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The sterile white of the hospital room seemed to blur at the edges of Asuma's vision as consciousness slowly returned to him. The familiar antiseptic smell filled his nostrils, mixing with the lingering scent of cigarettes that always seemed to cling to his clothes, even the standard-issue hospital gown he now wore.
He blinked several times, adjusting to the harsh fluorescent lighting above. The soft rhythmic sounds of breathing drew his attention to his right, where three figures were slumped in uncomfortable-looking hospital chairs.
Shikamaru was closest to the bed, his chunin vest wrinkled and stained, dark circles prominent under his closed eyes. His normally neat ponytail was disheveled, strands of black hair falling across his face. His mesh armor shirt was visible beneath the vest, showing tears and signs of recent combat.
Next to him, Ino had curled up awkwardly in her chair, her long blonde hair falling like a curtain over her face. Her purple outfit was similarly disheveled, the bandages around her midsection spotted with dirt and what looked like dried blood.
And then there was Kurenai. Asuma's heart tightened at the sight of her. She wore her standard outfit – that distinctive red mesh armor blouse with only the right sleeve, layered with bandages that formed a pattern on her arms and legs. Her dark, wild hair fell across her face as she dozed, head tilted at an angle that would surely leave her neck sore.
"Damn it, Shikamaru," Asuma muttered under his breath, his voice rough from disuse. "You should've taken her home..." The words held no real anger, just concern tinged with affection.
Trying to push himself up, Asuma's body immediately protested. A sharp, burning pain erupted from his abdomen, forcing a harsh gasp from his lips. Looking down, he saw thick white bandages wrapped around his torso, a faint red stain visible through the layers.
The pain triggered the memory – Naruto, standing before him, those once-bright blue eyes now cold and distant. The flash of steel, the burning sensation of the blade sliding through flesh and muscle. His student's voice, calm and detached: "I'm sorry, Sensei. But this is necessary."
"Naruto..." Asuma whispered, his hand unconsciously moving to his wound. "What are you trying to prove?"
A soft groan from his right drew his attention. Kurenai was stirring, her crimson eyes fluttering open. When she saw him awake, they widened instantly.
"Asuma!" She was out of her chair in a moment, careful not to wake the others as she moved to his bedside. Her hands hovered over him uncertainly, as if afraid to touch him. "You're awake. How do you feel?"
"Like I've been stabbed," he attempted a weak joke, but Kurenai's expression remained serious. "I'm okay, really. Just sore."
She sat on the edge of his bed, her hand finding his. "You've been unconscious for eight days," she said softly, her voice catching. "We weren't sure..."
"Hey," he squeezed her hand gently. "It'll take more than that to keep me down." He tried to smile, but something in her expression made it fade. "Kurenai? What aren't you telling me?"
Before she could answer, movement from the chairs caught their attention. Shikamaru was awake, his usually lazy expression replaced by something harder, more haunted.
"Sensei," he straightened up, nudging Ino awake beside him. "You're finally awake."
Ino jolted up, her blue eyes immediately filling with tears when she saw Asuma. "Sensei!" she choked out, but remained in her chair, hands gripping the armrests tightly.
Asuma looked between his students and Kurenai, noting their expressions, the way they seemed to be bracing themselves for something.
"What happened while I was out?" he asked, his voice taking on the authoritative tone he used during missions. "Report."
Shikamaru and Ino exchanged glances. It was Shikamaru who finally spoke, his voice steady but heavy with emotion.
"Naruto..." he began, then paused, collecting himself. "After he attacked you, he implemented the next phase of his plan. The village..." Shikamaru's fists clenched. "Konoha is in ruins, Sensei. Most of the outer district is destroyed. The civilian casualties..." he trailed off, unable to continue.
Asuma felt his blood run cold. "What about the Hokage? My father?"
The silence that followed was deafening. Kurenai's grip on his hand tightened, and he saw tears forming in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Asuma," she whispered. "Lord Third... he didn't make it."
