Naruto: The Chosen Undead

[Noxim]

Great chapter, The idea of estus fixing Kakashi's sharingan incompatibility problems was inspired. also exited to see Naruto training Oscar to be his partner and can't wait to see him evolve into full ravenous crystal lizard form. can't wait for the next chapter.

 

[Adamos_Amet]

Chapter no.35 What It Means to Resist

---

Kakashi sat bare chested on the examination mat, the soft green glow of healing chakra washing over his shoulder as Kurenai's hand hovered over his collarbone. Her expression was unreadable, focused, calm, but there was something unspoken in the way her fingers hesitated every so often, like she was afraid of what she might find.

"Any word from Jiraiya sama?"

"A toad from Mount Myōboku arrived yesterday. Said Jiraiya was summoned to speak with the Great Sage again. Something about a… new prophecy."

Kakashi's gaze drifted toward the window. "The child of prophecy…"

Her eyes flicked toward him. "Pardon."

He gave a quiet hum. "Minato sensei told me. Back then, the Great Toad Sage told Jiraiya he'd train a student... one who would bring a seismic shift to the shinobi world. Either salvation or ruin. No in between."

Kurenai's chakra faltered briefly as she absorbed his words. "He thought Minato was that student?"

"After Minato forced Iwa to the negotiating table, yeah," Kakashi murmured. "He believed it for a while. But Sensei…" he exhaled, "he was a man of peace. A light, sure, but not the storm that prophecy hinted at."

"From your tone… it sounds like you don't believe in prophecy."

"I believe in people," Kakashi said plainly. "Prophecies are like kunai thrown in the dark. They might hit something. Or they might be self fulfilling, if you believe in them hard enough."

"What if Naruto was the child of prophecy?"

He looked at her sharply, eyes narrowing. "Don't joke about that."

"Why not?"

"Because carrying the world on your back isn't a blessing," Kakashi said flatly. "It's a sentence."

There was a beat of silence, the kind that stretched just a moment too long before it was broken by the rustle of parchment. "I was trying to lighten the mood, but… I don't know how else to put this."

Kakashi stared at the final lines of the report in his hands, then exhaled through his nose. "My body's… brand new." He said it flatly. Not with wonder. Not with relief. Just a quiet understanding of what that really meant.

To anyone else, it might've sounded like a miracle. But to Kakashi Hatake, a man who had spent the better part of his life bleeding for the village, who'd lived more days on the brink than most people lived in their entire lives, it was an omen. Because his body was never supposed to be new again.

The calcified shrapnel from that Iwa ambush? Gone. The lightning charred nerves in his left arm from years of abusing Chidori? Restored. The spiderweb of scar tissue deep in his muscles, the silent aches, the phantom tugs where old wounds had healed wrong, all of it erased. And that wasn't just the Estus fixing his Sharingan.

Kakashi looked down at his fingers, flexing them slowly. He hadn't moved this smoothly since he was twelve. No delay. No pain.

He remembered what the ANBU med nin had once told him during a rare physical. If you had Tsunade's healing or a decade of rest, you might reach your full potential. But keep going like this, and you'll spend the rest of your life plateaued as a Jonin. Your own injured body is holding you back from reaching your true potential.

Apparently, Naruto Uzumaki had just undone twenty years of irreversible damage… with a sip of golden light. This boy was going to be the death of him.

Kakashi glanced up. Kurenai hadn't spoken, but her eyes were sharp. She was waiting for something; a hint, an explanation. He opened his mouth, but a voice called from outside, breaking the tension.

"Breakfast's ready!" Tsunami's voice chimed. "Everyone, come eat!"

Kakashi folded the report quietly and stood. "Saved by the rice."

---

At the breakfast table, Tsunami blinked in surprise when she noticed him among the others. "Oh! I didn't make a portion for you, Kakashi san. I thought you'd still be resting."

"It's alright. Still feeling a bit off. Tea's more than enough."

Before anyone could respond, Naruto plunked the last Estus flask down in front of him with a clink.

"Here," the blonde said. "Last one. If you're still sick, this'll sort it out."

Sasuke rubbed a hand across his face, muttering under his breath. Sakura sighed loudly and looked away.

Kurenai didn't speak. She didn't need to. Her expression was carved from stone.

"What's that do?"

"It heals you," Naruto replied simply. "You drink it, and it just… fixes stuff."

Kakashi didn't touch the flask. His eye flicked to Kurenai, gauging her reaction. She turned to Naruto, her voice level but inquisitive. "Naruto… have you ever heard of the Uzumaki Clan's healing chakra?"

