A New Path

Long ago, before the Akatsuki became the feared organization of merciless criminals and terrorists, it was once a symbol of hope and peaceful rebellion. In those days, the Akatsuki wasn’t synonymous with destruction or bloodshed. It was, instead, a movement—a group of individuals united by their shared vision of a world free of the brutal cycles of war that ravaged the Hidden Villages.

The world they lived in was harsh—one in which the powerful controlled the flow of life and death, where shinobi villages fought and bled for influence, territory, and power. Ordinary civilians suffered, forgotten by the very system meant to protect them. The long-standing rule of the Five Great Shinobi Countries had created an unrelenting system where power was measured in blood and the sacrifices of the weak were simply the cost of maintaining order. The leaders of the villages—the Kage—were powerful, yes, but their power was often built on the backs of those who had nothing.

At first, the Akatsuki was formed as a peaceful protest. Its members were once idealists, driven by a shared dream to end the exploitation and violence that plagued the world. They sought to change the system, believing that reform was the answer. Their early actions were not violent; they rallied the people, spoke to the oppressed, and challenged the moral decay of the shinobi world. They organized peaceful demonstrations and spoke of a world where the villages would no longer be battlegrounds for political agendas and power struggles.

But the Akatsuki’s message fell on deaf ears. The villages, fearful of losing their control, saw them as a threat. The system was too ingrained, too powerful. The leaders of the Hidden Villages saw the Akatsuki as little more than a nuisance, dismissing them as idealistic dreamers who did not understand the true nature of the world. They crushed every attempt at peaceful protest with swift and brutal retaliation. The violence continued, the suffering deepened, and the Akatsuki realized that they were not fighting against individuals but against a system that would not change—one that could not be reasoned with.

It was during this dark time when the Akatsuki had been beaten, scattered, and disbanded, that the leader of the movement—who had once been their shining beacon—fell in an unfortunate incident. His death was a turning point. The hope of peace died with him, and the remaining members, disillusioned by the failure of their ideals, knew that the world they once dreamed of could never be achieved through pacifism alone.

From the ashes of the Akatsuki’s old vision rose a new leader—a man named Nagato, but the world knew him as Pain.

Pain was not the same idealist as their original leader. His ideals had not died, but they had evolved. He understood that to truly change the system, peace could not be achieved through dialogue and protest. The shinobi system was built on war, built on endless cycles of death and suffering, and the only way to destroy it was to burn it all down. Only fire can fight fire. Peace was an illusion. It had always been that way.

Pain’s first idea was to remove the Tailed Beasts, the great sources of destructive power that had long been exploited by the villages. He believed that the Tailed Beasts, or more specifically, their Jinchuriki, were symbols of the system’s corruption. The villages used them as weapons, treating these human hosts as little more than tools. In his mind, if he could eliminate the Tailed Beasts, he would be cutting off the power of the Hidden Villages, rendering them weak and vulnerable. But as Pain delved deeper into his studies, as he learned more about the world and the politics of the villages, his perspective shifted. Pain came to the realization that he had been thinking like the very people he despised—the political leaders who viewed the Jinchuriki as nothing more than tools of war. These leaders saw the Tailed Beasts as a means to an end, as instruments for maintaining power.

Pain understood that true change would not come from repeating the mistakes of the past. If he were to dismantle the shinobi system and reshape the world, he would have to do something different. The Tailed Beasts were not the answer. They were not the true problem. The problem lay in the heart of the villages themselves—in their leaders, their systems, their greed, and their endless pursuit of power. Pain’s plans evolved further.

What remained of the Akatsuki became his instrument, a means to an end. They would no longer be the rebels calling for peace. They would become a force of destruction. The world needed to be wiped clean so it could be rebuilt from scratch. The system had to be destroyed, but it would not be destroyed through the assassination of one leader or the decimation of a single village. No, the entire foundation of the shinobi world had to crumble.

Pain’s new plan was not one of simple conquest. It was of total revolution. The Akatsuki would go after the heart of the system: the villages themselves, the very institutions that maintained the endless cycle of war. And in order to do so, they would use the only tool that could bring the system to its knees—violence.

As the Akatsuki's new direction took shape, they were labeled as terrorists by the Five Great Shinobi Nations. It was no surprise that any force that dared to challenge the status quo of the shinobi system was immediately deemed a threat. The villages would always protect themselves from those who sought to dismantle the peace they had forged—peace built on the blood of the weak.

And so, the Akatsuki became what they are known as today: a ruthless and feared organization, led by Pain and driven by a singular goal—to destroy the existing world order and rebuild it, brick by brick, from the ashes of the old system. They would use violence and terror to achieve their aim, for only by obliterating everything could a new, better world be born.

Their actions were no longer those of peaceful protesters. They were now the embodiment of rebellion—a force of chaos and destruction committed to breaking the cycle of war by tearing it all down.

The world had forgotten its peaceful roots. Now, the name Akatsuki was synonymous with fear.

With the unfolding of their plans, Pain knew that their actions would inevitably lead to a day when the shinobi world would be forced to confront the consequences of its own violent history—one way or another.

