Chapter Text
The group returned back to the Sand Village, the desert wind carrying fine grains of sand that swirled around them as they approached the massive cliffs that housed the hidden settlement. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the sand dunes, painting everything in hues of gold and amber.
"Sorry...We were able to protect the Spirit Orb, but they got away." Kankuro told Gaara, his voice heavy with disappointment despite their partial success.
"The Spirit Orb is still in our hands, though. The research being conducted has resumed as well. And if we destroy the Orb, the Master Puppet cannot be revived. I am sorry to have caused you so much trouble." Gaara's tone was measured as always, but there was genuine remorse in his eyes.
"Gaara, it's no problem." Yuri smiled, warmly. Gaara's sea-foam eyes widened slightly at her casual response.
"Yeah! Don't worry about it!" Naruto grinned, punching the air enthusiastically. "That's what friends are for!"
"That is right. It is only natural our countries help one another!" Lee smiled, giving a thumbs-up with his signature sparkle.
"Let's keep up the good work until we crush these Shirogane creeps!" Naruto said, clenching his fist with determination.
Gaara nodded subtly, his arms crossed over his chest. Though his face remained impassive, there was a certain softness around his eyes that hadn't been there before. The corner of his mouth twitched upward—not quite a smile, but as close as the Sand shinobi typically came to showing pleasure.
"The alliance between our villages grows stronger through these shared challenges," Gaara said quietly. His gaze swept across the room, lingering briefly on Yuri. "Your assistance will not be forgotten."
"Well, we are heading back to the village to report our findings." Lee adjusted his forehead protector, ready for the journey home.
Yuri nodded in agreement, though her gaze lingered on Gaara for a moment longer than was strictly necessary. There was something in the way she looked at him—a mixture of curiosity and something deeper, more complex—that didn't escape notice.
Gaara caught her staring and held her gaze steadily.
Yuri blinked, realizing that she was staring for too long and quickly glanced away, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as heat rose to her cheeks. Her heart beat a little faster as she tried to focus on the conversation at hand, though she could still feel Gaara's presence like a magnetic pull.
Kankuro noticed the exchange and nudged his brother with his elbow, a teasing smirk spreading across his painted face. "Got yourself an admirer there, huh?" he whispered, just loud enough for Yuri to hear and blush slightly. The puppeteer's eyes danced with mischief as he watched Yuri's embarrassment grow.
Gaara didn't respond verbally, but shot his brother a sideways glance that could have frozen water. The look carried traces of the old Gaara—the one who had frightened even his siblings—but lacked the murderous intent that once accompanied it. It was more annoyance than threat.
Kankuro merely widened his grin, completely unfazed by the cold stare. "What? I'm just stating the obvious," he muttered, adjusting the bandaged puppet on his back. He glanced at Yuri again, noting how she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear nervously. "Not like you get many looks like that."
The dynamics between the brothers were clear—Kankuro enjoyed needling his younger sibling, while Gaara endured it with stoic tolerance. It was a testament to how far they'd come as a family, this comfortable ribbing that would have been unthinkable just a year ago.
"Enough," Gaara said quietly, his voice barely audible. He crossed his arms over his chest, the gourd of sand shifting slightly on his back as he moved. Though his expression remained impassive, there was something in his sea-foam eyes as they briefly met Yuri's—a flicker of something unreadable that made her heart skip a beat.
The air between them seemed charged with an unspoken connection, like the static before a desert storm. For a moment, Yuri felt as though they were the only two people in the room, connected by some invisible thread that neither of them fully understood.
Yuri quickly averted her gaze, pretending to study a something else with sudden interest. The heat rising to her cheeks was unmistakable, and she silently hoped the others wouldn't notice.
Kankuro chuckled under his breath but dropped the subject, turning his attention back to the mission at hand. Still, he couldn't resist one final comment. "Just saying, little brother. She keeps looking at you."
"You're one to talk, Kankuro," Yuri countered, eager to deflect attention from herself. Her voice carried a teasing lilt as she recovered her composure. "What about you and my sister? Still made any progress, yet?" Her reddish-brown eyes lit up with mischief of her own as she went on the offensive.
