"Naruto!"
A furious roar ripped through the forest. Naruto froze mid-step and turned, heart racing. His teacher, Iruka, was standing there—face stern, eyes full of disappointment.
"Sensei…" Naruto muttered, guilt twisting his expression.
Just like the story he remembered from long ago, Mizuki appeared as well, wearing that fake smile.
The truth spilled out: Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. Then came the confusing charade of the "real" and "fake" Iruka.
From the shadows, Hidan leaned lazily against a tree, watching with amusement as though it were a stage play. His single fang gleamed as he smirked.
"Keh—see that? Don't let the geezer fool you. The Third Hokage might act like a kindly grandpa, but when it comes to Naruto, he's sharp as a knife."
Konan glanced at him, brows furrowing. "Why drag the Hokage into this?"
Hidan snorted. "Because right now that wrinkled bastard is probably hunched over his crystal ball, spying on every move here."
He pinched Konan's cheek teasingly. "Never underestimate old men, especially ones like Hiruzen. The more wrinkles, the more schemes rattling around in their heads."
Konan's lips pressed into a thin line. She nodded but didn't really get it. In her early Akatsuki days, the strongest person they'd encountered had been Hanzo of the Salamander.
Back then, she hadn't seen the kind of shadowy plots men like Sarutobi weaved.
Now she was quiet, content to follow Hidan as his maid. Her world revolved around him—obedient, diligent, and strangely innocent despite the blood she'd shed.
"That damn crystal ball's a headache," Hidan muttered. "If it really can peek anywhere in Konoha, then getting the Book of Seals is tricky."
"What's wrong, Master?" Konan asked softly, tilting her head like a bird.
"That old man's eye is everywhere. If I'm not careful, I'll trip his gaze." Hidan clicked his tongue.
He didn't want to openly oppose Hiruzen...not when the man had been good to him, not when he was Tsunade's teacher.
That meant no Kamui either. Hiruzen had already seen him use it once. Using it again would be like painting a target on his back.
Hidan's arsenal was built for killing, not sneaking. So he turned to Konan. Her Paper Jutsu...graceful, subtle, untouchable was the perfect weapon for this.
"Konan. Think you can copy the scroll without him catching on?"
She blinked, then gave a small, confident pout. "If it leaves their hands even for a moment, I can replicate it perfectly. Don't worry."
Hidan grinned wickedly. "That's why you're my favorite." His hand slid into her robes without shame.
Konan flushed, exhaling through her nose, half-annoyed and half-distracted. She gave him a look, half scolding, half yielding...that only made him want to push further.
But the timing wasn't right.
On the battlefield, Iruka's words cut deep into Naruto's heart. The boy clenched his fists, tears welling up before exploding with determination.
"I'll prove it!"
With a shout, Naruto unleashed the Shadow Clone Jutsu. Hundreds of him surrounded Mizuki in a heartbeat. The traitor's face twisted from arrogance to terror.
Hidan chuckled. "Ah, music to my ears. That's the cry of a man who realizes he's about to get stomped by the class clown."
Naruto's clones swarmed Mizuki, fists raining down, until the traitor's screams echoed through the night.
Hidan's eye glinted. "It's now."
Konan nodded. A slip of paper fluttered from her hand, slipped under the earth, and merged with the Sealed Scroll lying unattended behind the tree.
Neither Naruto nor Iruka noticed. Moments later, the paper slithered back into her palm.
"It's done, Master," Konan said softly, pride flashing in her usually calm eyes. To copy the entire legacy of Konoha's ninjutsu—it was an achievement that would have made even her old self gasp.
Hidan smirked. "Good girl."
Of course, Konan didn't realize someone else had beaten her to it. Orochimaru had once stolen from these very pages, perfecting both the Living Corpse Reincarnation and Edo Tensei.
And Edo Tensei… that was the one Hidan had been salivating for.
He already had the raw materials: the Uchiha clan's blood, Hanzo's corpse. With Edo Tensei, he could raise an undead army.
Maybe even build a legion of Mangekyō Sharingan monsters.
...
Later, with Mizuki broken and Naruto triumphant, Iruka hugged his student and tied a forehead protector around his brow.
Naruto beamed through his tears, heart swelling with pride. Iruka promised Ichiraku ramen, and together they left the forest.
"Haaah… finally." Hidan cracked his neck, sensing the Hokage's chakra retreat. "No more eyes on us. Konan, let me see it."
She nodded and unfurled the replica. The paper expanded into a perfect copy of the Book of Seals.
Hidan dropped to the ground, spreading it open like treasure. His eyes darted across its forbidden pages—until he found it. Edo Tensei.
But the smirk slid from his face.
"This… isn't finished," he growled.
Kabuto's words echoed from the story he knew: Created by the Second Hokage, perfected by Orochimaru.
Hidan clenched his fist. Should he kill Orochimaru and steal it? No. That snake was a nightmare to put down—cursed seals everywhere, bodies stashed like spare puppets.
He'd pop back up no matter how many times you carved him apart.
And besides… in the grand scheme, Orochimaru was a pawn Hidan wasn't ready to throw away.
With a sigh, he rolled the scroll shut. "Tch… looks like this game's only getting bloodier."
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