The world seemed to tilt on its axis. Asuma's free hand gripped the hospital sheets, his knuckles turning white. His father was dead. Konoha was in ruins. And it was all because of his student – the boy he had trained, guided, and watched grow.
"There's more," Ino spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper. "Naruto... he came to see us last night. Shikamaru and me. He told us his plan. The OneLife Plan." She shuddered. "It's... it's horrible, Sensei. What he's trying to do..."
"He's gathered followers," Shikamaru continued. "Powerful ones. Jinchūriki, missing-nin. I don't know where he is going, but whatever he is doing it can't be that good."
Asuma closed his eyes, processing everything. When he opened them again, there was a determined gleam in them. "Help me up," he said, already trying to push himself upright.
"Asuma, no!" Kurenai protested. "You're not healed enough-"
"My father is dead," he cut her off, his voice rough with emotion. "My village is in ruins. And my student..." he paused, pain flashing across his features. "My student needs to be stopped. I need to understand why he's doing this, and I need to stop him before anyone else dies."
The room fell silent again, broken only by the sound of Ino's quiet sobs. Outside the window, the sun was rising over what remained of Konoha, casting long shadows across the hospital room. In the distance, smoke still rose from parts of the village.
"Naruto," he muttered, more to himself than the others. "What kind of peace are you trying to achieve through all this destruction?"
No one had an answer for him.
"The small council and clan heads?" Asuma's brow furrowed, his stubbled jaw tightening. His hospital gown felt rough against his skin, a far cry from his usual attire – the standard Konoha jōnin uniform with his distinctive sash bearing the kanji for "Fire." "That's not sustainable."
Shikamaru nodded, adjusting his mesh armor shirt beneath his chunin vest. "The Fire Daimyo sent a messenger yesterday. He was..." Shikamaru paused, choosing his words carefully, "quite insistent about appointing a new Hokage."
Asuma planted his palms on the bed, attempting to push himself up. The movement sent another wave of searing pain through his abdomen, causing him to grunt and fall back against the pillows.
"Don't you dare," Kurenai's stern voice cut through the air as she placed a firm hand on his shoulder. Her red mesh armor sleeve brushed against his arm, the material cool against his skin. "You're staying right where you are."
"Why am I not healed yet?" Asuma's frustration was evident in his voice. "Normally, a wound like this would be—"
"We lost too many medics," Ino interrupted, her voice quiet. Her purple outfit was wrinkled from sleeping in the chair, and her usually pristine blonde hair was tied back in a messy ponytail. "Twenty percent of our medical force... gone. The ones we have left are spread thin, trying to help everyone they can."
She stood up, walking to the window. The morning sun highlighted the tears in her eyes. "The hospital's running low on everything – medicine, bandages, food. The genin..." her voice cracked slightly. "They're only getting one meal per day, and even those are barely enough to keep them going."
Asuma's eyes widened. "One meal per day? That's—"
"Barely survival rations," Shikamaru finished, his hands clasped together in his familiar thinking pose. "The civilian sector is worse off. If it weren't for the Akimichi clan's emergency food stores..."
"At least the fighting is over now," Ino said, trying to force optimism into her voice. "Things can only get better from here, right?"
Asuma exchanged a knowing look with Shikamaru. They both knew better. Naruto's attack wasn't a single event – it was the beginning of something bigger.
"Ino," Asuma said gently, "come here."
She turned from the window and approached his bed. Despite her disheveled appearance, she still carried herself with the pride of a Yamanaka, even if it seemed more fragile now.
"You've been brave," he continued, "all of you have. But this isn't over. Naruto..." he paused, the name of his former student feeling like ash in his mouth. "He's methodical. Strategic. This attack wasn't just about destroying the village."
"It was about sending a message," Shikamaru added, his voice hard. "Showing what he's capable of. And now he's gathering more power, and doing whatever that he is doing right now...some are saying that he is going after the Last Senju, but nothing is certain..."
"Tsunade," Kurenai said, her crimson eyes narrowing. "If he's looking for her, it can't be good. She's not just a Senju – she's one of the Sannin."