Kankuro's smug expression faltered immediately. His painted cheeks darkened beneath his purple face paint as he sputtered, "That's—I'm still working on—" He cleared his throat, suddenly finding the ground very interesting.
"Uh-huh," Yuri replied with mock innocence, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "And that's why you nearly fell off the watchtower when she complimented your puppet technique last month?"
Gaara's lips twitched almost imperceptibly at his brother's discomfort. It wasn't quite a smile, but for those who knew him well, it was equivalent to roaring laughter. His pale green eyes held a rare spark of amusement as he watched the exchange.
"I didn't fall," Kankuro protested, crossing his arms defensively across his chest. "I was... testing the railing's stability. It's an important security measure."
"Right," Yuri drawled, raising an eyebrow. "And I suppose the way you knocked over an entire table of scrolls when she brought you lunch was also some kind of... security test?" Her smile widened as she watched Kankuro squirm. It was satisfying to turn the tables on the usually confident puppeteer.
Kankuro groaned and pulled his hood lower, as if trying to disappear into it. "She remembers that? Great. Just great."
"Yukina mentions it at least once a week," Yuri confirmed with a grin, enjoying the puppeteer's discomfort a little too much. She leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "Says it was the most entertainment she's had in a while. Especially the part where you tried to catch everything and ended up with ink all over your clothes." She mimicked his frantic movements, nearly making Lee chuckle despite his usual seriousness.
Kankuro muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like a curse. He adjusted the scrolls strapped to his back, clearly trying to maintain some dignity. "That ink took three washes to get out," he admitted reluctantly.
Naruto, meanwhile, remained completely oblivious to the undercurrents of the conversation. He was busy listing all the ways they could potentially defeat the Shirogane Clan, each scenario more outlandish than the last, complete with enthusiastic hand gestures and sound effects.
"And then I'll hit 'em with my Rasengan—WHOOSH!—and they'll go flying!" He punched the air to demonstrate, nearly hitting Lee in the process. "Those puppet guys won't know what hit them!"
"Give us a holler anytime you need help, ya got it!?" Naruto smiled broadly, pointing his thumb at his chest. His blue eyes shone with determination and his usual boundless confidence.
Kankuro smirked, crossing his arms as he looked at the blonde shinobi. "You sure do like to talk the talk, don't you?"
The group's lighthearted moment was short-lived. As they approached a small settlement on their way back to Konoha, an unsettling silence greeted them. The dirt path leading into the village was empty, with no signs of the usual hustle and bustle. Even the birds seemed to have gone quiet, creating an eerie stillness that immediately put the shinobi on alert.
"W-What the heck is this?" Naruto stammered, his blue eyes widening as he took in the deserted streets. The small village that should have been bustling with afternoon activity was eerily silent, with market stalls abandoned and doors left ajar.
"How awful this is." Lee spoke, his thick eyebrows furrowing with concern. "There is not a single villager in sight. Have they been abducted?"
Yuri felt a chill run down her spine as she examined the surroundings. She tensed suddenly, her instincts flaring to life.
"Guys, we're not alone!" She whispered urgently, reaching for her kunai. Her fingers closed around the cool metal as she pivoted, scanning the shadows between buildings.
From the shadows, puppet figures emerged, their wooden joints creaking eerily as they surrounded the ninja. Their blank faces seemed to mock the group.
"You scum bags! I'll take you guys and mash up into a pulp!" Naruto growled, his hands already forming the familiar sign for his shadow clone jutsu.
"I cannot believe they are appearing so close to the Hidden Leaf Village." Lee shifted into his fighting stance, eyes narrowed. "What exactly is going on?"
The group fought through the wave of wooden attackers, splinters flying as Lee's powerful kicks shattered puppet limbs. Naruto's clones overwhelmed several at once, while Yuri's precise kunai strikes disabled the chakra strings controlling others. Finally, the last puppet collapsed in a heap of broken wood and metal.
"Let's hurry and get back to the village!" Naruto shouted after they had dispatched the puppets. His voice carried an unusual edge of worry.
"I agree! Let us go!" Lee nodded, his round eyes serious. "Lady Tsunade must be informed immediately!"
