_KONOHA MARKET SIDE_
CLANG! SHIIIING!
The sharp, metallic shriek of clashing blades sliced through the dissipating smoke, a violent symphony echoing through the ruined market. As the acrid haze thinned, a figure burst forth, moving with incredible speed. It was Hikaru, his form a blur of motion, seemingly unaffected by the smoke bomb he had just unleashed.
But just as swiftly, a second shadow detached itself from the clearing smoke, a dark silhouette mirroring Hikaru's swiftness. Uchiha Sasuke was right behind him, his Sharingan blazing, refusing to let his foe escape.
Hikaru didn't slow, his eyes fixed on a point just ahead. As he sprinted, the air before him began to shimmer and twist, like water seen through a heat wave. This shimmering grew fast, pulling in the light around it, forming a swirling, dark opening that pulsed with an unnatural purple glow. It was no illusion; this was real, tearing at the very fabric of space.
Sasuke's eyes widened slightly as he recognized the familiar signs of such a jutsu. "A space-time portal...?" he murmured, his voice almost lost in the roar of their movements. "Ohh, of course. He has a Rinnegan."
Without a moment's pause, Hikaru plunged into the swirling opening, vanishing from sight. Sasuke, quick as a flash, launched himself right after him, disappearing into the same bizarre tear in reality.
The shimmering space rippled once, then snapped shut, leaving the ruined market street eerily still again, as if the fierce battle had never been there.
In an instant, the world shifted. The familiar sounds of the wind rustling through trees and the gentle murmur of flowing water replaced the silence of the battle-scarred market. Both figures reappeared in a flash of light, landing with soft thuds near the banks of the Naka River.
The moon, full and serene, cast a pale, silvery glow over the peaceful landscape.
Hikaru didn't pause. He glanced back, a flicker of surprise in his Rinnegan as he saw Sasuke still hot on his heels. 'Persistent, aren't you?' he thought, a hint of annoyance finally creasing his calm features.
He pushed his speed, running along the riverbank, then veering sharply into the dense forest, intending to lose Sasuke in the familiar terrain of Konoha.
But as he continued to run, something utterly unexpected happened. The world around him began to warp again, but this time, it wasn't a portal he created. The verdant greens of the forest, the dark earth beneath his feet, the very air itself, all bled away. The sensation was jarring, disorienting. One moment, he was in Konoha's forest; the next, he was in a vast, desolate expanse.
He skidded to a stop, his eyes widening in pure disbelief. All around him, stretching further than his gaze could reach, was an endless, stark white land. The ground wasn't earth, but smooth, pure white sand, unsettling in its vastness.
Sharp, glittering white formations of the same material jutted up from the ground like strange, frozen blades, some piercing the dull, colorless sky, others forming odd, unnatural peaks. The air felt thin and silent, cold, without any smell or sound.
The sky above was a flat, dull gray, completely covered by clouds, with no sun, no moon, no stars—just a heavy, oppressive blankness. It was a place utterly without life, a vast, bleached world of nothingness.
Hikaru looked around, his usual composure shattering. A genuine expression of shock, raw and unfiltered, contorted his face.
"WHAT!?"
_KONOHA CRYPTOLOGY HEADQUARTERS_
Inside the headquarters, the air was cool and still, carrying the faint scent of old paper and dust. The rooms were mostly bare, shelves emptied in a hurry, leaving behind shadows where scrolls sat. Naruto and Kakashi moved through the quiet corridors, their footsteps muffled.
"You sure it's here, Naruto?" Kakashi asked, his eye scanning the empty rooms, a hint of doubt in his voice. Naruto's focus was sharp, his blue eyes darting over every corner. "Yeah, it has to be, dattebayo! Just around..."
He stopped at a large, metal drawer built into the wall, pulling on its handle. It slid open with a soft groan. Inside, sitting alone, was a plain, dark kettle. Naruto's face lit up instantly. "Here! This is it, dattebayo!" A clear spark of joy danced in his voice.
But as Naruto turned, kettle in hand, he noticed that Kakashi hadn't reacted at all. His former sensei was standing still, his gaze fixed on something unseen, as if lost deep in thought.
"Kakashi-sensei," Naruto asked, a slight frown touching his brow, "is something the matter, dattebayo?"
Kakashi blinked, as if waking from a dream, and gave a small, weary smile. "Oh, Naruto... nothing, really. It's just that Sai is taking his time. He should have come back by now."
He glanced around the quiet building once more. "Well, anyway, let's take this troublesome thing and hide it somewhere safer."