Asuma nodded, wincing as he adjusted his position. "And if he manages to either recruit her or..." he left the alternative unspoken, "it'll make him even more dangerous."
"The village needs a Hokage," Shikamaru stated flatly. "Someone strong enough to rally the people, to show we're not beaten. But with our current situation..."
"Who's left?" Asuma asked, dreading the answer.
"Kakashi's has been in a critical condition, but he is doing better now," Kurenai replied, her hand unconsciously tightening on Asuma's shoulder. "Guy's recovering from chakra exhaustion. Most of our top jōnin are either injured or deployed on emergency missions to maintain our village's appearance of strength."
Asuma shifted in his bed, his expression growing more serious. "Tell me about the clans. How are they handling this?"
"The clans?" Shikamaru's brow furrowed. "They're helping with reconstruction, providing resources—"
"That's not what I mean," Asuma interrupted, his voice carrying the weight of experience. "My father... he taught me things about village politics that most people never consider. The clans aren't just military assets; they're the foundation of any hidden village, as crucial as the Hokage position itself."
The room grew quiet as the implications of his words sank in.
"What exactly are you suggesting, Sensei?" Ino asked, her purple outfit rustling as she leaned forward in her chair.
Asuma sighed heavily, wincing slightly at the pain the movement caused. "In times of severe crisis, when a village shows weakness... some clans might decide to cut their losses. They could negotiate alliances with other villages, even smaller ones, rather than rebuild here."
"That would destroy Konoha!" Ino exclaimed, standing abruptly. Her long blonde hair swayed with the sudden movement.
Shikamaru pressed his fingers to his temples, his chunin vest creasing as his shoulders tensed. "The Hyūga clan has been... difficult since the attack. Their compound suffered minimal damage, but they've been increasingly hostile in council meetings. Lord Hiashi keeps bringing up how their barriers protected their sector while the village's defenses failed."
"That's exactly what I'm talking about," Asuma nodded. "The Hyūga are proud, powerful, and self-sufficient. They could easily establish themselves elsewhere."
Kurenai, who had been silent, spoke up from her position beside Asuma's bed. "Surely the other clans wouldn't consider leaving? The bonds between Konoha's founding clans run deep."
"At least the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans will stay," Shikamaru stated firmly, his tired eyes showing renewed determination. "Our alliance goes back generations. We won't abandon Konoha."
Asuma studied his student carefully, noting the conviction in his voice. "Shikamaru... I appreciate your certainty, but you're not the clan head. Your father—"
"I know," Shikamaru cut in, his voice sharp before softening. "I know I'm not the clan head, Sensei. But I know our families. The Ino-Shika-Cho bond isn't just about tradition or convenience. It's about trust, loyalty..."
"He's right," Ino added, standing beside Shikamaru. "Our fathers would never abandon the village, especially not now."
Asuma wanted to believe them, but years of experience had taught him the harsh realities of ninja politics. "I hope you're right. But fear and self-preservation can make people act in unexpected ways. The clans might present a united front now, but as resources dwindle and tensions rise..."
"What should we do?" Kurenai asked, her crimson eyes meeting Asuma's.
"Watch carefully. Listen. Pay attention to which clans are stockpiling resources, which ones are sending out private messengers." Asuma's voice took on the tone he used when teaching crucial lessons. "And most importantly, strengthen the bonds we can trust. If the major clans start fracturing, Konoha won't survive what's coming."
"You mean Naruto," Shikamaru said quietly.
"Yes. Whatever he's planning, it's just another step in his larger strategy. And a divided Konoha is exactly what he needs."
"You really think some clans might leave?" she asked softly.
"I think," Asuma replied, watching the dust motes dance in the sunbeams streaming through the window, "that Naruto's attack didn't just damage our buildings and our forces. It shook the very foundations of what holds Konoha together. And the cracks..." he paused, closing his eyes, "the cracks are just beginning to show."
Asuma thought deeply about it and suddenly remembered something else his father taught him. "What about the clan heirs? How many were injured in all this?"
The room grew noticeably tenser. Shikamaru's shoulders slumped further.
