Chapter 61

A/N: BITCHES IM BACKKKK FOR ANOTHER ROUND

ENJOY!

I have been running consistently for several days now. I did count the number of times the sun rose in the east, but for some reason, I found it unnecessary to keep track of such idle things when my number one priority right now is to survive.

Who knows how many of those Konoha ninjas Tsunade ordered to track me and kill me on the spot.

I jumped from one tree to another, the leaves crunching beneath my feet. I haven't been able to get out of this forest ever since Ryuujin left. It felt like I have been circling my way. And this forest only offered shadows and the unsettling whisper in the wind. I had to know if I was already caught in a trap.

I skidded to a halt. I haven't used this body of mine for several years now, so I don't know if I can detect chakra signatures like Lhexi does.

But, if Lhexi was able to do it...has the abilities of her soul been engraved to my body?

Lhexi is a sensor-type ninja, after all. And she had trained my body throughout the years.

I closed my eyes and focused on quieting the beat of my heart. I remember the snippets of conversations during Lhexi's time in Konoha, the whispers about sensor shinobi, about kneading chatora, about feeling the presence of others, about the endless books and scrolls Lhexi had buried her eyes into.

I took a deep breath and attempted to still my mind. I focused my chakra, the energy that flowed through my body, the unbelievable power that has been fueling me. It was a familiar sensation, like a warm current beneath my skin.

I tried to expand my awareness and pushed my chakra outward beyond the confinement of my physical body. At first, there was nothing but the rustling of leaves, the distant chirping of birds, and deer grazing the grass.

I sighed. This was pointless.

A faint tremor. My eyes opened wide.

There was a subtle shift in the energy around me, it resonated within my bones. It was almost imperceptible, like a whisper on the wind, but it was there.

I closed my eyes once more. I concentrated on focusing all my will on that fragile sensation. It grew stronger, they were distinct. Several of them were moving with speed. They were still distant but closing in like they knew the direction I was taking. I could sense the faint tang of malice clinging to their chakra signatures.

Without thinking twice, I sped up my movements. I don't know how I'd done it, how my untrained mind had managed to tap into this ability. Perhaps it was Lhexi's years of rigorous training, the countless hours she spent honing this body's senses.

Whatever the reason, I knew one thing for certain: they were coming, and I had to be ready.

'Right. I can do Naruto's special skill. Kage Bunshin.'

Just what would Lhexi do in this situation?

I pulled my hair into a tight bun before I had a sharp weapon form on my hand. I quickly snipped my hair and formed the ram sign.

A series of clones popped up beside me, and all of them grabbed hold of a piece of my hair before they all scattered in different directions.

'What else? What else would Lhexi do?'

I stopped momentarily on the ground. I buried my fingertips underneath the grass and sent a shockwave of chakra. I heard the sound of crystal ice forming beneath, I widened its scope as I continuously poured and weaved my chakra.

I stepped on it and wondered.

If someone apart from me were to run past this place, it would trigger the trap that I've set. I don't know what kind of trap it would emerge to be, but as long as it buys me time, then everything is set.

'It would even be better if this were to kill them.'

It took me a long time to leave traps underneath the ground before I reached a clear stream of water. An orange cascade enveloped the river before I looked behind me to see the sun already setting. I closed my eyes and focused my chakra once again before I pushed it out of my system. Besides the animals and plants, I haven't been able to detect any chakra signature that corresponds to a ninja.

"Did I manage to trick them?" I asked myself as I approached the stream of water.

The water's surface mirrored the fading twilight. I looked down at the same crimson that marred my skin. A fearsome battle, yes, but a necessary one.

The irony wasn't lost on me - washing away blood after a massacre. Konoha would call it a crime, but they painted the first stroke with my clan's blood, didn't they?

Their hypocrisy was a bitter taste in my mouth. It was a constant reminder of what they stole. Remorse? It was a luxury I couldn't afford. Survival was the only currency that mattered now.

I stripped off my red-tainted clothes. The cool air raised goosebumps on my skin as I stepped into the shallows, the frigid water biting at my ankles. It was a shock, which was a necessary halt to clear my head. I bent down, cupped my hands, bringing the water to my face. I tried scrubbing away the grime and the dried blood.

The river worked its magic. The crimson color dissipated and was replaced by the natural hue of my skin. Yet no matter how hard I scrubbed, I knew some stains would linger. The faces of those I killed, the desperate pleas, the chilling satisfaction of revenge.

