Naruto: Path of Uchiha

Chapter 23: Hunt For The Snake

It's been a month since Naruto returned to the village. After much catching up with his family and friends, Naruto is now ready to be assigned a mission.

Currently, Team 7 stands in the Hokage's office, ready to be assigned an important mission.

'This is a B-rank mission; you all have to go take a look at the village of the sound, provide any intel if found, and return without engaging in a fight if not necessary', Obito states, his eyes roaming over the file in hand.

'Yes, Hokage-sama', Kakashi, the newly replaced sensei of Team 7, says.

'I wish Shikamaru could join us', Sasuke sulks, missing his friend.

'He told me he has to go on a mission with his team', Naruto answers, a sad look on his face as well.

'I miss when he was a part of our team', Hinata agrees.

'Well, we do have someone who is going to join us', Kakashi says, looking towards his team.

'Come in', Obito calls out, a mischievous grin on his face.

Neji Hyuga enters.
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Naruto's POV

We're on our way towards the village of the sound, accompanied by none other than Neji. Just the thought of him makes me sigh.

Obito Nii-san told us that he requested to be on this mission to gain some experience, as he's going to participate in the chunin exams soon.

Thinking of the exams, I remember that I've decided to take the Jonin exams. I guess I will do that after I return from this mission.

'Slow down, what's the hurry?', Kurama says.
'I just want more opportunities'.

To defeat Orochimaru. I don't say.

'Keep your eyes ahead; we will stop in a bit to spend the night', Kakashi Nii-san says.

I look over to Neji; he's been extremely quiet since we started. Me and the rest of the team have been doing some chitchat, but Neji hasn't bothered to participate.

'You're going to say something or not?'. As expected, Sasuke is the first to question his silence.

Hinata nudges him to stop.

'I rather don't', is the reply Neji gave.

That's fair. I doubt anything he says would make me want to punch him less.

'Should I?', I ask Kurama.
'He's not worth it',

Sasuke begins to say something else, and Hinata sends me a pleading look, practically begging me to stop Sasuke.

'That's enough, Sasuke', I say, shutting him up.

I don't get why Hinata cares for Neji that much. He's always treated her so badly.

'Let's stop here', said Kakashi Nii-san, who hasn't bothered to say anything regarding the tension.

We set up our tents and decided to take turns patrolling.

***

'Naruto', I wake up to Kakashi Nii-san calling.

'It's my turn?', I ask regarding the patrolling, which seems to be the reason he woke me up.

He nods in response.

I look over to see Sasuke, Neji, and Hinata sleeping, all looking very tired from the journey.

I get up to take my position, and Kakashi Nii-san begins to lay down to sleep.

'Nii-san?', I ask, not sure whether he's awake or not.

'Mhm?', surprisingly, I hear a response.

'Why did you let Neji join this mission?', I ask, the first thing that comes to mind.

'He's rude, I know. But he probably has his reasons. I think he's lonely and conflicted. So I decided to let him in on this mission; I figured being around you guys will help him open up somewhat', he explains.

'You mean the separation between the main family and the branch family?', I suspect.

'How do you know about this?', to my shock, Hinata asks.

It seems she was not sleeping.

'I am around your house a lot; it didn't take long to figure out what's causing the constant tension', I shrug.

'Oh...', she sighs.

'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry', I apologize instantly.

'No... It's not your fault. It's just that I feel so frustrated about the clan system and unfair treatment; I hate that', Hinata says.

'Still, it doesn't give him a valid reason to treat you like that. I understand him, but it would be so much better if he treats you well, like you deserve', I say, passing a smile to Hinata, not sure whether it would show due to the darkness.

'I just hope this mission gets him to open up; I am sure he will change', Hinata says.

'Like a trigger?', I question.

'That's right', Kakashi Nii-san says, before drifting off in slumber.

'You should sleep as well; next to patrol is Sasuke anyways', I say to Hinata.

She yawns before going into slumber as well.

'Kurama?', I call out, wanting to chat with him to pass time.
It seems he is ignoring me to get his rest.

***
Little did they know, Neji was awake, quietly listening to their encounter.
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The next morning, Team 7 gets ready to resume their journey. Now only a short distance from the destination remains.

'Nii-san?', Naruto calls out for Kakashi.

