NOVEL WEB Chapter 26: Old Bonds
Naruto gave a small nod, a faint smile crossing his lips. "As expected, Akatsuki's efficiency is unmatched," he murmured. Capturing targets was second nature to them; after all, they had already subdued six or seven tailed beasts. Compared to such monumental tasks, a single jōnin—Mitarashi Anko—was a trivial matter.
If not for Naruto's explicit command to capture her alive, Nagato could have ended the skirmish in mere seconds, employing the same ruthless precision they used for tailed beast extractions.
Moments later, the summoned chameleon lumbered forward, its tongue uncoiling to deposit Mitarashi Anko before Naruto. She lay unconscious, her body soaked, evidence of the creature's entrapment. The Hungry Ghost Path stepped back, its work complete; it had nearly drained all of her chakra, leaving just enough to sustain her life.
Naruto glanced at Konan. "Elder Sister, I'll leave this to you."
Konan nodded in understanding. From her robes, she conjured a myriad of paper sheets, enveloping Anko's limp form. With swift precision, she prepared to take her away.
Meanwhile, Captain Yamato and Sai, having recovered from the earlier assault, were already in pursuit. Nagato frowned, but Naruto raised a hand to halt him. "I'll handle this," Naruto said calmly. "Sooner or later, they'll know the truth."
As Yamato's Wood Release tendrils surged forward and Sai's ink lions charged, Naruto moved swiftly. With a simple hand sign, he conjured a shadow clone. Two Rasengan orbs spiraled into existence, obliterating the ink beasts and shattering Yamato's wooden constructs. Splinters and black ink flew through the air, the remnants of their techniques raining down around them.
The shock on Yamato's face was evident, and Sai's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Naruto?" Yamato stammered. "Why are you here?"
Naruto landed before them, his Akatsuki-style cloak fluttering in the breeze. Yamato's gaze fixed on him, analyzing his chakra signature. It was unmistakably Naruto's, but his appearance told a different story.
"Have you… joined Akatsuki?" Yamato asked hesitantly, his voice laden with disbelief.
Naruto shook his head.
Relieved, Yamato exhaled sharply. "Thank goodness. I knew you couldn't betray Konoha."
Naruto's next words, however, shattered that fragile relief. "Correction," he said, his tone steady. "I haven't joined Akatsuki. I'm the founder of a new organization—Celestial."
The declaration left Yamato visibly shaken. "Celestial?" he echoed.
Sai frowned. "Naruto-kun, weren't you supposed to become Hokage? Why would you betray Konoha like this?"
Naruto sighed, raising his hands in frustration. "When did I say I was betraying Konoha? You're jumping to conclusions."
"Your attire and actions speak otherwise," Sai retorted.
Naruto groaned. "It's Celestial, not Akatsuki. Let's get that straight."
Yamato's expression turned grave as he asked urgently, "Naruto, are you under some kind of genjutsu? Has someone manipulated you?"
Naruto met his gaze firmly. "Captain Yamato, listen carefully. I am not under a genjutsu, nor have I been manipulated. I left Konoha to build something greater—an organization that transcends borders, factions, and old rivalries. The Celestial Organization will safeguard the future of the ninja world."
Pointing to the Six Paths of Pain standing silently behind him, Naruto continued, "These Paths you see are no longer Akatsuki. They're part of Celestial now. So, stop calling them Akatsuki when you report back."
Sai, still uneasy, asked, "Naruto-kun, what exactly is the Celestial Organization?"
Naruto's lips curled into a smile. "An alliance dedicated to protecting the ninja world's future. If you're interested, Sai, I'd gladly welcome you as a member."
Yamato's voice cut through the moment. "Naruto! Enough of this! Return Mitarashi Anko immediately, or Konoha will have no choice but to mark you as a rogue ninja."
Naruto chuckled softly. "Relax, Captain Yamato. I don't intend to harm Anko-senpai. I need her assistance for now, but once my work is done, I'll personally ensure her safe return to Konoha."
Turning to Konan and Nagato, Naruto gave a small nod. Konan carried Anko in her paper cocoon, while Nagato directed the massive bird upward.
As the bird ascended, Naruto addressed Yamato and Sai one last time. "We'll meet again. For now, this is goodbye." In a flash, he vanished, reappearing atop the great bird in the sky.
Sai looked to Yamato, determination in his voice. "Should I track him using the Super Beast Imitation Drawing?"
Yamato shook his head, gritting his teeth. "No. If Naruto wanted us dead, we wouldn't have survived that fight. It's clear that he held back for our sake."
He glanced at the retreating silhouette of the bird. "This… this is far beyond us now. We need to return to Konoha immediately and report everything to the Hokage."
Yamato's words hung heavy in the air, the forest falling into an uneasy silence. For now, the mystery of Naruto's Celestial Organization remained unsolved, leaving Yamato and Sai with more questions than answers as they headed back toward Konoha.