"Hinata..." he began, his voice low. "She lost her right eye during the Chunin Exams, before everything went wrong. And Neji..." He paused, swallowing hard. "Neji's completely blind now. Lee... he went too far during their fight. Way too far."
"Damn it," Asuma cursed, his fists clenching the hospital sheets. "No wonder the Hyūga are hostile. Their heir and their prodigy, both..." He left the sentence unfinished.
"There's more," Shikamaru continued, his voice growing even quieter. "TenTen... she didn't make it."
"What happened?"
"According to Sakura and Sasuke's report, she died protecting Sakura during the chaos. She..." Shikamaru's voice caught slightly. "She protected Sakura when she was injured and she was stabbed in the back, and later died from blood loss."
Asuma closed his eyes, feeling the weight of each revelation. "And Guy? How's he handling his team?"
Ino spoke up, her voice trembling slightly. "He... he resigned as their Jonin sensei. He's completely withdrawn from his duties. Nobody's seen him training or even talking about youth anymore."
"Breaking Guy's spirit..." Asuma shook his head slowly. "I never thought I'd see the day. Losing TenTen, and then Lee going that far with Neji... it must have shattered something in him."
A heavy silence fell over the room, broken only by the distant sounds of construction outside.
"What about our financial situation?" Asuma asked, trying to focus on practical matters. "Are we still receiving missions?"
"The Fire Daimyo has sent funds for reconstruction, but..." Kurenai's voice trailed off.
"But it's not enough," Shikamaru cut in, his analytical mind already working through the numbers. "Based on our previous arrangements and the current situation, I estimate he's sending less than a quarter of what he should be providing."
Asuma's expression darkened. "That makes no sense. Without Konoha, the Land of Fire has no military strength. We're their only line of defense. What is the Daimyo thinking?"
"Maybe he's hedging his bets," Shikamaru suggested, his hands forming his thinking position. "If he believes Konoha might fall completely..."
"He might be already negotiating with other hidden villages," Asuma finished, his experience with politics showing. "But that's a dangerous game. None of the other villages have our history of loyalty to the Land of Fire."
"Could he be in contact with Naruto? Maybe trying to strike some kind of deal?" Ino guessed, not really understanding much about politics.
The suggestion sent a chill through the room. Asuma's face grew grave. "If he is, he's making a terrible mistake. Naruto's not interested in maintaining the current power structure. His 'OneLife Plan', whatever it is... it's about changing everything."
"The Daimyo might learn that too late," Shikamaru muttered. "By then, we might not have the resources to even defend ourselves, let alone help him."
"And with the clans potentially fracturing..." Kurenai added.
Asuma tried to sit up straighter, fighting through the pain. "We need to consolidate what we have. Every resource, every ally we can trust. Because if the Daimyo's support keeps dwindling and the clans start looking elsewhere..."
"Konoha is truly fucked," Shikamaru finished.
Asuma pushed himself up from the hospital bed, his muscles protesting with every movement.
"You shouldn't be moving yet," Kurenai said, her red eyes filled with concern as she moved to support him. "The medics said—"
"What the medics said doesn't matter right now," Asuma cut her off, his voice rough but determined. "I need to meet with the small council. After that, the clan heads."
He grimaced as he swung his legs over the side of the bed, his feet touching the cold floor. The familiar weight of his trench knives and cigarettes was absent, making him feel oddly vulnerable.
Shikamaru, who had been leaning against the wall, let out a short laugh. "How troublesome. You know what's ironic? All those years you spent avoiding your father's shadow, and here you are, acting just like him."
Asuma paused for a moment, then gave a pained smile. "Yeah, well..." he grunted as Kurenai helped him stand, one arm around his shoulders. "The old man might have had the right idea about some things. But I don't have time to think about that now."
"At least let me help you walk," Kurenai said softly, adjusting her grip as Asuma swayed slightly.
"Thanks," he muttered, taking a tentative step forward. His body screamed in protest, but his face remained set with determination. The village needed leadership, and with his father gone, it was time for another Sarutobi to step up.
