The door to the Hokage's office opened, and a pale-faced ninja walked out.
"This is Sai," Tsunade introduced.
Hearing this, Morkel and Naruto examined their new teammate.
With flowing black hair, fair skin, and sharp features, Sai was considered handsome by many.
However, Morkel, always observant, raised an eyebrow.
"Why is this guy wearing a belly-baring outfit when he's a man?"
Tsunade immediately snapped, "Would you mind your own business?!"
Sai remained expressionless. Then, as if straining his facial muscles, he forced what he thought was a friendly smile.
"Hello, I'm Sai."
Morkel, Naruto, and Tsunade stood silently for a moment.
This guy's face looks rented!
Is he unfamiliar with his own facial muscles?
Why is he smiling so awkwardly?
"…Morkel," Morkel introduced himself, extending a hand.
"My name's Naruto. We're on the same team now," Naruto said, surprisingly friendly.
Morkel was slightly taken aback. He had expected Naruto to lash out, saying he didn't want anyone replacing Sasuke.
It seemed Naruto had matured.
Tsunade shooed them out like buzzing flies.
"Alright, time is running out. Get moving!"
---
On Their Way to the Mission Site
Outside the office, Sai maintained his forced smile.
"How do we get to the mission site?" he asked.
"That's easy," Morkel said, forming a summoning seal.
In an instant, a massive goshawk appeared.
The three climbed onto its back, and the bird took off.
From her office window, Tsunade frowned as she watched them fly away.
"I don't know if Danzo's spy can be trusted…" she murmured.
Up in the sky, Naruto stared ahead, lost in thought.
"Sasuke's gone now. I don't know when—or if—he'll come back."
Sai turned to him. "People like Sasuke, who betray Konoha, won't be welcomed back."
Naruto's expression darkened. He grabbed Sai's collar.
"What did you just say?!"
Sai maintained his awkward smile.
"Do you have hearing problems?" he asked. "I'll repeat it: Sasuke is a traitor and a coward. Even if he returns, Konoha won't accept him."
Naruto's anger exploded.
He threw a punch straight at Sai's face!
Morkel frowned. Something felt off about this new teammate. Even as Naruto's fist connected, Sai's expression barely changed. It was as if he didn't feel pain.
He's like a machine.
Sai's left cheek swelled slightly, but he remained unbothered.
"I don't understand why you hit me. I'm just stating the truth," he said. "But if you want to fight, I won't stop you."
He pulled out a scroll, unfurling a blank page.
Then, he took out a brush and started drawing.
Within moments, a ferocious lion appeared on the paper, vivid and lifelike.
"Ninjutsu: Super Beast Imitation!"
The lion leaped off the page, coming to life!
Naruto gasped. "What kind of weird jutsu is this?"
Sai nodded. "My technique allows me to bring my drawings to life."
Morkel's eyes widened.
Could this guy be a modern version of Ma Liang, the magic brush artist?
A thought struck him. "Can you draw money?"
Sai considered the question before shaking his head.
"No. I mainly practice drawing animals. Money is too detailed to recreate properly."
Morkel sighed. "A shame…"
But he had learned something valuable—chakra could be applied in more ways than he had imagined.
"Can I try?" Morkel asked.
Without hesitation, Sai handed him the brush and scroll.
"Go ahead."
Morkel started drawing.
Sai and Naruto watched, confused yet impressed.
He's surprisingly skilled…
After finishing his drawing, Morkel mimicked Sai's technique.
Sai chuckled. "Super Beast Imitation is difficult for ordinary people—"
Suddenly, his smile vanished.
Morkel shouted, "Ninjutsu: Super Beast Imitation!"
CRASH!
A giant steel creature emerged from the scroll, spanning dozens of meters!
It had massive wings and a sleek metallic body—a Boeing 737 from Morkel's previous world!
Naruto's jaw dropped.
Sai, usually emotionless, was in complete shock.
"How did you master a technique I spent years learning… in an instant?!"
Morkel shrugged. "It's simple. Just remember the details and use the right chakra output."
Sai was speechless.
Years of training… and this guy mastered it in seconds?!
Danzo was right to be wary of him!
Naruto, however, was used to Morkel's unnatural talent.
The steel plane vanished, and the team continued their mission.
---
Searching for the Black-Haired Ferret
After landing in the mountains, Morkel formed a hand seal.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Instantly, thousands of Morkel clones appeared!
"You all know the mission?"
"Understood!" the clones shouted in unison, shaking the ground.
Naruto, not to be outdone, created thousands of his own clones.
With the help of the Nine-Tails' chakra, he could now perform the technique effortlessly.
Sai, watching from the side, was horrified.
Master Danzo sent me to monitor this guy?!
He felt like he had been thrown into a team of monsters.
Within minutes, the clones cleared the entire area.
Not even an earthworm remained hidden.
Finally, Morkel and the others found their target—the elusive snow ferret.
Checking the map, Morkel groaned.
"The handover point is in the middle of nowhere…"
With a sigh, the team set off again.
---
Sunagakure Under Attack
Meanwhile, in the Land of Wind…
Sunagakure was still recovering from the failed Konoha invasion.
Gaara, now more composed and mature, was leading a training exercise near the coast.
Suddenly, strange noises echoed from the sea.
Gaara raised a hand. "Signal flares."
Red lights streaked into the night sky.
A massive steel warship loomed over the horizon!
Moments later, cannons fired!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions rocked the shoreline!
Gaara reacted instantly, raising a sand barrier to shield his troops.
"Enemy attack! Prepare for battle!"
---
A Destroyed Village
Back in the mountains, Morkel and his team arrived at the client's location.
Naruto ran ahead excitedly—then suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?" Morkel asked.
Naruto pointed ahead, his voice shaking.
"The village… It's completely destroyed."
Morkel followed his gaze.
Burned buildings, deep craters, and debris littered the land.
"Who could've done this?" Naruto muttered.
Just then, shadows moved in the trees.
Morkel turned sharply.
Seven heavily armored warriors emerged!
Each was nearly two meters tall, clad in black armor, wielding massive hammers.
Without a word, they attacked!
Sai reacted quickly, summoning a black eagle and soaring into the sky.
Naruto and Morkel, however, stood their ground.
"These guys mean business," Morkel muttered.
"Perfect chance to test your Rasenshuriken," he added, smirking at Naruto.
Naruto grinned. He had been waiting for this moment.
Channeling his chakra, he formed the Rasenshuriken—his most powerful jutsu yet.
Sai, watching from above, paled.
That chakra output… It's insane!
Turning to Morkel, he asked, "Who taught Naruto this terrifying jutsu?"
Morkel grinned. "I did."
Sai nearly fell off his eagle.
Naruto launched the Rasenshuriken!
BOOM!
A devastating explosion shook the mountains!
The armored men stood no chance.
However, Naruto collapsed—his arm mangled from the technique's backlash.
Morkel sighed.
"Next time, control your chakra better."
As he healed Naruto's wounds, he muttered, "I forgot to leave one alive for questioning…"
Sai gulped.
Master Danzo… you have no idea what kind of monsters I'm stuck with…