Now it was the Nine-Tails' turn to be confused.
The fox's ears flattened against its skull, whiskers twitching with agitation. Its nine tails, currently miniaturized along with the rest of its body, swished back and forth in visible distress.
Shouldn't the Uchiha boy be happy that Itachi is dead? the Nine-Tails thought, bewildered. He's been talking about killing that brother of his for years. Every single day, it's "I'll get stronger and kill Itachi." So why does he look like someone kicked his favorite puppy?
The fox's confusion must have been obvious, written across its vulpine features in ways that transcended species.
Naruto saw the expression and immediately understood what was going through the Nine-Tails' mind. He shook his head, sighing. "There's a lot of hidden complexity to the situation. It's... complicated. I could tell you, but you wouldn't understand."
The dismissive tone, the casual wave-off, made the Nine-Tails bristle instantly.
"What do you mean I wouldn't understand?!" The fox's small paws balled into even smaller fists. It began hammering them against Naruto's chest in rapid succession, each impact producing a soft thump. "Where exactly do I lack understanding? Huh? Tell me!"
The blows carried no real force behind them. The Nine-Tails wasn't actually trying to hurt Naruto, just express its indignation at being treated like it was simple-minded. The punches felt like raindrops against Naruto's Iron Body-conditioned physique—noticeable but harmless.
Naruto didn't resist or block. He understood the fox needed to vent its frustration. Besides, right now, with Itachi having just died, this really wasn't the appropriate time to explain the whole twisted story. The Uchiha massacre, the impossible choice, the forced hand, the years of lies—all of it was too heavy to unpack casually.
So instead, Naruto smiled and reached out, catching the Nine-Tails' small fists mid-swing. He lifted the fox up smoothly, tucking it against his chest in a secure hold.
"Don't make a fuss," Naruto said gently but firmly. "Sasuke is sad right now. I know you're not great at comforting people, but at least don't cause trouble, okay?"
"I won't make trouble, you brat," the Nine-Tails grumbled, its protest halfhearted at best. The fight went out of it almost immediately.
Then Naruto's hand moved to the fox's head, fingers scratching behind its ears in exactly the right spot. The Nine-Tails' eyes half-closed involuntarily, a comfortable expression replacing the irritation. Its tails went still, no longer lashing in agitation.
Damn it, the fox thought hazily. Why does that feel so good?
Carrying the Nine-Tails in his arms, Naruto entered the house. He found Sasuke sitting on the sofa, posture rigid, staring at nothing. The silence around him felt heavy, oppressive, like a physical weight pressing down on the room.
Naruto crossed to him, keeping his voice gentle. "Sasuke, we still need to eat. Come on."
"Mm." Sasuke's response was barely a sound. But he rose obediently and followed Naruto to the dinner table.
The meal was quiet. Painfully so. Usually, their dinners involved conversation—Sasuke making dry observations, Naruto responding enthusiastically, the Nine-Tails interjecting with sarcastic commentary from its perch. But tonight, only the sounds of chopsticks against bowls and quiet chewing filled the space.
The Nine-Tails, watching Sasuke push food around his plate without really eating, felt something unexpected stir in its chest. Concern, maybe. Or sympathy. Emotions it wasn't entirely comfortable acknowledging.
After dinner, the Nine-Tails hopped down from the table and padded toward the kitchen without being asked.
Technically, Sasuke had lost a bet and was supposed to wash dishes for a month. The fox remembered the terms clearly—had been looking forward to watching the proud Uchiha boy scrub pots and pans for weeks. But seeing Sasuke like this, so hollowed out and distant, the Nine-Tails couldn't bring itself to enforce the punishment.
I'll let him off this once, the fox decided, filling the sink with water. When the Uchiha boy's mood improves, I'll just make him wash dishes ten times as long to make up for it. That's fair.
The fox's paws worked the sponge with practiced efficiency, scrubbing each bowl and plate clean.
After all, I'm not some petty fox, it thought with satisfaction. I'm magnanimous. Understanding. Generous, even.
Meanwhile, in the other room, Naruto gently pulled Sasuke up from where he'd collapsed back onto the sofa after dinner.
"The room is too stuffy," Naruto announced, not really giving Sasuke a choice in the matter. "Let's go to the yard and get some air."
He led Sasuke outside before his friend could protest or sink deeper into his grief.
The night had fully arrived while they'd been inside. Naruto looked up at the sky, spreading his arms wide, and couldn't help but comment on what he saw.
"Today's moonlight is so beautiful."
The observation was deliberate. Naruto was trying to maintain a positive mood, to project normalcy and calm. He'd done this before, after the Uchiha massacre five years ago, when Sasuke had first moved in. Sometimes you had to be the steady presence, the unshakeable foundation, so the person grieving had something solid to lean against.