As much as Naruto complained about Kakashi being the new sensei, it seems he quickly got used to it.

'Yeah, Naruto?', Kakashi says, looking over to Naruto.

'I actually made something for you during my training; I completed it after I got here', he says, putting forward a small piece of paper.

'What's this?', Sasuke, who has come forward to listen to their conversation, asks.

'It's a seal', Naruto states.

'What for?', Hinata says, joining in as well.

'For his eye, the sharingan one. He has to cover it to save chakra, but with this seal, he will be able to use the sharingan on command', Naruto explains.

'Wow',
'That's amazing',
The praise came immediately.

'That's...that's very thoughtful of you, Naruto; thank you', Kakashi, who normally hides his emotions, did not fail to smile widely at the gesture.

Naruto smiles back, then tiptoes to reach Kakashi; he barely manages to do so.

Noticing, Kakashi bends down. Naruto successfully puts the seal on Kakashi's eye.

'So, how does it feel?', Naruto asks, wanting to confirm his work.

'It's perfect', Kakashi says, blinking his eyes, making his sharingan appear and disappear on command.

'You are full of surprises', Sasuke says, crossing his arms.

Naruto shrugs in response.

'Obito and Itachi will be so jealous', Kakashi smirks, causing the three to giggle.

'Naruto', this time Neji says. 'That's really cool', he adds.

'Thanks, Neji', Naruto answers.

Before a few days, this encounter would have been strange for the both of them, but since last time, something has changed. They both started acknowledging each other and moving forward.

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Kakashi's POV

We have just reached the sound village, but the sight in front of us is honestly baffling.

There are destroyed buildings, shops, offices, and all types of architecture, all completely destroyed.

If we hadn't known, it would be hard to believe that a village used to reside here, and now there are no signs of it.

'What happened here?', Sasuke asks, making me look towards the kids, all just as shocked.

'Either someone attacked or they did this to themselves, wanting to erase any evidence of them', I guess.

Although the latter seems more probable,

I blink my eyes, instinctively checking out my sharingan. Naruto's seal is a great help. Kami knows what more this kid can do.

Just then, a figure appeared in front of us. It seems Orochimaru set us up.

Due to the harsh sunlight, it's hard to make out who they are.

They step into the shade, and recognizing him causes a shiver to go up my spine.

There stood the Second Hokage, reanimated.

***

To say Team 7, along with Neji, was shocked is an understatement. Never did they think that they would stand before the second hokage, who died many years ago.

'Tobirama Senju, the second Hokage', Kakashi mutters.

'And who might you all be?! Leaf ninja?!', Tobirama snarks.

'Yes, you are brought back to life by Orochimaru, the current villain of Konoha, a student of Hiruzen Sarutobi', Kakashi states.

'Reanimation, huh?', Tobirama says. 'I guess I have no choice but to take on this fight', he adds.

'Naruto. Prepare the seal. Sasuke, Hinata, come with me. Neji, you stay put', Kakashi instructs.

All three of them know that the fight may go badly as they face off against the reanimated Tobirama Senju, but they have no choice but to fight with all their might.

Kakashi stands ready, with Hinata and Sasuke next to him for support.

Tobirama lunges at the three, a water jutsu flowing from his hand.

With the great speed the second possesses , Team 7 barely manages to dodge it.

The battle continues, with Kakashi and Sasuke leaping through the air to try and strike Tobirama, their sharingans flaring, only to be blocked each time.

'Two sharingan users? Tch', Tobirama notes.

Both Kakashi and Tobirama are comparable in intelligence, though the threat of Tobirama's tandem paper bomb kept Kakashi from going straight for a chidori.

Hinata also tries her best, Sasuke in tow, both lunging for the Hokage.

As soon as they reach him, he disappears. Both the chunin looked surprised. 'Look behind!', came Kakashi's voice, but it was too late.

Several shadow clones of Tobirama perform the barrier jutsu, causing Hinata and Sasuke to crash and get thrown far away.

Naruto, having prepared the seal, joins the battle, launching himself at Tobirama, aiming to put the seal on him.

Though this fails, as Tobirama sensed him, blocking him and causing him to get thrown behind as well.

Fortunately, it was just Naruto's shadow clone.

