dead.
With Hiruzen Sarutobi gone, both his handlers had vanished.
As a spy, he might be the only one left who knew he was a spy.
What was the point?
Should he contact Tsunade or Jiraiya?
He'd become a double agent to warn Hiruzen and Danzo away from Sasuke.
That reason no longer existed.
Unless they were revived by Edo Tensei—
but then they wouldn't be themselves,
and the deal would be void.
Lost in thought, Itachi arrived where Kisame had sensed targets.
Before he could speak, the grievously injured Chōjūrō sprang three meters into the air, shouting, 'Itachi, your time is up!'
Both visitors' expressions shifted.
Kisame wore a cruel smile.
Itachi caught a faint, familiar scent.
The brilliant Lightning Release in Chōjūrō's hand made his identity obvious.
"Kisame, leave him to me."
Uchiha Itachi lifted a finger slightly.
Sasuke's Chidori plunged straight into his heart.
Yet no blood flowed.
Itachi's body burst into a dozen crows.
"Genjutsu like that is useless against me."
Mangekyo Sharingan spun into Sasuke's eyes; locking onto the real body in an instant, he flicked his wrist and lightning-needles filled every inch of the visible space.
"An Uchiha who can't use genjutsu is no Uchiha at all."
Itachi formed seals at blinding speed while lecturing.
They had fought two or three times, yet Sasukehad never once used genjutsu.
Mostly Fire Release and Lightning Release.
Naruto counted deliberately—
six seals in one second.
Kakashi would be proud.
In the original story Itachi threw that fight against Kakashi—six seals per second—yet against Sasukehe slowed to one every six seconds,
an entire Pacific Ocean of holding back.
Now, though, Itachi didn't dare hold back at all.
"Petty tricks."
Sasuke curled his lip.
Whenever he sparred Naruto, genjutsu never worked;
in frustration he simply gave it up.
Besides, he'd never been especially gifted at it.
"..."
Itachi fell silent for a moment.
He thought of Tsukuyomi—useful, yet it always failed at the worst times.
For instance, he couldn't trap Sasuke in an illusion.
The reason was that bizarre Magical Girl Mode of his.
Itachi had scoured every archive and found no record of it;
it had simply appeared out of nowhere.
He could only chalk it up to Sasuke's unique nature.
Weird as it was—
after all, the boy was now a pretty young girl.
He sighed at the thought.
Ever since meeting The Fool, he'd been bested by cute girls more than once.
Speaking of The Fool, just as he'd guessed, the one impersonating Mei Terumī was none other than him.
Yet he and Kisame simply stared at each other without attacking.
"How did Danzō die?"
Itachi suddenly asked.
"Upset your accomplice is dead?"
Sasuke's voice was ice-cold. "He died by my blade, of course."
Itachi's eyes narrowed. "Since you know the truth, have you heard of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan?"
"You want my eyes?"
Sasuke tapped his own face.
Itachi realized at once that Sasuke had read the stone tablet in the Naka Shrine.
There was no need for further words.
His tone turned frigid. "Because I've used the Mangekyo Sharingan so often, my sight has faded. So, my foolish little brother, give me your eyes! That is why you survived the night our clan was slaughtered!"
Look at that—
Naruto couldn't help awarding his acting an S-rank.
So perfectly reasonable.
Even with witches thrown into the mix, it still made Sasuke burn with rage.
Sasuke had never bowed to either soft or hard tactics,
let alone such an in-your-face provocation.
Two Susanoo erupted from the ground at once.
Naruto's gaze lingered on the Goddess of Circles.
A-hem—pure reflex, a normal appreciation of beauty.
"Hey, are we fighting or not?"
Kisame hefted Samehada.
He knew The Fool's strength; though they'd never truly fought, victory wouldn't come easy.
Yet standing here doing nothing felt like letting Itachi down.
Naruto turned to look at him.
Kisame had an active achievement:
[Just keep smiling.]
A line from Eva's Rei Ayanami.
But it didn't fit this decidedly un-Hokage-looking guy at all.
Was it because he liked to laugh?
They say cheerful boys have the best luck, yet once a fight started Kisame would find it hard to smile.
"No point fighting; we know each other's tricks,"
Naruto shrugged. "Let's just watch which brother wins."
