Chapter 418: Eve
"Wh-what?! Formally wage war with the [Ember] organization?!"
Night. In the dark strange space shrouded in darkness, several giant fingers towered. Above them floated nine chakra phantoms of various colors and vague forms.
This was Akatsuki's core meeting. The decision Tendo Pain had just announced instantly stirred responses.
"Wait? Isn't this a bit too rushed?" Suigetsu Hozuki's voice carried obvious panic. "I'm still overseas gathering intelligence. I can't rush back immediately!"
"Suigetsu, don't panic so." Tendo Pain's cold, flat voice sounded. "Return with all effort, but this battle... attendance is mandatory."
"After this matter concludes, we need no longer hide our objectives... At that time, Hidden Mist Village will also be formally included in the plan."
Suigetsu Hozuki's phantom stopped wavering. Though still uneasy, he silently accepted the order.
"[Ember] huh..." A rather young-sounding voice responded. The phantom of youthful build picked up the conversation. "Understood. Perfect timing—that organization is also one of the targets I must eliminate in my plans."
That phantom's outline seemed somewhat sharp, tone carrying killing intent unsuited to his age.
"But I have one condition—that rumored Mangekyo Sharingan wielder in [Ember] must be mine to handle."
"At the same time, if there's a chance to personally kill the traitor Orochimaru... it must be me."
"Mm, no problem." Pain didn't hesitate before agreeing to this condition. To him, as long as "god's" objectives were achieved, members' personal grudges could serve as motivation if they didn't affect the overall situation.
"I don't care." Another low voice sounded. The phantom's outline vaguely showed a massive blade shape on its back. "The reason for war, whatever—it's just a mission anyway. However... there are Uchiha clan survivors in that organization? Hope there aren't other Konoha guys mixed in..."
His tone revealed obvious fear and disgust. "Those characteristics... really don't want to see them a second time."
"Konoha taijutsu ninja, huh..."
Another somewhat raspy voice echoed with lingering fear. "Indeed an experience I don't want to recall... Regarding the war, I have no objections. But I need to place someone in Hidden Rain Village beforehand." That phantom turned toward Pain's direction. "The leader will protect him well, right?"
Pain's phantom nodded slightly in agreement.
"The [Ember] organization?! How exciting—!" A high-pitched, nervously excited voice cut in. "I really want to offer them all... to Jashin-sama!"
This crazed voice echoed through the dark space without eliciting much response. Everyone seemed long accustomed to it.
Finally, Pain's gaze—fixed on the last phantom in the gathering who hadn't clearly expressed a position.
"Shinnō, your opinion?"
That phantom called "Shinnō" fell silent for a moment, then emitted low, strange laughter.
"Hehehe... Of course I'll come. This battle, both publicly and privately, I have no reason to avoid."
His voice gradually deepened, carrying a certain bone-deep obsession.
"However, Pain-sama... After this, you'll honor your promise and help me destroy Konoha Village, right?"
Tendo Pain's phantom gave an uncompromising response.
"Naturally."
---
"Naruto... likes..."
The voice wrapped in scalding breath, intermittently spilling from lips and teeth, repeatedly echoing in the dim quiet room. Each syllable struck the humid air, stirring deeper ripples.
That composure and firmness facing Pain in Rain Village's tower, that "Menma" attitude of having everything under control, had long since vanished completely.
Removing mask and black robe, returning to this private space belonging only to them, he was just her "Naruto"—would tremble from her touch, would feel shy from her demands, would open everything without resistance, letting her lead as they rose and fell in the waves.
Satsuki lowered her head, affectionately nuzzling Naruto's equally flushed and sweat-dampened neck with her nose tip.
"Naruto is a good boy..."
She gently pecked his earlobe, murmuring lowly like praising him.
"Already... halfway done."
"You can... rest a bit."
Though saying rest, she had no intention of leaving. Instead, she pressed even more closely, skin to skin, feeling his equally violent heartbeat and scalding body temperature.
...
They still fussed until midnight.
When everything finally calmed to gentle intimacy, Naruto held Satsuki in his arms, fingers unconsciously combing through her temple hair. Yet a trace of hidden worry quietly surfaced in his heart—continuing this unrestrained... would their Boruto arrive ahead of schedule?
This thought made his ears heat up, yet carried sweetness mixed with anticipation and tension.
After simple bathing, the two entwined in their most comfortable position as on every night sleeping in each other's embrace.
Satsuki habitually buried her face in his neck. Naruto lightly held her waist, trying to let his thoughts settle.
