"Chidori!"
Kakashi's voice cut through the clearing just as the ground beneath Itachi cracked open.
chiri-chiri-chiri-chiri—CHII! CHII!—chiri-chiri—bzzt—CHIII
A burst of blue light erupted from Kakashi's hand—violent, sizzling, shrieking like a thousand birds. The lightning spear shot straight into Itachi's exposed back before he could fully turn.
SPLAAACH.
The crackling blade of chakra punched clean through the body, lightning dancing across flesh and cloth as the figure stiffened. For the first time in the entire exchange, Itachi looked genuinely surprised—his Sharingan widening a fraction as he glanced backward.
He had been so focused on Naruto, so absorbed in breaking through his guard, that he allowed Kakashi's presence to slip from his awareness.
Despite the fatal blow, he smiled faintly.
"I'm impressed, Naruto… maybe you really can defeat Sasuke now," he murmured, voice low and almost proud.
Then—
Poof.
The entire form dissolved in a swirl of smoke, like a candle being blown out.
The real truth revealed itself in an instant:
It wasn't Itachi at all.
A disguised Sand ninja—pale, limp, already dead from the pierced heart—collapsed onto the dirt as the transformation technique faded.
Kakashi exhaled, pulling his arm free with a wet, grim sound before shaking the stray crackles of lightning from his fingertips. His expression darkened as he lowered his hitai-ate over his Sharingan.
"It wasn't him… should've known it was too easy," Kakashi muttered, frustration simmering beneath his calm tone.
Naruto stepped closer, staring down at the fallen shinobi. The body lay still, lifeless, robbed of identity and used like a puppet.
"Yeah… but we won," Naruto said quietly. "We should get back on the road."
But inside, his thoughts tightened.
' In the manga… I was the one who killed him. Not saying I would've felt bad, but… I'm glad it wasn't me this time. '
Granny Chiyo arrived moments later, her old eyes softening as she knelt beside the corpse. With a quiet sigh, she confirmed what they suspected.
"He was one of ours… taken and used by the Akatsuki. Stripped of will and turned into their tool."
Naruto's chest tightened. This wasn't a glorious victory—it was a reminder of what the Akatsuki were capable of.
"I'll bury him," Naruto said.
He crouched down and began digging with his hands at first, then with a kunai, carving into the earth until the hole was deep enough. They laid the ninja inside gently. Naruto pressed his palms together and bowed his head for a silent prayer.
"Rest easy… you didn't deserve this."
After covering the grave, they rose, the mood heavy but resolute.
Without another word, they continued down the road—toward Gaara.
Somewhere far from the forest clearing, atop a jagged rocky outcrop overlooking miles of barren land, two Akatsuki members sat in perfect stillness. Wind howled through the cracks in the stone, tugging at their cloaks, yet neither seemed bothered by the biting cold.
Kisame—massive, shark-like, and still dripping faint traces of water chakra—clicked his tongue as the last remnants of his clone's chakra signature vanished abruptly.
"Tch. That guy in the green jumpsuit got lucky," Kisame muttered, dispelling the water dome he'd been maintaining.
His gills twitched in irritation. "I swear, his kicks hit harder than my damn sword"
Itachi remained beside him, seated with a posture too composed for the harsh surroundings. His Sharingan faded back to black, the illusionary connection to his own clone cutting out like a candle snuffed in the wind.
The only sign of reaction was a small, controlled breath leaving his lips—almost thoughtful, almost disappointed, yet impossible to read.
Kisame glanced sideways, narrowing his eyes.
"You seem deep in thought, more than normal," he said, voice low but curious. Kisame didn't pry often, but when he did, it was for a reason.
Itachi lifted his head slightly, the faintest shadow passing behind his eyes.
"It's nothing," he replied calmly, but the weight behind his voice betrayed a hint of contemplation—whether about Naruto, Sasuke, or the encounter itself, Kisame couldn't tell.
Kisame let out a rough chuckle, flashing sharp teeth.
"Sure thing. Whatever you say… partner."
The wind howled again, carrying dust across the rocky ledge, as the two figures remained seated—silent sentinels watching the distant horizon, each with thoughts far darker than the world below knew.
...
Back on the road, the group moved with quiet urgency, leaping from tree to tree, branches swaying and snapping under their weight.
The wind whipped through their hair, carrying the distant scent of earth and forest smoke. Every step brought them closer to the looming threat ahead.
"They must have begun extracting the Tailed Beast from Gaara by now," Chiyo said, her voice low but edged with worry.
Naruto turned toward her, brow furrowed. "What do you mean, extracting?"
' I already know, but why not hear it from her, ' he thought, curiosity and caution mingling.
Chiyo exhaled softly, the weight of her knowledge pressing down like a stone. "Jinchūriki are merely temporary hosts. Gaara was the fourth person in our village to bear Shukaku before him. When a Jinchūriki nears death, or when someone powerful enough captures them, the beast can be extracted and sealed into another host. However… if a Jinchūriki dies, the Tailed Beast dies with them. Since they are born from chakra, they will eventually reform, but in a wild and untamed state. That is the great risk."
The words hung in the air, heavy and chilling. Even the rustle of leaves seemed to pause. Sakura's lips parted, hesitant, as she processed the grim reality.
"Well… we better hurry," Naruto said, his tone firm, eyes already scanning the path ahead.
Chiyo gave a slight nod. "Yes. We need to hurry before they finish."
Sakura hesitated, still grappling with the gravity of the situation. Finally, she asked, "What happens if the Tailed Beast is removed from the host?"
She stopped suddenly. As they others did as well. Chiyo's expression darkened, her eyes shadowed with pain. "The Jinchūriki dies."
Naruto, seemingly unfazed, looked around casually, but Chiyo's gaze sharpened.
"Naruto, are you sure you still want to go?" Sakura asked, voice tight with concern.
He turned to her, resolve hardening his features. "I did promise I'd save Gaara. So yes. Plus this is a mission, Sakura. Personal feelings aside, we need to do what we were tasked to do. Now let's go."
Kakashi followed silently behind him, the weight of his calm presence contrasting the urgency ahead.
"You didn't have to be so harsh, you know," Kakashi said, his tone teasing lightly but with underlying concern.
"Truth hurts, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto replied without missing a step, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "You know that better than I do."
Chiyo turned to Sakura, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Come on, let's go. No point standing here," she said gently.
Sakura exhaled and nodded, steeling herself. She moved quickly to follow.
' Naruto isn't wrong,' she thought, keeping her emotions in check. ' I need to put my feelings aside and focus on the mission.'
The group moved as one, leaping through the trees with determination, shadows flickering across the forest floor, each heartbeat echoing the urgency of Gaara's life hanging in the balance.
TO BE CONTINUED