Naruto: The Opportunity Plunderer

The academy bell rang, signaling the end of the day's classes.

As students began rising from their seats, chatting and gathering their bags, a sudden movement broke the usual rhythm of dismissal. Uchiha Shizuka stood up abruptly from her desk.

Her chair scraped the floor behind her, but she paid no attention to the noise or the stares that followed. Her expression was sharp—tense—and her pace was unusually fast.

She rushed out of the classroom, her long raven hair trailing behind her like a shadow.

Even Sasuke blinked in surprise.

He had just stood up to stretch when he noticed his sister's departure. "Sister?" he muttered, furrowing his brows. She hadn't even glanced back. Without another second of hesitation, Sasuke picked up his bag and sprinted after her. "Wait—Sister !"

The other girls in the class had noticed the shift too.

Ino tilted her head, watching the door swing slightly from Shizuka's abrupt exit. "What's with her today? She looked… off."

Sakura shrugged but kept staring at the hallway. "Yeah. She was acting strange since this morning…"

Hinata looked up quietly, her fingers holding onto her notebook. "I felt it too… her chakra was uneasy."

Ino crossed her arms, pouting slightly. "Well, I'm sure we'll know what it's about tomorrow. She always acts mysterious."

They exchanged glances, shrugged, and eventually headed toward their homes, deciding not to worry—for now.

Meanwhile, on the far end of the path outside the academy, Gojo's clone was calmly walking along the quiet streets toward the Senju ancestral house. His pace was steady, silent as the wind. Behind him, not too far, Karin followed with purposeful steps. She kept a modest distance but never took her eyes off him.

Then, suddenly—

Karin stopped.

Her red eyes widened. Her body stiffened.

Something had changed.

She sniffed the air, and her lips parted in astonishment.

That scent.

That warmth.

That chakra.

It wasn't the clone.

It was him.

Karin's heart skipped a beat. Her entire body lit up with warmth and energy. "Gojo… the real Gojo…" she whispered, her voice almost trembling with joy.

She sprinted forward without thinking, her chest tight with excitement. Her eyes sparkled as she caught sight of him, his figure walking just ahead.

"Gojo!!" she cried out, latching onto his arm tightly as she wrapped both of her hands around it, clinging like a child who'd found home after being lost.

Gojo paused and glanced down at her, smiling helplessly. "Karin…"

But before he could say more—his vision spun.

A sudden wave of dizziness washed over him. His body swayed, knees buckling slightly.

"H-Hey!?" Karin quickly caught him, panic shooting through her. "Gojo!? What's wrong?!"

His body leaned heavily against her, his face going pale, and his breathing turned shallow.

Karin's eyes welled with tears.

"Not again… Please, not again…" she whimpered, struggling to keep him upright. "You've been in another fight, haven't you? You always push yourself too far…"

She wiped her eyes and steadied herself, then helped him forward slowly.

"Come on," she whispered, "we're going home."

With effort, Karin brought him all the way to the Senju ancestral house. The doors flung open as she called out, her voice cracking with urgency.

"Tsunade-sama! Shizune!"

Inside, Tsunade turned instantly at the sound of Karin's voice. Her expression turned deadly serious the moment she saw Gojo slumped against the girl.

She rushed over in seconds, placing her hand on his head and chest.

Shizune followed, her voice worried. "What happened?!"

Karin, holding back sobs, replied, "He collapsed—he's so pale—I think he pushed himself again!"

Tsunade's face tightened. She closed her eyes, channeling chakra through her palms, scanning Gojo's body internally.

Then she let out a long, relieved sigh.

"It's not serious," she said softly. "He's just completely exhausted. His chakra is fine… no internal injuries. But his body—his muscles are beyond fatigued."

Karin collapsed to her knees. "Thank god…"

Tsunade lifted Gojo gently in her arms and carried him to his room. She laid him down on the bed with great care, pulling a soft blanket over him. She ran her fingers through his hair once, then turned to Karin and Shizune.

"Let him rest," she said. "He'll be fine."

Karin wiped her face with her sleeve and nodded slowly, eyes still on Gojo's sleeping form.

After a few moments of silence, Tsunade led them both out of the room, shutting the door behind them.