As soon as both of them turned, intending to head deeper into the headquarters, their hearts skipped a beat. A silent figure stood there, seemingly out of nowhere, blocking their path. It was Sai, his pale face unreadable, his presence almost spectral.
"Woahh... Sai, you scared us for a moment, dattebayo!" Naruto exclaimed, his hand instinctively going to his chest.
Kakashi sighed, a hint of relief mixed with annoyance. "Sai, at least you could have said something when you were coming."
Sai's voice was calm, almost flat. "I was just about to say something, but you both turned around only."
Kakashi considered this for a moment, then an idea seemed to spark in his eye. "Naruto," he said, turning back to the Hokage, "why don't we hand this 'turtle' to Sai? He could hide it safely in the Black Ops headquarters. That way, we both can go and assist Sasuke."
Naruto's eyes brightened. "Yeah, excellent idea! Here, Sai, take it and hide it. After you do that, join Konohamaru and the others in searching for Orochimaru, dattebayo!" He carefully handed the kettle to Sai.
Sai took the kettle, his grip firm. "Understood," he said, his gaze steady. "I'll go from behind, so that no one sees me."
Kakashi gave Sai a quick, firm tap on the shoulder—a clear, unspoken gesture for him to be swift and careful. Sai nodded once, then, with the kettle secured, he melted back into the shadows, disappearing as silently as he had appeared..
Naruto and Kakashi quickly left the Cryptology Headquarters from the front door, their eyes scanning the dark surroundings, ready to assist Sasuke. At the same moment, on the opposite side of the building, the back door creaked open slightly, and Sai stepped out.
His mood was noticeably bright, almost cheerful. A light, carefree whistle escaped his lips as he walked, his steps confident and buoyant, a stark contrast to his usual quiet demeanor. It was as if he had just achieved something truly significant. In his hand, he still held the 'turtle'—the plain, dark kettle.
He walked with an easy stride, the whistle continuing, when suddenly, without warning, a a figure slammed into him. It wasn't a visible attack, but a sudden, heavy pressure that seemed to erupt from nowhere. The 'turtle' flew from his hand, sent spinning through the air and landing far away with a dull thud. Sai stumbled back, pushed violently, barely managing to stay on his feet.
His eyes snapped to where the force had come from. And there he was—Hikaru, the Rinnegan user, standing before him for a fleeting moment, his face a mix of grim determination and urgency. Hikaru didn't waste a second, his body already phasing into a shimmering portal that had just opened infront of him. Sai's mind reeled. He couldn't believe his eyes. He had just seen him... how was he here?
Before Sai could even process the shock, another figure hit him, this one from behind. It sent him sprawling, tumbling hard onto the ground. This time, as he hit the earth, he caught a glimpse of the figure who had pushed him: The figure's face set in a fierce mask, his eyes blazing with concentration. It was Sasuke though Sai didn't recognised him.
Sasuke, too, vanished into the same portal right after Hikaru, leaving Sai stunned on the ground, the two powerful shinobi disappearing completely from his sight.
A sickening sound of a body hitting the ground echoed through the quiet night, followed by a soft, almost imperceptible puff of smoke. The puff was distinct, like something vanishing into thin air. As the small cloud of smoke cleared away, Sai was no longer there.
In his place lay a different figure, younger, with spiky black hair. It was Uchiha Hikaru, the young one, the actual person who had been disguised. He held his head in his hands, groaning in pain, his body trembling slightly.
He lay on the cold ground for a moment, then, his voice strained and weary, he managed to speak.
"Transformation Jutsu..."
Another soft puff of smoke materialized out of nowhere, and in an instant, the young man's form blurred and changed, shifting back into the familiar appearance of Sai.
_HOKAGE MONUMENT RESIDENTIAL AREA_
The 'turtle'—the ordinary-looking kettle that had been knocked from Sai's grasp—spun through the night air, its dark shape barely visible against the moonless sky.
It didn't fall to the ground, however. Instead, as if guided by an unseen force, it seemed to catch an invisible current, soaring higher and higher. It was a strange sight, a mundane object gliding silently above the rooftops of Konoha, moving with a purpose of its own.
Its flight was swift and smooth, a dark silhouette against the scattered clouds. It traveled over the quiet streets, past the damaged buildings, until it began its descent. With a gentle, almost feather-light touch, the kettle settled onto the flat, unoccupied rooftop of a small, nondescript house. No lights shone from its windows, and the shadows were deep, confirming that the house was utterly empty. The 'turtle' lay motionless on the cool tiles, waiting.
