A Strange New Life || Isekai'd Reader To Naruto World

The Unseen Chains

A heavy morning, the rhythmic sound of my brush running through my hair filled the quiet space of my home. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, but my mind was elsewhere. I knew what was coming. I knew what this arc meant. The weight of inevitability settled on my shoulders, but I forced myself to focus.

One step at a time, (Y/n).

I finished my morning routine, tying my hair back and adjusting my gear when—

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The pounding at my door nearly made me jump out of my skin. I barely had time to process before Naruto’s loud voice followed.

“(Y/N)-CHAN! WAKE UP!”

“Geez, Naruto, we don’t have to break her door down,” Sakura’s voice scolded him.

I sighed and made my way to the door, opening it just in time to see Naruto raising his fist to knock again. His mouth hung open mid-yell before he grinned at me.

“Oh, you’re already awake! That makes things easier.”

I leaned against the doorway, crossing my arms. “To what do I owe this lovely morning disturbance?”

Sakura gave me a look. “Tsunade-sama summoned us.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What, all three of us?”

She nodded. “Yeah. You too.”

Something in my chest tightened. If it was just Naruto and Sakura, I wouldn’t have thought much of it. But me too? That meant something big was happening.

“Alright, let’s go.”

I grabbed my weapons pouch and closed my door behind me. As we walked through the village, Naruto talked animatedly about training, ramen, and some dream he had—probably about Hinata, if I had to guess—but my mind was elsewhere.

The Itachi Pursuit Arc.

I knew what would happen. I knew the inevitable outcome. And no matter what I did, I couldn’t change it.

Itachi…

I swallowed the lump in my throat. I wasn’t going to break. Not here. Not now.

But I didn’t notice the way Jiraiya was watching me.

My hands curled into fists. I already knew how this was going to play out.

Sasuke had finally achieved his goal—he killed Orochimaru. But I couldn’t feel relieved. Because I knew what came next.

I closed my eyes for a moment, memories flashing in my mind like a cruel reminder.

Itachi…

I saw him, standing beneath the full moon, his calm, unreadable expression betraying nothing of the burden he carried. The weight of Konoha, of his clan, of his brother—he bore it all alone. Even when I begged him to let me share the burden, he had only smiled.

"Live, (Y/n). Live and protect what’s precious to you."

But how could I, knowing what was waiting for him?

I sucked in a quiet breath and opened my eyes.

“Sasuke won’t come back,” I said, breaking the tense silence.

Naruto and Sakura turned to me in surprise.

“What?” Naruto blinked.

I looked at all of them, my voice firm. “Sasuke’s goal has always been revenge. He killed Orochimaru because he was in the way. His next target… is Itachi.”