The Akatsuki’s lair, a desolate and eerily quiet place hidden in the shadows of the world, was filled with the usual hum of activity—members coming and going, plotting, scheming. But today, the tension in the room was palpable. There, in the central chamber, Pain sat at the head of the table, his six paths of pain standing at attention around him, each seemingly deep in their own thoughts. Beside him, Konan sat silently, her face unreadable as always. But today, there was something else in the air. Something had shifted. And it wasn’t the usual uneasy feeling that accompanied their operations.

It was the newest thread that had been pulled—a name. Harry Potter.

Pain’s expression was stoic as ever, his piercing gaze fixed on the table in front of him. The name was unfamiliar to him, as it was to most of the Akatsuki members. But what they did know, thanks to the source of the information—Orochimaru—was far from ordinary. There were rumors of a child—this Harry Potter—possessing abilities that even Orochimaru had found intriguing. And if there was one thing Orochimaru didn’t find intriguing, it was the ordinary.

As the trio waited in the dim-lit chamber, Tobi’s footsteps echoed through the hall, drawing the attention of both Pain and Konan. Tobi, as usual, wore his signature mask, the large swirling pattern across it giving him an air of childish eccentricity that seemed to contrast with the deadly nature of the organization.

Tobi entered the room with an exaggerated twirl of his cape, his voice as animated as ever. “Well, well! I’ve got some interesting news, you two!” He clapped his hands together, grinning underneath his mask. "The search for this Harry Potter kid has been... so much fun!"

Pain and Konan exchanged a brief glance, before both turning their attention to the seemingly cheerful figure before them.

“Get to the point, Tobi,” Pain said in his calm, commanding tone, his expression never wavering.

Tobi, unperturbed by Pain’s terse command, took a seat at the table, spinning around dramatically before getting to his feet again, as though making a grand entrance. "Oh, don’t be so serious, Pain! I just wanted to build some suspense! Anyway, I did some digging—got some good ol' research done, as promised. And here's what I've got!"

He reached into his cloak, pulling out a series of papers and tossing them onto the table with a flourish. Konan’s eyes skimmed over them quickly, but Tobi didn’t wait for her to finish before continuing, practically bouncing on his feet with excitement.

“There is nothing on this Harry Potter kid," Tobi said, his tone slightly mocking as he tapped a finger against the papers. “No files. No records. Zero. Zip. Nada. Nothing. Can you believe it?” He let the words hang in the air for a moment. “Except—except!” He tapped the papers again, leaning closer. “There are some records of him attending the Ninja Academy. A few good grades, decent marks. And get this…” He paused for dramatic effect. “He was personally enrolled in the Academy by none other than the late Third Hokage himself. Now, isn’t that suspicious?”

Konan’s expression darkened slightly. “The Third Hokage, you say?” Her voice held a hint of skepticism as she considered the implications. The late Third Hokage had been a man of immense power and influence. For him to take a personal interest in a child—one whose origins remained shrouded in mystery—was indeed strange.

Pain leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. “What are you suggesting, Tobi?”

“Well,” Tobi said, grinning widely, “if this kid really has some connection to the Otsutsuki, like Orochimaru says, then it’s more than just a coincidence. Something’s off about the kid’s background. If this bloodline is really something significant, we need to dig deeper. We’ve got to figure out who he is, where he came from, and why he’s being protected.”

“Hmm,” Pain murmured, his expression contemplative. “You’re right. If there’s a connection to the Otsutsuki, it would explain why Orochimaru took such an interest in him. The Otsutsuki bloodline... It’s something that even the most powerful shinobi haven’t fully unlocked.”

Konan’s gaze drifted toward the large map pinned to the wall. Her mind was already turning, considering the possibilities. “This Harry Potter could pose a problem,” she said softly. “If he truly has Otsutsuki blood, it could be another piece of the puzzle. But this... doesn’t make sense. No records, no family. It’s as if he simply appeared.”

Tobi, sensing the serious turn in the conversation, smirked. “Exactly! Just like a ghost! But don’t worry, I’ll figure it out. All I need is some more time. Maybe... some help from Orochimaru?”

Pain’s expression shifted slightly, his eyes darkening. “Orochimaru’s arms are still useless, Tobi. He’s as good as a crippled fool right now.”

Konan’s lips tightened, but she said nothing. Orochimaru’s incapacitation was, indeed, a hindrance. His knowledge and research would have been invaluable in this search for answers, but with his arms rendered useless, he was reduced to little more than a spectator. Pain’s frustration with the situation was palpable.

Tobi, ever the optimist, waved his hand dismissively. “Oh, come on, Pain. It’s not that bad! We’re talking about Orochimaru here. He’ll find a way, I’m sure. We’ll get the info we need from him soon enough.” He tapped the papers again, his face lighting up in a mischievous grin. “In the meantime, I’ll continue my own research. I’m sure I’ll uncover some other interesting details. I mean, who doesn’t love a good mystery?”

Pain, though slightly irritated, allowed himself the smallest of sighs. “Fine. Do as you will. But remember—this is a critical matter. If this Harry Potter truly is tied to the Otsutsuki, we can’t afford to waste time.”

Tobi stood up, giving an exaggerated salute. “Don’t worry, boss! Leave it to me!”

