Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

Under Naruto's usual whirlwind pace, the three quickly headed toward Konoha's Memorial Stone.

Of course, on their way downstairs, Karin was still standing there holding the money pouch and key, preparing to greet them enthusiastically.

Instead, she watched the three disappear like a gust of wind right before her eyes.

"...Do people just stop noticing me when there's a crowd?"

Karin stood frozen.

...

Some time later.

In front of the Memorial Stone.

Naruto was busy explaining Uchiha Shisui's history to Sasuke.

Unfortunately, expecting Naruto to perfectly recite someone's life story after only reading a file once was asking a bit too much.

Whenever he couldn't remember something clearly, he filled in the gaps with a healthy amount of Naruto-style interpretation.

As a result, his explanation was filled with phrases like:

"I think he did something like that..."

"He probably went through something like this..."

"Maybe his reason was..."

And so on.

By the time Naruto finished his recollection-based biography, Sasuke's impression of the Shisui he remembered from childhood had been completely shattered.

He was beginning to suspect these were simply two entirely different people sharing the same name.

"...Anyway!"

Naruto finished seriously.

"He was a hero to both the Uchiha Clan and Konoha!"

"I don't want to disrespect him anymore, so we're doing this properly!"

"Anymore?"

Sasuke immediately caught the keyword.

His eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Uh..."

"Let's just pretend you didn't hear that."

Naruto laughed awkwardly.

...

Meanwhile.

Inside the Hokage's office.

"You want permission to exhume Shisui's body again?"

"And conduct the examination yourself?"

The Third Hokage looked at Kakashi in confusion.

"Yes."

Kakashi nodded.

"After receiving some new information, I thought about it carefully."

"I believe there may be a connection between the Fourth Mizukage joining the Akatsuki and Uchiha Shisui's death."

"Previously, the Barrier Team, Cipher Team, and Sealing Division all focused on analyzing the seal itself—"

The Third interrupted him.

"It's not that I object."

"The problem is that Uchiha Shisui's body is gone."

"...What?"

During the Danzō incident, Kakashi had been away on a mission.

He knew the outcome, but not every detail.

The Third took a long drag from his pipe and briefly explained what had happened.

Then he added:

"Ever since that day, I've assigned multiple ANBU teams to investigate."

"Even now, it's still considered a high-priority mission."

"But we've found nothing."

"As for Danzō..."

A hint of irritation crossed his face.

"Every time he sees me now, he acts like a madman."

"And he refuses to reveal how he hid the body."

"I see."

Kakashi nodded and took his leave.

...

Back at the Memorial Stone.

Kakashi discovered that not only were Naruto and Sasuke present, but Hinata was there as well.

She carried a bouquet of flowers in her hands.

"Neji-niisan recently returned from a mission and visited his mother's grave."

"Since I'm free today, I thought I'd bring flowers for Auntie too."

"Is Neji still home?"

"No."

"He left on another mission early this morning."

As she spoke, Hinata unconsciously glanced toward Naruto and Sasuke.

After all, Neji had challenged them again recently.

Unlike their academy days, however, even Hinata could tell something was different.

Neji and Sasuke had both been holding back.

Neither had shown their true strength.

"Out on a mission this early?"

Kakashi sighed.

"Looks like Guy wasn't injured too badly yesterday."

Then he quickly returned to the main topic.

"How could this happen?"

"The Danzō you mentioned actually dared to..."

Sasuke's fists clenched tightly.

The moment he heard a member of his clan's corpse had been stolen, murderous intent began leaking from his eyes.

"Yeah."

"He's a real piece of work."

Kakashi briefly explained what Danzō had intended to do.

After spending so much time with Sasuke, he understood him fairly well.

Family matters ranked above almost everything else.

If he hid the truth simply because Sasuke was young, then once Sasuke inevitably learned about it later...

Kakashi had no doubt he'd march straight into the prison himself.

"How disgusting."

Hinata frowned.

"I hope they're able to find him soon."

As someone who possessed a dōjutsu bloodline herself, she could understand Sasuke's feelings.

If someone attempted to desecrate the body of a deceased Hyūga clan member, she would be furious too.

"Oh!"

Suddenly Naruto rubbed his nose proudly.

"In that case, I can actually help!"

"Hm?"

Kakashi blinked.

Then realization struck him.

"Oh."

"Now I remember."

"No wonder you insisted on placing flowers during the funeral."

"You left a marker on him, didn't you?"

"Hehe."

Naruto scratched his head.

"You could call it an accidental... accidental..."

"Accidental what again?"

Hinata smiled gently.

"An accidental act that bore unexpected fruit."

"Right!"

"That!"

Naruto immediately nodded.

Then he closed his eyes.

"Let me check..."

A few moments later, he grinned.

"Found him!"

"Still inside the village."

"See?"

"An ANBU mission nobody could solve, and I handle it easily!"

"I'll go bring him back."

Before anyone could respond—

Whoosh!

Naruto vanished.

...

A moment later.

He appeared inside a dark underground chamber.

At first he expected another coffin like before.

Instead, the surrounding space was surprisingly open.

"This is...?"

Then his instincts exploded.

"!"

Without hesitation, Naruto launched himself backward.

The place where he had been standing erupted with countless razor-sharp wooden thorns.

At almost the exact same moment—

Hostility.

Hostility.

Hostility.

Hostility.

Hostility.

Hostility.

Hostility.

An overwhelming sea of hostile intent erupted around him.

There were people here.

A lot of people.

And every single one of them was directing hostility toward him.

A moment later, lights suddenly ignited.

The darkness vanished.

Naruto's scalp instantly went numb.

All around him stood countless figures lined up like wooden stakes.

Each wore a different mask.

Each was cloaked in black robes.

Though Naruto recognized them as ANBU, being surrounded by so many people openly regarding him as an enemy made every hair on his body stand on end.

According to his senses, they were seconds away from launching a coordinated attack.

[They're all Konoha shinobi.]

[They must've mistaken me for an intruder.]

[No time to explain. I'll use Flying Thunder God and leave first—]

Just as Naruto prepared to teleport away—

"Wait!"

A man's voice suddenly rang out.

"He's wearing a Konoha forehead protector!"

"He's one of ours!"

"Everyone stand down!"

The ANBU halted their attacks.

"...A misunderstanding?"

Naruto frowned.

The man who seemed to be their leader stepped forward.

Slowly.

He reached up and removed his mask.

And for the first time since arriving—

Naruto realized something.

He couldn't sense even the slightest hostility or malice from this man.

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