Naruto: Born Gifted in Konoha

The dark clouds completely covered the sky, and a light drizzle fell from the misty air. Amegakure was wrapped in endless rain! 

It all felt like a dream! 

Nagato stood on the top floor. There were no windows here—only a narrow wooden plank extending outward from the room. 

Standing atop it, Nagato could overlook the entire village. He was the god of Amegakure, its savior, and the very dawn of the Shinobi World! 

"Didn't expect you to be in such a good mood. Aren't you cold?" 

Saitama stood at the entrance, holding his chin with one hand, appearing deep in thought. 

"You, shut up!" Konan stood at one side of the room, clearly displeased with Saitama. 

"This world needs salvation, and Amegakure is no different. From this spot, all I see is the decline and decay of our village. I must bring them redemption!" 

Nagato turned around, facing Saitama. Lightning occasionally flashed behind him, illuminating the darkness at his back. 

"So that means you're not cold then?" Saitama asked again. 

Nagato gave him a long stare but remained silent. Ever since he had recruited Saitama into the organization, he had learned one thing—Saitama talked too damn much. 

"Anything else we need to do next?" 

Saitama took a few steps forward, standing beside Konan. 

"Not really anything urgent. Why do you ask?" 

Nagato immediately caught the implication in Saitama's words. 

"Well, the organization still needs more members, right? I've got someone in mind now—I'm thinking about heading out to find him." 

Saitama said casually, his tone showing genuine concern for Akatsuki's future. 

"You think you can just pick up any old cast-off ninja and call it good?" 

Konan scoffed nearby, her eyes filled with distrust. 

Both she and Nagato had always wanted to expand the core group, but they hadn't found suitable candidates yet. Some famous ninja didn't live up to their reputation. 

"Relax. This guy's something else—you shouldn't underestimate him. After all, he once fought against the God of the Shinobi World!" 

Saitama replied calmly, meeting Nagato's gaze head-on. 

"The God of the Shinobi World?" Nagato clearly had his focus elsewhere compared to Saitama. 

"What do you mean? If he really fought Hashirama, wouldn't he be in his seventies by now? How could he possibly maintain his combat power?" 

Konan clearly doubted him—she thought Saitama was exaggerating again. 

"Relax, relax. Just wait 'til I find him—you'll see then!" 

Saitama waved his hand dismissively, unbothered by Konan's skepticism. 

"Well then, if there's nothing else—" 

He turned sideways, glancing briefly at Nagato, who showed no sign of responding. So Saitama just turned and walked away. 

"Try not to stay out too long!" The moment Saitama was halfway down the stairs, Nagato finally called out. 

Saitama didn't stop, continuing downstairs. 

... 

"Are you really letting him go like this? His reason for leaving clearly wasn't to find help for the organization." 

Konan spoke with irritation the moment Saitama disappeared from sight.

"It's fine. We should try to trust others. And even if he has other motives, I have my own ways to handle things!"

At the end of the day, Saitama joining Akatsuki was simply a matter of shared goals. Nagato had no need to restrict his movements.

It was enough for Saitama to offer combat support when necessary.

Thinking about this, a meaningful smile appeared on Nagato's cold face. He then stepped onto the lonely perch once more, gazing down at the entire village—or perhaps the world itself.

...

Traveling from the Land of Rain to the Land of Fire didn't take much time. Within just two days, Saitama had already entered the Land of Fire.

Saitama told Nagato he went out to find recruits for the organization, though that didn't stop him from paying a visit to Konoha Village.

After all, Kakuzu usually operated in areas close to the Land of Fire. There was no contradiction in doing both.

Right now, Kakuzu was likely wandering among various underground trading spots. After all, he was a man who adored money.

Or rather than saying he loved money, it would be more accurate to say he believed only money was real and wouldn't betray him.

Kakuzu really was pitiful. It suddenly struck Saitama just how tragic Kakuzu's life had become—betrayed so many times, he trusted nothing but money.

Originally, White Zetsu had wanted to come along, but Nagato temporarily assigned him another mission—to gather intelligence in certain locations.

Therefore, this operation was carried out entirely by Saitama alone.

Of course, if White Zetsu truly wanted to follow secretly, he had many ways to do so.

...

It was already August in Konoha Year 48. The war between Iwagakure and Konoha had long ended, and Minato Namikaze had served as Hokage for nearly a year.

Peace has a way of enchanting people—but it also blinds them to the past, and to the ones they've lost.

Saitama's name had been carved into Konoha's Monument of Valor, where many people came to pay their respects.

But as time passed, what remained in people's memories was merely that name; Saitama's appearance had gradually faded away.

Many might have forgotten Saitama, but there were still those who hadn't.

Ka Uchiha had once again arrived at Konoha's Monument of Valor today. She stood hunched over, her silver hair swaying gently in the breeze.

As the guardian of Saitama Uchiha, Ka Uchiha was likely the last person who cared about Saitama to hear about his death.

The moment she learned the news, Ka Uchiha refused to believe it.

In her heart, Saitama was someone she could proudly admire—an impossibly strong warrior. Anyone else might fall in battle, but never Saitama.

Yet reality was merciless, and an aging Ka Uchiha eventually had to accept it.

Getting old means facing the harsh truths of life—the slow decay of the body, the sluggishness of movement, and the painful reality of helplessness.

Ka Uchiha had already endured the loss of family members in war. Years ago, word of her husband's and child's deaths reached her through layers of notification, just like this.

She didn't cry or make a scene; she simply nodded at the clan member who delivered the news before returning home and sleeping for a whole day.

A few days later, Saitama's name joined those of her previously fallen family, carved into the Monument of Valor.

"Saitama, this old woman has come to see you again!"

"I wonder how you're doing now. An old woman like me spent decades trying to forget the tragedy of the past, only for history to repeat itself with your departure."

Ka Uchiha's voice was somber; anyone could sense a tinge of sorrow hidden within her murmured words.

One hand rested upon the stone tablet—the skin dry and rough like tree bark, tightly stretched over the bones, with age spots dotting the back of her hand.

Her fingers traced Saitama's name as tears clouded Ka Uchiha's vision.

Saitama had given her a sense of family, something she hadn't experienced in over ten years of solitude.

But now everything was gone, fading away along with his departure.

"As for me, an old woman doesn't know how much longer I can keep going on. My body keeps deteriorating—who knows when I'll come down below to join all of you!"

Ka Uchiha stared at the Monument of Valor for a long moment, heaved a sigh, then turned and walked away.

...

Saitama moved down the familiar street, utterly disconnected from the cheerful bustle around him.

Returning to Konoha Village once again, yet his mindset felt completely different.

That joy belonged to them—Saitama had nothing to call his own. Expressionless, he walked on down the street.

He used White Zetsu's [Object Transformation Technique] to alter both his appearance and chakra signature. Even someone most familiar with him would struggle to recognize him face-to-face.

<><><><><><><><>

Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!

~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!

<><><><><><><><>

~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!

~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!

patreon.com/Tansnovel

<><><><><><><><>