As Tobi bounced out of the room with his usual energetic stride, Pain and Konan exchanged a brief glance, both silently acknowledging the significance of the conversation they had just had. There were too many unknowns surrounding this Harry Potter. And in a world built on secrets and shadows, those unknowns were as dangerous as the enemies they faced.

“We’ll need to keep a close eye on him,” Konan said softly. “Orochimaru’s words may be more important than we realize.”

Pain nodded solemnly, his mind already turning over their next move. The Akatsuki had always been a group of misfits—each member carrying their own agendas, their own plans. But now, with the emergence of Harry Potter and his mysterious connection to the Otsutsuki, the Akatsuki had a new challenge on their hands. One that would change the course of their future and possibly the fate of the entire shinobi world.

And this time, even Pain was unsure of where it would lead.

The dim, sterile interior of Orochimaru’s hideout was as cold and calculated as its master. Flickers of candlelight threw long, eerie shadows against the walls as the pale, gaunt figure of Orochimaru stood in front of a large mirror. His long, unruly hair cascaded down his back, and his yellow eyes—always calculating, always distant—were now narrowed in a mixture of concentration and seething frustration.

His arms hung uselessly by his sides, dead weight. Once capable of performing the most intricate and powerful jutsu with the flick of his wrist, they were now reduced to nothing but lifeless appendages. Orochimaru’s fingers, once nimble and precise, no longer responded to his will, the muscles in his arms frozen in an unrelenting paralysis. The frustration that simmered beneath his skin burned hotter every day.

His mind was sharp, cutting through plans and schemes with surgical precision, but without his hands, he was a man rendered impotent, unable to perform even the simplest of actions that required his once-masterful dexterity.

A breath shuddered through his body as he lifted his head to glance at the reflection of himself in the mirror. The image was stark—his appearance unchanged, save for the unnatural stillness of his arms. His mouth twisted into a thin, angry line. What had the Third Hokage done to him?

The old fool had taken a life, but he had not taken Orochimaru's pride. Yet.

There was something about the jutsu Hiruzen had used—a forbidden technique, something Orochimaru didn’t fully understand. The Reaper Death Seal, his mind reminded him, the name whispered in his memories like a distant echo. Orochimaru had felt its power, felt the overwhelming pull of it—but he had not known its full nature. The price of the jutsu, the cost it extracted from the user—it was a secret that burned at the edges of his mind. Even now, with his arms rendered utterly useless, the bitter sense of not knowing gnawed at him.

A soft step sounded from the door behind him, breaking his reverie. His gaze flickered toward the shadowed threshold as Kabuto entered, his face always the picture of composure and calm. Kabuto’s eyes were calculating as ever, his posture relaxed, but a certain tension hung in the air between them.

“Master Orochimaru,” Kabuto said, his voice low and smooth, “we’ve received word. We’ve located Tsunade.”

Orochimaru’s eyes flickered for a brief moment, a spark of interest lighting in his gaze, but it was quickly subdued by the ever-present weight of his frustration. Tsunade was a means to an end—he needed her skills, her abilities to heal him, to restore his body, to give him back what was stolen. But the thought of relying on someone else’s help gnawed at his pride.

Without moving his arms, Orochimaru turned toward Kabuto. His voice was calm but tinged with the edge of annoyance. “Where is she?”

Kabuto didn’t flinch under the pressure of Orochimaru’s cold, unwavering gaze. “She’s in a small village near the border of the Fire Country. We have people watching her every move. She is… wary, but she’s still in reach.”

Orochimaru’s mind raced. Tsunade, the greatest medical ninja in the world, and a former member of the Legendary Three Sannin, had the power to heal even the most grievous wounds. If she could heal his arms—if she could undo the damage inflicted by the Reaper Death Seal—he would be whole again. The thought was intoxicating. The idea that he could regain his former strength and return to his endless quest for immortality… it was almost within his grasp.

A cold smile tugged at the corners of Orochimaru’s lips, his gaze distant as he thought of the possibilities. “So, we will go to her then,” he said softly, though his mind was already calculating the steps. “We’ll offer her a chance—an opportunity she cannot refuse.”

Kabuto nodded, as though he already knew the course of action. “And if she refuses?”

Orochimaru’s eyes flickered with cold amusement. “If she refuses, then we shall take what we need, by force if necessary.”

Kabuto’s expression didn’t change, but his voice held a trace of curiosity. “You’ve always considered Tsunade an ally, Master. Are you certain you want to take that route?”

Orochimaru’s smile widened, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I considered her an ally, yes. But in the end, she is no different from the others. She’ll either help me or become a casualty of my ambitions.”

There was a stillness in the air, an unsettling calm that had settled over Orochimaru. His desire for Tsunade’s healing abilities was paramount, but deep inside, his frustration with his physical limitations still gnawed at him. He could not afford to be weak, not now. Not when so much of his plan hinged on the mastery of his own body.

The silence between them stretched on for a moment, Kabuto’s presence a constant undercurrent as Orochimaru’s thoughts raced. It was only when Kabuto spoke again that the trance was broken.

“Master, are you… ready?” Kabuto asked, his eyes flickering to the still, lifeless limbs at Orochimaru’s side. He had seen his master in many states, but he had never seen him so frustrated. It was as though the very foundation of Orochimaru’s being had been shaken by the loss of his arms.