Anko
The sterile hospital air assaulted Anko's nostrils before she even opened her eyes. Her trademark mesh bodysuit felt stiff and uncomfortable against her skin, replaced largely by standard hospital garments, though she could still feel the familiar weight of her tan overcoat draped over her shoulders.
"Ugh, I hate hospitals," she groaned, her throat feeling unusually dry.
"Well, still alive. Would be a shame to bury you." A familiar drawl came from her left.
Anko turned her head, wincing at the movement, to see Kakashi leaning against the stark white wall. His silver hair seemed duller than usual, and his standard jōnin uniform looked wrinkled, as if he'd been wearing it for days. Most notably, his hands were empty – no orange book in sight.
"No porn today, Hatake? Must be the end of the world," she attempted to smirk, but it turned into a grimace as her head throbbed. "Where's Naruto? He should be here telling me how troublesome I am for making him worry."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. Kakashi's visible eye hardened, his whole body tensing beneath his flak jacket.
Anko's survival instincts, honed through years of service, immediately picked up on the change. "What happened to him? Is he okay?"
Kakashi pushed himself off the wall, his hands deep in his pockets. "Anko... you've been unconscious for over a month."
"A month?" She tried to sit up, ignoring the protest from her muscles. Her purple hair, usually in its spiky ponytail, fell messily around her face. "That's impossible. I was just in the Forest of Death with..." Her eyes widened. "Orochimaru. He was there."
"The doctors found something in your bloodstream yesterday," Kakashi explained, his voice carefully neutral. "Some kind of compound keeping you under."
"Who would..." Anko's hand unconsciously went to her curse mark, but it wasn't there. It hadn't been since Naruto removed it, but she still touched the place often. "What happened to that snake bastard? Did he..."
"Orochimaru is dead," Kakashi stated flatly. "Naruto killed him."
Anko's face lit up with fierce pride. "He did? That's my boy! Always said he'd be something special. Though I bet he's sulking that I missed his big moment. Where is he? I need to properly congratulate him." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, but Kakashi's expression remained grave.
"Anko..." he started, but was interrupted by the door opening.
A medical-nin entered, clipboard in hand. "Mitarashi, you're awake! We need to run some tests—"
"Tests can wait," Anko cut him off, her playful demeanor vanishing. "Something's wrong. Kakashi, where is Naruto?"
The copy-nin shared a look with the medical-nin, who quietly excused himself and left the room.
"You're not telling me something," Anko's voice took on a dangerous edge. "What happened while I was out? Where's my boyfriend?"
Kakashi moved closer to her bed, his movements unusually hesitant. "What's the last thing you remember?"
"I was in the Forest of Death during the Chūnin Exams," she furrowed her brow, trying to piece together fragmented memories. "Orochimaru appeared... we fought... then nothing." She looked up at Kakashi. "Did something happen during the exams?"
"You could say that," Kakashi murmured, absently adjusting his hitai-ate. "Anko, there's no easy way to tell you this..."
"Then stop dancing around it," she snapped, her patience wearing thin. "Where is Naruto?"
Before Kakashi could answer, shouting erupted from the hallway. They could hear Asuma's voice carrying from another room: "What do you mean he's heading to Iwagakure?"
Anko's eyes narrowed. "Iwagakure? What would Naruto be doing there?"
"Building an army," Kakashi said quietly, his eye meeting hers. "Against the world."
The words didn't make sense to Anko at first. She stared at Kakashi, waiting for the punchline, for him to pull out his book and tell her it was all a bad joke. But his solemn expression didn't change.
"That's not funny, Hatake," she said, her voice low and dangerous.
"No, it's not," he agreed. "Naruto has turned against Konoha. He attacked the village during the Chūnin Exams final. Hundreds are dead, including the Third Hokage."
The room seemed to spin around Anko. "No," she whispered. "No, you're lying. Naruto wouldn't... he couldn't..."
"He did," Kakashi's voice was gentle but firm. "After everything went to shit when Suna attacked, he revealed his true intentions. He has some plan he calls 'OneLife' – we don't know exactly what it means, but he's convinced it's the only way forward."
