At the mission center.
Jasper couldn't stand another minute in this stuffy place.
He sat across from Homura and Koharu, the two elders of the village, their stern gazes fixed on documents of him.
The Hokage's Manor was often a place of immense pressure for ninjas in trouble. Yet Jasper wasn't here to be reprimanded. He crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair by trying to project an air of nonchalance.
Homura, the elder with the sharpest eyes, broke the silence and said, "We've received reports about your behaviour."
Jasper could practically hear the disapproval in the elder's tone. Feigning surprise, he asked, "Really? And what exactly have I done?"
Koharu, with a softer demeanour, cleared her throat and answered, "It has been brought to our attention that you have been less than respectful to your seniors and fellow ninjas."
"It's to toughen them up," he said. "Can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, right?"
Homura and Koharu exchanged a skeptical glance. After a long moment of silence, Homura spoke in a flat voice, "Effective immediately, you are promoted to Chūnin. Use this as an opportunity to let the others see you in a new light."
Jasper sat up straighter with a smirk as he muttered under his breath, "About time…"
A flak jacket was placed before him as Koharu explained, "This is a symbol of your new rank."
Jasper declined the offer with a wave of his hand. "I don't need that. It's optional anyways, right?"
The two elders looked displeased.
By the end of things, Jasper signed off on the paperwork and walked out. He couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. If it hadn't been for Alex's recommendation, he might not have gotten this promotion.
Now he was a Chūnin, with all the privileges and responsibilities that came with the rank. That meant he could move freely outside the village without the need for a babysitter.
The thought of freedom was intoxicating.
As he strolled down the streets, many citizens and other ninjas gave him looks of disdain. He was used to this sort of treatment. Or better yet, he relished it. The idea that he was hated so much only fueled him.
Screw this village. He was rich on earth, and he knew that if he became rich here, he'd rule with an iron fist.
A sense of unease lingered in the back of his mind. So he leaned against a wall and crossed his arms to think.
'Those guys saved that stupid Hokage… Now the whole story's messed up.'
Jasper had originally agreed with the others to help improve the narrative. But, in all honesty, he didn't mind which way things went. Up or down, Naruto and the rest of his friends could die for all he cared.
'I need a nap,' he thought, removing himself from the wall.
Just as he made it to the elevator where his apartment was, he was interrupted by someone calling his name. He turned around to find that it was Alice, running toward him with a face of urgency.
"Babe, we need to go," she said.
"What's happened?"
"Itachi and Kisame are here!"
Jasper's blood ran hot as his face went from dull to absolute eagerness. What better way to prove himself and get his adrenaline pumping than to go toe-to-toe with members from the Akatsuki?!
"Where are they now?" he asked with a keen tone.
"Not far, so we need to get Alex before they—"
"Alex? Come on, babe, I could take on those two myself."
"Now's not the time to act macho, Jasper."
He didn't like when she called him by name because it meant she was growing annoyed.
When he figured that he needed her to pinpoint the Akatsuki's location, he conceded.
The two then quickly ran through the streets to make it to the Hyūga clan's district.
From what he remembered in the original story, Itachi and Kisame arrived moments after Orochimaru fled from the invasion. Then again, the invasion did happen off schedule. News likely broke out about the Sand Village's partnership with the Sound, which triggered Pain to check on the Nine-Tails.
Just the simplest things out of sync could cause a butterfly effect in this world.
Upon reaching the Hyūga clan's district, they found Alex in a meeting with Hiashi and other members of the clan. They signaled him to come out from outside the open window.
"What's wrong?" he asked after approaching them.
It didn't take long to explain the Akatsuki were in the village. He asked how long they'd been here, to which Alice wasn't too sure. All she knew was that she recently sensed them while she was training.
"Think we should go get Naruto and Sasuke?" Jasper asked.
"No," he answered. "That's a bad idea."
"And why's that?"
"Don't you remember what I told you guys: although Naruto's the mc, it's okay if he dies since it won't end things here. But if you die, then you'll be logged out."
Jasper almost forgot that's how things worked in this world. He was so busy trying to get stronger that he never thought about losing. But who was he to worry about something like that when he was so well gifted?
Suddenly, Alice gave Alex a skeptical look. When Jasper noticed, he asked her what was wrong.
"Huh?" she said as if lost in thought. "Oh! I… I just sensed Will and Naruto meet up with Kurenai and Asuma. It looks like their group's getting closer to Kisame and Itachi."
"We need to hurry then," Alex said.
After departing, they began leaping from rooftop to rooftop. Jasper couldn't shake off how quiet Alice was right now. Was she really that serious about two Akatsuki members?
"They're pretty dangerous," Alex reminded the group.
"No need to tell me twice," Jasper said with a grin. "I'm taking Samehada, just so you both know."
When Alex asked Alice where Jada and Margaret were, she said that Jada was in the village, but that she had been waiting for this moment to do something Itachi.
Whatever that 'something' was, Jasper hoped that it had nothing to do with him.
"What about Marge?" Alex asked.
"Looks like she's at home reading—ugh…"
"Reading what?"
"You don't wanna know. Trust me…"
As the group continued to push forward, Alice alerted them that they had company. Kakashi and Might Guy were spotted running in the same direction.
"Where are you three headed exactly?" Kakashi asked in a serious tone without breaking stride.
"Kakashi-sensei," Alice answered. "We sensed the Akatsuki, so we're—"
"I've heard enough," he interrupted. "I'm glad you know your enemy, but this isn't something I feel comfortable letting you three face."
"Oh, come on, Kakashi!" Guy said with enthusiasm. "These youths have proven themselves already."
"That's right, Kakashi-sensei," added Alex. "We've got duties as ninjas to protect the village."
Jasper didn't say a word to the two Jōnin. He already understood that they didn't quite like him. After all, he had tricked Guy into teaching him how to open the Eight Inner Gates, and had been using it for fun.
But who were they to stop him? He was promoted to a Chūnin today, so he didn't have to follow an order since this was regarding s-rank shinobi.
Kakashi sighed, knowing that his warning would be ignored. At least he tried.
Upon arriving at the scene, they found Naruto, William, Kurenai, and Asuma standing in a defensive formation. In front of them were none other than Itachi and Kisame.
It was Jasper's first time meeting these two. They were instantly recognizable by their distinctive attire: black cloaks adorned with red clouds.
Itachi, with his calm deportment, wore the cloak with austere behaviour. The red clouds meshed well with his already-activated Sharingan. Kisame, on the other hand, exuded a more brutish aura thanks to his pale blue skin and towering frame.
Both men had already crossed out the signs on their forehead protectors, a symbolic rejection of their former villages and a declaration of their allegiance to Akatsuki.
The only thing Jasper truly noticed was what was behind Kisame: the infamous Samehada.
That sword was a sentient weapon with an insatiable appetite for chakra. Its physical form was equally impressive, resembling shark teeth under its bandages. It also had the ability to grow in size as it absorbed chakra and simultaneously enhance the wielder's own power.
Only a handful of shinobi had ever wielded such a rare sword. Jasper was looking to be one of them.