The past five years had quietly flown by.
Konohagakure.
The village was still as imposing as ever, surrounded by its towering wooden walls. A few Konoha shinobi patrolled lazily, clearly uninterested in their mundane task. Suddenly, a tall figure appeared on the horizon, stepping into their line of sight.
The man was broad-shouldered and towering, his presence exuding an overwhelming aura of raw power. Chakra rippled around him, unrestrained and palpable. The shinobi, driven by their instincts, felt a lump in their throats. This man was no ordinary traveler, he was a force to be reckoned with.
Summoning their courage, the patrol stepped forward to intercept him at the village's barrier. The leader, clad in the standard Konoha vest, barked out sharply,
"Identify yourself!"
The newcomer didn't respond. His gaze lingered briefly on the gates of Konohagakure.
It was said that these gates were the safest in the shinobi world—so secure that even someone like Pain had hesitated to breach them. But what ripples would it create if someone like him forced his way through?
Before the situation could escalate, a large, rotund shinobi appeared, his sudden arrival breaking the tension. This was Akimichi Torifū, the newly appointed commander of Konohagakure's guard detail.
"My apologies, Lord Kakuzu," Torifū said with a slight bow. "These are newly stationed guards and didn't recognize you."
Torifū was even broader and more imposing than before, his stature a testament to his strength.
Kakuzu waved it off.
"No matter. Take me to see Sarutobi. We have a prior agreement to discuss."
"Of course, Lord Kakuzu. Right this way."
As Torifū escorted Kakuzu into the village, the bustling streets unfolded before them. Shops lined the wide roads, and the laughter of children filled the air as they played. The village had transformed drastically since the last time Kakuzu had been here.
Now, it was Year 22 of the Leaf Calendar, and Konoha had undergone a remarkable evolution compared to the days when Kakuzu first set foot in the village.
It was true that the deaths of the First and Second Hokage had diminished Konoha's military might. Back then, the village had been unrivaled in nearly every respect. But under Sarutobi Hiruzen's leadership, Konoha's economy had flourished, making it a symbol of prosperity.
At one of the village's training grounds, Konoha's current Team 7 was hard at work.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood at the forefront, commanding the session. Though not yet thirty, the weight of his responsibilities as Hokage had etched lines into his young face.
Before him stood his three students: Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru.
Tsunade was radiant, full of youthful energy. Orochimaru, calm and composed, exuded a maturity that seemed beyond his years. Meanwhile, Jiraiya's attention wandered, his gaze lingering far too long on Tsunade as he daydreamed about asking her out after training.
Hiruzen was in the middle of teaching them the Shadow Shuriken Jutsu. Orochimaru mastered it after a single demonstration, prompting Tsunade to shoot him an envious glance. Jiraiya, refusing to be outdone, stepped forward to show off—only to fumble spectacularly.
"Shadow Shuriken... !"
His clumsy execution sent the weapons flying wildly in every direction, earning exasperated looks from Tsunade and Hiruzen.
Hiruzen pinched the bridge of his nose, fighting the urge to scold his wayward student. Just as he was about to intervene, he spotted Kakuzu and Torifū approaching from afar.
"Wait here," he instructed his students before heading toward the visitors.
"Kakuzu-sama, you've finally arrived," Hiruzen greeted, his tone respectful. Though he now held the title of Hokage, he hadn't forgotten the reverence owed to Kakuzu—a man who had once stood alongside the Second Hokage.
Kakuzu offered a faint smile and handed Hiruzen a scroll.
"The Second's remains are intact. It's time he returns to where he belongs."
Hiruzen accepted the scroll solemnly. He didn't question Kakuzu's motives; he knew the deep bond between his teacher and Kakuzu. For Hiruzen, it was enough that his master's body could finally come home.
"Kakuzu-sama, since you're back in Konoha, why not stay for a few days?"
Kakuzu chuckled softly. Was Hiruzen hoping to show off his achievements? It didn't matter—Kakuzu still had unfinished business here.
As they conversed, Hiruzen's three students approached, curiosity getting the better of them.
"Greetings, Lord Kakuzu," Tsunade said warmly. She remembered seeing him at her grandfather's funeral years ago.
Orochimaru followed suit, bowing respectfully.
"It's an honor to meet you, sir. My name is Orochimaru." His demeanor was composed, even endearing—a far cry from the sinister persona he would later adopt.
Finally, Jiraiya stepped forward, his boisterous personality on full display.
"Haha! Nice to meet you, old-timer! You're looking at the future's strongest ninja, the great Jiraiya-sama!"
Jiraiya's grand proclamation made Hiruzen cringe inwardly.
"Jiraiya, you brat, what did I tell you about running your mouth? Do you want me to—" Sarutobi Hiruzen was just about to give his disobedient student a piece of his mind when Kakuzu chuckled and held him back.
Jiraiya wasn't being disrespectful, it was just his nature. He had this innate, easy-going personality that made him naturally sociable. It reminded Kakuzu a little of a young Naruto—always seeking attention, often through mischief. But unlike Naruto, Jiraiya's antics carried no malice. If anything, Kakuzu found them... amusing.
"Hah, Jiraiya, huh? I don't know if you'll ever become the strongest ninja," Kakuzu said with a sly grin, "but I'm certain you'll be the biggest pervert. Am I wrong?"
"Pfft!" Tsunade couldn't help but burst out laughing. Even the usually composed Orochimaru cracked a rare smile, biting his lip to suppress it.
Jiraiya, flustered by the unexpected jab, scrambled to recover his dignity.
"Y-You! How could you say that about me?" His face turned beet red, and he wished he could crawl into a hole to escape the embarrassment.
Hiruzen quickly waved his hand to defuse the situation.
"Alright, alright, enough of this 'you this' and 'you that.' Show some respect. Let me formally introduce you all—this is Lord Kakuzu."
"He's my senior," Hiruzen continued. "You brats should address him as... grandfather. Got it? From now on, don't go around shouting random nicknames. It's just not polite—"
"Wait, what did you just call me?" Kakuzu's eyes widened in disbelief as Hiruzen's words echoed endlessly in his mind.
Grandfather.
Grandfather.
The term rang like a nightmare in Kakuzu's head, hammering at his soul. For a moment, his mind drifted back through the ages. He was someone with a modern soul, reincarnated into this chakra-filled world. He hadn't even achieved his goals yet—no wife, no kids, no cozy family life. And now? They were calling him grandfather?!
"SARUTOBI HIRUZEN!!!" Kakuzu's voice thundered, snapping Hiruzen out of his obliviousness.
"Kakuzu-sama, what's wrong?" Hiruzen asked, genuinely confused.
"What's wrong? You senile old fool!" Kakuzu roared. "I'LL TEACH YOU SOME MANNERS!"
His iron-hard fist shot forward with a vengeance. Jiraiya being tactless? Clearly, he'd inherited it directly from this idiot teacher of his! Like master, like student—it ran in their bloodline!
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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