The group raced through the trees, the urgency of their mission growing with each step. When they finally arrived at the Hokage's office, they burst in without ceremony.
"Grandma, it's a disaster!" Naruto shouted, panting slightly from their sprint. "A small village has been attacked by the Shirogane Clan!"
"There was not a single person left. You do not think the Clan..." Lee couldn't finish the sentence, the implication too grim.
"No, the villagers are all right. We have them safe under protection." Kakashi interjected, appearing from the corner of the room where he had been standing quietly. The masked jonin's visible eye reflected concern despite his calm tone.
"Those despicable scoundrels!" Tsunade frowned, her honey-colored eyes flashing with anger as she slammed her fist on the desk, causing the stack of papers to jump.
"Grandma! Kakashi sensei! What exactly is going on?" Naruto asked, looking between the two senior ninja.
Tsunade's expression grew grave as she steepled her fingers. "Well, we just received an ultimatum from the Shirogane Clan. They've sworn to launch an all-out attack if we don't hand over the Orb."
"What!?" The young ninjas exclaimed in unison.
"There are already scores of villagers beset by puppets. We've sent out as many guards as we can, but..." Tsunade sighed, the weight of leadership heavy on her shoulders. "We barely have enough to manage the evacuation efforts."
"With these puppets in their ranks, they're a force to be reckoned with." She added, her gaze drifting to the window overlooking the village she was sworn to protect.
"We can't just sit here! What are we gonna do, Grandma!?" Naruto asked, his fists clenched at his sides.
"We could offer to meet their demands then jump them when they approach." Tsunade murmured, almost to herself. Then she shook her head. "No, never mind. The risk would far outweigh the benefit."
"Yeah, that certainly sounds like a long shot." Kakashi replied, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
"Don't say that! It makes it sound like we have no chance of winning!" Tsunade frowned, her legendary temper flaring briefly. "Ahh...Wait a minute. If we can't win either way, then..." Her eyes lit up with sudden inspiration. "All right, then that's the plan."
Yuri tilted her head, her curiosity piqued by the Hokage's sudden change in demeanor. "And what is the plan?" she asked, tucking a strand of brown hair behind her ear.
Tsunade straightened up, her decision made. "Kakashi, contact the Hidden Sand Village's Spirit Orb research team. If fortune's in our favor, we may outwit them yet."
"Got it." Kakashi nodded, pushing himself off the wall. Then Tsunade looked at Naruto, Lee and Yuri, her gaze assessing each of them carefully.
"Naruto, Lee, Yuri. I'd like you to help Kakashi with this task."
"Yes!" Lee nodded sharply, his posture perfect as always.
"Gladly." Naruto nodded as well, eager for action.
Tsunade spread a map across her desk, her finger tracing potential routes. "All right, listen up. I'm going to go over our strategy. We've already got the Spirit Orb from the Sand Village in our possession. Naruto, you'll be the one to deliver the Orb to them."
"What!? Are we making some kind of deal with these guys!?" Naruto exclaimed in disbelief.
"Ah, don't worry. I've got a couple of tricks up my sleeve." Kakashi smiled, his eye crinkling with a hint of mischief. "Guy and I will lay low and keep an eye on things. When they're about to get their hands on the Orb, I want you to use your shadow clones to block off all the escape routes. With the time that buys, Guy and I will close in for the attack."
"In the event that we fail to stop them, then Lee it'll be up to you." Guy said, appearing suddenly in the doorway with his signature dramatic entrance.
"Yes! I will chase them to the ends of the earth!" Lee nodded vigorously, his eyes burning with determination.
"Naruto, just be careful they don't catch on to our plan." Kakashi spoke, his tone serious despite his relaxed posture.
"Yeah, yeah. Way ahead of you." Naruto murmured, rubbing the back of his head.
Yuri glanced between her teammates, feeling the weight of the mission. "Let's hope this works."
Later, at the designated meeting spot, Naruto stood alone, the decoy Orb clutched in his hand. The forest around him was quiet—too quiet.
"You! So you're part of the Shirogane Clan!" Naruto shouted as a figure emerged from the shadows.
