The Enlightened One Ch.70

— Lei Senju —

I lay down on the ground in the safe house in the middle of the forest, looking up at the cream-colored ceiling. 

After everything that had gone down, Naruko, Satsuki, and I quickly found another team and took them down so we could get our scroll; then we reported here to end the Second Exam. 

Too much shit had gone down outside for me to even think about spending another second out there.

Flashes of both Kuzan and Taro came to my mind, and I quickly clutched my head and sat up. I let out a deep, defeated breath and scooted myself back against a wall. 

What’s done is done. There is no point in keeping my mind out there while my body is here. This is the time I need to relax and plan.

“Lei…”

I glanced over to the doorway to see Naruko standing there alone. My gaze fell from her beautiful face and down to her abdomen; a small smile graced my lips when I saw she had fully recovered. 

It hadn’t even been a full day since she’d suffered that injury, yet she had healed already. Seriously, Kurama was no joke.

She didn’t speak again, instead walking closer to me as my eyes followed her. With all the time I had spent with her, I was able to pick up on the little things, so as she stopped in front of me and looked away with a bit of hesitance, I knew she was trying to make sure if I was comfortable being around her or anyone right now.

I gently reached up and took her hand in mine. Her eyes seemed to sparkle as she understood the gesture and quickly sat down next to me, her arm wrapped around mine as she rested her head on my shoulder.

We sat together in silence for several minutes, and I had to say. Her presence helped me a great deal. Feeling her warmth and knowing she was here to support me really did wonders for taking me out of the bad and into the light. 

Naruko, Hinata, Satsuki…they loved me, and I loved them. They were the reason I was doing all of this. They were the reason I started training so hard, why I started preparing for the bigger threats in this world, why I value power so much.

I want to live a life with them, a long one, a happy one. 

In a peaceful village, where no one else has to die for the sake of their own fantasy of peace. 

Yes, I wanted true peace, I will create it. 

My gaze went up to the ceiling as I began forming a timeline in my mind. There were certain things that needed to be done sooner rather than later to maximize my power. Items scattered across the Elemental Nations that would give me a better chance in achieving my goals.

No longer was I going to take things slow and go with the flow like I had been before, no…I needed to get shit done. 

“Hey…Lei?” 

I looked down to see Naruko looking up at me with soft, tired eyes. 

“Hm?”

She wiggled against me for a moment and looked away as she squeezed my arm even tighter than before. 

“We were worried about you…and even though you’re not hurt too bad—well, I-” She paused and looked down again before looking back up, her eyes filled with a small amount of hesitance, but determined to see her words through. “W-What happened with…Kuzan.” 

I stared at her for a while before letting out a sigh and looking back up to the ceiling. I knew she would ask sooner or later. If it wasn’t her, it would have been Satsuki, Hinata, Ino, Sakura, or Shikamaru. 

I really didn’t want to talk about it, but leaving them out of it…it wasn’t fair to them. 

“We fought for a bit.” I started, feeling her squeeze my arm tighter as my sight settled on the floor. “I won.”

Naruko waited a while longer to see if I was going to say more but realized that I wasn’t, so she soothingly rubbed my forearm and spoke softly. 

“Then?”

I looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Since when did Naruko act like this? I actually sent out a ping of sensory chakra just to make sure it was her and not someone under transformation jutsu because of the way she was acting — She was so….mature, like Hinata.

I relaxed again, leaning into her, and closed my eyes. “Then we talked…then he died.” 

The words left my lips with such finality that Naruko didn’t even attempt to prod for more details. Instead, we just sat together in silence, enjoying each other's warmth. 

There were so many things I wanted to tell her, things that would uplift her spirit, like who her parents are and the story of how they met — All the things she’s wanted to hear all her life. 

And I will. 

One day. 

But today is not that day. I know it’s selfish, but for now, my love and protection were all I could give her.

And tomorrow, for her, my current girls and all future ones? I’ll give them the world. 

— Satsuki (Later) —

The Uchiha Head opened her eyes and sat up abruptly, taking a quick moment to survey her surroundings. Her eyes softened as she saw Lei sitting in the corner of the room she had taken for herself. 

