Rain fell. Stubborn. Unrelenting.
A curtain of crystal beads streaked down the window.
Sasuke's eyes fluttered open to a foggy dream. A window faced him, its glass misty, revealing only glimpses of steel-gray rooftops beyond.
Footsteps. Voices.
"This the kid you brought back?"
Kakuzu looked down at the boy on the floor, still groggy.
Hanataki nodded. "Itachi Uchiha's younger brother. Second son of the Uchiha clan head."
Kakuzu let out a low, unreadable chuckle.
Golden light flared from Hanataki's hands, engulfing Sasuke completely.
"Let's go."
With those words, Hanataki turned and left. Kakuzu followed.
That voice… it stirred a strange, nagging familiarity in Sasuke's fading consciousness.
Meanwhile, in Konoha.
The Chunin Exams continued.
But the Kage had long since vacated the arena.
The massive meeting room in the Hokage Tower was packed with leaders and elite shinobi from every village. The air was thick, suffocating. Everyone's face was grim, the day's events hanging over them like a shroud.
Around the central table sat the Five Kage.
Itachi Uchiha stood behind Tsukimi Heshu. His eyes were a network of red veins, a pulsing vein standing out on his temple. Calm was impossible. The one taken was his beloved little brother.
Heshu glanced at him. "Don't panic," she said, her voice steady. "I promise you, I will bring Sasuke back."
In the current shinobi world, only Heshu had the power to confront the masked man. Her words meant she intended to go herself.
A lump clogged Itachi's throat. He couldn't speak.
Heshu finished speaking. The Tsuchikage's brow furrowed deeply. Ōnoki had lived too long, seen too much. This wasn't just about some Uchiha. A fresh Genin wasn't worth this kind of move.
"The Akatsuki's goal here cannot possibly be Uchiha Sasuke," Ōnoki stated bluntly. "Their larger target is likely you, Hokage. They're using the boy as bait to lure you out. You must not leave Konoha."
A murmur of agreement rippled around the table.
"Correct," Kazekage Rasa added, his tone cool, logic overriding sentiment. "The Hokage is our only credible defense against the Akatsuki. This could very well be a trap to ambush the Hokage."
"My assessment is the same," Mizukage Mei Terumi agreed. "Their aim is almost certainly the Hokage."
The smaller village leaders nodded fervently. The Hokage's presence was a symbol of security. If she fell, there was no one left to stand against the Akatsuki.
"My duty as Hokage is to protect the villagers," Heshu said, understanding their concern but holding her ground. "Uchiha Sasuke is one of our own. I cannot stand by and do nothing."
Strategy System: "…"
Truly, the first person you have to fool is yourself.
Itachi stood beside her. He knew better than anyone. The only one who could save Sasuke was his teacher. But his teacher carried the hopes of the entire shinobi world. If this was a trap… she wouldn't survive. The world could lose anyone else, but not her.
"Hokage-sama," Nara Sōsai spoke up, his voice measured. "While Uchiha Sasuke is indeed a villager, the village currently holds not only tens of thousands of our own people but also visitors from across the lands. What if they're trying to lure the tiger from the mountain? Do the countless lives in Konoha not outweigh one Uchiha Sasuke?"
His words were a blade to Itachi's heart. Cruel. But they presented another chilling possibility. What if the goal wasn't just to ambush Heshu, but to draw her away and strike at Konoha's populace… and its jinchūriki?
Right now, three jinchūriki were gathered within Konoha's walls.
Yugito Nii of the Two-Tails.
Killer Bee of the Eight-Tails.
And Naruto Uzumaki of the Nine-Tails.
They were all here.
Heshu froze. A struggle flashed across her face.
Nara Sōsai was pragmatic. His duty was to the village's stability and the Hokage's safety. Nothing else mattered. It might seem heartless to Itachi, but Sōsai trusted that Itachi, with his Hokage-like mindset, would understand the choice.
"Hokage-sama, the village is shaken after the Akatsuki's attack on the Exams. They need you here, to anchor them," Sōsai continued. "As for the rescue… we can assign other Jonin."
His gaze flickered briefly to Itachi. He knew, of course. There was no real chance of rescuing Sasuke. Anyone but the Hokage who went after the Akatsuki would not return. No Jonin would take that mission.
Except Itachi Uchiha. He would go. He would go to his death.
Ōnoki saw Heshu's conflict. "Hokage," he said, his voice heavy with sincerity. "The world has only just found peace. Please, do not let it crumble so soon."
If Heshu died, the Akatsuki would run rampant. Unchecked. The tailed beasts would be plucked one by one. Chaos would descend.
Silence followed Ōnoki's plea.
The weight of expectation pressed down on Heshu. She couldn't dash everyone's hopes. But Sasuke… she'd watched that boy grow up.
Her hands clenched. The words wouldn't come.
The room was utterly still. Every eye was on her, willing her to give the safe, the rational answer, to let their pounding hearts settle.
"…I understand."
Heshu's voice was quiet, thick with defeat.
The fragile hope in Itachi's chest plummeted, sinking into a cold, dark pit. He knew. This was the right choice. The only choice his teacher could make.
Summer weather was fickle. The bright sky had turned oppressive as thick clouds piled up, lightning flickering within. The air grew damp, muggy, grating on the nerves.
The Kage filed out of the room. Soon, only Heshu and Itachi remained.
Nara Sōsai had tactfully withdrawn, leaving the space to teacher and student.
Rain began to hammer against the windows in a sharp, sudden downpour. The noise only made the silence between them deeper.
