A New Path

The sun was barely peeking over the horizon as Team 7, Jiraiya, Shizune, and Tonton sprinted across the rooftops of Konoha. The wind howled in their ears, but the tension in the air was thick enough to make it feel like the world itself was holding its breath.

“Shizune!” Jiraiya called, his voice carrying the weight of urgency. “Do you have any idea where Tsunade’s headed? We know it’s to Orochimaru, but where exactly?”

Shizune’s eyes flicked from side to side, her breath coming in shallow bursts. She was just as stressed as the rest of them. “I... I don’t know. Tsunade didn’t leave any hint. No clue about where she’s meeting him.” She shook her head, frustration bubbling beneath her calm demeanor. “She could be anywhere.”

Jiraiya sighed, his face creased in worry. “Great. This just makes our search a whole lot harder.” He pushed himself forward, leaping across a gap between buildings with the ease of a seasoned shinobi. Team 7 followed closely behind, the pressure mounting with each passing second.

Naruto was visibly stressed, his usual energy dimmed by the gravity of the situation. His thoughts were racing, and he couldn’t keep them to himself any longer.

“Why?” Naruto blurted out, barely able to contain the thoughts swirling in his head. “What does my mom mean to Tsunade? Why would she want to bring her back from the dead? What’s the point?”

Jiraiya’s face softened, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. He turned to Naruto, his expression serious, but tinged with sadness. “Kushina and Tsunade... they were close, kid. Very close. They were like two peas in a pod. When Kushina came to Konoha, she was the only one who managed to break through Tsunade’s walls, the ones she built up after losing her brother and fiancé.”

Naruto looked confused, still not fully understanding. “But why would Tsunade want to bring her back? I mean, my mom… I never even knew she meant that much to anyone.”

Jiraiya’s expression darkened for a moment, and he continued, his voice low. “When Kushina died, Tsunade...” He trailed off for a moment, his eyes narrowing in thought. “It was like a piece of her died with her. She never truly recovered. That’s when Tsunade stopped smiling and stopped looking forward to the future. It’s never been the same since.”

Team 7 absorbed the weight of Jiraiya’s words, the gravity of Kushina’s impact on Tsunade sinking in. Naruto’s thoughts spun with confusion, sadness, and a longing to understand the woman he’d never truly known.

“I didn’t know,” Naruto muttered, his voice thick with emotion. “I didn’t know my mom affected people like that. No one ever talked about her, y’know? I hear more about my dad—about the Fourth Hokage—than I ever do about her. What did she do? What was she like?”

Shizune let out a quiet sigh, her gaze softening as she looked over at Naruto. “Your mother was a legendary kunoichi in her own right, Naruto. If she had more time, she would’ve surpassed even the Legendary Sannin in power.”

Jiraiya nodded in agreement, his usually carefree demeanor momentarily gone, replaced with a grave seriousness. “The village buried everything about Kushina, though. People forget how much she did, how strong she was. Because she was a jinchuriki, people didn’t want to acknowledge her accomplishments.”

“That’s messed up,” Sakura said, her brows furrowed in frustration. “She should’ve been remembered for what she did, not who she was.”

Harry, running just behind her, scoffed in agreement. “Sounds like something the village would do, doesn’t it? Pretend certain things never happened.”

Sasuke, ever observant, kept his eyes on the path ahead as they raced from one rooftop to the next. “The Hidden Leaf is great at burying things they don’t like—especially the parts of history that don’t fit their narrative.”

Team 7 fell silent, each of them contemplating the unfairness of it all. The air felt heavier now, filled with the weight of forgotten legacies and the tragedy of lost heroes. But there was no time for mourning now—there was a race to stop Tsunade from making a decision that could change everything.

“Focus,” Jiraiya barked, his voice cutting through the stillness. “We’ll have time to process everything later. Right now, we need to find Tsunade.”

And so they ran, their footsteps echoing through the alleys of Konoha, the stakes higher than ever before. They were running against time, against Orochimaru’s manipulations, and against the ghosts of the past.

