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Jōmae Village.
Compared to when Gensou first arrived over two years ago, the village hadn't flourished; instead, it had become more desolate.
Of course, this wasn't due to Gensou's poor governance. In reality, most of the true Jōmae Village had already relocated to the fortress in the sky.
Upon receiving intelligence from Samui and under Gensou's instruction, the remaining villagers had now moved to the sky as well.
"Leader-sama, the relocation of the experimental base has been successfully completed, and all traces have been thoroughly erased."
On the new Jōmae Village above, Hanare, still as youthful and charming as ever, dressed in a ninja outfit, approached Gensou and softly reported.
Gensou nodded and glanced down below. "Are there any of our people left on the ground?"
Hanare replied, "A squad of the village's security team is finishing up the final tasks. Oh, and Sasuke is with them."
Gensou understood. The so-called security squad was a defensive force in Jōmae Village, similar to Konoha's security force. Most of the Uchiha in Jōmae Village had joined the security squad, continuing their old profession.
Though Sasuke mainly focused on training, knowing he couldn't live off others for free, he had also joined the security squad, completing some missions and contributing over the past year.
"Notify those on the ground to rendezvous at the designated location once they finish up. The airborne fortress will depart now; it's time to move to our new home," Gensou ordered.
The intelligence he had just received indicated that a joint team from Konoha and Iwa was swiftly approaching Jōmae Village, with a clear objective. They would arrive soon.
Although the airborne fortress had stealth capabilities, it couldn't underestimate the various strange techniques of the shinobi world. To avoid exposure, Gensou decided to move the fortress now and complete the main mission that had been on standby for a long time.
As for Sasuke, with his current strength, few in the shinobi world could stop him, so there was nothing to worry about.
"Leader-sama, there are other Uchiha members in the ground security squad," Hanare reminded.
Gensou waved his hand dismissively, unconcerned. "The Uchiha clan will eventually return to the shinobi world, sooner or later."
The journey to the Land of Fire over a year ago had already made the shinobi world suspect that other Uchiha members still existed. Now, it would only confirm those suspicions.
In any case, the Uchiha's revenge would soon begin. Sasuke and Itachi would be the central figures, but the other Uchiha members, burdened with pain and hatred, would also join the fray. Therefore, there was no longer a need for secrecy. It would merely make Konoha feel more bitter.
Soon, under Gensou's orders, the power source of the airborne fortress was activated, propelling it toward its predetermined destination, leaving only the squad with Sasuke to finish up.
At the same time, eight figures were swiftly moving through the forest, drawing closer to Jōmae Village.
At one point, one of them suddenly looked up, staring curiously at the clear sky.
Beside him, a short-haired girl with pink hair noticed and asked in confusion, "What's wrong, Naruto?"
"Nothing. I just felt like there was something up there... I must be imagining things, haha," Naruto, who had grown taller and more muscular, scratched his head with a grin.
Sakura glanced at the sky and then back at Naruto.
She had thought that Naruto, who had changed so much after not seeing him for a long time, would be more dependable now. However, memories of the past came flooding back.
Crack!
Sakura clenched her fist and sternly warned, "Naruto, don't mess up this time. We finally have news of Sasuke. We can't afford to miss him again!"
Hearing Sasuke's name, Naruto immediately straightened up and nodded firmly, "I swear, I'll bring Sasuke back this time!"
The last time they heard news about Sasuke was over a year ago when he caused havoc at the Fire Temple and the Tsuchigumo clan. At the time, Naruto had been training with Jiraiya and only found out a week after the event, by which time it was too late to pursue him.
Determined to get stronger, Naruto pushed himself even harder in training, hoping to earn Jiraiya's approval and continue searching for Sasuke. This was why he had returned to the village several months earlier than in the original timeline.
Luckily, soon after his return, Naruto received a mission related to Sasuke. This time, their mission was to secretly investigate Jōmae Village in the Land of Keys, where Sasuke was hiding. The mission had been designated by the investigation department, and Team 7 was working with a team from Iwa.