She stared at him in silence, and he stared back. She wondered why he had been sitting there, but that question was quickly answered in the comfort of her mind. 

Why else would her boyfriend watch over her when she’s in a building with enemy Shinobi? 

Although, if that was the case…

Satsuki looked out the window to see the sun was rising, and a frown tugged at her soft lips. 

“Lei…did you sleep?” She asked as she rose to her feet. 

“No, I don’t need to. Not right now.” He shook his head as she walked over to him. She dropped at his side, sitting close to him.

“Yesterday was a long day; you need your rest.” She lightly scolded. Calling it a long day was an understatement, but she knew it had been a hard day for him as well and didn’t want to go into the specifics.

“I will.” He nodded slowly. “But not yet. We need to talk, Satsuki.” 

The Uchiha girl looked up at him with a head tilt. 

“I’m right here, Lei…talk.” 

Lei reached out and grabbed her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers and resting their hands on her lap. 

“I know about the Mangekyo Sharingan, Satsuki.” 

Her eyes widened in shock as she gazed into Lei’s green jewels.

“H-How…?”

It made no sense! Lei shouldn’t know of those eyes! Even she only learned of their existence the night he laid waste to her clan!

“Satsuki” Lei began gently “My grand-uncle Hashirama fought countless times with and against Madara Uchiha, of course he would take note of the change in his eyes and leave behind scrolls to warn his descendants of them.”

Satsuki blinked at that, her shoulders visibly relaxed.

Yeah…that made sense.

In fact, it should have been obvious from the beginning, as she had been in the Senju library multiple times and had even read some of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju’s notes on his accounts when dealing with Uchihas in the Warring-States Period.

“I…I see.” She frowned, and the two returned to silence again. She knew that wasn’t all he wanted to say to her, but after her slip-up, she’d rather not drive herself into more worry by jumping to conclusions. 

“But that’s not all.” Lei brought his other hand to her chin and looked deep into her onyx eyes. “I know more, so much more.” 

That caught her attention, but she calmed herself. She didn’t recall anything in the Senju Library, or even the Uchiha library that went into strong detail regarding the Mangekyo Sharingan. That level of the Sharingan was kept closely guarded, and the only people who likely had extensive information on it were the Uchiha Clan Elders, and the Clan Head, her father. 

“What else do you know, Lei?” She whispered out, her curiosity was piqued. 

The brown-haired boy stared at her for a moment before pulling away. 

“When I was training with the old man, we talked, a lot.” He started, gripping her hand tighter. “One day, I asked him about the Uchiha, and to my surprise he was very…accommodating with his knowledge. We talked about the base stages of the sharingan, one, two, and three tomoe, and we also went extensively into the Mangekyo Sharingan.” 

Satsuki remained silent, her eyes were locked with Lei’s, and her ears were drinking up all the information that was leaving his tongue.

“He talked about some of the Uchiha whom he knew that possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan, though there weren’t many. The names he did mention were Madara Uchiha, Kagami Uchiha, Fugaku Uchiha, Shisui Uchiha, and-”

“Itachi.” Satsuki finished for him, her eyes filled with hate and malice. Lei nodded.

“We talked about how legendary those shinobi were…and are, and Gramps gave me a bit of insight into the abilities they gained with the Mangekyo Sharingan.”

Satsuki frowned at that. Madara and Kagami Uchiha were legends among the clan, and the world as a whole, that much she knew since she was a child. The same could be said for Shisui who was considered the strongest in the clan, even at his young age. But she didn’t know of their abilities. 

“What were they?” She asked, genuinely curious, only to earn a head shake from Lei.

“That’s not what’s important right now. I’ll tell you all about that later. Hell, I’m sure the old man would tell you everything.”

Satsuki’s frown grew at his words, but it also made her even more interested. If learning the Mangekyo Sharingan abilities of legends wasn’t important, then what was?

“A side effect of the Mangekyo Sharingan, that all the wielders of it before you faced, was the loss of light.” 

Satsuki raised an eyebrow at that, so Lei expanded on it.

“Blindness.” 

Her eyes shot wide open in surprise. That…was something that she didn’t know. 

