Chapter 90: Uchiha Ikeizumi Must Be Trying to Reenact the Nine-Tails Attack!
Naruto didn't understand what the terrifying man meant by "a seedling with potential." All he knew was that it seemed he wasn't going to die.
But the relief didn't make him happy.
When he realized that there was indeed a Nine-Tailed Demon Fox sealed inside him, and that this demon fox had caused immense destruction to Konoha the year he was born, Naruto felt a growing sense of fear.
He wasn't sure if he was afraid the demon fox inside him would harm him, or if he was afraid that monster would harm the village.
Naruto also vaguely understood the meaning of "vessel."
It meant that his existence was just a container; someone had sealed the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox inside him, making him the "Nine-Tails Jinchuriki" in the terrifying man's words.
Even when Teuchi placed a steaming bowl of ramen in front of him, Naruto couldn't muster much enthusiasm.
His mind was buzzing with all sorts of thoughts.
Naruto didn't know why, but he somehow, inexplicably, found the courage to swallow hard and ask the terrifying man, "Why was that monster sealed inside me?"
"I—"
He lowered his head, a look of profound confusion on his face, biting his lower lip before speaking again, "All these years, the villagers have hated me... is it because of the monster inside me?"
"If not for this monster, I could be like the other students at the Academy, right? I could go to school normally, come home normally—"
As he spoke, Naruto couldn't help but sniffle, wiping away the snot that wouldn't stop running.
"I could have lived a normal life like everyone else in the village, without being hated by so many people. If that were the case, I wouldn't have to pull pranks just to get attention—"
Uchiha Ikeizumi watched the quietly sobbing Naruto.
He spoke, "The Fourth Hokage's intention was likely to prevent the Nine-Tails' power from falling into the hands of other villages, especially into the hands of the masked man, Obito Uchiha, who caused the Nine-Tails attack. And you, Naruto Uzumaki, possessing the Uzumaki clan's bloodline, were the most suitable vessel among those present at the time to become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."
Naruto froze.
The word "Fourth Hokage," sounding somewhat unfamiliar, made him think of Konoha's Fourth Hokage.
Naruto's knowledge of the Fourth Hokage was limited to knowing only that he was a Hokage who died young.
Even the Third Hokage, "Grandpa," had said the Fourth Hokage was the youngest Hokage in Konoha's history.
Beyond that, Naruto had no other impressions of the Fourth Hokage.
Oh, right!
He'd also seen the Fourth Hokage's stone face on the mountain; it was so huge, it was hard to miss. "Logically speaking, only a few people in Konoha knew about the Nine-Tails being sealed within you at the time. But later, rumors began to circulate within the village that you were the Demon Fox Incarnate. The rumors grew stronger and stronger, and everyone believed you were the 'Demon Fox'."
Uchiha Ikeizumi said indifferently, "Eventually, the Third Hokage ordered that no one in Konoha was allowed to openly discuss you as the Demon Fox Incarnate, nor could they mention the Nine-Tails attack in front of you."
He didn't intentionally defame anyone, nor did he deliberately provoke Naruto's emotional scars or hatred. He simply told the seven-year-old Naruto what had happened years ago, straightforwardly.
At that time, Uchiha Ikeizumi himself was only eleven.
Naruto stared blankly, "Grandpa Hokage..."
Just as Naruto was feeling a surge of emotion, Kijirō suddenly cut in, "Kid, don't get sentimental so quickly, meow."
With a nimble paw, Kijirō deftly picked up a piece of fish cake from the ramen.
It stuffed the fish cake into its mouth, chewing as it spoke, "Don't you want to know who was spreading those 'Demon Fox Incarnate' rumors about you in the village? Don't you want to know if the Third Hokage knew about it?"
Kijirō continued, "It was Danzō, that old dog's people, who spread the 'Demon Fox Incarnate' rumors in the village. As for his specific goal—who knows?"
