49 Start of the Fourth Shinobi War - 49
"So you are saying that the Fourth Shinobi War is coming soon?" Tsunade asked Naruto.
Naruto nodded his head. He had already received news of Akatsuki planning to attack on Killer Bee soon, and he knew the war would start soon after. Since Itachi hasn't died and Sasuke hasn't joined Akatsuki, Itachi and Kisame will probably be deployed.
"Yes, my spies have told me that soon Akatsuki is planning on attacking Kumogakure (Cloud Village)."
With a confused expression, Tsunade asked, "So… How is it connected to the Fourth Ninja War?"
Naruto thought for a while and said, "Akatsuki is planning on combining all nine-tailed beasts into Ten-tails, but that doesn't just end there."
Naruto then said with a serious expression, "Call everyone. It's time to know what really happens in the dark."
Tsunade got more curious but didn't question and said, "So why are you not letting me inform Kumo that someone might attack them?"
Naruto said, "Always remember, Tsunade, this is a ruthless world, and one must be ruthless to cope with it. Kushina and Hyuga incident… Kumo dares think they can do whatever they want… we need to show them that Konoha is still the number 1. So let them suffer and come to beg us."
Naruto wanted Tsunade to be more proactive. So he tried to be philosophical by giving her a quote from Charlie Chaplin, and of course, one needs to leave after saying something cool to leave an impact.
Teleporting is an easier way of traveling, and it doesn't even dent his unlimited chakra, but Naruto sometimes likes to take a walk. While walking, he smiled, thinking about getting rid of a pest.
…
╔ Flashback- ╗
"*Glup* that pervert, how can he die?" Came a drunk voice.
"*Hic* Even though he is a pervert, he was still my teammate. I-I shouldn't have sent him to that mission. *Hic* He died b-because of m-me.*Sniff*."
Naruto couldn't help but sigh, looking at the drunk woman in his arms. He knew that he was the reason that made his women sad.
"*sigh* Listen… I am sorry (but not sorry); I suggested sending someone to investigate Amegakure. If-" He was cut off by Tsunade, who hugged him hurriedly.
"NO! Naruto-kun. *sniff* You are not wrong. It's just that…. I knew death is common, being a Shinobi. I should have been mature, and I know that wherever Jiraiya is, he wants me to be happy and not be depressed." Tsunade said.
'Well, I don't really care… it's good that Tsunade will stop being depressed.' Naruto thought.
In the early morning, Tsunade got the news of Jiraiya dying. But, weirdly, the news was not brought by a summoned frog. No, it was brought by one of his Root spies in Amegakure.
He was informed Jiraiya wrote something on the frog's back, but Pein killed it.
╚ Flashback -Ends ╝
…
⪼ In Kumai Dimension ⪻
Standing next to each other, Naruto looked towards Killua, who looked emotionless as always.
"So it's time, ha?" the white-haired person said.
Naruto narrowed his eyes and questioned, "Yes, Killua. So your time is done… and you aren't even going to fight back?"
Killua chucked "*Chuckle* While I am only 30% of your soul, I could feel a tiny connection between us. So you can kill me whenever you want through that connection… and why would I even fight you?"
Sensing Killua's emotions, everything seemed perfect. However, Killua had the same ideals and personality as Naruto, so he should have tried to find a way to either destroy the connection or die trying.
Like Naruto, Killua is prideful. He should hate being controlled, but Killua here seemed almost submissive. They both share the same chakra signature, so the Gold Strands do not work on each other. Truly, Naruto's weakness is himself.
"Did you say goodbye to Konan? I don't want useless feelings for her." No offense to Konan because Naruto doesn't care about her. Sure, he had a crush on her while on earth, but Naruto grew up and matured. He already has Hinata, Tsunade, and Kurenai, so he doesn't have any plans about getting another woman.
Killlua replied, "I have said my goodbye".
Naruto, checking his emotion and sensing him telling the truth, nodded and started absorbing Killua.
Killua is just a {Wood Clone} with 30% of Naruto's soul. So Naruto just summoned back his soul and absorbed it.
