Naruto: A New Life with Tsunade

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"I can't wait to see Sasuke-kun again!"

Haruno Sakura clenched her fists, her pink hair swaying as her excitement bubbled over.

"Sasuke doesn't like you, Forehead," Yamanaka Ino said, rolling her eyes with practiced disdain. "Honestly, you'd be better off dealing with Naruto. He's practically your biggest rival for Sasuke's attention."

"Ino-pig! What are you talking about?" Sakura snapped back angrily, her cheeks flushed. "Naruto's just a boy! Why would Sasuke ever like him?"

"Who knows?" Ino shrugged nonchalantly, turning her gaze toward the window. Her thoughts drifted away. I wonder if that handsome guy, Natsume, is still around... She bit her lip unconsciously. I forgot to ask him where he lives...

Sakura's irritation faltered as she caught the strange, absent look on her rival's face. Normally, Ino would have been more combative. They had sparred over Sasuke's attention countless times, yet today, Ino seemed... distracted.

"Ino-pig, what's with you?" Sakura pressed, her tone shifting from annoyance to concern.

"Nothing," Ino replied tersely, brushing off the question.

But Sakura wasn't convinced. She knew Ino far too well.

"Liar! Is this about that guy from earlier? That... Natsume?" Sakura accused, narrowing her eyes.

"No!" Ino shot back, too quickly, her cheeks tinged with pink.

Sakura's eyes widened in realization. "It is him! You've already forgotten about Sasuke, haven't you?"

Before Ino could retort, the classroom door slid open, and Iruka-sensei stepped in, his presence silencing the chatter.

"Everyone, take your seats," Iruka announced, his voice carrying a rare note of urgency. He held a stack of papers in his hands. "There's been a schedule change. Classes are extended by two hours, and you'll need to finish this exam before leaving."

A chorus of groans erupted around the room.

Ino slumped in her seat, mentally cursing. Great. By the time I'm done with this stupid test, Natsume will be gone!

---

Outside the school, under the soft glow of a cherry blossom tree, Uchiha Itachi stood silently. His gaze was fixed on a figure in the distance—his younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke, who sat alone, unaware of the shadow watching him. After a long moment, Itachi dissolved into a flurry of crows, disappearing into the fading twilight.

---

Night fell over Konoha, and the village hummed with its usual evening liveliness. Uchiha Itachi walked down a deserted street, his expression unreadable, though his Sharingan eyes betrayed flickers of inner turmoil. The further he walked, the quieter the world seemed, until only the Uchiha compound lay ahead.

Behind him, figures emerged from the shadows—Shimura Danzo, Orochimaru, and a squad of Root operatives.

"Seal the perimeter," Danzo commanded, his voice sharp with authority. "No one escapes."

Orochimaru said nothing, his golden eyes gleaming with malice. His gaze lingered on Itachi's back. The Mangekyō Sharingan... He licked his lips, imagining its power in his grasp.

Root agents scattered to establish a barrier, their movements precise and silent.

---

As Itachi entered the Uchiha compound, a middle-aged guard greeted him warmly.

"Itachi, you're back! Everyone's—"

In a flash, Itachi's blade was drawn, slicing through the man's throat with chilling precision. Blood sprayed the ground as the man gasped, his wide eyes locked on Itachi.

"Why...?" the guard choked out before collapsing.

Itachi's voice was cold, devoid of emotion. "Forgive me... This is for the village."

With his Mangekyō Sharingan activated, Itachi advanced into the heart of the compound. His blade and his Genjutsu made quick work of those who tried to stop him.

Screams echoed through the night.

"He's gone mad!"

"Defend yourselves!"

"Run!"

In her home, Uchiha Izumi awoke to the chaos. She grabbed her kunai and rushed to the door, her mother, Uchiha Hazuki, calling after her.

"Izumi! Stay here!"

"I'll check it out, Mom! Lock the door!" Izumi said before darting outside.

The scene before her was like a nightmare. Bodies littered the ground, and flames flickered ominously in the distance.

And then, she saw him.

"Itachi!" Izumi's voice trembled as she took a step forward, her Sharingan awakening from the surge of emotions.

Itachi turned to her, his face and robes drenched in blood. His Mangekyō Sharingan spun like a crimson vortex.

"Itachi... why?" Izumi's voice cracked, tears streaming down her face.

He stared at her, his expression hardening.

"Tsukuyomi."

---

Uchiha Clan Compound – Midnight

Itachi slowly opened the door to his family home.

The commotion outside had been deafening—clashes of steel, bursts of chakra—but inside, silence loomed. It was unnatural, oppressive, and suffocating.

Itachi stepped forward, his eyes falling on his father, Uchiha Fugaku, seated alone in the dimly lit room.

"Why, Itachi?" Fugaku's voice was calm, but it carried the weight of betrayal.

