Chapter 4
Chapter 4: The Path We Chose
Naruto sighed as she trudged along the dirt path near the border of Iwagakure, the weight of exhaustion evident in her shoulders. Pein had been relentless, sending them on one mission after another with no breaks, no mercy. Four years of hiding had left them with much to accomplish, and Pein clearly intended to make up for lost time.
Beside her, Kisame whistled a jaunty tune, the carefree melody a stark contrast to their grim situation. Naruto's blue eyes wandered to him, her mind briefly distracted from the harsh reality of their work. They had just finished a mission, successfully raiding a small daimyo’s treasury after eliminating him and dismantling his country. The spoils jingled faintly in the scroll on Kisame’s back.
"Ne, Naruto-hime," Kisame said suddenly, stopping his whistling. His sharp, shark-like grin softened slightly. "Do you ever regret the choices you’ve made in life?"
Naruto’s lips curved into a faint smirk, her gaze steady as she looked ahead. "Nope," she replied, her voice firm. "I’m dead set on what I want. I never hesitate."
Her confidence was absolute, but before Kisame could respond, her head snapped up, her senses sharp. "I feel three chakra signatures heading our way. BRACE YOURSELF!"
In an instant, the pair dropped into battle stances, their instincts honed by years of experience. The tension in the air thickened as their attackers crashed onto the scene. A man with a wicked grin and an Iwagakure forehead protector stepped forward, flanked by two others.
"Nice," the lead attacker sneered. "Kisame Hoshigaki from the Bingo Book—and Naruto Ureboshi, too! Bro, we’re gonna eat well tonight!"
Naruto’s sharp eyes assessed them quickly, her mind recalling their names and reputation. "The Iron Triplets," she muttered to Kisame. "Renowned for their Iron Release bloodline limit."
"Let’s see what they’ve got," Kisame replied with a grin, Samehada twitching eagerly on his back.
One of the triplets wasted no time. "Iron Style: Iron Needles!" he shouted, sending a barrage of sharp, metallic projectiles hurtling toward them. Naruto twisted her body to dodge, the needles slicing through the air dangerously close.
"Kisame!" she barked.
"Coming right up, Naru-hime!" Kisame grinned, forming hand seals with practiced speed. "Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" Despite the dry terrain, a massive dragon made of water roared into existence, crashing into the needles and halting their momentum.
Naruto, meanwhile, channeled her chakra into her legs and leaped toward one of the attackers. Her movements were fluid as she unsheathed Kusanagi, the blade gleaming ominously in the sunlight. She was ready to counter.
"Why are the two of you even traveling together?" one of the triplets jeered, raising his weapon. "No matter—you’re dead!"
Naruto smirked, her grip tightening on Kusanagi. "Bounty hunting, huh?" she said with a scoff, darting forward with deadly precision.
"Iron Style: Iron Staff!" One of the triplets formed a long bo staff from metal, meeting her blade in a clash of sparks. The force of their collision reverberated through the air, but Naruto twisted her body gracefully, breaking the deadlock and countering with a strike aimed at his side.
The battle was only beginning.