Getting his soul back is refreshing. However, he was then hit with an influx of memories of Killua.
After a while, Naruto sighed with anger. "Damn it!"
He realized Killua technically said goodbye, but not the one he was expecting.
Suddenly, Naruto started feeling love for a beautiful blue-haired woman.
'Killua… you have caused me problems. You confessed to her and exposed yourself?… I was going to let her die… But I could harden my heart and ignore those emotions.'
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[A/N: I am sorry… does it feel forced? Naruto is not entirely in love with her, and it's just Killua's memories affecting him for some time… Naruto and Konan will have time to fall in love with each other.]
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⪼ Unknown location — At Konan ⪻
┏ Konan POV ┓
Looking at the note, I could not help but feel sad and happy simultaneously. I felt something missing from part of my life.
"Naruto ha?"
…
< Time Skip to a few months ahead>
Tsunade could help but smile, looking at the people in front of them. Feeling Déjà vu, she said,
"And Why should I care?"
Looking at the tall, fair-skinned woman with a curvy figure wearing a stoic but slight worry expression on her face. She has blue eyes and straight, shoulder-length blonde hair with a bob cut. Her name is Samui.
Next to her are her teammates, Karui and Omoi, from Kumogakure.
Their mission was to gather help from Konoha since they were allied.
"Hokage-sama, we are allies. But, unfortunately, a terrorist organization known as Akatsuki came and destroyed half of our village. We will be very thankful if you can send help for us, and of course, we are willing to compensate you as much as possible within reason." the hot blonde begged.
Tsunade, listening to them, couldn't help but remember Naruto's words.
"I am not like the previous Hokage… I know the real reason behind the Hyuga incident." She then stood up and said.
"—and from now on, the alliance between Konohagakure and Kumogakure is broken. I don't care if you wage war." Tsunade said.
The faces of the Kumo group could help but worsen. They came for help but received a warning and possibly a declaration of war.
" Hokage-sama, please reconsider." Samui tried to change Tsunade's mind, but she obviously failed that attempt.
After a few attempts at Samui trying and Tsunade not budging, they decided to leave. However, they are planning on staying for a few days, so they will probably try to get help from Konoha again.
While walking Karui, the hot-blooded one said, "How dare she! If Raikage-sama was not injured, we don't need to come and beg them."
Omoi, the cool-headed one who also liked to exaggerate things, said
"Calm down, Karui; we are in enemy territory. If someone hears you, we might get in trouble. I heard the Crimson King likes to torture enemies by burning them alive."
Samui, hearing Karui, couldn't help but think of the Crimson King and was interested in seeing how strong he was compared to their Raikage.
Noticing people bowing their heads and many villagers gathering, the Kumo Shinobi decided to see what it was.
They saw a handsome red-haired, fair-skinned man who looked slightly buffed. Many villagers bowed their heads, while many women and kids looked at them with interest.
Samui couldn't help but compare that person with the other boys in her village. She had many suitors but denied them since she thought they were not "cool" enough.
Turning to the person next to her, she asked, "Who is he?". The person beside her looked at her in confusion, but her eyes widened.
"You are not really from around here, are you?" She while narrowing her eyes.
"Sorry, we are not from around here. We came here to meet Hokage-sama." Pointing at her two friends.
After hearing their answer, the girl's face relaxed. Finally smiling, she said, "Oh, okay. I am Anaki, and that person is Naruto-sama, also known as the head of the Uzumaki Clan, and he is also known as the strongest Shinobi in Konoha." then Anaki started going on and on about him, how powerful he is and how great he is. The surrounding group also joined.
Samui now remembers Naruto, who also goes by the Crimson King, Fire emperor, and many other names. She already realized that she unknowingly asked a fangirl, and now she and the surrounding group started discussing how great Naruto is.
"Naruto-sama is so cool. I have heard that he and Hinata-san are together." A random girl said,
Another girl replied, "No, I remembered hearing that he is dating a woman named Kurenai and interestingly, she was his sensei… talk about romantic," then touched her cheeks and started blushing.
"I know Naruto-san is the coolest ninja… I w-want to be like him when I grow up," a young girl said.
