Some people say that countless pets go missing within Konohagakure, and Uchiha Naraku didn't used to believe it.
But now, Naraku believed it.
On the oddly shaped houses within Konohagakure, a ninja cat was running at full speed, with Senju Chakan hot on its heels.
Uchiha Itachi, who was flanking the ninja cat below the houses, instantly activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan. With cat ears on his head, he began a flurry of shuriken attacks.
Clang clang!
"Meow!"
Under the barrage of kunai and shuriken, the little cat, which had been nimble just moments before, had a portion of its whiskers shaved off.
Unable to maintain its balance, it was promptly caught by Senju Chakan, who was chasing closely behind.
"Teacher, I caught him! This time it was me, not Itachi, who caught him!"
Senju Chakan laughed heartily, looking as if he had already defeated Uchiha Itachi.
Itachi shook his head and closed his Sharingan to conserve Chakra.
Then, he smiled helplessly, too lazy to bother with Chakan, that idiot.
"Damn it! You, speak up and argue with me! You make me look like an idiot, you know?"
Senju Chakan pointed at Itachi's nose angrily.
"You are an idiot..."
Itachi shrugged, unable to help but mutter softly.
"What did you say? Say that again! I challenge you to a duel! Uchiha Itachi!!"
Senju Chakan was so angry that steam was practically billowing out of his ears.
He held the poor little cat in one hand, and pointed a finger at Itachi while spitting out saliva.
"Alright, alright, stop arguing!"
Uchiha Naraku played the good guy on the side, and while establishing his persona, happily earned 10 currency.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke, meanwhile, was slacking off. D-rank missions really didn't interest him…
He then pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
Peaceful days were really nice. Slacking off with his disciple, going home to play cards with Kiwa, just like a dream.
Having joined the Anbu at the age of twelve, he'd experienced nothing but darkness, followed by the Third Shinobi World War, the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's attack, and the war against Kumogakure.
This life felt like a dream. He truly wished he could freeze time at this moment.
It was a pity, though. Next month, his students would graduate, if all went according to plan. He'd likely have to part ways with them then.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke glanced at his three students, who were bickering not far away, a look of reluctance in his eyes.
He hoped the war would end soon... then he could see them more often, right?
That was a matter for the future. For now, he should go home and see Kiwa.
"Alright, alright, that's it for today's mission. You guys go turn it in, I won't go with you!"
Without waiting for Naraku and the others to object, Sarutobi Shinnosuke vanished in a flash.
The three of them looked at each other, helpless in the face of their lazy teacher.
After they finished their mission, it was almost noon.
To say they were tired from chasing cats all morning, Naraku was really starving.
So they all went to Ichiraku Ramen together.
"Chakan... I've always had a question, it's about the Senju Clan... but I've been too embarrassed to ask..."
Uchiha Naraku spoke hesitantly.
"Naraku-chan, just ask whatever's on your mind. We're close, aren't we? No matter what Naraku wants to know, I'll tell you. After all, you also have Senju Clan blood!"
Senju Chakan patted his chest, trying to cozy up to Naraku.
(What the hell do I have...)
Naraku was all smiles on the surface, but inwardly he was cursing.
"When Konohagakure was founded, the Senju Clan was the number one clan in Konoha, but now... Why has the Senju Clan fallen so low?..."
Naraku asked the question for countless Naruto fans.
In his previous life, this was considered an unsolved mystery, with various speculations. The most mainstream explanation was that the Senju Clan sacrificed many people during the three great ninja wars.
Naraku didn't know if others believed it, but he certainly didn't.
"You want to ask, how could the mighty Senju Clan fall to this state?"
Senju Chakan put down his chopsticks and lowered his head, his smile disappearing from his face.
"I'm sorry, Chakan, if you don't want to talk about it..."
Naraku was good at feigning retreat to gain an advantage.
"There's nothing I can't say... To explain this clearly, we have to start with the death of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama..."
"After Lord Hashirama passed away, the First Great Ninja War broke out. By the end of the war, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, had died on the battlefield. Many members of the Senju Clan also died in battle, but that wasn't enough to shake the Senju Clan's foundation at the time."
"But when the war ended, as the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Mito, grew older, the village gradually realized a problem: the Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan was the only thing left that could control the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox..."
"This was something the village couldn't accept at the time, so the Konohagakure high command decided to select people within the Senju Clan to inherit Lord Hashirama's Wood Release power."
"Unfortunately, not only did it not succeed, but all 50 male ninja from the Senju Clan who participated in the experiment also perished."
Speaking of this, Chakan sighed, and then continued:
"So, ever since then, the Senju Clan has been in a situation where there are more women than men. Women constantly married into other families and changed their surnames. Then, after several wars, the Senju Clan is now basically down to very few people…"
"So that's how it is…"
Uchiha Naraku finally cleared up the doubts in his heart.
(PS: This setting only represents the author's personal speculation... Please don't criticize if you don't like it.)
"Alright, I'm full."
Senju Chakan stood up and left Ichiraku Ramen alone.
Naraku and Itachi quickly chased after him.
"Chakan… I shouldn't have asked just now, I'm sorry…"
"It's nothing... I'll be fine tomorrow. I'll definitely revitalize the Senju! I, Senju Chakan, will be the Senju Clan's next hero!"
Chakan waved his hand and gradually disappeared into the crowd of Konohagakure.
In the blink of an eye, another day passed. Uchiha Naraku walked out of his clan's territory alone. He had no mission today, and Naraku planned to go find Guy to spar.
It was time to improve his taijutsu skills.
However, he hadn't gone far when a silver-haired boy suddenly walked out of the alley ahead.
He inadvertently glanced in Naraku's direction.
Then he put on a very surprised expression.
"Naraku-chan, what a coincidence?"
Isn't this Hatake Kakashi? It seems like this is the first time I've seen him without his mask.
I can't let him see through me.
"Excuse me… who are you?"
Naraku displayed a perfectly timed look of confusion.
...
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(End of Chapter)