Naruto recognized the leader of the Iwa team, Kurotsuchi, whom he had met during the Five Kage Summit. She wasn't much older than him and was now a jōnin. The other three members were jōnin Akatsuchi, jōnin Bunya, and chūnin Ichiha.
Due to the recent disappearance of a jōnin from Iwa in the Land of Keys, Iwa had dispatched an unusually strong team.
Their own side wasn't lacking either. Captain Yamato, who was temporarily leading Team 7 and specialized in Mokuton, had been promoted to chūnin. Then there was Sakura, now also a chūnin and Tsunade's disciple, and Sai, who had recently joined and always wore a fake smile. And then... himself.
Uh... why am I still the only genin?
Naruto scratched his head, feeling frustrated.
At that moment, Sai, who had been trying to smile genuinely but still didn't know how, chimed in with a fake smile, "You two might have forgotten, but Uchiha Sasuke is now an S-rank missing-nin from Konoha. If we find him, the first order for Konoha shinobi is to kill him. Bringing him back to the village won't make much of a difference."
Sakura: "..."
Naruto: "..."
"What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?" Sai, recalling what the Konoha Missing-nin Handling Manual stated, was confused by the blank stares from Naruto and Sakura.
As one of the few survivors from Root who had been on a mission outside when the base was destroyed, Sai had been idle for a while. After Root's disbandment, he was absorbed into the ANBU to continue serving Konoha. Due to the shortage in Team 7, Tsunade had reassigned Sai from ANBU to fill the gap.
Though he still lacked social skills, Sai swore he was genuinely trying to learn and meant no harm. He had only been telling the truth.
So why did Naruto and Sakura suddenly look so upset?
Sai was utterly perplexed.
At the front of the group, Yamato, who had left the ANBU to temporarily lead Team 7 due to Kakashi being on another mission, glanced back at his teammates, feeling a strange tension in the air. He sighed.
He had a feeling that his first time leading a team was going to be challenging.
(End of Chapter)
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In an awkward silence, Naruto's firm declaration broke through:
"Sasuke… is our comrade! I will bring him back! When the time comes, I'll plead for him with Granny Tsunade. Everything will go back to how it was. It will!"
"That's right!" Sakura, whose thoughts had grown heavy moments ago, nodded emphatically in agreement.
"Is that even possible?" Sai asked, looking genuinely surprised.
But seeing Naruto pounding his chest in assurance, he could only admit his own ignorance.
Just then, a chuckle echoed from nearby. Naruto turned to look and saw it was Kurotsuchi. Compared to their encounter during the Five Kage Summit, she had grown taller.
However...
Although Naruto had ghostwritten for Jiraiya's popular Icha Icha novels, becoming a rising star among male readers, and had even developed the Harem Technique, he had no indecent thoughts towards girls other than the one he liked.
Looking at Kurotsuchi, he was simply confused and asked, "What's so funny, Shirotsuchi? Oh right, with such fair skin, your name is Shirotsuchi, right?"
Kurotsuchi's face darkened instantly.
'This guy hasn't changed at all since the Five Kage Summit. Still just as clueless,' she thought, taking a deep breath before responding, "Although I appreciate the compliment about my fair skin, my name is Kurotsuchi, Naruto."
Realizing his mistake, Naruto quickly apologized, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
Seeing his genuine apology, Kurotsuchi's expression softened slightly. Answering Naruto's earlier question, she said, "I was just laughing at how naive you all are, like little kids."
"Calling me a kid again…"
Naruto was about to respond, recalling how Kurotsuchi had called him the same thing during the Five Kage Summit, when her next words made his expression change.
"It's been two years, and you're still so naive, Naruto. Do you really think this is some kind of game? Uchiha Sasuke is now an S-rank missing-nin from Konoha, and that fact won't change. He's not coming back with you."
