Naruto's Geass: Savior or Tyrant

The forest outside Konoha shimmered in the afternoon sun, leaves rustling in a gentle breeze. For most of the village, it was just another peaceful day. For Uzumaki Naruto, age twelve, it was the day everything would change.

Blood trickled down his cheek as he ran through the undergrowth, heart hammering against his ribs. Mizuki-sensei had tricked him. The Forbidden Scroll of Seals strapped to his back suddenly felt impossibly heavy.

"I'm dead," he whispered, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "When they catch me, I'm so dead."

The boy skidded to a halt in a small clearing, dropping to his knees. He needed to rest, just for a moment. His fingers dug into the dirt as frustrated tears threatened to spill.

"Why does everyone hate me?" he mumbled, voice cracking. "I just wanted to graduate... to be a real ninja..."

"Perhaps I can help with that."

Naruto jumped to his feet, kunai in hand, whirling toward the voice. There was no one there—just shadows between trees.

"Who's there? Show yourself!" he demanded, fighting to keep his voice steady.

Laughter echoed around him, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere.

"Just someone who understands what it's like to be hated for something beyond your control," the voice replied. It was strange—neither male nor female, young nor old. "Someone who sees your potential. What would you do, Naruto Uzumaki, if you had the power to make anyone obey you? Just once?"

The air before him shimmered, and a figure appeared—a silhouette outlined in pulsing crimson light, featureless except for a strange bird-like symbol where its left eye should be.

"That's not possible," Naruto whispered, taking a step back.

"Many things are possible in this world of chakra and jutsu. You of all people should know that." The figure drifted closer. "I've been watching you. Your determination. Your refusal to give up. Your dream to become Hokage. Tell me, what would you do with absolute power, even if just for a moment?"

Naruto hesitated. "I... I'd make people see me. Really see me. Not as a monster or a failure, but as... me."

The figure seemed to nod. "A worthy desire. Simple, yet profound." It raised a spectral hand. "I can give you that power, Naruto Uzumaki. The power of absolute command—Geass."

"Why would you help me?" Naruto asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.

"Let's just say I'm curious to see what you'll do with it. Will you use it for good? For revenge? Will it corrupt you, as power often does? Or will you rise above?"

Before Naruto could respond, the figure lunged forward, its hand passing through his left eye. Searing pain erupted, and Naruto screamed, clutching at his face as he fell to his knees. It felt like molten metal was being poured directly into his eye socket, burning down into his very soul.

"The power of kings will condemn you to a life of solitude," the figure whispered, already fading. "Are you prepared for such a fate?"

When Naruto opened his eyes again, he was alone in the clearing. The pain had vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. He blinked, rubbing at his left eye. It felt... different. Charged somehow.

"Was that real?" he muttered, looking around. "Or am I going crazy now too?"

A twig snapped nearby.

"NARUTO!" Iruka-sensei's voice rang out. "I've found you!"

The chūnin instructor burst into the clearing, his face a mask of concern and anger. "What were you thinking, stealing the Forbidden Scroll? Do you have any idea—"

"Iruka-sensei," Naruto interrupted, getting to his feet. Something told him to try it—to see if that strange encounter had been real. "I want you to tell me the truth about what's sealed inside me."

As he spoke, Naruto felt a strange sensation in his left eye—a surge of chakra, a fluttering like wings beating against the inside of his skull. The pupil transformed, expanding into a glowing red sigil in the shape of a bird in flight.

Iruka froze mid-step, his eyes going wide, then glazing over with a faint red ring around the iris. His expression went slack.

"The Nine-Tailed Fox," he said, voice monotone. "Twelve years ago, when the Fourth Hokage couldn't kill the demon fox, he sealed it inside a newborn baby. You, Naruto. You are the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox."

Naruto staggered back as if struck. "I'm... the Nine-Tails?"

"No," Iruka said, still in that same empty voice. "You are its jailer, not the fox itself. The village elders ordered everyone to never speak of it, to protect you from our enemies and from the truth itself."

Naruto's heart was pounding so hard he thought it might burst. The power was real. And so was the truth he'd just learned.

Before he could process this revelation, another voice cut through the clearing.

"There you are, you little monster!" Mizuki landed on a tree branch above them, twin giant shuriken strapped to his back. "Iruka, step aside. The demon brat is mine."

Iruka blinked rapidly, the red ring fading from his eyes. He looked confused for a moment, as if waking from a dream, before whirling to face Mizuki.

"Mizuki! What are you doing? Naruto is just a child!"

"A child?" Mizuki laughed. "That thing is the Nine-Tailed Fox! The demon that killed your parents, Iruka! It killed my brother! And now I'm going to kill it and be hailed as a hero!"

Naruto's mind raced. Mizuki didn't know that Iruka had just told him everything. But now, with this new power... He could make Mizuki do anything. He could command him to leave them alone, to turn himself in.

He could make him pay for using him.

As Mizuki reached for one of his giant shuriken, Naruto stepped forward. "Mizuki-sensei," he called out, feeling the strange power surge in his eye again. "I want you to tell everyone in the village how you tricked me!"

The sigil flared in his left eye, and Mizuki froze, a red ring appearing around his pupils. Without a word, he turned and leapt away through the trees, heading straight back toward the village center.

"Naruto!" Iruka called out, confused. "What just happened? Mizuki, he—"

"I don't know," Naruto lied, the sigil already faded from his eye. "Maybe he chickened out?"

But deep down, Naruto knew. Something fundamental had changed. He had a power now—a power that could make anyone do anything, just once. A power that could change everything.

The question was: what would he do with it?

Three days after the incident in the forest, Naruto sat on his apartment rooftop, watching the sun rise over Konoha. His headband—proof that he was finally, officially a ninja—gleamed in the early morning light.

Mizuki was in prison now. True to Naruto's command, he had marched straight into the Hokage Tower and confessed everything—how he had manipulated Naruto into stealing the scroll, how he had planned to kill the boy and take the forbidden techniques for himself, even his connection to a mysterious figure named Orochimaru. The entire village was buzzing with the news.

Naruto touched his left eye gently. He had spent hours staring at it in the mirror, trying to activate the strange power at will. Sometimes it worked; sometimes it didn't. He'd discovered that the power—Geass, the spectral figure had called it—required eye contact and a clear verbal command. After using it on someone, it wouldn't work on them again.

A one-time absolute command. It was simultaneously limitless and severely limited.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" he murmured to the rising sun.

"Talking to yourself is the first sign of madness, you know."

Naruto nearly jumped out of his skin. He whirled around to find Kakashi-sensei lounging against the stairwell entrance, orange book in hand.

"Kakashi-sensei! How long have you been there?" Naruto demanded, heart racing.

"Long enough," the jōnin replied casually, not looking up from his book. "You should be more aware of your surroundings. A ninja who gets surprised is often a dead ninja."

Naruto scowled. "I was thinking."

"Dangerous hobby." Kakashi finally closed his book, fixing Naruto with his one visible eye. "Team assignments are today. You don't want to be late for your first day as a genin, do you?"

"No, I guess not." Naruto got to his feet, dusting off his orange jumpsuit. "I'm ready to be the best ninja ever! Believe it!"

Kakashi's eye crinkled in what might have been a smile beneath his mask. "We'll see. Just remember, Naruto... in the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum."

With those enigmatic words, the jōnin disappeared in a swirl of leaves, leaving Naruto alone again.

"What was that about?" Naruto muttered, scratching his head. Then he glanced at the position of the sun and yelped. "Crap! I'm gonna be late!"

He scrambled down the fire escape and raced through the streets of Konoha, a blur of orange and blond. As he ran, villagers turned to stare—some with the same cold eyes he'd always known, but others with confusion or even curiosity. News of Mizuki's confession had clearly spread.

By the time he burst into the classroom at the Academy, most of the graduates were already seated. Iruka stood at the front with a clipboard, looking up as Naruto crashed through the door.

"Cutting it close, Naruto," Iruka said with a small smile. "Take a seat."

Naruto grinned sheepishly and scanned the room. Most seats were taken, except for...

"You have got to be kidding me," he groaned. The only open spot was next to Uchiha Sasuke, the class prodigy and Naruto's self-declared rival.

As Naruto slid reluctantly into the seat, Sasuke didn't even acknowledge his existence, staring straight ahead with that perpetual scowl on his face.

"Don't get too comfortable, jerk," Naruto muttered. "I'm still gonna beat you and become Hokage."

Sasuke's lip curled slightly. "In your dreams, dead-last."

Before Naruto could retort, a commotion at the door drew everyone's attention. Yamanaka Ino and Haruno Sakura—the two biggest Sasuke fangirls in the class—had arrived simultaneously and were now stuck in the doorway, each trying to shove past the other.

"I was here first, Billboard Brow!" Ino hissed.

"In your dreams, Ino-pig!" Sakura shot back.

They finally squeezed through together, then raced toward the empty seat on Sasuke's other side. Sakura reached it first, shoving Ino aside with a triumphant smirk.

"Good morning, Sasuke-kun," she said sweetly, batting her eyelashes. "Mind if I sit here?"

Sasuke didn't reply, continuing to stare straight ahead as if she didn't exist.

Naruto felt a stab of irritation. He'd had a crush on Sakura forever, but she never even looked at him. It was always "Sasuke-kun" this and "Sasuke-kun" that. What did the Uchiha have that he didn't?

Well, aside from top grades, cool jutsu, good looks, and the respect of the entire village.

An idea struck Naruto. A terrible, wonderful idea. He had this power now—the power to make anyone do anything, just once. What if...?

He quickly squashed the thought. No. Whatever this power was, he couldn't use it for something so petty. It would be wrong.

Wouldn't it?

"Attention, everyone!" Iruka called out, silencing the chatter. "Today you take your first steps as shinobi of Konohagakure. I'm proud of each and every one of you." His eyes lingered on Naruto for a moment, and Naruto felt a warm glow in his chest. "You will be divided into three-person teams, each led by a jōnin instructor."

As Iruka began reading off the teams, Naruto bounced his leg anxiously. Who would he be paired with? Please, not Sasuke. Anyone but Sasuke.

"Team Seven," Iruka continued. "Haruno Sakura, Uzumaki Naruto—"

"YES!" Naruto jumped up, pumping his fist.

"—and Uchiha Sasuke."

"YES!" It was Sakura's turn to celebrate while Naruto slumped back into his seat with a groan.

"Your jōnin instructor will be Hatake Kakashi."

Naruto perked up slightly. At least it was the same guy from this morning. Maybe he wouldn't be so bad.

As Iruka finished announcing the teams, he reminded them to return after lunch to meet their instructors. Then he dismissed them, and the new genin filed out excitedly, already forming their new teams.

Naruto tried to approach Sakura. "Hey, Sakura-chan! Want to get lunch together? You know, since we're on the same team now and all..."

Sakura barely glanced at him. "No way. I'm going to find Sasuke-kun." She hurried off, leaving Naruto standing alone.

He sighed, shoulders slumping. Some things never changed. He was about to head to Ichiraku Ramen by himself when he spotted Sasuke slipping away, hands in his pockets. On impulse, Naruto decided to follow him. Maybe he could figure out what made the Uchiha so special.

Sasuke led him to a secluded training ground, where he pulled out a bento box and sat down to eat alone. Naruto watched from behind a tree, his stomach rumbling. In his rush this morning, he'd forgotten to eat breakfast.

Suddenly, an idea formed. A reckless, potentially disastrous idea. But if it worked...

Naruto stepped out from behind the tree. "Hey, Sasuke!"

The Uchiha looked up, annoyance flashing across his face. "What do you want, loser?"

"I want to make a deal," Naruto said, approaching slowly. "We're stuck on the same team now, right? So we should try to get along."

Sasuke scoffed. "I don't need to get along with you. Just stay out of my way, and we'll be fine."

"Yeah? Well, what if I told you I could help you with your goal?" Naruto said, stopping a few feet away. "You know, the whole 'avenger' thing."

That got Sasuke's attention. His eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about? How could you possibly help me kill Itachi?"

Naruto felt a surge of chakra in his left eye. It was now or never. "Look at me, Sasuke."

Maybe it was the unusual seriousness in Naruto's voice, but Sasuke did look up, making direct eye contact. Naruto felt the Geass activate, the sigil blooming in his pupil.

"I want you to tell me exactly what happened the night your clan was massacred," Naruto commanded.

The red ring appeared around Sasuke's eyes, and his face went slack. Without emotion, he began to speak, detailing the horrific night when his older brother, Itachi, had slaughtered their entire clan, forced Sasuke to watch it all through a genjutsu, and told him to foster his hatred if he ever wanted revenge.

As Sasuke spoke, Naruto felt a growing horror. He had known Sasuke's clan was dead, but not like this. Not at his own brother's hands.

When Sasuke finally fell silent, the red ring fading from his eyes, he seemed momentarily disoriented. Then his gaze sharpened on Naruto.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he demanded.

Naruto realized he was staring, open-mouthed. He quickly composed himself. "Like what? I just asked if I could have some of your lunch. I forgot mine."

Sasuke frowned, clearly suspicious, but he couldn't remember telling Naruto anything. After a moment, he grudgingly pushed the bento box toward Naruto.

"Take some. I don't need a teammate collapsing from hunger."