Alone in the room, Tsunade lingered at Gojo's side.

Her strong hands, so used to combat and healing, trembled ever so slightly as she reached out and wrapped her arms around him. She pressed her face into his shoulder and whispered, her voice cracking with emotion.

"Gojo… please… don't put yourself in danger like this again."

A tear slipped from her eye.

"If something happens to you… I don't think I could live with more regrets."

She held him tighter and closed her eyes, her silent tears dampening the fabric of his blanket.

---

Elsewhere in the village, the air was tense.

Shizuka was running.

Hard.

Faster than she ever had before.

Her heart pounded like a drum against her ribs. Her breathing was short, shallow. Her eyes—wide, frantic—focused only on the path ahead.

She didn't care about the people staring as she raced past. She didn't care about Sasuke calling out behind her, trying to catch up.

She had only one thought in her mind.

Please, Itachi… don't kill them…

Her home appeared in view—the Uchiha compound. Her steps faltered.

There were signs of battle at the entrance. Deep cracks in the ground. Scorch marks on the walls. A broken lantern.

"No…" she whispered.

She felt like vomiting. Her legs barely moved, but she forced them forward.

"Sister!" Sasuke's voice called again behind her. He was panting, catching up. "Wait—Shizuka—!"

But she didn't stop.

The door to their house stood ajar.

Just slightly.

A memory hit her like a slap—the original series, when Sasuke had returned home, door left open, everything silent.

She could barely breathe as she reached for it.

Her hands shook violently. Her fingers barely touched the wood.

She pushed.

The door creaked.

Inside—there was silence.

Nothing.

Not blood.

Not bodies.

Just silence.

Shizuka stepped inside slowly, each footstep loud in the dead air. Her throat tightened. Her eyes scanned the hallway.

Then—the inner door slid open.

And standing there, smiling warmly, was Uchiha Mikoto.

"Shizuka," she said gently. "You're back early. Where's Sasuke?"

Shizuka couldn't hold it in anymore.

Tears burst from her eyes as she rushed forward and threw her arms around her mother.

She sobbed into her shoulder, choking on her words.

"I-I thought… I thought something horrible was going to happen today…"

Mikoto blinked, startled. Then she smiled softly and stroked her daughter's back.

"There, there… you're safe now," she whispered. "You must've been overwhelmed."

She held her close, her hands soothing her trembling daughter.

"You always act so strong," Mikoto whispered with a chuckle. "But right now… you're so cute."

She pinched her daughter's cheek gently, trying to lighten the mood.

Just then, Sasuke ran in, still catching his breath. "Sister! Why'd you run so fast?! I couldn't keep up!"

Mikoto turned to him and smiled, then ushered both children toward the living room. "Come on. Let's sit down."

As they entered the hall, Shizuka stopped.

There—sitting calmly with a cup of tea in his hand—was Uchiha Shisui.

Her heart nearly stopped.

He looked at peace, sipping tea as though he hadn't faked his death. As though everything were normal.

Her breath hitched.

Shisui turned and offered her a small smile.

She didn't move.

He's alive…?

Her mind raced. This wasn't right. This wasn't how the story was supposed to go. Was something in the timeline altered?

Had her and Gojo's actions changed more than she realized?

So many things… they've shifted.

She could feel it. The massacre hadn't happened tonight—but that didn't mean it wouldn't happen.

Still—her parents were safe.

Sasuke was safe.

Shisui was alive.

And for now… that was enough.

She let out a quiet breath and followed them inside.

Her eyes moved to her father, Fugaku, sitting in his usual spot. His arms were folded, his face serious. His eyes didn't meet hers.

There was heaviness in the air—one she couldn't ignore.

Even Mikoto, smiling and pretending to keep the mood light, occasionally sighed as though a great weight sat on her shoulders.

The storm hadn't passed.

But tonight, they were still together.

And Shizuka would hold onto that for as long as she could.

---

End of Chapter 67

---

Want to read advanced chapter?

Give me your stone to this novel to reach the milestone that will give you bonus chapter per day!!!

5-10 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter / Day

10-20 Power Stones = 2 Bonus Chapters / Day

20-30 Power Stones = 3 Bonus Chapters / Day

Please support me?

See ya!