The table stilled.

Naruto blinked, surprised by the question. "Yeah. Why?"

Kakashi narrowed his eye.

Kiba leaned forward, brows scrunched. "Wait. Uzumaki Clan? That's a real thing?"

"There was a clan," Naruto answered, poking at his rice. "They were wiped out a long time ago. But… yeah, they had healing chakra. Sealing jutsu too."

Beside him, Sasuke picked up a slice of grilled fish. But instead of dropping it into Naruto's bowl, he broke it cleanly in half and set one piece beside his own rice. Naruto stared at it for a moment, then glanced at Sasuke. No words. But he understood. They were both the last of something. Two kids from dead clans, still learning what it meant to be alive.

Kakashi would've smiled. Normally, he might've teased them. But right now, his focus was razor thin. Because no one had ever told Naruto about the Uzumaki. So how did Naruto know? And more importantly… what else did he know?

"Uzumaki san," Shino spoke up quietly. "Why don't you use that flask to heal your arm?" His bugs buzzed faintly under his cloak, but they wouldn't approach the flask. Even the most obedient of his kikaichū recoiled from it, twitching as if in the presence of something extremely powerful.

Naruto shrugged, nonchalant. "Tried it, but this stuff doesn't heal souls."

The silence that followed was almost physical. Chairs shifted. Chopsticks paused mid air. Every eye locked onto Naruto.

"What?" Kiba muttered, blinking.

"What do you mean, 'souls'?" Sakura asked, half incredulous, half curious.

Naruto didn't elaborate. He was too busy tearing off flaky chunks of grilled fish and offering them to Oscar, who chirped eagerly on the table beside him. If Naruto noticed the unease rippling around him, he didn't show it.

Hinata's voice broke the stillness, hopeful and soft. "What… what are the limits of this thing?"

She hadn't meant to let that question slip... not with so much weight behind it, but the thought of her mother stirred something in her. If this mysterious flask could bring someone back from the brink, maybe… just maybe...

"Don't know. But it hasn't failed me just yet."

The vagueness only made it worse.

Sasuke leaned forward, narrowing his eyes. "Can the Uzumaki clan use this 'special chakra' in a jutsu?"

Naruto paused mid motion, a piece of fish held between his fingers as he tried to recall the details from Tobirama's journals. Some Uzumaki, he remembered, were born with a rare type of chakra—potent enough to suppress the Nine Tails itself. That same chakra was the foundation for the Adamantine Sealing Chains, a jutsu unique to their bloodline. The connection was obvious now. Sasuke's question made sense in that context. With clarity settling in, Naruto nodded quickly.

Kakashi let out a sharp exhale through his nose. The steam briefly fogged the inside of his mask. He knew that look on Sasuke's face... pieces were falling into place, and not in a way Naruto would ever intend.

"I've got it," Sasuke said. "Naruto uses this chakra alongside his Scorch Release."

Tazuna and Tsunami exchanged bewildered looks from their seats at the edge of the table, completely lost but sensing the shift in tone. The shinobi were in deep waters now.

"Wait, Naruto, is this true?" Sakura asked, leaning forward.

"What's true?"

"That you use fire to make the Estus flasks work," Sasuke clarified, his voice calm but firm.

"Oh. Yeah. I do," Naruto said casually, not realizing he had unintentionally created another misunderstanding. Sasuke's question had been about using fire from Scorch Release, but Naruto assumed he was talking about the fire from the bonfires he used to refill the Estus Flask.

At the breakfast table, the hum of conversation faded as Kakashi tapped two fingers gently against the wooden bench. A silent rhythm. Measured. Deliberate.

Kurenai's eyes flicked toward him. She blinked once. Then a gentle shift of chakra; subtle, almost imperceptible, and the world around them shimmered.

To everyone else at the table, it looked like the two jonin were simply locked in a long, wordless stare, quiet, intense, and vaguely awkward. In truth, they were engaged in a silent exchange, casting layered genjutsu back and forth, speaking.

"Why are you pushing so hard for answers you already know you shouldn't ask?"

"Because I've spent years healing soldiers who came back too broken to live. Missing pieces. Hollowed out. Dying slowly in beds like that one you almost didn't leave. And now I've seen something that reverses all of it." She looked at him. "Tell me that didn't mean something to you."

Kakashi's expression didn't change. But his voice was softer now. "It meant too much. That's the problem."

"Then you understand." Kurenai's voice lowered. "This... this isn't just another anomaly. He could be the next Tsunade. No, more than that. He's creating miracles from nothing. He doesn't even realize it."

