Naruto: Reborn in His Younger Self

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Clap! Clap! 👏!

Shino stood to the side and suddenly started clapping his hands.

Kiba, confused, turned to him and asked, "Shino… what the hell are you doing?"

Shino adjusted his sunglasses slightly and replied, "Nothing. I just felt like this moment deserved some applause."

Kiba paused for a second, then nodded in agreement. "Yeah… yeah, that actually makes sense."

Meanwhile, Sakura stood still, staring at Naruto and Hinata, a complex mix of emotions swirling inside her.

She had always known Hinata harbored feelings for Naruto—any girl could tell. But now, seeing them together, seeing Naruto reciprocate, it hit differently.

Wasn't Naruto supposed to like her?

Didn't he always chase after her, despite her constant rejections?

She had always thought that, no matter what, Naruto would be there, looking at her, wanting her.

But now?

Now, Naruto was looking at Hinata the way she had once wished Sasuke would look at her.

A bitter feeling settled in her chest.

As if sensing the mood, Yamato approached Kakashi with a teasing smirk. "Senpai, looks like we might have a wedding to attend in the near future."

Kakashi sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, a happy event is a happy event… but Naruto really doesn't know how to pick the right time to fall in love, does he?"

Despite the lighthearted words, Naruto wasn't lingering on emotions right now. The days ahead were long, and he had something far more important to take care of.

Letting go of Hinata's hand gently, he smiled at her and said, "Sorry, Hinata, but I need to leave for a few days."

Hinata blinked, startled. "L-Leave?"

Then, Naruto turned to Kakashi. "Sensei, I'm leaving the team temporarily. You guys can keep chasing after Sasuke."

Kakashi's visible eye narrowed. "And where exactly do you think you're going, Naruto?"

Everyone turned to look at him, surprised.

Naruto knew how important retrieving Sasuke was, and yet, he was saying this?

"I can't tell you," Naruto admitted, meeting Kakashi's gaze seriously. "But it's something I have to do. Please, just trust me on this."

Sakura stepped forward, her voice tinged with frustration. "Is it more important than bringing Sasuke back?"

Naruto hesitated.

He couldn't explain everything to them. They wouldn't understand.

Sasuke's life wasn't in immediate danger—his battle with Itachi was inevitable, and that was something he had to resolve on his own. But right now, there was someone else Naruto needed to catch up with.

Jiraiya.

He had to find him before it was too late.

"I'm sorry, Sakura," Naruto finally said. "I just can't explain it right now. But I can tell you that Sasuke will be fine. I promise."

Kakashi's eyes sharpened. "That's not good enough, Naruto. This is a critical mission, and as your captain, I can't just let you leave."

He glanced at Yamato, who nodded.

Without warning, Wood Style: Four-Pillar Prison Jutsu!

Thick wooden walls shot up from the ground, forming a sturdy cage around Naruto, trapping him inside.

Yamato's Wood Style wasn't just strong—it was one of the few techniques capable of restraining the Nine-Tails' Chakra.

"Naruto," Kakashi said, his voice calm but firm, "we're not trying to stop you without reason. You need to explain why you're doing this."

Hinata, looking anxious, stepped forward. "Please, sensei, Naruto-kun must have a reason! He wouldn't just—"

"I know, Hinata," Kakashi interrupted, his voice softer. "But that doesn't change the fact that we can't let him just walk away."

Sakura watched Naruto closely. Something about him felt different. He wasn't arguing. He wasn't protesting.

Instead, he was completely still.

Then, she realized—his eyes were closed.

He was concentrating.

Kakashi also noticed. His expression darkened.

"Wait… could it be—?"

A sudden burst of chakra erupted from within the wooden prison.

A powerful wave of energy exploded outward, shattering Yamato's structure into splinters.

The force was immense.

Kakashi and Yamato barely had time to react before Naruto vanished from the cage, appearing atop a nearby tree.

Orange pigmentation had formed around his eyes. His expression was calm, yet undeniably powerful.

Sage Mode.

Yamato's eyes widened in disbelief. "W-What?! How is that possible?! My Wood Style should have suppressed his chakra—!"

Kakashi stared at Naruto in shock. "Sage Mode…? But how…?"

Naruto smirked, but there was no arrogance in it—only confidence. "Sorry, Kakashi-sensei. I can't explain this either."

Then, with one last glance at his team, he turned and took off into the trees.

"Wait! Naruto!" Sakura called out, stepping forward.

But Kakashi grabbed her wrist, stopping her.

Sakura turned, looking at him in confusion.

Kakashi exhaled, his eye filled with something close to resignation.

"We can't stop him," he admitted. "Not anymore."

Naruto's strength had surpassed every single person here. Even if they wanted to stop him… they couldn't.

More than that—Kakashi trusted him.

Something big was happening. He didn't know what, but he knew Naruto had a reason.

Sighing, Kakashi pulled out a communication scroll, quickly writing down everything that had happened. He handed it to Pakkun, his ninja dog, who took off toward Konoha to deliver the message to Tsunade.

"We're continuing the mission," Kakashi announced, looking at the team. "Naruto made his decision. Now, we make ours."

Hinata bit her lip, looking toward the direction Naruto had gone.

Then, silently, she turned and followed her team.

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Somewhere in the Forest

Naruto, still in Sage Mode, leaped swiftly from branch to branch, his enhanced senses picking up even the slightest movement.

His mind was focused.

Jiraiya was his priority.

But then—

Naruto froze.

Something was wrong.

A familiar, yet ominous chakra signature entered his range.

His eyes narrowed.

Adjusting his path, he changed direction.

Finally, he landed on the ground, standing still in the dense shadows of the trees.

Then, without hesitation, he spoke.

"Come out, Uchiha Itachi."

A heavy silence filled the air.

Then, from the shadows, a pair of crimson-red Sharingan eyes slowly opened.

A rustling sound followed as a dark silhouette stepped forward.

Uchiha Itachi had arrived.

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