Itachi stood silently on a thick tree branch covered with lush leaves, saying no more. Kakashi, enduring the odd stench in the air, perched on a nearby branch and pulled a book from his pouch, pretending to read.
However, the corner of his eye constantly flicked toward Itachi, as though afraid of revealing some secret.
---
Some time passed.
A blond-haired boy with a backpack slung over his shoulder and his hands behind his head leisurely strolled toward a murky drainage ditch.
The tail following behind him stopped short upon catching the strange odor, refusing to go any closer. It remained hidden in the shadows, observing the situation from a distance.
This unfortunate child had a habit of wandering into this area, leaving his unseen protectors helpless and exasperated.
---
"Shh, finally here."
Naruto tossed his backpack by the base of a tree, rolled up his pant legs, and headed straight for the drainage ditch.
What others saw as a disgusting place was, in his eyes, a treasure trove.
For some reason, small fish and shrimp thrived in this otherwise abandoned area. Compared to the riverbanks, where competition was fierce, this neglected spot gave him the chance to gather plenty of protein-rich food.
Protein was essential for him. Compared to instant noodles and other junk, these fish provided the energy he needed to refine chakra.
Perched on the tree, Itachi quietly observed Naruto step into the shallow, mud-filled waters of the ditch.
Kakashi, who had long since shifted his attention away from his book, alternated his gaze between Naruto and Itachi. He worried that Itachi might take an interest in the "thing" sealed within Naruto and attempt something harmful.
---
"Got one!"
Before long, Naruto's hands and feet were covered in black mud as he held up a wriggling catfish, its body as thick as three fingers.
He cheerfully tossed the catfish onto the bank and continued his search.
Soon, three or four more catfish were flopping on the ground, their gills and mouths opening and closing as they struggled for air.
"Hey, kid! Who said you could fish here?"
Naruto, now satisfied and ready to pack up his catch, was startled by a gruff voice.
A man wearing a conical hat and carrying fishing equipment approached slowly, step by step, toward Naruto.
"Uhh, mister… is fishing here not allowed? I thought no one cared about this place," Naruto asked timidly, sensing the hostility emanating from the man.
---
"You brat, what do you know? These fish are mine! Got any money? Pay up, and I might sell them to you. If not, put them back. Otherwise, I'll beat you to a pulp!"
The strange man in the conical hat loomed closer, his presence exuding an oppressive force that made Naruto hesitate.
He stared longingly at the fish on the ground, his mouth watering at the thought of the rare delicacy.
But the man's imposing demeanor left Naruto torn. On one side was the promise of a delicious meal; on the other, the threat of a beating.
---
"A fox demon… You dare come here? Haha, the heavens have heard my prayers!"
As the man drew closer and caught a better look at Naruto in the dim light, he ripped off his hat to reveal a scarred face twisted with rage. Throwing down his hat and fishing equipment, he lunged at Naruto, his expression as fierce as a demon's, his eyes bloodshot and full of killing intent.
Once, he had a happy family and a peaceful life.
But ten years ago, the Nine-Tails' attack destroyed everything.
Of his family of six, only he survived—a decrepit old man struggling to get by.
Discovering the abundance of fish in the drainage ditch had been a lifeline. Every evening, he would secretly catch a few to sell, carefully disguising the odor before taking them to market.
But today, he saw the very cause of his misery. It was as if the heavens themselves had sent Naruto to him.
---
Naruto had never encountered such raw hatred before. Usually, people only yelled insults or threw rotten eggs at him. But this man, with his bloodshot eyes and grotesque face twisted in fury, looked ready to kill.
The sheer malice in his expression made Naruto's legs tremble. He collapsed into the black mud, his body shaking with fear.
"I'm sorry! I'll give the fish back! Please don't hurt me!"
Naruto's hands brushed against the wriggling fish by his side, jolting him into action. He quickly pleaded for mercy, realizing how dire the situation was.
With no one around to help, if this man beat him up, the outcome could be disastrous. He might even be crippled for life, unable to pursue his dream of becoming a ninja.
---
"Heh… Hurt you? No, I won't just hurt you. I'll kill you!"
The old man's voice was low and cold, his eyes wide as he stared unblinkingly at Naruto.
"I'll drink your blood, tear out your tendons, and devour your flesh. Then, I'll use your skull to honor my poor grandchildren, you damned fox demon!"
The man's body trembled with a frenzied excitement, his twisted grin deepening. He relished the thought of revenge, his mind spiraling into madness as he imagined the scenes.
---
"I'd love to torture you slowly, make you feel every bit of the pain I've endured these years. But the Hokage seems to favor you, doesn't he? I'll just have to burn your face into my memory for later enjoyment."