Kakashi shook his head slowly. "Miracles can start wars. And you know the Hokage won't allow this to go unchecked."

"You think the Hokage sent me here just to check on Team Seven? Come on, Kakashi. He sent a jonin and summoned Jiraiya for backup on an A rank. I know what that means."

Kakashi's reply came colder than before. "And if you start expecting things Naruto can't give yet? If the village sees him not as a boy but as a tool? What happens then?"

Kurenai hesitated.

"We saw that happen to Itachi," Kakashi went on. "Expected to become the next Madara. A prodigy with no room to fail. Do you want to see that happen again?"

The silence hung between them. Then Kurenai sighed. "You're right," she admitted. "I got swept up in the possibility. I forgot he's still a child."

"He trusts us," Kakashi said, his tone unreadable. "And I'm not going to be the one to break that."

Kurenai nodded once, gaze falling. "Then I'll leave it alone. For now."

The genjutsu unraveled like mist on the wind. Everyone else at the table was staring at them.

"Do I have something on my face?"

Sakura arched a brow, grinning. "No, but you two were locked in eye contact like it was a wedding vow."

Hinata turned beet red. "I-I-It looked… um… very heartfelt…"

"What?" Kurenai jerked upright, flustered. "No! No, it's not... there's nothing going on!"

"Hey, I'm not judging. Good on you, Kakashi sensei. Kurenai's way outta your league, but shoot your shot, right?"

Kakashi stared at the kid. "I didn't shoot anything, Kiba."

Shino adjusted his collar. "Emotional bonding can improve field performance. I approve."

Sasuke, without looking up from his rice, muttered, "Hn. One less tragic loner in the squad."

"That's rich coming from you," Kakashi said dryly. He reached lazily into his vest and pulled out a worn orange book, cracking it open with one hand like it was a natural reflex.

Kurenai's face twisted in horror. "Seriously? In front of the kids?!"

"Oh, come on," Kakashi said, unbothered. "You were the one staring into my eye like I was the last man in the Leaf."

"That is not what I was doing!"

Tazuna squinted at the two of them, raising his cup with a grin. "Well, damn. You two bicker like an old married couple."

The words hung in the air. Kurenai and Kakashi froze.

Meanwhile, Naruto was entirely oblivious, shoveling rice into his mouth with mechanical speed and feeding bits to Oscar, who sat contentedly at his side. "Man," Naruto mumbled mid bite, "you're all so dramatic. Pass the pickles?"

The table dissolved into laughter. Even Sasuke let out a small, reluctant chuckle.

Tazuna, trying to steer the conversation back on track, cleared his throat loudly. "So… what's the plan for today?"

Kurenai took the lead. "Sasuke, Sakura, Shino, and I will be protecting you and your workers at the bridge," she said, slipping back into professional mode.

"Hinata, you'll be with me," Kakashi added.

"W-What are we going to do, Kakashi sensei?"

"We're going to the spot where I fought Zabuza," Kakashi explained. "I want to confirm whether or not he's still alive. Your Byakugan will be critical for this."

"Y-Yes, Kakashi sensei."

"What about me? What am I supposed to do?"

"You'll be staying here to protect the house."

Kiba's mouth opened for protest, but Shino gave him a quiet, reassuring nod.

"It's an important task," he said simply. That seemed to be enough to placate the eager Inuzuka.

As the table began to settle into the day's assignments, Tsunami spoke up hesitantly.

"Excuse me… I'll be going to the market today, so if anyone could..."

Naruto cleared his throat, then stood abruptly, his chair scraping across the floor.

"It would be my honor to escort you to the market as your bodyguard," he said, straightening his posture with exaggerated seriousness. Then, with a dramatic flourish, Naruto reached for the hilt of his Zweihander and performed a formal, knightly bow... his massive sword planted with a solid thunk against the floor.

Tsunami blinked. "…Um, thank you?"

"No need to thank me, ma'am," Naruto said, voice noble and full of faux gravitas. "It's my duty."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Sakura blinked slowly. "…Was he always like this?"

"Hn!"

Kiba raised a hand. "So, can I go with Naruto and protect Tsunami san too?"

"No!"