Naruto blinked in surprise. Had his plan worked? Was Sasuke actually being... almost nice?

"Thanks," he said, taking a rice ball. "So, uh, what do you think about Sakura?"

Sasuke shrugged. "She's annoying. All those girls are. They care more about their hair than training."

Naruto hesitated, then decided to push his luck. "If she's so annoying, why not tell her to back off?"

"Because it doesn't matter," Sasuke said flatly. "None of it matters except getting stronger. I have a goal. I need to kill a certain man. Everything else is a distraction."

Naruto chewed thoughtfully. So that was it. Sasuke wasn't actually stuck-up—or at least, not just stuck-up. He was consumed by revenge. Naruto thought back to the story he'd just heard. Could you really blame him?

"What if there's more to being a ninja than just getting stronger?" Naruto suggested. "What about protecting people? Making friends? Having fun sometimes?"

Sasuke gave him a look that suggested Naruto had grown a second head. "Is that why you want to be a ninja? To 'have fun'?"

"No!" Naruto protested. "I want to be Hokage! I want the whole village to acknowledge me, to respect me!"

"Then you should understand," Sasuke said. "We both have goals that require strength. The difference is, mine isn't some childish fantasy."

Naruto bristled. "Hey! I'm gonna be Hokage someday! Believe it!"

Sasuke just shook his head and stood up. "We should head back. It's almost time to meet our jōnin instructor."

As they walked back to the Academy, Naruto found himself deep in thought. He had used the Geass twice now—once on Iruka to learn the truth about the Nine-Tails, and once on Sasuke to understand his motivations. Both times, it had given him insights he might never have gained otherwise.

But was he using this power correctly? The mysterious figure had seemed to challenge him, wondering if the power would corrupt him. Using it to satisfy his curiosity... was that right?

When they returned to the classroom, most of the other teams had already left with their instructors. Only Team Seven remained, waiting for Kakashi.

And waiting.

And waiting.

"Where is he?" Sakura fumed, pacing back and forth. "Everyone else is gone!"

Naruto, bored out of his mind, decided to set up a simple prank—a chalkboard eraser wedged in the door, ready to fall on their tardy sensei's head.

"He's a jōnin," Sasuke scoffed from his seat. "He's not going to fall for such a stupid trap."

But to everyone's surprise, when Kakashi finally slid the door open three hours late, the eraser dropped perfectly onto his spiky silver hair, sending up a puff of chalk dust.

"Hmm," Kakashi said, picking up the eraser as the dust settled. "My first impression of you all... I hate you."

The three genin exchanged glances.

"Meet me on the roof in five minutes," Kakashi continued, then disappeared in another swirl of leaves.

On the rooftop, Kakashi had them introduce themselves—their likes, dislikes, hobbies, and dreams for the future. Sakura mostly gushed about Sasuke, Sasuke declared his ambition to kill "a certain man," and Naruto proudly announced his intention to become Hokage.

Then Kakashi dropped the bomb: there would be another test tomorrow, with a 66% failure rate. Only nine of the graduates would actually become genin.

"Bring all your ninja tools and skip breakfast," Kakashi advised cheerfully. "You might throw up." With that ominous warning, he disappeared again.

"Another test?" Sakura sounded worried. "But we already passed the graduation exam!"

"It doesn't matter," Sasuke said, already heading for the stairs. "I'll pass whatever test he gives."

Naruto watched him go, then turned to Sakura. "Hey, Sakura-chan, want to train together tonight? You know, to prepare for tomorrow?"

She hesitated, looking torn between her usual impulse to brush him off and the practical advantages of training together. "I guess that would make sense," she admitted reluctantly. "As a team."

Naruto's heart soared. "Great! Let's go find Sasuke too!"

By the time they tracked down the Uchiha, the sun was already setting. He was at a training ground, hurling kunai at targets with deadly precision.

"What do you want?" he asked without turning around.

"We're a team now," Naruto said firmly. "We should train together for Kakashi-sensei's test tomorrow."

Sasuke paused, then turned to face them. "The test is designed so only three teams can pass. That means it has to be challenging enough to eliminate two-thirds of the graduates. We need to be prepared for anything."

"Exactly!" Sakura nodded eagerly. "And three heads are better than one, right?"

Sasuke looked from her to Naruto, then sighed. "Fine. But no holding me back."

They trained together until well after dark, sharing techniques and strategies. To Naruto's surprise, once they got past Sasuke's initial reluctance and Sakura's fawning, they worked reasonably well together. Sasuke was undeniably skilled, Sakura had perfect chakra control and encyclopedic knowledge from the Academy, and Naruto had stamina for days and unorthodox thinking.

As they finally parted ways for the night, Naruto felt a spark of something he hadn't felt in a long time—hope. Not just for passing tomorrow's test, but for actually having a team. Maybe even friends.

The next morning, despite Kakashi's warning, Naruto ate breakfast. No way was he facing whatever came on an empty stomach. When he arrived at Training Ground Three, he found Sasuke and Sakura already waiting. To his surprise, Sasuke was handing Sakura an onigiri.

"Sensei said not to eat," she protested weakly.

"A hungry ninja is a weak ninja," Sasuke replied simply. "Eat."

Naruto grinned. "I had breakfast too! Kakashi-sensei's just trying to mess with us."

When Kakashi finally showed up, three hours late again, he explained the test: they had until noon to take two bells from him. Whoever didn't get a bell would be sent back to the Academy.

"But there are only two bells," Sakura pointed out.

"Very observant," Kakashi eye-smiled. "That means at least one of you will definitely fail." He set a timer. "Begin!"

The three genin immediately scattered, hiding in the surrounding trees and bushes. All except Naruto, who stood his ground.

"You and me, right now, fair and square!" he challenged.

Kakashi looked unimpressed. He pulled out his orange book and began reading. "You know, compared to the others, you're a bit... odd."

"The only thing odd is your haircut!" Naruto charged forward, only to find himself flipped over Kakashi's shoulder without the jōnin even looking up from his book.

After several futile attempts, Naruto found himself hanging upside down from a tree, caught in a simple trap. As Kakashi lectured him about thinking before charging in, Sasuke launched a surprise attack, nearly grabbing a bell before Kakashi substituted away.

From his undignified position, Naruto had a revelation. If the Geass worked on Kakashi, he could just command him to give up the bells. But that seemed like cheating. And besides, who would he give the bells to? Sasuke and Sakura, while he went back to the Academy?

No, there had to be another way.

After freeing himself, Naruto created a swarm of shadow clones to distract Kakashi while he searched for his teammates. He found Sakura first, caught in a genjutsu that showed her Sasuke dying. After snapping her out of it, he proposed a radical idea.

"We need to work together—all three of us."

"But there are only two bells," Sakura protested.

"I think that's the point," Naruto said slowly, the pieces falling into place. "Kakashi-sensei is a jōnin. None of us can take him alone. But together..."

They found Sasuke half-buried in the ground, victim of Kakashi's Earth-Style Headhunter Jutsu. After digging him out (and Sakura stifling her giggles), Naruto explained his theory.

"So you're saying the real test is teamwork?" Sasuke frowned.

"It makes sense," Sakura admitted. "Why else put us in three-person teams in the first place?"

Sasuke looked skeptical but nodded. "Fine. What's the plan?"

Together, they coordinated a multi-pronged attack that played to their strengths: Sasuke's fire jutsu, Sakura's precision with ninja tools, and Naruto's shadow clones. They didn't manage to get the bells, but they did accomplish something perhaps more impressive—they forced Kakashi to put away his book.

Just as the timer rang, signaling noon and the end of the test, Naruto was struck by a desperate idea. With Kakashi distracted by Sasuke's fireball, Naruto made eye contact.

"Give us another chance!" he shouted, feeling the Geass activate in his eye.

The red ring appeared around Kakashi's visible eye. "You pass," he said flatly. "All of you."

Then he blinked, the ring fading away. He looked momentarily confused before his posture relaxed.

"Well, well," he said, sounding genuinely impressed. "It seems you three have figured out the purpose of this exercise without me having to spell it out for you."

"Teamwork," Sakura said proudly.

"Precisely." Kakashi nodded. "In the ninja world, teamwork is essential. Those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum." He gestured to the memorial stone nearby. "This stone bears the names of Konoha's heroes—those who died in service to the village. Many of them were my friends."

The three genin sobered at this revelation.

"You're the first team that's understood the importance of working together from the start," Kakashi continued. "So yes, you pass. Starting tomorrow, Team Seven begins its duties!"

As they celebrated, Naruto felt a strange mix of emotions. He was thrilled they had passed—but had they really? Or had his Geass command changed the outcome? Had he cheated them all?

He looked at Sasuke and Sakura, both showing rare smiles. No, he decided. They had worked together. They had shown real teamwork. Kakashi would have passed them anyway.

The Geass had just... helped things along. Right?

As they left the training ground, Naruto lagged behind, lost in thought. His new power was proving more complex than he had anticipated. When was it right to use it? When was it wrong?

And what would happen if anyone ever found out?

Team Seven's first month as genin was filled with D-rank missions—glorified chores like weeding gardens, finding lost pets, and picking up litter. After their twentieth escort mission returning a minor noble's spoiled child safely to his estate just outside the village, Naruto had reached his breaking point.

"NO MORE!" he shouted, bursting into the Hokage's office. "No more stupid D-rank missions! We're ninja! We should be doing real ninja stuff!"

Behind him, Sakura looked mortified, Sasuke seemed vaguely approving, and Kakashi sighed deeply.

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, puffed on his pipe and regarded Naruto with amusement. "Naruto, do you understand how the mission ranking system works? Genin start with D-rank missions, then gradually—"

"I don't care about that!" Naruto interrupted. "We're ready for something more challenging! Right, guys?"

To his surprise, both Sasuke and Sakura nodded in agreement.

"The dead-last is right for once," Sasuke said. "These missions are a waste of our time. We need real combat experience."

"We've been training really hard, Hokage-sama," Sakura added more politely. "I think we could handle a C-rank mission."

The Hokage looked to Kakashi, who shrugged. "They're not wrong. Their teamwork has improved significantly, and their individual skills are developing well. A simple C-rank might be good experience."

The Hokage puffed on his pipe thoughtfully, then nodded. "Very well. I happen to have a C-rank escort mission available." He gestured to his assistant. "Send in the bridge builder."

The door opened to reveal an old man with a gray beard and glasses, clutching a bottle of sake. He took a swig and squinted at Team Seven.

"These are the ninja who are supposed to protect me? They're just a bunch of snot-nosed kids." His bloodshot eyes fixed on Naruto. "Especially the short one with the stupid face."

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SHORT AND STUPID?!" Naruto lunged forward, only to be held back by Kakashi.

"I assure you, Tazuna-san, my team is more than capable of escorting you safely to the Land of Waves," Kakashi said smoothly. "And I am a jōnin who will be accompanying you as well."

Tazuna didn't look convinced but took another swig of sake. "Fine. I'm a master bridge builder, and I need to get home to finish my bridge. It's super important—it will change the Land of Waves forever!"

"We'll meet at the village gate tomorrow morning at seven," Kakashi instructed. "Pack for a two-week mission."

As they left the Hokage Tower, Naruto could barely contain his excitement. "Our first real mission! This is going to be awesome!"

Sakura looked less certain. "It's just an escort mission. We're basically glorified bodyguards."

"Still better than chasing that demon cat again," Sasuke muttered, absently rubbing a scratch on his arm from their last encounter with the daimyō's wife's notorious pet.

The next morning, Team Seven assembled at the gate—Sasuke cool and collected with a perfectly packed bag, Sakura nervously double-checking her supplies, and Naruto practically bouncing with an overstuffed backpack. Tazuna stood off to the side, looking slightly less drunk than the day before.

Kakashi, surprising everyone, actually arrived on time. "Alright, team. Our mission is simple: escort Tazuna-san safely to the Land of Waves and protect him until his bridge is complete. The Land of Waves is an island nation with no ninja village of its own, so we shouldn't encounter any enemy shinobi—just maybe some bandits or highway robbers."

"Bandits? Robbers? Are you sure we'll be safe?" Tazuna asked nervously.

"Don't worry," Kakashi reassured him. "This is a standard C-rank mission. We're more than prepared for any trouble we might face."

As they set out, Naruto took point, eager to be the first one out of the village on his first real mission. The day was clear and bright, the road well-maintained. Nothing seemed amiss.

Until they passed a puddle on the road.

It hadn't rained in weeks.

Naruto almost mentioned it, but Kakashi caught his eye and gave a tiny shake of his head. Message received, Naruto kept walking, now on high alert.

They had barely gone ten paces past the puddle when two figures erupted from it—ninja wrapped in cloaks with large metal gauntlets connected by a serrated chain. In a flash, they wrapped the chain around Kakashi and pulled.

"One down," one of the ninja growled as Kakashi's body seemed to tear apart.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura screamed.

"Protect Tazuna!" Sasuke shouted, already moving. He leapt into the air, hurling a shuriken that pinned the chain to a tree. A kunai followed, securing it in place.

The two attackers detached the chain and split up—one heading straight for Tazuna, the other for Naruto.

Time seemed to slow down for Naruto. The attacking ninja was coming at him with that vicious metal gauntlet, poisoned claws extended. Without thinking, Naruto made direct eye contact.

