I'm gonna start now!
In a dimly lit cabin, the scent of grilled fish filled the air as Naruto sat with the future leaders of the infamous Akatsuki. The fire crackled, casting flickering shadows on their faces as they devoured their meal.
"This is amazing! Just a simple Fire Style and bam! Freshly grilled fish!" Yahiko exclaimed, stuffing his mouth.
Naruto chuckled, tearing off a large chunk of meat and passing it to Konan. "Eat more, Konan! You need to grow!"
Yahiko pouted, watching Konan accept the food. "Teacher, that's favoritism! But whatever—I've already mastered fishing! Next time, I'll catch the biggest one!"
As the laughter continued, Nagato suddenly wiped his eyes, his expression darkening.
"Oi, Nagato, what's wrong?" Yahiko asked, frowning.
Nagato swallowed hard. "I just... thought about my family. I couldn't help it..."
Yahiko slammed his fist on the table. "Tch! Quit crying! People already think the men of the Land of Rain are weak. We need to prove them wrong!"
Naruto leaned back, eyes serious. "The war raging between the surrounding nations won't last forever. But peace... that's something you carve out with your own hands. So get stronger."
He turned to Nagato. "Also, you're from the Uzumaki Clan, same as me. That makes you family, so just call me Dad already."
Nagato's eye twitched. "..."
In the end, Naruto failed to convince him.
Suddenly, a thought struck Naruto. "Wait... How did I even learn Chakra Refinement? I never really studied it..."
Shrugging off the thought, he tossed three massive turtle shells in front of them. "Alright, you're all training with these on your backs. No excuses!"
Days passed, and finally, a few unlucky Chūnin from Iwagakure wandered into their path. Naruto used a Genjutsu to extract their Chakra Refinement technique before putting them out of their misery. The training intensified from that moment forward.
Every night...
"Come on, Konan! Drink your milk!"
"This fruit is called papaya! Good for the body!"
"Here, have some braised pork trotters. Good for growth!"
Watching Konan grow day by day, Naruto felt a sense of pride. She was nearly c+ now...
Meanwhile, from the shadows, Zetsu observed, nodding in approval. "Finally, things are on the right track."
Naruto continued drilling them in ninjutsu. "Next up, Fire Style! And Water Style! When two opposing forces collide, the stronger one dominates!"
Nagato and Yahiko exchanged puzzled glances. "Sensei, what are you even talking about?"
"Tch! Fine, watch!" Naruto created two Shadow Clones. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
One clone smirked. "Damn, I look cool."
The second clone scoffed. "Nah, I'm the cool one!"
The clones immediately started fighting.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
"Special Technique! THOUSAND YEARS OF DEATH!!"
"AARGH! YOU—!!"
Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan: "..."
Naruto coughed awkwardly. "Ahem. Anyway, that's enough for today. Konan, forget about these two idiots. Let's keep working on your Paper Jutsu."
Konan nodded. "Okay, Sensei!"
"Call me Big Brother."
"Got it, Sensei!"
Naruto sighed. "Kids are harder to fool these days..."
Meanwhile, the war was not going as smoothly as the Third Hokage or the Daimyō had anticipated. Sand Village, under Chiyo's guidance, had developed an antidote for Hanzo's poison and redirected their forces against Konoha. The battlefield was at a deadlock, and Konoha shinobi were suffering increasing casualties.
The Third Hokage had no choice but to call Tsunade back to the battlefield.
"Tsunade, be careful out there," Jiraiya said, worry in his voice.
Orochimaru, standing beside him, remained stoic. "This is war. There is no 'careful.'"
Tsunade merely nodded, grabbed her gear, and left for the Wind Country battlefield.
Jiraiya frowned. "Are you sure this is the right move?"
Orochimaru's expression darkened. "It's not about what's right. It's about necessity."
In the Hokage's office...
"What's the status on Dan Kato?" the Third Hokage asked.
"His progress is steady," an Anbu replied.
"Then have him accompany Tsunade. Once Chiyo's poison is neutralized, send them to face Iwagakure next."
"Understood."
The Third Hokage drummed his fingers against his desk. "Namikaze Naruto..."
A moment later, he made his decision. "Summon Minato Namikaze immediately."
A voice echoed from the shadows. "Yes, Hokage-sama."
On the Sand Village battlefield...
"Secret Technique! THOUSAND YEARS OF DEATH!"
"ARGHHHH!!"
A Sand shinobi clutched his rear in agony before another Konoha shinobi swiftly took him out.
"Oi, Sakumo, are you seriously still using that technique?!" Yakushi groaned.
Hatake Sakumo smirked, resting his hand on the short blade of White Fang. "This stronghold is still standing despite our overwhelming advantage. That means it's important. No more playing around. Full assault! Leave no one alive!"
At his command, Konoha shinobi launched an all-out attack. Explosive tags detonated, and poison traps activated, causing heavy casualties.
Sakumo's eyes darkened. "Move aside. I'll handle this."
His blade pulsed with chakra as he executed a devastating Iaido-style strike, clearing the enemy traps.
Two puppets lunged at him. "Puppet Art: Crimson Blade!"
Kunai rained toward him, but Sakumo sliced through the chakra threads controlling them with ease.
More puppets emerged—ten in total.
"White Secret Technique: Ten Puppet Formation!"
A female puppet wielding twin blades charged first. Sakumo parried effortlessly.
A white-masked puppet fused with a red-faced one, forming a high-speed rotating chakra saw.
"Kenjutsu: Flash Cut!" Sakumo split both puppets in one swift motion.
Suddenly, three puppets interlocked, creating a massive vortex of suction.
"Secret Puppet Technique: Crushing Spiral!"
"What the—?!" Sakumo was caught off-guard as another wave of poison-tipped needles fired at him.
"Sakumo!" yakushi shouted.
"Damn... I got careless!" Poison seeped into his veins.
But he wasn't done yet.
"Final Secret Sword Art—Hydra Flash!" His chakra-infused blade lashed out, carving through multiple puppets and straight into the stronghold.
When the dust settled, Sakumo stood before two corpses shielding a single child.
He remained silent, a strange weight pressing on his chest. For the first time, he hesitated.
Then, pain flared through his body. He coughed up blood.
"Sakumo!" yakushi rushed over. "This poison... it's Chiyo's doing!"
A strong voice cut through the battlefield.
"Move aside. Let me handle this!"
Tsunade had arrived.
End of Chapter 103.
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