The man was tall and lean, with cold eyes that assessed Naruto calculatingly. "Yeah. I'm Gando, of the Shirogane Three. I'm here for the Spirit Orb." He spoke with arrogant confidence. "Word of advice. Don't try anything stupid."
"Look, just shut up and take the thing already!" Naruto growled, thrusting the Orb forward with obvious reluctance.
Gando's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "I don't trust you, kid. I've got my eye on you."
"D-Don't be ridiculous! I don't need some kind of scheme!" Naruto sputtered, his acting skills leaving much to be desired. "I could blow you guys away any day of the week!"
"I'm sure we'll put that to the test at some point. But right now, we have business to take care of. I'll take this." He reached for the Orb, his fingers almost touching the glowing sphere.
Naruto reacted instantly, his hands forming the familiar sign. Four clones appeared in a puff of smoke, surrounding the shinobi in a tight circle. But Gando was prepared. With a quick wave of his hand, a large barrier rose up, its translucent surface shimmering with chakra as it trapped both himself and Naruto inside.
"You're not the only ones who can pull a fast one." Gando smirked, his movements fluid as he quickly grabbed the Orb and threw it up in the air. A mechanical bee puppet, its wings buzzing loudly, caught the Orb in its metal appendages and prepared to take off.
"Huh!? Darn it!" Naruto's eyes widened in alarm. He quickly made more clones and they hopped into the air in pursuit. As the original Naruto was about to smack the puppet, the bee swerved sharply, evading his grasp.
Another large blue puppet, shaped like a gorilla with metal plating, appeared out of nowhere and slammed its massive fists down. The attack destroyed one of Naruto's clones in a puff of smoke. Meanwhile, Gando used the distraction to disappear into the treeline.
"Hey! Wait!" Naruto charged after him with his remaining clones, determination etched on his face. But before he could reach Gando, the ninja transformed—his body shifting into a red gorilla puppet that towered over Naruto. With powerful swings, it smacked away all of Naruto's clones and sent the real Naruto flying backward. The clones disappeared in puffs of smoke while Naruto skidded across the ground.
The blue puppet appeared behind Naruto, its metallic joints creaking ominously.
"Our business here is done. Now I'll be your opponent." Gando spoke through the puppet, his voice distorted but unmistakably smug.
Naruto scrambled backward, trying to put distance between himself and the blue puppet. Just as its fist descended toward him, a blur of green intercepted it.
"DYNAMIC ENTRY!" Guy's powerful kick connected with the puppet's torso, sending it staggering backward.
The barrier surrounding the area shimmered and finally dissolved into particles of chakra that dissipated in the air. Kakashi appeared beside Naruto in an instant, his silver hair ruffled by the slight breeze. Yuri rushed over from the other direction, her reddish-brown eyes scanning Naruto for injuries.
"You okay?" she asked, offering her hand to help him up.
Naruto took it gratefully, rising to his feet with a grimace. "Yeah, just bruised."
"Sorry, took some time to break the barrier," Kakashi explained, his voice calm despite the situation. His visible eye curved slightly, suggesting a reassuring smile beneath his mask. "Those chakra barriers are tricky when you don't know who created them."
"Kakashi sensei!" Naruto pointed frantically toward the forest's edge. "They got away with the Spirit Orb! That bee puppet thing flew off with it!"
Kakashi's eye narrowed, but before he could respond, Guy's voice cut through the clearing.
"Watch out! Here they come!"
The red and blue gorilla puppets had regrouped and were now charging toward them, their metal feet leaving deep imprints in the soft forest floor. The red one's chest cavity opened to reveal a hidden arsenal of senbon needles, while the blue one's arms transformed into bladed weapons.
"Split up and target their joints!" Kakashi called out, already weaving hand signs with practiced precision. His fingers moved in a blur as chakra gathered around him, his Sharingan eye tracking every minute movement of the approaching threats. "Their power sources should be in the center of the chest cavities."
Guy nodded, dropping into a fighting stance. "Right!"
Yuri pulled out a kunai, positioning herself defensively near Naruto. "Stay alert for hidden weapons," she warned him.
