Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

"Looks like you wrapped things up over here too?"

Kakashi walked over carrying Kakuzu's severed head by the hair.

After taking one look at the devastation surrounding Naruto and the others, he clicked his tongue.

"The Akatsuki really know how to make a mess."

"Naruto did that."

Sasuke, his injured hand wrapped in fresh bandages, added the clarification with a completely expressionless face.

Kakashi fell silent for a moment.

Then he sighed.

"...Maybe Naruto's more terrifying than the Akatsuki."

After hearing Hinata's explanation of everything that had happened, Mei finally understood just how absurd this team's combat power truly was.

Her eyes drifted toward the head in Kakashi's hand.

Finished?

Kakashi understood the unspoken question.

"He escaped."

"The technique he uses is bizarre."

"I've heard of lizards sacrificing their tails to survive."

"Never heard of someone surviving by sacrificing their head."

He turned the head around.

The interior wasn't filled with organs.

Instead, writhing black tendrils twisted through the cavity while blood continued to seep from within.

The sight was enough to make anyone uncomfortable.

"His internal structure is completely abnormal."

"There aren't any organs in there."

"Unfortunately, by the time I realized something was wrong, his body had already disappeared."

Kakashi shrugged.

"First time I've ever seen something like that."

"At least we still have the head."

He lifted it slightly.

"Maybe Konoha's Intelligence Division can learn something from it."

The group then made their way toward Naruto and Hidan.

What they found was completely unexpected.

Naruto was sitting atop a massive boulder.

He was drawing strange markings across its surface with intense concentration.

Meanwhile, several Shadow Clones bounced through nearby trees collecting something.

"Naruto?"

"What are you doing?"

"Oh, everyone's here!"

Naruto looked up and waved.

Then he jumped down from the rock and shouted toward it.

"Hold on! The sealing isn't finished yet!"

"Mmph! Mmmph!"

A muffled response came from beneath the boulder.

No one could understand a word.

"Naruto..."

Kakashi stared.

"Where's the Akatsuki member?"

"Under the rock."

Naruto pointed casually.

"I don't know whether he has any weird abilities left, so I figured direct contact wasn't a good idea."

"Right now he's being pinned down."

"I'm also collecting all the body parts."

"Once I've got everything, I'll seal him inside the stone."

Mei blinked.

"You know sealing techniques too?"

"Just a little."

Naruto scratched his head modestly.

Then he immediately pointed toward one of his clones.

"Hey!"

"I think one of his fingers landed in that tree over there when I kicked him earlier."

"Go check."

"Do it yourself!"

The clone complained while reluctantly searching through branches.

"You're always ordering your Shadow Clones around!"

Even while grumbling, it still went to look.

Watching all of this, Mei couldn't help recalling the techniques Naruto had used earlier.

How old is this kid, exactly?

Naruto suddenly noticed Kakuzu's head.

"Huh?"

"What's with the head?"

"Kakashi-sensei, did you guys finish too?"

"More or less."

Kakashi handed it over.

"Not as cleanly as your fight."

"He still escaped."

"Once you're done here, I'll need you to send both this and the one under the rock back to Konoha."

Naruto accepted the head with obvious disgust.

"Ugh..."

After a moment of consideration, he placed it on top of the boulder.

A Shadow Clone could deal with it later.

Some time later...

Inside the Hokage's Office.

Ever since the advisors had been removed from power, most village matters were now discussed between the Third Hokage and senior jōnin such as Nara Shikaku.

Everyone could see it.

The endless workload was visibly aging Hiruzen.

"The Chūnin Exams hosted by Kirigakure will begin soon."

Hiruzen reviewed a document.

"Have the participating teams been finalized?"

"They have."

Shikaku nodded.

"Shibi and Kurenai will serve as team leaders."

"Since the exams are being held outside the village, sending two teams should properly demonstrate Konoha's goodwill."

"Good."

Hiruzen set the document aside.

"Then let's proceed with that arrangement."

He turned toward Shikaku.

"Any new information regarding the Akatsuki?"

Shikaku's expression darkened.

"The more we investigate them, the more frightening they appear."

He tapped the intelligence report in front of him.

"We've deployed a significant number of ANBU and jōnin teams."

"Yet we've learned almost nothing."

"Most of our information only concerns jobs they've completed."

"Their members, abilities, and internal structure remain extremely well hidden."

Asuma crossed his arms.

"Could we hire them for a mission and ambush them?"

Kurenai considered the idea.

"Their intermediaries are too cautious."

Asuma shook his head.

"It's difficult."

Shikaku nodded in agreement.

"Most of their contracts involve isolated assassinations or sabotage missions."

"Setting up a trap in advance isn't easy."

Hiruzen sighed.

"So we still have no reliable way of tracking them."

The discussion lasted only a short while.

For Konoha, the Akatsuki simply wasn't the most immediate threat at the moment.

They were just about to move on to the next topic when hurried footsteps echoed from outside.

BANG!

The office doors burst open.

Raidō Namiashi, one of the Hokage's guards, rushed inside.

He was breathing hard.

Clearly shocked.

"What's wrong?"

Hiruzen frowned.

"You're in quite a hurry."

Raidō swallowed.

"It's Kakashi's team."

"No..."

"Uzumaki Naruto."

"He captured an Akatsuki member and brought him back to Konoha."

"What?!"

Meanwhile...

Konoha Torture and Interrogation Department.

"Chief Ibiki, you're back!"

"Mm."

The scar-covered giant in black clothing strode confidently down the hallway.

Morio Ibiki's intimidating presence filled the entire corridor.

"I was hoping for a day off."

"Instead I get something this interesting."

"Is the prisoner already in the interrogation room?"

"Yes, sir."

The subordinate nodded.

"The Hokage himself visited earlier."

"He instructed us to obtain every piece of important intelligence regarding the Akatsuki."

Ibiki grinned.

It was not a pleasant smile.

"As long as he knows it..."

"I'll make him tell us."

"Every."

"Single."

"Word."

Even the subordinate felt a chill run down his spine.

Ibiki's methods were infamous.

Even within the Interrogation Division itself.

Nobody lasts long under the Chief.

Nobody.

The interrogation chamber was dark and oppressive.

The air smelled of decay and blood.

Cruel-looking instruments lined the walls.

Some still carried fresh stains.

If one listened carefully, distant screams echoed from somewhere deeper within the facility.

The sound alone was enough to shatter weaker minds.

Suspended by chains in the center of the room, Hidan slowly surveyed his surroundings.

His expression changed.

Countless emotions filled his eyes.

This atmosphere...

This smell...

This suffocating feeling...

A nostalgic smile spread across his face.

"Ah... youth."

He suddenly felt sentimental.

The headquarters of the Jashin cult had looked almost exactly like this.

Even the distant screams sounded familiar.

"Good times."

"If I hadn't joined the Akatsuki, I never would've met that blond monster."

"I could've stayed in the Land of Hot Water and preached peacefully."

Hidan sighed deeply.

"What a shame."

Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> [email protected]/AiraTales7 (replace @ with a)