"Stop!" he commanded, feeling the familiar surge in his left eye.

The Demon Brother froze mid-stride, the red ring appearing around his pupils. His partner, not affected by the Geass, continued toward Tazuna. Sakura planted herself in front of the bridge builder, kunai raised, but her hands were shaking.

In a blur of movement, Sasuke intercepted the second attacker, engaging him in hand-to-hand combat. Despite his skill, Sasuke was clearly outmatched in raw strength. The enemy ninja's claws scraped his arm, drawing blood.

"Sasuke!" Naruto called out, torn between helping his teammate and maintaining his position guarding Tazuna alongside Sakura.

Suddenly, Kakashi reappeared, efficiently subduing the second attacker with a chokehold. The ninja struggled briefly before going limp. Only then did Naruto realize that what he'd seen "killed" had been a substitution jutsu.

"Sorry for not helping right away," Kakashi said casually. "I wanted to see who they were targeting." His eye shifted to Naruto's immobilized opponent. "Though it seems you had things well in hand."

Naruto quickly deactivated his Geass, and the Demon Brother collapsed to his knees, disoriented. Before he could recover, Kakashi was behind him, binding his wrists.

"The Demon Brothers of the Hidden Mist," Kakashi identified them, tying both attackers to a tree. "Chūnin-level missing-nin. Care to explain why they're after you, Tazuna-san? This isn't a standard C-rank mission anymore."

Tazuna's face fell, guilt written clearly across his features. "I... I couldn't afford a higher-ranked mission. My country is poor. We've been bled dry by a man named Gatō."

"The shipping magnate?" Sakura asked, surprised.

"The same," Tazuna nodded grimly. "He came to the Land of Waves and took over our shipping routes through violence and corruption. Now he controls everything—our economy, our trade, even our government. My bridge is the only hope for breaking his stranglehold on our island. That's why he wants me dead."

"This mission is at least B-rank, possibly A-rank if Gatō has hired more ninja," Kakashi said seriously. "It's far beyond the scope of what genin should be handling. We should return to the village."

"No way!" Naruto protested immediately. "We can't abandon Tazuna-san now! His whole country is counting on him!"

"This isn't a game, Naruto," Kakashi's voice was stern. "The next ninja Gatō sends might be jōnin-level."

"I'm not afraid!" Naruto declared. "This is what being a ninja is all about—protecting people who need our help! Right, guys?"

Sasuke stepped forward, examining the scratch on his arm with detached interest. "I agree with the idiot, for once. Turning back now would be pathetic."

Sakura looked uncertain, but after glancing between Sasuke and Naruto, she nodded. "We've already committed to this mission. We should see it through."

Kakashi sighed, looking at his determined team. "Tazuna-san, you understand that by concealing the truth, you put my team at serious risk."

Tazuna bowed his head. "I am deeply sorry. But please... my grandson will cry if his grandfather dies. And my daughter will forever hold Konoha responsible."

"Low blow, old man," Kakashi muttered. After a moment's consideration, he relented. "Fine. We'll continue the mission. But from now on, no more secrets."

As they resumed their journey, Naruto fell into step beside Sasuke. "Hey, you okay? That ninja got you pretty good."

Sasuke flexed his injured arm. "It's nothing. I've had worse." He glanced at Naruto with narrowed eyes. "What did you do to that ninja? The one that froze up?"

Naruto's heart skipped a beat. Had Sasuke noticed the Geass? "I, uh... I think he was just surprised that I stood my ground instead of running away."

Sasuke didn't look convinced, but before he could press further, Kakashi called them to attention. "We'll be taking a boat across to the Land of Waves soon. Stay alert."

The boat crossing was tense and silent, hidden by a thick mist. As they approached the coast, the massive silhouette of an unfinished bridge loomed overhead.

"Wow," Naruto whispered, genuinely impressed. "That's some bridge."

"It's our nation's hope," Tazuna said proudly. "Once it connects us to the mainland, Gatō's shipping monopoly will be broken."

After disembarking, they continued through a dense forest. Naruto, still riding the adrenaline rush from their earlier encounter, threw a kunai at every suspicious rustle. When one such throw revealed nothing more dangerous than a terrified white rabbit, Sakura berated him—but Kakashi's attention was caught by the rabbit's snow-white fur.

"A snow rabbit with white fur in spring?" he muttered. "It must have been raised indoors, away from sunlight. A substitution target."

"GET DOWN!" Kakashi suddenly shouted, tackling Tazuna as a massive blade whirled through the air where their heads had been moments before. The sword embedded itself in a tree, and a figure landed gracefully on its handle—a tall, muscular man with bandages covering the lower half of his face and a slashed Hidden Mist headband.

"Well, well," the newcomer drawled. "No wonder the Demon Brothers failed. Copy Ninja Kakashi Hatake."

"Zabuza Momochi," Kakashi identified him, "Demon of the Hidden Mist. Rogue jōnin and master of the silent killing technique." He reached for his headband, which had been covering his left eye. "I never thought I'd need to use this so soon, but I guess I have no choice."

As Kakashi lifted his headband, Naruto gasped. Where a normal eye should have been was a red eye with three black tomoe swirling around the pupil.

"The Sharingan!" Sasuke exclaimed, shock evident in his voice. "How do you have that? It's an Uchiha bloodline!"

"Protect Tazuna," Kakashi ordered, ignoring the question. "This one is on a different level from the Demon Brothers. I'll handle him."

Thick mist began to roll in as Zabuza performed a series of hand signs. "Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu."

The mist thickened until visibility was reduced to mere inches. Killing intent saturated the air, so heavy that Naruto felt like he could barely breathe. Beside him, he saw Sasuke trembling, the tip of his kunai inching toward his own chest.

"Sasuke," Kakashi called out, his voice steady and reassuring. "Don't worry. I will protect you all with my life. I won't allow my comrades to die."

Sasuke seemed to steady at these words, but the moment of calm was shattered when Zabuza appeared in the middle of their defensive formation, right next to Tazuna.

"Too late," the Demon of the Mist growled, his massive sword already swinging.

Kakashi moved with incredible speed, driving a kunai into Zabuza's side—only for the attacker to dissolve into water. A water clone.

The real Zabuza appeared behind Kakashi, cutting him in half—but Kakashi too burst into water.

"A copy of my Water Clone Jutsu," Zabuza observed as Kakashi reappeared, pressing a kunai to his throat. "With that eye, you can see through all my techniques."

"It's over," Kakashi declared.

But Zabuza chuckled. "You think so?" Another Zabuza materialized behind Kakashi, revealing the one at knifepoint to be yet another clone.

The real Zabuza's sword swept through Kakashi, who dissolved into water again. Before Kakashi could counter, Zabuza kicked him hard, sending him flying into the nearby lake. As Kakashi surfaced, Zabuza appeared above him, flashing through hand signs.

"Water Prison Jutsu!"

A sphere of water encased Kakashi, with Zabuza keeping one arm inside to maintain it. "Now I'll finish off your little friends, then the bridge builder," he taunted, creating another water clone to attack the genin.

Naruto froze in terror as the clone approached, radiating killing intent. This was a real jōnin—leagues beyond anything they had faced. When the clone kicked him, sending his headband flying, Naruto could only scamper backward in fear.

"Run!" Kakashi shouted from his watery prison. "His water clone can't go far from his real body. Take Tazuna and escape!"

Naruto was about to turn and flee when his gaze fell on his headband, now under the water clone's foot. The symbol of Konoha—of his promise to become Hokage. A rush of shame flooded through him.

What was he doing? This wasn't who he wanted to be. He had the power to make anyone do anything, but what good was it if he was too scared to use it when it really mattered?

With newfound determination, Naruto charged forward, ignoring Sakura's cry of alarm. The water clone backhanded him easily, sending him tumbling, but Naruto had achieved what he wanted—retrieving his headband.

As he tied it back on, he locked eyes with Sasuke. "I have a plan," he said, wiping blood from his chin. "But I need your help."

To his surprise, Sasuke smirked. "About time you got serious."

While Sasuke engaged the water clone directly, Naruto created a swarm of shadow clones as a distraction. Under their cover, he transformed one clone into a large shuriken, which he passed to Sasuke.

Sasuke immediately understood. He leapt back from the water clone and hurled the "Demon Wind Shuriken" past it, aiming for the real Zabuza.

"A shuriken won't work on me," Zabuza scoffed, catching it one-handed—only to see a second shuriken in its shadow.

But the second was just a distraction too. As Zabuza jumped over it, the shuriken transformed back into Naruto, who hurled a kunai directly at Zabuza's arm in the water prison.

Faced with the choice of releasing Kakashi or taking a kunai through the arm, Zabuza chose the former, removing his arm from the prison just in time. Furious, he whirled the shuriken he had caught, ready to hurl it at Naruto—but Kakashi, now free, blocked it with the metal plate on his glove.

"Excellent teamwork, Naruto, Sasuke," Kakashi said, water streaming from his sodden uniform. "But leave the rest to me."

What followed was a water jutsu duel of massive proportions, with Kakashi using his Sharingan to copy Zabuza's techniques and even predict his hand signs. Finally, with Zabuza backed against a tree, Kakashi prepared for a finishing blow—

Only for senbon needles to suddenly pierce Zabuza's neck. A masked figure appeared in a nearby tree.

"Thank you for your assistance," the newcomer said. "I've been tracking Zabuza for weeks. As a Hunter-nin from the Hidden Mist, it is my duty to dispose of his body."

Kakashi checked Zabuza's pulse and confirmed he was dead. The Hunter-nin collected the body and disappeared in a swirl of wind and leaves.

"Well, that was convenient," Kakashi said, pulling his headband back down over his Sharingan. Then, without warning, he collapsed.

"Kakashi-sensei!" all three genin cried out simultaneously.

"I'll be fine," Kakashi assured them weakly. "Just chakra exhaustion from using the Sharingan too long. I just need... rest..."

Naruto and Sasuke carried their unconscious sensei the rest of the way to Tazuna's house, where they were greeted by his daughter, Tsunami. As they settled Kakashi into a futon, Naruto found himself reflecting on the fight with Zabuza.

He could have used the Geass—on Zabuza, on the Hunter-nin, even on Kakashi to make him fight better. But he hadn't. In the heat of the moment, he had relied on his own skills and teamwork instead.

Was that the right choice? Or was he squandering a gift that could save lives?

As he looked at his sleeping sensei and tired teammates, Naruto wondered: When was the right time to use absolute power? And could he trust himself to know the difference?

Kakashi awoke the next morning, weak but alert. As Team Seven gathered around his futon for a debriefing, he dropped a bombshell.

"Zabuza is most likely still alive."

"WHAT?!" Naruto and Sakura exclaimed in unison. Even Sasuke looked shocked.

"Hunter-nin dispose of bodies on the spot," Kakashi explained. "They don't carry them away. And those senbon needles struck pressure points that could induce a death-like state. That so-called Hunter-nin was an accomplice."

"So you're saying that masked kid saved him?" Naruto asked.

"Precisely. And given Zabuza's condition, we have about a week before he recovers enough to come after us again." Kakashi struggled to sit up. "Which means we have one week to prepare."

"What can we possibly learn in a week that would help against someone like him?" Sakura asked, her voice small.

Kakashi eye-smiled. "You'd be surprised. Today, we're going to climb some trees."

The training turned out to be more challenging than it sounded—climbing trees without using hands, only chakra focused on the soles of their feet. Sakura mastered it almost immediately, demonstrating her excellent chakra control. Sasuke and Naruto struggled, though for different reasons—Sasuke used too much chakra, while Naruto used too little.

As evening approached, both boys were still at it, covered in scratches and bruises from repeated falls. Sakura had gone back to guard Tazuna at the bridge, leaving them to their competitive training.

"Hey, Sasuke," Naruto called out during a break, both of them panting at the bases of their respective trees. "Can I ask you something?"

Sasuke grunted, which Naruto took as assent.

"That eye Kakashi-sensei has—the Sharingan. You seemed pretty surprised."

Sasuke's expression darkened. "The Sharingan is an Uchiha bloodline trait. Only those of Uchiha blood should have it."

"So how does Kakashi-sensei have one?"

"I don't know." Sasuke's jaw clenched. "But I intend to find out."

They returned to their training, each trying to outdo the other. By sunset, they had made significant progress, but still couldn't reach the top. As darkness fell, they reluctantly headed back to Tazuna's house.

At dinner, they met Tazuna's grandson, Inari—a somber boy who immediately dismissed their efforts as futile. "Gatō will kill you all," he declared before storming off.

"Please forgive him," Tsunami, Tazuna's daughter, said quietly. "He's been this way since... since what happened to his father."

Tazuna explained how Inari's adoptive father, Kaiza, had been a hero to the Land of Waves, standing up to Gatō's tyranny—until Gatō had him publicly executed as an example. Since then, the villagers had lost hope, and Inari had stopped believing in heroes.

That night, Naruto couldn't sleep, Inari's words and Kaiza's story echoing in his mind. He slipped out of the house and returned to the training area. Under the pale moonlight, he continued practicing, determined to prove that heroes still existed—to Inari, to the village, and perhaps to himself.

He didn't realize he had fallen asleep in the forest until he was gently awakened by a beautiful young person gathering herbs in a clearing.

