Aftermath

Well Well, look who decided to upload again

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As Chihara stood, brushing ash from his cloak, the air around him shifted with a sudden flicker. Asuma Sarutobi materialized between him and the charred remains of the Sound shinobi, his cigarette tilted slightly in his mouth, the glowing tip casting a faint red hue in the dimming light.

"What the hell happened here?" Asuma's eyes flicked between the scorched battlefield and Shikamaru, who was nursing a bruise on his shoulder while leaning against a tree.

"Ran into some pests," Chihara replied nonchalantly, gesturing toward the swamp of molten earth and remnants of bodies. "I cleaned up."

Shikamaru winced, looking slightly embarrassed. "They cornered me. He saved my ass."

Asuma took a long drag from his cigarette, exhaling a cloud of smoke while surveying the carnage. His gaze settled on Chihara, unreadable but slightly disapproving, "You could've left one alive. Intel's not really your thing, huh?"

"No time," Chihara replied flatly. "There are bigger things to deal with." His head turned slightly, his senses picking up the distant clash of massive chakras.

"What now?" Asuma asked as he sighed.

Chihara didn't respond. He started walking away, his pace brisk. "Take care of him," he called over his shoulder, referring to Shikamaru. Before either could respond, Chihara vanished in a blur of speed.

The trees whipped by in a blur as Chihara leapt from branch to branch, following the trail of destruction left in the wake of Gaara's rampage. The immense pressure of chakra ahead was overwhelming, and it seemed to grow stronger with every leap forward. Amid the chaos, he could also sense another, smaller but equally determined presence—Naruto.

"What the hell is that idiot doing?" Chihara muttered under his breath, irritation sparking as he pushed himself faster.

As he broke through the treeline, the scene before him stopped him in his tracks. The massive sand creature loomed over the shattered landscape—a full manifestation of the One-Tailed Beast, Shukaku. Its roar echoed, shaking the earth, as Naruto, battered but undeterred, leapt toward the beast.

Chihara narrowed his eyes. "What a mess," he muttered, watching as Naruto charged headlong into the chaos. The fight unfolded as he'd expected—chaotic, reckless, and pure Naruto. From summoning Gamabunta to hurling himself at Shukaku's massive form, Naruto's determination seemed unshakable.

As the battle reached its climax, Chihara observed silently, perched on a tree branch, his arms crossed. Naruto's sheer willpower, even in the face of an opponent as monstrous as Shukaku, was almost admirable. Almost.

Finally, after a grueling struggle, Naruto delivered a decisive blow, bringing Gaara crashing to the ground. The massive form of Shukaku dissolved, the sand scattering into the wind as Gaara lay motionless on the ruined ground. Naruto, barely standing, made his way toward him, his expression filled with pain and understanding.

Chihara dropped silently to the ground, keeping his distance as Naruto confronted Gaara. He caught snippets of the conversation—words about loneliness, pain, and a determination to save others no matter what. Chihara scoffed quietly but couldn't entirely dismiss the raw emotion in Naruto's voice.

As the scene played out, Temari and Kankuro arrived, battered but determined, to retrieve their brother. Chihara stood back, watching as they exchanged brief words with Naruto before lifting Gaara and preparing to leave.

Kankuro turned back briefly, his gaze falling on Chihara. There was no gratitude in his eyes, only wariness and a subtle promise of retaliation if Chihara ever came for their family again.

"Take your monster and go," Chihara said coldly.

Temari hesitated for a moment, her earlier plea to spare Gaara flashing in her mind. She looked at Chihara one last time, her expression unreadable, before turning away.

As the Sand siblings disappeared into the distance, Chihara remained where he stood, his gaze lingering on the horizon.

"Maybe you're not the only idiot here, Naruto," he muttered under his breath before turning away and vanishing into the shadows of the forest.

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As Chihara darted through the forest, something felt... off.

Chihara slowed his pace, his senses picking up a chakra signature nearby. It wasn't moving; it was waiting. He stopped on a branch, his eyes scanning the trees. Then, like a predator moving in for the kill, he flickered silently toward the source, his sword already drawn.

In the blink of an eye, he was there, his blade pointed at the figure standing casually by a tree. The man took a slow step out of the shade, his silver hair catching the faint light filtering through the leaves.

Kabuto Yakushi.

The smirk on Kabuto's face was as infuriating as it was calculated. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Chihara," Kabuto said, his tone calm and disarming. "You're as quick as they say."

Chihara's blade didn't waver. "Why are you here?" His voice was cold, almost bored, but his grip on the hilt of his sword tightened.

Kabuto chuckled lightly, taking another step forward, his hands raised in mock surrender. "No need to be so tense. I'm just here to deliver a message."

"Get to the point."

Kabuto's smirk widened, his demeanor shifting ever so slightly as he dropped the pretense of harmlessness. "My master has taken quite an interest in you," he said smoothly. "Your abilities, your potential... the darkness inside you. He sees it all, and he admires it."

Chihara's eyes narrowed. He didn't need to ask who Kabuto meant by "master."

"And?" Chihara pressed, his tone clipped.

"And," Kabuto continued, his voice dripping with persuasion, "he wants you to join him. With his guidance, you could unlock power beyond anything you've ever imagined. Revenge, strength—whatever you desire. All of it, within your grasp."

Chihara's sword inched closer to Kabuto's throat, but the man didn't flinch.

"That sales pitch again?" Chihara said, his tone laced with sarcasm. 

Kabuto tilted his head, his smirk unwavering. "It's not just about revenge. It's about potential. Look at the world around you, Chihara. The village holds you back, restrains you, shackles your power with their rules and morality. But my master? He would set you free."

Chihara's expression didn't change, but his mind churned. The offer was just as tempting as before, but he knew better than to trust a serpent like Kabuto.

"And what does he get out of it?" Chihara asked, his voice cold.

Kabuto shrugged lightly. "Isn't it obvious? A weapon like you at his side. But it's not all one-sided. You'd get more than you could ever dream of in return. Don't pretend you don't want it. The power to crush anyone in your way. The power to make them all pay."

For a moment, there was silence between them. The forest was unnervingly quiet, as if holding its breath.

Chihara finally lowered his sword, but only slightly. "And if I say no?"

Kabuto's smirk didn't falter. "Then nothing changes... for now. But know this, Chihara. Opportunities like this don't come often. The longer you stay in that village, the more you waste your potential. Think about it."

Without warning, Kabuto flickered backward, putting distance between them as he prepared to leave.

"I'll be seeing you, Chihara," he called, his voice echoing through the forest. "I'm sure we'll cross paths again soon."

And just like that, he was gone, his chakra signature vanishing as if he'd never been there.

Chihara stood in silence for a moment, his sword still drawn. His mind wrestled with the encounter, the weight of Kabuto's words pressing against the edges of his thoughts.

"Tch. Snake."

Sheathing his sword, Chihara turned and continued toward the village, his pace slower now, his thoughts heavier. He didn't trust Kabuto, or Orochimaru, but the offer lingered in his mind like a poison.

Power. Revenge.

As much as he hated to admit it, the serpent had a point.