But somehow. I felt a strange sense of detachment. The rage was still there, but it didn't quite feel the same. It didn't quite feel right. My only purpose in this world is to take revenge.

"Enough thinking," I mumbled to myself before I emerged from the river, and I allowed the cool breeze to dry my skin.

I picked up my dirty clothes and covered my skin with them.

Another full day passed. I haven't gotten a wink of sleep for a whole week straight as I have been too focused on running away. I paused as I sensed a dense amount of chakra signatures in close proximity.

Ten kilometers to say the least.

I need supplies, a temporary place to stay, and some sleep. I knew I had to be careful since, despite Konoha's reach being long, their spies could be anywhere.

The transformation technique was a second nature to Lhexi and to me as well. It was a necessity after all. But simply changing appearance wasn't enough. Lhexi had taught me.

Focusing my chakra, I began the transformation. My physical form shifted, bones contorting, muscles reshaping themselves. Height increased, shoulders broadened, and the subtle curves of my feminine frame hardened into masculine angles. Hair receded slightly, and the features of my face morphed into a more rugged, weathered appearance.

I deepened my voice, practicing a gruff tone to eliminate any trace of femininity. I adjusted my posture and adopted a wider stance, a more confident gait. Most importantly, I manipulated my chakra, masking my own unique signature and replaced it with a more generic, unremarkable one.

The village was small and nestled beside a gently flowing river. Lanterns have casted a warm glow on the dirt streets as I walked by. The air was filled with the comforting aroma of cooking food. Civilians bustled about, and I feigned a weary smile as I hoped to appear harmless and unassuming.

My goal was simple: gather information about potential safe havens and Konoha's movements, all while keeping a low profile.

I moved through the crowd carefully so as not to draw any attention. My immediate need was lodging, a safe place for the night where I could rest and plan my next move.

I walked towards a sweet potato stall. Smelling the scent of a sweet aroma in the air, I gave a polite greeting to the seller. It was a woman with a round face and a kind expression on her face. Albeit tired from selling all day long, probably, she ushered me to buy from her shop.

"You don't look from here. Traveling somewhere?" She asks.

I replied as I handed her a few coins. "Looking for work. It's been tough these days."

The woman smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "It's been like that for a long time." She selected a plump, golden brown sweet potato and handed it to me. The warmth radiated through my gloved fingers, and I smiled at the ironic sensation to my cold evening.

I took a small bite, savoring the sweetness. "I didn't know it would be this good."

She laughed. "Thank you, young man. I've been doing this for many years. It's a simple life, but it's a good one."

This was my chance. "I'm looking for a place to stay for the night. Do you know of any... inexpensive lodgings in town?"

The vendor considered my question, her gaze thoughtful. "Well, there's the small inn down the street," she said. "It's not fancy, but it's clean and the prices are reasonable."

"Thanks ma'am." I smiled.

The vendor leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Well, there are also a few farmhouses on the outskirts of town that sometimes take in travelers for a night or two. But they're not always easy to find, and they're not always... welcoming."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

The vendor hesitated for a moment, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. "Well, some of those farmers are a bit... wary of outsiders. They've heard the rumors, you know. About the ninja who attacked Konoha."

"You won't believe it...!"

She motioned me to come closer.

"It was a Ryuugaime they say...!"

My grip tightened on the sweet potato, my senses on high alert. The rumors were spreading faster than I had anticipated. "I see," I said, my voice carefully controlled. "So, it might be difficult for a stranger to find a place to stay?"

The vendor nodded, her expression grave. "It might. But if you're polite, and you offer to help with chores, you might be able to convince someone to take you in. Just be careful who you trust, young man. There are some folks in this world who would sell you out for a few coins."

I needed to be cautious, to trust no one. I knew that better than anyone. Better than Lhexi even. "Thank you for the advice," I said, offering her a grateful smile. "I appreciate it."

I finished the sweet potato, savoring the last bite as I arrived at the inn she was talking about. It was a modest-looking inn just like the potato seller described, its wooden sign was creaking gently in the breeze.

I approached the innkeeper, an older man with a weary face and kind eyes.

"Evening," I said, my voice carefully modulated to match my male persona. "Do you have a room available for the night?"

