At the spot where the two were sitting, Zetsu emerged from the ground. He had arrived to provide the trio with an updated map.
"It looks like things have wrapped up here."
"Is that agonizingly long ritual finally over too?"
Hidan immediately snapped back with dissatisfaction. "You guys are seriously annoying! Every single one of you!"
"Atheists who don't understand the importance of prayer!"
Half-submerged in the earth, Zetsu's voice remained low as he addressed the three. "When you are sad, feeling it for yourself is enough."
"The only one you can trust is yourself."
"No, that's wrong. The only thing you can trust is money," Kakuzu countered, dismissing Zetsu's philosophy.
"Ah! Here we go again!" Hidan pointed an accusatory finger at Kakuzu. "At the end of the day, it's all because you and Kanon-chan keep taking side jobs! That's why we're so slow at tracking down the Jinchuriki."
"How is this falling on me again?! I only joined recently!" Kanon shouted from atop the ruins, glaring down at Hidan.
"Oh, right! I almost forgot! Then it's just Kakuzu's side jobs!" Hidan gnashed his teeth. "I only teamed up with you because you said religion could make money. Otherwise, I would have teamed up with Kanon-chan ages ago."
"Please, have some consideration for me as the Akatsuki's financial manager," Kakuzu sighed. It truly was difficult to have a conversation with an idiot.
Zetsu nodded slightly. "Money is very important, you know."
Black Zetsu then cut in, rebuking White Zetsu's chatter. "Enough of that. Hurry up and find the next target."
Kanon hopped down, her three-tomoe Sharingan scanning Zetsu with scrutiny.
"Wh... what are you doing?"
"Do you guys actually poop?" Facing Kanon's bizarre question, Zetsu simply sank back into the ground and vanished.
"Eh?! Answer the question before you leave!" Kanon threw her hands up in frustration. Her real goal, however, had been to drive Zetsu away.
"Finally, that annoying guy is gone. Let's pick the next target."
"Kanon, I want to go here." Kakuzu took out the map Zetsu had just delivered and circled the Fire Temple.
"The Land of Fire... the Twelve Guardian Shinobi... Is it Chiriku the monk who's there now?"
"Thirty million Ryo. That's a lot of cash. I've never taken down an opponent worth more than twenty million before," Kanon mused.
"Want to go for a big score?" Hidan asked.
"Obviously," Kanon said, the corners of her mouth twitching upward.
"Then the Fire Temple it is," Kakuzu finalized the decision.
…
As the first light of dawn broke, thin wisps of cooking smoke rose from the tiled roofs of Konoha. Verdant leaves swayed gently in the breeze, accompanied by the crisp chirping of birds. A peaceful yet vibrant day began to unfold.
Near a waterfall created by Yamato, the trio of Yamato, Kakashi, and Naruto stood ready.
"Are you all right? You were still in the hospital yesterday," Yamato said, looking at Naruto with concern.
"You're exaggerating, Captain Yamato," Naruto shook his head helplessly.
"Small talk ends here. Let's begin the training," Kakashi said, stepping in front of Naruto. "I'd like to say that, but first, let's verify your basics."
"Forget that! Let's get straight to the training for my new ultimate move!"
"Like a Super-Invincible Rasengan or something!"
"The Naruto-Special-Whirlpool-Rasengan!" Naruto struck what he considered to be a cool pose.
Watching him, Yamato and Kakashi shared a weary sigh. Yamato then began to explain the purpose of their exercise.
"So, that is exactly why we are training in Nature Transformation."
"Fire, Wind, Water, Lightning, and Earth, the five basic natures."
"Alright, let's start," Kakashi said, beginning the lesson. "Essentially, everyone has chakra that belongs to one of these natures."
"For example, the Uchiha clan is a lineage with a fire nature, so they excel at Fire Release ninjutsu."
"Wind becomes Wind Release, Lightning becomes Lightning Release."
"For instance, the Chidori is a type of Lightning Release."
"So Sasuke has both Fire and Lightning?" Naruto asked. "Does that mean Kanon has all five, Fire, Lightning, Wind, Earth, and Water?"
"In your case..."
After Kakashi tested Naruto's affinity, Naruto shouted in excitement. "I have a Wind-natured chakra!" His blue eyes sparkled.
Kakashi proceeded to educate Naruto on the origins of Kekkei Genkai and combined ninjutsu. He then explained that the Shadow Clone was different from a standard clone; it could accumulate experience. When the jutsu was released, all the knowledge and "feeling" would return to the original, allowing Naruto to gain years of experience in a short time.
The training was incredibly efficient, but the exhaustion would also be multiplied.
"I wasn't able to add a lightning nature transformation into the shape transformation of the Rasengan," Kakashi admitted.
"Huh?" Naruto was confused.
Yamato explained, "To combine nature transformation and shape transformation requires extremely high-level skill."
"Perhaps 'talent' or 'aptitude' is a better word for it."
"Even my sensei, the creator of this jutsu, was the same."
"Sensei..."
"That's right. Even the Fourth Hokage couldn't do it."
"The Fourth trained shape transformation to the highest level, resulting in the Rasengan."
"Just that shape transformation alone is an A-rank in difficulty."
"I can just barely mimic it to that degree, but the next part is the problem."
"The Rasengan was originally a jutsu developed by the Fourth with the intention of adding his own nature transformation to it."
Naruto finally understood. He voiced his realization: "So you're saying the Rasengan is an incomplete jutsu?"
"Exactly," Yamato nodded.
"An undeveloped jutsu like that has a difficulty rating of S-rank or higher."
"Regardless of difficulty, it might simply be impossible to complete."
"From here on, I won't be able to guide you anymore."
"Do you know why I'm telling you this, Naruto?"
Naruto blinked, looking at Kakashi blankly.
"I have always believed that you are a shinobi who can surpass the Fourth Hokage."
"However, someone has already succeeded before you."
"Are you talking about... Kanon?" Naruto looked down.
"Yes. Her Rasengan Fire Dance is the result of adding nature transformation to the Rasengan. But I believe you can succeed as well."
"Kanon's Rasengan Fire Dance has been classified as an S-rank jutsu?!" Naruto focused on that detail.
"Yes," Kakashi nodded.
"So cool! I didn't think Kanon would complete the nature transformation of the Rasengan herself and master an S-rank jutsu! Then I can't lose to her!"
Naruto became even more invigorated. Though he had been exhausted to the point of collapse, the thought of Kanon constantly moving forward gave him infinite motivation!
"That's enough talk for now. Rest for a bit, then we begin."
As Kakashi walked away, Yamato followed him. "You certainly have a way with words."
Kakashi glanced back over his shoulder. "I truly do believe it." With that, he left the area.
…
Fire Temple
"A temple? Don't these people believe in Buddhism?! I'm a follower of the Way of Jashin! Why am I even here?!" Hidan roared at the other two.
"Shut up, Hidan-nii! Didn't we agree to go for a big score?!" Kanon shouted back at him.
"Oh! Right, I remember now. It's Kakuzu's fault for not reminding me what we were here for. I almost forgot again."
"Hidan, this is no ordinary temple," Kakuzu reminded him.
"The 'Big Prize' is very likely inside."
As he spoke, Kakuzu's hands gradually turned black, a hardening of the skin, a signature of his Earth Release.
Kanon stood at the back. She pulled down her fox mask, concealing her refined features, and began to wait silently.
In the next moment, Kakuzu swung his fist, blowing the massive gates wide open in a single strike.