Konoha: Naruto's abnormal life choices

Around two o'clock in the afternoon, the Konoha camp came alive. After lunch, four thousand ninjas assembled at the four cardinal points of the camp.

This massive movement caused unease among the unaware Chūnin. Many whispered among themselves—was the decisive battle about to begin?

Everyone was on edge, silently following the senior ninjas leading their respective units.

Most of the remaining personnel were medical and logistics ninjas, with a few specializing in secret techniques and message relay.

Tsunade stayed behind, taking command from the camp. She pretended to be producing military ration pills for the deployed troops and managed communications between the four formations.

In truth, she had no intention of allowing the communication teams to take action. Besides a few trusted Jōnin, the majority of personnel were kept in the dark about the operation's true objective.

The Hokage herself had volunteered to serve as bait. If Kumogakure got wind of this reckless move—even if they suspected a trap—they might still seize the opportunity.

After all, the chance to kill or even capture a Hokage was too tempting to pass up.

It all depended on whether Kumogakure would take the bait.

…

Two or three hours later, as previously planned, Konoha launched large-scale maneuvers.

In a forest near the border of the Land of the Moon—adjacent to the Land of Hot Water—Kumogakure's scouts picked up the movement. Raikage A quickly summoned his closest advisors to assess whether they should attack Konoha's camp.

Raikage sat at the head of the war table, visibly displeased.

To be honest, no one in the room was in good spirits.

Because, before they even learned of Konoha's troop movements, they had already received another grim update: Konoha's supply transport had been completed successfully, while both elite squads sent to intercept had been completely wiped out—except for Yugito.

Even her status was currently unknown.

That meant they had lost six Tokubetsu Jōnin and four elite Jōnin in one blow.

Considering that the total number of special and elite Jōnin in all of Kumogakure didn't exceed sixty, the loss was devastating.

The best-case scenario now was that Yugito had managed to escape and return. As a Jinchūriki with Kage-level strength, she was a vital asset.

If she died, it would be like severing an arm from Kumogakure.

"Brother," said Killer Bee, seated next to Raikage. "I think Konoha's movements are probably related to Yugito's location."

"If we don't move now, she might not make it back."

Raikage dropped his head, pained. The loss of so many elite fighters weighed heavily on him—he could barely breathe.

Though he had the appearance of a fierce warrior, he was prone to emotional breakdowns.

Tears welled up in his eyes.

Samui, ever stoic, stepped to his side with concern. She feared his grief might paralyze command decisions.

At this moment, Samui's heart burned with a desire to strike back. She had already learned the truth behind the failed operation.

The reason for Yunyin's disastrous loss? One name: Uzumaki Naruto—the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki of Konoha, and the same boy who had once killed her younger brother.

Old grudges had not yet faded—and now new hatred fueled her rage.

She wanted nothing more than to tear Uzumaki Naruto limb from limb.

"Lord Raikage," she urged, "please set aside your sorrow. Our priority now should be how to respond to Konoha's maneuver."

Huuu~!

Raikage let out a deep sigh, wiping away his tears as he pulled a letter from his pocket—the one Bai had sent him earlier.

"This damn thing got our people killed," he growled, eyes flashing. He tore the letter into shreds and tossed it into the fire.

Killer Bee opened his mouth to interject, but when he saw the stormy look on Raikage's face, he swallowed his words.

To be fair, the intel had been accurate: it said Konoha would transport supplies and that the escort was a Jōnin. It just hadn't specified which Jōnin—or how powerful.

They hadn't been prepared. That wasn't the informant's fault.

Still, Raikage lashed out.

"Uzumaki Naruto is now Kumo's primary enemy. The moment you see him—kill him with everything you've got!"

"And as for that liar Haku, who sent half-baked intel—after we defeat Konoha, I'm putting a bounty on her head. I want her dead!"

"Now, gather the troops. We march on Konoha."

Unlike Konoha, Kumogakure functioned like a one-man regime. Raikage's decisions were absolute. His authority could not be questioned, no matter how reckless he might be.

Sitting in a shadowed corner, Darui—dark-skinned, white-haired, and normally laid-back—frowned in silence.

As one of the village's most respected elite Jōnin, second only to the Raikage and the Jinchūriki, he had the right to speak up.

But he didn't.

He silently obeyed the orders… but inwardly, he thought:

Raikage-sama is brilliant in combat, but too impulsive to lead.

"This war's going to get messier. We can't just blindly follow Raikage-sama's orders…"

…

Meanwhile, Sunagakure remained in a state of watchful neutrality.

Chiyo had just finished a strategy meeting with her council. When she returned to the Kazekage's office, she found Temari waiting—anger visible on her face.

Clearly, the acting Kazekage had done something to provoke her.

Chiyo could already guess why Temari was here, but said nothing. She simply walked to her desk and sat down.

"Well, well," she said dryly. "Look who finally showed up. Not ditching your lessons today?"

Chiyo had tried to train Temari as a leader, but the girl always skipped her assignments, lacked discipline, and showed little interest in governing.

So today, Chiyo didn't bother pretending to be pleased.