Sasuke followed Naruto's gaze upward. The crescent moon hung like a silver sickle against the darkness, bright as polished jade. Stars scattered across the sky in profusion, their light sharp and clear in the clean night air.
It really was beautiful. Almost painfully so.
"Sasuke..." Naruto began, preparing to offer some words of comfort.
"Naruto." Sasuke interrupted before he could continue. "You don't need to say anything. I'm fine."
He drew a breath, steadying himself.
"I'm just suddenly sad, that's all. It'll pass soon." Sasuke's voice gained strength, conviction. "After all, I have more important things to focus on now."
Naruto understood immediately what those "more important things" were.
During his confession before dying, Itachi had revealed the full conspiracy behind the Uchiha massacre. He'd named names, explained roles, laid bare the political machinations that had led to that terrible night.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who'd authorized the mission.
The Root leader, Shimura Danzo, who'd pushed for the extreme solution and provided operational support.
And the masked man claiming to be Uchiha Madara, who'd intercepted the Uchiha Police Force when they'd tried to respond to the massacre, slaughtering them on the road to prevent any interference.
That last piece of information had finally explained something that had bothered Naruto for years. The Uchiha clan's fighting spirit was legendary. They were elite shinobi, warriors bred for combat. So how had Itachi, even as skilled as he was, managed to kill them all alone? And why had Hiruzen and the other village leaders arrived only after the fighting had stopped, after every last Uchiha lay dead?
The answer was simple: they'd planned it that way. They'd deliberately held back, letting Itachi complete his grim task without interruption. The masked man had served as insurance, eliminating any potential reinforcements or witnesses who might complicate matters.
So the true architects of the Uchiha genocide were clear: Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo, and the masked Madara.
All three were now on Sasuke's must-kill list.
What a coincidence, Naruto thought grimly. The masked man is on my list too.
Because of that man, the Nine-Tails Rebellion had occurred. Because of him, Naruto's parents had died sealing the fox. The masked Madara bore direct responsibility for Naruto's orphaned childhood, for twelve years of loneliness and hatred.
If Naruto knew where the bastard was hiding, he'd already be hunting him down. Would already be introducing him to the full force of the Thousand Buddhas Ascend to Heaven technique. But the masked man remained elusive, a shadow slipping through the cracks between villages.
When I find him, Naruto promised himself, he'll feel pain under my iron fist. Real pain.
As for Hiruzen and Danzo—those two were equally responsible for Naruto's tragic childhood. His father had explicitly told Hiruzen to take care of Naruto, to look after him, to make sure he grew up safe and loved. But that old man had done the opposite. Had let Naruto fend for himself, struggle alone, suffer through poverty and isolation.
Most importantly, Hiruzen had swallowed up Naruto's father's legacy. The Fourth Hokage's property, his savings, his estate—all of it had mysteriously vanished into the village's coffers. Or more likely, into Hiruzen's personal accounts.
And Sasuke's family property had suffered the same fate. The Uchiha clan's considerable wealth, their compound, their assets—all currently held by Hiruzen "in trust" for Sasuke. Trust that seemed increasingly unlikely to be returned.
So Sasuke wanted revenge on those three men. And Naruto wanted revenge on those same three men.
Actually, Naruto corrected himself mentally, I just want to make friends with them. That's all.
The thought brought a slight smile to his face despite the circumstances.
Naruto had already decided his course of action. Once he achieved the unity of spirit, energy, and body—once he reached that threshold of power—he'd go make friends with the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Root leader Shimura Danzo.
And based on his current progress, that achievement was perhaps only a day or two away. He could feel himself approaching the threshold, could sense the final integration happening within his body.
Let me solve these two hidden dangers for Sasuke first, Naruto thought. Then he can focus on getting stronger without that weight hanging over him.
They stayed in the yard for a long time. Naruto kept Sasuke company, not pushing conversation, just being present. Sometimes that was enough. Sometimes just having someone there, solid and reliable, made the unbearable slightly more bearable.
Eventually, when the moon had traveled halfway across the sky, they went inside to rest.
The next morning arrived with its usual bright insistence.
After breakfast, Naruto headed out to the farm to check on various tasks. The daily routine provided comfort in its predictability. Feed the animals, inspect the fences, ensure everything was running smoothly.
Then he suddenly remembered something.
Yesterday afternoon, Shino had stopped by and delivered some cockroaches. A whole collection of them, actually, carefully contained and preserved. Naruto had put them in a cage in the corner outside the yard, intending to deal with them later.
But then everything with Sasuke and Itachi had happened, and the cockroaches had completely slipped his mind.
