Naruto Uzumaki's fox-like face was full of confusion as he stared at the boy before him, who held a tachi in hand. He asked aloud,
"Hey, who the hell are you? I've never seen you before."
Uchiha Aki tilted his head slightly toward Naruto, the corners of his mouth curling up.
"You came to me on your own? Saves me the trouble."
According to his plan, Uchiha Aki was supposed to be hunting down the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki after beheading the Third Hokage—but there was always a risk that Obito might get to the boy first.
Now that the Nine-Tails brat had shown up on his own, things would go much smoother.
Obito... the control of this game is already shifting toward me!
Naruto met Uchiha Aki's gaze—four eyes locked in silent confrontation.
Although Naruto himself didn't feel anything unusual, the Nine-Tails sealed within him suddenly opened its eyes wide.
Within the seal.
A colossal fox snapped open its blood-red eyes, unleashing a surge of vast chakra and deep hatred. Its deep, rumbling voice roared:
"Idiot! Stay away from this man! Those eyes of his… they're dangerous!"
"If you want to survive, run! Stop being stupid!"
There was a thick sense of dread in the Nine-Tails' growl as it stared through the seal at Uchiha Aki's eyes.
Those eyes… Those cursed eyes... They're the same as that man's—Uchiha Madara's Sharingan!
The boy in front of him stirred memories of the one man who once ruled over it—Uchiha Madara.
Naruto's consciousness appeared inside the seal, glaring at the fox.
"Stupid fox, what are you yelling for? This is my turf!"
Even Naruto was puzzled. That calm-looking pretty boy with the sword—was he really that dangerous?
Could he really frighten the Nine-Tails that much?
"Brat, you're on your own. Just—whatever you do—don't look him in the eye," the Nine-Tails growled in frustration. Still, it knew that no matter what it said, this idiot wouldn't understand.
Luckily, the Third Hokage—old Sarutobi—was also here. Naruto shouldn't be in too much danger.
The fox hated to admit it, but Sarutobi really was strong.
Back in the Hokage's Office—
"Hey, Gramps Third, who is this guy? He's even cockier than Sasuke!" Naruto turned to look at Hiruzen Sarutobi's darkened face, then stared at Uchiha Aki.
Damn, this guy is way too cool. He only looked a few years older than Naruto, but he was somehow even better-looking than Sasuke.
Why are there so many good-looking guys? This isn't fair!
"So handsome... Even more than Sasuke," a pink-haired girl murmured, staring blankly at Uchiha Aki's face. She quickly clamped her mouth shut and shot a glance at Sasuke beside her. Seeing he hadn't heard her, she let out a silent sigh of relief.
Sasuke, however, wasn't paying attention to Sakura. His eyes were locked onto Aki's Mangekyō Sharingan.
Those eyes...
They reminded him of that man.
Uchiha Itachi. The traitor who massacred their entire clan.
"Naruto… huff... huff... stay away from him! He's dangerous!" Sasuke's breathing grew heavy, and his black pupils morphed into twin tomoe Sharingan.
Those eyes… they're the same as his. This guy might know where Itachi is!
"Naruto! Get away from him—now!" Sarutobi shouted. If something happened to Naruto, how could he ever face the Fourth… Minato?
More importantly, with the Nine-Tails inside Naruto, if things got out of hand and the seal broke, it could lead to disaster!
"This guy looks weak. Is he really that dangerous?" Naruto asked in confusion, pointing at Aki.
To Naruto, Uchiha Aki felt like a calm, composed teen.
And if he hadn't endured the pain of his clan's destruction or the loss of his sister, Aki might have truly been a gentle person.
But then—
SFX: Shing
The blade in Aki's hand trembled. A flash of cold light swept through the air.
Naruto's right arm flew through the air. Blood burst out like a fountain.
"Aaaaaaaah! M-my arm!" Naruto screamed in agony. His face went pale as searing pain shot through every nerve in his body.
"This wasn't in the plan, but I'll take this beast now," Aki said with a dangerous grin. In a flash, he vanished and reappeared before Naruto.
Grabbing him by the hair, Aki smashed Naruto's head into the ground and then stabbed a short ANBU blade through Naruto's remaining arm, pinning him down.
In that moment, Naruto's eyes turned blood-red. Crimson chakra erupted from within his seal, cloaking his body with an aura of hatred.
The Nine-Tails' Chakra.
"Just lie there and watch the show," Aki said coldly. His Mangekyō Sharingan flared, and instantly, the chakra shroud disappeared. He formed a seal with one hand—dark runes snaked up the blade and formed a sealing technique.
He'd sealed Naruto's chakra flow—to prevent any chance of the Nine-Tails interfering with his plan to kill the Third.
"Aaaah!!" Sakura's face went ghost-white. She dropped to the ground, legs trembling. A sudden heat spread between her thighs, followed by a stream of colorless liquid.
Just days ago, on a mission, she'd faced Zabuza Momochi and survived a life-and-death encounter…
But this—this was far worse.
Sakura, still a young girl with a fragile heart, completely lost control. Seeing her teammate maimed and humiliated like that, she wet herself on the spot.
"Naruto!" Sasuke's pupils shrank. Cold sweat streamed down his forehead.
Damn it. Even with my Sharingan, I couldn't see that strike...
He's strong—insanely strong!
Sasuke tried to step forward—but his legs wouldn't move. His whole body was paralyzed.
Am I… afraid? Damn it!
Aki glanced at the frozen Sasuke and said indifferently,
"You remind me of myself once. But unlike me, you lack patience and composure."
"You're consumed by hatred, but without restraint… You're still just a child."
As for Sakura, Aki didn't even glance her way.
A coward who pissed herself? Not even worth acknowledging.
When Aki and Sasuke locked eyes, Sasuke's legs gave out. He collapsed to the ground, drenched in sweat.
For the first time, Sasuke felt true fear—fear that rose from the depths of his soul.
"Naruto!" Sarutobi growled and turned toward Aki. His eyes flashed with shock.
That speed… That wasn't Body Flicker.
He had tried to move earlier, but he was still a step too slow.
No matter how strong Aki is, that speed alone makes him a real threat.
"Sarumu! Transform into the Nyoi Kongō Bō!" Sarutobi shouted.
"Yes!" Enma the Monkey King replied, forming hand seals. With a puff of smoke, his tall form vanished, replaced by a massive staff.
"Aki Uchiha! You dare raise your blade against a twelve-year-old? Have you fallen completely into darkness?!" Hiruzen yelled, leaping into the air, staff raised high.
In a flash, he was above Aki, smashing the staff downward with tremendous force.
"Hypocrite," Aki said coldly. "Where was your compassion when the Uchiha clan was slaughtered? When infants cried as they were butchered?"
He slashed upward—an immense wave of sword energy surged, aiming straight for Sarutobi.
BOOM—
Blade met staff. The ground quaked.
Before the eyes of everyone present, Hiruzen Sarutobi was blasted backward and crashed into the ground.
He had clearly underestimated Uchiha Aki's strength.
Aki remained standing exactly where he was, unmoved. His gaze was cold and aloof as he looked down on Sarutobi with a sneer.
"So this is the Hokage? What a joke."
..................................
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