---

Sakura, Sasuke, and Shino moved in a diamond formation with Tazuna positioned safely in the center. As they approached the incomplete bridge, they saw groups of workers scattered about. Tools like hammers, saws, and wrenches were strewn across crates, while stacks of wooden planks, heavy stone slabs, and coils of rope lined the edges. Metal girders and support beams stood half finished, their surfaces rusted in some places. Buckets of cement and barrels of water sat beside piles of gravel and sand. The workers themselves were a scrappy lot, dressed in patched up uniforms, some carrying tool belts loaded with nails and small tools. A few were slumped on crates, drinking water, while others leaned against steel beams, chatting.

"Well, would you look at that. The old man actually shows up sober this time and protected by a bunch of kids." The group around him chuckled, the laughter loud and careless.

"Don't laugh too hard. These 'kids' are the reason we can work without worrying about what happened last time."

The workers quieted immediately, the joking atmosphere evaporating.

Sakura frowned and turned to Tazuna. "What happened?"

"The bridge was originally funded by the Daimyō of the Land of Waves. We thought that meant we were protected… but Gato sent death threats and even planted a bomb to scare us. It was just to send a message, but it worked. The Daimyō pulled all funding and protection for the project."

"That's horrible."

Tazuna nodded grimly. "Luckily, we'd already bought most of the equipment and materials, but without protection, we were dead in the water."

"Speaking of distractions," a loud, boisterous voice cut in. "Not sure we'll finish this project with a beauty like you walking around." The man who spoke was broad shouldered with a scruffy beard and a hard hat tilted slightly on his head. His name was Hiroto, Tazuna's right hand man and the foreman of the crew.

Tazuna sighed apologetically and glanced at Kurenai, who raised an eyebrow.

"I think the snakes on your head are more distracting."

"Snakes?"

Suddenly, he froze, his eyes widening in horror as he felt something on his head and then the hiss.

"What the... there's a snake! Get it off! Someone get it off!" He stumbled back, frantically swatting at his hair as the hard hat toppled from his head and clattered to the ground. The other workers burst into laughter, doubling over as Hiroto spun in circles, completely losing his composure.

"What the hell, you bastards?!" Hiroto yelled. "Get a shovel or something!"

One of the men wheezed between laughs. "What snakes, Hiroto? There's nothing there! We just saw you freaking out and falling over!"

Hiroto froze, his eyes darting around wildly.

"I guess my 'beauty' must've played tricks on your mind. Careful, or you might imagine something worse next time. Like a tiger."

Hiroto paled, raising his hands in surrender. "No, ma'am. No tigers, please."

"Good." Kurenai said. "Now, please get back to work so I can focus on mine."

Tazuna took the opportunity to step forward and begin organizing the workers, while Kurenai turned back to the genin. "Alright, you three. You've heard about the previous incident. What's the best way to protect the client and the workers?"

Sakura raised her hand. "I can place kunai with seals to create barriers around the bridge in case someone tries to attack."

Kurenai nodded. "Good. And how quickly can you set them up?"

"It depends on the size of the area, but I can do a basic barrier in about twenty seconds," Sakura said.

"That's impressive," Kurenai said, "but twenty seconds is still a lot of time if someone launches a surprise attack. Do you think you could maintain a barrier while setting up the others?"

"Yes, I can do that."

"Good. I'll want details on how you plan to implement that. Sasuke?"

Sasuke stepped forward slightly. "I'll use my Sharingan for surveillance. It'll help me track movement and pick up any signs of an ambush."

"Excellent," Kurenai said. "And you?"

Shino adjusted his glasses. "I can use my insects to tag each of the workers. Once tagged, I'll conduct a thorough sweep for hidden explosives or potential sabotage."

"You don't trust the workers?"

"It's not about trust," Shino said calmly. "If Gato could intimidate the Daimyō into pulling out of this project, it stands to reason that weaker men might be bribed, threatened, or coerced into sabotaging it."

"Fair point."

With the initial plan outlined, she straightened up. "Alright. I think we have a solid plan moving forward. Everyone knows their roles, so let's make this count."

Sakura and Sasuke exchanged glances, their expressions oddly contemplative.

"Yes?" Kurenai asked, catching their looks.

Sakura shook her head quickly. "Oh, sorry, Kurenai sensei. It's just… you're very different from Kakashi sensei."

"Different how?"

"A lot more positive reinforcement," Sasuke replied bluntly.

Kurenai blinked, slightly taken aback by the unexpected compliment.

"It's likely a habit she's developed from training Hinata," Shino said, his tone factual.

A faint blush spread across Kurenai's cheeks. She cleared her throat, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well… she needs a bit more encouragement than most."

"She doesn't need encouragement," Sasuke said flatly. "She needs a push."