"You'll catch cold sleeping out here," they said with a kind smile.

Half-asleep, Naruto sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Who are you?"

"My name is Haku. I'm gathering medicinal herbs for a friend who is ill."

Naruto offered to help, and they spent the next hour collecting plants together, talking about their lives and dreams. Haku spoke of having a precious person to protect—someone who had saved them from loneliness and given them purpose.

"When a person has something precious to protect... that is when they become truly strong," Haku told him.

The words resonated deeply with Naruto. Did he have precious people to protect? Iruka-sensei, certainly. And now, perhaps, his teammates as well.

As Haku prepared to leave, they asked, "Are you a ninja? I noticed your headband."

Naruto grinned proudly. "Yeah! I'm going to get stronger and stronger until I'm Hokage! Then everyone in my village will have to acknowledge me!"

Haku smiled mysteriously. "I'm sure you will become very strong. Perhaps we'll meet again someday."

Only after Haku had disappeared into the forest did Naruto realize something about their scent and voice seemed vaguely familiar. But before he could place it, Sasuke appeared.

"There you are, idiot. Breakfast is ready, and you weren't in your futon."

Together, they returned to Tazuna's house, where Sasuke surprised everyone by announcing that he had reached the top of his tree the previous night. Not to be outdone, Naruto redoubled his efforts after breakfast, finally mastering the technique by afternoon.

The next day, Naruto was so exhausted that the others left him sleeping while they went to guard Tazuna at the bridge. When he finally awoke past noon, he hurried to join them—only to spot two samurai threatening Tsunami, with a bound Inari watching in terror.

Without hesitation, Naruto used his Shadow Clone Jutsu to subdue the attackers. After ensuring Tsunami and Inari were safe, he praised the boy for his courage in trying to protect his mother.

"Your dad would be proud," Naruto told him. "You know, my dad died protecting our village too. At least, that's what the old man Hokage told me. So I get it. But heroes do exist, Inari. I'm going to show you." With that, he raced toward the bridge, heart pounding with foreboding.

His fears were confirmed when he arrived to find the bridge shrouded in thick mist, the construction workers unconscious or worse. At the center of the bridge, he could make out the clashing of metal and flashes of jutsu—Kakashi fighting Zabuza again. Nearby, Sasuke was trapped in what looked like a prison of ice mirrors, with the masked ninja—Haku—attacking him from all sides.

Naruto's first impulse was to charge in, but he paused, taking stock of the situation. Sakura was guarding Tazuna at one end of the bridge. Kakashi was holding his own against Zabuza. But Sasuke was in serious trouble, already covered in senbon needles.

The logical move would be to help Kakashi take down Zabuza, then deal with Haku together. But Naruto couldn't abandon his teammate. Decision made, he used his specialty—an unorthodox approach.

Instead of sneaking in, he announced his presence loudly. "UZUMAKI NARUTO HAS ARRIVED!"

Everyone on the bridge momentarily paused in disbelief at his theatrical entrance.

"You idiot!" Sasuke yelled from inside the ice prison. "A ninja is supposed to be stealthy!"

"I'll never understand your generation," Zabuza muttered, before returning his attention to Kakashi.

Naruto grinned and created multiple shadow clones, sending some to help Kakashi while he himself slipped inside Haku's ice mirror prison to join Sasuke.

"Great," Sasuke said sarcastically as Naruto appeared beside him. "Now we're both trapped."

"You're welcome," Naruto shot back. "What is this jutsu anyway?"

"Some kind of bloodline limit," Sasuke explained through gritted teeth, his eyes darting between the mirrors where Haku's reflection appeared in each one. "He can move between these ice mirrors faster than I can track and attack from every angle."

"So we break the mirrors," Naruto suggested, forming the hand sign for his Shadow Clone Jutsu.

"I already tried that. Fire jutsu barely melts them, and physical attacks do nothing."

As if to demonstrate, Haku unleashed another barrage of senbon, striking them both from multiple angles simultaneously. Naruto cried out in pain, while Sasuke managed to dodge some of the needles.

"How are you doing that?" Naruto asked, noticing Sasuke's improved reflexes.

Sasuke's eyes met his, and Naruto gasped. The Uchiha's normally black eyes now had a faint red tint, with a single tomoe in each.

"The Sharingan," Sasuke said, a note of triumph in his voice despite their dire situation. "It's awakening. I can see his movements a little better now."

Haku, overhearing, increased the speed of his attacks. "The Sharingan. How unfortunate that a bloodline so rare should end here."

"We're not done yet!" Naruto shouted, creating a dozen shadow clones that launched themselves at different mirrors.

Haku dispatched them with ruthless efficiency, but the distraction allowed Sasuke to track his movements better. With each exchange, Sasuke's eyes developed further, the tomoe growing more distinct.

Meanwhile, Naruto was running out of chakra. The Nine-Tails' power stirred within him, responding to his desperation and pain. He resisted it, focusing instead on the fight. There had to be a way out of this.

Then he remembered the Geass. If he could make eye contact with Haku, he could command him to stop attacking, to release them. But was that fair to Sasuke? Would it rob his teammate of the chance to prove himself?

Before he could decide, Haku launched another assault, this one aimed entirely at Naruto. He braced himself for the impact—but it never came. When he opened his eyes, Sasuke stood before him, his body riddled with senbon.

"Why?" Naruto asked, stunned.

Sasuke coughed, blood speckling his lips. "I don't know. My body moved on its own." He swayed, then collapsed backward into Naruto's arms.

"I never asked for your help!" Naruto cried, cradling his fallen teammate.

"My brother..." Sasuke whispered. "I swore I would stay alive... to kill him. Don't you dare... die too, loser." His eyes closed, his body going limp.

Something snapped inside Naruto. Rage unlike anything he had ever felt surged through him, along with a flood of chakra that felt both foreign and familiar. Red energy enveloped him, his whisker marks deepening, his nails elongating into claws. The Nine-Tails' chakra.

In this heightened state, he could sense Haku moving between mirrors. With a feral roar, Naruto launched himself at the exact mirror where Haku would emerge, catching the older boy by surprise and shattering the ice. They tumbled onto the bridge outside the trap, Naruto's hand around Haku's throat.

The mask cracked and fell away, revealing the face of the kind person from the forest. The shock of recognition momentarily broke through Naruto's rage.

"You!" he gasped, the red chakra receding.

"Finish it," Haku said quietly. "I have failed as Zabuza's tool. Without purpose, I have no reason to live."

Naruto's fist trembled. "How could you work for someone like that? Someone who sees you as nothing but a tool?"

"When a person has something precious to protect, that is when they become truly strong," Haku repeated his words from the forest. "Zabuza gave me purpose when I had nothing. For that, I would gladly die in his service."

Naruto thought of his own precious people—those he would die to protect. He glanced back at Sasuke's fallen form. "He's not really dead, is he?"

Haku shook his head. "I struck non-vital points. I am a weapon, but I do not kill needlessly."

In that moment, Naruto decided. His Geass activated, the sigil blooming in his left eye as he made direct eye contact with Haku.

"Stop seeing yourself as just a tool," he commanded.

The red ring appeared around Haku's pupils, and for a moment, something shifted in his expression—a flash of self-realization. Then his eyes widened in alarm as he looked past Naruto.

"Zabuza," he whispered.

Naruto turned to see Kakashi charging toward Zabuza, his hand wreathed in lightning—the Chidori, a killing technique. Without hesitation, Haku broke free from Naruto's grasp and rushed to intercept the attack, to die for his precious person.

But something unexpected happened. Midway there, Haku faltered, the Geass command fighting against his ingrained instinct to sacrifice himself. Instead of placing himself directly in the path of the Chidori, he struck Zabuza's arm with senbon, paralyzing it and causing him to drop his massive sword.

Kakashi's lightning blade stopped mere inches from Zabuza's chest, the jōnin's visible eye widening in surprise at the sudden change in circumstances.

"What are you doing, Haku?" Zabuza growled. "Finish him!"

Haku stood between them, trembling. "I... I can't, Zabuza-san. I won't let either of you die."

"Useless tool," Zabuza snarled. "Get out of my way!"

Those words seemed to strengthen Haku's resolve—the opposite of what would have happened before Naruto's command. "I am not a tool," he said, his voice growing firmer. "I am a person who cares for you, Zabuza-san. And I will not watch you throw your life away for Gatō's money."

A slow applause interrupted the standoff. Everyone turned to see a short man in an expensive suit standing at the end of the bridge, flanked by dozens of armed mercenaries.

"How touching," Gatō sneered. "The great Demon of the Mist, defeated by children and sentiment. I was right to plan your disposal."

"What is this?" Zabuza demanded.

"Insurance," Gatō replied smugly. "Ninja are expensive, and I've learned they can be... unreliable. So I brought backup to finish the job—and clean up loose ends." He pointed his cane at Zabuza and Haku. "Starting with you two failures."

Zabuza's eyes narrowed dangerously. "It seems our fight is over, Kakashi. I no longer have a reason to kill the bridge builder."

"So it seems," Kakashi agreed, the lightning fading from his hand.

"Haku," Zabuza said, not taking his eyes off Gatō. "Hand me a kunai."

With his one functioning arm, Zabuza charged through the mercenary ranks, cutting down man after man despite numerous wounds, until he reached Gatō. The terrified businessman backed away to the edge of the bridge.

"Please! I'll pay double—triple!" Gatō pleaded.

"Some things can't be bought," Zabuza said coldly, before driving the kunai into Gatō's heart and shoving him off the bridge.

The mercenaries, seeing their employer dead, turned their attention to the weakened ninja. But before they could attack, an arrow landed at their feet. Everyone turned to see Inari at the far end of the bridge, leading the entire village armed with fishing spears, pitchforks, and whatever weapons they could find.

"The people of the Land of Waves aren't afraid anymore!" the boy declared.

Outnumbered and with their paymaster dead, the mercenaries quickly fled.

In the aftermath, Zabuza collapsed from his wounds near where Sasuke lay. Haku rushed to his side, trying desperately to staunch the bleeding.

"Save your strength," Zabuza told him. "We both know it's too late for me."

"I won't let you die," Haku insisted, tears streaming down his face.

Zabuza reached up with his functioning arm, his hand trembling as he touched Haku's cheek. "You were never just a tool, Haku. You were the only one who ever saw me as human." His eyes shifted to Naruto, who had approached with Kakashi. "Kid... what did you do to him?"

Naruto blinked in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"His eyes," Zabuza murmured. "They're different. He's different." A weak chuckle escaped his bloody lips. "Whatever it was... thank you. For giving him the chance to be more than what I made him."

They buried Zabuza on a cliff overlooking the ocean, his massive sword serving as a marker. Haku, having nowhere else to go, asked to return to Konoha with Team Seven.

"I have medical training," he explained. "Perhaps I could be of use to your village."

Kakashi glanced at Naruto, who nodded enthusiastically. "I'll have to clear it with the Hokage," Kakashi said, "but I don't see why not. Konoha has taken in refugees before."

Two weeks later, the bridge was completed. As Team Seven prepared to depart, the grateful villagers gathered to see them off.

"What should we name the bridge?" someone asked Tazuna.

The old bridge builder looked at Naruto, who had transformed not just their country but their spirits. "How about 'The Great Naruto Bridge'? Because it was built on courage and the belief that heroes still exist."

Naruto blushed furiously as the villagers cheered.

As they walked away, Sasuke fell into step beside him. "Hey."

"Yeah?" Naruto replied, still embarrassed by the bridge naming.

"Whatever you did back there with Haku... that wasn't normal, was it?" Sasuke's dark eyes bored into Naruto's. "I was barely conscious, but I saw your left eye change."

Naruto's heart sank. He should have known Sasuke would notice. The Uchiha didn't miss anything.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he lied.

"Don't insult my intelligence," Sasuke said flatly. "First Mizuki, then those bandits at Tazuna's house, now Haku. People act strangely after you make eye contact with them. It's some kind of jutsu, isn't it?"

Naruto hesitated. Part of him wanted to confide in Sasuke—to share the burden of this secret. But another part feared how his rival might react. Would he see the Geass as a threat? As something to be coveted? Or worse, would he expose Naruto to the others?

"It's not a jutsu," Naruto finally said, choosing his words carefully. "And I'm not ready to talk about it yet."

Sasuke studied him for a long moment, then surprisingly nodded. "Fine. But don't use it on me. Ever. Or we're done."

With that, he increased his pace, moving ahead to walk alongside Kakashi.

Naruto exhaled slowly, a mixture of relief and unease washing over him. Sasuke knew something, but not everything. Not yet.

Behind him, Haku approached. "Your eye," he said quietly. "It changed me, didn't it? Inside, where it counts."

"Are you mad?" Naruto asked, genuinely curious.

Haku considered this. "I thought I would be. But... I've spent my entire life defining myself by my usefulness to others. Perhaps it's time I discovered who I am beyond that." He smiled gently. "A gift can also be a burden, Naruto-kun. I hope yours doesn't weigh too heavily."

As they continued toward Konoha, Naruto touched his left eye, considering Haku's words. A gift. A burden. Perhaps it was both.

Thunder cracked overhead as Team Seven and Haku passed through Konoha's massive gates. The guards stiffened at the sight of the unfamiliar ninja, hands dropping to weapon pouches until Kakashi waved them down.

