Naruto: The new beginning

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Naruto perked up his ears, thinking he had misheard, and asked again, "Where?"

Kakashi repeated, "We're heading to Amegakure, in the Land of Rain."

Naruto froze for a moment. 'Amegakure? Seriously? Are we delivering invitations or express packages?' He thought. 'Even if Dad wanted to help Jiraiya with some hidden agenda, wouldn't that be a bit harsh on his son?'

Sakura, sensing there was more to this, asked, "Kakashi-sensei, isn't long-distance correspondence usually handled by messenger hawks? Why are we delivering it in person?"

"That's what I was about to explain," Kakashi said gravely. "There's a dangerous organization in the ninja world called the Akatsuki. According to intelligence, nearly all of its core members are S-rank missing-nin. Orochimaru, for instance, was once a member."

"At first, the Akatsuki operated under the guise of a low-profile mercenary group, but recently, their actions have escalated. From high-level assassinations to inciting wars between nations, they'll take on any job if the price is right."

Kakashi continued, "Hanzo of the Salamander, Amegakure's former leader, hasn't been seen in years. It's suspected he's been killed, and the Akatsuki may have seized control of the village."

"This mission is officially about delivering an invitation, but in reality, we're tasked with observing the situation in Amegakure. If the Akatsuki truly hold power there, we need to gather intelligence."

Naruto felt uneasy. He knew the Akatsuki's involvement was real, but he couldn't prove it.

Except for Itachi, who hadn't yet joined during this timeline, most of the Akatsuki members were likely already in play.

As for Deidara, his status was uncertain. In the anime, Itachi was captured with genjutsu and brought in would that still happen here?

Sasuke instinctively gripped the hilt of his Chidori katana. The thought of confronting S-rank missing-nin intrigued him.

With Amegakure's terrain favouring lightning-style techniques, he felt it could play to his strengths.

Sakura, however, voiced her concerns. "If this mission is so dangerous, I might end up being a liability…"

Kakashi smiled reassuringly. "Sakura, you've been training with Lady Tsunade for quite some time now. I've seen how much you've improved. Have a little more confidence in yourself."

"It's not just about confidence," Sakura replied. "It's because of a technique I'm practising. It's… complicated."

She explained, "I've been working on the Yin Seal. Unlike regular jutsu, it requires a massive amount of chakra stored over time, and the process can't be interrupted."

"Although the training is gruelling, its benefits are worth it. Once completed, it unlocks Creation Rebirth, allowing rapid regeneration. With it, you can endure even critical injuries, like being impaled by a Susanoo blade or worse."

Sakura hesitated before adding, "But the most alluring part for a kunoichi? Eternal youth. Tsunade-sama's mastery allows her to appear as if she's in her twenties or thirties at will. It's no wonder Jiraiya-sama is so smitten with her!"

Naruto smirked, wondering if Hinata could learn the Yin Seal someday. However, he doubted Tsunade would teach it to just anyone.

Besides, it wasn't a matter of secrecy; mastering the Yin Seal required precise chakra control and advanced medical knowledge skills few could achieve.

With Sakura's current chakra reserves, it would take her at least three years to store enough.

Until then, she'd constantly be draining her chakra, leaving her vulnerable. This was why she feared being a liability on such a high-stakes mission.

"There's no need to worry about that," Kakashi interjected. "This mission was specifically assigned to our team by Lord Hokage because Naruto has the Flying Thunder God Technique. If things go south, he can evacuate us immediately."

Despite Kakashi's assurance, Naruto suddenly had an idea. Why not share some of Kurama's chakra with Sakura?

"Hey, Kurama," Naruto called internally. "Mind sharing a bit of chakra with my teammates?"

"Do as you like," Kurama replied indifferently. "I've got more chakra than I know what to do with."

"Alright!" Naruto cheered, reaching out to Kurama before realizing he didn't actually know how to distribute chakra effectively.

"Uh… Kurama, I might need your help here. Chakra manipulation isn't exactly my forte…"

Kurama sighed. "What a pain. Fine, let me handle it." Taking control of Naruto's body, Kurama opened his eyes, now glowing with vertical pupils.

Sasuke and Sakura tensed as they felt a shift in Naruto's presence a momentary wave of overwhelming power that quickly subsided.

Kurama, controlling Naruto's body, said, "Hey, pink-haired one, give me your hand."

Sakura blinked in surprise, startled by the sudden request. The fact that Kurama referred to her as "pink-haired one" instead of "Sakura-chan" caught her off guard and she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of approval.

When their fists touched, an orange-red aura enveloped Sakura. She felt a surge of raw power, her body instantly brimming with energy.

"What… what is this?" Sakura stammered, staring at her hands in amazement.

Sasuke and Kakashi were equally shocked. They had never seen anyone transfer chakra like this.

"Well? Don't just stand there gawking," Kurama grumbled.

Regaining control, Naruto chuckled. "Give it a try, Sakura. See how it feels!"

Sakura closed her eyes and focused. The chakra felt immense yet controlled, as if her entire body were overflowing with strength. For the first time in a long while, she felt invincible.

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