Anko's hands gripped the hospital sheets so tightly her knuckles turned white. "The compound in my blood..."
"We think he's the one who administered it," Kakashi confirmed. "To keep you out of the fight, maybe to protect you in his own way."
A choked laugh escaped Anko's throat. "Protect me? By keeping me unconscious while he..." She couldn't finish the sentence. The room felt too small, too confining. The weight of her coat suddenly felt suffocating.
"I need to see it," she demanded. "Show me what he did."
"You're not strong enough yet—"
"Show me!" she snarled.
Kakashi studied her for a long moment before nodding. He moved to help her up, but she swatted his hand away, forcing herself to stand on shaky legs. Her overcoat slipped off one shoulder as she stumbled to the window.
The sight that greeted her stole her breath away. Where there should have been familiar rooftops and bustling streets, there were now construction zones and temporary shelters. The Hokage Monument, which should have borne four faces, was partially destroyed; only the face of the first Hokage remained, and even that one was cracked and about to fall.
"No," she breathed, pressing her hand against the glass. "No, no, no..."
Her legs gave out, but Kakashi caught her before she hit the floor. She didn't resist this time as he helped her back to the bed.
"Why?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "Why would he do this?"
Kakashi pulled up a chair beside her bed. "That's what we're trying to figure out. Whatever his reasons, whatever this 'OneLife Plan' is, he believes in it enough to sacrifice everything – including his relationship with you."
Anko lay back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling. She thought of Naruto's bright smile, his determination, his promises to her. She thought of their late-night talks about changing the world, making it better. Had she missed something? Had there been signs?
"When you find him," she said finally, her voice hard, "I want to be there."
"Anko—"
"I need to hear it from him," she cut him off. "I need to look him in the eyes and hear him tell me why he betrayed everything we..." her voice cracked slightly, "everything we had."
"Anko, I really think you need to rest for a moment-"
"Tell me everything," Anko demanded, her fingers digging into the hospital sheets.
Kakashi adjusted his position in the chair, his flak jacket creaking slightly. "It started during the finals. Suna launched an invasion, coordinated with Orochimaru's attack on the Third."
"And Naruto?" Anko's voice wavered slightly on his name.
"At first, he fought against Suna's forces. We all thought..." Kakashi paused, his visible eye distant. "Then he revealed the Rinnegan."
Anko's breath caught in her throat. "The what?"
"You didn't know?" Kakashi's eye sharpened, studying her reaction. "He had the Rinnegan, Anko. The legendary dōjutsu of the Sage of Six Paths."
"That's impossible," Anko whispered. "He never... we were together for months. He never showed..."
"He kept it well hidden," Kakashi continued, his wrinkled uniform suggesting many sleepless nights. "But that wasn't even the most shocking part. He used some kind of massive jutsu to communicate with every chakra-sensitive person in the world simultaneously."
"What did he say?" Anko asked, dreading the answer.
"Wait, are you saying you didn't hear him?" Kakashi asked, leaning closer.
"How could I have heard him when I was busy sleeping?" She retorted, but Kakashi's face remained serious.
"Well, so far even those sleeping when it happened report they still heard his speech in their dreams, so are you sure you didn't dream his speech?"
"...No." She didn't sound sure herself. She tried to remember, thinking she might have forgotten, but she couldn't remember anything. "...I don't remember him speaking in my dream." she finally added.
Kakashi found that quite strange, wondering if Naruto had done something to make sure Anko would not hear it.
"Well...He declared his intention to conquer the world," Kakashi's voice was heavy. "He said the shinobi system had caused too much suffering, too much pain. That it needed to end, and he would be the one to end it."
Anko remembered late-night conversations with Naruto, his passionate arguments about the flaws in the shinobi world. She had thought they were just dreams, idealistic musings. "Did you try to stop him?"
"I tried talking to him," Kakashi's hand clenched on his knee. "I thought maybe, as his big brother in all but blood... but he wasn't interested in discussion. He took me down like I was a fresh genin. Guy too, and Naruto wasn't even using the Gates. Hundreds of our best shinobi fell before him."