"Perhaps he disliked the Fourth Hokage; perhaps he wanted to provoke you with negative public opinion, to make you lose control and go berserk. That way, maybe the scenario of a Konoha Hokage sacrificing himself to seal the Nine-Tails would repeat itself. Then Danzō could naturally assume the position."
Kijirō swallowed the fish, licked its paws, and squinted its cat eyes contentedly, "Anyway, the Third Hokage knew about it, but all he did was stop the villagers from discussing you too harshly, nothing more."
"As for the instigator, Danzō Shimura, the Third Hokage did nothing to him. Both times Lord Ikeizumi tried to kill Danzō Shimura, the Third Hokage appeared to protect Danzō."
"Kid—"
"You actually think the Third Hokage, who shielded the mastermind, is a 'Grandpa Hokage' worth being moved by? That's a bit naive, isn't it! The Third Hokage's actions had nothing to do with justice!"
The string of words from the ninja cat Kijirō dealt a huge psychological blow to young Naruto.
He opened his mouth, wanting to defend Grandpa Hokage.
Because in his memory—
Grandpa Hokage was always so kind to him, he thought.
Whenever he felt most helpless, Grandpa Hokage was always the first to appear and comfort him, and even invited him to Ichiraku Ramen for a warm bowl.
When he was a bit short on money, it was Grandpa Hokage who gave him plenty of living expenses; he just spent a bit excessively and didn't really know how to manage money.
But if Grandpa Hokage truly knew who the mastermind was, who deliberately spread the "Demon Fox Incarnate" rumors that made him hated by everyone in the village, why didn't Grandpa Hokage punish them?
And why did that person named "Danzō Shimura" have so much malice towards him?
Disliking the Fourth Hokage, or wanting to become the Hokage of Konoha...
Did those two goals have anything to do with him, Naruto Uzumaki?
Naruto's small face was bewildered.
He felt the adult world was so complicated.
He simply couldn't understand it.
"Naruto Uzumaki, when endless malice, blatant ostracism, and whispered curses are all directed at you, can you feel that despair and helplessness?"
Uchiha Ikeizumi's faint voice drifted into Naruto's ears.
Naruto nodded almost instinctively.
Uchiha Ikeizumi asked, "Do you think what they did was right?"
Naruto bit his lip, "It wasn't right—"
How could bullying and ostracizing a child like that possibly be right?!
Naruto knew his own feelings all too well.
"The fact that you think they were wrong means your sense of right and wrong hasn't been corrupted by this decaying ninja world," Uchiha Ikeizumi said. "Because everything you've endured is the evil of the ninja world. Evildoers, to achieve their respective goals, will inflict their greatest malice upon an innocent child."
Naruto felt so wronged.
He didn't even know those people. A few years ago, he was just an infant who could barely speak.
Why target him like that?
Was it just because of this "evil" that the terrifying man spoke of?
"The evil of the ninja world has spawned countless pains, trapping countless innocent people, unable to struggle free. You are just one of them," Uchiha Ikeizumi said. "And the suffering you've endured, among the many harmed by 'evil,' is merely commonplace, not a unique case."
Naruto flinched.
"If you want to truly witness the evil of the ninja world. After you finish this bowl of ramen, you can follow me on a tour around Konoha. If your luck is bad, you'll see it with your own eyes."
Naruto stared blankly at Uchiha Ikeizumi's profile. He felt that this terrifying man seemed to have seen all sorts of "evil."
That cold tone, that expressionless look, seemed to indicate a complete numbness to "evil."
Yet, he always felt a hint of hope mixed within that numbness.
That hope was somewhat like his own desire for the villagers' acknowledgment. Of course, Naruto didn't think this terrifying man needed anyone's acknowledgment; he simply felt that the other person must have a sliver of expectation for the ninja world.
Perhaps it was precisely this kind of expectation that drove this terrifying man to constantly "meddle" in the village's affairs.
Logically speaking, Naruto felt he should stay away from this terrifying man; Grandpa Hokage had also warned him not to approach him. But...
