The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows along the dense trees surrounding their temporary camp. The Forest of Death was deceptively quiet, the usual hum of nocturnal creatures drowned out by the oppressive atmosphere. Naruto sat a few feet away from the fire, repeatedly forming hand seals, his fingers moving faster each time. His Ramen Clones popped in and out of existence as he experimented with integrating Wind Release into his attacks. His frustration was clear, each failed attempt met with a louder groan. "Come on, I just need a little more power—"
A sharp pop signaled another failed attempt, and Naruto slammed his fist against the ground, gritting his teeth. His frustration wasn't just from training—it was from the humiliating realization that even with all his growth, he still hadn't secured the Earth Scroll. He clenched his fists tighter. "I won't lose to Sasuke. I won't be left behind."
Sakura adjusted Sasuke's head on her lap, running a damp cloth over his forehead. His body twitched occasionally, his muscles stiffening, the black tendrils of the Curse Mark pulsing faintly beneath his skin. His breathing was slow, controlled, but something about the way his fingers twitched, the way his jaw clenched—Sakura could feel the change. She swallowed hard. "He's reacting to something," she whispered, half to herself.
Raven, leaning against a tree, her arms folded, watched the scene with passive curiosity. She had already made her decision. This wasn't her choice to make. Mikoto needed to know. The Rinnegan in her right eye shimmered faintly as she reached out across the distance, activating one of her puppet relays stationed in the Land of Whirlpools.
Thousands of miles away, inside the Hidden Village of Whirlpools, a puppet with a single glowing violet eye stirred in the dimly lit office of Mikoto Uchiha. The former Uchiha matriarch sat at her desk, twirling a kunai between her fingers as the puppet's eye flickered to life, delivering Raven's silent message. The moment she absorbed the details, she exhaled through her nose. "So, my son has finally started down his path," she murmured, though there was no surprise in her voice.
Raven's voice carried through the link, calm but probing. "What do you want to do about it?"
Mikoto clicked her tongue, setting the kunai down. "Nothing."
Raven arched a brow, her mental link pulsing with skepticism. "Nothing?"
Mikoto smirked, leaning back in her chair. "I have seen enough of the future to know when to act. Sasuke has a long road ahead of him. Let him walk it." Her voice remained measured, but Raven caught the slightest shift in her tone—she cared, even if she pretended not to.
There was a pause before Mikoto exhaled, her smirk widening. "Of course, when the time comes, I will beat him into submission. Itachi, too."
Raven snorted. "Oh? You're just going to discipline both your sons?"
Mikoto tapped her chin in mock thought. "Not just discipline. I'm going to remind them who their mother is."
Raven chuckled. "Their punishments are going to be legendary."
Mikoto grinned. "Sasuke can enjoy his little power trip, but when he crosses the line, I'll personally put him in his place."
Thousands of miles away, Itachi Uchiha suddenly paused mid-step, an unnatural chill running down his spine. He was far from home, but the sensation was unmistakable. His skin prickled, his muscles tensed.
A small bead of sweat rolled down his temple as he murmured, "This feeling…" His fists clenched. "I only feel this way when… my mother is about to beat me."
His Sharingan activated involuntarily as flashes of childhood memories surfaced—him as a boy, standing frozen as his mother scolded him, a slipper raised in her hand like a divine weapon of destruction. The vague sensation of being force-fed vegetables as punishment sent a jolt of unshakable dread through his body.
His steps quickened.
Somewhere, somehow, he knew he must have done something wrong.
Back at the camp, Raven blinked, the connection fading as she let out a quiet snicker. Even across dimensions, Mikoto could still terrify her sons.
The fire crackled again, and Raven turned her attention back to Naruto, who was still pushing himself, his chakra flickering as he poured Wind Release into his ramen strands. He gritted his teeth, sweat dripping down his forehead, finally stabilizing the technique. The noodles coiled around his arms, razor-thin but strong, infused with cutting wind chakra. He flicked his wrist, sending a strand forward. It sliced cleanly through a branch, embedding itself into the dirt with a sharp crack.
He panted, staring at his work. Slowly, his grin returned. He was getting stronger.
Sakura, watching from the sidelines, felt a twinge of something—pride? Envy? She wasn't sure. But she knew she needed to keep up.
Raven, stretching, rolled her shoulders and muttered, "Finally."
Naruto shot her a glare. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Raven smirked. "Means you might actually put up a fight in this next battle."
Naruto scowled but couldn't hide the small flicker of excitement in his eyes.
Elsewhere in the forest, a group of three genin sat around a low-burning fire, their nerves on edge. They had been watching Team 7 for hours, aware that they were one of the few groups still missing an Earth Scroll.
One of them, a wiry boy with sharp features, huffed. "They're desperate. That makes them dangerous."
The tallest of the group, their apparent leader, cracked his knuckles. "Doesn't matter. We have the scroll they need. If they want it, they'll have to take it from us."
A slow smirk spread across his face. "And we won't make it easy."
Back at the camp, Naruto finally sat down, exhaustion creeping in, but a fire still burned in his chest. Tomorrow, they were going to get their Earth Scroll.
Raven leaned back against the tree, arms folded, her Rinnegan shimmering faintly before fading.
The final battle was coming.
And she was more than ready to see how they handled it.
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