Naruto: Rebirth Of The Child Of Prophecy

Perched atop the massive bird, Naruto sat on its head, gazing out at the vast expanse of sky before him. After a while, he smacked his lips in thought, glancing down at his attire. A flicker of dissatisfaction crossed his face.

Noticing his unease, Konan approached, her gentle voice breaking the silence. "What's wrong, Junior Brother? Are you uncomfortable sitting there?"

Nagato chimed in, his mechanical voice steady. "If the wind bothers you, you can sit behind me. The transmitter blocks the breeze—there'll be no noise."

Naruto shook his head, brushing off their concern with a sheepish grin. "No, it's not that. It's the outfit. Akatsuki's cloak... it's too recognizable. Everywhere we go, people immediately think we're here to cause trouble. I think it's time for a change."

Konan nodded thoughtfully. "You're not wrong. Akatsuki's reputation precedes us—it's infamous now. What do you have in mind?"

Naruto leaned back slightly, his gaze fixed on the endless sky above. Inspiration dawned in his eyes, and he gestured toward the heavens. "Look at the sky, Konan-senpai. By day, it's a brilliant blue with soft, drifting clouds. By night, it's filled with stars—a vast, endless expanse. That's what we should embody. That's what Ten should represent."

Pausing for effect, he continued, "So, instead of this dark, foreboding black-and-red, let's redesign our uniforms. I'm thinking blue and white—like the daytime sky with its clouds—or even touches of silver and navy to mirror the stars at night. It'll symbolize hope and a brighter future for the ninja world."

Nagato murmured, his tone distant, "A brighter future... Yahiko used to speak of such ideals when we first formed Akatsuki."

Konan's expression softened, her eyes filled with wistful longing as memories of Yahiko surfaced.

Naruto, noticing their shift in mood, felt a bead of sweat trickle down his temple. "Hey, hey! Don't look at me like that. I'm not trying to replace Yahiko! You two have some strange ways of honoring people."

Still, he was inwardly relieved. Nagato seemed to be shedding the heavy chains of his past, finding a semblance of his original ideals under Naruto's guidance. That, at least, was progress.

Naruto's thoughts drifted for a moment. Soon, he would have to discuss the logistics of his next steps with Orochimaru. There were certain people—key figures from the past—whom Naruto wanted to resurrect. With Orochimaru's expertise and the knowledge he had gained about evolving Sharingan into Rinnegan, the possibilities were vast. But for now, he needed to focus on immediate goals.

Activating his Flying Thunder God technique, Naruto teleported them out of the Land of Fire, leaping to his next destination: the Land of Iron. His next target was Jūgo, the source of Orochimaru's Cursed Seal. From Sasuke's insights in his previous life, Naruto knew the seal's power originated with Jūgo's unique kekkei genkai. If he could recruit Jūgo, the possibilities for Ten's strength would expand significantly.

That night, beneath a starlit sky, Naruto sat atop the bird in Sage Mode, his perception stretching far and wide. Suddenly, a familiar sensation tugged at him—the Flying Thunder God mark. Someone was pouring chakra into it relentlessly.

Naruto opened his eyes, exhaling deeply. "Hinata…"

Ever since the day he had taken Danzo's right eye and arm and left Konoha, Hinata had been trying to summon him back. When he hadn't appeared at Ichiraku Ramen as promised, she had returned home and begun channeling chakra into the mark. Night after night, she'd persisted, her silent plea growing stronger with each passing day.

Naruto's chest tightened at the thought. He hadn't responded because... he didn't know how to face her. What could he say to explain everything? How could he make her believe him?

The tug on the mark intensified. Naruto stood abruptly, brushing off the tension in his body. "Nagato-san, Konan-san, I need to step away for a while. I'll return shortly."

Before either could respond, Naruto vanished in a flash of light.

***

Konoha Village,

Naruto reappeared in a quiet, secluded forest within the village. He scanned the area, ensuring there were no immediate threats, then formed a shadow clone to absorb natural energy. Once prepared, he descended from the trees, his gaze landing on a familiar figure.

There, on a fallen log, sat Hinata. The mark of Flying Thunder God glowed faintly on her arm as she continued pouring her chakra into it. Her head was bowed, her focus entirely on the mark. She hadn't noticed him yet.

Naruto approached silently, his heart heavy with guilt. Gently, he reached out and placed his hand over her arm. "That's enough, Hinata," he said softly.

Hinata flinched, her body trembling at the sound of his voice. Slowly, her eyes moved, rising to meet the familiar sight of his sandals. Her gaze traveled upward, taking in the figure she had longed to see.

Under the soft glow of the moonlight, tears welled in her eyes. Two drops fell silently down her cheeks as her lips parted, her voice trembling with raw emotion.

"Why did you lie to me?"

The weight of her words hit Naruto like a kunai to the chest. His breath caught, and for a moment, he stood frozen. Her pain, her heartbreak—it was more than he could bear.

He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. How could he possibly explain everything? How could he justify the path he had chosen without breaking her heart further?

The moonlight bathed them in its silver glow, illuminating the quiet forest as the two stood locked in the silence of unspoken truths and unresolved emotions.