'Another shadow clone user, eh?', came a remark of Tobirama's.

At this point, Naruto makes 50 shadow clones, much more than Tobirama's three.

They all lunge at him.

Tobirama, occupied with fighting off the clones, barely manages to register several of them having the rasengan as well.

He gets caught off guard; having never experienced the rasangan, it takes him a moment to take it in.

This gives the perfect opening for Kakashi.

He strikes at the second, a seal in his hand, but gets blocked by another barrier.

Tobirama, having his guard put down for a second, gives an opportunity for Naruto, as he leaps at the Hokage, mixed in several of his shadow clones.

Tobirama blocks him as well, but Naruto didn't have the seal anyway. His clone did.

So the clone, which Tobirama didn't care to dispel, launches at him, putting on the seal at his back.

'Oh? You got me. This would not have been this easy if it was the real me', Tobirama says, his form fading away.

'Definitely. We were lucky', Naruto says, his gaze fixated on the Hokage.

***

After the battle, Naruto and Kakashi make their way over to the other three. They find Neji tending to Sasuke's and Hinata's wounds.

'You guys did it, wow', was all Neji could say.

Truth be told, Neji was a little embarrassed that he couldn't participate, but he knows that even if he did, he would get defeated as soon as he joined. He was a fresh genin.

Neji then makes it over to Naruto and Kakashi, planning to mend their wounds as well.

'I underestimated you and took you for an overconfident bastard. Though, in reality, it was me all along. I am sorry', Neji says, his head down.

'It's fine, but give your apology to Hinata first. She deserves it', Naruto grunts.

Naruto's gaze then goes over to Hinata and Sasuke; both were barely awake, tired from overuse of chakra.

'Naruto, you did it again. You really are on another level than us', Hinata says, her voice barely a whisper.

'Don't say that; you both stalled him very well until I arrived. You did your best; that's all that matters', Naruto says, sitting down next to Hinata, who's lying down.

'She's right, though. Good job, Naruto; you just fought a Hokage and came out alive', Sasuke praises, his voice weak as well.

'I was there too, you guys', Kakashi says, crossing his hands.

'Whatever', Sasuke says, causing the other four to chuckle.
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Naruto's POV

It has been two days since the fight with the second Hokage. All of us are recovered enough to travel.

During this mission, one thing I learned is that I despise Orochimaru even more now.

Using dead Shinobi as weapons—that's just cruel.

'Another reason to hate him', Kurama, who's help I surprisingly didn't use during my previous fight, states.

'Don't get all cocky. I did heal you instantly', he adds.

'I know, thanks Kurama, I owe you one',

'I have everything, no need',

Breaking my conversation with Kurama, I look over to Hinata and Neji. They are both busy chatting.

Neji apologized to Hinata. Being the kindhearted person she is, she accepted it immediately.

I am glad.

'Where are we heading now?', Sasuke asks.

'I got intel that one of Orochimaru's abandoned hideouts is here. I thought we could explore it before going back home', Kakashi Nii-san answers.

'You're being very active; that's surprising', I say to him, making my way ahead of the formation.

'I just wanted to reward you all. A haunted house experience—what is better than that?', he asks.

I face-palm. Internally.

'Should I tell him he's enough of a ghost with his white hair?'
Kurama snorts before replying, 'You should keep that to yourself'

We make our way to the abandoned hideout.

We all separate our ways inside, hoping to find something valuable.

I look around, finding nothing of importance.

As I make my way to the next room, I see Hinata already there.

'You found something?', I ask.

'No luck', she replies, shaking her head.

My eyes go over to some cobwebs in her hair.

My hand instinctively reaches to remove them.

'There were some webs', I say, dusting them off.

'Oh, thanks, Naruto', she smiles at me.

Just then, Neji's voice comes from the other room: 'I found something!',

Way to interrupt a moment.

  ***

Naruto and Hinata make their way over to Neji, finding Kakashi and Sasuke already there.

'What is it?', Hinata asks.

'A document. It states that Orochimaru is preparing for war. He's raising an army of something called Zetsus and reanimations', Kakashi says, his eyes scanning the document.

Everyone's eyes grew worried at the new threat, and silence loomed over.

Naruto breaks the silence: 'We better take this to Obito Nii-san, now'.