A full month remained until the finals of the Chunin Exams.
Given the formidable opponent Sasuke was facing, Kakashi decided to implement a month-long special training regimen for him.
Naruto, meanwhile, was searching everywhere for someone who could teach him.
Honestly, Tsukimi was the best candidate.
But for some reason, over all these years, Naruto had never actually learned any of Tsukimi's techniques.
Naruto wandered the streets.
He was walking when he heard it—a weird, cackling laugh.
He focused and saw, outside the women's bathhouse, a pervy old man trying to peek.
Instantly, righteous fury surged. Naruto launched a flying kick.
"Ow!"
Jiraiya, kicked from out of nowhere, was seething with irritation—until he saw who it was.
"Naruto?"
"What are you doing here?"
In that instant, a dozen reasons flashed through Jiraiya's mind. He settled on the idea that Naruto was here for the same purpose he was.
"Naruto, you can't do this!"
Jiraiya decided to lecture the boy who'd been a little pervert since childhood. He hadn't wanted to. Lechery was a man's nature. Appreciating beauty was human nature. As a man, how could you suppress your nature?
Whether it was Kakashi, himself, or Naruto following in their footsteps, none of them were wrong. The problem was this oppressive world.
But considering Tsukimi Heshu's combat power, Jiraiya felt he had to try and save Naruto. Just in case the kid ever got caught and accidentally blabbed about his activities. Wouldn't Tsukimi think he was the one who corrupted Naruto?
"Hah! You think I'm like you?" Naruto planted his hands on his hips, pointing an accusing finger. "You dirty old man! Over fifty! No shame at all!"
Jiraiya: "…"
If he weren't factoring in Tsukimi, Naruto's backside would be glowing red right now.
"Fine! Since you're so old, I won't go spreading this around!" Naruto shook his head with profound disappointment.
Jiraiya let out a relieved sigh.
He was one of the Legendary Sannin, after all. Reputation and face mattered. And last time, writing that biography for Tsukimi had pissed her off royally. If Naruto tattled now… he'd have a real headache.
"But…" Naruto's tone shifted, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
Jiraiya's scalp prickled. "…But?"
What unreasonable demand was this little brat about to make? If it was about harassing decent women, Jiraiya would never agree! He had standards!
"Teach me some ninjutsu!" Naruto stated his demand.
"That's it?" Jiraiya hadn't expected something so simple. "Deal!" He agreed instantly.
Naruto's old man was his student anyway.
But Jiraiya was a little confused. Tsukimi was way stronger than him. Why wasn't Naruto asking her for training? The thought crossed his mind, but he quickly got distracted by other topics and forgot about it.
So, Naruto began training under Jiraiya.
Sasuke underwent his special training with Kakashi.
And Tsukimi found himself with unprecedented free time.
He'd handed most administrative duties to the government department. Now, he just spent an hour each day stamping documents. The rest of his time? He was either invited by the Raikage for drinks, by the Mizukage Mei Terumi for hot springs, by the Tsuchikage for massages, or by the Kazekage to help guide Gaara.
Life was pretty damn good.
"Teacher, I strongly suspect something is off about the Rain Village genin, Hanataki."
One afternoon, Neji visited Tsukimi to report this.
Tsukimi was lounging on the sofa, eating shaved ice Hanzo had made while reading a manga. At Neji's words, his hand paused. He looked up. "What makes you say that?"
Neji recounted the anomalies he'd noticed. "I briefly clashed with Hanataki in the Forest of Death. You said, teacher, that among our peers, almost no one can withstand an attack from my Truth-Seeking Orbs. Yet he could."
"Furthermore, his strength gives me a feeling of being… bottomless."
"He had fought many others before our match. Logically, his chakra and stamina should have been depleted. Yet, he showed no sign of fatigue."
"His gaze also feels… peculiar."
Neji struggled to describe it. It was as if, within Hanataki's youthful body, resided a far more mature soul. After receiving Ōtsutsuki Hamura's chakra and evolving his Tenseigan, Neji's sensory perception had skyrocketed, leagues beyond what it was before. Thus, he could perceive things ordinary people couldn't.
Tsukimi hadn't expected Neji to be this sharp.
He comforted the boy. "Neji, you must understand. As long as Hanataki hasn't revealed any abnormalities observable by the public, we can do nothing."
Neji was taken aback, then slowly considered it. They truly couldn't act. Hanataki currently appeared perfectly normal. If they did anything to him, it would easily invite public speculation—that Konoha, fearing his strength might affect their ninja's results, was resorting to dirty tricks. It could also challenge the hard-won peace of the ninja world.