The man bent down, picking up a sharp stone. Without standing, he crawled toward Naruto, savoring the boy's terrified expression.
"Grandpa… You've got the wrong person! I'm not the fox demon! My name is Uzumaki Naruto! I'm not who you think I am!"
Naruto's voice trembled, desperation lacing his words as he tried to reason with the deranged old man.
Naruto was startled by the old man's bizarre behavior, his voice trembling as he tried to explain with a sobbing tone.
...
As the old man moved closer, Kakashi clenched his fists tightly, the veins on his arms bulging.
Itachi's figure appeared silently beside Kakashi.
"Just watch for a bit longer. This might actually benefit him. After all, in the future ninja world, scenes like this will be commonplace..." Itachi whispered softly into Kakashi's ear.
Looking at the old man and the boy below, a glimmer of light flashed through Itachi's eyes.
How will this unfold? If those small fry in the distance notice what's happening here, should he eliminate them and let Naruto truly experience the twisted nature of this world?
The primary reason, however, was to observe how the Nine-Tails would react to the situation as events unfolded.
Even the Nine-Tails, sensing their presence, became unusually subdued.
...
"But..." Kakashi murmured quietly, his tone filled with confusion.
Itachi, however, offered no explanation for Kakashi's doubts. After all, Kakashi had never truly cared about Naruto before. He could have done so much but chose to do nothing.
Now he was acting as if he deeply cared about Naruto. Was this an emotional reaction or a shred of remaining conscience?
...
"Ah!"
Naruto cried out in pain, clutching his head tightly with both hands.
"Something's wrong!"
Two slightly drowsy ninjas, startled by the young boy's cry of agony, rushed toward the scene without delay. If something happened to Naruto, they wouldn't be able to escape responsibility.
They had been careless...
As the two drew closer, just as they were about to see what was happening, two sharp gusts of wind sliced through the air.
Two branches pierced through their throats...
Their lifeless bodies, propelled by the force of the branches, were pinned harshly against the tree trunks behind them.
Their eyes, wide open beneath their masks, were filled with confusion and disbelief.
Their heads tilted to the side, crimson trickles slid down, dripping to the ground beneath their feet.
...
"Ah..."
All these subtle disturbances were drowned out by Naruto's second scream of pain.
A sharp rock struck his forearm, fracturing it as he tried to block his head. Its jagged edge pierced deep into his arm—and into his spirit.
The searing pain from his arm and the old man's bloodthirsty expression made it clear to Naruto that this was no joke.
"Am I going to die...?"
Naruto's arm limply rested over his head, his eyes losing their terror and gazing blankly at the sky. He murmured softly to himself.
He had given up—given up resisting.
The old man, sitting on his waist and pinning him down, had rendered him immobile. With his arms shattered, he was completely defenseless.
"Yes, you're going to die... Why don't you scream? The more you scream, the more excited I get! Scream for me!"
Hearing Naruto's murmur, the old man became frenzied, trembling with exhilaration. His face flushed with a twisted excitement, the light in his eyes growing ever brighter.
Gripping the sharp rock, his large, coarse hand grew even more forceful, veins bulging on the back of his hand as though experiencing a final surge of vitality.
Roughly swiping aside Naruto's limp, dangling arm that partially covered his face, the old man swung the jagged rock toward Naruto's temple.
Naruto's pupils reflected the old man's grotesque visage and the sharp rock inching ever closer...
"Why... Why is life like this? Why do I have to go through all this? Why am I being treated this way?"
Memories of his life flashed through Naruto's mind. Ever since he could remember, he had been treated unfairly. Adults and children alike mocked and bullied him.
Even the supposedly noble teachers who were meant to educate and nurture showed nothing but disdain.
Even the revered Hokage was nothing but hypocritical.
Naruto's gaze grew dull, yet a storm of resentment, fury, despair, and hatred brewed deep within his heart.
A faint golden light flickered in his mind, radiating a mysterious energy.
And then, all at once, the light extinguished.
"Why? Why? WHY?!"
The once calm sky turned ominous, dark clouds rolling in as thunder suddenly roared. Trapped beneath the old man, Naruto's feeble questioning transformed into a roar of rage and desperation.
He stared up at the sky as though demanding answers from the heavens. Why was this happening to him?
...
Enraged, Naruto bellowed, venting the pent-up frustration and injustice in his heart. He was going to die.
But even his final scream of defiance was drowned out by the crashing thunder above, as if the heavens themselves were mocking him.
The furious roar of the thunder masked his voice, and Naruto's childhood face twisted with fury, startling the old man.
Yet the old man's hand, gripping the rock, did not falter. Not even the thunder striking his own head could stop him. Today, he would exact his revenge on the demon fox!
No one could stop him.
---