CHAPTER 158: CHAPTER 158: DISASTER-RIDDEN KONOHA VILLAGE

Chapter 158: Disaster-Ridden Konoha Village

When friends meet again after a long absence, there’s always much to share.

But for shinobi, their bond was tested not through words—but through growth. Through power.

"The Fifth taught me some of the techniques my parents developed during their lifetime," Naruto said between bites, his voice muffled as he slurped another mouthful of noodles at Ichiraku Ramen. "But... there are some things he can’t explain himself. He only gave me their research notes."

At the far corner of the bar-like counter, the other customers had tactfully left them space. Naruto didn’t seem to care, nor did he react to the curious glances around him.

Once, those stares were filled with hate and fear.

Now, they were laced with admiration and awe.

But to Naruto, it all felt the same. Hollow. Distant.

Ryosuke sat beside him, equally unbothered by the onlookers. "You’re talking about the Flying Thunder God Technique and the Uzumaki clan’s sealing arts, right? Both are notoriously hard to master. You’ll need more than just talent—you’ll need a bit of luck, too."

He paused, tilting his head. "But wait... you took Tsunade-senpai as your master?"

Those techniques were signature to Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki. There was no reason for Naruto to hide them.

What caught Ryosuke off guard was that Tsunade, of all people, had taken Naruto as her apprentice. It wasn’t just about strength—Naruto carried the Nine-Tails inside him. That alone made him a difficult choice to inherit medical techniques.

Unless... they knew something Ryosuke didn’t.

If Naruto ever achieved full synchronization with the Nine-Tails, the uncontrollable chakra would stabilize—making medical ninjutsu a viable path.

But for now, that remained a distant possibility.

"This was my decision," Naruto said, setting down his chopsticks. He pulled a small, well-worn notebook from his jacket. "Besides those techniques, my chakra control is lacking. And I’m behind in sealing arts. As a Jinchūriki, that’s a dangerous gap."

He opened the notebook, revealing densely packed handwriting and diagrams.

Ryosuke glanced over the pages—detailed analysis, training logs, flowcharts of his chakra usage. It was more methodical than he expected.

"She agreed to take me in partly because of her connection to my mom," Naruto continued. "As a medical ninja, she has a unique understanding of chakra control, and both sealing and tailed beast power rely heavily on that. It made sense."

"And I think I’ve got some talent with Yang Release techniques. It’s just... the Nine-Tails’ chakra gets in the way. I can’t use medical ninjutsu properly yet, but I’m trying."

He explained step by step, laying out his reasoning and path forward with unexpected clarity. If Ryosuke hadn’t known the original timeline—where Naruto had trained under Jiraiya—he might’ve truly believed Tsunade was the ideal master.

But even so, he wouldn’t interfere. It was Naruto’s choice, and he respected that.

"Ninjutsu’s always been my strength," Naruto went on. "Even with the Five Elements Seal, I’ve always been best at it. Now that my control’s improving, it’ll become my strongest area."

He leaned forward, his expression sharpening. "Illusions are a weakness. But weirdly, the Nine-Tails messes with most genjutsu—it’s like they don’t affect me. Still, I want to find a real solution someday."

"As for taijutsu... I’ve been training in it since I was a kid. The strange power technique that my teacher taught me—it depends on both chakra quantity and control. It’s still not stable, but I’m getting the hang of it."

By the time he finished his explanation, Ryosuke had just slurped up the last strand of noodles.

"That’s... thorough," Ryosuke said with a small smile. "Honestly, it’s impressive."

Naruto wasn’t just a one-trick knucklehead anymore. Unlike the original timeline’s loudmouth hero who relied on brute force and speeches, this version was refining his foundation, mastering multiple disciplines—taijutsu, ninjutsu, and even sealing arts.

He had the makings of someone worthy of bearing a great destiny.

But that was the problem.

This Naruto... might not be the type to sacrifice everything for others. That reckless, selfless edge was fading—replaced by a sharper, more grounded resolve.

"I told you, once I know what direction to go, I’ll catch up fast," Naruto said with confidence, lifting his head proudly. "I’ve seen more of the world now—met more people. The more I train, the less lost I feel."

Ryosuke raised an eyebrow. "But didn’t you say earlier that you had something important to ask me? This wasn’t it?"

Naruto’s proud expression dimmed slightly. His hand paused over his bowl.

"No," he muttered. "Not here. Let’s talk at the old place."

---

The early spring sun still bore the sting of midday heat.

Naruto’s "old place" turned out to be the cliff above the Hokage Rock—but the sun was blazing too harshly across the open plateau. After a moment’s thought, the two of them settled into the shaded area behind a nearby outcrop.

Naruto didn’t speak at first.

Then finally, with a sigh, he said, "It’s about Sasuke..."

Ryosuke nodded slowly.

"You should know about Sasuke and his brother, Uchiha Itachi," Naruto began.

"Everyone does. Itachi killed the entire Uchiha clan and fled. That story’s practically folklore now," Ryosuke replied.

"No," Naruto said firmly. "I mean the truth. The real reason behind the massacre."

He wasn’t asking. He was asserting.

"You know, don’t you? About the Uchiha clan, their relationship with the village... the truth behind what Itachi did."

Ryosuke didn’t argue.

"I know bits and pieces," he said calmly. "The Hyuga and Uchiha... We weren’t exactly close, but we were rivals. And rivals always understand each other best."

Naruto exhaled heavily, gaze clouded with emotion.

"That’s what’s been bothering me the most."

He leaned back, eyes half-closed.

"The Fifth doesn’t keep much from me. He’s grooming me as a successor, and because of my connection to Tsunade-senpai, I’ve had access to records—classified ones."

He paused.