The innkeeper studied me for a moment, his gaze lingering a second longer than necessary. Perhaps he sensed something amiss, or perhaps he was simply checking my ability to pay. "We do," he said finally, his voice raspy. "A single room, upstairs. Five hundred ryo for the night."

I nodded, handing him the required sum. "Thank you."

He passed me a key attached to a worn wooden tag. "Room number three. Supper's at seven. Don't cause any trouble."

"I won't," I replied as I offered a polite bow.

The room was small and sparsely furnished, but clean. A straw mat covered the floor, and a thin futon lay neatly folded in the corner. A single window offered a view of the town square, now bathed in the soft glow of twilight. It wasn't much, but it was enough.

I secured the door and placed a small kunai beneath the latch as a makeshift alarm, a habit Lhexi ingrained in my body from years of living in a world of constant danger.

Exhaustion tugged at me, but I knew I couldn't afford to let my guard down completely.

As dusk settle, I made my way to the common room. The air was thick with the scent of cooking vegetables and simmering broth. A handful of other travelers and locals were already seated at the communal table. I took a seat in a darkened corner as I hoped to remain unnoticed.

"Evening," a voice rumbled beside me. An older man with a tired face and calloused hands nodded in my direction. He looked like a farmer or craftsman, someone who toiled with the land.

"Evening," I replied as I offered a curt nod.

The woman from the front desk, presumably the owner, placed a steaming bowl of miso soup and a plate of rice in front of us. "Eat up, you two," she said with a smile. "You both look like you've had a long day."

We ate in silence for a few moments, the only sound the gentle clinking of bowls and chopsticks. Then, the farmer cleared his throat and leaned closer to me. "You new to town?" he asked, his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Just passing through," I repeated, my voice carefully neutral.

"Heard some troubling news today, rumors really pass faster than wind," he continued, ignoring my guarded response. "Seems like that rogue ninja from Konoha is still out there. Wreaked havoc, they say."

My senses sharpened. Rogue ninja. Konoha. I forced myself to remain calm, to betray no reaction "Rogue ninja?" I asked, feigning ignorance. "What happened?"

"Terrible business," another villager interjected, a woman with a shawl draped over her shoulders. "Massacre, they say. Killed innocent civilians, even some ninja. All because of some grudge against Konoha."

"Konoha probably deserved it," the farmer muttered under his breath, earning a sharp glare from the woman. "Still, doesn't excuse killing innocent people."

My lips curled up.

"They say she's skilled," the woman continued, her voice laced with fear. "Deadly. The Konoha ninjas are searching for her, but she's like a ghost. Vanishes without a trace."

"They say she uses Hensojutsu," a younger man added, his eyes wide with concern. "Can change her appearance at will. Could be anyone, they say."

'You mean Transformation no Jutsu. Any ninja can use it.'

The woman nodded grimly. "That's right. Could be sitting right next to you, and you wouldn't even know it."

A chill ran down my spine, despite my best efforts to remain composed. They were talking about me, or at least, someone like me.

"Well, I say, let Konoha deal with their own mess," the farmer said, dismissing the conversation with a wave of his hand. "We got our own problems to worry about."

The other villagers nodded in agreement, and the conversation shifted to more mundane topics – the weather, the crops, local gossip. I continued to eat my soup, my mind racing. They had no idea who I was, what I had done. But the fear was there for them.

Finishing my meal, I excused myself and retreated to my room.

My mind was a whirlwind of calculations, weighing options, and assessing risks. Right, I haven't dealt with him yet.

"Kakashi..." I mumbled.

That fearsome man was still out there, his presence still a constant threat. I need to disappear, to find a place where I could truly vanish, where Konoha's influence wouldn't reach.

My gaze drifted towards the horizon, towards the distant, rolling hills that marked the border of the Land of Sound. The Land of Sound.

The Land of Sound...

"No. It's basically my one-way ticket to hell." I sighed.

A nation founded by Orochimaru himself, a haven for outcasts and experiments.

"Orochimaru," I muttered, the name a bitter taste on my tongue. "That snake."

The Land of Sound was a gamble, a dangerous proposition that could easily backfire. Orochimaru was a formidable opponent, a ruthless manipulator who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Associating with him, even indirectly, was a risk I couldn't afford to take.

"But what choice do I have?" I argued with myself, pacing back and forth in my room. "Konoha is hunting me. The Land of Fire is already probably keeping tabs on me. It's too much risk if I get into other nations. The Land of Sound is the only option left."