"The power of the Rinnegan," Anko murmured, her tactical mind already working despite her emotional turmoil.
"I was unconscious for the rest, but from what I've heard, he confronted the Raikage. Could have killed him, but let him retreat instead." Kakashi's eye met Anko's. "Then he killed Orochimaru and the Third."
"Killed the Third?" Anko's voice cracked. "But...but why. I know Naruto never spoke highly of him, but I never thought he would..."
"Whatever this 'OneLife Plan' is, it's changed him," Kakashi said softly. "Or maybe revealed who he really was all along."
Anko shook her head violently, her purple hair whipping around her face. "No. I knew him. I knew his heart. This doesn't make sense."
"Did you?" Kakashi asked gently. "He hid the Rinnegan from you. What else might he have hidden?"
Anko fell silent, memories flooding her mind. Naruto's distant looks sometimes when he thought she wasn't watching. The way he would change the subject when certain topics came up. The nights he would disappear and return with a strange look in his eyes.
"I need to know more about this 'OneLife Plan'," she said finally, her voice turning hard.
"He better have a damn good explanation for this," she whispered to the empty room, her hand unconsciously touching her lips where she could still remember their last kiss. "Because if you don't... if this is really who you are..." She left the threat unfinished, unsure if she could even complete it.
"Who's protecting the village now?" Anko asked, sounding defeated.
"Ironically," Kakashi let out a humorless chuckle, adjusting his crooked hitai-ate, "ROOT. Danzō's men are our main defense force right now."
"Danzō?" Anko's lips curled in disgust, her hospital gown rustling as she shifted. "Never thought we'd be relying on that war hawk."
"Neither did I," Kakashi agreed, his standard-issue sandals scuffing against the floor. "Every able-bodied builder in Konoha is working on reconstruction. Yamato's been working himself to exhaustion, using Wood Style to rebuild essential structures, but..."
"But it's not enough," Anko finished, pushing herself up from the bed. "Well, I've had more than enough beauty sleep. We need to find Naruto."
Kakashi's visible eye darkened. "We've tried. The scouts we sent..." he trailed off meaningfully.
"Dead?"
"Most likely. None have returned."
Anko steadied herself against the wall, her mesh bodysuit catching the morning light. "Where's Jiraiya in all this? Surely that old pervert isn't sitting this out?"
"He was here last week," Kakashi said, his wrinkled jōnin uniform suggesting he hadn't changed in days. "He's gone to find Tsunade. Wants to bring her back as Hokage, thinks it might boost morale."
A harsh laugh escaped Anko's throat. "Tsunade? The Legendary Sucker who abandoned the village? Those are some long odds, even for a gambling addict like her."
"Jiraiya seems confident," Kakashi shrugged, though his tone suggested he shared her skepticism.
"Jiraiya was also confident about Naruto," Anko's voice turned bitter. "Look how that turned out."
The room fell silent except for the distant sounds of construction. Anko took a tentative step forward, then another, forcing her body to remember how to move.
"You should rest more," Kakashi suggested, though he made no move to stop her.
"I've rested enough," Anko growled, her fingers flexing as if missing her kunai. "My... Naruto is out there somewhere, planning who knows what, and I'm done lying in bed."
She reached the window, pressing her palm against the glass. Outside, she could see ROOT members in their blank masks patrolling the streets.
"When Jiraiya returns," she said, her breath fogging the glass, "successful or not, I want to join whatever team goes after Naruto."
"Anko—"
"Don't," she cut him off, turning to face him. "Don't tell me I'm too emotionally involved. Don't tell me it's too dangerous. I need to face him."
Kakashi studied her for a long moment, his hands deep in his pockets. "And what will you do when you find him?"
Anko's hand unconsciously went to her non-existent curse mark. "I don't know," she admitted quietly. But I need to understand. I need to hear it from his own lips. Why he keep the Rinnegan secret. Why he..." she swallowed hard, "why he kept me asleep instead of letting me choose."