Tsunade’s heart raced with a mixture of anticipation and dread as she approached the secluded clearing where Orochimaru awaited her. The air around them was still, thick with the tension of an unspoken agreement. She could feel the weight of the moment bearing down on her. This was a decision that could change everything.

Orochimaru was already standing there, his cold, calculating eyes fixed on her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He didn’t speak immediately, simply waiting for her to make her choice. Tsunade’s gaze flicked to his right, where Kabuto stood as usual—like a guard dog, silent and watchful, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Tsunade’s lips curled into a slight frown. “I’ll heal your arms,” she said, her voice sharp. “But you have to swear to the Sages themselves that you will stay away from the Hidden Leaf. You understand me?”

Orochimaru tilted his head slightly, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. “Of course.” His tone was smooth, almost too smooth, but the lie was clear in his voice. Tsunade didn’t miss it, and neither did anyone else who was paying attention.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes, her hand tightening into a fist at her side. “No games, Orochimaru. Swear it.”

For a brief moment, Orochimaru’s eyes flickered, but he gave a small nod. “I swear,” he said, his voice smooth, but it was laced with malice.

Slowly, agonizingly, Orochimaru lifted his limp, dead arms, offering them to her like a man presenting himself for execution. His face twisted in discomfort, but his eyes remained eerily calm.

But before Tsunade could react, there was a flash of white and blue—a blur in her peripheral vision. For a split second, she thought it was Kushina, standing before her, but her heart sank when she realized it was none other than—

“Naruto!” Tsunade barked in surprise.

The young Uzumaki had rushed forward with relentless speed, a flash of metal gleaming in the sunlight as he stabbed his Hiraishin Kunai through Orochimaru’s arm, the blade sinking deep into his flesh with a sickening crunch. The force of his attack sent Orochimaru stumbling back, a grimace twisting his features.

Naruto didn’t give him a moment to recover. With a swift kick, he slammed his foot into Orochimaru’s chest, sending the Sannin flying backwards, crashing into the ground with a resounding thud.

Orochimaru barely had time to react before Kabuto was there, his face twisted in frustration. In an instant, Kabuto leapt forward, placing himself between Orochimaru and Naruto, his eyes flashing with a mix of anger and determination.

The rest of Team 7, along with Jiraiya and Shizune, had followed Naruto’s lead, rushing into the clearing, weapons drawn and ready for battle. Tsunade’s eyes widened when she saw them.

“What are you doing here?” Tsunade demanded, her voice sharp. “This doesn’t concern you!”

Jiraiya, his face grim, didn’t hesitate to respond. “It does now,” he said, his tone serious. “You need to understand, Tsunade. When Orochimaru brings the dead back to life, they become nothing more than tools—puppets on strings. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. He resurrected the First, Second, and Fourth Hokage—controlled them like marionettes.”

Tsunade’s expression faltered, her eyes narrowing in disbelief. “What...?”

Jiraiya stepped forward, his eyes locking with hers. “They had no free will. Orochimaru commanded them, and they had no choice but to obey. If he brings Kushina back, it won’t be her, Tsunade. It’ll just be another puppet in his twisted game.”

For a moment, Tsunade stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest. Her breath caught in her throat as Jiraiya’s words slowly sank in. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out at first.

Orochimaru, however, didn’t hesitate. He simply gave a sly smile and said, “It’s true. You’re not foolish enough to believe I would bring someone back for free, are you?”

Kabuto moved to protect Orochimaru, stepping in front of him with a defensive posture. Tsunade’s face darkened, her fury rising like a storm. She clenched her fists, the veins in her neck bulging with rage.

“You lying bastard!” she hissed, her voice dripping with venom. Without another word, Tsunade moved like a blur. She crossed the distance between her and Kabuto in a flash, her fist shooting forward with the force of a cannon.

But Kabuto, with surprising speed, managed to grab Orochimaru by the arm, pulling him out of the way just in time. Tsunade’s punch collided with the ground instead, sending a shockwave that cracked the earth beneath her.

