Written: September 19th, 2024
Publish: September 30th,2024
Edits:

Words: 3389

Once again Uzumaki Naruto is "Myougan" Uzumaki Shizuki, he is from the future to change the past!  I will be referring to the adult future Naruto as Shizuki to avoid any confusion! 

Also, the picture is Shizuki, I couldn't find any that were decent, and I feel like the pic has been in every other story but, whatever, I can't draw or anything so the image will have to do. 

See at the end for the Author's note! 

Edit: December 6, 2024.
Made some changes, fixed up some things that didn't make sense.

________*ੈ✩·₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩·₊˚____________

Jiraiya couldn't help but feel uneased once he left the cave, the foul smell of the past experiments left him feeling queasy, and the strong odor made him turn green after seeing what was left of the bodies, human skulls, other miscellaneous ...human tissue or organ... or whatever it is, it almost made him puke. 

He shuddered slightly trying to shake off the images of seeing random fluids that could be from anything, and that scared him because who knows what the hell Orochimaru is trying to do. He shook off his unpleasant thoughts and began jumping through trees to get back to Konoha. 

But first...
Jiraiya slowly extended out his chakra to feel if there are any remains of Orochimaru's chakra even if there aren't any, there should still be specks of it lingering if possible.

So far nothing around the area but there was a faint chakra line heading towards the Northwest.
Jiraiya immediately followed the faint line of chakra.

The sinister feel—snake like charka definitely belongs to Orochimaru.

Jiraiya started to run as fast as he could as he poured chakra onto the soles of his feet, he began jumping through trees upon trees until he reached what looked like a village.

Upon seeing the village, Jiraiya felt even more confused.

There was no life, just burned down to ashes, there weren't anything. 

He knew that this "village" belonged to Orochimaru since it lingered of his charka, and knew this area belonged to him. 

Slowly, he leaped down to the ground level and began investigating whatever was left. 

But really there was nothing but burnt wood, burnt things, ashes of black and grey of some sort. 

There doesn't seem to be a body or anything but whatever caused this "village" to burn down to the ground must've been a very powerful explosion.  

He wandered around the area to see if there was a body of some sort. 

So far, nothing was out of the ordinary, no bodies, no nothing. Just ashes, and a few or so wood planks here and there. 

Nothing interesting, nothing out of place, just burned down village with no inhabitants. 

As he ventured forward just deeper into the village, he found an oddly shaped cave. 

The entrance was blown off actually, more like something had made it disappear and reappear with a messed up huge blown out entrance. 

It didn't look much but, he walked into the cave and started to wander a bit into the deep wide cave while holding up a small torch. 

It was pretty dark, the light bulbs were still flickering in and out, it looked like it was about to give out but it was still holding on for some reason. 

Jiraiya squinted his eyes to get a clearer view of the cave as he stepped cautiously into the cave, the flickering light casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls. The air felt heavy, charged with an energy he couldn't quite place. He focused his senses, feeling the faint remnants of chakra lingering like ghostly whispers.

As he ventured deeper, the walls glistened with moisture, and he could hear the distant drip of water echoing through the darkness. The remnants of strange symbols adorned the cave's surface, each one pulsating with an ominous energy. It felt like a warning.

Suddenly, a low growl resonated from deeper within. Jiraiya's heart raced. He tightened his grip on the torch and advanced cautiously, his instincts on high alert. Just as he rounded around the place, he stumbled upon... A sight that no man should see— it should be in a fairy tale story... There was a large chamber that was filled with twisted remnants of experiments—mangled creatures that seemed to defy nature itself.

"Ugh... Orochimaru's handiwork," he muttered, bile rising in his throat. 
He really wanted to throw up here and there but, he needed to find the truth. After a few moments and walking all the way down to the end of the cave. He took a moment and looked around went inside each doors that was embedded in the caves. He saw lots of blood, and a torn piece of cloth that looked like it came from a glove or a shirt. Upon seeing the color, it looked like it either came from Kabuto or Orochimaru, best guess is Kabuto.

 As he exited out the room and walked to the main area, everything looked like there was a massive battle that happened. Broken pillars, ceiling broken, cracks here and there but judging by a cater or two, Manda was summoned but then something had forced him to go back to the realm. 

Jiraiya looked at the area and saw more blood in other places. 

There was blood that looked like it was made from a clean cut-- most likely from a katana. 