"Itachi…" Heshu's eyes fell. "I'm sorry."
As a teacher, failing to protect her student was its own kind of pain.
Itachi shook his head slowly, his expression serene. "Sensei, you have nothing to apologize for," he said gently. "If anyone should be sorry, it's me. I've put you in a difficult position."
He looked at her, his gaze steady. It held a heartbreaking kindness, a warmth too painful to meet for long.
"Sensei, I have failed your expectations."
He understood perfectly why Heshu had involved him in Konoha's high-level affairs these past two years. She was grooming him to be her successor.
And he was sorry. He would have to abandon that path.
Rescuing Sasuke was not something he could give up. Even if it meant his death.
Heshu looked up, meeting his eyes. Itachi wasn't crying, but his eyes were like a vast, still lake, holding depths of unspoken storm.
As Itachi's back finally disappeared from view, the rain outside stopped.
But in Itachi's heart, a torrential, unprecedented storm had just begun.
The moment the door closed, the regretful mask slid from Heshu's face. She leaned back in her chair, expression blank, almost bored.
"Being too excellent makes you a target."
In the original story, and now. Itachi Uchiha was always Obito Uchiha's choice.
"So tragic," the System lamented.
"What's this?" Heshu murmured. "Death isn't the worst part."
What awaited Itachi Uchiha now was a far deeper torment of the soul.
She stood, straightening her Hokage robes. In a flash, she was gone from the silent room, reappearing at the Chunin Exams arena.
The matches went on. The sky, washed by the sudden storm, was unnaturally clear.
Sakura Haruno's fight with Kankurō was over. Sakura had won.
Now, it was Shino Aburame versus Naruto Uzumaki.
Distracted by Sasuke, Naruto couldn't focus. His loss to Shino was inevitable. He barely reacted, his mind elsewhere, his eyes constantly drifting to where the Hokage sat.
Next was Kabuto Yakushi versus Shigure. Though Shigure was a Rain Genin, the match continued. He'd be detained and interrogated after. Kabuto made quick work of him.
In the end, by unanimous decision of the Kage, only six were promoted to Chunin: Neji Hyuga, Shikamaru Nara, Gaara, Sakura Haruno, Shino Aburame, and Kabuto Yakushi.
Neji had lost to Hanataki, but his skill was undeniable. Shikamaru's tactics and combat prowess earned his spot. Gaara, freed from his rage, was calm, sharp, and overwhelmingly powerful. Sakura and Shino had both the strength and mindset for the rank. And Kabuto? His abilities were far beyond a Genin's.
The moment the ceremony ended, Naruto bolted to Heshu's side.
"Hokage-sama! What about Sasuke?" He looked up, eyes wide with worry, dogging her steps, desperate for an answer.
"Naruto, I can't make you any promises." Heshu didn't offer a kind lie. In this situation, no one knew if Sasuke could even survive.
Naruto froze. This wasn't the answer he expected. He stood, stunned, watching helplessly as Heshu walked away with the other Kage.
"Naruto." Sakura ran over, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Sakura-chan, Sasuke, he…" Naruto looked lost.
Sakura understood more. Sasuke's kidnapping was serious, way above their paygrade.
"No!" Naruto's head snapped up, determination blazing in his eyes. "I'm gonna find Kakashi-sensei! I'm going to save Sasuke!"
He took off like a shot.
Sakura: "…"
Wait for me!
Am I not part of Team 7 too?
You think I'd just stand by while Sasuke's in trouble?
She sprinted after him.
Hokage's Office.
Itachi accepted the S-rank mission scroll from Heshu's hands. The rescue of Sasuke was designated an S-rank mission.
Heshu said nothing, just gave him a deep, unreadable look.
As Itachi turned to leave, she finally spoke. "Be careful."
Itachi nodded once. Then he was gone.
Not long after, another visitor arrived.
"Kakashi?"
He stood before her desk, none of his usual laziness in sight. "Hokage-sama. I'm volunteering for the Sasuke rescue mission."
Kakashi knew. The mission was a death sentence. But Sasuke was his student. How could he do nothing?
"No." Heshu's refusal was immediate. Losing Itachi was a massive blow. Losing Kakashi too was unthinkable.
Kakashi stared, unwavering. A silent standoff.
Ten minutes later, the office door burst open.
Naruto and Sakura tumbled in.
"Hokage-sama! We're here for the Sasuke rescue plan!" Naruto announced loudly.
Heshu: "…"
Her gaze swept over the remnants of Team Seven. "No."
Naruto was a jinchūriki. Letting him out was like painting a target on his back.
"Hokage-sama! Why?!" Naruto's lip trembled, tears welling up. After all these years, he knew exactly which buttons to press.
Sure enough, Heshu faltered. She paused for a second. "…You can take on a support role. Not the direct rescue."
The tears in Naruto's eyes were about to spill. Heshu quickly added, "And if anyone complains, even the support mission is canceled."
Naruto instantly sucked the tears back.
Sakura: "…"
Classic Naruto.
Kakashi: "…"
So the Hokage is weak to this approach.
"What's the support mission?" Naruto pressed.
"Sasuke's location is still unknown. There's an insect called the Bikōchū beetle that can track by scent. Finding one is crucial. That's your mission." Heshu thought for a moment. "Shino's squad will join you."
When it came to insects, the Aburame were the experts.
"YES!" Naruto pumped his fist, fire in his eyes. "SASUKE, WAIT FOR ME!"
Sakura: "…"
Why does that sound so weird?
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