“Prolonged usage of those eyes causes the user’s vision to darken little by little, until no light can be seen again.” Lei continued, gently separating his hand from hers and crossing his arms. “It’s the fate of all those who wield the Mangekyo Sharingan.” 

She looked down, beginning to understand just why her father and Shisui had never openly walked around with their Mangekyo Sharingan. Even now, she had never seen either of them use that level.

“However…” Lei interrupted her thoughts, staring at her with hardened eyes. She could tell whatever he was about to say was important. “There is a way to bypass the darkness. One must take the Mangekyo Sharingan of an immediate blood relative and fuse the chakra, and properties, of one into the other.” 

Her body froze, and her jaw dropped.

That…made sense.

Too much sense. 

Since the day Itachi wiped out her clan, Satsuki had wondered why…why did he spare her? 

Yet Lei just gave her the answer.

His eyes were welcoming the darkness by the day, it’s exactly why he wanted her to build hatred in her heart and achieve the same eyes as him!

He wanted her eyes…

Satsuki’s fists clenched, and her teeth gnashed together. 

She’d kill him! That man was no older brother of hers; no, he was a rat and a weasel who only valued power!

Death was too good for him, but it’s what he needed to be given in order to avenge the Uchiha clan!

“Satsuki…” Lei said gently, pulling her out of her mind and back to the real world.

“I…need to think, Lei.” She said slowly. She needed to be alone, to stew in her hatred, to further plan on how she’d take the traitorous bastard’s life.

“I’m not done, Satsuki.” Lei frowned, earning her attention once more. 

What else could he possibly have to add? 

“After I beat Kuzan…we talked,” Lei admitted, although she already knew that. Naruko had told her before she went to sleep. Not that Satsuki cared much. Both Kuzan and Taro were eye stealers and deserved to die for their sins. The only reason why she even dared give that information the time of day was because Lei was hurt by their passing. She felt nothing but bitterness for them. 

“I know, Naruko told me.” She crossed her arms, her eyes reflecting a softness she only reserved for him. 

“But I didn’t tell her what we talked about.” Lei shook his head and clenched his fist. She could still see the anger he had built up in himself, and she wished she could tell them to forget about those traitors, but she knew it wouldn’t be that easy for him. 

“Satsuki…” Lei placed both hands on her shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. “Kuzan had your father’s eyes.” 

“...”

No words left Satsuki’s mouth as she looked at Lei, searching for any sign of a lie, but all she saw was sincerity meeting her lost, disbelieving gaze. 

“That-” She spoke before shaking her head. “I-I’ll NEVER forgive him for this!”

Lei nodded apologetically. “You don’t have to. The dead…they don’t deserve, nor require forgiveness, not from the living anyway.” 

Satsuki seethed in the hatred she had for the two traitors, a part of her was absolutely livid that Lei even felt anything positive for them since he knew they had defiled not just her clan’s corpses, but the corpse of her father!

Suddenly, Satsuki remembered everything she and Lei had just talked about leading up to the last horrifying fact.

“Y-You…you have my father’s eyes?!” She shot up, anger all too apparent in her face.

“I do.” Lei answered calmly, never removing his eyes from hers.

Horrible things ran through Satsuki’s mind before she began to remember who exactly it was that she was talking to. 

This was Lei, the man she loved, the one she promised everything to, and if all went well, the father of her children, the future of her clan. 

She closed her eyes and calmed herself by controlling her breathing. Lei patiently watched her as she did, and finally she opened her eyes when she was ready to speak again.

“Where?” 

“I had a clone bring them to the Hokage for safekeeping.” 

And just like that, her fuse began to blow again before Lei held up a hand to let him speak.

“He’s just keeping them safe.” He shook his head. “Trust me, Gramps wouldn’t do something as heinous as misuse your father’s eyes, and even if he did, I have some wood creations watching over the jar, just in case. Your father’s eyes are yours to do with as you see fit. Whether you wish to destroy them, bury them, or-”

“I get it!” Satsuki shouted, cutting him off. She brought her hands up to her temples and began massaging them, giving Lei an apologetic look. “I’m-”

“You don’t have to apologize to me, Satsuki.” Lei stood up with a small, almost unnoticeable smile. A part of her grew joyous at the sight of his smile, a larger part of her was thrown even deeper into sadness when she realized that smile was just a fraction of what it once was. 

