The air was dry and sharp as the group leapt from tree to tree, the forest slowly giving way to stretches of open terrain. Sand gusts from the far horizon hinted they were nearing the border again. For a long while, no one spoke—the only sounds were the rustle of cloaks and the rhythmic thud of sandals hitting bark.
Sakura, who had been holding a question in her chest since they left the village, finally spoke. "How long have the Akatsuki been looking for you, Naruto?"
Her voice broke the silence like a pebble dropped into still water.
Naruto glanced over his shoulder, the wind tugging at his orange jacket. "Hmm... I don't know," he replied with a faint chuckle. "They never really sent me a letter or anything."
Sakura sighed. Typical Naruto—making light of something serious.
Up ahead, Kakashi's lone visible eye flicked toward him, a shadow crossing his face. His hand tightened slightly around his kunai pouch.
'If only you knew, Naruto... just how close they've come before,' he thought.
Without turning, Kakashi spoke. "Three years ago, two Akatsuki members came to Konoha looking for you. One of them was Uchiha Itachi." His tone was calm, but the name alone carried a weight that made even the wind seem to pause. "Since then, they haven't made any major moves against you—at least, none we've seen."
Sakura furrowed her brow. "Why? Why wait three years?"
Kakashi adjusted his hitai-ate slightly. "Probably because you were with Jiraiya. Tracking and fighting the Akatsuki's leader wouldn't be easy—not even for them."
Before anyone could respond, Chiyo's dry, raspy voice cut through the air from behind them. "I doubt that's the only reason. Extracting a Bijuu takes time—days, maybe even longer. The process isn't simple."
"Bijuu?" Sakura repeated, confusion lacing her tone as she landed gracefully on a high branch beside her.
Chiyo turned her gaze toward the younger kunoichi, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You don't know what Bijuu are? That's surprising—especially for Tsunade's student."
"Well, in Konoha we keep that kind of information under wraps," Kakashi explained. "For good reason. The fewer people know about Jinchūriki, the safer they are."
Chiyo gave a low chuckle, her old voice carrying both bitterness and wisdom. "That's one way to protect them, I suppose. Though it's never worked for long."
She took a breath and continued, her tone turning grave. "They're massive creatures—beasts of pure chakra. Each has unique powers, and their very presence can level nations. Those unfortunate enough to have one sealed inside them are called Jinchūriki. They carry that burden all their lives, wielding immense power... and facing immense hatred."
Sakura's eyes widened. She listened closely as Chiyo went on.
"The Sand's Kazekage—Gaara—carries the One-Tailed Beast, Shukaku. There are nine in total, each stronger the more tails they possess. The One-Tail is the weakest..." Chiyo paused, her eyes flickering toward Naruto, "...and the Nine-Tails is the strongest."
Naruto didn't even flinch. He just kept leaping forward, his expression unreadable.
"During the Great Ninja Wars," Chiyo continued, "villages fought to capture and seal them, thinking they could control such power. But all they did was create living weapons—children burdened with monsters inside them."
For a long moment, no one said a word. The wind rushed between them, carrying the faint scent of sand and dry leaves.
Sakura glanced at Naruto, who was still running ahead—silent, unbothered. Her heart sank.
"So... you've had this thing inside you since you were born?" she asked softly.
Naruto gave a casual shrug mid-leap. "I guess." His tone was light, but his eyes didn't match it.
Sakura's throat tightened. She remembered every moment she'd glared at him, called him an idiot, treated him like a nuisance. And yet, he had been carrying that kind of burden all along.
'All that time... I never understood. I treated him like he was the problem... when he was the one carrying the village's pain.'
She looked down at the ground flashing beneath her feet, guilt pressing heavy on her chest. 'I'm such a horrible person.'
Naruto looked back briefly, flashing her that same carefree grin that hadn't changed since childhood. "Hey, don't go spacing out, Sakura-chan. You'll fall behind."
That simple, genuine smile—after everything she'd just learned—made her heart twist even more.
Kakashi watched silently, saying nothing, but deep down, pride and sorrow mixed in his chest. 'Even now... you don't let it show. You're stronger than you think, Naruto.'
