Naruto: The Otsutsuki Naruto

Naruto left the battlefield, leaving behind a warning.

The impending Night Guy, ready to obliterate everything in its path, dissipated into silence as its target vanished, its fiery energy exhausted.

Edo Tensei's Might Guy stood motionless, his tattered clothing fluttering in the wind. As dust swirled around him, his form disintegrated, taking the secrets of his existence with him.

Boom!

A coffin emerged behind him, swallowing Guy's remains before vanishing without a trace.

Tap.

Kabuto's hands, which had been locked in a sealing gesture, fell weakly to his sides. His upper body, barely upright, collapsed onto the ground.

On his back was a lightning-shaped scar, a mark left by Naruto's parting Lightning Release: Whip Leg. The attack had bypassed Kabuto's Hydrification Technique, shattering his spine. From the chest down, Kabuto had completely lost all sensation—paralyzed from a high spinal injury.

"Kabuto!"

Not long after, Sasuke returned to Kabuto's side, scanning the area. "Where's Naruto?"

Kabuto's voice was low and strained. "He's... already gone."

Sasuke's gaze shifted to Kabuto's hollow left eye socket. His tone grew heavy. "You used Edo Tensei to summon Might Guy, yet you still couldn't protect that left eye from Naruto?"

Kabuto sighed, his voice tinged with helplessness. "Yes... His power is no longer what it used to be. Soon, he'll step into an entirely new realm. The conditions are all in place. He's on the verge of awakening his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."

A violent cough racked Kabuto's body, and blood spilled from his mouth.

Sasuke frowned. "Why didn't you use Orochimaru's Shed Skin Technique? That would have saved you from this injury."

Kabuto gestured weakly toward his abdomen. The white snake that extended from his belly, the medium for the Shed Skin Technique, lay lifeless on the ground.

"I've lost all sensation below my second thoracic vertebra," Kabuto explained. "I can't control the snake to perform Orochimaru-sama's technique."

"But Orochimaru could shed his skin even if his body was split in half!" Sasuke pressed.

Kabuto offered a bitter smile. "I only transplanted a third of Orochimaru-sama's body. Even with senjutsu, I can't replicate his level of mastery."

Sasuke wasn't ready to give up. "What about the Twin Demons Technique you borrowed from Sakon and Ukon? Couldn't you use that in conjunction with Kimimaro's Shikotsumyaku to repair your spine?"

Kabuto chuckled faintly. "It's impressive that you thought of that, but if the injury were only up to my third thoracic vertebra, it might have worked. Unfortunately, the Twin Demons Technique can't reach beyond that point."

"And your medical ninjutsu?" Sasuke asked, his frustration mounting. "Can't you heal yourself?"

Kabuto shook his head. "The spine isn't just any bone. It's the main conduit for the body's nervous system. Once damaged, it's nearly impossible to fully recover. If it were someone else's injury, I might have a chance to heal it. But when it comes to my own body, I can't exert my full abilities."

"Is there no solution?" Sasuke's voice grew tense, his fists clenching.

Kabuto's tone turned calm. "The only person in this world who could heal me is Lady Tsunade. But she won't help me, nor do I intend to ask her. It seems I'll have to rely on a wheelchair from now on."

Hearing this, Sasuke fell silent, though his clenched fists betrayed his inner turmoil.

Kabuto noticed this and felt a surge of emotion. If this were the Sasuke of the past, he'd be kicking me while I'm down. But now, he genuinely feels sorrow for me. How heartwarming.

Kabuto spoke earnestly. "Sasuke-kun, my condition is insignificant. As long as my hands can still move, I can make you stronger. Losing Uchiha Kagami's left eye might even be a blessing. At least Naruto won't be focusing on me for now. We can take this time to focus on more important matters."

Sasuke couldn't hold back any longer. "Why are you so good to me? Is it just to one-up Orochimaru?"

Kabuto smiled. "At first, perhaps. But now, my motivations have shifted slightly. Speaking of which, how is Kokushō?"

"I've secured him," Sasuke replied. "When I noticed the battle here had ended, I rushed over immediately."

"Good," Kabuto said. "Compared to Kagami's left eye, Kokushō is far more important. He is the reincarnation of Asura that I painstakingly found, and the key to awakening your Rinnegan!"

"Let me take you back."

Sasuke helped Kabuto to his feet, his foot brushing against the shattered remains of a fan.

Kabuto's expression shifted. "Wait. Gather the fragments of that fan."

Sasuke looked puzzled. "The fan?"

Kabuto adjusted his glasses and spoke with gravity. "The Uchiha clan's ceremonial fan. It was once Madara Uchiha's favorite weapon, later passed to Obito Uchiha, and eventually ended up in Naruto's hands. During this battle, Might Guy shattered it."

"But it's broken," Sasuke said. "Why bother?"

"If it were up to me," Kabuto replied, "I might be able to repair it. Such a fine weapon shouldn't go to waste."

"Understood."

Sasuke gently propped Kabuto against a rock and began collecting the fan's scattered fragments.

In truth, Kabuto wasn't entirely confident about repairing the fan. But his heart burned with resentment—he refused to accept defeat so easily.

His single eye gleamed with determination. I've lost Kagami's left eye, exposed Might Guy's secret, and ended up paralyzed. If I gain nothing from all this, how could I possibly be satisfied? Just watch, Naruto. The fan you discarded—I will restore it and ensure Sasuke uses it to its full potential!

Amegakure.

Naruto returned triumphantly, only to realize something belatedly. "I think I forgot to take the Uchiha fan!"

At the time, the threat of Night Guy still loomed. To say Naruto wasn't nervous would be a lie. He had been focused on securing Kagami's left eye and delivering a blow to Kabuto before leaving in haste. He hadn't dared to linger and collect the fan fragments.

"Well, it's broken anyway," Naruto mused. "Repairing it would take an enormous amount of effort, and there's no guarantee it could even be fixed. Besides, Kakuzu would never approve of such a waste of resources. If Kabuto notices it, perhaps he'll figure something out. If Sasuke ends up using it, so be it."

With that, Naruto let the matter go.

Later that evening, a messenger toad from Mount Myōboku arrived, delivering a message from the Great Toad Sage.

After reading the letter, Naruto's lips curled into a faint smile. He penned a reply and handed it to the toad to deliver.

Mount Myōboku, deep within its sacred grounds.

The sound of a heavy door creaking open echoed through the stillness.

Madara Uchiha sat within the shadows, his head bowed. Two months of captivity had not diminished his unyielding pride.

His voice was cold and defiant. "How many times must I tell you? I will not eat insects!"

At the doorway, Shima the Sage Toad scoffed. "Hmph! As if I'd waste my time cooking for you! Listen up—Grandpa Sage has spoken. I'm to take you to learn senjutsu!"

Madara slowly raised his head, his beard unkempt from neglect. His eyes, filled with disbelief, glinted in the dim light.

"What... did you just say?"

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