The Truth Revealed

"Without your precious sword, let's see what you can do," Naruto said.

"Kamui." Naruto focused on the sword. A moment later, what seemed like a small rift appeared. Aoi Rokusho could only watch helplessly as the sword was sucked out of his hand.

"Asshole, where did you send my sword?" Aoi Rokusho demanded angrily.

"I took the sword and intend to return it to where it belongs—Konoha Village."

"Shadow Shuriken Technique!" Naruto shouted, throwing five shuriken that instantly multiplied into a hundred. Aoi Rokusho raised his umbrella to block them.

Aoi Rokusho charged at him. Before Naruto could react, a kunai stabbed into his back. Aoi Rokusho grinned smugly, until 'Naruto' dissolved into a streak of blue light and sent a surge of Lightning Release chakra through his body, electrocuting him.

Aoi Rokusho trembled slightly as he searched around for Naruto.

"Water Release: Iron Cannonball!" Aoi Rokusho shouted, firing several water bullets at Naruto. Three struck him—two in the chest and one in the leg—sending him crashing to the ground in pain.

Aoi Rokusho approached Naruto, ready to finish him with a kunai. He swung it down at Naruto's neck.

Aoi Rokusho grinned smugly, until Naruto turned into a puff of smoke.

Suddenly, he was frozen in place, unable to move.

All he saw was Naruto appear behind him and pat him on the back.

"How... how is that possible?" Aoi Rokusho asked.

"When you hit me with those water bullets, you thought you'd won. But when you fired them, I used the Substitution Jutsu and hid underground. When you came close to kill my substitute, I jumped out and placed a paralysis seal on your back."

Aoi Rokusho cursed himself for being defeated by a fourteen-year-old boy.

"What do you want that water for?" Naruto asked mercilessly, his cold blue eyes seeming to reflect Aoi Rokusho's very soul.

"Why would I tell you?" Aoi Rokusho sneered, but Naruto merely smiled.

"Then let's have a little fun." Naruto licked his lips.

Naruto activated his Sharingan. Aoi Rokusho felt a chill, yet he still refused to talk.

"Genjutsu: Hell Burning." Naruto trapped Aoi Rokusho in an illusion where he felt himself being burned alive.

It continued for several minutes, but Aoi Rokusho still did not yield.

"That alone isn't enough," Aoi Rokusho said weakly.

"Why put yourself through this? You're going to Konoha anyway, so why not make things easier for yourself?"

"I'm not afraid of Konoha," Aoi Rokusho replied. Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"Hey, Kurama, I still can't use Tsukuyomi. Can you help me?" Naruto asked.

"Of course. I want to have some fun too." A sly smile curved Kurama's lips.

Naruto deactivated his Sharingan and channeled the Nine-Tails' chakra into his eyes, turning them blood-red with vertical slits.

Naruto stared at Aoi Rokusho, who was suddenly pulled into Naruto's mindscape. He had no idea where he was until he found himself before a steel cage door.

Aoi Rokusho looked inside and saw two blood-red eyes glimmering in the darkness. As a figure gradually approached, those eyes grew larger and larger.

Before him stood an orange fox with nine tails swaying behind it. It was the Nine-Tails, one of the most powerful tailed beasts.

"Oh, a little snack... You're far too kind to me, brat." Kurama slowly walked toward Aoi Rokusho, who froze in place and had already wet himself.

"I told you I wasn't a bad person." Naruto watched Aoi Rokusho piss himself.

Kurama approached Aoi Rokusho, licking his teeth as he prepared to devour him.

"Al-alright, I... I'll... tell you... everything I... I know," Aoi Rokusho stammered.

"Why do you want that water?" Naruto asked.

"It's a mission. Our village leader wants that water, but I don't know what he wants it for," Aoi Rokusho answered hurriedly.

"I see. Who is your village leader?" Naruto asked.

"Orochimaru, that snake sage," Aoi Rokusho replied. Naruto raised an eyebrow.

Orochimaru built his own village? Interesting. I'll tell the old man when I get back.

"Thanks, Kurama," Naruto said.

... Hidden Waterfall Village Gate ...

"I am Kurenai Yuhi. I have come here for negotiations with my team—Shino Aburame, Hinata Hyuga, and Naruto Uzumaki." Kurenai Yuhi handed over a scroll bearing the Hokage's seal.

"Welcome to Hidden Waterfall Village," the guard said.

They headed toward the center of the village, where the village chief lived. They noticed that the hate-filled looks Feng received were just like the ones Naruto had endured in Konoha.

"Looks like you're unwelcome here too," Naruto said.

"This is the fate of all jinchuriki. We're all treated badly by others," Feng explained.

They arrived at the village center, where a waterfall pagoda came into view. Steps surrounded it, while the tower itself was a massive tree.

The group climbed the ladder up the tower and arrived before a red door.

According to Feng, this was the door to the village chief's office.

They knocked, and a voice from inside said, "Come in."

They quickly pushed the door open and entered. Before them was a simply furnished, small office. There were bookshelves, a small sofa, several photos, and a desk, behind which someone sat with his head bent over his work.

He had black eyes, long dark-brown hair, and a forehead protector that marked him as a shinobi.

"Oh, Feng, welcome back," the village chief said with a smile.

"Yes, the mission has been completed, Village Chief," Feng replied.

Kurenai, the team leader, said:

"My name is Kurenai Yuhi. These are my team members, Shino Aburame, Hinata Hyuga, and Naruto."

Everyone bowed respectfully.

"Was your journey smooth?" the village chief asked, noticing their subtle hesitation.

"Did something happen?" he pressed.

Naruto told him about what had happened on the road.

"Did you find out why they wanted it?" the village chief asked.

"I interrogated Aoi Rokusho. Their village is called Hidden Sound Village, and its leader is Orochimaru, a rogue ninja from Konoha."

"That is troublesome," the village chief said. "That water is extremely dangerous, especially if it falls into Orochimaru's hands. I need to strengthen security at the border and around the spring."

"We'll take Aoi Rokusho back to Konoha for interrogation. If we learn anything afterward, we'll report it to you," Kurenai Yuhi said.

"Thank you, I appreciate it," the village chief replied. "Now then, Miss Kurenai Yuhi, shall we discuss the trade agreement?"

"Feng, take them to the inn and wait until we're done talking," the village chief said.

Everyone bowed once more and left the office.

"You were right. This village really is amazing," Naruto said as they headed toward the inn.

They found a tall tree. They climbed it and sat atop its crown, overlooking the darkening sky and the village lights.

"It's really beautiful," Hinata said as she gazed at the sky. The sun was setting, faintly illuminating the land. The few clouds overhead looked as though they were on fire.

Hinata nestled against Naruto's chest, resting her head on his shoulder. Naruto wrapped his arms tightly around her...