"A hot-blooded idiot who keeps shouting about becoming Hokage but was late for both school and graduation."
Kakashi gazed at the sky, his voice tinged with nostalgia and self-reproach.
"He was an excellent shinobi."
"This eye... it was the best gift."
Sasuke frowned deeply.
"You're saying he wanted to be Hokage?"
"And he was late for both the Academy and graduation?"
"Kakashi, are you sure you're talking about an Uchiha?"
"Also, aren't you the one who's always late?"
Sasuke was skeptical about the person Kakashi was describing.
Naruto chuckled. "Yeah, Kakashi-sensei, you're always late. Did you mix things up? The Uchiha... aren't really the tardy type."
Sakura nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Uchiha are usually super disciplined. This seems way too out of character."
Kakashi sighed. "I know, I know. I thought the same thing at first. But later, I realized that every time Obito was late, it was because he was helping elderly people on his way."
"In short, that guy never really seemed like a typical Uchiha."
Naruto frowned. Could it be that all those old grandmothers and grandfathers Obito helped were actually White Zetsu clones in disguise?
Maybe the goal was to shape him into Madara's successor.
Considering Obito's personality—soft-hearted and emotional—he really was the perfect candidate.
Meanwhile, Tazuna, who had been standing off to the side, awkwardly scratched his head, unable to keep up with the conversation.
After a short rest, Naruto stood up.
"Alright, Sasuke, you'll be carrying Kakashi from now on."
"The Sharingan isn't all-powerful. You still need to train your physical endurance."
"Sakura, I'll switch with you."
Sakura immediately protested. "No way! I don't want to carry Kakashi-sensei! Besides, men and women shouldn't be that close!"
Sasuke almost rolled his eyes. "...Really?"
Finally, Tazuna raised his hand. "I'll do it. I haven't contributed much, and I feel bad about it."
So, in the end, Kakashi was carried on Tazuna's back while Sasuke led the way ahead.
The task Naruto gave Sasuke was simple: get used to high-speed movement without relying on the Sharingan. Once he activated it, the practice would pay off.
Sasuke agreed without hesitation.
At first, clearing the path was easy, but after a few kilometers, he was panting heavily.
Naruto, noticing Sasuke's struggle, suggested, "Just use a shadow clone instead. It works the same way."
Sasuke stubbornly refused but ultimately gave in when he nearly collapsed from exhaustion.
When they finally arrived at Tazuna's house, the first thing they did was lay Kakashi down.
"Kakashi-sensei, do you really need to rest for a few days?" Naruto asked, unimpressed.
Sakura scoffed. "Seriously, no wonder people say first impressions matter. We've been traveling together for two months now, and you haven't seemed reliable even once!"
Tazuna chuckled. "Back in the Hokage's office, I was told the white-haired kid seemed trustworthy. Guess I misjudged."
Kakashi sighed. "Yeah, yeah. I need a few days. Pushing my limits with the Sharingan has consequences."
Sakura rolled her eyes. "You always say things in the most roundabout way. Just admit you overused it and need to recover."
Naruto smirked. "By the way, Kakashi-sensei, meditation doesn't require movement. Your chakra control training—"
"I know, I know! Naruto-sensei, I'll do it!" Kakashi interrupted, waving him off.
"You also don't need to keep your Sharingan covered all the time," Naruto added. "Try getting used to having it open."
Kakashi groaned. "Ugh, fine, but you know how much chakra it—"
"You'll be fine," Sakura interrupted. "Besides, it's not like we're the ones eating all the rations. You should be the one carrying extra supplies!"
Tazuna chuckled. "Don't worry, Kakashi. The Land of Waves might be poor, but we can at least keep you well-fed."
As the conversation continued, Sasuke sat off to the side, glancing at Sakura.
He couldn't help but notice how much she had improved.
Even though he had awakened his Sharingan, her raw strength and combat ability had increased at an alarming rate.
Damn it, I can't even beat Naruto, and now I'm falling behind Sakura too?!
Clenching his fists, he suddenly turned to Tazuna. "When do we start building the bridge?"
Tazuna blinked, taken aback. "Uh... we just got here? Can't we rest for a moment?"
Sakura perked up. "Yeah! Mr. Tazuna, I'm strong! I can help too!"
Sasuke frowned. "I'll go first today."
"But, Sasuke, I feel great! I don't need a break, so why don't I go first?"
Sasuke's eye twitched. Is she rejecting me?
"Then let's go together," he said flatly.
Naruto sighed. "More haste, less speed. Figure out who goes first and who follows. Remember, your main job is protecting Tazuna."
"He's right," Sakura agreed. "You go first, Sasuke. I need to practice my medical ninjutsu anyway."
She turned to Kakashi with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Sensei, you must be exhausted, right? Let me help..."
Kakashi's face twisted in horror as he watched Sakura extend her hand towards him. The image of Zabuza's water clone exploding flashed repeatedly in his mind.
"Ahem, Sakura, I'm just physically exhausted. I'll be fine after a few days of rest. I'm not injured."
Sakura frowned and withdrew her hand, deactivating her Palm Sage Technique. "Hiss... Sensei, your body is too weak, isn't it?"
Kakashi's face turned red instantly, but he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling creeping up his spine. Could it be... that there really was a problem?
His vision blurred as his blood pressure spiked. Within moments, he collapsed unconscious.