"Mission accomplished," he reported casually, raindrops beginning to splatter on his silver hair. "And we've brought a refugee seeking asylum."

The next twenty-four hours blurred into a whirlwind of debriefings, medical examinations, and interrogations. The Hokage himself questioned Haku at length about Zabuza, the Hidden Mist, and his bloodline ability. Naruto paced outside the Hokage Tower, anxiety gnawing at his stomach, until Haku finally emerged, looking exhausted but relieved.

"I'm to be placed on probation," he explained, "but the Hokage has granted me provisional residency. I'll work at the hospital under supervision."

Naruto exhaled, tension draining from his shoulders. "That's great! I was worried they might—"

"Lock me up?" Haku's smile held no bitterness. "Your Hokage seems wiser than most leaders. He recognizes potential allies rather than just seeing threats."

As they parted ways, Haku's words lingered in Naruto's mind. Recognizing potential allies versus seeing threats. Wasn't that what he himself had done with his Geass? Instead of commanding Haku to die or to betray Zabuza, he had freed him from self-imposed chains.

The next morning brought another surprise—Team Seven had been nominated for the Chūnin Exams, despite being rookies. The announcement sent ripples of excitement and trepidation through their ranks.

"The exams begin in one week," Kakashi informed them, handing out application forms. "Participation is voluntary and individual. Think carefully before deciding."

Naruto didn't hesitate. "I'm in! This is our chance to prove ourselves! Right, guys?"

Sasuke nodded firmly, competitive fire blazing in his eyes. Sakura seemed hesitant but agreed after seeing both boys' determination.

The week flew by in a frenzy of training. Naruto split his time between physical preparation and private experiments with his Geass. He discovered he could activate it at will now, though using it still tired him significantly. More concerning was his growing awareness of its moral complexity. The power to command anyone, even once—was it right to use such ability at all?

His contemplation was interrupted by a chance encounter in the village center. A square box, poorly disguised as a rock, had been following him for blocks.

"That's the worst disguise ever," Naruto said flatly. "Rocks aren't perfectly square, Konohamaru."

The box exploded in a cloud of colored smoke, revealing three coughing Academy students. Konohamaru, the Third Hokage's grandson, stood at the front with his friends Moegi and Udon.

"That's why you're my rival, Boss!" Konohamaru declared. "Always seeing through my techniques!"

What began as a simple playdate quickly escalated when Konohamaru, trying to flee after making a crude joke, collided with a menacing-looking ninja in a black bodysuit with purple face paint. A Sunagakure headband gleamed on his forehead.

"Watch where you're going, brat," the Sand ninja growled, hoisting Konohamaru by his scarf.

"Let him go!" Naruto demanded, hands already forming the Shadow Clone sign.

"Or what?" the foreigner sneered.

A hidden presence prickled at Naruto's senses—another Sand ninja watching from nearby, a blonde girl with a massive fan strapped to her back. So this guy wasn't alone.

Before Naruto could act, a small stone struck the Sand ninja's wrist with surgical precision, forcing him to drop Konohamaru. Sasuke lounged on a nearby tree branch, tossing another stone casually.

"You're a long way from home," Sasuke observed coolly.

"Another local brat," the painted ninja growled, reaching for the bandaged bundle on his back. "I hate show-offs."

"Kankurō, stop." The voice, soft but laced with deadly intent, froze everyone in place. A red-haired boy with a massive gourd strapped to his back hung upside-down from another branch, cold green eyes ringed with black insomnia marks surveying the scene. "You're an embarrassment to our village."

The fear that flashed across Kankurō's face told Naruto everything he needed to know—this newcomer was dangerous. Something about him set off warning bells, a sensation not unlike the malevolent chakra Naruto sometimes felt stirring inside himself.

"G-Gaara," Kankurō stammered. "They started it—"

"Shut up, or I'll kill you." The threat, delivered with flat indifference, was chilling in its sincerity.

Sand swirled, and suddenly Gaara stood between his teammates. "We're leaving."

As they turned to go, Sasuke called out, "Wait. What's your name?"

The blonde girl turned back with a flirtatious smile. "Me?"

"No. Him with the gourd."

Gaara paused. "Sabaku no Gaara. I'm curious about you too."

"Uchiha Sasuke."

Gaara nodded, then his gaze shifted to Naruto, lingering unsettlingly. "And you?"

"Uzumaki Naruto," he answered, chin raised defiantly despite the chill running down his spine.

Something passed between them—recognition, perhaps. Predator recognizing predator. Then Gaara turned away. "Mother will enjoy your blood, Uchiha Sasuke... Uzumaki Naruto."

As the Sand ninja departed, Naruto exchanged a troubled look with Sasuke. "Those guys are definitely here for the Chūnin Exams."

"Good," Sasuke said, a gleam of anticipation in his eyes. "It wouldn't be interesting otherwise."

The day of the exam arrived with palpable tension. Teams from various villages crowded into the Academy building, each eyeing potential competition. Navigating through a genjutsu trap on the second floor, Team Seven proceeded to the real examination room on the third floor, where they were reunited with the other rookie teams from their graduation class.

Yamanaka Ino immediately latched onto Sasuke, reigniting her rivalry with Sakura. Nara Shikamaru complained about the "troublesome" nature of the exam, while his teammate Akimichi Chōji munched contentedly on chips. The final rookie team approached—Hyūga Hinata blushing furiously at the sight of Naruto, her teammates Inuzuka Kiba and Aburame Shino following at a more measured pace.

"So they let you enter too, dead-last?" Kiba taunted, his ninken partner Akamaru yipping in agreement from atop his head.

Before Naruto could retort, another Konoha genin approached—an older silver-haired boy with glasses. "You might want to keep it down," he advised. "The other candidates are already on edge."

Indeed, hostile glares from dozens of foreign ninja now focused on the noisy rookies.

"I'm Kabuto," the bespectacled genin introduced himself. "This is my seventh attempt at the exam, so I've gathered some intelligence." He produced a deck of cards. "These chakra-infused info cards contain data on the exam and its participants. Anyone you're curious about?"

"Sabaku no Gaara," Sasuke said immediately. "And Rock Lee from Konoha."

Kabuto selected two cards, channeling chakra to reveal their contents. "Rock Lee—a year older than you, specializes in taijutsu. His teammates are Hyūga Neji and Tenten. They're led by Maito Gai. Now for Gaara of the Desert... mission history includes 8 C-ranks and—this is surprising—a B-rank. And apparently he's returned from every mission without a scratch."

Murmurs rippled through the rookie group.

"Anyone else?" Kabuto asked.

Naruto stepped forward. "Uzumaki Naruto."

Kabuto's eyebrow rose. "You want information on yourself?"

"Just curious what you've got," Naruto said with a disarming grin.

Kabuto shuffled through his cards, finding the requested one. As he began to channel chakra, Naruto activated his Geass, making direct eye contact.

"Tell me everything you know about Orochimaru and his plans for Konoha," he commanded quietly.

The red ring appeared around Kabuto's pupils. His expression didn't change, but his voice dropped to a barely audible whisper. "Orochimaru-sama plans to invade during the final stage of the Chūnin Exams with Sound and Sand forces. He seeks the Sharingan and will mark Sasuke with a curse seal. I am his spy, gathering information on promising genin."

Naruto's blood ran cold. Before he could ask more, a commotion at the front of the room broke the connection. A team of Sound ninja had attacked Kabuto, who was now on his knees, blood dripping from his nose despite apparently dodging their attack.

The examination proctor, Morino Ibiki, chose that moment to appear in a cloud of smoke with his team of chūnin assistants. "Quiet down, you worthless bastards!" he roared. "There will be no fighting without permission, and even then, killing is not allowed. Anyone who disobeys me fails immediately."

As candidates were directed to assigned seats for the written portion of the exam, Naruto's mind raced. Orochimaru—the same name Mizuki had mentioned. An invasion planned during the exams. And Kabuto was a spy.

Should he tell someone? The Hokage? Kakashi-sensei? But how would he explain how he got the information? And would they even believe him—the village troublemaker—over a respected genin like Kabuto?

The first exam's rules were explained: a ten-question test, with the tenth question given only in the final fifteen minutes. Being caught cheating resulted in point deductions; reaching zero points meant the entire team failed. Moreover, if any team member scored zero, the entire team failed.

Naruto broke into a cold sweat as he stared at the impossibly difficult questions. His panic mounted until a revelation struck—they were supposed to cheat without getting caught. It was a test of information gathering.

But how? Unlike his teammates, he had no special techniques for covert observation. Sasuke could use his Sharingan to copy someone's pencil movements, and Sakura was smart enough to answer the questions legitimately. But him?

Then an idea formed. Across the room sat Hyūga Hinata, her Byakugan perfect for this test. And she had always been inexplicably kind to him.

"Hinata," he whispered, leaning slightly closer. "Let me see your answers."

To his surprise, she immediately angled her paper toward him. "N-Naruto-kun," she whispered back, "you can copy mine."

The generosity startled him. He hadn't even needed to use his Geass. As he hastily copied her answers, warmth bloomed in his chest. Maybe there were more people who believed in him than he realized.

When Ibiki finally revealed the tenth question, it came with a twist—choosing to take it meant risking never being allowed to take the Chūnin Exams again if answered incorrectly. Declining meant failing now but being able to try again next time.

Team after team opted out, fear winning over ambition. Naruto watched, conflicted. If he declined, he'd fail Sasuke and Sakura. If he took it and failed, he'd doom his dream of becoming Hokage.

Just as his hand began to rise, the memory of Haku's words returned: "When a person has something precious to protect, that is when they become truly strong."

His hand slammed onto the desk. "Don't underestimate me!" he shouted, startling the room. "I don't care what question you throw at me! I won't run away! I'll become Hokage even if I'm a genin for the rest of my life!"

His outburst seemed to strengthen the resolve of the remaining candidates. Ibiki surveyed the room, then broke into a scarred smile. "Everyone still here... passes."

The real tenth question, he explained, had been the choice itself—a test of their resolve to face the unknown. Just as they celebrated this revelation, the window shattered as a black ball crashed through, unfurling into a banner as a woman with spiky purple hair and a tan trenchcoat posed dramatically before it.

"No time to celebrate, maggots!" she announced with a predatory grin. "I'm Mitarashi Anko, proctor for the second exam! Meet at Training Ground 44 tomorrow morning. Enjoy your last night of comfort—half of you won't survive my test!"

That evening, Naruto paced his apartment, Kabuto's revelation haunting him. If he told someone, would they prepare defenses and stop the invasion? Or would Orochimaru simply change his plans and strike when they weren't expecting it?

A knock at his door interrupted his thoughts. When he opened it, Haku stood there, pale face illuminated by moonlight.

"I sensed your distress from across the village," Haku said, his intuition as sharp as his senbon. "Your chakra is fluctuating wildly. What troubles you, Naruto-kun?"

The words tumbled out before Naruto could stop them—Kabuto, Orochimaru, the planned invasion, the threat to Sasuke. "I don't know what to do," he finished, hands trembling. "If I tell someone, they'll want to know how I learned this. If I don't..."

"People will die either way," Haku completed gently. "This is the burden of knowledge—and of power."

His words struck a chord. "The power of kings will condemn you to a life of solitude," the spectral figure had warned when giving Naruto the Geass. Was this what it meant? Making impossible choices alone?

"What would you do?" Naruto asked.

Haku considered this. "I would protect what is precious to me, first and foremost. The village may fall or stand, but those you love must survive."

"That's not enough," Naruto protested. "I need to save everyone."

"Then you need allies—people who trust you enough not to question your sources. Do you have anyone like that?"

Naruto thought of Iruka-sensei, of the Third Hokage, of his teammates. Would any of them trust him implicitly with such dire information? Or would they dismiss it as another of his pranks or attention-seeking schemes?

His silence answered for him.

"Then you must become someone they trust implicitly," Haku said. "And until then, gather more information and prepare to act when the moment comes." He squeezed Naruto's shoulder. "You are stronger than you know, Naruto-kun. Trust your instincts."

After Haku left, Naruto lay awake long into the night, staring at the ceiling. Trust his instincts. But his instincts were conflicted. The part of him that was still the Academy's dead-last, the village pariah, wanted to shout the warning from the rooftops and be recognized as a hero. The growing part that understood the burden of power urged caution, strategy, precision.

Perhaps both were right, in their way.

The next morning, Training Ground 44—dubbed "The Forest of Death" for its massive predators and poisonous plants—loomed before the remaining candidates. Anko explained the second phase: each team would receive either a Heaven or Earth scroll, then spend five days in the forest trying to collect both types and reach the tower at the center. Fighting was not only allowed but expected.

"Oh, and sign these waivers," she added cheerfully, "so Konoha isn't liable when you die!"

As Team Seven awaited their scroll, Naruto pulled his teammates aside. "Listen," he whispered, "we need to establish a password, in case we get separated and an enemy tries to impersonate one of us."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, surprised by Naruto's foresight. "Good idea. Something only we would know."

They agreed on a passphrase from a ninja legend they'd studied at the Academy. With their Heaven scroll secured and tucked into Sasuke's pouch, they entered the forest through their designated gate.

