Naruto: Binding Uchiha Sasuke, Hundredfold Return

"If I'm not mistaken, you're Gekko Kazuki, right? Why are you doing this?"

Ōnoki voiced his suspicions, but Kazuki had no intention of answering him.

He didn't believe that Ōnoki could continually evade his Flying Thunder God technique!

"Rasenshuriken!"

Kazuki swiftly formed two Wind-Release Rasengans and hurled them toward Ōnoki. Seizing the opportunity while Ōnoki dodged and the Rasengans exploded, Kazuki activated the Flying Thunder God technique again. This time, Ōnoki wasn't lucky enough to dodge. Though he reacted instinctively, Kazuki struck his shoulder, severing one of his arms.

Losing an arm cut Ōnoki's strength in half!

Where he'd once held his own, Ōnoki was quickly overpowered, meeting his end at the hands of Kazuki's Rasengan.

After defeating Ōnoki, Kazuki began cleansing Iwagakure. For three days, Kazuki struck down numerous enemies in Iwagakure, which had a strength that even Sunagakure couldn't compare to. In a short time, the village scattered in disarray, with countless ninja fleeing. The village wouldn't be a threat for some time.

Once Iwagakure and Sunagakure's upper ranks had been eliminated, there was no opposition left to hinder Amegakure's integration into Konoha. Both villages were too preoccupied with their own survival to interfere with Konoha's affairs.

On the other side, after Kazuki and Karin accomplished their mission, they did not return directly to Konoha. Instead, they detoured to the Land of Grass.

Kazuki and Karin stood several hundred meters outside Kusagakure, gazing at the people moving in and out, both lost in their thoughts. Kazuki recalled his first visit to this place—he had come with a woman, a Kusagakure spy. She was there to buy supplies, and Kazuki was in search of a Summoning Beast. Since partnering with Pakkun, though, he had long forgotten that creature.

For Karin, Kusagakure held memories of hardship. The ninja there had once bitten her body and consumed her blood to heal themselves. They were her enemies, each one who had hurt her.

The two watched the village in silence. As night fell, an invisible black flame surrounded the village. Kusagakure, a village that had stood for millennia, quietly vanished in the darkness.

A year later, with the Akatsuki gone, the shinobi world found an unusual peace.

Sunagakure and Iwagakure were slowly recovering, lingering in the shadows.

Konoha remained as prosperous and harmonious as ever.

Kumogakure showed no sign of hostility. The Land of Iron's presence made any conflict unlikely. Kirigakure had just ended its era of "Bloody Mist" and was focused on recovery. The entire shinobi world seemed more peaceful than ever, and all of this news reached Nagato's ears through Konan.

Though he had lost the Rinnegan, he had managed to hold on for a while, but his life was now nearing its end. Before he died, he wished to meet Kazuki.

Nagato and Konan arrived in Konoha. Walking through its streets, Konan pushed Nagato's wheelchair, listening to the joyful chatter of villagers, and a sense of peace filled her heart.

"If we had been born in a place like this, things might have been different," Nagato said.

"Yeah, the people here seem happy. If we had been born here, Yahiko wouldn't have needed to sacrifice himself for peace," Konan replied.

Their conversation continued as they arrived at the Gekko Clan's residence. The clan had changed significantly. While their strength hadn't necessarily increased, they were now the largest and most respected family in Konoha. With the Fifth Hokage as their clan member and Konoha's top warrior among them, no clan could rival their status.

"Who goes there?" asked a Gekko guard, noticing Konan pushing Nagato's wheelchair.

"We're here to see Kazuki Gekko. Could you please inform him?" Konan replied.

Nagato's expressionless face, combined with Konan's serious demeanor, made the guard suspicious. Casting a wary glance, he asked,

"What are your names?"

"Nagato."

"Konan."

The guard eyed them once more, then said,

"Fine, wait here. I'll inform him." As he turned to go, he paused and cautioned,

"Don't wander around. The Gekko Clan has many skilled members. If anything happens, don't say I didn't warn you."

"Understood," Konan replied coolly, sending a chill down the guard's spine.

"Hopefully, they're not here for revenge," the guard muttered as he ran off.

While they waited, Nagato continued their conversation.

"Does Kazuki have many enemies?" he asked.

Konan thought for a moment. "Probably."

Strength in the shinobi world didn't come solely from training. It demanded real combat experience, and Konan was sure that someone as strong as Kazuki had to have a history of battle.

"What do you think of Kazuki?" Nagato asked again.

"He's trustworthy," Konan answered.

"And besides that?"

"Well… he's a bit of a flirt."

"A flirt? That's the first time I've heard that," Nagato chuckled.

"Let's go, Konan," Nagato said suddenly.

"Hmm? Aren't you here to see him?" she asked.

"I already have," Nagato smiled.

"Already?"

"Yes."

Nagato had come wanting to see this remarkable shinobi world, but after observing Konoha's prosperity and the happiness of its people, he felt he had already seen what he needed. It wasn't so much about seeing Kazuki himself, but the environment he protected.

Satisfied with the journey, Nagato found peace. Yet his last concerns lingered, centered around Konan's future.

"People without commitment are untrustworthy," he thought, disapproving of Kazuki's flirtatious nature. Konan deserved someone responsible.

With that thought, he decided Konan's place was not by Kazuki's side.

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The fanfic is finished on p@treon/tambeerg