Chapter 268: Three Years of Training, Naruto's Death!
After a brief silence, there was nothing left for the group to do except return to Konoha.
They headed directly for the Hokage Building.
Naruto pushed open the office door and stepped inside.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat nearby on a small chair, while Tsunade occupied the desk that now belonged to the Fifth Hokage.
The moment Tsunade saw Naruto return, she visibly relaxed.
She leaned back and let out a long breath.
"Tell us everything that happened."
Naruto nodded.
He did not hide anything.
He explained how he had caught up with Sasuke, how the Sound Four had attacked him, how Sasuke had ultimately chosen to leave Konoha, and how Kimimaro had arrived afterward.
He even mentioned Asuramaru and the role his power had played.
By the time Naruto finished, Hiruzen's expression had grown grim.
Sasuke had left the village.
That alone was serious.
But for Hiruzen, there was another layer.
Years ago, he had made a promise concerning Sasuke's safety.
A promise to Uchiha Itachi.
Now Sasuke had willingly abandoned Konoha and entered Orochimaru's influence.
In Hiruzen's eyes, that meant he had failed to keep his word.
Tsunade was far less sentimental about it.
She rested one elbow on the desk.
"If Uchiha Sasuke has willingly abandoned Konoha, then classify him as a C Rank rogue ninja."
Naruto's expression shifted.
He opened his mouth.
For a moment, it looked like he wanted to argue.
In the end, he said nothing.
Sasuke had made his choice.
Naruto understood that better than anyone.
After clarifying everything, he turned and left the office.
The door closed behind him.
Tsunade picked up another document.
Then, without looking up, she spoke.
"Old man."
Hiruzen glanced toward her.
"What is it?"
"I've been reviewing recent intelligence."
Her expression became more serious.
"The Akatsuki have started capturing Jinchūriki."
Hiruzen nodded.
"The Seven Tails has already fallen into their hands."
Tsunade stopped reading.
"So it's true."
"Their objective is the tailed beasts?"
"Yes."
Hiruzen's voice was steady.
"They intend to gather all of them."
Tsunade frowned.
"And Naruto?"
"There is no immediate need to panic."
Hiruzen folded his hands.
"If their plan follows the pattern we expect, the Nine Tails will be one of the last targets they pursue."
Tsunade looked at him.
"How do you know that much?"
Hiruzen was silent for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"That is because…"
Elsewhere, Naruto walked out of the Hokage Building.
Jiraiya was already waiting outside.
The moment he saw Naruto, he grinned.
"Friend ran away and joined Orochimaru."
Naruto gave him a flat look.
Jiraiya continued.
"You look like you could use something to improve your mood."
He jerked his thumb toward the street.
"How about ramen?"
Naruto's expression softened.
"I'm hungry anyway."
He started walking.
"Let's go, Pervy Sage."
Jiraiya followed beside him.
The two moved through the village streets at an easy pace.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Jiraiya said,
"Naruto."
Naruto glanced over.
Jiraiya kept his eyes ahead.
"Give up on Sasuke."
Naruto's steps slowed slightly.
Jiraiya continued.
"That Uchiha brat chose his path."
"He may never come back."
His tone was casual, but the words carried more weight than he let on.
In many ways, Jiraiya was not only speaking about Sasuke.
He had once spent years believing Orochimaru could still be brought back.
He had failed.
Again and again.
And some part of him did not want Naruto to spend his life chasing after someone who had already chosen to walk away.
Naruto understood the warning.
But his answer came without hesitation.
"I believe Sasuke will return."
Jiraiya glanced toward him.
Naruto's gaze was firm.
"One day, he'll come back to Konoha."
Jiraiya studied him for a moment.
Then the corner of his mouth lifted.
"You really trust him that much?"
Naruto smiled.
"He's my friend."
Jiraiya sighed dramatically.
"Hopeless."
Naruto laughed.
Then Jiraiya's expression changed.
"Well, you won't have much time to worry about him anyway."
Naruto blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm taking you out of the village."
Naruto stopped walking.
"For a mission?"
"For training."
Jiraiya grinned.
"Three years."
Naruto stared at him.
"Three years?"
"That's right."
"So sudden?"
"You'll survive."
Jiraiya started walking again.
"Get ready."
Naruto stood there for a second.
Then he followed.
He did not resist the idea for long.
There was still too much he needed to learn.
The next morning, after saying goodbye to everyone who mattered, Naruto left Konoha with Jiraiya.
The village gates slowly disappeared behind them.
A new journey began.
Back in Konoha, Tsunade made her own decision.
She took Sakura Haruno as her student.
And far away from the village, Sasuke eventually reached Orochimaru.
Under the Sannin's guidance, Sasuke also began his own training.
Different paths.
Different teachers.
Different reasons.
But both boys were moving toward the same thing.
Strength.
Three years passed.
Konoha's gates came into view beneath the afternoon sun.
Two figures approached from the road.
Jiraiya looked almost exactly the same as before.
He stared at the village entrance and stretched his arms.
"Finally."
His grin returned almost immediately.
"It's been far too long."
Then he glanced toward Naruto.