"I’m just a Genin on paper. But my status lets me peek into files I shouldn’t be able to see."

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, frustrated.

"When Itachi invaded the village recently... I started digging. Partly for Sasuke. Partly because something didn’t sit right."

"And what I found..."

He trailed off, a bitter smile on his lips.

"I don’t understand the Will of Fire. I really don’t. How could so many people—shinobi who believed in it—pay such a steep price for the sake of ’protecting’ the village? Genocide. Lies. Betrayal."

"Itachi Uchiha invaded once before. Everyone assumed he was after me—but his real purpose was to remind the village leaders of a promise they made long ago."

Naruto’s voice was unusually quiet. A heaviness hung between each word, pressing down on the shaded clearing where he and Ryosuke sat.

"He... was actually a spy. Sent by the village to infiltrate the outside world. What he did to his clan... was done with the village’s silent approval."

Naruto still couldn’t fully process what he had learned.

How could anyone make such a decision?

That was the first thought that crossed his mind when he saw the records.

"I mean, I get it. If war broke out between the Uchiha and the village, everyone would’ve suffered. No matter who won, it would’ve been a loss. But this solution..."

He trailed off. The words just refused to come out.

Itachi, in order to protect the village and prevent his family from becoming its enemy, had slaughtered them all—including his own parents.

What kind of person thinks that’s the right answer?

What kind of mind justifies that?

And perhaps that was the difference—Naruto hadn’t been raised under the so-called Will of Fire. Not in the way the elders wanted. So he couldn’t understand it.

"Maybe it’s just blood," Ryosuke muttered. "The Uchiha have always been... extreme. Their emotions burn too hot. When they break, they don’t bend—they shatter."

He wasn’t defending Itachi. Just acknowledging how alien the logic felt.

"I’m not that close to Sasuke," Ryosuke added. "But you and he... you’ve walked a long road together."

Naruto scratched the back of his head, frustration bubbling up. "Yeah... classmates, teammates... rivals now."

He exhaled, eyes unfocused. "And the more I learn, the more I feel like we’re the same. Two people clawing their way through the fog, one step at a time. Surrounded by lies. Alone in different ways."

"I want to tell him the truth. I really do. So he doesn’t spend his life chasing revenge against someone who didn’t betray him. But if I tell him now... I think it’ll break him."

Naruto turned to Ryosuke, confusion written across his face.

"He’s built his whole life around this mission—to kill Itachi. That’s all he’s got."

"You’re not wrong," Ryosuke said softly. He watched the troubled look on Naruto’s face, then sighed. "You remember what I told you? Back when you first came to my house, asking about your father?"

Naruto’s brows furrowed. After a moment, he recalled the words. "...It’s not that you didn’t want to say it. It’s that you couldn’t?"

Ryosuke nodded.

"Your identity was too sensitive at the time. But more than that... you weren’t ready to handle the truth. You didn’t have the mental or emotional framework to accept it yet."

He paused, letting the silence sink in.

"Sasuke is where we were back then. And just like I couldn’t tell you everything, you may not be able to tell him either."

Naruto’s throat tightened.

"I know a lot of things," Ryosuke continued. "Things I’ve never shared—even with my friends. Because if someone learns the truth too soon, without context, without growth... it can push them into chaos."

"And that decision—when and how to tell someone—has to come from you."

Naruto opened his mouth, then froze.

A distant, low-pitched rumble rolled across the air.

It was faint—almost imperceptible—but Ryosuke stood up immediately, raising a hand to silence him.

"...Wait," he muttered, eyes narrowing.

While others might not notice such a sound, Ryosuke’s enhanced senses had picked up on it instantly.

Naruto stood, confused. "What’s wrong?"

Ryosuke’s gaze sharpened. A faint glow passed through his pupils—the subtle sign that his Byakugan had activated.

"There’s movement," he said. "Lots of it."

He peered into the distance. "At the village gate. A large group. Fog-covered... definitely not Konoha shinobi."

"...Fog?" Naruto blinked. "Misty Shadow?"

"Yeah."

Without another word, Ryosuke leapt down the slope. Naruto followed instantly, feet skimming the tree branches as they rushed toward the village.

"Why now? What’s the Mist up to?" Naruto shouted over the wind. "Aren’t they afraid the Allied Ninja Forces will retaliate?"

Ryosuke didn’t answer right away. There were too many possibilities and too little information.

But in his mind, one answer lingered—Obito.

He looked over at Naruto. "Head straight to the Hokage Tower. Inform the Fifth. The guards at the gate won’t have time to send word, and we’re faster anyway."

"Got it!"

Naruto pivoted mid-air and bolted toward the Hokage Building without hesitation.

Ryosuke, meanwhile, turned toward the village gate, picking up speed.

In the few seconds since he’d sensed the disturbance, his mind had already assembled a rough outline.

The Hidden Mist Village should still be recovering from the chaos Obito left behind. Which meant this invasion... was likely his doing.

A test.

When Ryosuke had spied on Black Zetsu in the village, it must have triggered something.

And now, this was the answer.

A live experiment—to see whether Konoha had hidden strength.

From afar, Ryosuke could already "see" the battlefield through his Byakugan.

The gate was in ruins. The walls had been blown apart by high-level water-style ninjutsu. Bodies were scattered across the clearing—some clad in Mist uniforms, others in Konoha’s vests.

The first wave had hit hard and fast.

Anbu squads were already responding, but the enemy had struck with shocking precision.

And then... he saw them.

Among the invading forces were several shinobi whose chakra signatures pulsed stronger than the rest. Ryosuke scanned them quickly.

"...Is this it?" he muttered, disappointed.

They were strong, yes—but not exceptional. Not the kind of shinobi you’d expect for a serious invasion. This wasn’t a full assault.

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