The atmosphere changed immediately—darker, heavier, saturated with killing intent from dozens of teams hunting each other. They moved cautiously, senses heightened. Barely an hour in, a bloodcurdling scream echoed through the trees.

"And so it begins," Sasuke murmured.

When Naruto stepped away briefly to relieve himself, a massive wind technique suddenly tore through the area. The gale-force blast separated the team, sending Naruto flying deep into the unfamiliar territory.

He landed hard, dazed but uninjured. As he regained his bearings, something massive slithered in the underbrush—a snake, larger than any he'd ever seen. It struck with incredible speed, swallowing him whole before he could even form a hand sign.

Inside the snake's gullet, surrounded by digestive fluids, panic threatened to overwhelm him. Then anger took over. He would not die like this, devoured by an oversized reptile in a forest. He would not fail his teammates. He would not surrender his dream.

The Nine-Tails' chakra responded to his rage, red energy bubbling through his system. "I am NOT snake food!" he roared, creating dozens of shadow clones that expanded within the serpent until it burst in a shower of gore.

Covered in snake viscera but very much alive, Naruto oriented himself and raced back toward where he'd last seen his teammates. He arrived to find a horrifying scene—Sasuke and Sakura facing off against a Grass ninja with an unnaturally long tongue. Something about the enemy's killing intent was different from anything Naruto had felt before—ancient, patient, utterly inhuman.

The Grass ninja's attention snapped to Naruto. "Ah, the Nine-Tails boy joins us. How fortunate."

That confirmed it—this was no ordinary genin. With a vicious grin, the enemy reached up and peeled away their face like a mask, revealing pale skin and slitted yellow eyes beneath.

"Orochimaru," Naruto breathed, recognizing the description from Kabuto's forced confession.

Surprise flickered across the Sannin's face. "You know me? How interesting. But I'm afraid I don't have time to play with you just yet. My business is with the Uchiha."

Naruto created a dozen shadow clones that charged Orochimaru while he helped Sasuke and Sakura retreat. "It's him," he hissed urgently. "The one Kabuto warned about!"

"Kabuto?" Sakura questioned. "When did he—"

"No time!" Naruto cut her off as his clones were dispatched with disturbing ease. "We need to run!"

But Sasuke seemed paralyzed, trapped in some genjutsu of fear projected by Orochimaru. Seeing his teammates in danger, something clicked in Naruto's mind. This was what his power was for—not petty commands or forced confessions, but protection when nothing else would suffice.

He grabbed Sasuke's shoulders, forcing eye contact. The Geass activated, sigil blazing. "Fight without fear!" he commanded.

The red ring circled Sasuke's pupils, and instantaneously his posture changed. The paralyzing terror vanished, replaced by cold determination. He blinked, Sharingan activating, then nodded at Naruto.

Together, they launched a coordinated assault on Orochimaru—Sasuke with fire techniques and shuriken, Naruto with shadow clones, Sakura providing tactical support. For a moment, they actually pushed the Sannin back.

But it was only a moment.

"Fascinating," Orochimaru purred, emerging unscathed from their most powerful combination attack. "The Kyūbi container and the last Uchiha, working in perfect synchronicity. And something else..." His snake-like eyes focused on Naruto's left eye. "What an interesting power you've developed, Nine-Tails. I would love to study it further."

He moved so quickly none of them could track him, appearing directly before Naruto. Long fingers grasped his chin, tilting his face up. "Yes, most interesting indeed. Not a dōjutsu I recognize. I wonder if—"

Sasuke's kick caught Orochimaru in the side, momentarily freeing Naruto. "Your fight is with me!" the Uchiha declared, fearless under the Geass command.

"So impatient," Orochimaru chuckled. "Very well, Sasuke-kun. I'll give you what you seek—power beyond imagination."

His neck extended impossibly, head shooting forward with fangs bared. Despite Naruto's desperate lunge to intercept, the Sannin's teeth sank into Sasuke's neck. The Uchiha screamed in agony as three tomoe-like marks appeared at the bite site.

"My parting gift," Orochimaru said, retracting to normal form. "Seek me when you desire true strength, Sasuke-kun." His gaze returned to Naruto. "As for you, little Nine-Tails with the strange eye... we will meet again. I've always enjoyed collecting rare specimens."

With that ominous promise, he sank into the tree branch and vanished, leaving Team Seven shattered in his wake. Sasuke collapsed, writhing in pain from the curse mark. Sakura cradled his head, tears streaming down her face.

"What do we do?" she begged Naruto. "What was that? Why did he know you?"

Naruto knelt beside his fallen teammate, guilt crushing his chest. He had commanded Sasuke to fight without fear, and this was the result. If he had ordered him to flee instead...

"We need shelter," he said finally, pushing aside self-recrimination for action. "Somewhere defensible where we can tend to Sasuke and plan our next move."

They found a hollow beneath a massive tree's roots and barricaded the entrance. Through the night, Sasuke burned with fever, occasionally screaming as the curse mark pulsed with malevolent energy. Sakura stayed by his side, replacing cold compresses on his forehead, while Naruto set traps around their shelter and kept watch.

In the quiet moments between Sasuke's fevered thrashing, Sakura finally asked the question Naruto had been dreading. "How did you know that ninja was Orochimaru? And what did you mean about Kabuto warning you?"

Naruto closed his eyes, weighing his options. If ever there was a time for truth, perhaps this was it. "Sakura-chan... if I tell you something crazy, something impossible, would you trust me?"

She looked up, shadows under her eyes from exhaustion. "After what we just went through? Try me."

And so, in the darkness of that forest hollow, with Sasuke unconscious between them, Naruto revealed his secret—the spectral figure, the Geass, the commands he had given. He told her about Iruka, about Mizuki, about Sasuke's confession regarding the Uchiha massacre, about Haku's transformation from tool to person. And finally, about Kabuto's forced admission regarding Orochimaru's plans.

When he finished, silence stretched between them. He couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes, afraid of what he might see—fear, disgust, disbelief.

"Show me," Sakura said finally.

Naruto looked up, startled. "What?"

"Show me this power," she repeated, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. "Use it on me."

"No!" Naruto protested. "I would never—"

"If you don't, I'll never fully believe you," she interrupted. "And I need to believe you, Naruto. Because if what you're saying about an invasion is true, we need to warn the Hokage."

She had a point. Reluctantly, Naruto nodded. "I won't make you do anything bad or embarrassing. Just... something small."

Their eyes met, and Naruto activated the Geass. "Tell me your honest opinion of me, not as a teammate but as a person."

The red ring appeared around Sakura's green irises. "I used to think you were just an annoying idiot," she said tonelessly, "but since becoming Team Seven, I've seen your determination and kindness. You never give up, no matter the odds. You make me want to be stronger, braver. Sometimes I envy your confidence and purpose. I believe you'll achieve your dream of becoming Hokage someday, and when you do, I'll be proud to have been your teammate."

The Geass faded, and Sakura blinked rapidly, looking momentarily confused. "Did I just...? Oh." Her cheeks flushed. "Well, that's embarrassing."

"Sorry," Naruto mumbled, equally embarrassed but secretly touched by her words. "I didn't know what else to ask."

She cleared her throat. "It's fine. And now I believe you." Her expression hardened with resolve. "So what do we do? About Orochimaru, the invasion, all of it?"

"First, we complete this exam," Naruto decided. "We need to get Sasuke to medical help, and we need to maintain our cover so Kabuto and Orochimaru don't realize we're onto them. Then we go straight to the Hokage."

Sakura nodded, then hesitated. "Naruto... this power of yours. It's dangerous."

"I know."

"No, I mean really dangerous. If people found out, they might..." She trailed off, but her meaning was clear. They might fear him even more than they already did for containing the Nine-Tails.

"That's why I've only told you," Naruto said quietly. "Well, and Sasuke knows something, but not everything. And Haku figured it out too."

"Just be careful," she urged. "Promise me you'll only use it when absolutely necessary."

"I promise." And he meant it. The weight of his responsibility seemed to double with her knowledge, her trust in him.

Morning brought a new challenge—a team from the Sound Village attacked while Sasuke was still unconscious. Despite Naruto and Sakura's best efforts, they were quickly overwhelmed. Just as defeat seemed inevitable, a new chakra signature flooded the clearing—dark, violent, corrupted.

Sasuke stood at the entrance of their shelter, half his body covered in flame-like black markings emanating from the curse seal. His eyes, cold and merciless, surveyed the battlefield.

"Sakura," he said, voice unnaturally calm, "who did this to you?"

The Sound ninja who had struck her took an involuntary step back. "I did. What are you going to do about it, punk?"

Sasuke's answer was not verbal but physical—he moved with blinding speed, appearing behind the ninja and wrenching his arms backward with sickening force. "You seem proud of these arms," he observed coldly. "Perhaps too proud."

As he prepared to break the ninja's arms, Sakura rushed forward. "Sasuke-kun, stop! This isn't you!"

For a heartbeat, he seemed not to hear her. Then his gaze shifted, landing on Naruto, who stood frozen in horror at what his command had wrought. "Fight without fear," he had ordered. But without fear, without restraint, what was Sasuke becoming?

Their eyes met across the clearing, and something passed between them—recognition, understanding. Slowly, the curse marks receded, withdrawing to the three tomoe on Sasuke's neck.

"You're right," he said, releasing the Sound ninja. "This isn't me."

The Sound team, recognizing their close brush with death, quickly offered their Earth scroll in exchange for safe passage. Team Seven accepted, now possessing both scrolls needed to complete the exam.

As they made their way toward the central tower, Sasuke fell into step beside Naruto. "Your eye," he said quietly. "During the fight with Orochimaru. It changed."

Naruto tensed. "Yeah."

"And you did something to me. Commanded me somehow."

"To fight without fear," Naruto admitted. "You were paralyzed. I had to do something."

Sasuke was silent for several paces. "That power... is that how you knew about the Uchiha massacre? You used it on me before."

Naruto couldn't lie, not now. "Yes."

Another long silence. "I should be angry."

"But you're not?"

Sasuke touched the curse mark on his neck. "This seal... I can feel it changing me. Feeding my darkest impulses. Without your command to fight fearlessly, I might have fled like a coward. And just now, I nearly killed that Sound ninja without hesitation." His dark eyes, troubled yet resolute, met Naruto's. "So no, I'm not angry. But Naruto... whatever this power is, be careful who you use it on. Some people shouldn't be freed from their fears."

The wisdom in those words stunned Naruto. Here was Sasuke, acknowledging both the benefit and danger of the Geass, giving counsel rather than condemnation.

"I will," Naruto promised. "And Sasuke... I'm sorry about the curse mark. If I hadn't made you stay and fight—"

"Orochimaru would have found another way," Sasuke interrupted. "He came specifically for me. Nothing would have stopped him." A shadow crossed his face. "The question is... what do I do with this power he's given me?"

"What do you want to do with it?" Naruto countered.

Sasuke considered this. "I need power to kill Itachi. This curse mark offers that power. But after seeing what it did to me..." He shook his head. "I won't become a monster to kill one."

"Good," Naruto said firmly. "Because if you did, I'd have to kick your ass and bring you back to your senses."

A rare, genuine smile crossed Sasuke's face. "You could try, dead-last."

Their banter lightened the mood as they reached the tower and opened their scrolls, completing the second phase of the exam. But as Iruka congratulated them on their success, Naruto's thoughts were already racing ahead.

The preliminaries would begin soon. Kabuto would be there. Orochimaru's agents would be watching. The invasion was still coming.

And now, he was no longer facing these threats alone. For better or worse, his teammates knew his secret—at least part of it. They had become his first true allies in a war they didn't yet understand.

The path forward was shrouded in uncertainty, but one thing was clear—the power of kings had indeed condemned him to solitude, but perhaps not absolute solitude. Perhaps, just perhaps, he could still forge bonds strong enough to shoulder this burden together.

As they entered the tower's central arena, where the other successful teams had gathered, Naruto caught sight of Gaara across the room. Their eyes met, and Naruto felt that same predatory recognition pass between them. But now, something else lingered beneath it—a question, perhaps. A curiosity about the power that seemed to simmer within them both.

The preliminaries would begin soon. And with them, the next phase of a game with stakes higher than any of them had imagined.

Steel clashed against steel as twenty-one exhausted genin stood in rigid formation before the Hokage. The preliminary matches would decide who advanced to the final round—a tournament showcased before feudal lords, village leaders, and potential clients. Hayate Gekkō, a sickly jōnin with perpetual dark circles and a chronic cough, stepped forward as proctor.

But before he could begin, Kabuto raised his hand. "I'd like to withdraw," he announced with a self-deprecating smile. "I'm too drained from the forest to continue."

Naruto's eyes narrowed. The spy was making his move, probably to report to Orochimaru.

"I need to stop him," Naruto whispered to Sakura.

She grabbed his wrist. "Don't. He'll know we're onto him. We stick to the plan—get through the preliminaries, then go straight to the Hokage."

The electronic scoreboard on the wall flickered to life, randomizing names for the first match: Uchiha Sasuke vs. Akado Yoroi.

Kakashi appeared behind his team. "Sasuke, a word before you fight." He pulled the Uchiha aside, speaking in low tones about the curse mark. Naruto caught fragments: "...seal it after your match... don't use chakra or the Sharingan... forfeit if it activates..."

