The next moment, Naruto appeared in a dark room—not his own. The air was cold and carried the faint scent of pine and damp wood. A single low lantern burned on a side table, casting long, flickering shadows across tatami mats.
Tsunade lay on a futon against the far wall, blanket pulled to her chin, breathing slow and even in sleep.
Before Naruto could take a step, two shadows exploded through the paper-screened windows—glass shards tinkling to the floor.
Kakashi and Yamato materialized in a heartbeat—kunai drawn, bodies low, eyes sharp.
Kakashi lunged first—Lightning Blade crackling faintly in his right hand. Yamato followed a half-step behind, wood tendrils already sprouting from his palms.
In Naruto's vision, they moved slowly—almost in slow motion. He sighed.
He sidestepped Kakashi's thrust with a casual lean, then twisted his hips to duck Yamato's wooden spikes. The two jōnin collided mid-attack—Kakashi's shoulder slamming into Yamato's chest.
*Bak!*
They crashed into each other hard—kunai clattering, wood splintering—and hit the floor in a tangle of limbs.
Tsunade's eyes snapped open. She rolled off the futon in one fluid motion, feet planting wide, fists already raised. Her gaze locked on Naruto standing calmly in the middle of the room.
She exhaled through her nose.
"Naruto," she said, voice low and tired. "What brings you here?"
Naruto shrugged, hands in his pockets. "Well… I was bored. So I decided to pull up and see all the other Kage." He smirked. "I mean, I'm gonna be the next Hokage, right?"
Tsunade sighed again—deeper this time, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Kakashi and Yamato disentangled themselves, wincing. Kakashi rubbed his shoulder; Yamato pressed a palm to his forehead where a bruise was already blooming.
"You could have at least blocked our attacks, you know?" Yamato muttered, voice strained.
Naruto shrugged again. "Mistakes happen."
He walked over to the wooden hatch that served as a window, sliding it open with one hand.
A cold breeze rushed in—sharp, carrying the smell of snow and mountain stone. Thick white fog pressed against the opening, swirling like smoke. Visibility dropped to a few meters; distant peaks were swallowed entirely.
Naruto stared for a second, then slid the hatch shut with a soft *click*.
'So they're already near where the summit is held. Nice.'
He turned back. "Where are we exactly?"
"Samurai country," Tsunade answered, arms crossed. "Tomorrow we head to the Iron Country for the summit."
"Cool," Naruto said. "Always wanted to meet samurai." He paused, then added under his breath, "Wonder if Gaara will come. Well… more importantly, Temari."
Tsunade's eye twitched.
She stared at him—long, hard, vein pulsing faintly on her forehead.
Kakashi and Yamato immediately looked away—very interested in the ceiling cracks and floorboards.
Tsunade marched over, grabbed Naruto by the collar of his jacket, and yanked him toward the door.
He didn't resist—just let her drag him out, feet sliding across the tatami.
As the sliding door shut behind them with a sharp *thump*, Naruto's smirk widened under his breath.
'I love rage-baiting her.'
Outside in the hallway, Tsunade released him with a shove that still sent him stumbling a step.
She pointed one finger at his face.
"Behave," she hissed. "Or I will personally throw you off this mountain."
Naruto raised both hands in mock surrender, grin never fading.
"I hear ya"
She glared for one more second.
Then turned on her heel and stalked back toward the room, muttering curses under her breath. Kakashi and Yamato exiting immediately before she shut the door behind her.
" You're gonna die one of these day" Yamato said as they entered their room right next to Tsunades.
Naruto followed " Won't we all one day?" He responded.
....
Next morning.
Naruto woke instantly—eyes snapping open, body alert before his mind fully caught up. The room was still dim, gray pre-dawn light filtering through the paper screens. He sat up on his futon, stretching his arms overhead with a low groan.
To his surprise, Kakashi and Yamato were already awake.
Kakashi sat cross-legged near the window, Icha Icha Paradise open in one hand, mask still in place. Yamato stood by the door, arms folded, staring at nothing in particular with that signature dead-eyed intensity.
