Naruto: Echoes of a Distant Home

Orochimaru was set to depart tomorrow, but Ye Zi set off immediately, heading to the Land of Rain alone after giving a few instructions.

Meanwhile, in Konoha, a Sand shinobi team led by Pakura had initiated preliminary discussions with Konoha, showing a willingness to form an alliance. However, further negotiations were needed to finalize the agreement.

Once the alliance was confirmed, the first task would be to share intelligence between the two sides.

Pakura hoped to conclude the alliance quickly, with the next discussion scheduled for tomorrow.

After sending her subordinates to rest, Pakura, visiting Konoha for the first time, decided to explore. She was immediately captivated by the bustling and prosperous streets, a scene vastly different from the environment in the Sand Village and a level of wealth the Sand could never hope to attain.

"No wonder it's known as the most prosperous nation," she thought, unable to hide her envy as she walked through the streets of Konoha.

Every citizen of the Wind Country longed to live in such an environment, which was one of the reasons why the four other nations sought to invade the Land of Fire, for its abundance.

Pakura was aware that she was under close surveillance, so she didn't plan on going to too many places, only walking along the main street.

Allowing Pakura to walk freely on the streets was, in fact, an order from Minato as a gesture of goodwill.

After walking a while, Pakura came to a shop selling dango. She paused outside briefly before heading in.

The shop was small and simply furnished with tables and chairs.

There weren't many people inside, with only one table occupied by two young boys with dark hair.

Pakura glanced at the boys at that table, her gaze narrowing momentarily when she noticed the Uchiha clan emblem. However, since they were only children, she didn't pay them much mind and quickly looked away, heading to the counter.

"A Sand shinobi, huh…" thought the older boy with a slightly larger nose.

This was Shisui Uchiha, and the other boy was Itachi Uchiha, who had recently become a Genin. The two had come to the shop together for dango and had unexpectedly encountered Pakura from the Sand Village.

They exchanged a glance before lowering their heads and quietly eating their dango.

Pakura held a similar status in the Sand Village to Tsunade's in Konoha, yet Shisui and Itachi, who hadn't fully stepped into the shinobi world, didn't recognize her, though they found it odd for a Sand shinobi to be in Konoha.

Although the shinobi war had been over for more than two years, vigilance between villages hadn't eased, so it was rare for shinobi from other villages to wander freely in Konoha.

Pakura simply saw Shisui and Itachi as young kids, even though Itachi, appearing around seven or eight, wore a headband. During times of war, Sand Village had also sent young children to battle due to a severe lack of manpower.

She wouldn't have guessed that these two boys were Uchiha prodigies, far more mature than others their age.

After buying a bag of dango at the counter, Pakura left the shop.

Once she was gone, Shisui wondered aloud, "Why would a Sand shinobi come to Konoha?"

Itachi, his cheeks puffed with dango, quickened his chewing upon hearing Shisui's question, eager to respond.

Shisui seemed to notice his eagerness and laughed softly, saying, "No rush."

Itachi nodded, slowing down his chewing, and after a moment, finally managed to swallow his mouthful of dango.

"What were you going to say?" Shisui asked after Itachi swallowed.

With a serious expression, Itachi replied, "I don't know why a Sand shinobi would come to Konoha either."

"…"

Shisui stared at him for a moment, then burst into laughter and lightly smacked Itachi on the head.

"Ugh." Itachi rubbed his head, looking at Shisui with slight annoyance.

"Alright, we're done with the dango. Let's go train," Shisui said, glancing at their empty plates with a smile.

"Okay," Itachi agreed, hopping down from his chair. Every training session excited him, as he always learned a lot from Shisui.

The two of them walked side by side out of the shop toward the training ground. As for Pakura from the Sand Village, they quickly forgot about her, as it wasn't something they could be involved in at this time.

Pakura, having left the dango shop, held the paper bag in one hand and a skewer of dango in the other, wandering aimlessly along the streets.

This dango… it's really good.

She squinted contentedly and soon saw a group of young shinobi with Konoha headbands on the street ahead.

