The Root Ninja took off the mask on his face...
The stern face hidden inside the mask was revealed.
Naruto Uzumaki looked at that somewhat familiar face, and the anger on his face turned into shock. For a moment, he couldn't quite confirm the other person's identity.
"Sa...Sasuke?"
"Is it really Sasuke?"
"Hmph, can't even recognize me?"
A smirk of habitual arrogance appeared on Uchiha Sasuke's lips as he extended his hand to the Naruto lying on the ground.
"No, it's not..."
Naruto Uzumaki grasped his hand, using it to stand up, still somewhat unable to believe his eyes: "What... what on earth is going on? Why did you become a Root Ninja? Why didn't you come back to Team 7?"
"Wait a minute..."
Naruto Uzumaki suddenly remembered something, his eyes wide: "Granny Tsunade mentioned a Root Ninja was going to join Team 7..."
At that time...
Granny Tsunade said she had refused this proposal.
Moreover, I also seemed to refuse when I heard the news...
Ahhhh...
Naruto Uzumaki hit his head hard, hating his past stupidity: "I should have asked who it was back then!"
"Lord Kagura did think about letting me return to Team 7."
Uchiha Sasuke nodded, whispering: "Just as you all refused, I was more comfortable in the Root, because I have more important things to do..."
"What on earth is going on?"
Naruto Uzumaki interrupted Uchiha Sasuke, wanting to know the truth first: "At that time, you clearly left with Orochimaru..."
"It was just a mission."
Uchiha Sasuke shook his head, indifferent to his past experiences: "At that time, Orochimaru had his eyes on Konoha, and Lord Kagura had me infiltrate his side to monitor and assassinate him when the opportunity arose..."
"To gain Orochimaru's trust, I couldn't reveal my identity as a Root Ninja to you, nor reveal the secret missions of the Root, so I could only leave as a defector. I didn't expect you to follow me at that time, almost blowing my cover..."
These words...
Actually hid some truths.
Like Akihara Kagura's cooperation with Orochimaru.
Like how Kagura always used Orochimaru's experimental results.
These matters belong to Root's top secrets, belong to Konoha's darkness, and are what Uchiha Sasuke considered his future to inherit.
Before Naruto Uzumaki became Hokage, the only thing Uchiha Sasuke could reveal was the issue about Orochimaru's death reported by the Ninja World.
"No wonder there was no killing intent in your eyes back then..."
Naruto Uzumaki recalled their encounter in the Valley of the End, vaguely understanding Uchiha Sasuke's experiences over the past two to three years: "If I had known, I should have been told, so I didn't have to worry all these years about you being taken over by Orochimaru..."
"Did you forget about our second Chunin exam incident, you idiot?"
Uchiha Sasuke rubbed his forehead helplessly and said solemnly: "This was a confidential task of the village, how could I tell you? Even revealing my identity to you required Lord Kagura's permission..."
"I see..."
Naruto Uzumaki immediately understood, nodded to himself, and asked again: "So, when we were rescuing Gaara, you were protecting us from behind the whole time?"
"Yes..."
Uchiha Sasuke nodded and casually mocked Naruto Uzumaki: "Because you idiot seemed to have made no progress in the past two years..."
"What did you say!"
Naruto Uzumaki was instantly outraged!
Nothing in this world is more infuriating than his old friends mocking him for becoming weaker. Naruto Uzumaki immediately wanted to prove to Uchiha Sasuke how much he has grown!
However, as Naruto Uzumaki flared up, rolling up his sleeves, ready to show Uchiha Sasuke his strength, Uchiha Sasuke's words extinguished his anger.
"Sorry, Naruto..."
Uchiha Sasuke softly apologized.
"Hmph..."
Naruto Uzumaki crossed his arms, looking quite proud, nodding: "Since you apologized, I'll forgive your rudeness..."
"It's not for what I said earlier..."
Uchiha Sasuke looked at his dear friend in front of him and said in a low voice: "Actually, the Fourth Hokage has been revived for two or three years. Part of my Flying Thunder God Jutsu techniques was taught by him. When I was still in Team 7, I already knew about his revival and that he was your father..."
This was Uchiha Sasuke's inner guilt.
Because at that time, Naruto Uzumaki was still living a life laughed at by the villagers, while he was receiving the teachings from the Second and Fourth Hokages, even knowing the truth about Naruto Uzumaki's lineage, yet did not tell him.
"..."
Naruto Uzumaki's face immediately turned sour.
"The Fourth Hokage has always wanted to see you."
Uchiha Sasuke continued softly without minding Naruto's expression: "Because he sacrificed himself sealing the Nine-tails to protect the village when you were young, so he had to leave you alone. Although he was revived by the Reanimation Jutsu, he couldn't meet you to keep the village's secrets, occasionally observing you in the dark..."
Uchiha Sasuke placed a hand on Naruto Uzumaki's shoulder, gently patting it: "Naruto, Orochimaru's threat to the village is gone, the Fourth Hokage could break the Reanimation Jutsu anytime, don't regret not taking the chance when you had it..."
"Regarding the Nine-tails..."
Uchiha Sasuke brought up what Naruto Uzumaki was most concerned with, continuing: "Even if you feel displeased about this matter, you should at least talk it through face to face, right? Speak your mind, doesn't your ninja path tell you to follow through?"
"Never!"
Naruto Uzumaki furiously waved his fists!
The Third Training Field.
Kakashi Hatake, Akihara Kagura, and Namikaze Minato were still here.
"Wasn't this expected?"
Akihara Kagura shrugged and casually accused Namikaze Minato: "That little guy Naruto suffered a lot when he was young because of his identity as a Jinchuriki. It's normal for him to have resentment and darkness in his heart. How about putting him in Root..."