_KONOHA ROOFTOPS_
The air crackled with residual chakra as Hikaru and Sasuke burst forth from the shimmering portal, reappearing high above the quiet streets of Konoha. They landed lightly on a narrow ledge overlooking a maze of residential rooftops. Hikaru's Rinnegan eyes immediately scanned his surroundings, calculating his next move. The brief encounter with Sai had been a necessary distraction, a way to buy precious seconds.
"You're not getting away this time," Sasuke growled, his voice low and dangerous, his Sharingan burning. He lunged, his chokuto flashing, intent on closing the distance before Hikaru could escape again.
Hikaru narrowed his eyes. 'Still tenacious, Uchiha,' he thought, his lips curling into a tight, grim smile. He knew Sasuke's speed. He needed to create a significant opening. A surge of crimson chakra flared around him, and he slammed his hands together. "Katon: Ryūka Rendan!" he roared, unleashing a Fire Style: Dragon Fire Barrage!
Multiple concentrated bursts of intense flame erupted from Hikaru's mouth, rocketing forward like a volley of fiery projectiles. Each burst pulsed with searing heat, tearing through the air and scorching the very tiles beneath them. The barrage was relentless, aimed directly at Sasuke to force him back and break his advance.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, recognizing the power and precision of the incoming fire. He couldn't simply dodge; the sheer volume of concentrated bursts required a counter. With a swift hand sign, lightning began to dance around his form, gathering in his outstretched hand. "Chidori Senbon!" he yelled, thrusting his arm forward.
From his hand, dozens of needle-thin, crackling lightning senbon shot out with incredible speed and accuracy. They sliced through the air, piercing directly into the oncoming fire bursts. Each lightning needle disrupted and diffused the concentrated flames, causing them to explode into harmless showers of sparks and smoke before they could reach him. The air hissed and crackled as lightning clashed with fire, creating a fleeting, volatile display.
As the last of the fire dissolved, Hikaru didn't wait. His Rinnegan pulsed, and a new portal, larger and more stable than the last, shimmered into existence just behind him. It pulsed with that familiar purple glow, a promise of escape. "Until we meet again, Uchiha," Hikaru muttered, a chilling smirk playing on his lips. Without a moment's hesitation, he vanished into the swirling vortex.
Sasuke broke through the last of the fiery haze, his eyes snapping to the closing portal. "No, you don't!" he roared, pushing his exhausted body to its absolute limit. He launched himself, a desperate, final surge of chakra propelling him forward. His fingers stretched, reaching for the shimmering edge of the portal, agony twisting his features. He was so close, so incredibly close, he could almost feel the dimensional rift on his fingertips.
But it wasn't enough. With a final, agonizing pop, the portal snapped shut, leaving only ripples in the air where it had been. Sasuke's hand closed on empty space. He landed hard on the quiet tiled rooftop, his body aching, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He was utterly alone, the chase momentarily over.
"He got away..." Sasuke muttered, his voice hoarse with frustration and exhaustion. His Sharingan swept across the desolate rooftops, then down into the shadowed streets. Hikaru's chakra signature was gone.
He was somewhere else in Konoha, hidden. But Sasuke wouldn't give up. His eyes hardened, a steely resolve returning to his gaze. "Not for long," he whispered, pushing himself to his feet. With a fluid, silent motion, he leaped from the rooftop, melting into the complex network of buildings below, resuming his relentless pursuit of the Rinnegan user.
_KONOHA RESIDENTIAL SECTOR_
Sasuke moved like a swift shadow through the damaged cityscape, a dark blur against the moonlit ruins. His Sharingan spun, meticulously sweeping every dim alley, every shadowed street, every high rooftop. His initial frustration at Hikaru's latest escape was now a cold, burning determination. He followed the faint, almost imperceptible residue of Hikaru's chakra, an echo of his passing, weaving through the broken paths that had been Konoha. His eyes, sharper than any hawk's, suddenly locked onto something in the distance.
'His trail... it's fading,' Sasuke thought, gritting his teeth. 'But what's that...?' A small clearing, dimly lit by the scattered moonlight filtering through the smoke, revealed two figures. One was a woman, her gentle face etched with concern, guiding a much smaller child. Their movements were hesitant, as if navigating treacherous ground in the dark. A sharp, icy dread shot through Sasuke's chest.
"There she is..." he breathed, his voice barely audible, a mixture of grim recognition and a spike of alarm. 'Naruto's wife... and child. What are they doing out here, unprotected?'
