Road to Redemption - CH - 37 (Patreon)

In the quiet, early hours of the morning, Izuna sat by the window, deep in thought as the sun rise over Konoha. It had been a peaceful return, and he cherished every moment he’d spent with Naruto, but a part of him knew that his work wasn’t yet finished. The warmth he’d felt watching Naruto finally receive the acceptance he’d yearned for his entire life only strengthened his resolve. If he truly wanted Naruto to be safe, if he wanted to protect Konoha and the entire shinobi world, then he had to stop the threats looming on the horizon.

The shadows of the past still lingered. Izuna knew that somewhere out there, hidden in the darkness, Tobi was scheming—working to manipulate events from the shadows. And then there was Nagato, the one wielding the power of the Rinnegan, a power that, if left unchecked, could bring disaster upon the world. Worse still, if these two ever joined forces, Naruto and everyone he cared about would face a future of unimaginable danger.

Izuna’s gaze softened as he thought of Naruto. The boy was bright and full of potential, but he was still so young. Izuna had to do everything in his power to make sure Naruto had the chance to grow up in a world free from the horrors he’d endured himself. He turned his attention back to the village one last time, committing it to memory, knowing he’d soon leave on a journey that could change everything.

Later that morning, as Naruto was busy practicing some new techniques at the training grounds, Izuna approached him, his expression serious but calm.

“Hey, Naruto,” he said, kneeling down to meet his nephew’s curious gaze. “I need to talk to you about something important.”

Naruto looked up, pausing mid-jutsu. “What is it, Uncle Izuna?”

Izuna hesitated, weighing his words carefully. “Naruto… I have to leave the village for a while.”

Naruto’s face fell. “Leave? But… we just got back! Why do you have to go?”

“There’s a threat out there, Naruto. One that could put you and everyone else in the village in danger,” Izuna explained. “There’s a man… Tobi. He’s dangerous, manipulative, and he has plans that, if left unchecked, could hurt a lot of people. And then there’s another man, Nagato, who holds a dangerous power known as the Rinnegan. If they join forces, they could threaten everything we hold dear.”

Naruto frowned, the weight of the information clear on his face. “But… why can’t you stay here? We can face them together!”

Izuna shook his head, giving Naruto a sad but proud smile. “One day, Naruto, you’ll be strong enough to face any threat on your own. But for now, it’s best if you focus on your training here. I need you to grow stronger, not just for yourself but for everyone who relies on you. And to do that, I have to make sure the path is clear. Without Tobi and Nagato, you’ll have a better chance at finding peace.”

Naruto clenched his fists, struggling to understand. “But… what if something happens to you?”

Izuna reached out, placing a hand on Naruto’s shoulder. “I’ve been through a lot, Naruto. I’m not easy to take down."

Naruto nodded, though reluctantly. “Then… then promise me you’ll come back safe. Promise you won’t leave me behind.”

Izuna’s eyes softened. “I promise, Naruto. I’ll come back. Until then, you need to keep working hard, keep growing, and never forget what I’ve taught you. I believe in you.”

Naruto managed a small, determined smile. “I won’t let you down, Uncle Izuna.”

Before leaving, Izuna made arrangements with the Uchiha clan to take care of Naruto while he was away. After the recent shift in the village’s perspective toward the Uchiha—thanks to whispers that Itachi might be considered for the position of Hokage—the clan was beginning to regain the respect and admiration it had once held. People no longer saw them with suspicion, and the Uchiha members could walk the streets of Konoha with their heads held high.

Izuna trusted that under the watchful eyes of Itachi, Shisui, and Mikoto, Naruto would be in good hands. This was a place where Naruto could thrive, surrounded by strong shinobi who cared for him. And, for the first time, Naruto would have a stable, supportive environment, almost like a family, while Izuna handled the threat looming over them all.

Izuna stood with Naruto in the courtyard of the Uchiha compound, sunlight filtering through the leaves of the large oak trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Naruto looked up at his uncle, his expression mixed with excitement and sadness.

“So… you’re really going?” Naruto asked, his voice quiet, almost hesitant.

Izuna nodded, placing a hand on Naruto’s shoulder. “Yes, Naruto. But remember, you’ll be safe here. The Uchiha will take care of you, and they’re like family to us. They’ll help you with your training, make sure you’re looked after… and you’ll have Sasuke, Itachi, Shisui, and Mikoto-obasan close by.”

Naruto tried to put on a brave face, his lips curling into a small grin. “I’ll be fine! I mean, with everyone here, I’ll be the best ninja by the time you get back. Believe it!”

Izuna chuckled, ruffling Naruto’s hair. “That’s the spirit, Naruto. And I’ll hold you to that. Work hard, listen to Itachi and Shisui, and remember—don’t be too reckless.”

As Izuna exchanged farewells with Itachi, Shisui, and the others, he gave them a grateful nod, trusting them to keep Naruto safe and guide him. Itachi, always calm and collected, assured Izuna that Naruto would be treated as family within the clan, while Shisui offered a confident smirk. “Don’t worry, Izuna-san. We’ll make sure Naruto doesn’t get into too much trouble. Besides, he’s got a good head on his shoulders.”

