Naruto : Nameless Brothel

"You've just received your first mission."

At the entrance of the large training hall, a female figure had just appeared—it was the young Uzumaki's new sensei.

"You must go to Suna to rescue its Kazekage," she continued, her eyes fixed on her young disciple, who was sitting further away in a lotus position. "Your only task is to retrieve the Kazekage. Avoid confrontation if possible."

At the mention of Gaara, Naruto's eyes slowly opened, briefly revealing the faint outline of horizontal pupils—a telltale sign of Sage Mode.

"Hmm… Gaara has been captured?" he sighed, releasing his Sage Mode. "Why call on me now?"

For two years, he had been locked away here, undergoing one of the most grueling trainings imaginable. In all that time, he had had no contact with the outside world. His only luxury was thirty minutes of partial rest.

To put it simply, he had lived through hell—enough to make one wonder if his new sensei wasn't actually the devil in disguise.

"I can finally get some rest, after all…" Naruto stood up, stretching his sore muscles, then slowly walked toward the door. His measured steps contrasted with the boundless energy he was once known for.

The flickering light from the hallway partially illuminated his face as he stepped out of the shadows, revealing a hardened expression—one shaped by months of relentless training. His sharper features bore the mark of someone who had faced suffering without ever breaking.

"Rest…!" she sighed behind her mask. "...You need to complete your mission. And how many times do I have to tell you to wear your mask?"

Despite her cold and distant demeanor, whether by luck or sheer talent, Naruto had managed to earn a small amount of appreciation from his sensei. As her first disciple and the person she had spent the most time with, they had grown somewhat close—even if only slightly.

"I was in the dark, alone—who was going to see me anyway?" Naruto replied playfully. "You have to ease the tension sometimes, sensei."

He walked past her and headed down the corridor. "Let's go!" he added, slipping on his mask.

[...]

They had just arrived at the Hokage's office, revealing Tsunade seated behind her desk, her expression grave. The two stepped into the room, advancing in silence. But while one remained calm, the other was seething inside.

The moment Naruto caught sight of Tsunade, his heart pounded—not from nostalgia, but from the bitter memory of his conversation with Danzō. The old man's words still echoed in his mind, dripping with contempt and manipulation, after he had been taken—while Tsunade had been in on it.

His fist clenched around the kunai at his belt. His sharp gaze locked onto the Hokage's throat. One well-placed strike, and it would all be over.

But a slight movement beside him brought him back to reality. Taking a deep breath, he forced down the rage boiling within him and followed his sensei's lead. With a fluid motion, the woman knelt, bowing respectfully to Tsunade. After a brief hesitation, Naruto did the same, lowering his head, though his body remained tense—like a bowstring ready to snap.

Tsunade observed her two visitors with a piercing gaze, silently analyzing Naruto's rigid expression. She was somewhat surprised but chose not to comment.

"You've come at the right time," she declared curtly. "The situation in Suna is critical. Gaara has been captured by the Akatsuki."

Naruto lifted his head slightly. "What does this Akatsuki want? Why attack Gaara?"

"We don't have time for details. I want you to leave immediately, Naruto. Kankuro fought the enemy and is gravely injured. You'll need to meet up with him and do everything in your power to retrieve the Kazekage," the Hokage continued.

Naruto didn't respond right away, analyzing the situation. Why send me now, when she was the one who handed me over to Danzō? Why did I end up joining the Anbu?

Too many unanswered questions swirled in his mind. But one thing was certain—he couldn't trust anyone. He had already learned that the hard way.

"Fine," he finally muttered, his voice rough.

He stood up, ready to leave.

"Naruto, wait," Tsunade added.

He stopped for a moment, looking at her from behind his mask.

"There are still things I need to discuss with your sensei. When you return, I'd like to speak with you. Be careful."

Without another word, Naruto vanished, as if he had never been there.