It was Uzumaki Hinata, her Byakugan was not active, her focus entirely on the small hand she held. She pulled the child closer, her gaze nervously scanning the damaged street. "It's alright, Himawari. Just a little further to the shelter," she whispered, trying to sound brave, though her heart hammered with unease. Beside her, clutching her mother's hand tightly, was Uzumaki Himawari.
Himawari whimpered softly, clinging to Hinata's leg, wide eyes filled with a child's confusion and fear. "Mama... I'm scared."
But as Sasuke watched, his blood ran cold. A sinister ripple in the air caught his eye. A shadow detached itself from a crumbling wall near the two figures, solidifying into Hikaru.
The Rinnegan user's gaze was cold, indifferent, as he raised a hand, chakra gathering with deadly intent. 'Obstacles,' Hikaru mused, his mind coldly analytical. 'Eliminate potential witnesses. Or perhaps… leverage.' He was about to strike them down, a casual act of ruthlessness.
"No!" Sasuke's roar ripped through the night, a raw, primal sound of absolute fury. His rage eclipsed all else. 'Not them! Not her! I won't let you touch them!' There was no time for complicated jutsu. His Sharingan blazed, twisting into the Mangekyo, and a shimmering, spectral purple light erupted around him. Susanoo!
A massive, ethereal ribcage of purple chakra materialized around Sasuke in an instant, followed by the towering form of its skeletal arm. The giant fist, imbued with Sasuke's protective will, slammed down, not to attack, but to intercept Hikaru's strike. A jarring CRACK reverberated as Hikaru's condensed chakra attack shattered against Susanoo's defense, dispersing harmlessly.
Hikaru, taken aback by Sasuke's sudden, full manifestation of Susanoo, paused, his eyes narrowing. "So, you protected them?" he murmured, a flicker of something akin to surprise mixed with cold curiosity in his Rinnegan. "Interesting priorities, Uchiha. Given your nature."
Sasuke didn't reply. His face, visible through Susanoo's spectral armor, was a mask of grim resolve, eyes burning with a fierce, unwavering protectiveness. His gaze bore into Hikaru's. With a swift, decisive movement, the Susanoo's arm enveloped Hinata and Himawari, gently but firmly scooping them up into its protective embrace.
Hinata gasped, clinging tighter to Himawari.
"Sasuke-kun...?!" Her eyes widened, recognizing him through the purple chakra, a wave of relief washing over her even as fear still trembled through her. "Thank you...!"
Himawari, nestled against her mother in the giant hand, looked up at the towering purple form with wide, scared eyes. "Sasuke-san...?"
she mumbled, a mix of fear and a strange sense of security in the colossal hand
"Hang on!" Sasuke commanded, his voice muffled by the Susanoo, yet firm enough to convey urgency. He ignored Hikaru for a moment, his priority absolute. With a powerful shinobi leap that shook the ground, the colossal Susanoo, holding its precious cargo, vanished over the rooftops. Sasuke wouldn't risk their safety any longer. He would place them somewhere truly safe, far from the immediate danger, before he continued his hunt for Hikaru alone.
Sasuke landed the Susanoo on a secluded rooftop, the impact barely a whisper. The purple chakra of the giant warrior shimmered, then slowly faded, leaving Sasuke standing alone with Hinata and Himawari. The night air here was calmer, the only sounds the distant hum of the village and the soft breathing of the two he had rescued.
Hinata immediately knelt, pulling Himawari into a tight, comforting hug. "Thank you, Sasuke-kun," she said again, her voice filled with heartfelt gratitude, her eyes still wide with the recent scare. "You saved us."
Himawari, still trembling slightly, peeked out from behind her mother's leg, clutching something small and dark in her hand. Her eyes, usually so bright, were wide with fear as she looked up at Sasuke.
Sasuke's gaze, sharp and intense, immediately fell upon the object Himawari was holding. It was the 'turtle'—the very kettle he had been searching for. His eyes narrowed, a flicker of urgency and grim satisfaction passing through them. This was it. This was the key.
He knelt, his posture coiled and direct, his expression hardened with purpose. His voice, though lowered, was firm, almost demanding. "Give me that 'turtle'," he commanded, his words clipped and devoid of any softening.
His eyes, dark and piercing, met Himawari's, conveying the absolute seriousness of his demand.
Himawari's lower lip quivered. She clutched the small, dark kettle tighter, her eyes darting from Sasuke's unyielding gaze to her mother's worried face. She remembered her father, Naruto, telling her to keep it safe, that it was important. But this man, Papa's friend, looked so serious, so imposing. Her small hand trembled, and a tear welled in her eye.