"If you're not prepared to kill him the moment you see him, I'd advise you Konoha brats to turn around and go back to the village. Otherwise, you might lose your lives and drag us down with you."
Kurotsuchi's words were blunt.
She didn't understand how Konoha had trained Naruto and his friends to be this way. But now, they were her teammates. If they couldn't face reality and hesitated in battle, it would only lead to disaster for her team.
"Kill Sasuke…"
Naruto was about to protest when Yamato suddenly appeared by his side, placing a hand on his shoulder to stop him. With a serious expression, Yamato said, "Don't forget that our main mission is to investigate Jōmae Village. We should avoid unnecessary fights if possible. As for Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, as Konoha shinobi, I hope you focus on the mission."
Faced with Yamato's rare stern gaze, both Naruto and Sakura nodded silently.
Seeing this, Yamato turned to Kurotsuchi and said, "Rest assured, Kurotsuchi, the Konoha shinobi know what they need to do."
"Alright then." Kurotsuchi shrugged, letting the matter drop. After all, the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki was a powerful ally, as long as he knew his role.
Though she had teased Naruto for his naivety, in truth, if she had a friend like him, she would be happy too.
Unfortunately, her childhood friend, Deidara, had abandoned everything, including the prestigious position of Tsuchikage's disciple and even her, for his obsession with art. To this day, Kurotsuchi found it unbelievable and often wondered if Deidara's head was filled entirely with explosives.
With that brief internal conflict resolved, the joint team of Konoha and Iwa continued their silent advance toward Jōmae Village.
As they passed over a steel bridge spanning a canyon, both Naruto and Sakura remembered this place from when Sasuke had passed through and fought alongside Kakashi-sensei. They also recalled Kakashi's rumored girlfriend and, most importantly, their time fighting side by side with Sasuke.
Crossing the bridge, Naruto, who had been deep in thought, approached Yamato and spoke in a low voice, "Captain Yamato."
Yamato turned to look at him.
Naruto asked quietly, "Is that really how the village feels about Sasuke?"
Yamato was silent for a moment before replying, "Naruto, remember, you're a Konoha shinobi."
Naruto hung his head.
Naturally kind-hearted, Yamato couldn't help but feel for Naruto. After thinking for a moment, he patted Naruto on the shoulder and smiled warmly, "Naruto, if you don't want to have any regrets, then keep growing. Grow until you're so strong that no one can ignore you. Then, when you speak, people will listen."
Though he had only been with Naruto for a short time, Yamato quickly grew fond of the boy who had been shunned and hated by so many in the village but had never succumbed to darkness. Naruto had remained cheerful and slowly but surely changed the perceptions of those around him through his actions.
As the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, Yamato believed Naruto had the potential to achieve what he had just said.
"Yeah!!" Naruto nodded firmly, his determination reignited.
Returning to Sakura's side, Naruto raised his hand, clenching it into a fist, and declared, "I won't give up on bringing Sasuke back. That's my nindō! Of course, like Kurotsuchi and Captain Yamato said, for everyone's safety, if I have to break Sasuke's arms and legs, I'll do it."
"Naruto…"
At that moment, Sakura realized how much Naruto had truly grown.
He had grown to a level that even she couldn't reach.
But she was no longer the girl who only cried.
So…
"Naruto, let's both do our best."
Sakura tightened her gloves and smiled brightly.
Beside them, Sai, watching Naruto and Sakura's shifting emotions, couldn't quite understand. Human emotions were so complicated.
'Maybe I should buy a book on emotional intelligence when I get back,' he thought.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The team swiftly crossed the steel bridge, moving through the forest and over hills with stealth and speed.
Ten minutes later, a glimpse of a building belonging to the secret village of Jōmae came into view, nestled within the forest and hills.
As the nominal leader of this mission, Yamato raised his hand, and the team instantly came to a halt.
With everyone watching, Yamato approached a large tree, pressing his hand against it. Using Mokuton, he began to sense everything within the surrounding forest.
(End of Chapter)
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