It was a long shot. But the potential rewards were too great to ignore. The Land of Sound was a melting pot of talent, a breeding ground for innovation and ambition. It was home to skilled ninja, cunning strategists, and brilliant scientists, all seeking to push the boundaries of what was possible.

"If I can avoid Orochimaru's direct influence, I might be able to find allies... no... talented experiments I can use." I mused.

I needed to build my strength, to gather resources, to prepare for the inevitable confrontation with Konoha. The Land of Sound was the only place where I could do that, where I could find the tools and the allies I needed to achieve my ultimate goal.

"Alright," I said, steeling my resolve.

But I couldn't simply waltz into the country; that's basically suicidal. I needed a plan, a strategy to minimize the risks and maximize my chances of success. I needed to identify potential entry points, to learn about the political climate, to understand the power dynamics within the Land of Sound

"First things first," I said, pulling out a map from my satchel I stole from one of the innkeepers. "I need to find the least guarded border crossing. Somewhere remote, somewhere that Konoha's dogs are less likely to cross."

I studied the map, tracing the winding roads and mountain passes that separated the Land of Fire from the Land of Sound. There were several potential entry points, but each one presented its own set of challenges.

"The northern route is too heavily guarded," I muttered, shaking my head. "The southern route is too close to The Land of Fire's territory. That leaves the western route, through the Valley of Lies."

I closed my eyes, focusing my chakra, and created a shadow clone. "Go," I commanded. "Find out everything you can. And be careful. If you encounter any trouble, dispel immediately."

The clone nodded and vanished into the shadows, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The Land of Sound was a gamble, a dangerous game with high stakes. But I was willing to take the risk, to bet everything on the chance of finding the strength and the allies I needed to achieve my vengeance.

"But first...I seriously need to get some sleep." I mumbled weakly. I set traps on the door before I quietly sank myself to sleep.

It wasn't long before I was stirred awake by my own mind. I sat up and looked at the clock hanging on the wall. It was close to midnight. Suddenly, a sharp, disorienting pain ripped through my mind, followed by a flood of fragmented images and sensations.

It was the unmistakable feedback from a dispelled clone, cut down before it could relay any useful information. Judging from the location, it was one of the clones that I made several days earlier.

The rush of memories was a chaotic jumble – a flash of silver hair, the glint of a Sharingan eye, a Lightning Cutter piercing the darkness.

Kakashi.

It was him. He was here. The realization sent a shiver of adrenaline through me. He had found me, or at least, found my clone, and his swift, decisive action spoke volumes about his intent.

The memories slammed into me once again with the force of a physical blow, momentarily staggering me. I saw lightning flash, the swift, merciless strike, the final, agonizing moments of my clone's existence. But more than that, I felt Kakashi's gaze, his silent condemnation.

"So, this is what you've become," I heard him say in my mind, his voice a low, cutting whisper. "All that training, all that potential... wasted on this."

For some reason, the disappointment felt like a sharp sting. Kakashi-sensei, the man who had seen potential in me. The man who had patiently guided my growth as a kunoichi. He had been more than just a teacher; he had been a mentor, a confidant, almost a father figure. And now, I had betrayed him, twisted his teachings into weapons against the very village he had sworn to protect.

"You always were a quick learner," I heard him say in my mind, the words laced with a bitter irony. "I just wish you had used your talents for something... better."

I could almost see the flicker of sadness in his visible eye, the barely perceptible tightening of his jaw. He had always been a master of concealing his emotions, but I knew him well enough to recognize the subtle signs. He wasn't just disappointed; he was...

...hurt?

The connection severed abruptly, leaving me gasping for air, my body trembling. Kakashi was coming. I knew it with chilling certainty. I know him. I fucking know that he won't hesitate. He wouldn't send subordinates; he would come himself. He is a man driven by a personal sense of responsibility, after all.

My body sprang into immediate action.

I jumped through the window and ran my way up to the roof. My stomach felt numb as I molded my chakra. I closed my eyes as I focused on discerning potent chakra signatures. Opening my eyes, I sighed.

"They're fast," I mumbled under my breath.

They wouldn't be able to pinpoint my location with my clones scattered around unless they had a really good sensor shinobi accompanying them. And this speed. I'm assuming they're riding a summon.

It won't be long before they catch up to me with their current speed.

