Leaving the Black Tide Mountain Castle, they crossed hills and forests. The moment they emerged from the forest, a vast, blue ocean stretched out before them. Along the rocky shore, a medium-sized wooden ship, capable of carrying over a hundred passengers, was docked in a cove carved out by ninjas.
How could they venture out to sea without a boat?
The nameless island, where the Mist Ninja army's command center was located, was quite far from the mainland. Even the Mist Ninjas had to use boats to launch attacks. With the Senju and Uzumaki clans' descendants becoming so scarce that their bloodlines were nearly extinct, those who didn't worry about depleting their chakra were rare. In the end, sea travel still depended on ships.
The dozen or so ninjas stationed on the ship saw Sougen, leading the charge, and rushed to greet him in a flurry.
"Prepare to set sail, same destination as before."
Sougen boarded the ship with his group. After giving the order, his subordinates scattered to begin preparations. With the sailing details out of his hands and no interest in interfering with others' expertise, all Sougen cared about was reaching that nameless island, which wasn't even recorded on maps.
He had other matters to attend to.
"Naruto, are you searching for information about your parents?"
In the ship's dining hall, Naruto and the others had rushed over without having time for lunch, so Sougen brought the kids to eat. Yakumo and Fujiwara had already eaten, but they were curious about what Naruto had said earlier, so they tagged along.
Additionally, Uchiha Shisui, Kakashi Hatake, and Might Guy joined them for a meal.
With a battle looming, fighting on an empty stomach was a bad idea.
But no one expected Sougen to bring up such a topic at that moment. Kakashi choked on his food, only to be saved by Guy, who kindly offered him water. Barely able to thank him, Kakashi nervously clenched his fist, debating whether to interrupt the conversation.
He was terrified that Naruto might learn the truth about his parents now and lose control. Guy, however, placed a calming hand on Kakashi's shoulder. "Kakashi, don't act rashly. I think Lord Sougen knows what he's doing. As for Naruto… you should think carefully before taking action."
It was amusing that, many times, the so-called secret was known by everyone but the person in question.
Even someone as seemingly simple as Guy knew about Naruto's lineage. Naruto was the orphan of the Fourth Hokage, the man who, like the winter sun, radiated warmth. He had once asked Guy and Kakashi to befriend Naruto—a promise Guy still remembered fondly.
Kakashi froze.
How to handle his relationship with Naruto, and whether to reveal the truth about his parentage, weighed heavily on him. He had resolved to protect Naruto, but realized that resolve wasn't enough. The problem didn't dissolve with determination—it remained an immovable mountain in front of him.
Naruto, too, was taken aback. He put down his chopsticks. "Brother Sougen? I..."
"What? Is that not it? Or is there something else you're hesitant to say?" Sougen asked.
"... I just overheard some rumors in the village."
"But haven't you been dwelling on those rumors? Doesn't that mean you want to know about your parents? There's nothing strange about that. Every child wants to know who their parents are, what kind of people they were... it's normal, nothing to be embarrassed about."
Naruto fell silent.
Even after Sougen's reassurance, he didn't ask further about his parents.
"Naruto, you're indeed a smart child," Sougen sighed. "Did Yagura slip up and let you notice the truth? Or had you already started to suspect?"
Naruto hung his head, silently fiddling with his rice.
Fujiwara looked puzzled, while Yakumo observed Naruto thoughtfully, realizing the rumors were true. Naruto was actually the child of the Fourth Hokage—an astonishing revelation!
"A shattered mirror cannot be made whole again. Once a lie is exposed, ignoring the truth won't make it disappear. Self-deception may bring temporary peace, but some things must eventually be faced," Sougen said sharply. "And with your unique situation, you can't escape, even if you want to."
His words, like a sharp blade, cut through the protective cocoon Naruto had wrapped around himself.
"But even if I know the truth, what does it change?" Naruto's voice grew sharp.
Back in the park, Naruto had naively thought that if he were the Fourth Hokage's child, people might stop hating him. But when he began to suspect that he truly was the Hokage's son, instead of feeling happy, he became even more tormented.
If he really was the Fourth Hokage's son—a hero's child—then why had he been labeled a "demon fox" by the villagers? He couldn't find the words to express his pain and anger.
That's why he had denied any connection to the Fourth Hokage in front of Yakumo and Fujiwara. The pain was unbearable, so he tried to deceive himself, to ignore the reality that was closing in.
"It changes nothing," Sougen responded calmly. "Your deceased parents won't come back, and the malice you've endured since childhood won't magically vanish. Those are things you can't change. But... you can choose your future. The future is in your hands."
"The future?" Naruto murmured, looking up.
"Yes, the future!" Sougen nodded. "Not everyone can control their future. Most people just go with the flow of fate. Seizing your future isn't something you can do by simply saying so."
Naruto lowered his head again, his chopsticks moving once more.
Sougen wasn't disappointed. Seeds take time to sprout and grow. Patience is part of the process. He looked forward to seeing whether Naruto would bloom like a fragrant flower, grow as a deadly fungus, or become something ordinary like weeds.
Naruto's future was a research subject worth observing.
He eagerly awaited the emergence of a different Naruto Uzumaki.
---
On the nameless island, the Mist Ninjas had set up a sprawling camp among the island's forests. Thousands of them gathered there. Unlike the need to spread their forces thin to defend a long coastline, the Mist Ninjas only had to establish camps at a few key points. This naturally extended their reach over much of the eastern coast of the Land of Fire.
In addition to this camp, there were two other bases.
"Full Moon, have you heard the rumor?" At one corner of the camp, after completing a mission, Hozuki Mangetsu, Zabuza Momochi, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Ameyuri Ringo were eating when Zabuza suddenly asked.
"A rumor?" Mangetsu looked confused. "What rumor?"
"The one about the Fourth Mizukage being captured by Konoha," Zabuza said, chewing on a dry rice ball.
"Oh, that one! Yeah, I heard it. That was a few days ago, right? Then the Fourth Mizukage showed up to patrol the camp, and the rumor died down... Why do you ask? Don't tell me you still think the current Mizukage is a fake?" Mangetsu joked.
"Why not?" Zabuza's face was dead serious.
"If the Mizukage in camp is a fake, it would explain the reckless strategies lately that have been sending people to their deaths. Besides, I've noticed changes in his habits and behavior. It all started around the time that rumor began spreading..." Zabuza pulled out a notebook, ready to share his observations.
As for why he had been observing the Mizukage, he didn't bother explaining. There was no need. In Mist Village, assassinations, rebellions, and coups were common. Yagura had survived numerous assassination attempts, and even Mangetsu was considering taking him out.
Kisame remained silent, his eyes gleaming with interest.
Ameyuri Ringo, a lightning-style genius, couldn't care less about their discussion. As long as she could enjoy the thrill of battle, she didn't mind whether the Mizukage was real or fake. For now, she still had a sense of loyalty to the village, though it was uncertain how long that would last.
Mist Village had more rogue ninjas than any other.
Konoha, unable to match their numbers, had to rely on quality. A single Orochimaru could equal a hundred Mist Ninjas.
"So, what are you planning to do?" Mangetsu asked, setting down his empty bowl.
"I…" Zabuza began, but suddenly fell silent. He perked up his ears, listening intently to faint explosions in the distance. His expression changed instantly, and without a word, he stood alongside Mangetsu, Kisame, and Ameyuri.
(End of chapter)