"What the hell even happened here..?" He mumbled to himself as he continued to look around for any clues, but so far nothing. Whoever had killed Orochimaru and Kabuto, and even injuring Manda, must be someone who is incredibly skilled in assassination or swordsmanship. He noticed a pile of scattered hair locks across the floor, slowly he examined the hair, it closely resembled Orochimaru's hair but there was another strand of hair that didn't seem to belong to either one of them. Quickly, he grabbed out a scroll and sealed the pile of hair to get the DNA tested, and quickly swabbed all the blood that was scattered across the cave. 

After gathering everything he needed, he made haste and quickly departed for Konoha. 

He needed to let Hiruzen know, he needed to get this tested and fast. 

He began jumping across the forest and the plains, running and jumping as fast as he could to get to Konoha. 

As Jiraiya leaped through the trees, his mind raced with possibilities. Who could have done this? With all his enemies and former allies, Orochimaru had made countless foes. But this felt different—too calculated, too clean. Whoever had orchestrated this was not just a rogue ninja; they were methodical, a ghost.

The familiar sights of Konoha came into view as he emerged from the forest. He touched down lightly on the main street, drawing a few curious glances from villagers who recognized him. He ignored them, his mind focused on the task at hand.

Rushing into the Hokage Tower, he found Hiruzen at his desk, surrounded by stacks of paperwork. The aging Hokage looked up, concern etched on his face as he saw Jiraiya's hurried entrance.

"Jiraiya! What happened? Did you find anything on Orochimaru?" Hiruzen asked, noticing the urgency in his tone.

Jiraiya wasted no time. "I made some progress about Orochimaru. It is true. He's dead—along with Kabuto. I found blood and evidence of a struggle. Someone killed them, and they're extremely skilled."

 Hiruzen's brow furrowed. "So, it is true... Orochimaru and Kabuto are both dead... But who did it?" Although, he was glad that his former student is dead but, the death was sudden- way too sudden, Orochimaru jumps through bodies on the daily but, death came for him? 

"I don't know yet, but I gathered some evidence." Jiraiya placed the scroll on the desk, his heart pounding as he detailed everything he'd found—the blood, the hair, the aura of destruction he felt in that cave. "We need to analyze this. We could be facing a serious threat, one that might not just end with Orochimaru."

The Hokage nodded solemnly, summoning a team of ANBU operatives to handle the analysis. As they worked, Jiraiya's mind drifted back to their old battles, the long nights spent planning against their former teammate. But even after all that, he never imagined Orochimaru would die like this—silently, in the shadows.

Moments later, the lead ANBU returned with a grim expression. "The blood belongs to both Orochimaru and Kabuto, but we found traces of another signature. It appears to be from an unknown source. We need more time to trace it."

Jiraiya's stomach twisted. "So, we're dealing with an assassin who knows how to cover their tracks."

"Precisely," Hiruzen replied. "We need to gather intelligence quickly. This person is a threat not just to us, but to the entire village."

Jiraiya nodded, feeling the weight of the situation. "I'll gather some of the best trackers. We can't let this slide. Whoever did this might strike again."

As he prepared to leave, a sudden thought hit him. "Hiruzen, what if this is a part of something larger? A scheme to draw us out? Orochimaru had many enemies who might benefit from his death."

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "We cannot overlook any possibility. We need to be on high alert."

With renewed determination, Jiraiya set out to find his spies. The air felt heavy with impending danger, and a shiver ran down his spine. The shadows of the past were creeping closer, and it was up to him to shine a light on the darkness.

As he left the tower, the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the village. Little did he know, the assassin was already watching from afar, Shizuki let out a small smile. 'They can run as many tests as they can.. but they can never find me. I plan on keeping it that way, not now.. just yet.. The future is at stake. My plans can't be interrupted.  Gomen, Ero-sennin.. Not yet, you can't see me like this.' Shizuki thought to himself as he watched the chaos unfold in the office and the departure of Jiraiya. 

He let out a silent sigh.

He shunshined himself away from the scene and into the forest. 

Next stop, Sasori of the Red Sand.

Last known location, to the Land of This. 

Which means Deidara must be with him.

Shizuki landed silently among the trees, his mind racing with the thrill of his plan unfolding. The shadows had always been his ally, but today, they felt more alive than ever, wrapping around him like a cloak as he made his way deeper into the forest.

His mind raced with thoughts of his next steps. He knew that Sasori had been always an excellent puppeteer, and had a reputation for crafting lethal puppets including having an unmatched strategic mind. Without the help of Chiyo-baachan, and Sakura here to help him defeat Sasori, it will be tough.. 

