Land of Thunder

The Land of Thunder beckoned Naruto and Kakuzu as they arrived early one misty morning, crossing the sea by boat.

"Finally here, my old bones can't take much more," Naruto grumbled playfully as he stepped onto the shore, feigning exhaustion.

Kakuzu's forehead bulged with veins, a clear sign that Naruto's jest had hit a nerve. Was he mocking his age?

Considering their ages, it was evident who the elder was.

Unaware of the nerve he'd struck, Naruto scanned their surroundings.

The Land of Thunder boasted neither the sandy expanses of the Land of Wind nor the oceanic embrace of the Land of Water. Yet, it lacked the lushness and abundance of the Land of Fire.

Each land had its distinct features.

Here, towering peaks dominated the landscape.

Legend had it that the Cloud Shinobi Village perched atop one such peak, shrouded in perpetual mist and echoing with thunderous roars.

Perhaps that's how the Land of Thunder earned its name.

Naruto and Kakuzu venture into the heart of Thunder Country, drawing curious glances from passersby. Unfazed, they don the iconic Akatsuki attire, a symbol of their affiliation. Despite the scrutiny, they press forward, their journey unfolding amidst whispers and wary eyes, for even in the land of thunder, secrets stir in the shadows.

"It's the ninja from Cloud Shinobi Village," Kakuzu declared, unveiling the identity of the stealthy pursuer. At a mere glance, the Master discerned the other party's position.

Naruto nodded nonchalantly, remarking, "Let them follow; we're not seeking them out anyway."

"Perhaps there's a valuable bounty at stake," Kakuzu persisted, his focus fixed on lucrative opportunities.

Naruto looked up, chuckling, "Hahaha, these small fry can't even handle a tracking task. Let's not bother."

Kakuzu's expression darkened. It wasn't that the pursuers were weak; it's just that they were stronger, plain and simple.

No need to elaborate – Kakuzu was an S-rank rebel, and Naruto had taken down a group of S-rank rebels effortlessly in the past. Not to mention, even the Jōnin from major ninja villages and the Gokage were no match for him when he unleashed his full power. Naruto had set his sights on the future threat of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, and with his current strength, nobody in the Ninja World could truly stand against him.

Both of them were aware of Cloud Shinobi Village's tracking and surveillance, but they paid it no mind. Kakuzu may have had his sights on making some extra money, but Naruto reminded him, "We're in someone else's territory, big brother. Let's keep a low profile."

Finding Itachi was their primary goal. Getting into a skirmish with Cloud Shinobi Village before locating Itachi wouldn't be worth the trouble.

They already knew Itachi's whereabouts; he had left the vicinity of Cloud Shinobi Village and was heading in another direction. According to White Zetsu's intel, Itachi might be on his way to Rain Shinobi Village to gather information about Akatsuki. Naruto and Kakuzu decided to intercept him on his way.

Naruto complained, "Why did I choose this path?" He patted his forehead, accidentally hitting his mask with a crisp sound.

It wasn't just self-complaint; even Kakuzu was speechless upon hearing the news from White Zetsu through the ring. The prospect of traversing the entire Land of Thunder to chase someone down left them questioning their choices.

"It seems we need to speed up. If Konan and the others intercept Itachi before us, it would be embarrassing, not to mention a wasted effort."

Primarily, it was about avoiding embarrassment.

With Naruto's signal, the two increased their pace. The Cloud Village ninjas trailing them were left dumbfounded as the duo bypassed Cloud Village and swiftly exited the Land of Thunder's border. Confusion lingered in the air – did they misunderstand? Well, they might have another chance in the future...

As the sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Naruto and Kakuzu finally caught sight of Itachi near the border between the Kingdom of Thunder and the

Land of the Moon.

Naruto and Kakuzu's focus wasn't on the Moon Country or its inhabitants; their pursuit led them to track down Itachi.

"How did White Zetsu manage it?" Naruto pondered silently. From the start, White Zetsu had been on Itachi's trail, shadowing his every move.

"It must be White Zetsu's Spore Technique," Naruto speculated. Unlike ordinary clones, White Zetsu's spores were undetectable until they matured, making them ideal for surveillance.

"If he spreads his spores throughout the Ninja World, he'd practically be a living satellite," Naruto mused.

"Hey, you there! Stop right where you are!" Naruto called out as soon as he spotted Itachi in the distance, his figure unmistakable even from afar.

Despite defecting from Konoha and being labeled an S-class renegade, Itachi still wore the Anbu uniform, albeit with a scratched forehead protector—a symbol of his rebellion.