Gazing at the faint steam rising from the ramen, Naruto didn't know why, but he suddenly felt an inexplicable flutter.
He, by some strange impulse, nodded.
And then began to devour his ramen.
Just then, another person walked into Ichiraku Ramen.
Izumi caught a glimpse of an unremarkable face. But the girl sharply noticed a mask hanging at the person's waist—it was an ANBU mask!
The ANBU ninja walked in like a regular customer, casually sitting in a corner of the ramen stand.
But Izumi noticed that he seemed to glance at Naruto Uzumaki.
Perhaps sensing that Naruto Uzumaki was fine, Izumi felt the ANBU ninja subtly let out half a breath of relief.
Izumi understood instantly.
This was an ANBU ninja assigned by Lord Hokage to monitor the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!
She was right.
The ANBU ninja appearing at Ichiraku Ramen was purely because when Naruto Uzumaki left his sight and was with Uchiha Ikeizumi, an alarm blared in his mind.
What if Uchiha Ikeizumi, with his Mangekyo Sharingan, tried to control the Nine-Tails using its power?
What if Uchiha Ikeizumi decided Naruto Uzumaki, as the "Demon Fox," was a menace and simply killed him?
What if Uchiha Ikeizumi instilled ideas into the Jinchuriki that were bad for Lord Hokage or Konoha?
After careful consideration, the ANBU ninja had no choice but to take the risk.
He directly removed his mask and burst into Ichiraku Ramen. As he casually sat down, only he knew that his back was soaked with cold sweat. Only he knew how much pressure he was under right now.
Especially when Uchiha Ikeizumi's gaze flickered his way, the ANBU ninja almost instinctively drew the ninja blade from his waist.
Fortunately—
Uchiha Ikeizumi made no other moves. Perhaps it was because, in the other's eyes, he had no "evil," neither in the past nor in the future?!
Or perhaps it was because he was from the Yamanaka clan, and the Yamanaka clan head and Uchiha Ikeizumi seemingly had a good relationship, so he was benefiting from his clan's connections?
Besides, the Jinchuriki was still alive and seemed to have a good appetite.
Nothing strange must have happened, right?
Just then.
The ANBU ninja noticed a black ninja cat slipping in. He saw the black ninja cat jump onto the table, meowing at the plump orange ninja cat.
He then heard the orange ninja cat suddenly speak, "Lord Ikeizumi, new cases have been discovered in the village!"
The ANBU ninja immediately let out the other half of his breath.
This way, the Uchiha plague god would be busy, and he could stay away from the Jinchuriki, right?
But what he didn't expect was...
Uchiha Ikeizumi put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and slowly stood up. He then coldly said to the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki beside him, "If you want to see it, you can follow me now."
ANBU ninja: "???"
Wait a minute—
See what?!
Then, he saw Naruto Uzumaki frantically gobble down the last few mouthfuls of ramen in his bowl. As he hastily stood up, his cheeks puffed out as he exclaimed, "Coming!"
ANBU ninja: "???"
Hey! Hey! Hey!
What's going on?!
Did he miss something before entering Ichiraku Ramen?
As he watched Naruto Uzumaki follow Uchiha Ikeizumi out of Ichiraku Ramen, the ANBU ninja realized that something was seriously wrong, and that his work had suffered a grave error.
Darn it!
He had to inform Lord Hokage now!
"Customer, what ramen would you like?" Teuchi's question was completely ignored by the ANBU ninja.
He bit his thumb.
Slapped the ground.
"Ninja Art—"
"Summoning Jutsu!!!"
A ninja pigeon, slightly larger than an ordinary pigeon, was summoned by the ANBU ninja. He said to the pigeon, "Go quickly and inform Lord Hokage. Tell him Naruto Uzumaki has been taken by Uchiha Ikeizumi! The situation is very urgent!"
The ninja pigeon nodded.
And immediately flew off.