Sasori still has the puppet of the third kazekage with the ability to manipulate iron sand. 

He sucked in a breath and wondered about the possibilities of defeating him. Sasori will be much harder to defeat than Deidara. 

Deidara, and his strange hand-mouths explosion techniques.. Strange ability but useful in long, short, and mid-range attacks.. Funny how the duo can balance one another out. Puppets being long to mid-range.. Perfectly balanced. Lethal too, explosions right up at your face and then followed by numerous of unknown and deadly poisons from the puppets. Unstoppable duo. 

Given how crazy Akatsuki was, and needed to aim for their goals... They are pretty smart and sometimes incredibly foolish with the wrong morals..
World peace ...more like an onslaught war controlled by a dead man in waiting.

As he cleared some of his thoughts away, he continued to leap tree after tree. 

After many tree hopping, he finally made it to the Land of This, where the trees thinned and the terrain opened up. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows that danced like specters across the ground. He took a moment to survey the area, his keen senses alert. This was where the confrontation would happen, and he needed every advantage.

As the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows, he finally reached the edge of the forest. The terrain opened up into a wide clearing, the perfect setting for their encounter. He took a moment to survey the area, scanning for any signs of movement. His instincts were sharp; he needed to anticipate their tactics.

Suddenly, a rustle nearby snapped him back to reality. He crouched low, becoming one with the shadows. A few moments later, he caught sight of them: Sasori, with his crimson hair gleaming in the fading light, and Deidara, his hands twitching with barely contained energy.

"Well, well," Sasori called out, his voice smooth and mocking. "A little shadow has wandered into our territory."

As Shizuki emerged from the shadows, the atmosphere thickened with tension. He was the silent whirlpool, gathering strength in stillness before unleashing his fury. Sasori's expression shifted, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. Deidara's laughter faded, replaced by sharp focus.

"Let's see what you've got, then," Deidara taunted, his hands crackling with energy.

Without a word, Shizuki moved. He dashed forward, using the natural terrain to his advantage, launching himself into the air. With a flick of his wrist, he sent shurikens spiraling toward Deidara, who quickly dodged to the side, drawing clay from his pouch.

"Art is an explosion!" he shouted, forming a massive bird out of clay. The creature took flight, roaring toward Shizuki, its beak open wide to unleash a barrage of explosive projectiles.

In a fluid motion, Shizuki summoned a swirling vortex of wind, redirecting the projectiles harmlessly into the trees. The explosion echoed through the forest, sending debris flying, but Shizuki remained unscathed. He used the distraction to close the distance, lunging toward Sasori, who was preparing his puppets.

Sasori activated his traps, and a series of puppets sprang to life. "You think you can just charge in?" he called out, controlling the puppets with seamless precision. They danced forward, arms extending with blades glinting in the fading light.

But Shizuki was ready. He dodged and weaved, moving like water around the blades. He focused on Sasori, whose concentration remained split between controlling his puppets and monitoring Shizuki's movements. With every feint and dash, Shizuki chipped away at Sasori's confidence.

"Not bad, but you'll need more than speed!" Sasori snarled, summoning the Third Kazekage's puppet, its iron sand swirling ominously.

Shizuki's heart raced. He had to act quickly. As the sand lunged toward him, he dove to the side, rolling back to his feet. Drawing on his training, he summoned a surge of chakra, shaping it into a visible wave. With a swift motion, he sent the wave crashing toward the Kazekage puppet, disrupting the flow of sand and forcing Sasori to recalibrate.

'Now!' he thought, pushing forward with renewed determination. He feigned a retreat, drawing the puppets closer as he led them into the clearing's center.

Deidara, now focusing on Shizuki, launched another wave of explosive birds. "You can't escape art!" he yelled, sending them spiraling down.

Shizuki smirked inwardly. He summoned a protective barrier of wind, deflecting the clay birds as he dove behind a large boulder for cover.

"Focus on the kid, Sasori!" Deidara shouted, but Shizuki had already planned his next move. He knew the duo relied on teamwork, and if he could divide them, he stood a chance.

Shizuki propelled himself from behind the boulder, weaving through the chaos, his chakra swirling around him. He leaped high, aiming for a branch above. Positioning himself for an aerial strike, he targeted Sasori's strings with pinpoint accuracy.

In a moment of clarity, Shizuki unleashed a torrent of wind, slicing through the strings holding the puppets. As they collapsed, confusion rippled through Sasori's face. "No! My puppets!" he exclaimed, scrambling to regain control.