"Hey, Guy, I'm a Jōnin now! How about a match?" said Obito, who wore goggles and bent over, talking intently to Guy, who was walking on his hands.

"Once I finish my 500 laps on my hands, I'll be happy to oblige!" Guy replied cheerfully.

Obito's face darkened, and he said, "You could finish this match with me first, then continue your laps, couldn't you?"

"No way," Guy declined firmly. "My set training routine comes first."

"…" Obito looked at Guy in exasperation. Having awakened his three-tomoe Sharingan, he had finally passed the Jōnin exam and been promoted. His first mission as a Jōnin was to challenge Guy and settle a score.

During the Chūnin exams, his overconfidence had led him to be knocked out with one punch from Guy —a memory that still haunted him. Now that he'd awakened his three-tomoe Sharingan and become a Jōnin, he couldn't wait to get revenge on Guy.

Three others trailed behind them: Rin, Kurenai, and Kakashi.

"Obito is in high spirits," Kurenai remarked with a sigh. It was rare to see someone willingly seek out a duel with Guy.

Rin laughed softly, saying, "Maybe he's just excited about being promoted to Jōnin."

"I'd be glad if that idiot kept Guy busy for a while," Kakashi said with his hands in his pockets, looking lazy. If Obito kept Guy occupied, Guy wouldn't constantly challenge him to spar.

Lately, Guy's taijutsu had been improving significantly, making it harder for Kakashi to keep up without using his sword, and he was starting to lose. So, he wasn't eager to spar with Guy anymore.

After all, his strength lay in the kenjutsu his father had taught him, which was designed to kill, and he couldn't use it freely in friendly sparring.

"Kakashi, you're doing it again." Hearing him call Obito an idiot, Rin scolded him softly.

Kakashi shrugged and, in his usual sharp-tongued manner, replied, "I'd love to change my mind, but Obito's behavior keeps reminding me of that nickname."

Rin looked at him helplessly and said, "Obito's been working really hard."

"Yeah." Kakashi raised a hand, scratching his eyebrow, and nodded, "That's something I can't deny."

"If you two didn't argue, you'd make a great team," Rin remarked, glancing between Kakashi and Obito. She smiled, thinking to herself: I must work hard too so I can be a support for both of you.

Kakashi rolled his eyes.

Looking at Obito and Gai ahead, Kurenai smiled wryly. "I actually think those two look more like a team."

Before she even finished speaking, Obito's frustrated voice echoed back. "There are still over 400 laps left! So, you're saying I have to wait until you finish over 400 laps on your hands?"

"Yep," Guy replied cheerfully.

Obito let out a groan, scratching his head in frustration. Trying to bargain, he said, "How about 100 laps instead?"

"Nope," Guy declined firmly.

Obito covered his face in despair.

Not far away, Pakura leaned against a wall, silently watching this scene unfold.

"Then hurry up already!" Obito shouted, exasperated. He'd waited so long for this moment, only to be stalled like this—it was driving him crazy.

Guy thought for a moment and then replied, "Alright." He then called to Kurenai behind him, "Kurenai, I'm heading out first!"

Without waiting for her response, he quickly started moving his hands, maintaining his handstand and kicking up a cloud of dust right in Obito's face before disappearing from view within seconds.

Everyone around stood in stunned silence, watching as Guy vanished into the distance, leaving a trail of dust behind him like a smoky dragon that passed Shisui and Itachi, who were on their way to the training ground.

Obito rubbed his temples, looking exasperated. Then, he noticed Shisui and Itachi and brightened up. "Yo, Shisui and Itachi!"

Shisui and Itachi walked over, and Kakashi and the others joined them.

"Obito," Shisui greeted with a smile.

"Hi, Obito-nii," Itachi said cheerfully.

Obito raised his eyebrows, leaned toward Itachi, and said playfully, "Itachi, you should call me Obito-senpai, got it?"

"Sure, Obito-nii," Itachi nodded, smiling.

"It's Obito-senpai!"

"Alright, Obito-nii."

"…"

Kakashi turned his head away, muttering softly, "Idiot."

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Currently on Chapter 345 - Slowly Deducing A God's Power