Kurenai couldn't deny his reasoning, but she hoped that being Naruto's one handed jutsu partner and playing a key role in a jonin's strategy would help Hinata find a little more confidence in herself.

---

Kakashi and Hinata landed lightly on the remnants of the dock where Team 7 had clashed with Zabuza. The wooden planks were splintered and charred, some barely clinging to their supports, yet the space was alive with activity. Vendors had set up makeshift stalls on the broken dock, bartering and selling as if oblivious to the chaos that had once unfolded there.

"They're still using this place… even after all this destruction."

Kakashi tucked his hands into his pockets and gave a nod. "Life finds a way, doesn't it? People adapt, even when the odds are stacked against them."

Hinata nodded silently, then activated her Byakugan. The veins near her temples pulsed as her vision expanded, the dock and the surrounding area coming into sharp focus. She inhaled sharply. "There's so much residual chakra… it's overwhelming."

"Can you identify it?"

Hinata hesitated before answering. "Yes… this is Sasuke kun's chakra. Over there, that's Sakura san's… and…" She trailed off, her voice softening. "Naruto kun's chakra is everywhere."

Kakashi's single eye gleamed with interest. "You can distinguish residual chakra so clearly? That's an impressive skill, Hinata."

Hinata flushed at the compliment. "It's… it's just basic training, Kakashi sensei."

Kakashi snorted lightly. "Basic training? Trust me, I've known Hyūga in the Anbu who would disagree with you. Being able to sort through residual chakra in a battlefield like this is no small feat."

Hinata's gaze lowered modestly. "There's just… so much chakra here. It's hard to imagine Team 7's strength. They must be so powerful."

The older man studied her for a moment, noting the quiet.

"Tell me, Hinata," Kakashi asked, "what's the range of your Byakugan?"

"Five hundred meters."

Kakashi blinked, genuinely surprised. Most Hyūga he'd encountered had a range of hundred, maybe two hundred meters at best. But five hundred? That was extraordinary. Her field of vision was broad enough to encompass the entire dock, shore, and surrounding market, yet she managed to pinpoint individual residual chakra signatures with ease.

"Five hundred meters, huh? That's… impressive." Kakashi's tone turned thoughtful. "You know, if you're ever interested in joining the Anbu, let me know. They'd be lucky to have you on a recon team."

Hinata stiffened, her blush deepening. "Ano… I-I don't think I'm suited for the Anbu, Kakashi sensei. I'm not talented enough for something like that."

"Hinata, do you know how many Anbu captains would fight to have someone with your range and skill on their team?"

Hinata bit her lip, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "But… it's nothing compared to Neji niisan. He's so much stronger. His range is greater, his techniques are flawless… he's everything I'm not."

"And what exactly is his range?"

Hinata fell silent.

Kakashi pondered his next words carefully. "Hinata," he began, "it's fine to admire others, but don't lose yourself in comparisons. Every shinobi has their own strengths. Placing others on a pedestal only blinds you to what you bring to the table. Instead of worrying about where you fall short, recognize what you excel at. Own that."

Hinata's eyes flickered to him, the weight of his words sinking in. Slowly, she nodded, closing her Byakugan to center herself.

"I've found six distinct chakra signatures," she said after a moment, her voice steadier.

Kakashi's expression sharpened at her words. He immediately connected the dots. "Six? Looks like Zabuza had some help after all."

"Do you think his accomplice saved him?" Hinata asked hesitantly.

"Almost certainly," Kakashi replied. "Can you find any tracks? Anything they might have left behind?"

"They covered their tracks well. I can't see anything unusual."

"If they're good enough to escape a Hyūga's eyes, they're dangerous. We need to prepare for another confrontation. Zabuza Momochi won't stay hidden for long… and whoever helped him might be just as formidable."

Hinata nodded, her resolve hardening. "What should we do next, Kakashi sensei?"

"First, we report back. Team 7 and Team 8 need to know what we're up against." Kakashi glanced at her. "Good work, Hinata. You're sharper than you give yourself credit for."

Hinata's cheeks flushed again, but this time it was with quiet pride. "Thank you, Kakashi sensei."

As they turned to leave the dock, the faint sounds of the bustling market faded behind them. In Hinata's heart, Kakashi's words lingered, a small but steady light kindling within her.

---

Naruto and Tsunami walked through the narrow, crowded paths of the market. The air was thick with the stench of damp wood, sweat, and rotting produce. Makeshift stalls lined the muddy streets, many barely held together by rusted nails and fraying ropes. Vendors shouted over one another, their voices hoarse from long hours of desperation. A few stalls displayed sparse offerings: bruised fruits, stale bread, and watered down fish, while others sold odds and ends like chipped tools, faded fabrics, and cheap trinkets that had seen better days.