Orochimaru turned slowly, his gaze like ice as he met Kabuto’s eyes. There was something calculating in his gaze, something cold and purposeful. He did not speak at first, the words forming slowly, deliberately.

“I am ready,” he said, his voice as chilling as ever. “We will find Tsunade, and we will take what is mine. No one—no one—takes from me.”

With that, Orochimaru turned and began to walk toward the door, his arms still hanging at his sides, useless and silent. The frustration was still there, a bitter taste in his mouth, but his focus had shifted. There was no room for weakness in his world. He would regain what had been taken from him, and when he did, he would make the entire world tremble beneath his feet.

Kabuto followed him silently, as always, the faithful servant to his master’s endless ambition. The road ahead was treacherous, but Orochimaru had never been one to shy away from a challenge. And as they walked out of the dark, sterile room, the shadows seemed to stretch longer, a quiet prelude to the storm that was about to break.

The dirt path stretched endlessly before them, flanked by towering trees swaying in the late afternoon breeze. The golden light of the setting sun dappled the road through the thick foliage, casting long shadows behind Team 7 and their eccentric mentor. Footsteps padded against the dirt, some heavier and some lighter, each rhythm a reflection of the team’s differing levels of exhaustion.

Jiraiya walked ahead with his usual relaxed gait, hands tucked into his robes, humming some old tune under his breath. Behind him, Naruto, Harry, Sakura, and Sasuke followed, all moving at their own paces—Naruto occasionally darting ahead in bursts of energy before falling back into line, Sakura keeping pace with an air of determination, Sasuke walking with his usual stoic composure, and Harry moving with a careful, observant grace.

Jiraiya let out a long, satisfied sigh. “You know,” he mused, stretching his arms behind his head, “I gotta say, I’m impressed. We’re making surprisingly good progress. At this rate, we’ll reach Tsunade’s last known location in no time.”

“That’s because we’re actually moving instead of stopping at every single hot spring and bar,” Sakura quipped, shooting him a look.

Jiraiya gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to his chest as if wounded. “Sakura, that hurts! A man needs his downtime, you know?”

“Your ‘downtime’ is just you getting chased out of bathhouses for being a pervert,” Naruto snorted.

Sasuke smirked slightly but didn’t comment, while Harry, walking beside him, shook his head in amusement. “It’s honestly impressive,” Harry said, glancing at Jiraiya. “I think you’ve been kicked out of more places in the past few days than any criminal I’ve ever read about.”

Jiraiya scoffed. “You brats have no appreciation for the finer things in life.”

“Like public indecency charges?” Sasuke murmured just loud enough for the others to hear.

Naruto barked out a laugh while Sakura just sighed, clearly tired of the legendary Sannin’s antics.

Jiraiya cleared his throat, swiftly changing the subject. “Anyway, since we’re having such a good time, I know what you’re all going to ask next.”

Naruto perked up immediately. “Does that mean we can keep training in senjutsu?”

Sakura nodded. “It would be best if we continued, wouldn’t it?”

Harry glanced at Jiraiya, curious about his response. He had been interested in the concept of natural energy and the deeper aspects of chakra, but their training had been slow, mostly limited to awareness exercises and early-stage balancing techniques.

Jiraiya waved a hand. “We’ll do a deeper dive into it once we reach Tsunade.”

Naruto groaned. “Why do we have to wait? We’ve already started!”

“Because,” Jiraiya said patiently, “it’ll be easier that way. You can’t rush this, Naruto. Senjutsu training isn’t something you can just charge into. You’ve all made good progress so far—especially in sensing natural energy—but refining it further is going to take some serious work. And I don’t feel like explaining the same thing twice when Tsunade’s around to help.”

Sakura tilted her head. “Wait, does that mean Tsunade knows senjutsu?”

Jiraiya chuckled. “Not the way you’re thinking. But she does know a thing or two about how the body reacts to foreign energy. Let’s just say it’ll be useful to have her around if you all mess up and start turning into frogs.”

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. “That can happen?”

Jiraiya grinned. “If you absorb too much natural energy without properly balancing it with your own chakra? Yeah. You’ll start becoming the nature you’re drawing from. Trust me, you don’t want that.”

Naruto blinked. “Wait, so you’re telling me if I screw this up, I could just—turn into a frog?”

“A very ugly one, too,” Jiraiya said with a sage nod.

Harry chuckled at Naruto’s horrified expression. “That sounds like something out of a transfiguration accident.”

Jiraiya shot him a curious look but didn’t pry into the reference. “Point is,” he continued, “it’s dangerous if you’re not careful. You’re all still at the stage where you’re learning how to sense and control the balance of natural energy. Until we get to Tsunade, I want you to focus on keeping your awareness sharp. Train your senses, not your impatience.”

Naruto grumbled but didn’t argue further, kicking at a rock in frustration.

Harry, meanwhile, glanced up at the sky, feeling the warmth of the fading sunlight against his skin. He understood the caution. Chakra and magic were already difficult enough to balance, and adding natural energy into the mix was like adding another layer of complexity. It wasn’t something that could be rushed.

Sakura sighed. “I suppose it’s better to be careful. We are moving fast, so we’ll be there soon.”