"B-but Papa said to keep it safe..." she mumbled, her voice tiny and scared.
"It's alright, Himawari," Hinata soothed, gently rubbing her daughter's back. She looked at Sasuke, understanding the urgency in his eyes, knowing his single-minded focus. "It's okay. Sasuke-kun needs it for the village's safety right now. It's important."
With a sniffle, Himawari slowly, reluctantly, extended her hand. Her fingers uncurled, revealing the dark, ordinary-looking kettle. It was small, light, and made of cold metal, its surface smooth and unremarkable. It felt utterly mundane in her small palm.
Sasuke took the kettle from her, his fingers closing around the light, hollow metal. His Sharingan, still active, scanned the object, then his eyes widened, just a fraction, in a slow, dawning realization. He felt no chakra from it, no ancient power, no hidden secrets. It was just... a fake.
A wave of pure, unadulterated anger ripped through him, sudden and violent. His knuckles turned white as his grip tightened on the metal kettle, the light object crumpling slightly under the unexpected force.
A low, dangerous growl rumbled in his throat. His chakra flared, cold and sharp, pushing outwards in a sudden burst that made Hinata gasp and Himawari whimper, pressing herself into her mother's side. Sasuke's Sharingan burned with frustrated fury, a silent, blazing intensity directed at the deception, not at them, but encompassing the entire, infuriating situation.
"Naruto..." he hissed, the name a sharp, dangerous whisper, laced with betrayal and seething irritation. "This is... useless." He glared at the crumpled metal kettle in his hand, then out into the shadowed distance, his jaw clenched so tight it ached. His mind raced, calculating, assessing the cost of this misdirection.
A split second later, the visible surge of anger receded, pulled back by sheer force of will, but the fury remained a cold fire in his eyes.
Without another word, without a glance back at Hinata or Himawari, Sasuke turned. His movements were swift and sharp, radiating a renewed, grim determination. He launched himself from the rooftop, disappearing into the complex network of buildings below, a dark silhouette consumed by the night. He had wasted enough time.
---
QUIZ QUESTION:
At the Konoha Cryptology Headquarters, Naruto and Kakashi handed the 'turtle' to Sai. Who was actually disguised as Sai during this encounter?
A) The real Sai
B) Orochimaru
C) A White Zetsu Clone
D) Uchiha Hikaru
Share your answers in the comments down below!
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hey everyone! We've just wrapped up Chapter 45: The Double Gambit, and wow, what a thrilling ride it was! 🎢 This chapter truly pulled back the curtain on the intricate layers of strategy and deception at play, showing us that sometimes, the biggest battles are fought with wits as much as with jutsu! 🤯
We followed Sasuke's relentless pursuit of Hikaru, pushing through unpredictable dimensional jumps and intense clashes. Seeing Hikaru's unique, desolate dimension was definitely an unexpected twist, highlighting just how formidable and mysterious he is! 🌌 But the real strategic masterstrokes were unveiled elsewhere.
The revelation at the Cryptology Headquarters was a shocker, wasn't it? Sai being a cunning clone created by Hikaru to intercept the 'turtle' was a brilliant, underhanded move. And then, the ultimate payoff of this complex misdirection: Sasuke's discovery that the 'turtle' was just a fake, an empty kettle! 🤯
This is where the title, "The Double Gambit," truly comes into play. It highlights how both Hikaru (with his Sai clone) and Naruto (who, whether knowingly or unknowingly, had the real 'turtle' hidden elsewhere and a decoy with Himawari) were engaged in their own strategic misdirections. One to evade, the other to protect. It's a fascinating parallel that adds so much depth to the conflict!
And speaking of depth, seeing Sasuke's raw, powerful anger and frustration when he realized he'd been completely tricked was a standout moment. It was a true display of his character, reminding us of his intense focus and how deeply he hates being played for a fool, especially when the village's safety is on the line. 🔥 His rage was palpable, but controlled—exactly the Sasuke we know!
Next time, the stage is set for something even bigger! As the dust begins to settle on these revelations, we're diving headfirst into the climax of this intense arc. Get ready, because the spotlight will shift, bringing Boruto and his group right into the heart of the action. 🚀
What will happen when Boruto and his team step onto this volatile battlefield? How will these new revelations and the layers of deception impact their mission? The tension is absolutely palpable, and the stage is set for a truly explosive conclusion! 💥
Thanks so much for sticking with me through these thrilling developments and all the emotional twists. Your support means the world to me! ❤️ I love hearing your thoughts!