The puppets lunged at them simultaneously, their movements eerily coordinated. Kakashi met the red one head-on, his Sharingan tracking its every move. He ducked under a swing of its massive arm and countered with a lightning-quick strike to its joint.
Guy engaged the blue puppet with a flurry of taijutsu moves, his fists and feet moving almost too fast to see. "LEAF HURRICANE!"
His powerful kick connected with the puppet's knee joint, causing it to buckle. Yuri saw an opening and threw her kunai with precision, embedding it in the puppet's shoulder mechanism. The arm seized up momentarily, giving Naruto the chance he needed.
"Rasengan!" Naruto shouted, driving the spiraling ball of chakra into the puppet's chest. The blue gorilla puppet splintered under the impact, breaking apart in a shower of wooden fragments and metal pieces.
Meanwhile, Kakashi had formed hand signs with blinding speed. "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" Multiple small fireballs shot from his mouth, hitting the red puppet at various points. As the puppet staggered, Guy delivered the finishing blow.
"EIGHTH GATE: GATE OF OPENING!" With his strength temporarily enhanced, Guy's punch shattered the red puppet completely, leaving nothing but scattered debris.
As the dust settled, they all turned to face Gando, who stood at the edge of the clearing. His puppet disguise was gone, revealing a thin man with pale skin and calculating eyes. Despite being outnumbered, he maintained a defiant posture.
Kakashi fixed his mismatched eyes on Gando, his expression hardening. The Sharingan in his left eye gleamed ominously as he spoke, "So you used yourself as bait and let the puppets escape."
A smirk crossed Gando's face, his eyes reflecting a zealot's determination. "And gladly, too. Everything is for the revival of our clan." His voice carried no hint of regret, only steadfast conviction.
"Revival of the clan?" Naruto questioned, his blue eyes narrowing in confusion. He clenched his fists at his sides, trying to understand the motivation behind such destructive actions.
Gando drew himself up proudly, his voice ringing with purpose. "Yes. Soon the Five Great Nations will once again bow to our jutsu. And if they don't, we're sworn to revive the Master Puppet." His eyes gleamed with fanatical light. "With that, the scattered survivors of the clan will surely return. Our glory days will be restored!"
"You really think that wish will come to fruition?" Kakashi asked quietly, his tone suggesting he already knew the answer. The wind rustled through the trees around them, carrying the distant sounds of conflict from the village.
Gando's expression faltered momentarily, a flash of uncertainty crossing his features. His eyes, which had been filled with zealous determination just moments before, now held a hint of doubt.
"I don't know..." he admitted, his voice softer, almost human compared to the fanatical tone he'd used earlier. Then, as if catching himself showing weakness, his jaw set and his resolve hardened once more. "But for me, there was no other path. I have no regrets." He looked up to the sky, his gaze distant as if addressing someone beyond the clouds. "Ibushi, the rest is in your hands!"
With those final words, Gando's body went limp. He collapsed to the ground with a dull thud, the life leaving his eyes as they stared blankly at the forest canopy. His sacrifice had been made willingly, a final act of devotion to his clan's cause.
Naruto stood motionless, the shock of witnessing such dedication—even in the service of wrong—leaving him momentarily speechless. Finally, he turned to Kakashi, his bright blue eyes clouded with confusion.
"Kakashi sensei..." The question hung unfinished in the air between them.
Kakashi's visible eye softened as he regarded his student. The jonin's shoulders slumped slightly beneath his flak jacket as he looked down at Gando's still form.
"Yes. He was doing everything he could for his clan. He was just going about it in the wrong way." He sighed, running a hand through his silver hair. "Sometimes people make terrible choices for what they believe are the right reasons. The line between devotion and fanaticism can be... painfully thin."
A gentle breeze whispered through the trees, rustling leaves and carrying away the lingering tension of battle. Birds, which had fallen silent during the confrontation, cautiously began to sing again.
Naruto seemed to digest this for a moment, his normally energetic face unusually thoughtful. The weight of Kakashi's words settled on his young shoulders as he considered how far someone might go for what they believed in. Then, like a switch had been flipped, the immediate problem snapped back into focus.
