Naruto sat on a lone iceberg, her legs swinging idly back and forth as she watched the commotion below. The shooting set bustled with activity, the crew members shouting directions and adjusting equipment, while the actors rehearsed their lines under the frosty sunlight. Somewhere amidst the chaos, Yukie, the pampered actress-slash-princess, was preparing for her next scene. Kakashi, Lee, Sakura, and Sasuke were stationed around her, their postures tense as they scanned the snowy expanse for potential threats.
Naruto, however, was excluded from the protective formation.
"Stay back, Naruto," Kakashi had said earlier with a calm yet firm tone. "Unless it's a world-ending threat or Yukie is in immediate danger, there's no need for you to intervene."
"World-ending threat?" Naruto had tilted her head, her glowing sapphire eyes narrowing slightly. "I thought the mission was about guarding a spoiled actress, not stopping the apocalypse. Dattebayo."
"You're suited for high-level threats," Kakashi replied, his tone dismissive. "These smaller, everyday dangers? Leave those to us. You're overqualified."
The words had left her with a strange mix of irritation and amusement. Overqualified? She wasn't even the team leader. Sure, she had a sleek, near-indestructible android body crafted from Hashirama's Sage Wood, but that didn't mean she wanted to sit on the sidelines like some ornamental doll. Still, she obeyed the order—more out of boredom than respect.
Now, perched on the iceberg, she rested her chin in her palm, her synthetic gaze fixed on the scene below with detached interest. The crisp winter air whistled around her, tugging at the frilly hem of her black dress beneath the bulky white winter coat she wore. She sighed, watching as Kakashi instructed Sakura to adjust her positioning while Lee jogged around the perimeter with his usual enthusiasm.
"I've become invincible," she muttered to herself, her voice soft and robotic. It wasn't arrogance—it was simply a fact. A year ago, during her fight against Lee in the Chūnin Exams, she'd been helpless, her movements sluggish and imprecise thanks to the early version of her AI assistant, Bitch. But now, after Tobirama's upgrades, Bitch only spoke when absolutely necessary, allowing her combat instincts to shine.
"Dattebayo," she mused with a faint smile. Being an android had its perks—enhanced strength, agility, and resilience. But she missed being human. She missed ramen most of all. Sure, she could still eat, but it wasn't the same. Flavours were muted, textures dull. Food had become a chore rather than a pleasure. She also missed the simplicity of being a boy—everything from roughhousing with her friends to the sheer convenience of peeing.
She snickered softly, her laughter devoid of warmth. These days, even her emotions felt synthetic. Her relationships were changing too. She didn't like Sakura the way she used to, and boys… well, they made her feel strange. Not in a bad way, but in a way that made her circuits hum in confusion.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she noticed movement on the horizon. Four cloaked figures were approaching the set, their dark silhouettes stark against the snowy backdrop.
Naruto tilted her head, her mechanical gaze sharpening as she zoomed in on the group. Their movements were deliberate, coordinated, as if they had a specific target in mind.
"Interesting," she muttered, her legs ceasing their rhythmic swing. She tapped her fingers on the icy surface of the berg, debating whether to alert the others.
Before she could decide, Kakashi and Sakura moved to intercept the newcomers. Naruto's glowing eyes tracked their interaction, though she couldn't hear their conversation over the howling wind. The tension was palpable, however, and it wasn't long before two of the cloaked figures lunged forward, attacking with precision.
Naruto's gaze narrowed. It was the trio from earlier—the snow ninja who had caused trouble before. Their movements were fast and aggressive, forcing Kakashi and Sakura to dodge and counter immediately.
The third cloaked figure broke off from the group, targeting Sasuke while keeping Yukie firmly in his sights. Sasuke met the attack head-on, his Sharingan flaring to life as he parried a barrage of kunai. Lee, ever the loyal protector, positioned himself in front of the set, shielding Yukie and the crew from potential harm.
Naruto's synthetic mind processed the scene with mechanical efficiency. Three attackers accounted for, but what about the fourth?
Her question was answered when the last figure stepped forward, separating themselves from the chaos. Unlike their allies, they didn't attack immediately, instead observing the battle with a calm, calculated air.
Naruto pushed off the iceberg, landing gracefully in the snow. Her dress and coat fluttered around her as she walked toward the set, her steps deliberate and measured.
"Need any assistance, Sasuke?" she called out as she approached.
