Naruto: The Tale of an Otsutsuki

As Kakuzu's lifeless body crumpled to the ground, Ino, standing behind Asuma, exhaled in relief. The tension of the battle lingered, leaving her shaken by the close encounter. If Kirito's decisive action had faltered, she might have been taken hostage—or worse.

"Thank you, Kirito," Ino said earnestly, her voice trembling slightly.

Kirito sheathed his black dagger, offering a modest smile. "It's fine. I'll be more careful next time."

Aoba Yamashiro adjusted his sunglasses, his expression thoughtful. "We can never afford to underestimate the Akatsuki. Their strength surpasses anything ordinary."

Shikamaru scratched his head, processing the events. "Every single one of them is a nightmare to deal with. Kakuzu especially… why couldn't he die, even after you stabbed him?"

Kirito glanced at Kakuzu's remains. "He had five hearts. Each one was housed in his body and the masks. Unless you know his anatomy or have Byakugan to see through him, you wouldn't notice."

"Five hearts…" Shikamaru muttered, piecing together the implications. "So, when you cut off his arm, one heart was destroyed then. And the Lightning mask was another?"

He now fully understood why the fight had been so challenging. Kakuzu's abilities were uniquely terrifying, and without Kirito, the team might not have survived.

Asuma lit a cigarette, the faint glow casting shadows on his face. He looked at the corpses of Hidan and Kakuzu, exhaling a plume of smoke.

"They're finally gone," he said softly. "The people they terrorized, including the monks of the Fire Temple, can finally rest in peace."

Shikamaru grinned faintly. "Let's clean up the battlefield and head back. Lord Hokage will need a detailed debrief."

Asuma nodded, taking another drag. "Kirito, you're coming to the celebration dinner at Barbecue Q, right? My treat."

Before Kirito could reply, Choji pumped his fists in excitement. "Barbecue? Count me in!"

Their shared laughter momentarily lightened the mood, easing the tension of the aftermath.

At the Hokage's Office

Rain streaked the windows as Tsunade leaned back in her chair, reviewing the battle report. Her lips curled into a rare smile.

"All Akatsuki members involved in the Temple of Fire incident have been neutralized," she said, setting the document on her desk. "Finally, some good news."

Shizune glanced at the report and nodded. "Kirito's performance was exceptional, as usual. Sending him was the right call."

Tsunade's smile faded into a frown. "If I hadn't sent him, Asuma and his team might not have made it. But there's still Danzo…"

Shizune sighed, knowing the topic was unavoidable.

"That old snake," Tsunade muttered. "Two years ago, he tried to recruit Kirito for Root. Now, he's meddling with Orochimaru and sending agents to 'monitor' Naruto under the pretense of supervising the Nine-Tails."

"The elders continue to protect him," Shizune added. "They've always supported Root's existence."

Tsunade clenched her fists. "If I had my way, Root would be dismantled for good. But without hard evidence of Danzo's crimes, I can't act. He's too cautious."

She sighed, turning her gaze to the rain-soaked window. "I wanted Kirito to join the Anbu. With his strength, he could help counter Danzo's influence. But he's so indifferent to politics…"

Shizune smiled faintly. "That's part of his charm, isn't it? So much power, yet he stays detached from it all."

Tsunade's frustration boiled over. "Detached is one thing, but he's planning to quit being a ninja in a year! After all I've done for him…"

Shizune chuckled as Tsunade's tirade shifted to venting her accumulated stress. With the immediate Akatsuki threat resolved, the Hokage allowed herself a moment of release.

At the Konoha Training Grounds

Under a canopy created by Yamato's Wood Style, Naruto sat cross-legged, staring intently at a leaf in his palm. Rain dripped from the edges of the shelter, but his focus remained unbroken.

He had advanced in his Wind Style training, mastering techniques like cutting leaves and splitting waterfalls. Yet integrating nature transformation into his Rasengan felt impossibly distant.

"Can I really do this?" Naruto muttered, doubt creeping into his thoughts.

The memory of Kirito's perfected Wind Style Rasengan reignited his determination. "If he can do it, so can I!"

"Yo, Naruto!" Kakashi called, approaching with a lunchbox in hand.

Naruto's head shot up. "Got a new training method for me?"

Kakashi set the lunchbox on a chair, smiling. "Eat first. You've been training nonstop."

"Forget eating! What's the new method?" Naruto demanded, his eyes alight with determination.

Kakashi chuckled. "Good news first: the Akatsuki team targeting the Fire Temple has been eliminated. You're safe for now."

Naruto blinked. "That's great! What's the bad news?"

Kakashi's tone grew serious. "Now that the Akatsuki are handled, Orochimaru and Sasuke become our next priorities. If we don't act soon…"

Naruto clenched his fists, Sasuke's name striking a chord deep within him.

"So," Kakashi continued, "you'll need to grow stronger, fast. Mastering this technique will be essential."

Naruto's resolve hardened. "I won't let Sasuke stay like that. I'll train harder. I'll master it—no matter what!"

Kakashi's gaze softened, seeing Naruto's unyielding spirit. "That's the attitude. Now eat up. You'll need your strength."

(End of Chapter)

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