"For Konoha," Itachi replied, his tone devoid of emotion. "The Uchiha's rebellion would have brought only ruin—war with the village and destruction for us all."

Fugaku's expression remained unreadable, but his eyes told another story—a mix of sorrow, pride, and resignation. He had always admired Itachi's strength and foresight, but as a father, he could never fully grasp the burden his son carried.

"Is this the future you wanted?" Fugaku asked, his voice softer now. "To sever ties with your family? To become a traitor to your own blood?"

As their gazes locked, Fugaku's Sharingan spun violently, the tomoe merging into the intricate design of the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Itachi's breath hitched as the space around him distorted. Visions of fragmented futures, endless paths of conflict and death, flooded his mind. He clenched his jaw, steadying himself as he resisted the pull of his father's illusions.

"I'm sorry, Father," Itachi whispered. "But this is the only way."

Fugaku closed his eyes, a small, bitter smile crossing his lips. "No... this is my failure as a father. I led you here."

Blood trickled from Fugaku's eyes as the strain of his Mangekyō became evident. He lifted his head, meeting Itachi's gaze one final time.

"Do what you must."

Itachi's hands trembled as he unsheathed his blade, his heart heavy with unspoken words. He stepped forward. Fugaku didn't resist. He had already seen his own death in the vision—it was inevitable. Trusting his son to carry the burden of his sins, Fugaku sat still, resolute in his fate.

---

Nearby

Uchiha Mikoto stood frozen, her trembling hands clutching the edge of the doorframe. Her Sharingan activated instinctively, tears flowing freely as she witnessed her husband's collapse. Before she could scream, a hand covered her mouth—a firm yet gentle grip.

"Don't," whispered a voice. Natsume, an unknown shinobi cloaked in shadow, restrained her. "You can't stop him. Save the others… there's still time."

Natsume, unfazed, moved swiftly. Forming a series of hand seals, he whispered, Flying Thunder God Technique. In a flash of light, Mikoto disappeared, transported to a hidden corner of the Uchiha compound, where the remaining women and children had been gathered for safety.

---

"Itachi."

The quiet yet firm voice made Itachi freeze. He turned to see a familiar figure stepping into the room.

Uchiha Shisui. His Mangekyō Sharingan glowed faintly in the dim light.

"Shisui?" Itachi's voice wavered, disbelief etched across his face. "You… you're alive?"

Shisui's expression was a mix of sorrow and disappointment. "I never thought I'd see you like this, Itachi. To go this far..."

Itachi's shock quickly morphed into cold suspicion. "No. Shisui is gone. I watched him die… You're not him. Who are you?"

Despite his words, a flicker of hope lingered in Itachi's heart. Could it truly be Shisui, the one person who might understand his pain? But reality crushed the thought—this night could not be undone.

Before either could act, another presence made itself known.

Natsume, concealed in the shadows, glanced toward the new arrivals—Shimura Danzo and Orochimaru. His gaze darkened as the tension escalated.

Danzo, as calculating as ever, stepped forward, his Sharingan-embedded arm partially exposed. "Stand down, Itachi," he ordered. "You've done well, but there's more work to be done."

Natsume moved to block Danzo's path. "No. This ends here."

Danzo's eyes narrowed. "You dare interfere?" He formed a series of rapid hand seals.

Wood Release: Violent Spear Tree!

Danzo's arm transformed, sprouting massive wooden spears that lashed out like tentacles. They tore through the room, aiming to strike Natsume down.

Natsume remained calm, gathering senjutsu chakra. The air around him rippled with power as he countered.

Sage Art: Water Release – Exploding Water Shockwave!

A colossal wave surged forward, crashing into Danzo's attack and obliterating the wooden spears. The sheer force sent Danzo hurtling backward, narrowly avoiding being engulfed by the torrent.

Orochimaru, watching with a twisted grin, transformed into his Yamata no Orochi form. The giant serpent lunged toward Natsume, its fangs poised to strike.

Undeterred, Natsume formed another hand seal.

Water Release: Great Water Prison Technique!

A massive sphere of water enveloped both Orochimaru and Danzo, the crushing pressure forcing Orochimaru back into his human form, coughing blood. Danzo's body began to disintegrate, his Izanagi activating as he tried to escape.

---

"Itachi!"

A vortex swirled into existence as Uchiha Obito emerged, his Mangekyō Sharingan spinning. In a flash, he grabbed Itachi, and the two vanished into the void of Kamui.

Natsume surveyed the room, his expression grim. His task wasn't complete. Retrieving Fugaku's eyes, he teleported to the northeast corner of the compound, where Shisui and the others awaited.

With one final burst of chakra, Natsume activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, transporting everyone to safety.

---

Orochimaru and Danzo emerged from the broken water prison, battered and seething. They surveyed the devastation—the bodies of the Uchiha clan lay scattered, their Sharingan missing. Every single one had been taken.

Their plans, meticulously laid, had crumbled to dust.

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