The reassuring atmosphere slowly wrapped around their weary bodies and minds like a warm blanket.
However—
"Naruto... is something troubling you?"
Satsuki who should have been asleep suddenly spoke.
"...Eh?"
Naruto was truly surprised. He was indeed somewhat tense about the upcoming plan to settle accounts with Obito, but only "somewhat."
With Naruto's current strength, even if Obito possessed Kamui—that troublesome space-time ocular technique—in Naruto's eyes he was just a rather hard-to-catch bug. This comparison might be too arrogant, yet was undeniable fact.
So how did Satsuki notice?
Intuition. And keen "perception" belonging uniquely to her—the embrace slightly tighter than usual yet lacking focus, kisses passionate yet seemingly mixed with traces of distraction, and during their intimacy moments ago, that extremely brief instant of unconscious wandering...
These details too minute for others to capture rippled through her heart. He seemed... just slightly weaker than usual. Not his body, but that fully concentrated immersion's "intensity." Satsuki instinctively deduced—he had something on his mind.
Naruto was about to speak. Those reflexive reassuring words—"It's nothing, Satsuki doesn't need to worry," "Just a bit tired"—already reached his lips.
But the next second, he stopped.
What was he doing? Unconsciously concealing things again?
To Satsuki... why did he still have this habit of "not wanting her to worry," this overprotective instinct to hide things?
This was completely wrong. They'd already shared their deepest secrets, entrusted their entire selves. He'd promised not to withhold anything from her anymore.
Naruto took a deep breath, completely crushing those evasive thoughts. He tightened his arms, holding her more firmly, chin gently rubbing her crown.
"...I found him." His voice was especially serious in the silent night.
"That masked man who orchestrated the Nine-Tails attack, who nearly destroyed the Uchiha... the possible location of his organization's base."
"One day from now, I'll lead [Ember]... to formally wage war against them."
Satsuki's body shifted slightly in his embrace yet she didn't immediately speak. She didn't excitedly demand to go along like typical revenge-seekers, despite that masked man being the culprit who nearly destroyed her clan and took Naruto's parents.
She only waited quietly, completely leaving the choice to him.
"I'll listen to Naruto." She said softly, voice holding no hesitation or testing, only complete trust and obedience.
"If you don't want me to go... I'll stay home and wait for your to return."
Extreme love surpassed extreme hate. For this love, she could suppress boiling killing intent, could temporarily shelve blood debt, simply because he might need her to "stay."
Naruto's heart felt like something soft and scalding violently struck it.
"...No." He released his embrace, propping himself up to seriously look at her eyes reflecting moonlight in the dimness.
"When the time comes, you should come along too."
"Moreover... you can officially join my organization."
"Eh? Really?!"
Satsuki's eyes instantly brightened, as if stars had fallen in. She also sat up. The thin blanket slipped down, moonlight spilling unobstructed on her flawless smooth skin, outlining rising curves—a scene where magnificence and desire intertwined, making Naruto's breath catch, staring dazed.
"Yes, of course." He steadied himself, nodding confirmation. "However, you must be careful not to expose your identity. Everyone in the organization... not one person knows 'Menma's' true identity until now."
"I understand!" Satsuki immediately nodded, face blooming with undisguised joyful smile. Being able to stand beside him in the same "world," fighting with the same identity—this made her feel an intimate connection.
Watching her delighted appearance, Naruto's thoughts stirred.
If Satsuki would participate in this battle... then it was time.
His will flowed. Two energy bodies visible only to him silently manifested behind him—one brilliant as diamond, one radiant as gold.
"Satsuki," Naruto called her softly, tone gentle yet solemn. "Close your eyes, okay?"
"Eh? ...Oh." Satsuki was startled by his sudden request, cheeks slightly flushing, yet without any hesitation she obediently closed her eyes.
Naruto took from behind—from the storage scroll his substitute retrieved—a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan preserved in special solution. They belonged to Uchiha Mikoto, containing "maternal" ocular power, the key to evolving Satsuki's eyes into [Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan].
"It might hurt a little... It'll be quick, just bear with it."
Hearing "might hurt a little," Satsuki's body trembled imperceptibly, the blush on her cheeks seemingly deepening another layer.
She responded with a low "Mm," voice soft, carrying a trembling tone mixed with endurance and anticipation.
Completely unaware Satsuki might have misunderstood in certain aspects, Naruto took a deep breath, gathering his complete focus, gently yet precisely pressing fingertips toward her eye corners.
---
I still think Naruto could solo them, but it's whatever.....
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