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Kakashi Hatake glanced at Akihara Kagura, quickly wanting to dispel Kagura's dangerous idea: "You shouldn't always be thinking about taking my subordinate!"
"Because at that time, I believed Naruto could overcome the darkness."
Namikaze Minato showed no awareness as a father, even thinking from a ninja's perspective: "Naruto is my child, I trust that he can endure the Jinchuriki experience and emerge like a butterfly after transformation..."
"But..."
Akihara Kagura's gaze fell on Namikaze Minato: "For a child, this is a painful process. The only way to overcome pain is to keep growing. Perhaps I should wait until Naruto has overcome this layer of pain before letting you father and son reunite..."
Just as they were chatting idly, Uchiha Sasuke had already brought Naruto Uzumaki back to the Third Training Field, though Naruto's expression was still somewhat awkward.
"I already know about everything..."
"Sorry."
Namikaze Minato seriously apologized to his son: "Since your birth, I have never fulfilled my responsibilities as a father, even making you a Jinchuriki to seal the Nine-tails. Naruto, this is my fault..."
"You have fulfilled them."
Akihara Kagura mediated the family conflict for his supervisor, casually making a comment about another supervisor: "Naruto, the Fourth Hokage mentioned that Uchiha Obito disguised as a mysterious masked man and tried to kill you right after you were born, and the Fourth Hokage fought desperately to save you..."
"..."
Kakashi Hatake's expression was somewhat rigid.
"Obito, that child..."
Namikaze Minato sighed lightly.
Over the years, Namikaze Minato had continuously worked with other Hokages to pursue Uchiha Obito, and he knew how miserable Obito had been during these years...
"So today you wanted to see me..."
Naruto Uzumaki looked at his father he had never met before, and asked in a deep voice: "Is it to apologize for sealing the Nine-tails inside me back then?"
"No."
Namikaze Minato shook his head, speaking seriously: "Today's purpose is to help you undergo enhanced training so you can learn to develop the nature transformation of the Rasengan..."
"Rasengan?"
Naruto Uzumaki immediately forgot his desire for accusations and spoke of his most troubling issue: "The Pervy Sage taught me Rasengan, and he mentioned the nature transformation of Rasengan, but he didn't seem to have any clue about it. I still don't understand what Chakra nature transformation is..."
"..."
Namikaze Minato and Kakashi Hatake looked towards Akihara Kagura.
Because among the people present, only Akihara Kagura had mastered the nature transformation of Rasengan proficiently, even though the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato, as its developer, wanted to rely on Sage Mode to add Wind Release to the nature transformation of Rasengan.
"Something like this..."
Akihara Kagura lifted his palm, revealing a blue Rasengan in his hand, and continued: "First, condense a Rasengan, then inject Chakra of other attributes into the Rasengan, allowing the Rasengan to have other more magical abilities..."
Before he finished speaking.
Four shuriken-like corners appeared on the perimeter of the Rasengan in Akihara Kagura's hand: "By injecting Chakra with Wind Release attribute into the Rasengan, its form and nature change, turning into the Wind Release: Rasengan, with stronger aggressiveness compared to the ordinary Rasengan..."
Actually.
Akihara Kagura is a good teacher.
Due to the trait of [Ninjutsu Professor], Akihara Kagura can easily learn ninjutsu; due to the trait of [Kinjutsu Master], Akihara Kagura deepened his understanding of ninjutsu.
Naruto Uzumaki nodded repeatedly, at least understanding how to make Rasengan stronger and wanted to attempt it on the spot.
Of course.
Akihara Kagura could only instruct him for a while.
At least Naruto Uzumaki now had a lead, someone demonstrated a path, and as long as he continued to work hard in one direction, he could achieve it.
However...
Naruto Uzumaki was happy training.
Because his father Namikaze Minato and friend Uchiha Sasuke were by his side. Although he and Sasuke were always bickering in the training field, the big stone in Naruto Uzumaki's heart was finally lifted, and Sasuke, whom he always wanted to chase after, had returned.
Next to the Third Training Field.
Akihara Kagura stood beside Kakashi Hatake, glanced at the diligent figures in the training field, and casually said: "Well, isn't my position as Root Leader much stronger than Lord Danzo..."
"Ah yes, yes..."
Kakashi Hatake perfunctorily responded and spoke on more serious matters: "The Akatsuki Organization has already started moving. I'm somewhat worried that the Ninja World might face a crisis. Do you remember when we uncovered Obito's mask?"
"Obito..."
Kakashi Hatake never forgot the words his former close friend had said: "He wants to create a new world, and this new world might need to use the power of the Tailed Beasts. They definitely want more than one Tailed Beast..."
"I've been keeping an eye on this information."
Akihara Kagura leaned against the circular log at the training ground and casually said: "The intelligence from Root personnel indicates signs of the Akatsuki Organization's members appearing in the Land of Thunder. I want to personally visit The Hidden Cloud Village..."
"You're not planning to kidnap the Raikage, are you?"
Kakashi Hatake was startled. He didn't think Akihara Kagura's strength would be an issue, but was worried Kagura might act excessively: "The personality of the ninjas in The Hidden Cloud Village is always reckless, the Fourth Raikage would rather commit suicide than..."
"I just want to gather intelligence on The Hidden Cloud Village."
Akihara Kagura waved his hand with an unbothered attitude: "I have to ask clearly whether The Hidden Cloud Village has any collusion with the Akatsuki Organization. Otherwise, why would the members of Akatsuki appear in the Land of Thunder..."