Malnourished children darted between the crowd, their thin frames barely visible in the sea of bodies. A man with hollow cheeks stood to the side holding a sign that read: Will do any job. His eyes were dull, resigned to his fate.

Naruto pulled his tattered cloak tighter around him, the pyromancer set blending in with the surrounding misery.

"You fit right in," Tsunami commented quietly, her voice tinged with something between humor and sadness.

Naruto's eyebrows twitched, but he kept silent as a few beggars gave him sympathetic looks.

Further ahead, Naruto spotted a group of kids crouched in a corner, sharing a single piece of stale bread. One of them, a girl no older than six, had her hand outstretched, asking for change from passersby. Naruto paused and knelt, fishing out the few coins he had.

"Here," he said, handing the coins to the girl.

She stared at him with wide, mistrusting eyes, then snatched the money and scurried away without a word.

Naruto stood, his expression unreadable. Money is better than candy, he thought bitterly. You can't eat kindness, and most people only see you as a nuisance anyway. Memories of being kicked out of the orphanage flashed through his mind.

Breaking the silence, Naruto glanced at Tsunami.

"Miss Tsunami... I hope it's alright to ask, but why does Inari believe so strongly that we are going to die because of Gato?"

Tsunami's grip on her shopping basket tightened. She looked away, her face clouded with pain. "It's personal," she said curtly. "I'd rather not talk about it."

Naruto nodded, sensing it wasn't a wound she wanted reopened.

---

It took two grueling hours to gather everything they needed. The market's meager supplies meant they had to visit nearly every stall, haggling over every ryo. Tsunami was relentless, arguing for better prices with an intensity Naruto hadn't expected.

Naruto, on the other hand, was regretting volunteering to help. His right arm, charred and stiff from its curse, was being used as an impromptu hanger for bags of rice and vegetables. Should've let Kiba do this.

As they stopped at a stall to inspect some wilted greens, Naruto's senses flared. Way of Focality revealed someone inching closer behind him. A pickpocket.

When the thief made his move, Naruto turned quickly and caught the man's wrist in an iron grip.

The would-be thief, a scrawny man with a bald head, a tattered blue shirt, and baggy pants looked up at him in panic. "L-Let go! I wasn't doing anything!"

"Sure, buddy."

"I-I was swatting a fly!" the man stammered, tugging at his arm. But Naruto's grip didn't budge.

The pressure increased, and with a sickening crack, the man's wrist gave way. He screamed, a blood curdling sound that silenced the entire shop.

Tsunami rushed over, alarmed. "What did you do?"

Naruto released the man, who cradled his broken wrist and whimpered on the floor. "He tried to pickpocket me," Naruto said simply, his voice even. "I only squeezed his hand a little."

"You call that a little?"

Before Naruto could reply, the commotion drew a group of men into the shop. Their presence changed the atmosphere immediately.

The leader, a burly man with a cleaver like sword strapped to his back, stormed in, flanked by two others. He had a scar running down the side of his face, and his clothes were stained with grime and oil.

"There he is," the leader growled, pointing at the pickpocket. "I told you he'd be here. Stupid bastard."

The pickpocket froze, terror written across his face. As the burly man and his lackeys approached, he scrambled to grab at Naruto's leg.

"Please!" he begged. "You're strong, right? Don't let them take me! They'll kill me! Please, I'll do anything!"

Naruto stared down at the man, conflicted.

"Oi, brat!" the leader barked. "This isn't your fight. Walk away before I decide to do something about you, too."

He unsheathed his cleaver, slamming it against the floor for effect. The blade chipped slightly at the impact, making Naruto's eyebrow twitch in irritation. What kind of idiot ruins his own sword like that?

"We don't want any trouble," Tsunami said quickly, grabbing Naruto's arm and trying to pull him away. "Let's go."

Naruto followed her reluctantly, but his gaze lingered on the pickpocket, who was now being dragged up by one of the lackeys.

The leader cracked his knuckles and sneered. "So, where's my money, huh? You thought you could just walk away from us?"

The pickpocket spat weakly, his face contorted in fear and defiance. "You bastards… you ruined my life. You and your stupid gambling rings. You took everything from me!"

The leader's sneer widened into a cold grin. "Cry me a river. No one forced you to gamble your life away. You came to us begging for money, remember?"

"I didn't have a choice!"

