Naruto: The Tale of an Otsutsuki

The day following their battle with Kakuzu and Hidan, Kirito and Asuma's team gathered at Yakiniku Q, Konoha's favorite barbecue spot. The tension from their recent mission dissipated into laughter and camaraderie as they celebrated their hard-earned victory.

Choji stared at the menu, eyes darting between options as he salivated. "I want this… but I also want this… Ugh, I can't decide!"

Asuma chuckled. "Don't hold back. Today's a day worth celebrating." He turned to Kirito, adding, "Order whatever you want. My treat."

Choji grinned, holding up the menu. "Waiter! Three luxury sets, please!"

Asuma instinctively reached for his wallet, his expression faltering slightly as he processed the cost.

Kirito, ever reserved, said, "Just two regular steak sets for me."

"I'll take pork belly!" Ino chimed cheerfully.

"Beef is fine for me," Shikamaru added lazily.

As the waiter jotted down their orders, Shikamaru gave Asuma a knowing look. "Is this really just about celebrating the mission? You've got that look, like there's something else on your mind."

Caught off guard, Asuma laughed sheepishly. "Well, you're not wrong. I do have some news to share."

"What news?" Ino leaned forward, her curiosity piqued.

Asuma cleared his throat, a faint blush coloring his face. "I've decided… I'm going to marry Kurenai."

"WHAT?!" the group exclaimed in unison.

Though they had suspected the depth of Asuma and Kurenai's relationship, the announcement still caught them off guard.

"Congratulations, Asuma-sensei!" Ino said enthusiastically. "When's the wedding?"

"Thanks," Asuma replied, scratching the back of his neck. "We haven't set a date yet, but we've talked it over."

Shikamaru's sharp gaze narrowed. "This decision has something to do with the mission, doesn't it?"

Asuma nodded solemnly. "Facing death changes your perspective. It made me realize what's truly important. I don't want to leave things unfinished."

Kirito sipped his juice quietly, observing the dynamic. [So, Asuma hasn't mentioned Kurenai's pregnancy yet. He's probably waiting for the right moment.]

The waiter returned with their orders, shifting the conversation to the sizzling grill. The rich aroma of grilling meat filled the air, and the group's spirits lifted.

Between bites, Ino turned to Kirito. "By the way, you're pretty close to Tenten, right? How's that going?"

Kirito raised an eyebrow, caught off guard. "It's not what you think. Nothing's official."

Asuma chimed in with a grin. "Take my advice: don't wait too long. Life's unpredictable, and regrets are hard to live with."

Ino smirked. "Yeah, Kirito. Take his advice. And don't worry—I won't lose to Sakura. Sasuke will be mine!"

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. [Still hung up on Sasuke, huh?]

Their banter was interrupted by Choji, who declared, "It's ready!" before piling most of the meat onto his plate.

"Hey! That was mine!" Shikamaru protested.

Choji shrugged unapologetically. "In the barbecue war, there's no mercy."

The table erupted into laughter, the weight of their recent battles melting away in the warmth of friendship.

In the Hokage's Office

In stark contrast to the lively dinner, the atmosphere in the Hokage's office was tense. Tsunade, Jiraiya, Kakashi, Shikaku, and other key figures reviewed a grim report detailing the Akatsuki's objectives.

The report outlined the Akatsuki's plans: capturing the tailed beasts, sealing them within the Gedo Statue, and using its amassed power to enforce their twisted vision of "peace."

"'Pain…' I've never heard of him before," Jiraiya said, his brow furrowed. "Is this all the information we have?"

Tsunade nodded grimly. "The Intelligence Department is working to decode what we recovered from Sasori's remains, but progress is slow. His condition makes it difficult to extract coherent data."

Shikaku examined the report closely. "If their goal is to capture all the tailed beasts, our next move is clear: we must protect the jinchuriki at all costs."

Kakashi leaned forward. "Easier said than done. Jinchuriki are central to their villages' military power. Convincing other villages to cooperate won't be easy."

Tsunade's expression hardened. "We'll send this information to the other villages along with a proposal for collaboration. Even if they refuse to work with us, as long as they secure their jinchuriki, it buys us time."

Her strategy hinged on delaying the Akatsuki's progress long enough to decipher Sasori's data and locate the organization's headquarters.

Jiraiya, however, looked uneasy. "But what if they focus all their efforts on Naruto? That would bring the battle directly to Konoha."

Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "If that happens, we'll be ready. If they want a fight, they'll get one—and we will do everything we can to protect the village."

(End of Chapter)

>>>>>

If you would like to read 80 Chapters ahead , check out Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)

Gimme power stonesssss

And, leave a review please 

50% discount code (DDBFC)