"Wow," Naruto muttered, yawning wide enough to crack his jaw. "And I thought I became productive."
"I wake up two hours before the sun rises," Kakashi said without looking up, turning a page.
"I don't sleep," Yamato added flatly. His gaze shifted to Naruto—slow, unblinking, pupils like black voids.
Naruto shuddered. "You should stop that. I mean… how the hell do you plan on getting married one day?"
"Married? Me?" Yamato's head tilted slightly. "Never. I'll probably end up guarding some old villain who'll be living in the Leaf."
Naruto gagged audibly—hand flying to his mouth. He immediately looked away, shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.
'He isn't wrong,' he thought.
He stood, rolled his neck until it popped, then stretched his arms high. "I'm gonna go get some food. I refuse to have bugs in my stomach for any longer."
He slid the door open and stepped into the hallway.
The inn was quiet—wooden floors cool under his bare feet. Tall windows lined one wall, showing the outside world: thick snow blanketed everything—roofs, paths, trees—turning the samurai village into a monochrome painting. Yet people moved through it without a care—thick coats, steady strides, breath fogging in the air like they were born in it.
Naruto smiled faintly, then kept walking.
He turned a corner and nearly collided with Tsunade.
She rounded the bend at the same moment—half-asleep, hair still mussed, yukata loosely tied. Their momentum carried them together.
Naruto reacted on instinct—arms snapping out. One hand caught her lower back, steadying her; the other landed squarely on her chest, palm flat against soft fabric and warmer skin beneath.
They froze.
For three full seconds neither moved—bodies pressed close, breaths mingling in the cold hallway air.
Tsunade's eyes widened. Then narrowed.
Her right fist rocketed upward—chakra enough to destroy mountain in it.
Naruto caught it mid-air—fingers wrapping around her knuckles, stopping the punch cold. The impact *thrummed* through his arm, but he didn't budge.
They stared at each other—her green eyes blazing, his blue ones calm, almost amused. A flush crept up Tsunade's cheeks—deep pink spreading fast.
"Don't act like you hate it," Naruto said quietly.
He released her fist and her waist in the same smooth motion, stepping back.
Tsunade stood rooted—fists clenched at her sides, cheeks burning crimson, mouth opening and closing without sound.
'What the hell was that?' she thought.
Naruto just turned and kept walking like nothing happened, hands in his pockets.
After a quick breakfast—hot rice porridge, grilled fish, pickled vegetables, no bugs in sight—Naruto took a steaming bath in the inn's wooden tub. Hot water soaked the lingering tension from his muscles. He scrubbed off the last traces of last night's sweat then dressed in fresh clothes: black pants, black jacket.
They checked out. The innkeeper—an older woman with gray streaks in her bun—blinked at Naruto in confusion.
"You… didn't come in with the others," she said slowly.
Naruto grinned. "Yeah. I'm special like that."
She stared a moment longer, then shook her head and bowed them out.
Outside, snow crunched underfoot. The group started down the mountain road—Tsunade leading, Kakashi and Yamato flanking, Naruto trailing with his hands behind his head.
He fell into step beside Kakashi and Yamato.
"So," he started, voice casual. "Tips on getting women."
Kakashi's visible eye slid sideways. "You're giving *us* advice?"
"I mean… I've got more experience than you two combined at this point," Naruto said, smirking. "Step one: don't read porn in public. Step two: don't stare like you're planning their funeral. Step three—"
Yamato's deadpan never wavered. "I'm listening."
Naruto launched into a half-serious, half-teasing lecture—gesturing wildly, dropping terrible pickup lines he'd overheard from Kiba, then immediately retracting them. Kakashi snorted behind his mask; Yamato just nodded solemnly like he was taking notes.
Soon the road leveled out.
Ahead, the Iron Country border appeared—massive stone gates flanked by armored samurai, katana hilts visible over their shoulders. Flags snapped in the wind. Beyond them, the summit hall loomed: a grand, low-roofed structure carved into the mountainside, banners of the five great nations hanging above the entrance.
Naruto's grin widened.
' Words!'
TO BE CONTINUED