Stabbing Tsunade and the Uzumaki Clan Sage Body

Two tall men in black cloaks patterned with red clouds stood shoulder to shoulder atop Konoha's outer wall. Bamboo hats shaded their faces as they looked down over the village.

One carried a massive, sword-shaped object wrapped in bandages across his back.

"Though it escaped destruction, this village took a lot of damage!"

"A village that used to thrive has come to this. How pitiful!"

"Heh. That doesn't sound like you. Still attached to your hometown?"

"No. Not at all!"

Naruto sensed Itachi and Kisame the moment the two powerful ninja entered the village.

Before Itachi defected after wiping out his clan, the Third Hokage had promised him that Konoha would not change how its Barrier granted entry, so Itachi could return to see Sasuke whenever he wished.

Itachi had gladly accepted. He was probably deeply grateful to the Third Hokage at the time!

As far as Naruto knew, Itachi had two reasons for coming to Konoha. Ostensibly, he was here to capture Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Secretly, he was here to see Sasuke and provoke him.

He might also have come to send Konoha a warning: My old partner in the clan massacre, the Third Hokage, may be dead, but Danzo and the new Hokage had better behave themselves. Don't lay a hand on Sasuke!

But Naruto had no plans to go after either of them. For now, he needed to keep his head down and grow stronger. Even if he wanted Itachi's Mangyō Sharingan and Kisame's Samehada, this was not the right time.

After all, even if he could kill them both with his current strength, it would cost him dearly.

All things considered, it wasn't worth it. He would let them go. They would meet again soon enough.

For now, he needed to keep building his strength!

What Naruto didn't know was that Itachi had a third reason for coming—a mission assigned by Akatsuki.

Naruto was running with weights strapped to his body. As he passed a tree, he marked it: 1,300 laps around the Training Ground so far. Today's goal was 2,000.

At the center of the Training Ground, fifty Shadow Clones were practicing Taijutsu movements and techniques for generating force.

Nearby, Neji couldn't help glancing at the fifty Shadow Clones, his eyes full of envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Training alongside someone with such an unfair advantage all the time really could get depressing.

Might Guy, meanwhile, had taken Rock Lee to walk on their hands around the whole of Konoha.

Before long, Might Guy came upon two groups facing off by the river.

On one side stood Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai Yuhi. On the other were Itachi and Kisame, who had just entered the village.

Might Guy quickly sent Rock Lee to notify the Anbu, then went to help Kakashi, who had been caught in Tsukuyomi.

Itachi didn't want a major clash with Kakashi and the others. Otherwise, he could have killed Kakashi outright with Tsukuyomi.

And he seemed to know what Might Guy was truly capable of. Unwilling to let Guy hold them up, he promptly withdrew with Kisame to look for another chance to find Naruto.

Word of Itachi and Kisame's arrival in Konoha soon reached the Konoha High Command and a few elite ninja, including Jiraiya, who already knew something of Akatsuki's plans.

At the time, Konoha's two senior advisers were asking Jiraiya to become the Fifth Hokage. But Jiraiya had his own grand dream to pursue and no interest in the Hokage Position.

He did, however, agree to find Tsunade and ask her to become the Fifth Hokage instead.

To protect the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and train Naruto, Jiraiya decided to take him along on the search for Tsunade.

When Jiraiya found Naruto at the Training Ground and asked him to come on a "research trip," the system issued Naruto a task for the first time in ages:

"Ding-dong! Task issued: Find Tsunade and help her overcome her Hemophobia!"

"One, saintly choice: Move her with love and dreams.

Reward: A kiss from Tsunade."

"Two, Demon Choice: Stab her and shock her with the sight of her own blood.

Reward: [Senju Sage Body]."

[Senju Sage Body]: Grants a Huge Chakra Amount, Super Chakra Control, Ninjutsu Talent, Earth Sense, and other abilities.

Naruto's eyes lit up when he saw [Senju Sage Body]. He had wanted this Sage Body for ages. He had considered buying it from the System Mall, but it was so expensive he couldn't bring himself to spend the points.

"System, I choose option two—the Demon Choice!"

Surely this incredible Sage Body was more tempting than a kiss from an old woman like Tsunade?

Naruto would much rather kiss a cute girl like Hinata!

Jiraiya's first stop after taking Naruto out of the village was Post Town, near Konoha.

A post town was a waystation on a major route or beside an important location, usually large enough to be a town.

Naruto had sandbags and steel plates strapped all over his body and a heavy pack on his back. He kept running back and forth, refusing to stop even when he was gasping for breath.

It was "homework" Might Guy had assigned him. Whenever he felt he couldn't go on, he pictured the kick with which Guy had nearly ended everything.

Then he imagined combining his Mangekyō Sharingan's Time Reversal with the Eight Gates Released Formation. Heat surged through him, sweeping away any urge to slack off.

Jiraiya watched and nodded approvingly. Naruto had talent and the drive to work hard. If he couldn't amount to something, who could?

An hour later, Naruto and Jiraiya arrived at Post Town. As a necessary stop for anyone entering or leaving Konoha, it bustled with vendors, street performers, and crowds coming and going.

Naruto looked around curiously, stopping now and then to examine some odd little trinket.

In the end, he bought a comically oversized pair of black Toad Sunglasses and put them on.

The Toad Sunglasses looked much like oversized shades.

Jiraiya had barely booked them a room when a fashionably dressed young woman approached and winked at him. With that, she easily lured the Pervy Sage away.

Naruto sensed Itachi and Kisame hiding nearby. A smile tugged at his lips as he went upstairs to their room and started doing Push-Ups as if nothing were wrong. He needed to finish today's training.

Meanwhile, after hearing that Itachi had arrived and intended to capture Naruto, Sasuke was frantically searching for Naruto and drawing closer.

Knock, knock, knock!

Naruto acted as though he hadn't heard and kept doing Push-Ups on the floor.

Knock, knock, knock!

Someone knocked again. Naruto said irritably, "I'm underage. I don't want any special services!"

Bang!

Kisame kicked the door open.

Naruto rose and gave Itachi and Kisame, standing in the doorway, an irritated, icy look.

"I told you, I don't want any special services! And I definitely don't need one from a guy with a face like a monster!"

Kisame stared at Naruto's ridiculous Toad Sunglasses with his sharklike eyes for a moment, his expression peculiar, before he slowly said:

"Kid, you're pretty stylish."

"Stylish? I'm totally innocent!" Naruto said with a grin.

"You..."

Kisame was about to say more, but Itachi cut him off. "Kisame, stop. He's messing with us."

"Well, look at you. You've been around the block," Naruto teased Itachi.

"What?" Kisame finally caught on. He raised Samehada and swung it at Naruto!

"Brat, you're dead!"