The ANBU ninja gritted his teeth and hurried after Uchiha Ikeizumi, but he didn't dare to follow too closely, only trailing far behind. "If he tries to do anything to the Jinchuriki, I'll have to risk my life to bring the Jinchuriki back—"
However, the question was, would risking his life actually be effective?
The ANBU ninja was a bit unsure.
Before long.
Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was discussing with Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado how to fix the huge mess Uchiha Ikeizumi had caused.
Just then, a ninja pigeon flying in through the window caught their attention.
"This is..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. He recognized it as ANBU ninja Yamanaka Yoshinobu's pigeon. But shouldn't Yoshinobu be monitoring Naruto right now?
Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu.
Until the ninja pigeon spoke.
"Lord Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki has been taken by Uchiha Ikeizumi! The situation is very urgent!—Yoshinobu told me to say this."
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."
Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could react, Koharu Utatane abruptly stood up, her wrinkled old face extremely grim.
She immediately said, "Hiruzen! See! This is Uchiha Ikeizumi's ambition! His so-called [Absolute Justice] is just a grand excuse for his ambition!"
"As an Uchiha, as a ninja with the Mangekyo Sharingan, doesn't he know what it means for him to approach the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki? And he even took the Jinchuriki away!"
Koharu Utatane took a deep breath, and her previously surging blood pressure dropped slightly.
She continued, "Even if we assume, for argument's sake, that he truly acts for some 'Absolute Justice,' then we should be even more wary of his actions. Because his justice is too extreme!"
"He dared to kill the Daimyō's son; are you sure he won't try to use the power of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox to purge Konoha? For someone like him, would wiping out Konoha's population also be an act of justice?"
"Hiruzen! The Nine-Tails attack from seven years ago is about to repeat itself!"
Homura Mitokado also couldn't sit still. Standing up, he said, "Hiruzen, we must get the Jinchuriki back. Regardless of whether Uchiha Ikeizumi has such intentions, we cannot let him have excessive contact with Naruto Uzumaki."
"After all, even if he doesn't have such intentions, other Uchiha clan members might. At that point, the Nine-Tails attack truly could repeat itself."
"Konoha's losses from the last Nine-Tails attack were too severe; we cannot afford a second Nine-Tails attack."
Each word from Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.
Made Hiruzen Sarutobi realize that he couldn't delay any longer. He immediately called out, "Kakashi!"
Kakashi, who had been standing just outside the Hokage's office door, pushed it open and entered.
"Notify all ANBU! Assemble immediately!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said sternly, "Come with me to bring Naruto back!"
Koharu Utatane interjected, "I'm coming too, old man."
She explained, "Hiruzen, if you go alone, you'll surely continue to indulge Uchiha Ikeizumi. Uchiha Ikeizumi is indeed a powerful force capable of intimidating outside powers, but you must also consider the damage he causes to Konoha's interests."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow furrowed slightly.
But he did not stop Koharu Utatane.
"Meow, Lord Ikeizumi, the village ninjas were clearing rubble near the Yamanaka clan compound and found a family of four civilians crushed to death by their collapsed house. It was going to be ruled an 'accident,' but after the Military Police Force took over, they found something wasn't right."
A black cat led the way, while Kijirō perched on Izumi's shoulder, speaking, "Although the victims' skin was bruised and even bloody from being crushed by the debris, faint, strange marks were subtly discovered on the neck of one of the corpses."
"The preliminary assessment suggests they were impact marks, but they were very faint. If that Military Police Force member hadn't activated his Sharingan to observe, they might not have been found."
"Logically, that area shouldn't have been hit by heavy objects. The only possibility is that they were attacked before death."
Naruto, trailing behind, was stunned by this revelation.
A family of four
Wiped out?!
Naruto never actively paid attention to such violent incidents, and in his impression, Konoha Village, despite many people disliking and ostracizing him, was at least relatively peaceful and serene.
But who would have thought that shortly after leaving Ichiraku Ramen with this terrifying man, he would learn that a family of four in the village had been annihilated!
.....
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Was this... still the Konoha he knew?