Konoha: Naruto's abnormal life choices

Kisame had far more combat experience than Naruto Uzumaki. After observing Naruto's fighting style and techniques, he quickly seized the upper hand.

Known as the "Zero-Tailed Beast," Kisame possessed an immense amount of chakra. He was never concerned about stamina or depletion.

Moreover, he had Samehada—a weapon that could absorb chakra—which had fused with his body, granting him the ability to devour chakra directly. This gave him a natural advantage against Jinchūriki.

In short, he was a formidable opponent.

The two clashed back and forth with fierce taijutsu and ninjutsu, but Naruto found himself increasingly on the losing end.

This was the most frustrating fight Naruto had experienced to date.

"I'm still not strong enough. Even though my attacks look powerful, at this rate… I'll be the one who loses,"Naruto thought calmly, analyzing both his and Kisame's strengths and weaknesses.

No one knew where Sarutobi Hazuki and his son had gone. Most likely, they had been rescued by the Anbu or Jiraiya. Option 2 of his selector task was already halfway complete—he only needed to escape now to earn the reward.

As for releasing the Nine-Tails to fight in his place?

That wasn't even on the table.

Unless he truly reached the brink of death, Naruto wouldn't let anyone else control his body.

Focusing his chakra, Naruto leapt back to create distance and began charging a Tailed Beast Ball, his head lowered.

"If none of you are going to help me, don't blame me for using the Tailed Beast Ball to blow Konoha sky-high."

Kisame's pupils shrank as he sensed Naruto preparing the Tailed Beast Ball. With Samehada now fused to his body, he couldn't block it.

He had to retreat—fast.

Leaping into the air, Kisame quickly formed hand seals and roared:

"Water Style: Exploding Water Wave!"

One of Kisame's signature techniques—it summoned a vast lake of water that, once released, could devastate Konoha and its civilian population.

Two large-scale, deadly jutsu were about to collide.

Then, almost in a blink, Jiraiya and Might Guy appeared simultaneously.

Jiraiya's flowing white hair extended and wrapped around both Naruto and Kisame, forcibly halting the buildup of the Tailed Beast Ball and the Exploding Water Wave.

Guy delivered a flying kick—from arm to chin—that sent Kisame's eyes rolling back from the sheer force.

Wham!

Konoha had been saved just in time.

"He was watching from the shadows the whole time… sneaky old man,"Naruto sighed inwardly.

Ding! Congratulations, host. Option 2 complete. Reward (5% Nine-Tails control) successfully issued.

At least the reward came through.

With this extra 5% control over the Nine-Tails, Naruto felt confident that he could now unleash six tails.

Kisame, after being ambushed multiple times, quickly realized:

"Damn it… I walked right into a trap."

He had sensed Jiraiya's chakra earlier, even while fused with Samehada, but with so many chakra signatures in the area and no direct interference, he'd assumed they were too cowardly to engage.

He hadn't anticipated an "old schemer" among them.

And that green blur—Guy—Kisame hadn't sensed him at all. No warning, no sign of chakra.

"What's wrong with these Konoha ninja?! No honor at all—just sneak attacks!"

"Bastards…"

Naruto muttered inwardly, then caught sight of Yuhi Kurenai arriving late to the scene. Her figure was tall and elegant.

The drizzle had drenched her body, clinging to her bandage-style outfit, perfectly outlining her curvy silhouette through a veil of mist.

A stunning sight.

"It'd be a shame not to take advantage of such a beautiful teacher,"Naruto murmured. Then he removed his Nine-Tails cloak and collapsed just as Kurenai approached.

He fell, exhausted, into Kurenai's soft embrace.

The rain had completely soaked her. Holding Naruto tightly, her long black curls cascaded over his face, and a trace of heartache flickered in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Naruto. We got here too late."

"Kurenai-sensei… I'm glad I got to see you again…"

Naruto's tired eyes gazed up at her. Drenched and radiant, she looked even more beautiful than usual.

"Don't say such nonsense. We'll see each other plenty in the future."

Kurenai frowned and scolded him softly. Then, bending down, she lifted Naruto into a princess carry.

So soft...

"Really? It feels like I haven't seen you in forever. I thought you were avoiding me…"

His voice grew weaker as his head slowly leaned against her shoulder, eyes closing.

"A woman this curvy... being in her arms is like lying on clouds."

"You're a bad boy,"Kurenai whispered."If you behave, I won't avoid you."

But Naruto looked completely passed out.

She glared at Jiraiya, who was still pounding on Kisame. If it hadn't been for his earlier orders, she would've jumped in to help sooner.

Kisame—normally a natural predator of Jinchūriki—was no match for Might Guy, his own natural predator. With Jiraiya's help, the great shark was reduced to a dried sardine.

