Road to Hokage: Save the Hyuga Clan

The Uzumaki Warrior

With the remains of the wall crumbling at their feet, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura peered into the dark hallway hidden behind the wall.

"Naruto?!" Sakura shrieked, as she retrieved a lantern from a nearby wall. "Are you okay?!"

Unknown to Naruto, when he experienced his vision, he appeared to freeze at the moment. If Sasuke had not grabbed him, a large piece of the wall would fall directly on him.

Naruto nodded, looking at the crumbled wall in front of them.

"I can still sense it... stronger even now," Naruto murmured. "Down there...." His golden eyes seemed to be lost in thought and distracted as he pointed down the tunnel. Sakura and Sasuke shared a concerned look as they both noticed Naruto's mood shift. 

Naruto?! Sakura?! Sasuke?! Can you hear me?! It's Ino!

Ino's voice echoed in Team 7's head. Naruto snapped back to reality at the sound of her voice.

Ino! Sakura answered. We hear you!

Ino! Hinata and Sai—Naruto interrupted.

They are fine Ino assured him. Shikamaru and Hinata are here with me now. Shikamaru is in control of the Hyuga Compound now. Sai and everyone are here offering support to your mission.

Naruto released the breath he was holding. He seemed to stand straighter and his face was less strained.

"Thank goodness," Naruto said out loud in a voice thick with emotion.

Good for you, Naruto, Sakura thought to herself. I hope knowing Hinata is safe improves your resolve. We need you to be ready for what's to come.

Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke— listen up, Shikamaru's voice flooded their minds. Be on the lookout for the scroll containing the original Curse Mark: Cage Bird Jutsu. We have reason to believe the Uzumaki clan was in possession of the scroll.

How? Sasuke questioned. Orochimaru told us the scroll was believed to be destroyed. He stepped over the crumbled wall and looked deeper into the tunnel.

According to an alternate version known exclusively to the Hyuga Clan, the younger sister of the dead Hyuga Princess hid the scroll. I think she gave it to the Uzumaki warrior at some point. Shikamaru explained quickly. I believe the Uzumaki Warrior hid the scroll in the temple there...Get this— there may be a way to destroy the jutsu as well. 

How ?! Naruto exclaimed.

Still working on that part, Shikamaru answered. This mission has become more troublesome than I thought. I never imagined I would be sending you to unseal a demon that your ancestor sacrificed his life to kill, Naruto. If you focus on finding the scroll, you can avoid having to unseal it. You won't have to worry about the oni and mask.

"That's great news," Sakura exclaimed, eyeing the dark hallway cautiously. "Right, Naruto?.....Naruto?"

Naruto's intuition told him Shikamaru was wrong about this. With the fragments of the vision still fresh in his mind, he just knew that they would need to find the scroll and the mask. He knew he would have to face the oni...

In his lifetime, many people had many things to say about his destiny and what he should do. But this .. it felt different. There were rare times in life when he felt keenly aware of the path ahead of him and his resolve soared with each step. Times were he knew what he had to do.

Like fighting to bring Sasuke home...

Protecting the village from Pain...

Telling Hinata the feelings he developed for her as a man...