Lei stepped closer to her and she let him do as he pleased. He wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned down, giving her a soft kiss on the lips that only lasted a moment. 

“The choice is yours, and I’ll be with you for as long as you need me.” He said, bringing one of his hands up to stroke her hair out of her eyes.

…It was unfair when he acted like this.

But much needed. 

“Thank you.” She whispered back and leaned into the embrace, enjoying the warmth of her boyfriend. 

“Anytime.” 

— Anko (POV vs Kabuto Somewhere down here) —

Anko jumped through the trees of the Forest of Death in an attempt to find a certain someone. 

With Taro and Kuzan being outed as ROOT agents, Anko had assumed her work was done, but Lei added that there was another ally of Danzo and Orochimaru lurking in the forest under the guise of an Examinee.

So it was her job to clean up this mess! 

The kid had offered to help take the undercover shinobi, but she had waved him off. She could tell he had been through enough, and she didn’t want to put the genin through any more stress during his exam, especially as he really needed to shine, befitting as the rightful heir of the God of Shinobi. 

Was it kind of her? Of course! How else is she gonna nail points with the future Hokage?! 

The kid didn’t even need to tell her such a thing, the fact that he was spending so much time around the old man while simultaneously exhibiting such skill and power, she’d have to be stupid to not figure it out!

Which is why she was gonna take down this spy and nail some good favor with the next young Lord Hokage.

Then again… there were always other ways she could curry some favor with him…

As Anko soared through the tree, she looked down to her sizable bust which was barely hidden by her trenchcoat and fishnet shirt. 

Yes…that could work. The kid was beyond a little cutie, and give him a few years and he’d definitely fill out nicely. 

Then she could have a whole dango shop for herself! 

Yes, she truly was the smartest Jonin in the village!

Anko gazed out into the distance and her eyes narrowed. She could sense her target, and as expected, he was with his team. 

The Student of Orochimaru didn’t hold any reservation for any of them, after all, the kid had told her that all of them were working for Orochimaru — So they all could take a trip to Ibiki together! 

“You better be a man of your word, kid!” Anko grinned as she jumped toward their chakra signatures, kunai in hand, and landed on a branch just in front of the spies. 

“Hm? Proctor?! What are you doing here?!” The spy, Kabuto, said in fake surprise. If she hadn’t been told that this kid was a dangerous and deadly spy, she would have actually believed his surprise was sincere. 

She’d have to treat the kid to some dango later.

“Yeah, you can drop the fake goodie shinobi act and come clean. I know you’re all working with Orochimaru.” Anko grinned at them. Her hand clenched around the kunai in her trench coat pocket.

Kabuto’s facial expression went from confusion to amusement in a smooth transition. It was so smooth, that the change alone put Anko on edge. 

“Wow, I didn’t believe we’d be figured out so soon.” Kabuto clapped and tilted his head with a malicious smile. “Tell me, how did you learn where our allegiance lies?”

“I don’t have to tell you anything.” Anko laughed. “But you three? Oh you’ll be barking up all those well hidden Orochimaru secrets once I’m done with you~” 

“Ha!” Kabuto laughed. “Ah yes, Lord Orochimaru did speak highly of you, Anko Mitarashi, he also said you’re quite good at telling jokes! How refreshing it is to see that Lord Orochimaru’s words of praise were not wasted on you.”

A tick mark appeared on Anko’s forehead as she glared at the little bastard.

“You’re a witty little fuck, aren’t you?”

“I pride myself on it!” Kabuto smiled innocently.

Yup…And just because of him, she decided she’d only be taking one of them in. Why take three anyways when they all have the same information?

“...I’m going to enjoy what Ibiki does to you.”

“Oh wow, fear is just coursing through my veins~” Kabuto grabbed both of his shoulders and shivered sarcastically. 

This little shit…

Anko eyed the three of them and narrowed her eyes at Kabuto. Quickly, she pulled her kunai out of her trenchcoat and hurled it at one of the kid’s lackeys. The masked man quickly deflected the kunai with one of his own, only to see Anko was already weaving through hand seals. 