Seizing the opportunity, Shizuki descended rapidly, landing in front of Sasori. With a swift motion, he closed the distance, channeling his energy into a powerful punch aimed directly at Sasori's chest.

Sasori barely managed to react, raising a puppet arm to block. The impact resonated through the air, sending shockwaves that disrupted his balance. Staggering backward, he glared at Shizuki, rage boiling within him.

"Enough of this!" Sasori shouted, activating the Kazekage puppet's full power. Iron sand surged like a tidal wave, aiming to engulf Shizuki.

But he was ready. Drawing on everything he had learned, he spun and released a concentrated blast of wind, tearing through the sand and creating a vortex that scattered it into the air.

Shizuki pushes forward with every ounce of determination. He lunged at Sasori, who was still reeling from the wind's force. In that moment of vulnerability, Shizuki executed a flurry of swift strikes, each one landing true.

Deidara's cries echoed in the background, Sasori's "heart" ached as he listened to him scream in the background but Shizuki tuned them out, focusing entirely on Sasori. The puppeteer struggled to regain his footing, but the relentless onslaught overwhelmed him. With a final surge of power, Shizuki delivered a decisive blow that sent Sasori crashing to the ground. His face had a few cracks forming after the impact. 

Shizuki turned to Deidara, who was staring wide-eyed. "SASORI! GRRR.. You'll pay for this!" Deidara screamed, preparing another explosive attack.

But Shizuki was done waiting. He tapped into his own strength, summoning the whirlpool of chakra within him. 'You won't take anyone else,' he thought, and with that, he launched forward, ready to finish what he started.

As Shizuki stood over Sasori's fallen form, he felt the weight of the moment. But before he could even warn Deidara, Sasori's eyes widened in recognition.

"Wait... you're the Silent Whirlpool!" Sasori gasped, his voice strained. "I've heard tales of your power—how you wind, and other elements.. YOU.. even have the abilities o-of the Sharingan!"

Shizuki's heart raced. He hadn't expected Sasori to recognize him.

Just then, Deidara, caught in his own turmoil, interrupted. "What are you babbling about, Sasori?!" His hands twitched with energy as he prepared another clay creation. "You think this kid can just come in and take us out? He's nothing!"

Sasori struggled to rise, desperation in his eyes. "No, Deidara! This is different! He's dangerous!"

Shizuki felt the tension in the air as Deidara's expression shifted from anger to confusion. "Dangerous? What are you talking about?" he demanded, lowering his clay slightly but still poised for an attack.

"Yes!" Sasori pressed, trying to regain control of the situation. "If you don't listen to me, we're in serious trouble!"

"Enough!" Deidara shouted frustration etched on his face. "I don't care what you say! I won't just let him go!"

"Deidara!!" Sasori shouted but Deidara didn't listen, and sent in another explosive at Shizuki who barely had time to react, and immediately jumped back in the midst of the smoke, and Deidara quickly grabbed Sasori. He threw more explosives to create a distraction, and to create a smoke screen. By the time, Shizuki came to his senses, they were already gone. 

Shizuki cursed to himself for letting them to get away. 

Finding them is the hardest part of finding the Akatsuki. Even if they go as pairs, it's still so hard to find them. 

Deidara immediately ran away with Sasori in his arms and ran as far as he could before his legs gave in, and forcing him to collapse somewhere in deep in the middle of the forest. Deidara sobbed in pain. Sasori stared at him not knowing what to do other than staring at him because all this time, he had never seen Deidara cry in the times he had worked with him on missions nor when they were in the hideouts doing their own things. 

He suddenly realized that Deidara is just a child who got into this mess because of the war, and his kage didn't bother to even do anything for him, and he also hated the Akatsuki very much so. 

It almost pains him to see him like this.. 

Just why is he feeling this way..? 

Without even realizing he slowly pulls Deidara into a hug. 

Deidara was shocked but kept crying and hugged him tightly. 

Sasori became a bit shocked by the return of the hug but remained silent as he cried to his heart content. 

________*ੈ✩·₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩·₊˚____________

Sorry for the late update! My classes have gotten very tough at the moment, and I am taking my time to update, and write this book. I promise I won't abandon this! 
Classes are a bit much right now, and I have to soon focus on getting internships soon. 

But updates will still go on! I promise. 

Should I keep Sasori alive or no? 
Let me know what yall think! 

Shizuki will very soon make his appearance to Konoha. Soon. Just maybe a few or more chapters or less. Who knows.. Hehehehehe