Chapter 181: Kotoamatsukami
Sometimes, people share a common habit.
When several conflicting facts appear before them, whether they are directly involved or merely observing, they instinctively search for the fastest explanation possible.
Their minds automatically fill in the gaps, constructing a version of events that feels reasonable.
Even when reality is completely different.
This phenomenon is commonly known as overthinking—or more accurately, self-generated assumptions.
At this very moment, that was exactly what Naruto was doing.
He could clearly sense that although the numerous Konoha ANBU had lowered their weapons, their hostility remained.
Yet because he felt no hostility whatsoever from the man removing his mask, Naruto subconsciously reached a conclusion.
This was merely a misunderstanding.
His sudden arrival had interrupted some secret ANBU operation or meeting.
The earlier attacks...
The lingering hostility...
Those were simply because the misunderstanding had not yet been resolved.
After all, they were all comrades of Konoha.
Thus Naruto unconsciously stopped activating the Flying Thunder God Technique.
He waited for the leader to remove his mask so they could talk things out.
Then—
"NARUTO! SOMETHING'S WRONG!!"
A furious roar exploded inside his mind.
Kurama had never sounded so urgent.
The instant the Nine-Tails shouted, Naruto's heart skipped a beat.
He suddenly realized the problem.
It was true that the man before him carried no hostility.
But he was standing directly in front of Naruto's arrival point.
And Naruto could still sense the Flying Thunder God marker.
His Flying Thunder God seal...
Was on that man.
"Sage—"
Mangekyō Sharingan: Kotoamatsukami!
Too late.
The mask had already fallen.
Beneath it was a pale face.
And within that face—
A Mangekyō Sharingan whose pattern resembled four razor-sharp blades radiated a bizarre, enchanting light.
The face beneath the mask belonged to none other than Uchiha Shisui.
The mask struck the floor.
Clink.
The crisp sound echoed through the underground chamber.
The surrounding ANBU completely lowered their combat stances.
Like rows of wooden statues, they stood motionless.
The battle had already been decided.
Shisui's expression was complicated.
The Mangekyō gradually faded back into a three-tomoe Sharingan as he continued supplying chakra.
He stared at the blond boy before him.
Naruto slowly lowered his hands.
Just like the ANBU around him, he stood still.
His head lowered.
Whatever Naruto had intended to do no longer mattered.
Shisui himself had been surprised by Naruto's sudden appearance.
He had no idea how Naruto had arrived.
He admitted that he had nearly failed to react.
Because the Flying Thunder God Technique remained one of Konoha's most tightly guarded secrets.
Although Naruto's teammates already knew about it, the Third Hokage had imposed strict secrecy throughout the village.
As a result, even the ANBU Shisui occasionally controlled had heard only vague rumors.
He had never learned that Naruto possessed Flying Thunder God.
If Naruto had attacked immediately after appearing, even Shisui would not have had time to react.
After all, as a former Konoha ANBU and a veteran of the same war as Minato Namikaze, Shisui understood exactly what it meant to leave a Flying Thunder God mark on someone.
But when Naruto appeared—
He didn't attack.
Shisui instantly changed strategies.
Rather than continuing his assault, he chose deception.
Otherwise Naruto would have escaped immediately.
Such was the unreasonable nature of ocular techniques.
Unless the opponent possessed powerful eye techniques of their own, the moment their gaze met the exposed eyes of the caster—
Escape became impossible.
"The Nine-Tails' jinchūriki delivered himself right to my doorstep."
"Once I strengthen my control over him, you'll secretly escort him out of Konoha..."
"Hm?"
Shisui turned to issue orders to the controlled ANBU.
But the instant he turned around—
The scenery changed.
The dark underground chamber of the Naka Shrine vanished.
The ANBU vanished.
Everything vanished.
Only endless white remained.
A pure white world.
Mist drifted through the air, obscuring every direction.
Shisui stood alone.
He could not even determine where he was.
"This is—?!"
A sense of danger surged through him.
Naruto was gone.
The ANBU were gone.
Everything was gone.
Had he been transported?
[Impossible...]
"How annoying."
"The same thing happening twice in one day."
"A troublesome day indeed."
A voice echoed throughout the white space.
"I knew Sharingan were nothing but bad luck."
"This is exactly why I hate using this method."
Shisui frowned and looked upward.
His Mangekyō Sharingan reappeared.
"So that's it."
"The jinchūriki's mental world."
"In that case..."
"The one speaking is the Nine-Tails?"
His voice remained calm.
Despite possessing only one eye, it was still a Mangekyō Sharingan.
Seeing through the truth of this place was not difficult.
A mental world.
Nothing more.
And his opponent—
Merely a tailed beast.
With his visual prowess, controlling the Nine-Tails would not be difficult.
After identifying his opponent, Shisui felt considerably more relaxed.
As his words fell—
A massive figure emerged.
As though abandoning all pretense after being exposed.
Kurama appeared behind towering prison bars.
The enormous gate once more separated the Nine-Tails from the intruder.
Behind the bars, Kurama slowly unfolded the hands he had just clasped together in a seal.
His crimson eyes stared at Shisui.
[Back when he was with Obito, I already knew something was off about this brat.]
[Even now, I can't sense hostility or malice from him. How exactly is he doing it?]
"I knew it."
"Nothing good ever comes from dealing with Uchiha."
Kurama sneered from behind the bars.
"I suppose Naruto's had things too easy lately."
"He's gotten careless."
"Maybe taking a huge loss here will teach him a lesson."
Then his gaze sharpened.
"As for you..."
"You've hidden yourself quite well, Uchiha brat."
Shisui paid no attention to the taunts.
Instead he immediately activated his ocular power.
"Submit to me, Nine-Tails."
Kurama didn't dodge.
He simply stared back.
Mockery filled his eyes.
"...I was originally planning to ask you a few questions."
"But now I don't need to."
"You really do have a talent for seeking death."
Something in Shisui's words had clearly reminded Kurama of someone he despised.
Dangerous intent flickered in his eyes.
Shisui continued staring at him.
Seconds passed.
His Mangekyō Sharingan began straining from overuse.
Yet—
Nothing happened.
Not a single thing.
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