Chapter 204 – Can We Survive These Three Years?
"Arrghhh! Why did it fail again?!"
"But you taught me this way, didn't you?!"
"Damn it! How could this happen?!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please stop yelling at me!"
Inside one of Konoha's training grounds, Naruto was shouting to himself, acting out both sides of a conversation. His antics made Jiraiya cover his face in embarrassment. Kakashi sat off to the side with a long-suffering expression, while Sasuke simply stared blankly at Kitagawa Gen.
"Senpai, what's wrong with that guy?" Sasuke asked.
"That one? Just think of him as… not quite right in the head."
Kitagawa Gen, leaning against a tree, let out a quiet laugh as he glanced at Naruto's ever-shifting expressions. His true body had already returned to Konoha; his Divine Tree clone on the moon was more than enough to handle things there. And besides, the rematch of the Chūnin Exams was about to begin—something he definitely didn't want to miss.
"I see."
Sasuke nodded earnestly, which made Kakashi's forehead twitch in irritation.
"Hey, Gen, don't you think that's a bit harsh?"
After all, Naruto carried the souls of his teacher and teacher's wife inside him. Wasn't this going too far?
"I don't think it's harsh at all. Just look at him."
Gen gestured lazily at Naruto and sighed.
"And honestly… is he even suited for the Flying Thunder God? Is it really that hard to learn? If that pervy sage hadn't wasted so much of my time, I probably would've learned it even faster."
"..."
Kakashi fell silent. Come to think of it, the Flying Thunder God really had been one of the slower techniques for Gen to master…
"But still, is it really fair to compare Naruto to you?"
Gen only chuckled without answering. Some questions were better left alone. Instead, he turned toward Sasuke.
"Your match is tomorrow. You confident?"
"Yes, senpai!"
Sasuke's eyes sharpened with resolve.
"Good. Show us what you've got."
"I won't let you down!"
"..."
Kakashi glanced away, unable to focus on his book anymore. Sasuke had trained under him for so long, yet showed more respect toward Gen than his own teacher. Was Konoha's education system already this broken?
"He'll be fine in the exam," Gen said, "but you'd better think about his training afterward. I can't take care of everything."
Kakashi sighed.
"You're too lazy, Kakashi-sensei." Gen gave him a sidelong glance before rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Though you're right—Sasuke's training can't be neglected. Without Orochimaru around, things are a bit… complicated. By the way, what do you think of the Second Hokage?"
Kakashi froze. His stare made even Gen raise an eyebrow.
"Uh, Kakashi-sensei, you're looking at me weird."
"Then tell me—what kind of person was the Second?" Kakashi asked, rolling his eye. Sasuke blinked, confused why the conversation had suddenly jumped to Tobirama.
"Strict?"
"Reliable!"
"Cold-blooded?"
"Calm!"
"Scheming?"
"Wise!"
"Dictatorial?"
"Independent-minded!"
Kakashi rubbed his temples. Technically, none of those answers were wrong… but Gen sure had a way of putting them bluntly. What unsettled him most was how Gen's eyes lit up with interest.
"And he loved research…"
Just like Orochimaru. Far too much like him. And with Sasuke's resemblance to Uchiha Izuna, Tobirama's old rival…
"Why do I feel like you're plotting something dangerous?" Kakashi muttered.
Gen blinked, then shook his head. "Nothing like that. Just thinking about how to train Sasuke."
"Don't mess with me—you're definitely up to something."
"Relax, Kakashi-sensei. I know what I'm doing." Gen smiled, then added almost casually:
"By the way, remember my suggestion? You still haven't tried it, have you?"
"...What suggestion?"
"Stuffing explosive tags into your Kamui, of course. You're not seriously that stingy, are you?"
"..."
"Or at least throw in something gross to annoy people. Like… say, your graduation photo. Tear out Obito's half and leave the rest!"
"..."
Kakashi felt utterly drained. How had Konoha's education collapsed this badly in just over a decade?
Before he could answer, Jiraiya returned with a slumped Naruto. "What are you three whispering about? And Kakashi, what's with that look on your face?"
"Nothing…" Kakashi muttered, embarrassed.
Gen, however, perked up.
"Done training already? How did Naruto do?"
Both Jiraiya and Naruto sighed in unison. The results were obvious.
"Not great," Jiraiya admitted after a pause. "But good enough to get him through this round of the exams. And he's got time. I believe he'll only keep getting better."
"Of course," Gen said with a nod. He glanced at Naruto, who still looked dejected.
"Cheer up, Naruto. You've done well already."
"..."
Naruto bit his lip, unsure how to respond.
"Everyone has things they're good at and things they're not," Gen continued gently. "Right now you've just run into something that isn't your strength. Remember the story I told you about Might Guy?"
"I remember…"
"Then you should also remember his secret: faith and perseverance. Every shinobi faces setbacks. What matters is whether you get knocked down—or whether you stand back up and keep going. I'm curious… which kind will you be?"
Naruto froze, then clenched his fists. His dream wasn't just to be Hokage anymore—he had more reasons to keep moving forward.
"Same goes for you, Sasuke. Now and in the future. What about you?"
"Don't worry, senpai. I'll never let you down. I carry the Uchiha's burden—I won't forget."
"And I won't either!" Naruto suddenly shouted, fire blazing in his eyes. "Because my goal… is to be Hokage!"
Kakashi and Jiraiya exchanged a knowing smile. Even the Fourth Hokage and Kushina, watching within Naruto, nodded. Gen was already showing the dignity of a Hokage himself… though it was a shame for Naruto. Still, the village would grow stronger.