The entire area trembled as the ground caved in from the sheer force of her blow. Team 7 watched in stunned silence as Tsunade, panting with rage, stood over the newly-formed crater.

“Tsunade,” Harry said, blinking. “Does this mean you’re not going to heal Orochimaru’s arms anymore?”

Everyone turned to him, deadpanning as if the answer was the most obvious thing in the world.

Tsunade, still breathing heavily, scowled. “We need a plan.” She looked at each of them, her expression turning serious, though there was a flicker of frustration in her eyes.

Naruto cracked his knuckles, grinning fiercely. “We should just cave that bastard’s face in! That’d be a good start!”

Sakura’s eyes hardened, an aura of killing intent radiating from her. “I agree,” she said, her voice cold and sharp. Her hands clenched into fists, and her chakra flared briefly, her Cursed Seal of Heaven pulsing with dark energy as her emotions spiraled.

Sasuke tilted his head, eyes narrowing. After a moment of consideration, he shrugged his shoulders. “Works for me.”

Harry sighed, rolling his eyes. “That’s not a plan. But... I do agree that we need to take him down.”

Tsunade snorted. “Fine,” she said with a dry laugh. “But if you’re going to be reckless, you’re all going to do it my way.”

Without waiting for a response, Tsunade launched herself into the air, her powerful legs pushing her off the ground with ease. The trees around her shattered from the force of her leap, the air crackling with energy as she soared high above the forest.

Jiraiya, Team 7, Shizune, and Tonton followed her quickly, leaping to the rooftops and trees to gain better positioning.

As they reached the clearing, Tsunade cleared the entire forest with one massive punch, sending shockwaves through the earth that split trees in half and sent rocks tumbling. The landscape was transformed into a barren field, and there, standing in the center, were Orochimaru and Kabuto.

Orochimaru smiled, unfazed by the destruction. “How... predictable.”

“Enough games,” Tsunade said, her voice like steel. “Let’s end this.”

And with that, the battle began.

Orochimaru clicked his tongue in frustration, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the battlefield. His arms were useless—lifeless, hanging at his sides. The potent chakra that once surged through them was gone, stolen by the relentless power of Tsunade's punch. He was vulnerable. Without missing a beat, Kabuto, ever the loyal assistant, wasted no time. He slammed his hand onto the ground, forming the necessary seals with practiced ease. The earth cracked beneath him as a massive cloud of smoke erupted, engulfing the clearing.

With a hiss, a massive serpent—a beast far larger than anything Team 7 had ever seen—rose from the smoke, its eyes gleaming with malice. Orochimaru smirked, looking pleased despite his apparent weakness. His lips curled into a twisted grin as he slowly stepped toward the snake, its tail coiling around him protectively.

Jiraiya’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t hesitate. With a deep breath, he slammed his hands onto the ground. “Summoning Jutsu!”

A puff of smoke erupted from beneath him, and out of it emerged Gamabunta, the mighty toad, his massive form landing with a loud crash. His red eyes glowed as he let out a resounding croak, his sword strapped to his back gleaming in the sunlight.

Tsunade wasn’t far behind, and with a deep exhale, she too performed the summoning jutsu, her chakra flaring as the earth trembled beneath her. A massive slug, the size of a small mountain, appeared beside her, its slime-covered body glistening in the sunlight.

The battlefield was now set—two Sannins standing against each other, their legendary summons by their sides. The tension was thick, the weight of the battle pressing down on the very air itself.

Team 7 and Shizune, however, were left standing at the edge of the battlefield, their eyes wide in awe and confusion. They were spectators in a clash of titans, unsure of how they could contribute.

Shizune frowned deeply, her brow furrowing in concern. "Stay out of this. This is a battle between Legendary Sannin. You’re just in the way now.”

“Stay out of it?” Naruto’s voice was incredulous, and the rest of Team 7 exchanged looks of disbelief.

“We’re not staying out of it!” Sakura snapped, her fists clenched at her sides. “We’ve been through too much to just stand by and do nothing!”

