what if naruto was itachi brother

The knowledge that Naruto and Sasuke had gathered from the samurai temple was invaluable, but it was still incomplete. The texts they had uncovered spoke of the *Zetsu-Kai* as a force capable of manipulating chakra at its most fundamental level—an ancient power so elusive that even the *Kurozai* had struggled to control it. But despite the revelations, the true nature of the *Zetsu-Kai* remained a mystery, its potential yet to be fully understood.

The journey back to Konoha was a quiet one, the weight of what they had learned pressing heavily on their minds. The roads they traveled were still unfamiliar, winding through the dense forests and mountains that separated the Land of Iron from the Hidden Leaf. The sun had set hours ago, and the moon cast a pale light over the world, its glow reflected in the quiet stream that ran beside their path.

Sasuke walked slightly ahead, his mind clearly preoccupied. He had always been a man of few words, but tonight, he seemed more distant than usual. Naruto could feel the unease growing between them, as if the answers they were seeking were slipping further and further away with every step.

"Something's off," Naruto muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning the path ahead.

Sasuke stopped walking for a moment and turned toward Naruto, his eyes sharp and focused. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know," Naruto replied, his voice uncertain. "It's like the closer we get to the truth, the more things feel wrong. Like something's waiting for us. I don't know what, but I can feel it."

Sasuke's gaze hardened, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something—concern, maybe, or caution—in his eyes. He had always been in tune with danger, his senses honed over years of fighting enemies and facing down impossible odds. But even Sasuke couldn't deny that something felt different about this mission. The *Kurozai* were unlike anything they had faced before, and the *Zetsu-Kai* was still an enigma.

"We'll deal with whatever comes," Sasuke said, his tone calm but resolute. "But we need to get back to Konoha and prepare. The *Kurozai* are already moving, and we can't afford to waste time."

Naruto nodded, steeling himself for whatever lay ahead. The village was still several hours away, but they needed to act quickly. They couldn't allow the *Kurozai* to get any closer to their goal. And if the *Zetsu-Kai* truly had the power to manipulate chakra on such a fundamental level, then the threat they posed was far greater than anything the shinobi world had ever known.

---

### **The Message in the Shadows**

When they finally returned to Konoha, it was late in the night. The village was peaceful, the streets bathed in the soft glow of lanterns. But Naruto couldn't shake the feeling that the peace was only temporary. He and Sasuke made their way through the quiet streets to the Hokage's office, where the heavy weight of the task ahead awaited them.

As they entered the office, Naruto felt a chill run down his spine. The room was dimly lit, and the usual warmth of the place seemed absent. The only sound was the faint rustle of paper as Shikamaru, who had been awaiting their return, looked up from a stack of documents on the desk.

"Naruto, Sasuke," Shikamaru greeted them, his tone weary but focused. "It's good to see you back. We've been waiting for you. There's something you need to see."

Naruto's brow furrowed. "What is it?"

Shikamaru stood up and handed Naruto a small scroll, the seal on it unfamiliar. "This came in just before you returned. It's addressed to you, from an unknown sender."

Naruto broke the seal and unfurled the scroll. His eyes quickly scanned the message, and a sense of dread began to settle over him.

"*The Zetsu-Kai is no longer a secret. The power you seek will no longer be your salvation, but your doom. You have been warned. The Kurozai are closer than you think, and they will stop at nothing to see their will done.*"

The message sent a shiver down Naruto's spine. The warning was clear—whoever had sent this scroll knew far more than they should. And it wasn't a threat they could ignore.

"This is bad," Sasuke said, his voice cold as he read over Naruto's shoulder. "They know we're coming. The *Kurozai* are already one step ahead."

Naruto clenched his fists, his anger beginning to boil. "They're not going to get away with this. We have to act now."

Shikamaru's expression hardened. "You're right. The *Kurozai* are moving fast, and if they're after the *Zetsu-Kai*, then it's only a matter of time before they make their move. But we can't afford to rush in blindly. We need to figure out their next step, and we need to do it fast."

Naruto turned toward Sasuke, his eyes determined. "We need to find out where they're hiding. We need to track them down before they can make the first move."

Sasuke nodded. "We have the scrolls from the samurai temple. There's still more we don't know, but I'm sure the *Kurozai* have left some kind of trace. We just need to find it."

Naruto and Sasuke made their plans quickly, knowing that time was running out. The village was still unaware of the storm that was about to hit, but that wouldn't last for long. The *Kurozai* were closing in, and if they were to protect the future of the shinobi world, they needed to act swiftly and decisively.

---

### **The Secret Ally**

The next few days were a blur of planning and preparation. Naruto and Sasuke worked tirelessly to uncover any trace of the *Kurozai*'s movements. They reached out to their allies—Shikamaru, Sakura, and others—gathering intelligence, consolidating resources, and preparing for what was to come. But despite all their efforts, the *Kurozai* remained elusive.

Then, just when they were beginning to lose hope, a new ally arrived in Konoha.

An unexpected visitor appeared at the gates: a lone figure cloaked in shadow, a mask obscuring their face. The guards didn't recognize the person, but there was something about them that immediately put them on alert.

"I need to speak with Hokage Naruto," the masked figure said, their voice calm but urgent.

The figure was led to Naruto's office, where they removed their hood, revealing a face Naruto instantly recognized. It was a woman with long, dark hair and piercing eyes—someone from his past.

"Temari?" Naruto asked, surprised but relieved. "What are you doing here?"

Temari's eyes were serious, her expression grim. "I came to warn you. The *Kurozai* have already infiltrated the Hidden Sand. They've been pulling strings in the shadows for years. But that's not all—they're looking for the *Zetsu-Kai* too. They know its location."

Naruto's heart skipped a beat. "How do you know this?"

Temari's gaze hardened. "Because I've seen the signs. I've been tracking them for a while now. They've been using the Sand's resources to cover their tracks. But I can't do this alone. We need to unite the villages—now."

The weight of her words hit Naruto like a punch to the gut. The *Kurozai* were everywhere, and they were already one step ahead.

"We'll do whatever it takes," Naruto said, determination filling his voice. "We won't let them win."