"Good spirit," Gen said approvingly. Then his face hardened.
"Now then—aren't you two forgetting something?"
"...Something?"
"My book. Jiraiya's Make-Out Paradise. The copy I left lying around."
Naruto and Sasuke went stiff.
"You've finished it, right?"
"..."
"Well? Was it good?"
"..."
"Then hand it back."
Kakashi and Jiraiya both buried their faces in their hands. They hadn't known about this at all. Sasuke wanted to strangle Naruto. Naruto, meanwhile, wanted to dig his own grave. In his mind, Kushina's fiery red hair was already flaring with rage…
Gen only laughed at the chaos.
"I wonder if Naruto and Sasuke can really survive the next three years."
---
Meanwhile, in the Land of Rain, within the Akatsuki's base—
"Any progress?" Uchiha Obito asked quietly. Black Zetsu's voice was calm.
"I've found something… but it needs more investigation."
"Investigation?"
"Yes. The Sage of Six Paths left behind something for the Uchiha. Then what about the Senju?"
"The Senju…?" Obito froze. He had never considered that possibility before. But the more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. He had read the Uchiha Stone Tablet himself. If the Uchiha had such a legacy, surely the Senju did as well.
"You found traces?"
"Clues, yes. But I need time. What's hidden is well-hidden. And with Kitagawa Gen in Konoha, I can't act recklessly."
"Gen, huh…" Obito nodded grimly. He knew better than to underestimate him.
"Then time is what we'll need."
"Exactly. But I already have a direction. Once I find it, I'll report to you immediately. If it's like the Uchiha Stone Tablet, I won't be able to read it myself."
"...I see. Then tell me when you do. I'm curious as well."
Obito couldn't hide his interest. Ever since that so-called Ōtsutsuki Genshiki had stabbed Zetsu, his suspicions had deepened. But for now—and likely for the foreseeable future—he still needed Zetsu's cooperation. Without him, too much would stall.
With a sigh, Obito softened his tone. "I'll be counting on you."
"It's nothing. But for now, we should lie low," Zetsu replied. Seeing Obito finally steady, he relaxed as well.
"Even though Nagato has recovered, even stronger than before, the damage was too severe. The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path needs time to heal."
"How long?"
"Two years… maybe three to be safe."
"Three years…"
"Yes. That's why we must prepare carefully. Orochimaru is also badly injured."
Obito frowned. He hated to admit it, but they did need Orochimaru. His survival skills were absurd, but even he required time to recover. And they needed his research into Edo Tensei. Their losses had been too great.
"Then we'll give him time. You're right—we can't afford more losses."
"Exactly. As for Kumogakure… it's finished. Kitagawa Gen crushed them, and they were struck by Ōtsutsuki Genshiki as well. Their fall is already fact."
Black Zetsu had already prepared a plan. He spoke calmly:
"Konoha has entered a fragile state. Even if there's resentment, they'll choose compromise and negotiation. That's our chance."
"The resentment of losers, huh…"
Obito let out a sigh, then shook his head with scorn.
"Tch. Have we really fallen so low… that we're forced to cooperate with losers?"
We're losers ourselves, you know.
Black Zetsu couldn't help but sigh inwardly. How had they reached this point?
The great Akatsuki organization had degenerated into a ragtag troupe, a shadow of its former self. It was almost laughable.
"Relax. Even losers can stage a comeback," Black Zetsu said, offering a rare word of comfort.
"Three years. That's all we need. Once we've recovered, once we've grown stronger… I believe we'll succeed."
"That's right. Neither Kitagawa Gen nor that Ōtsutsuki Genshiki will matter when we have the Ten Tails and the Infinite Tsukuyomi."
Obito clenched his fists, speaking in a low voice.
"I still believe… we'll win in the end."
"Yes. We'll win," Black Zetsu echoed with a nod. After all, he had already set the pieces in motion. Once he finished cleaning up his "old work," he intended to guide Kitagawa Gen—perhaps even throw him a few benefits within the next three years. The stronger Gen grew, the better weapon he would become against Ōtsutsuki Genshiki.
That chakra surge from the moon last time… it felt just like Mother's. Was it her?
A spark of unease flickered in Black Zetsu's mind, but he quickly dismissed it. If it truly were Kaguya, he would have vanished long ago.
Still, he hated waiting. But there was no choice.
Three years. Just endure three years… and everything will return to normal. Then I'll finally be able to free Mother.
He whispered the thought like a mantra, steeling his resolve.
"I'll go check on Nagato. The investigation into Konoha… I'll leave it to you. Hopefully, these three years will pass quickly," Obito said as he prepared to leave.
"Three years is nothing. Just the blink of an eye."
The words slipped out before Black Zetsu could stop himself. His chest tightened—had Obito noticed? Thankfully, he seemed unconcerned.
Three years meant little to him. He had waited so long already, clinging to his dream of a "world of peace." What was three more years in comparison?
"Hmm?"
But just as he opened Kamui's dimension, something felt wrong.
BOOM!
A violent explosion thundered within Kamui's space. Obito was hurled out like a ragdoll, his body wreathed in flames. One arm had been blown clean off. Stunned for an instant, he then erupted into a furious roar:
"DAMN YOU, KAKASHI! I should've known you'd stoop this low!"
"No wonder you raised that despicable brat, Kitagawa Gen!"
"You're all worthless scum! You deserve to die!"
Black Zetsu stared at the smoldering wreck that was Obito, his mouth twitching uncontrollably. Only one thought surfaced in his mind.
…Are we really going to survive these three years?