Mikoto gave Izuna a reassuring smile. “He’ll be well cared for. And you… stay safe.”

With one last look, Izuna gave Naruto a nod and then disappeared into the shadows, setting off on his journey.

Over the next few weeks, Naruto quickly settled into life with the Uchiha clan. With Sasuke by his side and Itachi and Shisui occasionally joining him in training, Naruto was thriving. The respect the villagers had recently shown toward the Uchiha extended to Naruto as well. Walking through Konoha, Naruto noticed almost no hostile stares and more friendly nods and smiles from villagers who were finally beginning to see him in a different light.

Naruto threw himself into training, determined to live up to Izuna’s expectations. Sasuke, though competitive, pushed Naruto to improve, and their training sessions became a daily ritual. Under Itachi and Shisui’s guidance, Naruto’s skill grew, and he found himself making progress he’d never thought possible.

Occasionally, Naruto would visit Mikoto in the afternoons, where she would cook lunch and share stories about the village’s history. It was a warm, comforting environment that Naruto had rarely experienced before—a glimpse of what a real family felt like. For the first time, he felt a sense of belonging.

But amidst all the training and camaraderie, Naruto never forgot his uncle. Each night, he’d sit on the porch, looking out at the stars, wondering where Izuna was and how his mission was going. The longing to see him again fueled Naruto’s determination to grow stronger, to become someone Izuna could be proud of.

With his newfound respect in the village, Naruto became quite popular, and people of all ages were eager to hear about his adventure in the Fire Capital. Kids in the Academy would crowd around him, listening with wide eyes as he recounted the bustling markets, the grand palaces, and his thrilling experience of foiling the assassination attempt on the Daimyo.

Naruto, never one to boast too much, always downplayed his role, making it sound like he was just in the right place at the right time. But his friends—especially the few who had supported him even before his trip to the capital—knew better. They recognized the growth in Naruto’s confidence, his maturity, and the way he talked about protecting those he cared about.

Kiba, who had always been competitive with Naruto, now listened with newfound respect, often nudging Naruto and joking, “Maybe you did pick up a few things while you were out there. But don't get a big head, Naruto!”

Hinata, who’d always quietly admired him, would blush and listen in awe, while Shikamaru, ever thoughtful, remarked on how different Naruto sounded. Even Choji, who was usually more interested in his snacks, wanted to know what food Naruto had tried in the capital. “I heard the ramen there is next-level!” he said, licking his lips as Naruto described the rich, flavorful broths and unique toppings he’d tried.

The attention was nice, but Naruto never forgot the ones who had supported him when no one else had. He made a point to spend time with those friends, often meeting them after training or heading to Ichiraku Ramen together. These were the people who had stood by him when the village was less welcoming, and Naruto valued them deeply.

During quieter moments, Naruto would share details he hadn’t told the crowds, like his reflections on what his uncle Izuna had taught him—that there were good people outside of Konoha, people who didn’t judge him for things beyond his control. Naruto’s friends would listen, understanding just how much the experience had meant to him.

As he grew closer to his friends, Naruto felt more at home in the village than he ever had. He realized that he didn’t have to work to be accepted by everyone; having a few true friends who believed in him was enough. Still, his heart was set on becoming Hokage one day, not just to earn the village’s respect but to protect the bonds he’d made, both new and old.

Izuna moved through the dense forests and treacherous landscapes with a grim determination, each step bringing him closer to his mission: to find and confront the dangerous figures who threatened Naruto’s future—Tobi and Nagato. Without his dojustu, the journey was far more dangerous. His instincts were sharp, and his skills honed, but he knew that, against these enemies, he would need every bit of his experience and a fair amount of luck.

The journey was long and arduous, filled with obstacles and the occasional enemy shinobi. Izuna’s senses were on high alert, knowing full well that one wrong step could expose him to those who would recognize his heritage. The danger was constant, but he pushed forward, driven by the thought of Naruto and the potential horrors that awaited if Tobi and Nagato succeeded in their plans.

The first task was finding leads on Tobi’s whereabouts. Uchiha Obito was notorious for his ability to manipulate and evade detection, moving in the shadows with ruthless precision. Izuna traveled through villages and towns, subtly inquiring about sightings of a masked figure with an eerie, spiraling Sharingan mask. Most people knew nothing, or if they did, they were too frightened to speak.

At night, Izuna would camp alone under the stars, reflecting on his path. Without his eyes, he had to rely on pure skill, intuition, and tactics that he had developed over a lifetime. He had trained tirelessly, knowing that he would need to face the Akatsuki members on equal footing despite his disadvantage. Each day reminded him of how important this mission was—not only for Naruto but for the balance of the entire world. If he could stop Tobi, then the chain of events leading to Kaguya’s revival could be broken.

Days turned into weeks as Izuna tracked leads, moving like a ghost through the nations, each encounter bringing him closer to the truth. He faced ambushes from rogue shinobi, traps set by bandit scouts, and other obstacles, but each one only fueled his determination. Along the way, he honed his other senses, developing a keen awareness of his surroundings that, in some ways, compensated for the lack of his eyes.