Sakura, oblivious to his plight, grinned and turned to leave. "I'll go catch some fish and get some practice in."
Only after she was gone did Kakashi crack an eye open and sigh. Shaking his head, he closed his eyes and began to meditate.
"Come, Dazna. I'll keep you safe today."
"Eat first, eat first," Dazna replied quickly, waving him toward the food.
As they settled down for the meal, Sakura returned, carrying a few large fish.
"It's pointless!"
A child's voice rang out as a small figure appeared at the door.
"Inari, where have you been?" Tsunami called out. "Come and sit down. These are the shinobi protecting your grandfather."
"It's useless," Inari muttered. He ran over to Dazna, clinging to his grandfather before turning to glare at Sasuke.
Tsunami frowned and scolded him, "Inari, don't be rude!"
"But, Mom… they'll be killed by Gato. Anyone who goes against him ends up dead."
There was no point in arguing. They would act in a few days—once Kurama had fully mapped out Gato's assets.
"For now, let's eat first," Dazna said, patting his grandson's head before glancing at Naruto and the others apologetically.
The story unfolded much like the original events, except this time, the rogue ninjas causing trouble were swiftly handled by Jiraiya and Sakura.
No stronger adversaries emerged, and Gato's orders had yet to come down. With Jiraiya and Sakura aiding the bridge construction, progress had more than doubled.
A few days passed.
Naruto sat by the river, fishing while meditating.
A quiet presence approached from behind. Bai, now without a mask and dressed in more feminine attire, spoke softly.
"Naruto-sama, Gato is dead. Kurama-sama has already secured all his assets."
Naruto opened his eyes slightly. "Good. Go assist Kurama for now—it's short on manpower. With you there, it'll be easier to replenish chakra."
He glanced back at Bai and added, "Also, eliminate the rogue shinobi. Keep a few who aren't completely hopeless, and have them spread the news that Gato was assassinated by his own mercenaries and that his fortune has vanished."
Bai hesitated. "Isn't that… too obvious?"
Naruto smirked. "It doesn't matter. By the time they trace the money, you'll be long gone. A low-level trick, but effective."
Bai nodded. "Understood. The faster the news spreads, the sooner more bridge workers will arrive."
With that, Bai vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.
Meanwhile, deep in a hidden chamber, Kurama reveled in his newfound wealth. Compared to Gato's hoard, the Uchiha clan's finances were insignificant in comparison.
Half a day later, the news reached the Land of Waves.
"Mom! Gato is dead!"
Tsunami turned in shock. "What did you say?"
"It's true! He was killed by his own hired shinobi!"
Tears welled in Tsunami's eyes. "Finally... Father's revenge has been fulfilled!"
Mother and son embraced, crying in relief.
On the bridge, a wave of cheers erupted among the workers, their laughter and cries of joy echoing across the water.
A few days later, Sasuke stood beside Naruto, frustration evident in his expression.
"Naruto, please! I need to become stronger!"
Naruto didn't need to ask what had provoked him. It was obviously Sakura again.
"If I can't even surpass her… how can I ever hope to take revenge on that man?" Sasuke clenched his fists. "I've learned Chidori, but I can't even land a hit with it!"
Without a word, Naruto raised his hand. In an instant, a massive boulder materialized before Sasuke.
"Carry this around the entire Land of Waves and return within three days. Do that, and I'll teach you the nature transformation of Lightning Release."
Sasuke stared at the rock, eyes widening. "You're kidding."
Naruto ignored him, raising his palm. A sudden crackling sound filled the air as a concentrated sphere of Chidori formed in his hand. The chirping of a thousand birds rang out before arcs of lightning shot forth, piercing a nearby tree trunk with ease.
Sasuke's breath hitched. Naruto's Chidori wasn't just powerful—it was nearly twice as strong as his own.
"Tch. Fine!" Gritting his teeth, Sasuke prepared to lift the rock.
"Oh, and one more thing," Naruto added, a smirk playing on his lips. "Put Kakashi on top of it."
Sasuke's face darkened. "What?!"
"Supervise his meditation. Also, have him teach you the first three gates of the Eight Gates. You've unlocked your Sharingan, so you should be able to learn."
"The Eight Gates…?" Sasuke hesitated. He didn't fully understand, but if it would make him stronger, he had no reason to refuse.
Reluctantly, he accepted the task, hoisting the unconscious Kakashi onto the boulder before setting off.
Not long after, Sakura approached Naruto.
"Naruto-kun! I want to get stronger too! I won't let Sasuke surpass me!"
Naruto: "..."
Of course. This is great. Truly fantastic.
But it was time to take things further.
Naruto had spent this period letting his body recover in preparation for awakening his bloodline powers.
The Uzumaki clan's Adamantine Sealing Chains and Kagura's Mind's Eye.
The Adamantine Chains alone were enough to completely suppress the Nine-Tails—even when Kushina's health was failing, she had held the beast down effortlessly. The damage Kurama suffered within her sealed space was proof of how formidable her bloodline was.
And yet, despite inheriting Kushina's bloodline, Naruto bore the surname of his father, Namikaze Minato—a clan with no particular renown.
Naruto's golden hair matched Minato's, but if lineage determined power, then the truth was clear.
Senju Naruto.
Otherwise, how else could he be the reincarnation of Asura?
"If it's Adamantine Chains, then let's test it on the Nine-Tails later."