Sasuke nodded grimly and stepped into the arena. His opponent, a masked Konoha genin from Kabuto's team, specialized in chakra absorption—the worst possible matchup for someone trying to suppress a chakra-fueled curse mark.

The curse seal pulsed visibly when Yoroi's chakra-draining palm connected with Sasuke's forehead. For a breathless moment, it seemed Sasuke might lose control. Instead, he smirked.

"Without chakra, I'll just have to use taijutsu!" With a burst of speed, he appeared beneath his opponent, launching him skyward in a move Naruto recognized instantly—Rock Lee's Dancing Leaf Shadow. But the follow-up was pure Uchiha innovation: the Lion's Barrage, a series of devastating kicks that sent Yoroi crashing into unconsciousness.

Victory achieved without the Sharingan or curse mark. Kakashi immediately escorted Sasuke away for the sealing ritual, leaving Naruto and Sakura to watch the remaining matches.

One bout after another unfolded with brutal efficiency:

Shino defeated Zaku by nesting chakra-eating insects inside the Sound ninja's air cannons, causing them to explode when used.

Kankurō crushed his opponent with a puppet disguised as his own body.

Sakura and Ino battled to mutual unconsciousness in a showcase of rivalry and friendship.

Temari's wind techniques utterly demolished Tenten's weapon scrolls.

Shikamaru outmaneuvered a Sound kunoichi with shadows and cunning.

Naruto's name finally appeared on the board, matched against Kiba Inuzuka. The dog-user swaggered into the arena, confidence bordering on arrogance.

"Lucky me," Kiba grinned, fangs gleaming. "I get the dead-last. This will be quick."

Something inside Naruto shifted. The days of being underestimated were over. Not just because of the Geass—he had proven himself against Zabuza, against Orochimaru, against the forest itself. He would not be dismissed so easily.

When Hayate signaled the start, Kiba charged with feral speed, slamming his elbow into Naruto's stomach before he could even form a hand sign. The blond crashed to the floor, air violently expelled from his lungs.

"Like I said, quick," Kiba sneered.

But Naruto rose, wiping blood from his mouth with a grin that promised retribution. "That all you got, dog breath? I was just letting you have a free shot."

Enraged, Kiba transformed Akamaru into his clone with a Military Pills and Beast Human Clone jutsu. They attacked in perfect coordination—spinning like twin drills with the Fang Over Fang technique.

Naruto barely evaded, his orange jumpsuit shredded in places. He couldn't match Kiba's raw speed or animal instincts. But he had something else—unpredictability.

A burst of shadow clones scattered across the arena. Kiba tracked the real Naruto by scent, dispatching clones with ruthless precision. But as he closed in for the kill, Naruto executed a perfect Transformation Jutsu—into Akamaru.

Suddenly faced with two identical ninken, Kiba hesitated for a crucial second. "Which one—?"

The real Akamaru received a swift kick that sent him sprawling. Furious, Kiba attacked the transformed Naruto, only to discover he'd struck his own partner. In the confusion, Naruto landed a devastating uppercut that sent Kiba skyward, followed by a barrage of shadow clones that pummeled him from every angle.

When the dust settled, Kiba lay defeated, eyes wide with disbelief. "How did you...?"

Naruto leaned down. "Never underestimate the dead-last. We have the most to prove."

The arena erupted in shocked applause. Even the jōnin looked impressed. As Naruto climbed the stairs back to the viewing platform, he caught Hinata's eye. She smiled shyly, offering him a small container of medicinal cream for his wounds. Their fingers brushed, and her face flushed crimson.

Curious about her persistent kindness, Naruto made a split-second decision. He activated his Geass, making direct eye contact.

"Tell me why you're always so nice to me," he commanded softly.

The red ring circled her pale lavender eyes. "Because I love you," she answered without hesitation. "You inspire me. When I watch you refuse to give up, no matter what, it gives me courage to keep trying too. Your way of never backing down, your ninja way—it's also my ninja way."

The Geass faded, leaving Hinata momentarily confused. Her eyes widened in horror as she realized what she'd just confessed. Before Naruto could respond, she turned and fled.

"What did you say to her?" Sakura asked suspiciously.

Guilt twisted in Naruto's stomach. He'd promised to use the Geass only when necessary, and this had been pure selfish curiosity. "Nothing. I just... I messed up."

Before Sakura could press further, the scoreboard announced the next match—Hinata Hyūga vs. Neji Hyūga. The shy girl returned to the arena, hands trembling slightly as she faced her cousin.

What followed was less a battle than a systematic dismantling. Neji's cold precision targeted not just Hinata's body but her spirit, each strike accompanied by psychological warfare designed to shatter her confidence. Despite moments of defiance where she rose against impossible odds, Hinata ultimately collapsed from internal injuries, her heart nearly stopped by Neji's Gentle Fist strikes.

"Proctor, call the match," Kurenai urged as medical ninja rushed to Hinata's aid. "She can't continue."

Neji's contempt was palpable. "Once a failure, always a failure. The weak cannot change their fate."

Something snapped in Naruto. He vaulted over the railing, landing beside Hinata's stretcher. Her blood-stained fingers reached weakly for his hand.

"N-Naruto-kun," she whispered. "Did I... change at all?"

His heart clenched. This girl who loved him, who had always believed in him, asking if she had become stronger in his eyes. "You've changed plenty," he assured her fiercely. "I promise."

As the medics carried her away, Naruto turned to Neji, dipping his fingers in Hinata's blood. He held his crimson-stained hand toward the Hyūga prodigy. "I vow on her blood that I will defeat you."

Neji's pale eyes narrowed. "Big words from a failure."

"We'll see who's the failure when I break that stick from your ass."

The tension between them crackled like lightning until the proctors intervened. Back on the viewing platform, Naruto's fury simmered. He had used his Geass selfishly on someone who genuinely cared for him, and now she might die from her injuries.

The remaining preliminary matches blurred together. Gaara crushed Lee—literally—breaking his arm and leg with sand even after the match was called. Only Gai's intervention saved Lee from death. The damage was extensive, possibly career-ending.

The final match pitted Chōji against the last Sound ninja, Dosu. It ended quickly with Dosu's sound-based attacks overwhelming Chōji's Human Boulder technique.

With the preliminaries concluded, the remaining eight genin drew lots for the final tournament. Naruto's path would lead him directly to Neji in the first round—fate or coincidence, he wasn't sure.

As they filed out of the tower, Kakashi reappeared with a bandaged Sasuke. "One month until the finals," he announced. "Time to train seriously. Sasuke, you're with me. Naruto—"

"I've arranged for Naruto's training," the Hokage interrupted, approaching with a white-haired man in a red sage coat. "This is Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin. He's specifically requested to mentor Naruto."

The stranger grinned, striking a ridiculous pose. "The great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku graces you with his presence! Count yourself lucky, kid!"

Naruto blinked in confusion. "Pervy Sage?" he blurted, recognizing the man he'd caught peeping at the women's bath the previous week.

Jiraiya's face reddened. "Show some respect, brat!"

"Hokage-sama," Naruto said urgently, "we need to speak with you. It's important—about Orochimaru."

The Third's expression gravened. "Come to my office. Both of you," he added, glancing at Sakura.

Inside the Hokage Tower, doors sealed and ANBU guards dismissed, Naruto and Sakura recounted their encounter with Orochimaru. They carefully omitted any mention of the Geass, attributing their knowledge of the invasion plans to overhearing Kabuto.

"Kabuto Yakushi is Orochimaru's spy?" The Hokage's pipe ceased its rhythmic puffs. "And they plan to invade during the final exam, with Sand as allies?"

"That's what we heard," Sakura confirmed. "Orochimaru is after Sasuke-kun's Sharingan. He already marked him with some kind of curse seal."

"Yes, Kakashi reported that." The Third's aged face looked even more weathered. "This is grave news indeed. I will increase security immediately and investigate this Kabuto. But we must proceed with the exams—canceling would only alert Orochimaru that we know."

"What about Sasuke?" Naruto asked. "He's Orochimaru's target."

"Kakashi will guard him. And you two will continue as normal—train, prepare, participate in the finals. We cannot afford to tip our hand." The Hokage's gaze softened. "You've done well bringing this information forward. Now leave the rest to me."

As they exited the tower, Jiraiya waited outside, his jovial demeanor replaced with seriousness. "Walk with me, kid," he said to Naruto. "We've got a month, and a lot of ground to cover."

"What about me?" Sakura asked.

"Speak with Kurenai," Jiraiya suggested. "With your chakra control, genjutsu might be your specialty."

They parted ways, Naruto following Jiraiya to a secluded training ground near a hot spring. The Sannin's posture changed once they were alone, commanding presence replacing the foolish act.

"So you're the Nine-Tails jinchūriki," he said without preamble. "And apparently, you've gained another power as well."

Naruto froze. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb. The Hokage may not have noticed the inconsistencies in your story, but I did. How did you 'overhear' Kabuto when he was nowhere near the forest? How did you know Orochimaru by sight when few genin would recognize him?" Jiraiya's penetrating gaze seemed to strip away pretenses. "And don't get me started on the energy fluctuations in your left eye. I'm a Seal Master, kid. I notice these things."

Panic clawed at Naruto's throat. "Are you going to tell the Hokage?"

"Depends on what you tell me now. The truth, mind you."

Backed into a corner, Naruto made a calculation. Jiraiya was offering training, knowledge, possibly even protection. And if he already suspected...

"It's called Geass," Naruto admitted, explaining its capabilities and limitations. "I can command anyone to do anything, but only once per person."

"Show me," Jiraiya requested, intrigued rather than alarmed.

"I'd have to use it on you."

"So be it. Command me to do something harmless. Hop on one foot, perhaps."

Naruto hesitated, then activated his Geass, making direct eye contact. "Tell me what you know about my parents."

The red ring encircled Jiraiya's pupils. "Your father was Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage. Your mother was Kushina Uzumaki, the previous Nine-Tails jinchūriki. They died protecting you and the village during the Nine-Tails attack. Minato was my student, and I am your godfather, though I failed in that duty by leaving you alone all these years."

The Geass faded, leaving Jiraiya momentarily disoriented before his expression shifted to rueful acceptance. "Well played, kid. I suppose I should have expected that."

Naruto barely heard him, mind reeling from the revelation. "The Fourth Hokage... was my father? And you're my godfather?" Anger surged through him. "Why wasn't I told? Why did everyone treat me like garbage if I'm the Fourth's son?!"

"To protect you from his enemies," Jiraiya said quietly. "Minato had many, especially in Iwa. If they'd known he had a son..."

"So instead I grew up alone and hated? Great protection!" Naruto's voice cracked. "And where were you all this time? My 'godfather'?"

"Running Konoha's spy network. Tracking threats like Orochimaru." Jiraiya sighed heavily. "But that's no excuse. I failed you, Naruto. I can't change the past, but I can help you now—with training, with the Nine-Tails' chakra, and with understanding this Geass power."

Naruto wiped angry tears from his eyes. "How?"

"Because I've seen something similar before, in my travels. Not identical, but similar—abilities that manifest in the eyes, powers that affect the mind." Jiraiya's expression turned thoughtful. "This gift of yours... it's both extraordinary and dangerous. Used wisely, it could change the course of history. Used recklessly, it could destroy you and everyone around you."

"So help me use it wisely," Naruto challenged.

"I intend to. But first—" Jiraiya formed a rapid sequence of hand signs, then slammed his palm against Naruto's stomach. The seal containing the Nine-Tails briefly appeared. "—let's see what we're working with."

The next month passed in a blur of intensive training. Jiraiya proved a demanding but effective teacher, focusing on three key areas: chakra control, summoning techniques, and understanding the Nine-Tails' chakra. When Naruto struggled to access the fox's power consciously, Jiraiya employed an unorthodox method—pushing him off a cliff to force a life-or-death situation.

Plummeting toward certain death, Naruto finally connected with the Nine-Tails directly, entering the sewer-like mindscape within himself. There, he confronted the massive fox trapped behind a cage sealed with a paper tag bearing the kanji for "seal."

"So my jailer finally appears," the fox growled, malevolent red eyes glaring through the bars. "Come to beg for my chakra?"

"If that's what it takes to survive," Naruto admitted boldly. "I'm not ready to die yet."

The fox laughed, a sound like grinding stone. "You have the Geass now, yet still need my power? How pathetic."

Naruto started. "You know about the Geass?"

"I see everything you see, feel everything you feel. This eye power you've acquired—it's interesting, but ultimately limited. One command per person?" The fox's tails swished contemplatively. "My chakra has no such restrictions."

"Then lend me some, unless you want us both to die at the bottom of this cliff."

"Very well." Red chakra bubbled through the bars. "But know this, boy—each time you draw on my power, the seal weakens. Eventually, nothing will separate us. And when that day comes..."

The threat hung unfinished as Naruto was thrust back into consciousness, the fox's chakra surging through his system. He bit his thumb, formed the hand signs, and slammed his palm against the air.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

A massive toad materialized beneath him, arresting his fall. Gamabunta, the Chief Toad, was less than pleased about being summoned by a "snot-nosed brat," but Naruto's determination eventually won a grudging respect.