‘Fire Release: Dragon Fire Jutsu’

Anko brought a hand to her mouth and used it to launch four dragon-head shaped fireballs at her enemies. Unsurprisingly, they dodged the attack, but that was exactly what she wanted. 

Her eyes set on the fleeing masked man and a malicious smirk came to her pretty lips.

“I think you’ll do nicely!” 

She quickly blitzed over to him and threw a fist toward his face, engaging him in taijutsu. He narrowly managed to block, but that spelled his fate.

‘Hidden Shadow Snake Hands’

“ARGHHH!”

Snakes slithered out of her sleeve, sinking their fangs into his arm, and before he could counter-attack, Anko moved away from him, completely disregarding his existence.

After all-

“ARRGHHHH!” The masked man screamed, his arm falling limply to his side as he used the other one to scratch at his chest, then his neck.

He’s already dead. 

Anko rushed the other guy, leaving Kabuto for last, but the gray-haired spy didn’t have similar plans. He shot toward her, faster than she expected out of him and brought his hand toward her. She jumped away, only to get hit down by Kabuto’s teammate. 

“Gak-” She grunted as her body got launched down toward the forest floor. Just before she hit the ground, she skillfully flipped and dashed backward, narrowly avoiding death at the hands of Kabuto wielding a scalpel.

“You’re not bad…for a failure~” Kabuto taunted. “Yorui, why don’t you help Misumi before he starts vomiting more of his failure.” 

“Tch.” The shades-wearing masked man, Yorui grunted. “Just try not to fuck this up for us, don’t get a big head just because Lord Orochimaru is interested in you…for now.” 

“Yeah yeah~” Kabuto waved the man off. 

“Oh, Orochimaru’s new pet?” Anko chuckled, pushing herself to her feet.

“Some call me that.” Kabuto crossed his arms with a smug smile.

“It won’t last.” Anko shook her head. 

“Please, don’t compare me to the likes of-”

“Trust me, kid.” Anko frowned, looking at the kid seriously for the first time. “It won’t.” 

Kabuto stayed quiet for a moment before his grin returned. 

“Then I suppose I better enjoy the time I have!” He rushed her, and Anko barely dodged his first attack, and she barely even got to see the second one as she felt a sharp pain hit her arm.

“Nngh!” She groaned, launching herself backward. She attempted to move her left arm, but it wouldn’t budge. 

“Don’t worry about it~” Kabuto walked her down. “Your arms are just disabled for a bit, stay still and I’ll correct it by disabling the other one.” 

Damn…this kid was really pissing her off!

Anko glared at Kabuto, and for a moment, she wished she had listened to the kid and had him help with this guy. Getting points with the next Hokage didn’t mean jack shit if she died here!

“Now, let’s finish thi-”

“GRAAAAAAAAHHHH!”

“What the fuck is that?!” Kabuto shouted, glaring in the direction the glorious battle cry came from.

“My baby!” Anko cheered as the Wood Golem pushed through the trees, quickly approaching them.

“Your what?!” Kabuto asked, jumping onto a nearby tree branch.

“Get him, Yuta!” Anko pointed right at where Kabuto and his team were attempting to run, and as if the golem could hear her, it rushed past her and toward the fleeing spies.

“Holy shit…Yuta listened! You’re the best damn friend a woman can ask for, you know!” Anko placed her hands on her hips and gave the large golem a proud smile as it tore through the trees with the sole purpose of killing her enemies!

Yuta, the Mass Weapon of Destruction, and his glorious Sweet Mama, Anko! 

They’d be feared throughout the Elemental Nations!

“GRAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!” 

 “Get him!” 

Anko followed after the golem, whistling at the carnage he left behind as he rapidly approached Kabuto and the other two. 

“He’s not worth it!” Anko heard the gruff man, Yorui shout, and moments later, she watched as the man spun around and threw his paralyzed teammate at Yuta, and in response the golem-

Just kept going. 

The man splattered at the sheer force and speed Yuta was producing as he barreled through the forest.