Itachi paused, surveying the desolate mountain road. Apart from himself, only two figures were in hot pursuit.

Turning to face his pursuers, Itachi's eyes narrowed as he noticed Naruto and Kakuzu adorned in Akatsuki attire.

He had been investigating this mysterious organization, and now, it seemed, they had found him.

As Naruto closed in with a swift and acrobatic assault, Itachi deftly sidestepped, evading the attack effortlessly.

"Who are you? And why halt my progress?" Itachi's tone remained cold, feigning ignorance.

Naruto returned, unabashedly jovial, "Hey, I told you not to move, didn't I?"

Itachi's eye twitched imperceptibly. Did Naruto expect him to stand still and wait to be attacked?

Meanwhile, Kakuzu, accustomed to Naruto's occasional antics, interjected, "Itachi, don't misunderstand. We're not here to pursue you. In fact, we're from Akatsuki. We've come to offer you a proposition."

"Akatsuki?" Itachi maintained his façade of ignorance, waiting to hear more.

But Naruto couldn't contain his laughter. "Come on, Itachi, you can't fool me. There's no way Uchiha Madara didn't spill the beans about Akatsuki. And hey, take a good look at me."

With a swift motion, Naruto removed his mask, revealing his true face to Kakuzu and Itachi.

As Itachi's gaze settled on Naruto's features, a flicker of shock danced across his expression.

"It's him?" he muttered incredulously.

Of course, Itachi recognized Naruto. His fame reverberated even within the walls of Konoha Village. The infamous 'Nine-Tails demon fox' and the fact that he was Sasuke's classmate were well-known to Itachi.

But what puzzled Itachi more was Naruto's apparent knowledge of Uchiha Madara—an enigmatic figure shrouded in mystery and secrecy.

Kakuzu, too, scrutinized Naruto's visage, as if seeking confirmation of something.

Naruto donned his mask once more, fixing a piercing gaze on Kakuzu. "So, you're after my head for some cash, huh?"

Kakuzu shook his head, his tone blunt. "Your head's not worth a penny. The bounty on you is for your capture alive, to be returned to Konoha Village."

"Damn, you're really in the loop," Naruto muttered under his breath, incredulous that his own wanted poster had found its way into the hands of his adversaries.

"And who's worthless now? If you think you can just kill me off, think again."

In truth, Konoha Village's bounty on Naruto remained substantial, a lure to entice bounty hunters and aid in his capture.

"Oh, by the way, are you eight years old?" Kakuzu suddenly interjected.

It seemed even Naruto's age was detailed on the bounty poster.

Naruto chuckled. "You think that'll stop me, Kakuzu? Don't make me repeat myself. Do you really want to push your luck?"

Kakuzu was taken aback. In that moment, Naruto transitioned from his jovial demeanor to a chilling aura of authority. Even a seasoned warrior like Kakuzu couldn't help but bow his head in deference.

He remembered then, regardless of Naruto's age, the power he wielded was undeniable.

Orochimaru, Kakuzu, Sasori of the red sand—all had fallen to Naruto's might.

It was a sobering realization.

Naruto understood that only through unwavering strength could he command respect, lest it all become a farce.

Despite his usual lighthearted demeanor, Naruto wielded his power and prowess with purpose, a constant reminder to friend and foe alike.

In short, dissatisfied? Then meet your demise.

"If you can't accept it, settle it all in one go. The loser faces death. Win, and you'll be the leader. If that doesn't work for you, just lie down on my stomach," Naruto sneered, exuding a mature and domineering spirit. It emerged spontaneously, resembling the confidence of a king who takes pride in ruling the world or that of an overlord.

Itachi, witnessing this scene from the sidelines, felt a deep sense of awe and shock. Naruto, once Sasuke's peer and even a classmate, had silently transformed into a formidable force. And nobody seemed to be aware of it?

What were the residents of Konoha Village thinking? Why would they let someone like Naruto, a veritable powerhouse, defect?

If they had continued to nurture him, he could become Konoha Village's ultimate trump card and the strongest pillar of support in the future.

Itachi remained oblivious to the events that unfolded later. He had no idea that Naruto had severed ties with Konoha Village.

And the village itself was oblivious to Naruto's hidden secrets; he concealed them expertly. His silence spoke volumes, making him a mysterious enigma.

"Itachi, I'm here to recruit you. Refuse, and I'll make sure you regret it. There's no room for rejection in this scenario."

Is this a proper way to win someone over? It leaves no room for refusal whatsoever.

.....

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