"Yeah?" The leader punched him hard in the gut, doubling him over. "And now you don't have a choice but to pay up. That's how this works, Haru. You want money, you take the risk. You lose, you pay the price."

The man fell to his knees, coughing and clutching his stomach. "You tricked me," he croaked. "You said I'd win. You said I'd be able to take care of my family. But you knew I'd lose… you knew…"

The leader crouched down, grabbing Haru by the chin and forcing him to look up. "Yeah, I knew. That's the game. You either play smart or you get crushed. Guess which one you are?"

Naruto's fists clenched at his sides. The sight of the man's broken, desperate figure burned in his mind.

"Come on, Naruto," Tsunami whispered, tugging his sleeve. "This isn't our fight."

The first precept… A knight's purpose is to serve… to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

The choice was made before he even realized it.

The gang leader raised his cleaver, ready to deliver a brutal blow, when suddenly a blur shot past his ear. His lackey, the one holding Haru down, was struck squarely in the chest by the blunt end of Naruto's club and sent sprawling into a pile of empty crates.

"What the hell?"

"Well," Naruto said, "since I don't want to kill anyone, this will have to do." He tapped the club against the floor.

The leader's confidence wavered for a moment. That speed… this kid's not normal. But he quickly forced himself to regain composure, his scowl deepening. "Why are you getting involved, brat? This doesn't concern you."

"Hmm… maybe it's because you're ugly?"

"Ugly?"

Naruto took a step forward, planting a light kick into the second lackey's side. The man flew out of the shop, crashing into a nearby stall.

"You little bastard!" The leader's face twisted in rage as he brandished his cleaver, his grip tight enough to make his knuckles turn white. "You're going to pay for that."

"What are you doing?" Naruto asked, his tone completely nonchalant.

"I'm teaching you a lesson, punk!" The leader adjusted his stance, preparing to charge.

"With that stance? You're completely unbalanced. Anyone could knock you over."

The leader faltered, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm saying," Naruto said, pointing at the man's feet, "you're standing like someone who's never held a sword properly in his life. Were you dropped on your head as a kid, or did you just teach yourself how to look stupid?"

"Why are you even telling me this?!"

"Because I don't want to feel bad for beating up an idiot," Naruto said, smirking.

With a roar, the leader lunged forward, swinging his cleaver wildly.

Naruto sidestepped with ease, ducking under the swing and closing the distance. In one fluid motion, he slammed the club against the man's exposed ribs, sending him sprawling to the ground.

"You really should've listened," Naruto said, his voice calm. He lifted the club and swung it down again, hitting the floor inches from the leader's face. The wood splintered under the force, and the leader froze in terror.

Naruto exhaled, looking around. The shopkeeper stared at him with wide, fearful eyes.

Naruto fished out some ryo from his pocket and placed them on the counter. "For the trouble."

"I don't want anything from you," the shopkeeper stammered, his voice trembling. "Just… leave. Please."

Naruto frowned but nodded, stepping outside where Tsunami was waiting.

The pickpocket was long gone, and the crowd had either scattered or busied themselves with helping the gang. Naruto's victory felt hollow as he walked away, his grip on the club tightening.

---

As Naruto and Tsunami walked back through the winding streets of the market, the air hung heavy between them. Naruto's gaze was distant, his expression unreadable.

"Are you upset because no one thanked you?"

"No. I wasn't doing it for praise. I did it because… it was the right thing to do."

There was such conviction in his tone that Tsunami felt a pang in her chest. It reminded her of someone she had loved and lost. She sighed, brushing at her eyes to catch a tear before it could fall. "Men and their ideals…" she murmured. "They'll cling to them, even if it means dying for them."

Naruto glanced at her, sensing a deeper meaning in her words.

"What's really bothering you, then?" Tsunami asked. "If you know you did the right thing, what's weighing on your mind?"

Naruto hesitated before answering, his voice tinged with frustration. "I don't understand. Why were they so scared? Why would they even try to help those thugs after what they did?"

Tsunami slowed her steps, letting out a long breath. "Do you want to hear a story, Naruto?"

Naruto nodded, his curiosity piqued by the somber tone in her voice.

"Kaiza… my husband… he wasn't born here. He was a traveling fisherman, looking for a fresh start. When he came to the Land of Waves, it was already struggling, but he saw hope. One day, Inari fell into the river, and Kaiza saved him. From that moment on, Inari adored him. Kaiza became his hero, his role model. He taught Inari so much about life. He always said, 'You have to protect the things you love with these two arms.'