Sasuke nodded. “No point wasting energy when we’ll have a better training opportunity ahead.”

Jiraiya smirked. “Glad to see at least some of you are listening.”

Naruto pouted. “I listen!”

“You hear, but you don’t listen,” Jiraiya corrected with a grin.

Naruto groaned while the rest of the team chuckled.

The sun continued its descent, casting an orange glow over the landscape as Team 7 pressed onward, the weight of their journey momentarily lifted by easy conversation and lighthearted teasing. The road ahead was still long, but for now, they had each other—and that was enough.

After a week of travel, endless stretches of winding roads, makeshift camps, and too many ramen-related arguments between Naruto and Jiraiya, Team 7 finally arrived at their next destination: a small but bustling village nestled between rolling hills. The sun hung high overhead, casting warm golden light over the dirt streets as merchants called out their wares and villagers bustled about their daily routines.

Jiraiya came to a stop in the village square, stretching his arms above his head with a huff. “Finally! A proper village! With food, drinks, and—”

“We know where this is going,” Sakura deadpanned.

Naruto crossed his arms. “Yeah, we’re not letting you run off to a hot spring again.”

Jiraiya scoffed. “Brats. Do you think I’m that irresponsible?”

“...Yes,” Harry and Sasuke answered in unison.

Jiraiya ignored them. He clapped his hands together, turning to face them. “Alright, listen up! We’ll be splitting up to search for Tsunade. It’s simple—check the casinos. If she’s in this village, that’s where she’ll be.”

Sakura nodded. “Got it.”

Naruto grinned. “Easy enough!”

Harry gave a small nod of understanding, and Sasuke merely crossed his arms, listening.

Then, as the instructions settled in, a realization dawned upon the group.

“…Wait,” Naruto muttered. “What does she look like?”

The team collectively blinked at each other.

Jiraiya also blinked. Then, after a brief moment, he let out a sheepish chuckle, rubbing the back of his head. “Huh. Guess I forgot to mention that.”

Naruto threw up his arms. “How do you forget to tell us what she looks like?!”

Sasuke sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Jiraiya fished into his robes, muttering something about brats with no faith in their elders, before pulling out a slightly worn photograph. “Here. This should do.”

He tossed the photo to Sakura, who caught it with ease.

“Alright, I’ll leave you to it!” Jiraiya declared. Then, before any of them could protest, he promptly vanished in a blur of movement.

A heavy silence settled over Team 7.

“…He ran off, didn’t he?” Harry asked flatly.

Sasuke sighed. “Of course he did.”

Naruto huffed. “Unbelievable.”

Sakura, meanwhile, was still looking down at the photograph in her hands. It was an older picture, slightly faded with time, but even so, the woman in the image was striking. She had honey-blonde hair, warm amber eyes, and an effortless air of confidence. Even in a still image, there was something commanding about her presence.

Sakura blinked. “Wow. She’s gorgeous.”

Naruto snorted. “Pfft, you’re just saying that because you’re a closeted lesbian.”

Sakura stiffened. “What? I—”

Naruto smirked, crossing his arms. “Come on, Sakura. We’ve all seen those letters between you and Ino.”

Harry raised an eyebrow. “You guys write letters to each other?”

Sakura’s face turned red. “It’s not—! I mean, it’s just—! Ugh, shut up, Naruto!”

Naruto only grinned wider. “Hey, I’m just saying, we’re all supportive here, right guys?”

Harry, still amused, nodded. “Of course.”

Sasuke, without looking up, gave a simple nod.

Sakura groaned, rubbing her temples. “I hate you all.”

Naruto beamed. “We know.”

With that, the four turned their attention back to the task at hand. Tsunade was somewhere in this village, likely deep in a casino, and it was up to them to find her.

“Well,” Harry said, tucking the picture away for reference, “we should probably get started.”

Sasuke nodded. “We’ll cover more ground if we split into pairs.”

Sakura took a deep breath, shaking off her embarrassment before nodding. “Right. Let’s go find this woman before Jiraiya actually forgets why we’re here.”

And with that, Team 7 dispersed into the village, beginning their search.

Naruto was practically vibrating in his seat, clutching his newest stack of ryo with a triumphant grin. Sakura, on the other hand, was starting to feel the weight of guilt settle in her stomach. They were supposed to be looking for Tsunade, after all. But when the dice kept landing in their favor, how could she just walk away?

“Alright, alright,” Sakura muttered, rubbing her temple as she shot Naruto a pointed look. “One more game, and then we get back to finding—”

Before she could finish, a shadow fell over the table. A presence—confident and steady—loomed over them. Both she and Naruto turned at the same time.

A blonde woman stood before them, peering down with a look of vague amusement. Her honey-colored eyes gleamed with interest, and there was something sharp about her expression like a gambler sizing up her next big bet. She was tall, and statuesque, with a shapely figure and an air of authority wrapped around her like an invisible cloak. Her loose, casual kimono hung effortlessly off her shoulders, and there was something almost lazy about the way she regarded them.

But then she smirked.

“I’ve been watching you two,” she said, voice smooth and confident.

Naruto blinked. “Uh… okay?”

Sakura, on the other hand, immediately stiffened. Something about this woman’s presence put her on edge, though she couldn’t exactly say why. “And…?”