Naruto nodded vehemently. “Yeah! No way we’re letting them have all the fun!”

Harry, his mind racing with possibilities, suddenly had an idea. “Wait a minute,” he said, his voice sharp and focused. “I think we might be able to do something... Sasuke, you and I—we combine the Lightning Blade and Chidori!”

Sasuke’s eyes narrowed as he turned to Harry. “You think that’s a good idea?”

Sakura’s eyes widened in concern. “Wait, that’s insane! You could die!”

Harry shrugged with a grin. “Not planning on dying anytime soon, Sakura. Just need to not get in the way of these two lunatics...” He looked at Sasuke. “Ready?”

Sasuke gave a low grunt of agreement, the corners of his lips curling slightly in a way that could almost be considered a smirk.

Naruto, with the help of his shadow clones, quickly jumped into action. The clones worked together to grab Harry and Sasuke, lifting them into the air. “Don’t die, you idiots!” Naruto called, his voice hoarse with concern as he looked up at them.

Sakura’s hands were shaking slightly, but she nodded, her face pale. “Just... just don’t die, okay?”

Harry smiled brightly, offering her a wink. “We won’t.”

With a powerful push, Naruto and his clones threw Harry and Sasuke high into the air. Both of them shot upwards like arrows, soaring through the sky at breakneck speed.

“This is a bad idea!” Harry screamed over the roar of the wind, his heart hammering in his chest as he gripped his katana tightly. His breath came in ragged bursts as he adjusted his stance.

Sasuke, beside him, shot him a glance. “Shut up!” he barked, his hand already forming the seals for the Chidori.

They were rapidly approaching the ground, a perfect line of destruction ahead of them.

The moment they reached the apex of their leap, Sasuke unleashed his Chidori, the electric blue sphere of energy crackling violently in his palm. Harry, not missing a beat, channeled his chakra into his katana, the blade crackling with bright, lethal electricity as he activated the Lightning Blade. The two jutsus collided in a violent fusion of raw, destructive energy.

A deafening roar of thunder and lightning erupted from their combined attacks. The wind screamed around them as they descended toward Orochimaru and Kabuto, their bodies mere blurs in the sky. The crackling, sparking energy between them felt like a storm made flesh.

“What the hell are they doing?” Tsunade’s voice was filled with shock, her eyes widening in realization. She watched helplessly, her breath caught in her throat. “That power—they’ll cause an explosion, a massive one!”

Jiraiya’s face paled as he watched. “Harry, Sasuke...” he muttered under his breath. “This could kill them...”

Kabuto’s eyes widened as the lightning tore through the air, rapidly closing the distance between them. Orochimaru’s expression darkened, realizing that the combined force of these two young shinobi could level everything around them.

There was no time for retreat.

The energy built to a crescendo, a blinding light washing over everything.

Everything froze.

For a split second, Harry’s life flashed before his eyes. He saw his childhood, his first steps into the ninja world, his friendships, his struggles, his triumphs—and Sasuke, standing beside him in this final, desperate moment. Harry’s lips curled into a small smile. If I die... at least I’m dying beside my best friend.

Sasuke’s eyes softened, his gaze meeting Harry’s for the briefest moment. Without saying a word, he pushed forward, his Chidori surging with more intensity, matching Harry’s Lightning Blade. They were unstoppable now, a force of nature, one final attack fueled by years of growth and understanding.

The air around them trembled, the explosion of power too great for the human eye to comprehend. Everything around them seemed to distort—trees shook, the ground cracked, and the very sky seemed to warp under the sheer pressure.

Then—BOOM!

The earth shook violently, the shockwave blasting outward in all directions, sending debris and smoke swirling into the air. Tsunade and Jiraiya shielded their eyes from the blinding light. The force of the explosion created a crater beneath them, a visible reminder of just how much destruction the two boys had unleashed.

And then, as the smoke cleared... nothing.

No sign of Harry. No sign of Sasuke.

Tsunade stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest. Jiraiya could only stare at the wreckage, his mind racing.

They had to wait.

But for how long?