"And if you don't like his answers?"
"Then I'll do what needs to be done," she said, her voice hardening. "Just like I would have with Orochimaru, if I'd had the chance."
The parallel wasn't lost on either of them – another student turning against everything they stood for, another betrayal by someone she had trusted. But this time, the betrayal cut deeper, reached places in her heart she hadn't even known existed until Naruto had found them.
"I'll talk to the council," Kakashi said finally. "But you need to get your strength back first. No arguments," he added as she opened her mouth to protest. "You won't help anyone if you collapse in the middle of a fight."
Anko nodded reluctantly, knowing he was right but hating it. She watched as another group of ROOT members passed below her window.
"Naruto," she whispered, too quietly for Kakashi to hear, "what are you really planning? And why..." her fingers pressed harder against the glass, "why didn't you trust me enough to tell me?"
Tanzaku Quarters
The group made their way through Tanzaku Quarters, their presence drawing curious glances from locals. Naruto led them, dressed in simple civilian clothes – a white shirt, black pants, and casual sandals. His choice of attire was deliberate, a statement that he had moved beyond the shinobi system. His Rinnegan was visible to everyone who passed by, he was no longer trying to hide his power.
Pakura walked closest to him, her green and orange hair styled in a distinctive fashion. She wore a sleeveless, backless top and short shorts with mesh armor underneath.
"My lord," she spoke softly but clearly, "our intelligence suggests Tsunade spends her days drinking and gambling away whatever money she can find. Is someone like that really worth your time?"
Fū descended slightly, her wings fluttering with concern. "That sounds terrible... drinking and gambling to escape pain. No one should have to suffer alone like that." She said with a smile as she clasped her hands together. "We have to help her, don't we, Naruto?"
"She's right about the gambling part," Fuuka chimed in playfully, adjusting her elaborate kimono. "Though watching a legendary sucker lose might be entertaining."
Gaara walked silently beside them, his gourd of sand strapped to his back, while Karin stayed close, monitoring their surroundings with her sensory abilities.
Roshi brought up the rear, his red armor and beard making him stand out even in this eclectic group.
High above them, concealed on a rooftop, Jiraiya watched his former student with a heavy heart.
Naruto stopped walking, turning to face his followers. His presence commanded attention, making several civilians step back instinctively.
"Tsunade's current state is precisely why we need to act now," his voice carried an authority.
"Like you helped all of us," Fū added softly, her usually cheerful demeanor tempered by genuine concern. "Everyone deserves a chance to heal."
Naruto continued, "She's powerful, potentially the greatest medical-nin in history, and right now she's wasting that potential drowning in sake and debt."
He smiled, but it wasn't the warm smile his companions had seen in private moments. This was the smile of someone who knew they held all the cards.
"I'm going to offer her something she can't refuse. Something that will give her a reason to live again, to fight again." His eyes swept over his followers. "We need someone of her abilities for what's coming. The OneLife Plan requires the best, and despite her current state, Tsunade is still the best."
Fū's wings drooped slightly. "I hope she'll listen. It's not easy to reach someone who's lost their way... but we have to try, don't we?"
Pakura bowed her head slightly. "Of course, my lord. I should not have questioned your judgment."
"Questions are good, Pakura," Naruto's voice softened slightly. "They help us all understand our purpose better."
"As long as they're not boring questions," Fuuka added with a smirk, earning an eye roll from Karin.
From his vantage point, Jiraiya's fists clenched as he watched the scene unfold.
"Let's find our wayward Sannin," Naruto commanded, turning back toward the gambling districts. "I believe she has an appointment with destiny she doesn't even know about yet."
"I'll do my best to help," Fū said determinedly, her wings spreading with renewed purpose. "Everyone deserves a chance at happiness."
The group resumed their walk through the town, the crowds parting before them like water around stones. As they disappeared into the crowd, Jiraiya remained motionless, torn between following them and rushing to warn Tsunade.
Jiraiya knew he would have to fight soon enough, and he figured it was about time he used Sage Mode.
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