"Pa!"
"Secret Scroll Clone."
With a sharp clap of his hands, Uchiha Shion triggered the technique. A burst of smoke appeared at his side beneath the riverbed. A figure flickered faintly within, yet refused to take full form.
Shion's lips curved upward. As expected, the Secret Scroll of Evolution had many applications—it was not merely the promise of "an extra life."
Of course, an extra life was still the most important function. Starting today, as long as he and his clone did not perish on the same day, then when midnight passed and the clone refreshed itself, he would revive.
And now…
From the cloud of smoke at the bottom of the river, a tall young man gradually emerged—about one meter eighty in height, red-haired, a figure reminiscent of Yahiko from another dimension.
Red hair? Yahiko of the Uzumaki?
No—this clone's name would be Kū.
It was as though two souls shared the same mind, able to act with one will in two bodies. Without hesitation, Kū swept across the riverbed and darted off into the distance.
Shion himself surfaced and stepped onto the shore. Given his current status as a complete nobody, it was unlikely anyone would invest much effort in monitoring him. Summoning the clone from the riverbed was nothing more than an extra precaution.
Still, with White Zetsu lurking everywhere, and the ever-suspicious Third Hokage with his tendency to pry, one could never be too careful.
In hidden corners near the Nara clan compound and the Tatsumi shelter, Shion had already carved Flying Thunder God seals. If the Nine-Tails were released tonight—even if the odds were slim—being prepared was necessary.
By the time he returned home from the rear mountains, it was already noon. His mother, Izumi, had come back as well, and together they went to the marketplace, a warm family outing.
Night fell, and under the glow of lanterns, Konoha still bustled with life.
From atop the Hokage Rock, Kū narrowed his eyes. A distant silhouette flitted past, slipping straight through the barrier he had laid down as if it were nothing.
Because of the risk of the Nine-Tails rampaging, Kushina's delivery had been arranged in a cave outside Konoha, reinforced with seals to prevent any accidents.
And yet, despite all precautions, faint traces of the Nine-Tails' chakra still seeped through the barrier, lingering in the air.
"Extract the Nine-Tails' chakra in advance, seal it, then slowly release it? So Kushina's true delivery site has reinforced the seal? Not a single wisp of chakra leaking out… impressive."
Kū crouched down, waiting. If things grew loud, he'd intervene. If not, he would leave behind a few markings and return to rest.
"Ahhh!"
"It hurts!"
"Minato! Minato…"
Kushina's screams of pain echoed within the cave. Minato stood at her side, holding her hand, face full of worry.
Hidden in the shadows, Kakashi looked utterly dumbfounded. Why did these two men playing the role of husband and wife feel so strangely convincing?
Two award-winning actors, clearly.
Ten minutes later, Shisui—disguised as Kushina—lay on the bed, his throat already hoarse from screaming. Yet the enemy still refused to show himself.
Time was running short. At the true birthing site, once the baby was delivered, Kushina's seal would weaken, and the Nine-Tails' chakra would inevitably erupt. At that point, the enemy would realize this cave was only a trap.
Wait—!
In that instant, Shisui understood. Exactly because Kushina's seal weakened during childbirth, the Nine-Tails' chakra would surge violently. The enemy must be waiting for that precise moment!
Locking eyes with Minato, the two sharp minds reached the same conclusion instantly.
Meanwhile… Obito, phasing through the walls with his intangibility, was growing impatient. The Nine-Tails' chakra had been leaking for some time now. Why had that brat still not been born?
The Uzumaki clan's sealing arts were legendary, their unique bloodline the perfect vessel for tailed beasts. And once the baby was born, the Yellow Flash would be bound—by a helpless, defenseless infant.
"It's born! It's born!"
Disguised as Biwako Sarutobi, Fugaku Uchiha, along with two female medical-nin, cried out in excitement. Yet strangely, no infant's cry echoed in the cave.
"What's going on? Why isn't there any sound? What happened to Naruto?" Minato exclaimed in alarm.
Fugaku immediately caught on. "Just a bit of stimulation. Don't worry."
He lifted the baby upside down, flicking the soles of its tiny feet. "Sometimes they swallow amniotic fluid. This will make him cough it out."
Minato's face softened with gratitude. On the bed, Shisui knew his task was nearly finished—any more screaming and his throat would give out.
And then—
A shadow appeared silently at Fugaku's side. A kunai slashed toward his neck.
"Shhhk!"
With a Body Flicker, Fugaku barely dodged, cradling the baby. But in that same instant, the infant was snatched away.
"Didn't expect the wife of the Third Hokage to have such quick reflexes," sneered the masked man, Obito, holding the swaddled bundle aloft. His kunai plunged straight down toward it.
Through the eyehole of his mask, his Mangekyō Sharingan glared with feral rage. He looked at his former teacher with madness.
Feel the pain of losing love, sensei. Once again, you are too late!
"Boom!"
A puff of smoke burst forth—the baby had transformed into a kunai, its black blade reflecting Obito's mask in mocking ridicule.
A trap? Impossible!
Obito's gaze snapped to Minato. "How… how did you know?"
Minato's eyes narrowed on his former student. He avoided direct eye contact with the Sharingan but still glanced at Obito's bandaged arm with regret.
"There are many things I want to ask you, but I doubt you'll answer honestly. Some responsibilities are mine to bear… so I'll capture you and demand them directly!"
In an instant, the Flying Thunder God activated. With seals already placed throughout the cave, Minato was everywhere at once.
"Shhhk!"
The kunai pierced empty space, phasing harmlessly through Obito's head. The masked man smirked coldly. "What makes you think you can catch me?"
Minato's arm had barely passed through when Obito solidified again, spinning to stab mercilessly.
"Shhhk!"
Another flash—the Yellow Flash reappeared nearby, confirming the intelligence he had received from the shadows.
Obito tilted his head toward Shisui, who still lay on the bed. "So the infant was fake… then the jinchūriki must be fake too? Still pretending to be unconscious? Do you take me for a fool?"
Shisui scratched his head awkwardly, sitting up. "I wasn't treating you like a fool. Just… the performance was so awkward I needed a moment to recover."
Obito let out a dark chuckle. "Convincing enough, though. If Minato entrusted you with this role, then your strength must be considerable. Third Hokage, is it?"
"Sorry to disappoint, Uchiha-senpai," Shisui said lightly. "But you guessed wrong."
"Poof!"
The Transformation Technique dispersed in smoke, revealing eyes marked with a cross-shaped pattern.
Kotoamatsukami.
Without warning, the seed of Shisui's ultimate genjutsu had already been planted.