"It'll be Itachi, of course."
Kisame answered without hesitation.
He'd been Itachi's partner for years and knew full well how terrifying he could be.
If not for his failing body, Itachi's achievements would have been even greater.
"Hard to say."
Naruto smiled and said no more.
The clash of the two Susanoo shook heaven and earth,
and even the island at sea trembled.
After watching a while Naruto saw no quick victor,
so he took a moment to check the destiny card pool that had updated moments ago.
The one-month period was up—
[Featured banner changed: One Qi Transforms into Three Purities.]
[Added cards: Sage Art—Bright Divine Gate, Shadow Prison Murder Array, Presence Concealment.]
[Because the host obtained the Yasuo Character Card, Wind's Last Breath has been removed and replaced with Azure Lotus Sword Song.]
Naruto rubbed his hands together,
especially eyeing that featured One Qi Transforms into Three Purities.
It made him hum with anticipation.
Without much hesitation he tossed in thirty destiny stones and pulled.
[Thank you for playing×9.]
Naruto's heart skipped a beat.
That was outrageously unlucky.
[Congratulations: acquired Druid Transformation.]
[item card: Druid Transformation (modified).]
[Description: Permanent skill; transform into your Summoned Beast and gain all its abilities.]
"Hmm, interesting."
The first thing Naruto thought of was the Great Toad Sage.
If he could transform, would he gain prophetic powers?
But although he'd signed the Mount Myōbokucontract, it apparently didn't include the Great Toad Sage.
Ryūchi Cave would probably be the same.
That left only the slugs.
How to describe a slug? Maybe too big for one pot?
No one knew its true size.
Ryūchi Cave and Mount Myōboku were ensemble casts, while the Shikkotsu Forest ran a one-creature show.
Naruto once heard a theory—
any human who failed the training in Shikkotsu Forest became part of the slug.
Gruesome, but it made sense.
If he turned into a slug, survival would be top-tier—
as long as one tiny slug escaped, he'd stay alive.
After coming back to his senses he fed another thirty stones into the gacha.
[Maybe next time×10.]
His face darkened; he clenched his teeth and tried again.
[Congratulations: acquired Matriarchal Clothes Divine Skill.]
[item card: Matriarchal Clothes Divine Skill (modified).]
[Description: Permanent skill from The Legendary Bannerman and The Peerless Twins. Grants incomparably fierce, pure, and vast inner strength.]
[Branch 1: At peak level, daily flame incineration forces you to transfer all power to another or burn to ash.]
[Branch 2: Advance to the sixth or seventh level, destroy all cultivation and restart to achieve the true divine skill.]
[Note: Ideal for Fire Release Ninja.]
Naruto instinctively looked toward Itachi.
If anyone would willingly train Branch One, it would be him.
Alternatively, it could be used to set someone up—say, gift it to Obito.
As for Branch Two, Naruto would have to think twice,
mainly because of the step that destroyed all cultivation.
According to the system's modification, cultivation equaled Chakra.
Until the new training succeeded he'd be at his weakest.
[Thank you for playing×8.]
[Congratulations: acquired One Qi Transforms into Three Purities.]
[item card: One Qi Transforms into Three Purities(modified).]
[Description: Permanent divine art from Investiture of the Gods. Creates three Shadow Clones identical to the original, undetectable except by sages; clones can copy three of the host's cards.]
[Feature 1: Real-time updates of host abilities to clones.]
[Feature 2: Copied cards usable only by clones.]
[Feature 3: Clones can choose gender and appearance.]
Naruto had only one reaction—
lacking culture, he summed it up with a single stunned curse.
"Unbelievable—peak, absolute peak—Shadow Clone Jutsu's final form."
Reading the three features, he sighed. "Looks like I'll make an ancestor-defying decision—you're up, Uzumaki Naruko!"
Compared with the previous premium Shadow Clone, the biggest upgrade was real-time syncing and card copying.
Gender and appearance could be handled with Transformation Jutsu,
but now even that was unnecessary.
"The system is definitely nudging me to create Uzumaki Naruko."
Naruto shook his head.
With the Shadow Clone's active achievement on top, he really had to make one.
Didn't sleep well on the train—dead tired. But starting tomorrow, if no family visits are needed, I should be able to post more chapters.