"No!" Sasuke snapped, his tone laced with irritation as he dodged another strike from his opponent.
"Fine," Naruto replied flatly, turning her attention to Kakashi and Sakura. "What about you two?"
"We've got it!" Sakura shouted, her voice strained as she deflected a shuriken.
"Focus on the perimeter, Naruto," Kakashi added without looking her way. His voice was calm, but there was a clear note of finality.
Naruto sighed. Humans were so predictable. Her glowing eyes shifted to the lone figure standing apart from the battle. They were still cloaked, their posture relaxed despite the chaos around them. She made her way over, her curiosity piqued.
"Do you surrender?" she asked when she was within earshot. Her tone was as stiff and robotic as ever. "Please surrender. I have a feeling that you are an useless, weak, incapable person. I would rather not waste my time on an useless, weak, incapable person."
The figure laughed—a low, youthful chuckle that sent a strange hum through her synthetic core. They pulled back their hood, revealing a sharp-featured young man with vibrant red hair and a sly smile.
Naruto's glowing sapphire eyes widened slightly. "Cool," she said, tilting her head. "You're better-looking than most."
The boy laughed again, his voice smooth yet chilling. "Fascinating," he said, his tone dripping with amusement. "Tobirama Senju crafted such a doll over a hundred years ago, and it's still leagues beyond anything Suna could create."
Naruto blinked. "I am a human. Dattebayo."
"Oh?" The boy's grin widened. "Do you have a heart?"
"I… I…" Naruto faltered, her processors whirring. 'My heart status?' she asked internally.
-Negative,- Bitch replied coldly. -There is no artificial cardiovascular organ in 2B.-
"You don't," the boy confirmed, his voice tinged with amusement. "A doll is a doll. A puppet without strings, thinking it's human."
"I am not an 'it.' I am a 'she,'" Naruto retorted, her tone stiff and robotic. "Dattebayo."
The boy's grin flattened into a thin line. "Do you have a reproductive system?"
Naruto froze, her synthetic mind racing for a response.
"Thought so," he said with a smirk, stepping closer and pulling out a scroll. "I am Sasori of the Red Sand, and I'll be taking that body."
Naruto tilted her head. "You mean… me?"
"This… 2B," Sasori clarified, gesturing toward her. "I suspect the Nine-Tails is sealed inside as well. A bonus for me and my organization."
"What—"
Before she could respond, Sasori unfurled the scroll with a fluid motion, an air of practiced precision in every movement. From the parchment erupted a tidal wave of puppets, their segmented wooden bodies spilling forth like an unstoppable surge. The sound of their joints clattering against the icy ground echoed ominously, a discordant symphony of wood and steel.
Naruto's sapphire eyes narrowed slightly, her stance steady as the swarm encircled her. The puppets moved with eerie synchronicity, their weapons gleaming menacingly in the pale winter sunlight.
"Now, doll," Sasori said, his voice calm and clinical, his sharp eyes fixed on her. "Tell me, do you leak?"
Naruto blinked, momentarily thrown by the question. "...No?" she replied, her tone laced with confusion.
"Good," Sasori responded, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. With a subtle flick of his fingers, the puppets responded instantly, their limbs moving in perfect harmony as they surged toward her.
Naruto's expression remained neutral, betraying neither fear nor concern. With a soft hum, a blade materialised in her hand—a sleek sword crackling with electric energy. The Ryjin. The blue lightning danced along the edges of the weapon, casting an otherworldly glow that reflected off the icy ground.
Her brows furrowed slightly, her sensors analysing Sasori's precise movements. There was something unsettling about him, a strange aura that put her on edge. His obsession with puppets, his calculated demeanor—everything about him felt off.
But she wouldn't lose. She couldn't lose. She was Naruto Uzumaki, invincible and unyielding.
"It's no use, doll," Sasori said with unwavering confidence. "You'll lose,"
With mechanical grace, she raised the Ryjin, the blade humming with power. In one fluid motion, she swung it, the crackling energy amplifying the force of her strike.
"Senju Slash," she declared, her monotone voice cutting through the icy air. The blade arced through the horde of puppets, the lightning-imbued edge slicing cleanly through their wooden frames. Sparks and splinters erupted in her wake as she carved a path through the advancing swarm.
She looked at the redhead boy with a small smirk. "Nah, I'll win. Dattebayo."