Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

"In the future, you will become the one I use to test my strength."

"You possess that potential."

"But right now, you still lack value."

"You can become someone like me… someone qualified to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan."

"But to obtain these eyes…"

Itachi's voice grew colder.

"There is one condition."

"You must kill the person closest to you."

"Once you possess eyes equal to mine…"

"Then come stand before me again—"

Suddenly, Itachi stopped mid-sentence.

Only now did he notice that hidden behind Sasuke's back—

The boy still tightly gripped a kunai in his hand.

Meanwhile, Sasuke—who was already on the verge of losing consciousness in Itachi's grip—continued trembling violently.

Those nearly lifeless eyes once again flickered crimson.

Within them existed terror.

Fear.

And…

An anger that refused to disappear.

Like a final burst of life before death.

At that moment, Itachi realized something.

Perhaps he had never truly understood his little brother at all.

At the very least—

He couldn't understand where Sasuke's stubborn refusal to give up came from even after his heart and mind had nearly collapsed completely.

"Rasengan!"

The sudden howl of spiraling wind erupted violently between Sasuke and Itachi.

Emerald-green light burst upward like sunlight piercing through storm clouds.

Caught off guard, Itachi released Sasuke immediately and retreated to dodge the incoming attack.

Yet even while evading, he did not counterattack.

Because the enemy had deliberately shouted the technique's name beforehand.

Almost like a warning.

Clearly, the other party had no true intention of sneak-attacking him.

Sasuke crashed onto the ground coughing violently before barely managing to lift his head toward the figure standing protectively before him.

And before losing consciousness completely—

That back was deeply engraved into his eyes.

"Naru…to…"

Sasuke finally blacked out.

Naruto Uzumaki?

Itachi clearly saw the newcomer now.

The unmistakable golden hair.

The fox-like whisker marks on his cheeks.

It was Konoha's Nine-Tails jinchūriki—

Naruto Uzumaki.

After suddenly separating him from Sasuke, "Naruto" glanced toward the kunai still clenched tightly within Sasuke's hand.

As though realizing something, he immediately pulled out shuriken and pointed them toward Itachi in complete vigilance.

That action caused the always-calm Itachi to frown deeply.

Not because he feared fighting Naruto.

But because this variable was simply too unexpected.

Too dangerous.

He couldn't even understand why Naruto was here.

And that technique just now—

The Fourth Hokage's signature ninjutsu.

The Rasengan.

An A-rank technique requiring no hand seals.

Naruto had already learned it?

Then why did he intentionally only force Itachi back instead of directly attacking him?

How much had he seen?

And more importantly—

If the legendary "Madara Uchiha" capable of controlling the Nine-Tails discovered Naruto's existence…

Still, this was one point where Itachi misunderstood the situation.

When the Third Hokage lifted the restrictions surrounding Naruto within the village, he strictly sealed all information regarding Naruto's Flying Thunder God Technique.

Only the restriction removal order itself became public.

Thus—

Even Itachi had no idea how "Naruto" arrived here tonight.

If anyone else had appeared here instead, Itachi would not have hesitated for even a second.

Even against Konoha Jōnin—

He would have killed them immediately.

Because tonight's truth could never be exposed.

But Naruto's identity caused Itachi to hesitate.

And that single moment of hesitation allowed the suddenly appearing "Naruto" to seemingly realize something.

The blond boy immediately acted as though he intended to pick Sasuke up and escape.

Mangekyō Sharingan: Tsukuyomi.

Itachi instantly activated the powerful genjutsu residing within his left eye.

The seemingly unprepared "Naruto" was dragged directly into the illusionary space.

Then—

Within the illusion world—

A crow slowly flew over.

Left with no other option—

Itachi prepared to use Shisui's Kotoamatsukami.

He would erase Naruto's memories of everything that happened tonight.

Then hide him away completely.

Under no circumstances could "Madara Uchiha" discover him.

Meanwhile—

Far from the Uchiha district—

Danzō frowned deeply while staring at the figure blocking his path.

"What exactly are you trying to do, Hiashi Hyūga?"

He never expected the Hyūga clan head to appear before him at a time like this.

The great clans all understood perfectly what was happening tonight.

Every one of them should have remained quietly at home.

So why…

Danzō glanced toward the several Hyūga clan elites standing behind Hiashi.

Their Byakugan focused directly upon him.

He could even feel several gazes lingering upon the bandaged areas of his body.

That sensation of being seen through made him extremely uncomfortable.

Sensing the increasingly hostile atmosphere, the Root operatives behind Danzō also silently prepared for battle.

"My apologies, Lord Danzō."

As though completely unaware of the tense atmosphere, Hiashi stood calmly in formal robes with his hands tucked into his sleeves.

His stern face carried no hostility whatsoever.

"By order of the Hokage, please accompany me to the Hokage's office."

"Hiruzen?"

Danzō snorted coldly.

"If the Hokage truly wished to summon me, he would never send you of all people."

"Stop joking around and move aside."

Naturally, Danzō didn't believe him.

Even if the Third Hokage genuinely had urgent business, he would simply dispatch ANBU.

There was absolutely no reason for the Hyūga clan head himself to appear.

Which meant Hiashi clearly had another motive.

Could the Hyūga clan somehow be colluding with the Uchiha?

Impossible.

Given Hiashi's cautious personality, getting involved at a moment like this would only bring disaster upon the Hyūga clan itself.

Then…

Was Hiashi telling the truth?

Had Hiruzen truly sent him to stop Danzō?

Had that fool grown soft-hearted again?

No.

Danzō quickly narrowed his eyes.

Hiruzen was probably dissatisfied with Root attempting contact with Naruto earlier.

As expected—

The old fool had already lost his ability to judge priorities.

Didn't he understand what truly mattered tonight?

Danzō's thoughts spiraled wildly as he continuously tried to guess the reason behind Hiashi appearing here with Hyūga elites in tow.

But eventually he lost patience.

Because the most important matter right now remained recovering the Sharingan from the Uchiha clan.

Yet—

Hiashi still did not move aside.

The two groups remained locked in silent confrontation.

"... Has the Hyūga clan grown too comfortable lately?"

Danzō's remaining eye revealed naked threat.

"To think you dare interfere with Root operations."

"I am simply carrying out the Hokage's orders."

Hiashi repeated calmly.

"I hope Lord Danzō will cooperate."

His unyielding attitude genuinely confused Danzō.

The standoff continued.

But before long, Danzō lost interest in wasting more time.

Standing with his hands behind his back, he subtly formed a hidden hand signal with his left hand.

The Root operatives instantly recognized its meaning.

Attack after I move.

Kill without mercy.

In Danzō's eyes, he himself was Konoha's executioner operating within darkness.

Extraordinary times required extraordinary measures.

Hiashi Hyūga—a pampered clan leader living openly beneath the sun—could never understand such ruthlessness.

The Uchiha could be exterminated.

So to Danzō—

The Hyūga were no different.

Yet just as Danzō prepared to act—

A sudden chill crawled down his spine.

An overwhelming killing intent erupted from the distant forest.

And it was aimed directly at him.

Danzō instantly turned toward the source.

But there was nothing there.

As though the terrifying sensation moments earlier had merely been an illusion.

Just as suspicion began rising inside Danzō—

A cough suddenly sounded behind everyone.

"It's awfully lively here tonight."

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, slowly approached.

And unlike usual—

Not even the slightest trace of kindness remained upon his face.

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