“He’s catching up!” Yorui growled, only to meet a boot to the face by Kabuto. “You bas-”

Before he could finish his sentence, Yuta swiped at the branch he was on, splitting his body into several chunks.

“Brutal!” Anko grinned. She was trying her best to catch up to the massive Golem, but it was faster than her. Something so big shouldn’t be as fast as he was, but Yuta was clearly the exception! 

“Get him, Yuta!”

“GRAAAAAAAAAHHHH!”

“Damn it!” Kabuto shouted, turning around suddenly and cutting his finger against his teeth. He weaved through hand seals, and just as he was about to place his hand on the tree branch he was standing on-

His head left his body.

The Golem planted his large feet into the ground, attempting to stop himself. He skidded through the forest, destroying so much and leaving destruction in his path, before finally stopping. 

As Anko caught up to the golem, she landed on his head and looked down at where Kabuto’s headless body was to see Lei standing over it.

“Kid?!” She shouted, completely surprised by his sudden appearance.

“Yo.” Lei waved, looking unfazed by everything that just happened.

“What do you mean “yo”, what the fuck are you doing here?!” Anko jumped down from the Golem’s head and approached the boy, only to earn a head tilt.

“I’m not the original, Anko.” 

She paused at that before inspecting him closely. Suddenly she pulled away and nodded sagely. “I knew that!”

“You’re a dumbass.” Lei shot back immediately, nearly making her fall over.

“What the hell did you say, brat?!” 

“You heard me, you short fuck.” The Lei clone crossed his arms with a frown. 

Oh, she wanted to strangle him right about now. 

“So, he’s dead.” Lei said abruptly, looking down at Kabuto.

“Yeah…he is.” Anko sighed. A part of her felt bad, not just because they wouldn’t be able to interrogate him, but also because she saw a lot of her younger self in him.

“Sucks to suck, shoulda been stronger.” Lei shrugged.

Anko widened her eyes as she looked at Lei. “Since when did you become so-”

“Nonchalant?” Lei finished with a raised eyebrow, earning a small nod from her.

“When I stopped giving a fuck about my enemies.” He shook his head. “You alright?” 

She looked down at her arm and frowned. 

“Ah, he got you good.” Lei nodded sagely, only further pissing off Anko.

“You little-”

Before she could finish her insult, Lei was already crouched beside her, applying mystical palm to her arm. 

“Yeah, I don’t know if I’ll be very useful in fixing this.” He frowned deeply.

She stared at him as he examined her injuries, before a small smile tugged at her lips.

“Don’t you worry your pretty little face about me, kid. I’ll be just fine.”

Lei smiled back at her and stood back up to his full height and smiled a bit wider. “I’m sure you will, Anko.” 

To her surprise, Anko’s cheeks turned rosy as she stared at his smiling face.

“Yeah…I should probably report this to the Hokage.” She quickly spoke, looking for an out.

Lei blinked and nodded. “We can keep the body and the head in Yuta’s mouth until Gramps sends someone over for them.”

“Good call.” Anko looked at the massive golem and grinned. “Good work, you sexy big baby!” 

“Mmm” 

Anko’s eyes widened at the golem. She didn’t know it was capable of making a noise besides ‘GRAHHHHH’

Lei reached down and threw the body into Yuta’s mouth, before jumping to the forest floor and grabbing the head which suffered a bit of damage from the drop. He threw it in the mouth as well and let out a sigh. 

“Well, shall we?” He offered.

This kid…no, calling him a kid didn’t do him justice. This…Shinobi was something else. When she’d first met him, he was an inexperienced genin, wanting nothing more than to keep his loved ones out of harm's way, even if it meant killing hundreds or thousands. 

Yet now…Just a couple months later, he’s grown into a splendid shinobi, one she could respect. His Grand-uncle, Grandfather and Father would be so proud. The Senju name, and the village as a whole, was in great hands.

She stepped forward with an extra pep in her step and a small smile hidden from him as she expertly spun and leaned forward a bit. She turned her head and grinned at him with the side of her large breasts just in his clone's view.

“I’m the jonin here, you little genin~” 

— Chapter End —

Author’s Note: Yeah, I had fun writing this one. Big chapters for the win honestly. 

Beta reader: @Dragonboy1