Suddenly, black flames burst forth and scorched Jiraiya's hair, freeing Kisame from his restraints.

Guy delivered another kick to Kisame's stomach and tried to pursue him, but he was interrupted by Uchiha Itachi, who appeared without warning.

"Gai-senpai. If you don't find Kakashi-senpai soon… he might die."

"What did you do to Kakashi?!"

Guy's momentum stalled—and that hesitation gave Itachi the opening he needed. Grabbing Kisame, he used Amaterasu Zanlu as a parting shot toward Jiraiya and vanished.

Night had fully fallen. Guy went off to search for Kakashi, and Jiraiya—now minus a chunk of hair—decided not to pursue the Akatsuki pair.

But deep in Naruto's pretending-to-be-unconscious mind…

"Hoshigaki Kisame... you're on my kill list now."

Jiraiya clapped his hands.

"Anbu! Time to clean up."

Dozens of masked figures appeared instantly from the shadows.

Then Jiraiya turned his gaze toward Naruto.

He was deeply shaken by Naruto's growth, imagining Minato Namikaze, his prized student.

"Minato… Kushina… you two can rest easy. Your son's not just a genius—he's stronger than both of us."

"That jutsu… the Big Ball Rasengan. It must be a more advanced version of the Rasengan. Did he create it himself?"

"I need to ask him when he learned the Rasengan… and how far he's taken it."

Lost in thought, Jiraiya approached Kurenai and extended his hands.

"Kurenai, let me take Naruto."

Kurenai pursed her lips. She didn't want to hand Naruto over.

As she adjusted her arms, Naruto suddenly latched tightly onto her neck.

"Kurenai-sensei… please don't leave me with that creepy old man…"

Naruto spoke directly into her ear, eyes still shut.

"Did… did he just call me a creepy old man while hugging a beautiful woman?"

Jiraiya's face twitched.

"Nope. I take it back. This brat isn't better than Minato at all."

Kurenai was surprised—wasn't Naruto unconscious? Why was he speaking?

Still, it was his request. She gently pulled back and shook her head at Jiraiya.

"Please understand, Jiraiya-sama. I can't hand Naruto over."

"Fine. Take him."

Jiraiya waved his hand, helpless.

"Thank you for understanding,"Kurenai said and turned to leave.

Just then, Uzuki Yugao stepped forward from a corner.

"Kurenai-senpai, let me take Naruto. I'll see to his wounds."

"I can take care of him myself."

Kurenai looked down at her from a high point, unwilling to hand Naruto over.

"I was fighting beside Naruto before you even arrived,"Yugao countered, eyes dim but unafraid.

"And I was the one who saved him when he was too weak to fight,"Kurenai replied.

"I used to work on the medical team,"Yugao added, pulling out her trump card.

Jiraiya, watching Naruto enjoying all the attention, felt particularly bitter.

"Youth… it's not fair. Getting fought over by beautiful women…"

Then he remembered what Naruto had called him—weird old man—and decided it was time for payback.

"Naruto's fine. He's just pretending to be unconscious. He's the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki—he heals fast."

Jiraiya smirked smugly.

But Kurenai didn't even look at him—she just held Naruto tighter.

"So comfortable~"

Naruto inhaled the gentle fragrance on Kurenai's neck, his soul feeling like it was floating.

"This brat…"

Kurenai playfully pinched Naruto's cheek, then looked at Yugao.

"Where do you live? I'll go with you."

"Alright."

Without even glancing back, the two women carried Naruto away—leaving behind a completely ignored toad sage.

Jiraiya stood there, emotionally devastated.

"Seriously?! That kid has no charm except his face—and he still managed to make two women fight over him… ignoring me… a Legendary Sannin…"

Konoha Hospital

Might Guy had brought in Kakashi and Sasuke for emergency treatment.

Sasuke's injuries were minor—nothing serious.

But Kakashi…

The doctor reported that his mind had suffered severe damage. He would take a long time to recover.

Just like Asuma, Kakashi was now temporarily out of commission.

Late that night…

Sasuke awoke in his hospital bed, staring at the ceiling. He lay there silently, deep in thought.

He now understood clearly—Uchiha Itachi was not someone he could defeat.

But Sasuke wasn't discouraged.

Despite being crushed, the overwhelming power he'd accessed through the Devil's Curse Seal had lit a fire within him—a hope that someday, he would defeat Itachi.

Looking at the back of his left hand, Sasuke focused, and the symbol "贰" appeared. He tapped it to connect with Naruto.

Then he heard a soft female voice on the other end.

"Naruto, let me help you wash up."

???

Before Sasuke could process what he'd just heard, the connection was instantly severed by Naruto.

Somewhere in the woods…