Well, it's not like I don't have backup plans at my disposal. I raised my arms parallel to my shoulders, with the back of my palms facing me. I slowly brought my fingertips to touch each other to form a diamond shape with my hands.

"Hidden Art: Ice Labyrinth."

Third Person's POV

The bird shook, and Naruto found himself falling off the back of the hawk. Unsurprisingly, his first instinct was to grab Sasuke by the back of his collar, and everyone heard the poor Uchiha choking for breath as both of them fell off his summon.

"Sorry, Sasuke!" Naruto apologized with a wide, panicked grin.

"Usuratonkachi!" Sasuke cursed out loud as he called for his summon to catch them. "Tora!"

Inoichi deadpanned as he sighed at the sight of the two bickering nonstop once they were back in place. "Are they usually like this, Kakashi? This is an important mission, you know," Inoichi asks the silver-haired man sitting idly by with his legs crossed.

"Mah, they'll be fine," Kakashi smiled before he threw a glance at the two genin. "And it looks like Sasuke's winning."

"Look carefully where you're standing!" Sasuke berates and Naruto kneels immediately in apology. "No one is gonna pick you up if you fall one more time!"

Naruto pouted as he crossed his arms, but nodded nonetheless. "I know that ttebayo!"

"Sasuke," Kakashi calls, and the young boy looks up at him. "What's wrong with your hawk? He looks distressed."

Sasuke creases his eyebrows in return. "The air has changed."

The wind howled above the treetops as Sasuke's hawk carried its passengers across the dead of the night—Sasuke and Naruto at the front, Tenzo steady in the middle, Kakashi and Inoichi at the rear. The silence was tight, strained, the kind that wrapped around a mission that felt heavier than it should've been.

Suddenly, a flash of blinding blue-white light exploded below them, arcing skyward in frozen bursts. With a deafening crack, eight colossal pillars of ice surged into the sky, surrounding them in a perfect octagonal formation. They speared skyward to encase the group in a growing dome of frozen chakra.

The hawk shried, veering hard to avoid a rising spire but the cage closed in faster than it could escape.

"Hold on!" Tenzo shouted, wood erupting from his arms to catch Naruto and Sasuke mid-fall as the hawk vanished in a puff of smoke.

Each pillar twisted, icy spires chiseled like blades, glittering with chakra-infused frost. They continued to flow upwards, curving at their tips to connect in a lattice of crystalline arcs. The structure shimmered in radiant hues of turquoise and pale silver, reflecting the moon light like cut diamonds.

The dome sealed with a crystal snap, like a giant heart locking shut. Everyone landed hard, but intact, thankfully, inside the barrier. Frost creeped towards their feet as it licked across the ground. The inside of the dome shimmered with suspended flakes of snow, as if time had stalled mid-winter.

"Ugh--I'm too young to die ugly," Naruto wheezed dramatically from the floor, face-down in a pile of frost.

"You were never in danger of dying pretty," Sasuke muttered.

"Rude."

Inoichi placed his hands on his hips. "She got us."

Kakashi was already scanning the barrier with his Sharingan. "To think she planned this ahead."

"She has a good teacher," Tenzo commented.

That actually hurt.

Naruto scrambled up, his breath visible in the sudden cold. "Did Lhexi-chan set this trap?!"

"More like invited us into it," Tenzo muttered, eyes darting for any signs of movement beyond the ice.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he kept a watch on Naruto. "She knew we were coming."

Naruto frowned. "So she wanted us here?"

"Worse," Kakashi said. "She's testing how close we'll get before we break."

Sasuke's fists clenched. She always knew more about Sasuke than he did about her. They had the same past and yet..." She never said a word," he mutters.

"Trauma's funny that way," Inoichi murmured, guessing Sasuke was at a loss because of their similar past. "It makes people lie through kindness."

Naruto looked between the adults. "So... we are still trying to bring her back, right? Like, not... murder?"

Kakashi didn't answer right away.

Instead, he pulled out his little orange book, flipped it open halfway, and sighed. "Plan A is to bring her back. Plan B... well."

Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Is that book even relevant to this?"

"Emotionally? Always."

Tenzo leaned forward. "We're not here to lecture her. We're here because she's a threat to the entire village."

The frost didn't melt. Not with their chakra. Not with Tenzo's wood release. Not with fire.

They were trapped—for now.

The silence within the dome grew sharp as blades until Naruto broke it with a loud sigh and an even louder stretch.

