Chapter 4: Daily Self-Reflection: I Killed Him Too Quickly
The sun crawled lazily across the sky, broadcasting boundless light and heat upon the shinobi world below.
The Land of Fire truly deserved its reputation as the richest region. Dense forests sprawled everywhere. No wonder they called it the Village Hidden in the Leaves.
Uchiha Yasushi lurked in a tree, staring blankly at the shadow slowly creeping across the ground below, his heart hollow.
He was having some regrets now.
Last night he'd been too impulsive. His actions lacked proper consideration.
He shouldn't have killed Sasuke like that.
Now that he'd calmed down, regret gnawed at him.
He'd let Sasuke off too easily!
He should have first cut off Sasuke's limbs, then gouged out his eyes, pierced his eardrums, cut out his tongue, turned him into a human pig, and kept him in a jar!
Ah, wait, he shouldn't gouge out Sasuke's eyes first. With enough stimulus, maybe he could have obtained a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan!
The massacre's enormous trauma only awakened a single tomoe in that cold-blooded bastard, proving he was just like his brother, completely devoid of feelings for his clan!
These two brothers were both worthless scum!
Such bestial clansmen should be kept in jars!
Then he could bring the jar to show Uchiha Itachi!
While asking Itachi if his magnanimous heart felt absolutely thrilled seeing Sasuke in that state?
What a waste!
Last night's rage clouded his judgment. In his fury, he killed Sasuke outright, and this perfect plan evaporated completely.
I shouldn't have done it, I need to act more calmly in the future.
Yasushi continuously reflected on his behavior, examining himself three times daily.
The Uchiha were already an emotionally extreme clan. Under the Mangekyo's ultimate Yin Release chakra influence, Yasushi felt absolutely nothing wrong with his thoughts.
Revenge was heaven's mandate. No one could stop him!
What constituted true revenge?
Making enemies suffer, of course!
Making them wish for death!
Making them regret everything!
To achieve this goal, Uchiha Yasushi would do anything!
Uchiha Itachi wouldn't escape!
Uchiha Obito wouldn't escape either!
Those masterminds, the Third and Danzo, definitely wouldn't escape!
Every accomplice in Konoha wouldn't escape!
During Yasushi's continuous reflection, a group of children came running from the distance like a whirlwind. The one surrounded in their center had blonde hair, clearly Uzumaki Naruto.
Yasushi glanced at the midday sun overhead, silently approving.
Konohamaru's group proved remarkably efficient, luring Naruto out so quickly. Truly worthy of being the Third Hokage's grandson.
If anyone else attempted this, the ANBU protecting the Nine-Tails would've noticed immediately.
But in this village where the Third's power was absolute, who dared investigate his little grandson?
Shinobi were ultimately just dogs raised by those in power!
A cold curve formed beneath Yasushi's mask. His figure slid down silently, disappearing soundlessly into the forest.
The children swarmed around Naruto, rushing to the tree's base. Looking around and confirming this matched the ANBU's mission location, they couldn't help but cheer and jump, shouting excitedly.
"Ah, we're here, here! This is the tree!"
"Mission complete! We finished it!"
"Where's the shinobi-sama? We're here to report mission success!"
"Eh? What mission?" Uzumaki Naruto still scratched his head cluelessly, looking strangely at Konohamaru. "Didn't you say we were coming outside the village to play?"
"Idiot! Don't make the target suspicious!" Konohamaru angrily punched the companion shouting most enthusiastically, then turned back, rubbing his head while laughing awkwardly at Naruto.
"Haha... Naruto-niisan, we meant the shinobi game!"
Naruto sensed something amiss, but having few friends and being disliked in class, he welcomed anyone willing to play with him. He immediately pretended ignorance, going along with it. "Oh, so... so how do you want to play?"
"Uh..." Konohamaru stumbled over his words, unsure how to answer. He looked around frantically for the ANBU who'd issued the mission, but saw no one anywhere.
Not knowing if this was another test, he considered fabricating lies to stall Naruto when he heard the soft sound of blades piercing flesh. A figure fell from the nearby tree, landing heavily on the ground and raising clouds of dust. The body shape clearly indicated ANBU attire.
"Ah!" Konohamaru startled. During his panic, he heard consecutive muffled groans as bodies emerged from various locations, painting the ground with blood. The area instantly filled with a bloody stench.
"Ah! Enemies!"
Compared to children like Konohamaru, Naruto the half-trained shinobi reacted faster. He drew a kunai, assuming a defensive stance toward the front.
In the shinobi world, even a slight difference in strength meant life or death.
After awakening his Mangekyo Sharingan, Uchiha Yasushi's abilities underwent qualitative transformation.
He'd enhanced not just his Mangekyo abilities, but his overall qualities including speed, strength, reaction time, and chakra reserves.
Just as Itachi had easily killed the three-tomoe jonin Yasushi before, current Yasushi assassinated these ANBU with single strokes.
After easily disposing of these nuisances, Uchiha Yasushi revealed himself, standing before everyone and walking forward step by step.
Seeing the pile of corpses before them, Konohamaru and the others froze in terror, stammering questions: "You... aren't you an ANBU shinobi?"
"Didn't the Hokage send you?"
"Why... why did you kill them?"
"Aren't they ANBU too?"
Only Naruto reacted sharply, quickly blocking the children while urgently shouting: "Run! He's not ANBU!"
Konohamaru still argued foolishly.
"No!"
"He is ANBU!"
"I've seen him at Grandpa's side!"
"I recognize him!"
Uchiha Yasushi completely ignored their comedy routine, coldly reciting his lines in a wooden voice.
"The naturally evil Nine-Tails demon fox should be firmly controlled by the village, not left wandering freely outside!"
Filled with hatred, his gaze was icy, looking at those before him as less than human. That expression carried strong Root vibes, making everyone shudder.
But Konohamaru, never beaten down by society's cruelties, still trusted his eyes. He refused to believe this person was an impostor and didn't think anyone could harm him in Konoha, continuing to shout loudly.
"Wh-what Nine-Tails demon fox? There's no Nine-Tails here!"
But he failed to notice Naruto's body beginning to tremble.
Naruto sharply interrupted Konohamaru, shouting loudly: "He's coming for me!"
"You all run!"
"What?" Konohamaru was shocked, but instead of fleeing, he pulled out a kunai from his pouch, calling out with admirable loyalty: "Shinobi never abandon their comrades!"
"Naruto-niisan, you run! We'll cover your retreat!"
"Don't worry about the Hokage! I'll ask Grandpa to forgive you!"
After shouting, he charged at Uchiha Yasushi.
His companions behind him, stirred by his actions into boiling passion, also drew their tools and launched attacks.
"Don't!"
Naruto screamed, trying to stop them but unable to reach in time. He could only watch helplessly as Konohamaru rushed the enemy, then was cut diagonally from shoulder to waist in two pieces.