The woman’s smirk widened. “You’re lucky. Very lucky.”

Naruto puffed his chest out, practically glowing at the praise. “Of course! I am the future Hokage, after all! Luck is just part of my destiny!”

Sakura’s eyebrow twitched. “That’s not how that works.”

The woman chuckled, shaking her head. “Well, whatever the reason, I think I could use your talents. See, I’ve been having a bit of a losing streak lately.”

Sakura wasn’t sure what the woman meant by “a bit,” but something told her it was a massive understatement.

The woman leaned in slightly, resting a hand on the edge of the table. “There’s a poker game in the back—high stakes, big winnings. Normally, I’d win easily,” she said, flashing them a confident smile. “But today? Let’s just say my luck has been... less than stellar.”

Sakura narrowed her eyes. “So you want us to…?”

The woman grinned. “Help me out.”

Naruto immediately perked up. “You mean, like a mission?”

Sakura’s deadpan stare could have burned through steel. “No, Naruto. This is not a mission.”

But Naruto wasn’t listening. He was too busy grinning back at the woman, completely unfazed by the warning signs flashing in Sakura’s head. “You got it, lady! We’ll help!”

Sakura’s entire body went rigid. “Naruto.”

Naruto gave her a thumbs-up. “Come on, Sakura! We’re on a roll! This is just an extra challenge! Besides, it’s not every day someone asks for our help at a casino, right?”

Sakura closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and then exhaled through her nose. “I can’t believe you sometimes.”

The woman chuckled again, clearly enjoying their dynamic. “Oh, I like you two. This should be fun.”

Naruto’s grin stretched from ear to ear. “Alright! Lead the way, uh…” He trailed off, realizing he had no idea what to call her.

The woman only smirked. “Call me... Shizune’s Boss.”

Sakura frowned. “Who’s Shizune?”

The woman waved a hand dismissively. “Doesn’t matter.”

Something about her easygoing demeanor should have raised red flags, but Naruto was already too caught up in the excitement. As he and Sakura followed the mysterious woman toward the back of the casino, Sakura could only sigh in resignation.

This was definitely not what Jiraiya had sent them to do.

The room they entered was dimly lit, the heavy scent of tobacco and cheap alcohol clinging to the air. A single, low-hanging lantern flickered above a round table, casting long shadows across the faces of the rough-looking men seated around it. Their eyes were sharp, assessing, filled with the kind of predatory amusement that made Sakura immediately tense up.

These guys weren’t just gamblers.

Bandits.

Sakura inhaled sharply. Great. She knew it was a bad idea to follow some random woman deeper into a shady casino, but nooooo, Naruto had to go along with it.

The mysterious woman—still unnamed—laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head. “So, uh… I probably should’ve mentioned the details earlier.”

“No, really?” Sakura deadpanned.

“Still willing to help me out?” the woman asked, smiling like this wasn’t the beginning of an incredibly bad decision.

Before Sakura could so much as breathe out a protest, Naruto threw an arm around the woman’s shoulder and grinned. “Of course we will!”

Sakura’s eyebrow twitched violently. Of course, he did.

Naruto plopped down onto a chair right beside the woman without a single ounce of hesitation. He kicked his feet up onto the table and grinned at the bandits as if he had absolutely no idea that they could—and probably would—cut his throat if he pissed them off.

Sakura clenched her jaw, inhaled deeply, and then sat down reluctantly beside him, her arms crossed.

The men around the table chuckled, eyeing the three of them with interest. “Bringing kids into a poker game now?” one of them mused, leaning back in his chair.

The woman shrugged. “I call it changing my luck.”

Naruto’s grin widened. “So what’s the plan?”

The woman smirked and leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table. “Simple. We’re playing poker.”

Naruto blinked. “...Huh?”

Sakura turned her head so fast she nearly got whiplash. “You don’t know what poker is?”

Naruto furrowed his brows. “Uh… no?”

The woman’s eye twitched. “You mean to tell me… you walked in here, agreed to help me in a high-stakes poker game—” she gestured to the clearly dangerous men around the table, “—and you don’t even know what poker is?!”

Naruto pouted. “Hey, the dice game was different!”

“It’s not different, you absolute moron,” Sakura muttered, rubbing her temples as she felt the beginnings of a migraine forming.

The woman exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I really should’ve expected this.”

One of the bandits snickered. “You bringing in amateurs, lady? This ain’t exactly the place for first-timers.”

“Oh, shut up,” the woman shot back, before side-eyeing Sakura. “Alright, you at least know how to play, right?”

Sakura scowled, snatching the deck from the dealer’s hands. “Just give me the damn cards.”

As she shuffled with practiced ease, she shot a glare at Naruto. This would never have happened if she had gone with Sasuke. Or at least Harry.

Naruto only grinned in response, completely oblivious to the hell he had just walked them into.

Sakura kept her expression unreadable, fingers deftly flipping her cards as she analyzed the table. The bandits across from her were a mixed bunch—some better at hiding their tells than others, but none of them were good enough. She could tell who was bluffing, who had a solid hand, and who was just hoping for a miracle.

Still, she wasn’t about to underestimate them.

