Naruto: The Crimson Error

25

Chapter 25: 100 Lives

The sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the open plain as Sora and his companions made their way back to Konoha. The recent events were still fresh in their minds, they walked in a comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

Naruto, his blue eyes shining with pride, couldn't help but grin as he remembered his victory over Tsunade. He had actually managed to land a hit on one of the legendary Sannin! Even if it was just barely, it was still a win in his book. He glanced at his hand, now fully healed thanks to Tsunade's medical ninjutsu, and flexed his fingers. The memory of forming the Rasengan, unstable as it was, filled him with determination to master the technique completely.

Beside him, Sasuke walked with his usual stoic expression, but his mind was racing. He had watched the fight between Naruto and Tsunade with his Sharingan active, and the level of skill displayed had both impressed and frustrated him. He needed to get stronger, faster. The weight of his goal - to defeat his brother Itachi - pressed heavily on his shoulders.

Sora, the young red-headed boy, bounced along happily between Naruto and Jiraiya. His green eyes sparkled with excitement as he replayed the fight in his mind, analyzing every move and technique. At just six years old, he was already showing promise that far exceeded his peers. His recent conversation with Tsunade about medical ninjutsu had opened up new avenues of thought, and he couldn't wait to explore them further.

Jiraiya, the self-proclaimed super pervert and Toad Sage, kept a watchful eye on their surroundings as they traveled. While he was proud of Naruto's growth and impressed by Sora's potential, he couldn't shake the feeling that their troubles were far from over. His years of experience as a shinobi had honed his instincts, and right now, they were telling him to stay alert.

Tsunade walked at the rear of the group, her face a mask of contemplation. The bet she had made with Naruto weighed heavily on her mind. Should she really return to the village? Take up the mantle of Hokage? The very thought made her heart clench with anxiety, memories of past losses threatening to overwhelm her. But as she watched the young ninja in front of her - especially Naruto and Sora - she felt a flicker of hope that she hadn't experienced in years.

Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet began to shift and sink. Jiraiya's eyes widened as he realized what was happening. "Everyone jump!" he yelled, his voice cutting through the air like a kunai.

Reacting on instinct, the group channeled chakra to their feet and leaped into the air just as the ground gave way beneath them. As they sailed upwards, a massive snake burst from the earth, its maw wide open and ready to swallow them whole.

Sora, his mind working at lightning speed, had already begun weaving hand seals the moment he jumped. With a quick change midway through the sequence - a feat that spoke volumes of his skill and control - he called out, "Heavenly Weeping!"

Generally doing this is only possible for jutsus of same elemental types, as first few seals are same for almost every elemental release of a particular type.

From Sora's mouth, a barrage of water senbon shot forth with deadly precision, aimed directly at the snake's eyes. The attack caught the serpent off guard, causing it to instinctively change direction to avoid being blinded.

However, this evasive maneuver proved to be a critical mistake. The snake's new trajectory brought it directly into the path of Tsunade, who had been waiting for just such an opportunity.

With a fierce battle cry, Tsunade's fist connected with the snake's head. The impact was devastating, sending shockwaves through the air and causing the ground to tremble. The snake's eyes rolled back in its head as it suffered an immediate concussion, its massive body going limp and crashing to the earth with a thunderous boom, it's life and death unknown.