"What do you say we head straight to a bathhouse?"
Naruto sighed.
"Pervy Sage."
"What?"
"Is that really the first thing you want to do after coming back?"
Jiraiya looked offended.
"I'm talking about research."
"Of course you are."
Naruto shook his head.
The boy who had left Konoha three years ago was gone.
Naruto now stood around one point seven metres tall.
His blond hair had grown to his neck, with loose bangs framing the sides of his face.
His features had sharpened with age, though there was still an approachable gentleness to his expression.
A pitch black cloak rested over black and white clothing.
A sword hung at his waist.
Jiraiya looked at him from the side.
Then he grinned.
"You know, I'm more worried about you than the bathhouse."
Naruto glanced over.
"What now?"
"You're going to cause trouble."
"With who?"
"Every young woman in the village."
Naruto gave him a tired look.
Jiraiya continued.
"With a face like that, you're going to have girls following you everywhere."
Naruto ignored him and kept walking.
Inside the sword at his waist, Asuramaru stretched lazily.
Three years.
Naruto had changed enormously.
His strength had firmly entered the Kage level.
He had mastered nearly all of the ninjutsu Minato had left behind.
Flying Thunder God.
Rasengan.
Numerous supporting techniques.
His combat experience had grown.
His reactions had sharpened.
His chakra control had improved.
He had even completed the Rasenshuriken.
In many ways, Naruto had become an enhanced version of Minato Namikaze.
There was only one thing Asuramaru still found strange.
Sage Mode.
Jiraiya had never taught it to him.
Asuramaru had no idea what the man was waiting for.
Outside, Naruto and Jiraiya entered Konoha.
The village streets felt familiar and different at the same time.
People had changed.
Shops had changed.
Children Naruto did not recognize ran through the roads.
And as he passed, more than a few young women turned their heads.
Some stared openly.
Others whispered.
A few blushed.
Jiraiya watched the entire scene with increasing resentment.
He looked at Naruto.
Then at himself.
Then back at the women.
"I'm handsome too."
Naruto pretended not to hear him.
Jiraiya muttered under his breath.
"Not one of them even looked at me."
Naruto continued walking.
The two eventually reached the Hokage Building.
They entered Tsunade's office.
Stacks of documents covered the desk.
Tsunade was buried in official work.
She looked up.
Her eyes widened.
"Jiraiya?"
Then her gaze shifted.
"Naruto?"
She stared for another second.
"You really came back."
Naruto smiled.
"Long time no see, Granny Tsunade."
Tsunade's eye twitched.
Then she looked him over carefully.
"You've changed so much I almost didn't recognize you."
Jiraiya grinned.
"The three years of training are over."
He placed his hands behind his head.
"We're staying in the village for now."
Then his expression brightened.
"Want to go drinking tonight?"
Tsunade stood up immediately.
"Why wait until tonight?"
Jiraiya blinked.
Tsunade was already walking around the desk.
"Let's go now."
Shizune's expression changed.
"Lady Tsunade!"
Tsunade ignored her.
"There are still documents everywhere!"
No response.
"Lady Tsunade, your work isn't finished!"
Tsunade kept walking.
Jiraiya laughed and followed.
What looked like a reunion drink was, in truth, simply Tsunade seizing the first available excuse to escape her paperwork.
Naruto chose not to join them.
He returned home alone.
When he opened the door, he paused.
The place was clean.
Very clean.
He had half expected dust and disorder after three years away.
Instead, everything was maintained with surprising care.
Naruto did not dwell on it.
He entered, removed the sword from his waist, and sat down.
Then he took out a whetstone.
Ryūjin Jakka rested across his lap.
Naruto began sharpening the sword carefully.
Scrape.
Scrape.
Scrape.
After a few strokes, he asked,
"Asuramaru."
"What?"
"How's the pressure?"
"A little higher."
Naruto adjusted his hand.
"And use more force."
Naruto obeyed.
Scrape.
Scrape.
After years of practice, his sharpening technique had become absurdly refined.
At this point, even Haganezuka would have had little to complain about.
Time continued passing.
Naruto reunited with old friends.
He returned to familiar training grounds.
He adjusted to life in Konoha once more.
For a short while, everything felt peaceful.
Then, one month later, the village mobilized.
Orders moved rapidly through Konoha.
Shinobi units were dispatched.
Messengers ran between departments.
Naruto was summoned to the Hokage Building.
When he entered Tsunade's office, three others were already there.
Sakura.
Neji Hyūga.
Rock Lee.
Tsunade stood before them.
Her expression was serious.
"The situation has become dangerous."
No one spoke.
Tsunade continued.
"An Immortal Army has appeared in the Land of Demons."
"They are advancing through multiple countries and causing destruction wherever they go."
Naruto's eyes narrowed.
Tsunade looked across the group.
"Your team leaders are already moving."
"Kakashi and Might Guy have joined the main interception force and are heading toward the front lines."
Sakura straightened.
Neji's expression sharpened.
Lee clenched one fist.
Tsunade continued.
"You four will carry out a separate mission."
Naruto watched her.
Tsunade's gaze became grave.
"Your objective is…"
....
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