His eyes widened suddenly as he frantically looked around, his head whipping from side to side so quickly it was a wonder he didn't hurt himself.
"Oh! The Spirit Orb!" His voice rose with panic. "And where is Gai sensei!? Where'd he go!?" Naruto spun in a complete circle, as if Gai might materialize if he just looked hard enough.
Kakashi lifted a lazy hand, pointing toward a path that wound deeper into the forest where broken branches and disturbed underbrush marked a hasty departure.
"If you mean Gai, he went after Lee," he explained, his tone casual despite the gravity of the situation. "They're both in pursuit of the puppet carrying the Orb."
Naruto's face brightened with hope. "Sensei, do you think the Bushy Brows can get the Spirit Orb back?" Despite having witnessed Lee's incredible speed and determination many times, Naruto's voice still held a note of uncertainty.
Kakashi hesitated, scratching his masked chin thoughtfully. "Hmm..." His visible eye curved in what might have been a smile, though it was impossible to tell with most of his face covered. "Well, anyway! We should be getting back." He turned abruptly, starting to walk in the direction of the village while rubbing the back of his silver-haired head—a gesture that usually meant he was hiding something.
Yuri noticed Naruto's bewildered expression—mouth slightly open, eyebrows drawn together in confusion. She stepped closer to him, her brown hair shifting in the breeze as she placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"We're just going to hope that they get the Orb back," she said, her voice calm but tinged with resignation. Her reddish-brown eyes met his blue ones with a look that suggested there was nothing more they could do now. She gently guided him to follow Kakashi, who was already several paces ahead.
The walk back to the Hokage Tower was tense and mostly silent. Yuri found herself replaying the mission in her mind, wondering if they could have done anything differently. The forest gradually gave way to the village outskirts, and soon they were walking through the familiar streets of Konoha. Civilians went about their business, blissfully unaware of the danger that had just transpired.
When they arrived at the Hokage's office, Tsunade was seated behind her perpetually cluttered desk. Her amber eyes were sharp and assessing as they entered, immediately scanning them for injuries before settling on their faces to read the outcome of the mission.
"I see. So they made off with the Orb then?" Tsunade frowned, her fingers laced together in front of her face as she leaned forward. Despite her words, Yuri noticed that she didn't seem as concerned as the situation warranted. There was something in her posture—too relaxed, almost—that didn't match the gravity of losing the Spirit Orb.
"Gai and Lee are currently in pursuit," Kakashi told her, his posture relaxed as he stood before her desk, hands casually in his pockets despite the apparent failure of their mission.
Tsunade nodded, leaning back in her chair with a creak. "With any luck on our side, perhaps they'll find their hideout." Her lips curved slightly upward, the barest hint of a smile that seemed completely inappropriate given the circumstances. "Though if they lose the trail, well, so be it."
The casual dismissal of such a critical mission was the final straw for Naruto. His face reddened to nearly match the color of his jacket, and he slammed both hands on Tsunade's desk with enough force to make the stacks of paperwork jump and wobble precariously.
"W-What are you saying!?" he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls of the office. "That's the last of the Spirit Orb, right?" His eyes were wide with disbelief as he looked between the three adults. "How can you three be so calm at a time like this!?"
Tsunade exchanged a meaningful glance with Kakashi, her expression turning sheepish as she caught the eye of her jonin. "Well...The thing is you see..." she trailed off, fidgeting with a pen on her desk, rolling it between her fingers in an uncharacteristically nervous gesture.
"Sorry, Naruto. Um..." Kakashi smiled awkwardly beneath his mask, rubbing the back of his neck. The tension in the room was palpable as the two senior shinobi seemed reluctant to explain further.
Yuri's eyes widened slightly as realization dawned on her. She glanced between Tsunade and Kakashi, piecing together their unusual lack of concern, the way they'd been so willing to let the Orb go. The Orb—could it have been a—
Her thoughts were interrupted as the door burst open with enough force to bang against the wall. Gai rushed in, his normally impeccable bowl-cut disheveled and his green jumpsuit covered in dirt and scratches. Leaves were stuck in his hair, and he was breathing heavily, clearly having pushed himself to return quickly.