Between summoning practice and chakra exercises, Jiraiya also helped Naruto experiment with his Geass. They discovered that the power grew stronger with use—commands once requiring direct eye contact could now be executed with only partial visual connection. The time-lag between activation and effect shortened. But each use left Naruto temporarily drained, and overuse triggered migraines that increased in severity.

"This power is evolving," Jiraiya noted with concern. "Growing alongside your own chakra system. But it's not limitless—there's a cost to wielding it. Be careful."

On the final day before the tournament, Naruto visited the hospital. Sasuke was absent, still training with Kakashi in seclusion. But two other beds demanded his attention.

Hinata lay pale but stable, recovery progressing slower than the medical ninja had hoped. The internal damage from Neji's strikes had been severe. Seeing her unconscious form, Naruto renewed his vow to defeat her cousin.

Lee's room was even more sobering. The taijutsu specialist lay with his arm and leg in casts, machines monitoring his vital signs. The prognosis was grim—his ninja career likely over, his dreams of proving himself through hard work alone shattered with his bones.

Naruto stood silently at Lee's bedside, contemplating a terrible temptation. Could the Geass command someone to heal? To repair what medical ninjutsu could not? "Recover fully," or "regain your strength"—would such commands work on the unconscious boy?

"I wouldn't," came Jiraiya's voice from the doorway. He had followed Naruto. "Medical applications of your power would be unpredictable at best, catastrophic at worst. The body isn't designed to heal by command—it might accelerate the process unnaturally, causing more harm than good."

Naruto's fists clenched in frustration. "Then what good is this power if I can't help my friends?"

"Some burdens aren't meant to be shortcut," Jiraiya said gently. "Some paths must be walked step by painful step."

The day of the tournament dawned bright and clear. The stadium filled with spectators—nobles and commoners, ninja and civilians, all eager to witness the spectacle. The Hokage sat in the honored box alongside the Kazekage, their respective guards standing at attention.

In the competitors' box, seven of the eight finalists waited. Dosu mysteriously absent, assumed withdrawn. Gaara's cold presence sent chills down Naruto's spine, while Neji's arrogant indifference fueled his determination. Shino stood silent and stoic, Shikamaru looked annoyed at the troublesome affair, and the Sand siblings kept to themselves, tension evident in their postures.

Genma Shiranui, the new proctor, called the first match: Uzumaki Naruto vs. Hyūga Neji.

As they faced each other in the arena, Neji's pale eyes narrowed. "You should withdraw. Fate has already determined the outcome—the failure cannot defeat the genius."

"Maybe," Naruto replied, assuming his fighting stance. "But I don't give a damn about fate. I make my own destiny!"

The crowd fell silent as the match began. Neji moved with fluid precision, Gentle Fist strikes targeting Naruto's chakra points. Even with his enhanced stamina, Naruto found himself quickly on the defensive. Each blocked tenketsu reduced his ability to mold chakra, until finally, he collapsed, seemingly defeated.

"As I said, fate cannot be changed," Neji declared. "The difference between us is absolute, like a stone and a cloud. The stone may wish to float, but its nature condemns it to fall."

But Naruto rose again, drawing on the Nine-Tails' chakra to forcibly reopen his blocked tenketsu. Red energy swirled around him, and his blue eyes flickered to scarlet.

"You talk about fate and destiny," he growled. "Let me show you something about changing what's 'destined'!"

With explosive speed, he charged. Neji activated his ultimate defense—the Rotation—spinning to generate a dome of chakra that repelled all attacks. Their chakras clashed in a blinding explosion that left both fighters in separate craters.

Neji emerged first, approaching Naruto's seemingly unconscious form. "A valiant effort, but as I predicted—"

A fist erupted from the ground beneath him, connecting with his jaw in an uppercut that sent him sprawling. The real Naruto climbed from underground, having used a clone as distraction.

"You don't get to decide what's possible for others," Naruto declared as Neji struggled to rise. "Not for Hinata, not for me, not for anyone!"

Pushed to his limits, Neji revealed the truth behind his bitterness—the curse seal branded on his forehead, marking him as Branch House, forever subservient to the Main House. He spoke of his father's sacrifice, forced to die in place of Hinata's father due to their clan's rigid hierarchy.

"That's your excuse for trying to kill Hinata?" Naruto demanded. "Because life dealt you a bad hand? I was hated from birth for something I didn't choose either, but I'm not using it to justify hurting others!"

He formed the hand sign for Shadow Clone Jutsu, summoning his remaining chakra for one final attack. Five Narutos surrounded Neji, each attacking from a different angle. The Hyūga prodigy spun again, his Rotation dispersing four clones—but the fifth reached him, a kick connecting solidly with his chest.

Neji crashed to the ground, body trembling from chakra exhaustion. "How... how did you..."

Naruto stood over him, panting but victorious. "Because I refused the destiny others chose for me. You can do the same, Neji. Your fate is what you make it."

The stadium erupted in cheers as Genma declared Naruto the winner. As medical ninja carried Neji away, the Hyūga prodigy gave Naruto a look of grudging respect—and perhaps, a flicker of hope.

The second match—Sasuke versus Gaara—was postponed due to Sasuke's absence. Shino won by default when his opponent, Kankurō, inexplicably forfeited. Shikamaru faced Temari in a battle of wits and strategy, ultimately forfeiting despite having the tactical advantage, claiming chakra exhaustion and excessive troublesomeness.

As the crowd grew restless awaiting Sasuke's arrival, Naruto sensed something amiss. The Sand siblings' behavior seemed increasingly erratic, particularly Gaara's. The bloodlust emanating from the red-haired boy had intensified to nearly unbearable levels.

Just as Sasuke's disqualification seemed imminent, he and Kakashi arrived in a swirl of leaves. The crowd roared its approval as the last Uchiha took his position across from Gaara.

The match began with breathtaking intensity. Sasuke moved with newfound speed, clearly modeled after Lee's taijutsu. His attacks actually penetrated Gaara's sand defense, drawing blood—perhaps the first time Gaara had ever been wounded.

The revelation seemed to unhinge the Sand genin. He encased himself in a sphere of sand, ignoring even the proctor's commands. Within the cocoon, his voice changed, becoming more bestial. "Mother wants your blood, Uchiha!"

Sasuke, undeterred, activated a new technique—the Chidori, Kakashi's lightning blade. The chirping sound of a thousand birds filled the arena as he charged, the lightning chakra penetrating Gaara's ultimate defense.

A blood-curdling scream erupted from within the sand sphere. "BLOOD! MY BLOOD!"

Suddenly, feathers began falling throughout the stadium—a mass genjutsu. Explosions rocked the Hokage's box. Ninja in Sand and Sound uniforms appeared among the spectators, attacking Konoha shinobi. The invasion had begun.

"KAI!" Naruto disrupted the genjutsu affecting him, in time to see Gaara being carried away by his siblings. Sasuke, ignoring the chaos, pursued them. In the Hokage's box, a barrier of some kind had formed, trapping the Third inside with the "Kazekage"—who had revealed himself to be Orochimaru in disguise.

"Naruto!" Kakashi appeared beside him. "I'm trusting you with an A-rank mission. Take Sakura and Shikamaru, and go after Sasuke. Stop him from pursuing Gaara alone—it's too dangerous."

Pakkun, Kakashi's ninken summon, would guide them. As they raced through the forest, following Sasuke's trail, Shikamaru sacrificed himself to delay eight pursuing Sound ninja, buying the others time to continue.

They caught up to find a horrifying tableau—Sasuke crumpled against a tree trunk, curse mark partially activated but body trembling with exhaustion. Before him stood Gaara, his body half-transformed into some kind of tanuki monster, sand forming a massive arm and part of his face.

"More prey for Mother," Gaara growled, his voice overlapping with another, more demonic tone.

"Sasuke!" Sakura rushed to the Uchiha's side, only to be seized by Gaara's sand arm and pinned against a tree trunk. A cocoon of sand began to crush her slowly.

"Which one shall I kill first?" Gaara's partially transformed face split in a manic grin. "The girl? The exhausted Uchiha? Or you, Uzumaki Naruto?"

Understanding crystallized in Naruto's mind. The predatory recognition he'd sensed in Gaara from the beginning—it wasn't just killer instinct. Gaara was like him. A jinchūriki. A human sacrifice containing a tailed beast.

But unlike Naruto, Gaara had been consumed by his burden, becoming a weapon of pure destruction. This was what could have happened to Naruto without Iruka's acknowledgment, without Team Seven's bonds, without the precious people who gave his life meaning beyond the demon he contained.

"Why do you fight for others?" Gaara demanded, seeming genuinely perplexed. "Power exists only for oneself. Love is an illusion. The only reality is killing to prove your existence!"

"You're wrong," Naruto countered, summoning shadow clones to distract Gaara while he prepared a plan. "Real strength comes from protecting those precious to you."

"Precious people?" Gaara laughed, a hollow, broken sound. "They betrayed me. My father, my village—they created me as a weapon, then feared what they had made. Six assassination attempts before I was six years old, the last by the only person who ever claimed to love me—my uncle."

The shadow clones were dispatched with brutal efficiency as Gaara's transformation progressed further. Soon he resembled a miniature version of the One-Tail, Shukaku, with only his legs remaining human.

Naruto knew he needed to end this quickly before Sakura was crushed. He formed the hand signs for Summoning Jutsu, drawing heavily on the Nine-Tails' chakra. Gamabunta appeared beneath him, equal in size to Gaara's nearly complete Shukaku form.

The battle that ensued was cataclysmic—a contest between tailed beasts as much as between their hosts. Naruto and Gamabunta combined transformation techniques to assume the form of the Nine-Tailed Fox, grappling directly with Shukaku.

At the climax, Naruto leapt from Gamabunta's head, flying straight toward Gaara's human form protruding from Shukaku's forehead. The sand jinchūriki had used a sleep technique to give Shukaku full control, and Naruto needed to wake him.

Their eyes met in midair. The Geass activated without conscious thought, spurred by Naruto's desperate need to save his friends.

"Remember what it's like to be loved!" he commanded.

The red ring circled Gaara's turquoise eyes just as Naruto's fist connected with his face. The impact broke the sleep technique, causing Shukaku's form to crumble. Both boys crashed through tree branches to the forest floor below, chakra depleted, barely able to move.

Yet still they crawled toward each other, inching forward on raw determination.

"Stay away!" Gaara rasped, terror replacing bloodlust in his eyes. "My existence will not disappear!"

"It's painful, isn't it?" Naruto dragged himself forward. "Being alone. Feeling like the world sees only the monster inside you, never the person."

Gaara's eyes widened. "How...? How are you so strong?"

"Because I stopped fighting for just myself," Naruto explained, continuing his painful advance. "I found people who acknowledged me, who saw past the demon to the human. And I'd die before I let anyone take them from me."

Tears—perhaps the first since infancy—welled in Gaara's eyes as the Geass command worked its subtle influence, forcing him to remember the love he had once known, however briefly. The uncle who had raised him, who had sworn to protect him always. The mother who had died giving him life, whom the village elders claimed had cursed him but who had, in reality, loved him enough to sacrifice everything.

"Enough, Naruto," Sasuke arrived, supporting himself against a tree. "Sakura is free. The sand crumbled when you defeated him."

Temari and Kankurō appeared moments later, positioning themselves protectively before their fallen brother, expecting Naruto to finish him.

To their shock, Naruto smiled weakly. "Take care of him. He needs you more than he can admit."

As the Sand siblings retreated with Gaara, Naruto collapsed from exhaustion. The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was Sasuke's concerned face and the distant smoke rising from Konoha.

When he awakened in the hospital three days later, he learned the devastating truth: the village had repelled the invasion, but at terrible cost. The Third Hokage had sacrificed his life to stop Orochimaru, using a forbidden technique to seal the Sannin's arms, rendering them useless.

Konoha mourned collectively, rain falling during the funeral as if the heavens themselves wept for the God of Shinobi. Standing before the memorial stone in his black funeral clothes, Naruto contemplated the Geass and its limitations. It hadn't saved the Third. It couldn't bring back the dead. For all its power, it remained a tool—neither inherently good nor evil, its value determined solely by how he wielded it.

As the village began its recovery, a new challenge emerged. The Council required a Fifth Hokage, and Jiraiya had been nominated. But the Toad Sage refused the position, instead proposing his former teammate, Tsunade—the legendary medical ninja and the last of the Sannin still loyal to Konoha.

"Come with me to find her," Jiraiya told Naruto. "It'll be a training trip. And who knows? Maybe you can help convince her to take the job."

"With the Geass?" Naruto asked uncertainly.

"With your stubborn persuasiveness," Jiraiya corrected. "Save the Geass for emergencies. Tsunade's famous for her stubbornness—but also for her compassion, buried though it might be beneath years of pain and loss. Speak to that part of her, and you won't need eye powers."

They departed the next morning, Naruto's resolve hardened by recent events. The power of kings had not prevented tragedy, but perhaps the Will of Fire—the Hokage's legacy of protecting the village as one's family—could still forge a path toward peace.

What Naruto couldn't know was that far away, in a hidden base, Orochimaru raged against his useless arms while contemplating the curious power he had glimpsed in the Nine-Tails jinchūriki's left eye. A power unlike any dōjutsu he had encountered—one that seemed to command absolute obedience.

"Find that boy," he ordered Kabuto.