On the other hand Naruto was laughing ' God, the sob story would have landed me so many women on earth.' He thought.
...
After hours of steady movement, the forest began to thin. The warm breeze that had carried the scent of sand now grew still—unnaturally so. Leaves stopped rustling. The sound of birds vanished altogether.
Kakashi landed first in a small clearing surrounded by tall trees and uneven stone. His boots barely touched the earth before his instincts screamed at him. Every nerve in his body went tense.
He lifted his hand. "Everyone halt!"
Naruto, Sakura, and Chiyo stopped mid-step on nearby branches. The air grew heavy, almost suffocating.
That's when they saw him.
A lone figure stood in the center of the clearing, his black cloak swaying faintly in the wind. Red clouds bled across the fabric, stark against the darkness. His head tilted slightly downward, concealing his face in shadow.
A faint breeze brushed through, pushing his bangs aside—revealing crimson eyes that glowed like dying embers. The intricate, swirling pattern within them began to spin slowly.
Sakura's breath hitched. Her pulse spiked.
"T-That's—"
Kakashi's voice was low but firm. "Yes. It's Uchiha Itachi."
The name itself carried weight. Even the trees seemed to bow under the pressure of it.
Sakura's mind raced. The man responsible for Sasuke's suffering—his endless hatred, his lonely path—it all stemmed from the calm figure before them.
'That's him...? He looks nothing like the monster I imagined…' Her hands trembled, equal parts fear and fury twisting in her stomach.
Naruto, on the other hand, stepped forward with casual confidence, an almost amused look on his face.
'Wow, so this is Itachi... the prodigy himself. Gotta admit, those eyes look way cooler in person.'
"Don't look into his eyes, Naruto!" Kakashi barked sharply, breaking the tension. "If he traps you in his genjutsu—it's over!"
Naruto shrugged, keeping his gaze slightly off to the side. "True… unless you can break out of it."
Kakashi frowned beneath his mask. "If it were an ordinary genjutsu, I'd agree. But this isn't normal. His eyes—" he pointed subtly, "—that pattern is the Mangekyō Sharingan. It's far beyond anything most shinobi can comprehend. If he catches you in Tsukuyomi... even a single second will feel like an eternity."
The silence that followed was cold. Even Chiyo, who had seen countless battles, could feel the weight of his words.
Itachi finally spoke, his voice calm, deep, and devoid of emotion. "How expected of you, Kakashi-san. Despite experiencing Tsukuyomi only once, you've managed to analyze its properties so clearly. I'm impressed."
Naruto glanced sideways, trying to keep a straight face.
'Here they go again, glazing each other like old rivals in a drama show.'
Kakashi raised his headband, revealing his own Sharingan—the familiar crimson light flickering with restrained power. "Yes... but I also know something else, Itachi." His tone hardened. "That technique doesn't come without cost. You don't use it lightly. It drains your chakra... maybe even your life force."
The air crackled faintly as both Sharingan met—one matured through bloodline, the other borrowed and scarred by war.
"And beyond that," Kakashi continued, stepping forward slightly, "there's an even greater risk... one that I'm sure you know all too well."
For a moment, Itachi's expression didn't change—but the faintest glimmer flickered in his eyes, so subtle most would've missed it. A memory, perhaps.
Naruto tilted his head. 'Great. Now it's silent again. I swear, these two could write a whole book just by staring at each other.'
Sakura, however, felt the tension rise. Her chest was tight, her palms clammy. Even standing this close to Itachi made her understand why Sasuke had fallen into obsession—his power wasn't loud or wild. It was quiet, suffocating, absolute.
The forest itself seemed to hold its breath.
Kakashi's Sharingan flared. "We'll finish this quickly," he said. "Naruto—prepare yourself. Don't lose focus for even a second."
Naruto nodded, a serious glint replacing his playful smirk. "Got it."
Itachi finally lifted his hand, fingers moving with calm precision. "I wonder," he said softly, "if your eyes can truly see what's about to happen."
The tension snapped like a drawn wire. Chakra surged through the clearing, dust swirling as the confrontation began.
TO BE CONTINUED