"Lady Tsunade! I'm sorry, but our pursuit..." he started to speak, panting between words, his usual boisterous energy dimmed by what appeared to be failure.
Tsunade raised a hand to silence him, her expression softening. "Say no more. I can tell by your face." Her eyes scanned the doorway behind him, searching for his missing student. "But where's Lee? He was traveling with you, wasn't he?"
At the mention of his beloved pupil, Gai's expressive face fell dramatically. He hung his head, shoulders slumping as if the weight of the world had settled upon them.
"Lee is...disciplining himself at the moment." He sighed deeply, the sound full of both pride and worry. "After failing such an important mission, he couldn't face you. He's challenging himself to 500 laps around the village, on his hands."
"F-Five hundred laps!?" Naruto exclaimed, his eyes nearly popping out of his head as he imagined the green-clad ninja hand-walking around the entire perimeter of Konoha. "Is he crazy!?"
"Why would he do such a thing?" Tsunade frowned, though she seemed more exasperated than surprised by Lee's extreme reaction. She massaged her temples as if warding off a headache.
Guy struck a pose, one thumb up despite his disheveled appearance. "It's a self-imposed punishment he decided on prior to the mission," he explained, his voice filled with a mix of pride and concern for his dedicated student. His eyes glistened with unshed tears of emotion. "He swore that if he failed to retrieve the Orb, he would complete this task or face even more grueling training. That's my Lee! Always pushing beyond his limits!"
Yuri's expression softened with concern as she thought of Lee pushing himself to such extremes over what appeared to be a mission that the Hokage herself wasn't overly concerned about.
"Maybe I should have a talk with him, to cheer him up?" she suggested gently, already thinking of what comforting words she might offer. "Tell him it's not as bad as he thinks?"
"No, that will only make things worse," Guy shook his head firmly, his bowl-cut swaying with the motion. His thick eyebrows drew together in a serious expression. "In his current state of mind, he would consider any comfort as pity, and that would only fuel his determination to punish himself further. He might increase it to a thousand laps!"
Tsunade sighed deeply, massaging her temples with renewed vigor. "Dear me. All right." She stood up, determination in her amber eyes. "Do you think you could take me to where Lee is? I'll go directly to him and apologize."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Guy asked, genuine confusion written across his face as he blinked at the Hokage.
Tsunade stood, straightening her green haori with a sharp tug. "I'll explain along the way. C'mon, hurry now," she told him, already striding toward the door with purpose, her heels clicking against the floor.
"O-Of course," Guy spoke, following her out with a puzzled expression, still trying to process why the Hokage would need to apologize to his student.
As the door closed behind them, leaving Naruto, Kakashi, and Yuri alone in the office, Naruto threw his hands up in frustration. His blond hair seemed to bristle with his agitation.
"I swear, I don't know what's going on around here." His blue eyes darted between Kakashi and Yuri, demanding answers. "Everyone's acting weird about this Orb thing!"
Kakashi's expression softened as he finally decided to come clean. He pushed himself away from the wall he'd been leaning against and faced Naruto directly.
"Well, we were keeping this a secret before the mission, but the Spirit Orb you lost...it was actually a—"
"It was a fake," Yuri interjected, unable to hold back the revelation any longer. The pieces had finally clicked into place for her, and the words tumbled out before she could stop them. She saw Kakashi's eye widen slightly at her interruption, but he nodded in confirmation.
Naruto's mouth fell open, his eyes bulging comically. The color drained from his face before rushing back in a flood of red.
"What!? A...A FAKE!?" he exclaimed in shock, his voice rising to a pitch that made Yuri wince and take a step back. He gripped his spiky blond hair with both hands, pulling at it in frustration. "Then, then—where's the real one!?"
"Still being analyzed in the Hidden Sand Village, of course," Kakashi said with infuriating nonchalance, as if this should have been obvious all along. He leaned against the wall again, crossing his arms across his flak jacket. The afternoon sunlight filtering through the window caught the silver of his hair, making it almost glow. "The one the Shirogane Clan took with them was a dummy Orb the researchers made based on the data they'd compiled. It looks identical, but it lacks the true power they're seeking."