"So, what now? We wait until she shows up and throws another icicle party?"

"I swear," Sasuke muttered, rubbing his temples, "do you ever shut up?"

"Do you ever unclench?"

"Do you even know what that means?"

Kakashi glanced between them, half-lidded eye unreadable. "Boys," he drawled, "if you keep this up, I'll assume you want Lhexi to find us mid-slap fight."

Naruto's face scrunched. "She'd laugh. Remember when she used to rank our arguments? I was always funnier."

Sasuke turned away. "She was always lying to you."

The air turned colder. And not from the ice.

Kakashi said nothing, but his visible eye flinched. Just for a second.

"She didn't even say goodbye," Naruto muttered, breaking the quiet again. "Just disappeared like she never existed."

Sasuke clicked his tongue. "Maybe she was never real to begin with."

Kakashi exhaled slowly, closing his eyes for a moment before speaking. "Don't say that, Sasuke."

"What? You believed in her, too?" Sasuke asked, a little too sharp, a little too defensive. "She played us all."

"Calm down," Kakashi said, his voice quieter. "You're letting your emotions get to you."

Sasuke snapped. "Tch."

Naruto stood near one pillar, absently tracing the patterns in the ice with a gloved finger. Sasuke was across from him, arms crossed, jaw tight. Neither spoke.

"You're clenching your jaw," Naruto muttered.

"So are you."

"Yeah, well...your face looks like a stuck-on scowl."

"At least I have a face and not a ramen noodle."

Kakashi, standing beside Tenzo and Inoichi a few paces away, didn't look up from the slowly forming frost on his fingers. "Glad to see the maturity levels are consistent," he said flatly. "We're preparing to confront someone who could collapse this entire dome on us without a thought, and you two are playing verbal dodgeball."

"I'm not playing anything," Sasuke muttered. "I just—" He stopped himself. The words caught, sharp in his throat.

Naruto glanced over, his voice quieter now. "We're both thinking it, y'know."

They didn't say her name. The ice around them seemed to whisper it enough.

The wind howled in the Land of Iron, snow flurrying in wild circles. Naruto remembered being pinned down, throat burning from a wound, body dangerously weak.

A blur passed over him, and a wall of ice burst from the ground in front of him, shimmering with crystal veins, saving him from getting killed.

He looked back at the one who cast the jutsu, her arms outstretched. Her eyes, golden, like twin suns behind frost.

He never forgot the way she stood in front of him, unmoving. But he'd never told anyone because—

"I thought maybe her eyes just got weird in the cold," Naruto muttered aloud.

Three Jounin heads turned toward him in unison.

"...What?" Kakashi said slowly.

"I mean—they were golden. Super glowy. But I didn't think it was important—"

Inoichi pinched the bridge of his nose. Tenzo groaned.

Kakashi made a very deliberate show of closing his book.

"You saw her eyes and didn't say anything?"

"I thought she was just... doing a cool jutsu look!"

"You thought golden eyes, a bloodline-specific trait, was a jutsu look?" Tenzo asked, deadpan.

Naruto blinked. "I mean... yeah, they glowed. Kinda gold. Like a sunset. Just once."

There was a silence that followed—too silent.

"Naruto," Kakashi said slowly, voice dangerously calm. "When?"

"Uh..." Naruto squinted, thinking. "That mission in the Land of Iron? Remember? When Lhexi-chan was fighting this frosty dude."

Kakashi nodded. "So that time huh?"

"Yeah! That moment. This frosty dude was after my throat and—bam—ice everywhere. But before that, I saw her eyes turn gold. Like... glowing amber or something. Cool-looking. I figured it was just a chakra thing?"

Inoichi's mouth dropped slightly open. "You saw a Ryuugaime trait manifest—and you didn't say anything?"

Naruto shrugged, sheepish. "I thought it was just... y'know, one of her weird jutsu quirks. Like when Gai-sensei glows green."

"That's from youthful spirit, not a kekkei genkai," Tenzo said flatly.

Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're an idiot."

"Hey! Excuse me for not being an expert on glowing eyeballs! People's eyes do weird stuff in battle!"

"Inoichi's eyes go blank, the Hyuuga's go all veiny, mine bleed sometimes—this is normal to you?" Kakashi's voice held the faintest trace of exasperation.

Naruto crossed his arms. "Okay, in my defense, none of you glowed like sunlight through honey. That was new."