She reached for her next set of cards when she felt two heads hovering far too close over her shoulders.

"Hmmm," Naruto mused aloud, eyes squinting at her hand like he actually understood what was going on. "That one looks good! I think you should—"

"Naruto," Sakura said evenly, not even looking up from the table, "shut up."

The woman beside him—who had still refused to give them her name—hummed in amusement, arms crossed as she leaned closer as well. “Yeah, yeah, don’t listen to him. Buuut if I were you, I’d—”

“I swear to all things holy, I will smack the shit out of both of you.”

There was a beat of silence.

Then Naruto and the woman immediately leaned back, their hands raised in surrender.

“Geez, no need to get violent,” Naruto muttered, pouting.

Sakura ignored him, keeping her attention on the game. She tapped her fingers on the table, watching as the dealer slid the next round of cards forward. One more win. I just need one more.

“By the way,” the woman said casually, stretching her arms behind her head, “I probably should’ve mentioned this earlier, but, uh… if I lose, I’ll owe these guys a lot of money.”

Sakura’s fingers twitched mid-move.

Slowly, she turned her head toward the woman. “I—what?”

The woman grinned sheepishly. “Yeah, no pressure though.”

Sakura inhaled through her nose, counted to five, and resisted the urge to punch this woman in the throat. “And you brought us here—knowing that—why?”

“Because you two kept winning at the dice game!”

Sakura closed her eyes for a moment. This can’t be my life.

Naruto blinked. “Wait, but if you always lose, why do you even play?”

The woman’s grin didn’t falter. “Because one day, my luck is gonna turn around.”

Sakura gave her the flattest, driest look imaginable. “...You do realize that’s how gambling addictions work, right?”

The woman waved her off. “Pfft, details.”

Sakura barely restrained the scream building in her throat. Instead, she exhaled sharply and forced herself to focus. Alright, fine. If this woman was doomed to be a loser, that just meant Sakura had to win for her.

The bandits chuckled from across the table. “You nervous yet, girl?”

Sakura smirked, tapping her fingers against the pile of ryo in front of her. “Not even a little.”

And then she won.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Each time, the bandits’ expressions darkened, their good humor thinning as their pockets emptied. But Sakura didn’t waver. Every move was calculated, and every risk weighed. Her hand was steady, her expression blank.

Naruto was practically vibrating in excitement beside her. “Holy crap, Sakura! How are you doing this?!”

Sakura didn’t answer. Was it skill? Was it just pure, dumb luck? Did it matter?

She gathered the ryo in front of her, smirking slightly as she stacked it up neatly. “Guess I’m just lucky.”

The woman beside her let out a whoop of victory, clapping Sakura hard on the back. “Hah! You beautiful little genius!”

Sakura coughed, rolling her shoulders. “I still want to smack you.”

The woman only laughed. “Fair.”

Meanwhile, across the table, the bandits exchanged glances. Their moods had soured drastically.

Sakura’s smirk faltered.

Right. Winning too much? Not exactly a good thing in a place like this.

The air in the gambling hall turned tense.

The bandits were not happy. Their money had been drained, their pride wounded, and their tempers flared hot. One of the larger men cracked his knuckles, leering at Sakura.

“You must think you’re real smart, huh, little girl?” he sneered. “Cheating us outta our ryo—”

Sakura’s eyebrow twitched. “Excuse me?”

“Cheating?” Naruto repeated incredulously, puffing up. “We didn’t cheat, you just suck!”

That… probably wasn’t the smartest thing to say.

The bandits roared in rage, pushing back from the table, chairs scraping against the floor as they lunged.

Sakura and Naruto immediately sprang into action, their hands flying toward their weapons. This was going to be so easy—

But before either of them could do anything, a boom echoed through the room.

And then the bandits were gone.

Sakura and Naruto blinked in unison.

The entire group of men lay sprawled across the floor, groaning in pain, a few of them twitching weakly.

Standing over them, shaking out her fist, was the mysterious woman. Her expression was blank like she had just swatted a few annoying flies.

Naruto and Sakura turned to stare at her, their eyes wide with shock.

Naruto pointed. “Wait a minute—”

Sakura pointed. “You’re—”

Together, they blurted, “You’re Tsunade, aren’t you?!”

The woman turned to them, one elegant eyebrow arching. Then, with a shrug, she said, “Obviously.”

There was a pause.

“...We could’ve led with that, y’know,” Sakura muttered.

Naruto huffed. “Seriously! We just went through all of that, and you didn’t once think to—”

Before he could finish, the sound of approaching footsteps caught their attention. Both turned sharply, just in time to see Sasuke, Harry, and Jiraiya stepping through the entrance.

Jiraiya’s eyebrows rose. “Huh.” He tilted his head, taking in the unconscious bandits, the ryo stacked neatly on the table, and the way Naruto and Sakura stood beside the most powerful woman in the gambling hall. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

Sasuke crossed his arms, unimpressed. “Should’ve figured you two would cause trouble.”

Harry eyed the bandits warily, adjusting the sheath of his katana. “Should we be concerned?”

Naruto grinned, throwing an arm over Sakura’s shoulders. “Nope! Everything’s handled.”

Sakura shoved his arm off. “Handled by her.” She jabbed a thumb toward Tsunade.