Yuri's mouth formed a small 'o' of understanding. It made perfect sense now—why Tsunade hadn't seemed particularly worried, why Kakashi had been so calm throughout the mission. She glanced at Naruto, whose expression was quickly morphing from confusion to outrage.
Naruto's face reddened with indignation until it nearly matched the color of the spiral on his jacket. "And you don't think you could've told us that before the mission!?" he shouted angrily, his fists clenched so tightly at his sides that his knuckles turned white. "We put everything on the line thinking it was the real deal! Lee is out there punishing himself for nothing!"
"Sorry," Kakashi had the decency to look at least somewhat apologetic, his visible eye downcast for a moment before meeting Naruto's gaze. "My apologies to you, Guy, Yuri and to Lee as well." His eye crinkled in what was probably meant to be a reassuring smile as he pushed himself off the wall and took a step toward his student. "But with your help, the fake was successfully passed on. Your genuine reactions made the deception all the more convincing. The Shirogane would have detected any hint that we knew the Orb was a fake."
Yuri could see the logic in it, though she felt a pang of sympathy for both Naruto and Lee. She placed a gentle hand on Naruto's shoulder, feeling the tension in his muscles. "That's why Lady Tsunade went to find Lee herself. She wants to explain before he hurts himself with those five hundred laps."
"But hey!" Naruto wasn't done with his complaints, shrugging off Yuri's hand as he began pacing back and forth across the office. His sandals thumped rhythmically against the wooden floor, matching the agitated pulse of his words. "If they find out that it's a fake, they'll come looking for us all over again!" He paced faster, his arms waving emphatically in the air, nearly knocking over a stack of scrolls on a nearby shelf. "And next time, they'll be even angrier!"
Kakashi moved to intercept Naruto's pacing, standing directly in his path so the boy had to stop or run into him. "By that time, the research team will have a way to destroy the Orb," he said, his voice taking on a more serious tone that immediately commanded attention. The playfulness was gone from his demeanor, replaced by the focus of an elite jonin addressing a potential threat. "The Sand Village's researchers have been working around the clock. They just needed a few more days to complete their work—days you've helped provide." He placed his hands on Naruto's shoulders, looking him directly in the eyes. "As long as we can buy some time, we'll still come out on top. Sometimes in the shinobi world, deception is our most powerful weapon—even with our allies."
Naruto held Kakashi's gaze for a long moment. Yuri could almost see the wheels turning in his head as he processed this information, weighed it against his own beliefs about honesty and teamwork. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping under Kakashi's hands.
He crossed his arms across his chest, his lips pursed in a pout that made him look much younger than his years. "Mmm...I think I get it. But that doesn't mean I have to like it!" he grumbled, kicking at an imaginary pebble on the floor. "Next time, at least give us a hint or something."
"Aw, don't be like that," Kakashi offered, his tone lightening as he patted Naruto's shoulder. The tension in the room dissipated like morning mist. "Ramen's on me next time, okay? Ichiraku's finest—as many bowls as you can eat."
Naruto's eyes widened at the mention of his favorite food, momentary joy replacing his frustration. The change was as swift as a summer storm clearing, his face brightening like sunshine breaking through clouds. "Really!? All I can eat?" Then suspicion clouded his features, his eyes narrowing as he jabbed a finger toward his sensei's chest. "Wait...I've heard that one before! You always find some excuse to slip away when the bill comes!"
"It was worth a shot," Kakashi sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly in defeat. He rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepishly at Yuri as if seeking backup. "Maybe Yuri will help me pay?"
"Don't drag me into this," Yuri laughed, holding up her hands in mock surrender. "I've seen how much Naruto can eat. I'm not sure the entirety of my mission payments could cover it."
Naruto's indignant "Hey!" was cut short by a knock at the door—probably a messenger with news of Tsunade and Lee.
Yuri couldn't help but smile at their interaction, relieved that despite the deception, the mission had ultimately been a success. The shadow of concern still lingered at the back of her mind, though. She wondered what would happen when the Shirogane Clan discovered they'd been tricked, and what it might mean for both Konoha and the Sand Village in the days to come.