Did they die? Naruto wondered with slight concern. They've been out there without food or water for a full day.
Thinking about the cockroaches, Naruto immediately went to check on them.
He found the cage exactly where he'd left it, tucked behind a stack of firewood in the yard's corner. When he lifted it up and peered inside, relief flooded through him.
Good. They're alive.
Not just alive, actually. The cockroaches were moving around energetically, climbing over each other, showing absolutely no signs of distress despite the neglect.
They really do live up to their reputation as Konoha's most resilient creatures, Naruto thought with grudging admiration. Didn't eat, didn't drink for a full day, and they're still kicking. Incredibly tenacious vitality.
These cockroaches had been intended for a specific purpose. Yesterday afternoon, Naruto had planned to visit Orochimaru and use these insects to scare him. Or her, technically, since Orochimaru was currently inhabiting a female body.
The idea of reducing the legendary Sannin to a screaming mess with a handful of bugs was deeply satisfying. Orochimaru's fear during their previous encounter—trapped in the nightmare constructed by Opening the Netherworld, reduced to a crying child surrounded by imaginary insects—had revealed a profound phobia. A weakness that could be exploited for maximum psychological impact.
But then Sasuke's situation with Itachi had occurred, derailing all plans. Naruto had postponed the Orochimaru visit indefinitely.
Now, with Sasuke in such a bad mood, Naruto naturally wouldn't ask him to provide transportation to find the snake bastard. Wouldn't burden his friend with something so trivial when he was processing such heavy grief.
"What are you doing?"
The voice came from directly behind Naruto, startling him badly.
He spun around, heart jumping, and found Sasuke standing there. His face was set in serious lines, eyes fixed on the cockroach cage in Naruto's hand.
"Sasuke?" Naruto blinked in surprise. "What's wrong? I thought you were practicing, getting familiar with your new Sharingan abilities."
He'd last seen Sasuke heading toward the training area to work with the Eternal Mangekyō. To explore its capabilities, test its limits, understand what he'd gained from his brother's sacrifice.
Sasuke's gaze remained locked on the cockroaches. Their presence made his intention obvious—Naruto was thinking about Orochimaru. And Sasuke knew that if Itachi's appearance hadn't interrupted things, Naruto would have already asked him to provide transportation to the snake Sannin's location.
But as a good friend, Naruto had prioritized Sasuke's needs first. Had put aside his own plans to support Sasuke through his grief. That kind of consideration deserved to be repaid.
Besides, Sasuke thought, taking Naruto to find Orochimaru might actually help. Watching Naruto beat the snake into paste would probably improve his mood. Violence had a way of providing catharsis when emotions ran too high.
More importantly—and this thought brought a tiny spark of dark amusement—if Naruto discovered that Orochimaru was actually Tsukisha Hime, the woman who'd tried to seduce him in the hotel room, Naruto's expression would be absolutely priceless.
The mental image of Naruto's face contorting with shock and disgust almost made Sasuke smile. Almost.
"Naruto," Sasuke said, voice firm. "Let's go. I'll take you to find Orochimaru."
Naruto immediately shook his head at the offer. "Finding Orochimaru isn't important right now. You should focus on getting familiar with your Sharingan abilities first. That's the priority."
The refusal was exactly what Sasuke had expected. Naruto was still putting Sasuke's needs above his own, still trying to be considerate of his emotional state.
He's such a good friend, Sasuke thought, feeling genuine warmth despite the grief weighing on him. Always thinking of others first.
But Sasuke had made his decision.
"Let's just go," he insisted. "If we don't find Orochimaru soon, he might leave the area entirely. The Flying Thunder God mark I placed on him won't help if he travels too far away—the chakra connection will weaken until I can't track him anymore."
It wasn't entirely true, but it was plausible enough. And Sasuke knew that if he framed it as time-sensitive, Naruto would agree rather than let an opportunity slip away.
Sasuke had reached this point of insistence. Naruto studied his friend's face, seeing the determination there, the firmness of decision.
If I refuse now, he'll just worry about it, Naruto realized. Better to let him do this. Keep him distracted, focused on something active rather than dwelling on Itachi's death.
Besides, beating Orochimaru into submission did sound satisfying. And the cockroaches deserved to be put to use.
"Alright," Naruto agreed, nodding. "Then we'll go find Orochimaru."
He glanced down at the cage of cockroaches in his hand. The insects continued their energetic movement, completely unaware of the terror they were about to inflict.
A smile spread across Naruto's face. Not his usual bright grin, but something darker. Something anticipatory.
Orochimaru, he thought with satisfaction. Danger. Danger. Danger.
The snake Sannin was about to have a very bad day.