Hearing the word "cool," Samui's ears perked up. She is now more interested in meeting him. Seeing him leaving, she has decided to follow him and try to talk to him.
Karui and Omoi, knowing her friend's obsession with being "cool," dragged her back to their Inn.
Naruto already knows that a team from Kumo came to Konoha for some reason. So he was interested in why they came.
He made his way towards Tsunade's office and opened the door after reaching.
Tsunade looked toward who came inside, and after seeing Naruto, her frown turned into a beautiful smile.
"Come, Naruto-kun, I was just about to call you." Then she informed Naruto about what Samui and her team discussed.
Naruto after hearing her, though, 'Interesting, it seems Itachi was not sent to Killer Bee, but Pein himself went and dealt with him.'
Now Akatsuki has gathered eight-tailed beasts. All they need to nine-tails, but currently, everything things Naruto holds Nine-Tails, but nobody except the girls who live with Naruto knows that Naruto is no longer the Jinchuriki of Nine-Tails. Currently, Kurama is roaming around in {Kamui} with someone special.
…
⪼ At the Akatsuki ⪻
"We have a traitor in here," Pein said, opening his mouth.
Only Itachi, Kisame, Pein, and Konan are at the cave.
Kisame and Itachi realize that they have been found out, and it is time to leave.
"{Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu}" water came out of Kisame's mouth and trapped Pein and Konan in a water bubble.
Kisame told Itachi, "If I don't make it, tell the boss man that it's been a good time working for him."
Pein narrowed his eyes, thinking, who is the "boss man," and said, "I will find out who you are working for. {Shinra Tensei}"
The water bubbles burst, releasing Konan and Pein together. Itachi has already escaped. They already made their plan if they get caught, Itachi contains all the secrets, and Kisame doesn't know anything except they work for Naruto.
"I wish you the best of luck," Itachi said, looking towards where he heard the fight.
…
"Naruto-kun, I am invited to Kage's summit. What do you think?" Ever since she heard the truth about Ninja's world, her worldview changed a lot. She realized how important Naruto was; if he weren't there, Konoha would be doomed. So Tsunade started asking Naruto's advice on anything.
Naruto remembered it was time for the Kages to hold a meeting. Initially, Danzo would have been going, but Naruto killed him.
It's not needed to go, but it's good to have allies. They need to know we are not pushovers. Hiruzen did a worse job in his second term as a Hokage.
"It's not needed, but we will see what they offer, Tsunade. Remember, if there is an opportunity, grab it." Naruto wanted her to be the leader of the Allied Shinobi Force rather than the Fourth Raikage, and he even heard that he was missing an arm from the fight with Pein.
Their discussion was suddenly stopped by Samehade, who teleported to his hand. Naruto placed a summoning seal on it, so it transfers to Naruto when the holder passes away.
Looking at Samehada, he asked what was wrong, and Samehada showed the images of Kisame's tongue being pulled out.
Naruto thought '*Sigh* no wonder the teleporting coin I gave Kisame didn't work. Either Obito or Pein did something to trap space.'
Naruto genuinely felt sad that he had lost a loyal subordinate. He knows that the King of Hell takes his soul by Pein. However, this is the first time he is feeling sad rather than being selfish.
Feeling frustrated, his {Gamer Mind} kicked in, 'I will make sure to at least avenge you.' he thought while tightening his fist.
Tsunade noticed the change in Naruto, but she kept quiet, noticing the sadness in his eyes.
Looking at Tsunade, he said, "My spies in Akatsuki have found out. Itachi will be coming soon" He has already informed her that Itachi is a spy.
Tsunade unexpectedly stood up after sensing a large chakra amount near Konoha, turning to Naruto, who explained the reason, and questioned, "You felt that, right?"
Nodding his head, Naruto replied, "It's not a coincidence that my spy was found out, and suddenly a large chakra appeared near Konoha. Alert the village, and I will take care of it."
Tsunade nodded her head, called the Anbu, and informed them of a potential attack. Naruto has already informed Root to protect Naruto's family and silently help the civilians.