But Temari, now a little thicker-skinned thanks to Naruto, smiled brightly despite the cold reception.

"Granny," she said, "is there any news from Konoha? Can you tell me what's going on?"

Chiyo shot her a glare. "You're focused on the wrong things. Worry about our internal affairs first. External matters aren't your concern yet."

Temari kept smiling. "But that's exactly why we should pay attention. I need to learn the big picture if I'm ever going to be Kazekage. And this war—it's a great opportunity."

Chiyo raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Well then, here's the truth: Hidden Cloud offered us a pile of resources. We're planning to attack Konoha alongside them."

Temari's face turned pale. She slammed her hands on the desk.

"Granny, we're allies with Konoha! How can we betray them again?"

"If we go through with this, no one will ever trust Sunagakure again! It's political suicide!"

Chiyo scoffed. "So what? Sounds like your heart's in Konoha already."

Temari looked away. Her mind, admittedly, was preoccupied—with Naruto.

But she rallied herself.

"I'm thinking of the village. Win or lose, we'll ruin our reputation. Konoha won't forgive us, and the world will stop trusting us."

Chiyo's expression shifted. She thought for a long moment, then said:

"If that's your view, then act on it."

Temari blinked. "But I'm just a Chūnin. I don't have any authority!"

"You could," Chiyo said. "In three days, we'll hold a Jōnin test. If you pass, I'll block the attack and back your stance."

Temari hesitated… then nodded.

"I'll be there."

As she turned to leave, Chiyo added softly:

"Remember, Temari. You're a child of Sunagakure. This is your home. Your friends, your family—everything is here."

Temari didn't answer. She lowered her eyes and walked out.

"Goodbye, Granny."

The door shut behind her.

Chiyo stared at the empty space for a long time, then sighed.

In truth, there had never been a decision to betray Konoha.

They had only decided to stay neutral.

Sunagakure was too weak. Chiyo herself was already nearing the end of her days. If they got dragged into a war between giants like Konoha and Kumogakure, they might not survive.

Temari… grow strong quickly. I don't know how long I can protect this village.

…

Afternoon—clouds, birds, and Naruto.

He lurked in the woods, crouched low in the warm spring wind.

A lone four-leaf clover stretched toward him in the grass, as if watching him.

"Little Grass," Naruto murmured, "where should I go?"

Sunlight fell on him, casting a solitary shadow.

Thousands of troops were deployed—but he alone had been sent on this mission.

Tsunade told him to circle behind enemy lines, and even gave him a flare for emergencies.

But Naruto wanted a proper fight.

He'd figured out the selector system already—big rewards only came from high-risk, high-body-count actions.

A sneak attack? Boring. Probably wouldn't even find the enemy.

"What a joke."

"I didn't come to the battlefield just to play tag. I came to get stronger."

He eyed the clover, then plucked it.

"Four-leaf clover's supposed to bring luck, right? Come with me, Little Grass-kun!"

Clover: "…"

Dumbass.

Suddenly, warmth pulsed across the back of his hand. A black kanji "肆"—the number four—appeared.

It was the devil's contract seal, linked to Yugito.

Naruto had taught her how to use it before they parted.

And now, she was calling him.

Naruto raised his arm and mimicked an old habit from his past life: "Moshi Moshi?"

Yugito's voice came through, awkwardly. "…Naruto-sama, I'm back at the ruins of the old Cloud camp. There's nothing here."

Naruto chuckled.

So the destruction was mutual.

Konoha's camp had been bombed, and so had Kumogakure's. It was standard practice to relocate constantly.

"I'm thinking of heading back toward your location," Yugito added. "It's too risky trying to find my own team."

"Oh?" Naruto smirked. "So you're planning to tail the other troops and let them do the scouting?"

"…Yes," she admitted.

"Come ahead," Naruto said. "You might be useful. I kind of regretted letting you go earlier."

Silence.

Yugito made a gagging sound, recalling the "breakfast" he'd forced on her that morning. Her stomach churned.

"You okay?" Naruto asked, puzzled. "You sound sick."

"No! No, I'm fine! Just tired! I'll contact you later!"

Click.

She cut the connection.

Naruto narrowed his eyes.

"Hanging up on me, huh? You need more training…"

He turned and sprinted toward the base camp.

When he was still a few kilometers away, he made hand signs and summoned over sixty shadow clones, dispersing them in all directions.

Each one took a different path, forming a surveillance net.

Soon, his clones spotted Hiashi Hyūga's forces and Kakashi's unit.

Of course, a shadow clone couldn't evade the Byakugan. They were noticed immediately.

When news reached Kakashi and Hiashi, both men frowned.

Kakashi: "Didn't Lady Tsunade assign him to flank the enemy? Why is he back already?"

"He's ignoring direct orders. That's not like him."

"Alert Tsunade immediately!"

On the other side, Hiashi's thoughts were different.

"What is Naruto doing?" he murmured. "Should we call him over?"

"Well… he'll be family one day, once he marries Hanabi. And family should stick together."

He ordered the main force to halt and dispatched a shadow clone to find Naruto.

…

At that very moment—

The Hidden Cloud army was drawing near.