The hawk arrived just after dawn.
Its wings cut through the high clouds, flying fast and true toward a distant, wandering figure moving alone along the rocky ridges of the northern Land of Fire.
The scroll tied to its leg bore a red wax seal — urgent, official.
As always the legend is at the hot springs, Jiraiya heard the hawk, he looks away from his search and extend his arm up. The hawk lands and extend it's leg to him.
"Well well, got a letter from dear old sensei" Jiraiya comments taking the letter. "Thank you" He removes the wax seal and opens it. As he reads, his eyes narrowing as he read the words scrawled in hurried brushstrokes.
"Uzumaki Naruto is missing.
No sign since five days ago.
Disappeared before graduation.
No trace left behind.
Hiruzen"
Jiraiya's heart slammed in his chest.
"...Damn it."
Without hesitation, he hurry up and leaves the hot springs, and runs out of there. Every step kicked up dust and regret.
He genuinely hopes it's just a prank from his old teacher but old man isn't the one to make such jokes. His heart races with worries.
He'd tried not to think about it over the years — the decision to leave Naruto in Konoha. Alone. Untrained. Unloved. He told himself it was for the best, that the boy would grow up in safety, not dragged around by a man hunting shadows and secrets.
But what kind of safety was this?
Now Naruto was gone — and they didn't even know how or why.
"Could it be Orochimaru?" Jiraiya muttered as he moved, leaping over a ravine. "Root? Some rogue cult after the Nine-Tails? Damn it…"
He clenched his fists. He didn't stop. Not for food. Not for rest.
———
Hokage's Office – Konoha
The doors swung open with a loud creak as Jiraiya stepped in, looking out of breathe, hair messy as usual and looking worse. He never stops and kept running. Not a stop to take a rest, His eyes were tired and body sore but he didn't care. "What happened?" He asked him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up from his desk, eyes heavier than usual.
"You came fast," the old man said quietly.
Jiraiya didn't sit. "You said he vanished before graduation?"
Hiruzen nodded. "Disappeared in the night. No witnesses. He avoided every patrol, masked his chakra. We only found scattered clones that led nowhere."
Jiraiya's jaw tightened. "Clones?"
Hiruzen exhaled. "He's been more skilled lately. His academics didn't improve much, but he's grown sharper. Iruka mentioned his progress in taijutsu too."
Just then, the door opened again and Kakashi Hatake entered, his usual silence somehow more solemn than usual.
"Still no leads," Kakashi reported, nodding respectfully to Jiraiya. "We've swept every forest path for miles. Nothing but shadow clone residue."
Jiraiya turned sharply. "Hold on — shadow clones?"
Both men turned to him.
"Are you sure they weren't just regular clones?" Jiraiya asked, disbelief creeping into his voice. "The real thing? Not the basic Academy illusion?"
Kakashi nodded. "Confirmed. The dogs picked up strong chakra signatures. I dispelled one myself. It took a solid hit." Kakashi was relief to see Naruto however before he could even questioned, Naruto attack him and that's how he accidentally try to knock him out hard but he proof away. A clone. Kakashi curse loudly at his own mistake.
Jiraiya blinked. "But… how? That's a jōnin-level technique. Naruto couldn't even get past clone practice. You said he was a dead-last!"
There was a beat of silence.
Hiruzen looked down at his hands. "That's what we believed."
Jiraiya took a step back, mind spinning.
Kakashi crossed his arms. "You think someone trained him?"
"No, there is no one who could have trained Naruto..." Hiruzen sighs. "How did he knew Shadow clone... Or how he..." So many questions, he can't even begin where to answer these questions.
Jiraiya is lost, what the heck is going on? Where Naruto go? Who's he's with? Why? Where?
Where are you, Naruto?
———
The inn was tucked away in the edge of a quiet valley — a little run-down, but its warm lamps and sturdy walls were enough for three wandering shinobi to rest without drawing attention.
They took two rooms: one for Itachi and Kisame, and one for Naruto.
Outside, the rain had started again, soft against the rooftop, a constant hum in the background. Inside, Naruto sat cross-legged on the bed, cloak tossed aside, his shirt half-unzipped, drying from the drizzle.
He took a slow breath and opened the interface.
[System Panel – Active]
Points Remaining: 5
Skills:
• Shadow Clone Jutsu [Mastered]
• Basic Chakra Control [Stable]
• Wind Manipulation [Minor Affinity]
Special Item:
→ Uzumaki Sealing Jutsu – Lion Cage Seal
Description:
A complex Uzumaki-origin seal technique that immobilizes a target's chakra flow in a confined pattern of chains, forming a lion-shaped sealing cage. Highly effective on high-chakra targets.
Status: UNLOCKED – Requires Practice to Master
Naruto leaned forward, eyes narrowing.
"Sealing techniques… I never had a chance to learn any of these before," he murmured. "Not even with Jiraiya."
The jutsu instructions hovered in a glowing script beside him. Symbols. Movements. Chakra flow diagrams. It would take focus. Training. But something in his blood responded to it — like this was something meant to be his.
He whispered to himself, "Mom… was this what you knew how to do too?" Maybe, This time around, He can learn seals like her.
Then the corner of the screen pulsed faintly.
[Points: 5]
→ Gacha Pull Available (Single: 5 Points)
Naruto blinked. "Oh right… I got more points after the fight with Itachi."
He hesitated — then sat straighter. One more pull wouldn't hurt. Better than letting the points sit.
He tapped the interface.
The Gacha Wheel flickered into view, spinning with a whirl of color: symbols, scrolls, weapons, glowing orbs… one tile flashed crimson again, marked "???".
SPINNING…
Slowing…
STOP:
You Pulled: "Scroll of the Forgotten Flame – C-Rank Fire Technique: Ember Binding Chains"
Naruto raised an eyebrow.
> A fire-element chain technique developed from an incomplete Uzumaki-style formula. Requires Wind or Fire affinity. Uses fire-infused chakra to bind and burn targets. Damage increases with emotion.
"…Fire chains?" he murmured. "Another sealing hybrid?"
He leaned back on the bed, staring at the wood-paneled ceiling.
"I'm collecting jutsu like trading cards…"
But deep down, a spark of anticipation flickered. He'd never had access to this kind of power. Never had choices laid before him. It had always been work harder, catch up, survive.
Now — he could forge his own path.
Tomorrow, they'd leave for Amegakure. He'd meet Nagato, and perhaps Konan too. He didn't know if they'd test him… trust him… use him.
But he'd be ready.
He closed the interface with a small smirk.
"Let's see where this crazy path takes me."