Tsunami paused, her voice growing quieter. "When Gato came, everything changed. Kaiza tried to stand up to him. He thought he could protect this village, protect us. But Gato made an example of him."

Naruto stiffened, sensing where this story was heading.

"They dragged him into the town square," Tsunami continued, her voice trembling. "In front of everyone, they cut off his arms. Gato mocked him, saying he couldn't protect anything without them. And then… they executed him. Publicly. While Inari watched."

Naruto's heart sank.

Tsunami stopped walking and turned to face him. "You ask why they were scared, why they helped those thugs. It's because they've seen what happens when someone tries to fight back. They've watched their heroes fall, watched the people they look up to be crushed. They've been taught that resistance only leads to suffering. And now… now they believe it's better to stay quiet and survive than to risk everything and lose."

Naruto stayed silent, her words cutting deep.

"That's why no one thanked you," Tsunami said softly. "They don't see you as a hero. They see you as someone who might bring more trouble. And they're too scared to risk that."

"Should I have just stayed quiet?" Naruto asked, his voice unsteady, trembling like a rope about to snap. "Should I have let those guys make an example of him?"

Silence filled the air like it was holding a breath.

"Maybe it would've been better… for the majority."

"What? What do you mean?"

"What do you think is going to happen when Gato's men hear about what you did? When they find out a stranger stepped in and took down one of their gang leaders?"

Naruto opened his mouth to respond but found himself at a loss for words.

"They'll come looking for answers," she continued. "They'll come to the people who live here, the ones too weak, too scared, or too beaten down to resist. They'll demand names, details, anything that leads them to you. And when they don't get what they want…"

The older woman took a shaky breath. "They'll make an example out of someone else. Someone innocent. A farmer, a child, an old man just trying to survive. And then what? Will you be there to stop them every single time? Can you fight an entire system built to crush us?"

Naruto thought back to the pickpocket, begging him for help, to the look in his eyes as he fled into the chaos of the market.

"I… I thought…" Naruto struggled to find the words. "I thought I was helping. I didn't want to just stand there and let them hurt him."

"And you did help. You saved him in the moment. But the world doesn't work the way you think it does, Naruto. It doesn't end in a 'happily ever after' just because you beat the bad guy in front of you. Sometimes, the consequences of doing what's right for one person ripple out and hurt others. Sometimes, saving one person costs another their life."

"Then… then what should I have done? Just walked away? Pretended I didn't see it?"

Tsunami turned her back to him, her voice quieter now, tinged with exhaustion. "Sometimes, that's the only thing you can do. Not because it's right, but because it's what's necessary. Right now, the best thing you can do is protect my father, protect the bridge. That's how we take Gato's power away... not by fighting his men one by one, but by building something he can't control. When the bridge is finished, the power will shift back to the people. And when that happens, the gangs will lose their grip on the Land of Waves."

Naruto stood rooted in place, his heart hammering in his chest. He felt like the ground beneath him was crumbling, like the ideals he had clung to so fiercely were slipping through his fingers.

"But… if I just think about the majority, if I just let bad things happen to people… what does that make me?" His voice cracked. "What's the point of being a knight, of protecting people, if I have to choose who gets hurt?"

Tsunami didn't answer.

Naruto clenched his fists, the precepts of his code swirling in his mind, battling with the reality Tsunami had laid bare.

A knight serves to protect the helpless.

A knight's actions must be just.

A knight must not hesitate.

And yet…

Was it wrong for him to help a single person? Would it have been better to think only of the majority?

His breathing quickened, his chest heaving as the weight of doubt pressed down on him. He thought of Oscar, of Seigmeyer, of Solaire, of their unwavering faith in the knight's path. What would they do? What would they say to him now, when every action seemed to lead to pain for someone?

Tsunami began walking again, her steps steady, her back straight. She didn't look back at him.

Naruto stayed behind for a moment, staring at the ground. His resolve wavered, the cracks in his beliefs widening with every passing second.

"Miss Tsunami…" he called out weakly, but she didn't stop.

Her voice, quiet and distant, drifted back to him. "Keep walking, Naruto. You'll find your answer eventually."

And then she was gone, leaving him alone with his thoughts, the weight of his actions, and the uncertainty of what it truly meant to do the right thing. And what it means to be a knight?

---

That's it for now!

As always, I appreciate you all taking the time to read, comment, and just come along for the ride.
And if you can't wait for the next update, the next chapter drops on April 10th! You can read ahead to Chapter 84 on Patreon.

Thank you all for your support—you make writing this story such an incredible journey!

Until next time,
Adamo Amet