Tsunade, for her part, wasn’t paying attention to them. She was staring at Jiraiya, her lips parted slightly in surprise. Slowly, she glanced from him to Naruto and Sakura, then back to him.

“These two…” she started.

Jiraiya smirked, stepping forward. “My students.”

Tsunade blinked. Then, her eyes flickered toward Harry and Sasuke.

Jiraiya’s smirk grew wider. “All four of them.”

There was a beat of silence.

Then, in perfect deadpan, Sakura muttered, “Technically, we’re Team Kakashi.”

Jiraiya ruffled Naruto and Sakura’s hair, ignoring the way they both swatted at his hands. “Details.”

Tsunade exhaled sharply through her nose, shaking her head. “You, of all people, taking on students?” She crossed her arms. “What, did the world turn upside down while I wasn’t looking?”

Jiraiya simply grinned. “What can I say? They grow on you.”

Naruto grinned up at Tsunade, rocking back on his heels. “So, now that we found you… wanna be Hokage?”

Tsunade’s eyebrow twitched. “Absolutely not.”

Naruto’s grin dropped instantly.

Sakura sighed, rubbing her temples. This is going to be a long day.

The pub was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of alcohol and sizzling food. A few patrons sat hunched over their drinks, quietly chatting or wallowing in their cups. It wasn’t the most refined place, but it was leagues better than the seedy gambling hall they had just left.

At the center of it all, Tsunade leaned back in her chair, arms crossed lazily as she motioned to a woman standing beside her.

“This is my assistant, Shizune,” she introduced.

Shizune, a dark-haired kunoichi with kind yet sharp eyes, bowed politely. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”

“And this,” Tsunade continued, gesturing downward, “is Tonton.”

The small, pink pig nestled beside Shizune gave a soft, high-pitched oink.

There was a beat of silence.

Then—

“So… is the pig edible?” Naruto asked.

Shizune let out a horrified gasp.

Tsunade didn’t even blink. She simply gave Naruto a long, deadpanned stare.

Sakura smacked Naruto upside the head. “Don’t be an idiot!”

Naruto clutched his head with a pout. “What? It was just a question!”

Shizune clutched Tonton close, glaring. “How could you even think that?!”

Tsunade shook her head in exasperation before flagging down a waiter. “Sake. And keep it coming.”

Jiraiya plopped down in the seat across from her, and Team 7 followed after him like ducklings, squeezing in at the table. Naruto made a big show of sitting as far away from Shizune as possible, likely to avoid further wrath over the pig comment.

Tsunade took a swig of sake the moment the bottle hit the table. “Alright, let’s hear it. What do you want, Jiraiya?”

Jiraiya exhaled through his nose, expression turning serious. “Orochimaru.”

That got her attention. Tsunade’s grip on her cup tightened slightly, but her expression remained unreadable.

Jiraiya continued, “The Hidden Leaf suffered an attempted invasion. The Sound and Sand worked together, and it was led by Orochimaru himself.”

Sasuke’s eyes flickered darkly at the name, but he remained silent.

“The village survived, but not without loss,” Jiraiya said gravely. “The old man… Hiruzen… he sacrificed himself to stop Orochimaru.”

Tsunade’s fingers twitched. Her face, once unreadable, now seemed to shift—just slightly. But it was enough.

“…That old fool,” she muttered.

“We need a new Hokage,” Jiraiya continued. “Someone strong enough to lead the village. The council has already agreed—you’re the best choice.”

Tsunade scoffed, swirling the sake in her cup before downing the rest in one go.

“You think I’d do it?” she asked, voice edged with quiet amusement. “You already know my answer.”

Jiraiya opened his mouth, likely to protest, but before he could, Naruto suddenly slammed his hands onto the table.

“Then how about a bet?!”

Everyone turned to him.

Tsunade arched a brow. “A bet?”

Naruto grinned. “Yeah. If my teammates and I master senjutsu—if we can mix natural energy with our chakra—then you have to at least consider coming back and becoming Hokage.”

Tsunade’s brow arched even higher. She leaned forward slightly, looking between Naruto and Jiraiya. “You’re teaching them senjutsu?”

Jiraiya only smirked, but he didn’t deny it.

Tsunade stared at Naruto for a long moment, studying him. Then—like a flash of lightning—a memory surfaced. A young woman, vibrant and untamed, her hair a brilliant shade of red, laughing under the sunlight.

Kushina.

For a moment, Tsunade swore she saw her sitting there instead of Naruto.

Then, just as quickly, the memory faded.

She blinked, shaking it off. “Fine,” she said, sitting back in her chair. “You’ve got one week to mix natural energy with your chakra.” A smirk tugged at her lips. “That’s all you’ll need anyway—because you’re going to fail.”

Sakura stiffened. “Wait, a week?”

Harry let out a slow breath. “That’s… not a lot of time.”

Sasuke’s fingers curled against the table, determination flashing in his dark eyes. “Then we’ll just have to do it.”

Naruto crossed his arms, grinning. “Hah! You’re gonna eat those words, lady!”

Tsunade merely chuckled, drinking another sip of sake. “We’ll see, brat.”

A week.

They had just started senjutsu training.

But hey… they’d been in worse circumstances.