The Hokage's office, now Tsunade's, held an air of transition. The familiar scrolls and maps were rearranged, reflecting her pragmatic approach to leadership. Sunlight streamed through the large window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air, a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere within. Tsunade sat behind the desk, her expression a mix of weariness and resolve, while Hiruzen Sarutobi stood before her, his aged face etched with concern.
"It's… strange," Tsunade murmured, her voice laced with a hint of disbelief. "Sitting here, in this chair."
Hiruzen offered a sad smile. "You're adjusting well," he said, his voice gentle. "But there are matters we must discuss." He paused, his gaze hardening. "Orochimaru… he has fallen further than I feared."
Tsunade's emerald eyes narrowed. "Jiraiya told me," she said, her voice tight. "He used Edo Tensei. On my grandfathers."
"Yes," Hiruzen confirmed, his voice heavy. "The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. He desecrated their remains."
Tsunade's hand clenched into a fist, her knuckles white. "That bastard," she hissed, her voice filled with a simmering rage. "He will pay for this."
Hiruzen sighed. "I know your anger is justified," he said. "But we must focus on the present. Speaking of the present… is your hemophobia still… problematic?"
Tsunade's expression shifted, a flicker of unease crossing her face. "It was," she admitted, her voice low. "But… during our journey, we encountered… some dangerous individuals. They called themselves the Akatsuki."
Hiruzen's eyes widened, a flicker of confusion crossing his features. "The Akatsuki?" he repeated, his voice laced with concern. "I have never heard of them."
"They were wearing black cloaks with red clouds," Tsunade continued, her voice steady but laced with a hint of lingering unease. "We encountered Itachi Uchiha and a missing-nin from Kirigakure named Kisame Hoshigaki. And their target… was Naruto."
She recounted the encounter, her voice tight. "Shizune was injured," she said, her voice strained. "Her blood… it triggered my phobia. I was… useless."
She paused, her gaze hardening. "But Naruto… he helped me. He forced me to confront it. His words… they made me see what I had to do."
Hiruzen's expression softened, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Naruto?" he murmured. "He helped you?"
"Yes," Tsunade confirmed. "And because of that incident, Jiraiya left immediately after we came back to Konoha. He went to gather intel on these Akatsuki. He said they are a threat we cannot ignore."
Hiruzen's face was a mask of shock and concern. "This is… troubling news," he said, his voice heavy. "If they are targeting Naruto, then we must discover their motives."
At that moment, from the Hokage office window, they could see the beginnings of a large construction project on the Hokage Rock. Workers were diligently carving Tsunade's face into the mountain, a symbol of her new position and the village's hope for the future.
_________
At Ichiraku Ramen, the atmosphere was lively and jovial. Naruto, his face beaming, recounted his adventures to the Konoha 12. The aroma of steaming ramen filled the air, mingling with the sounds of laughter and chatter.
"And then," Naruto exclaimed, his voice animated, "we saw this giant boar! It was huge! Like, bigger than a house!"
Sakura, her eyes sparkling, leaned forward, her expression filled with interest. "Really?" she asked, her voice laced with amusement. "Bigger than a house?"
"Yeah!" Naruto confirmed, his voice enthusiastic. "And it could talk! It was so cool!"
Sasuke listened to Naruto's story, a flicker of relief in his eyes. 'He's safe,' he thought, his mind at ease. 'And nothing much has changed from the original timeline for Naruto atleast.'
Hinata, her cheeks flushed, sat beside Naruto, her gaze fixed on him, her expression filled with shy admiration. "That sounds… amazing, Naruto-kun," she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Kiba, Choji, Shikamaru, Ino, Tenten, Lee, and neji listened to Naruto's story with varying degrees of enthusiasm, their expressions a mix of amusement and interest.
________
Deep within the Otogakure, in a hidden laboratory, the air was thick with the stench of chemicals and the hum of strange machinery.
Orochimaru, his pale face illuminated by the flickering light of a Bunsen burner, observed Kabuto Yakushi, who stood before him, his expression impassive.
"Tsunade has become the Godaime Hokage," Kabuto reported, his voice devoid of emotion.
Orochimaru's lips curled into a thin smile. "Interesting," he murmured, his voice laced with amusement. "So, she has finally decided to returned to her rightful place."
He turned his attention to a laboratory bed, where Kin Tsuchi lying. Her eyes were closed, her expression serene, but the black markings of Orochimaru's curse mark pulsed across her skin.
"My experiments have been… successful," Orochimaru declared, his voice filled with satisfaction. "Kin can now activate Curse Mark Stage 2 without any strain. And her chakra… it has increased upto Elite Jonin or Quasi-Kage level, thanks to the natural energy I have infused into her curse mark."
Kin's eyes snapped open, her gaze sharp and focused. She moved with a fluid grace, her movements devoid of the usual strain associated with the curse mark.
"I feel… powerful," she declared, her voice laced with a hint of awe.
Kabuto turned to Orochimaru. "Kimimaro's condition has deteriorated," he reported, his voice flat. "He has only a few months left."
Kimimaro Kaguya, his pale face gaunt, his eyes filled with a quiet intensity, stepped forward. "Orochimaru-sama," he said, his voice hoarse. "I request a final mission. I wish to be of use before my time runs out."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with a predatory light. "Excellent," he murmured, his voice laced with anticipation. "Kin, Kimimaro… you have a mission. Go to Konoha. Retrieve something of great importance for me."
Kin and Kimimaro nodded, their expressions resolute. They were ready to serve their master, even if it meant facing the dangers of Konoha.