Every potential consequence was severe. Therefore, even if Hanataki was abnormal, they couldn't move against him.
Neji nodded gravely. "I understand, teacher." Since he was the only one who could detect the anomaly, he would keep a close watch.
"The most important thing is to protect yourself," Tsukimi said seriously.
Since the experience on the moon, with his power soaring, Neji's mentality had also undergone a massive shift. The same issues that once plagued Itachi and Shisui Uchiha were now showing in Hyūga Neji. Recognizing greater responsibility with increased power wasn't bad in itself. But overemphasizing one's own role, shouldering too much burden… that only became a weight to crush you.
Neji nodded again.
After Neji left, Tsukimi summoned Hyūga Tenri.
"Teacher!" Tenri jumped in through the window, full of energy. It had been a while, and her liveliness had fully returned. She'd shot up like a weed, a teenage girl brimming with youthful vitality, like a crystal-clear dewdrop on a spring leaf—radiant and promising.
"Before the finals begin, keep an eye on the Rain Village delegation's movements," Tsukimi instructed.
They couldn't act, but they couldn't remain ignorant either.
Tenri nodded vigorously. "Leave it to me!" Her figure flashed out the window as quickly as she'd entered.
Coming and going like a shadow in the wind. After her last near-death mission, Tenri seemed to have changed, yet also remained exactly the same.
Tsukimi sighed, put down the now-spotless bowl, and made his way to Konoha's cemetery.
Because of the Chunin Exams, every street in Konoha was packed, every shop overflowing. Only here was it silent. Only the wind whispering through the leaves.
Tsukimi placed a bouquet of flowers at Takenouchi's grave. He crouched, running a hand over the cold stone.
"Just a little longer," he said in his heart.
What he was waiting for, only he knew.
He also brought flowers for Minato and Kushina's graves.
In a place like this, it was easy for one's mood to sink. Tsukimi suddenly thought of something.
He stood and walked in another direction.
To Rin Nohara's tombstone.
Fresh flowers lay upon it. Someone visited her often.
"Tch." Tsukimi shook his head.
If only Rin had died a little later. Then he could've found a way to resurrect her. That would've scared the hell out of Obito.
Too bad she died too early. Her body wasn't even here. Probably taken by Obito as a keepsake, Tsukimi mused.
"What are you doing here?"
A familiar voice came from behind.
Obito stood silently at his back.
Obito couldn't fathom why Tsukimi was standing before Rin's grave.
"Visiting an old acquaintance," Tsukimi replied.
The corner of Obito's mouth twitched. Visiting an old acquaintance? At Rin's grave? Tsukimi and Rin were complete strangers who had never met. The only connection between them… was himself.
"And you?" Tsukimi looked at him.
Was the number one simp of the ninja world here to visit Rin again?
"I came to get a person from you," Obito said.
"Meaning?" Tsukimi raised a brow.
"Orochimaru left the Akatsuki. We're short-handed now." Obito stared straight at Tsukimi. "Your disciple, Itachi Uchiha, would be an excellent choice."
"Getting Itachi Uchiha to join Akatsuki is harder than reaching heaven," Tsukimi shot back.
To make Itachi defect from Konoha without exposing his own spy identity was fundamentally impossible. Even if Tsukimi's cover was blown, Itachi would never betray Konoha. The current Itachi was deeply loyal, a model ninja.
"Hmph." Obito chuckled, the sound laced with cold amusement. "Every person has a weakness."
"He has a little brother, doesn't he?"
A clear plan began to form in Obito's mind.
"Itachi cares deeply for his brother. What if something happened to him?"
"If something happens to Sasuke, he'll only hate you. Not help you," Tsukimi said.
If Sasuke really got hurt, Itachi would turn the Akatsuki inside out without a second thought. If Obito could overturn the entire ninja world for Rin, then Itachi could do the same for Sasuke. The terrifying power of a brother complex was beyond imagination.
"Of course I know that."
"But what if his little brother's survival depended on us? To protect his brother, wouldn't he betray Konoha then?" Obito asked with morbid curiosity. He was genuinely interested in the answer. Even if Itachi ultimately chose Konoha, they could just kill him. No loss either way.
"You can try," Tsukimi said, curious about Obito's plan himself.
Using Sasuke to control Itachi was a good idea in theory. But executing it wouldn't be easy. The hardest part was creating a situation where Itachi felt utterly helpless, forced to sacrifice himself.
"Wait for the show to begin."
"Tsukimi."
Obito's voice and form dissolved into the wind.
Not long after, an uninvited guest arrived at Hanataki's inn.
"You?"
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