Tenzo sighed deeply. "That was the bloodline warning flag, Naruto."

"You've been walking around with proof that Lhexi was a Ryuugaime and didn't mention it once?" Inoichi's voice was rising now.

"I forgot! I mean—I remembered now! Isn't that helpful?!"

The three Jounin exchanged glances, perfectly synchronized in their restrained disbelief.

There was a long pause.

Then Kakashi tilted his head. "Do we hit him one at a time or together?"

Naruto yelped and ducked behind Sasuke. "You wouldn't hit someone with this much charm!"

Sasuke deadpanned, "You mistake stupidity for charm again."

Naruto stuck his tongue out. "Yeah, well at least I didn't lose to her ten out of ten times in training!"

Sasuke's eye twitched. "She let me win half, you moron."

There was a beat.

"...Wait, what?" Naruto blinked. "She let you win?"

"Shut up."

Inoichi turned away, muttering something about children being sent on world-ending missions.

Naruto looked up at the jagged ceiling of ice, a faint glow dancing along the inner surface.

"...So that moment wasn't just cool. It was her slipping."

Sasuke didn't respond—but his grip tightened around the hilt of his kunai.

Kakashi's gaze stayed fixed on the frost-laced arc above them. He was quiet for a while—so long, in fact, that Sasuke was the first to break the silence.

"...Kakashi?"

He didn't look at them yet.

"I've been watching the dome," Kakashi finally said, his tone low and calm. "From the moment it formed."

That got everyone's attention.

Inoichi straightened. "You think you can break it?"

Kakashi nodded once. "It's an advanced Ice Style formation. Eight pillars forming an arc—chakra lines weave between them like veins. It's not meant to kill us. It's meant to stall."

"Which means she's buying time to get away," Tenzo muttered.

"Exactly," Kakashi said. "And she thinks she bought enough."

Naruto blinked. "Wait... are you saying we can catch her?"

A small, sharp smile ghosted under Kakashi's mask. "I'm saying we're not as slow as she thinks."

He turned to the genins. "Sasuke. You still have your hawk summon?"

Sasuke nodded.

"Good. We'll need the aerial view again—just briefly."

He turned to Naruto. "You, Rasengan. I'll need you to hit a specific node."

Naruto lit up. "I knew you were plotting something!"

"You're loud. I needed you not plotting anything," Kakashi deadpanned, then gestured to the nearest ice pillar. "This dome channels her chakra in a perfect spiral. But the binding seal is weakest near the sixth and seventh pillars. Probably because she set them last. Sloppy, by her standards."

"Still good enough to stall three jounin-level ninja," Inoichi noted dryly.

"Three and two half-baked knuckleheads," Kakashi corrected, then turned back to Naruto and Sasuke. "But I trained you two. So we'll make do."

Naruto grinned. Sasuke rolled his eyes, but the tension in his shoulders lessened just a bit.

"So what's the plan?" Tenzo asked.

Kakashi tapped his fingers together, eyes narrowed.

"Sasuke takes to the air. Inoichi will link us mentally to time the strike. Naruto and I will hit the weak point simultaneously—him with Rasengan, me with Lightning Blade. It should shatter the spiral without triggering a backlash."

"And if it does trigger a backlash?" Inoichi asked calmly.

Kakashi shrugged. "Then we die stylishly."

"...Great," Sasuke muttered.

"But you're serious," Inoichi said. "You actually figured all this out mid-conversation?"

Kakashi finally looked at him, and the faint curve of a smirk tugged his mask. "I can grieve and analyze architecture at the same time."

That earned a quiet snort from Tenzo.

"Alright then," Inoichi said, rolling his shoulders. "Let's move. We still have to catch her."

"And end this," Kakashi murmured. But his tone carried no joy—only purpose.

Behind his visible eye, memories flickered like dying stars—Lhexi's laughter, her grin, her subtle, casual remarks to apprehend the two knuckleheads.

Then he stopped reminding himself of those memories.

He didn't know which version of her was the truth anymore.

But he did know one thing.

He owed it to her—and the people she'd once saved—to finish this the right way.

A/N:

Am I dragging this way toooo longggg?

I still haven't written a draft about their confrontation soo, yeah! Bear with me for now.

I just realized that Lhexi hasn't made an appearance for the past few chapters.

And naruto is getting more and more complex to write. But I kinda like how Naruto and Sasuke's dynamics turned out in this story.