Chapter 1: Uchiha Yoru Kumo — Witnessing the Iconic Scene
Night of the Nine-Tails Attack.
The Nine-Tails had appeared in the world!
With a single sweep of its tails, mountains crumbled and tsunamis roared across the land. It was the strongest creature in the shinobi world.
The ninjas of Konoha fought desperately to stop it, but their efforts barely slowed the beast. The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, stood atop a massive toad, his bright golden hair and white cloak fluttering in the wind as he arrived on the battlefield like a true hero.
The Konoha shinobi erupted in cheers and began retreating according to plan.
Meanwhile, in the nearby forest, a small, slender figure moved in the opposite direction, quietly slipping toward the edge of the battlefield.
"This spot should work."
Uchiha Yoru Kumo had just hidden his presence when he spotted two figures appearing in the clearing ahead, supporting each other.
Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze.
Perfect. This location was ideal.
"If we don't open the barrier soon... my chakra is already..."
Minato looked near despair. He refused to let any harm come to his wife and unborn child.
At that moment, countless thick chains—each thousands of meters long—burst from Kushina's body and rapidly wrapped around the Nine-Tails, pinning the colossal beast in place.
"Thank you... for everything."
Blood trickled from the corner of Kushina's mouth, yet she wore a gentle, happy smile.
The couple understood each other perfectly. Both were willing to sacrifice themselves so the other and their child could live.
"Dead Demon Consuming Seal!"
A ritual array appeared on Minato's abdomen, sucking the Nine-Tails' chakra and soul into it.
"Then... the Eight Trigrams Seal!"
A ceremonial platform materialized behind Minato, surrounded by glowing runes and eight burning candles.
Even the Nine-Tails panicked. It struggled violently against Kushina's chains. In its prime, she could have held it easily, but she had just given birth and was extremely weak.
"Now!"
One of the Nine-Tails' claws broke free and lunged toward the infant on the platform, aiming to destroy the sealing ritual.
A flash of golden light instantly appeared in front of Naruto. The next second, Minato's body was pierced through. Kushina also leaped forward. As a member of the Uzumaki clan with immense strength, she grabbed the claw together with Minato. A drop of their mixed blood fell onto Naruto's stomach. The baby seemed to sense something and burst into loud cries.
"..."
"Don't be picky. Eat well and grow up strong!"
"Take a bath every day and stay warm..."
"..."
"Naruto... your dad and your chatty mom both say the same thing."
"Eight Trigrams Seal!"
[Powerful chakra detected!]
[Absorbing 10%!]
[Target deceased — Kushina Uzumaki. Bloodline Limit acquired: Uzumaki Clan vitality and sealing power!]
[Target deceased — Minato Namikaze. Ninjutsu acquired: Flying Thunder God Technique!]
Yoru Kumo's eyes opened, revealing a pair of red Three Tomoe Sharingan. Using the newly acquired Flying Thunder God, he instantly teleported to a safe distance.
Soon after, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, and others arrived. Yoru Kumo listened coldly as they discussed what to do with the infant. Hiruzen weighed the village's interests, showing little regard for the fact that this baby had just lost both parents who sacrificed themselves for Konoha. In the end, they decided to spare Naruto.
"Konoha... is this all you've got?"
...
Seven years later — The night before the Uchiha "betrayal".
A heavy aura of death hung over the entire Uchiha clan. Everyone knew that coexistence between the Uchiha and Konoha was no longer possible.
It was a dark, windy night. The Uchiha district was eerily quiet under a bright full moon that seemed to foretell doom.
Suddenly, a masked figure appeared in the air, then vanished.
Uchiha Clan Head's residence.
A couple knelt on the ground while a young boy stood behind them.
"Don't be afraid. This is the path you chose. My pain will only last a moment, but yours..."
"Though our positions differ, I am still proud of you."
"You are a kind child..."
The night wind carried the scent of blood into the distance.
After it was over, Uchiha Yoru Kumo, now dressed in a Konoha ninja uniform, walked alone through the desolate streets.
His system automatically activated, scanning for any fallen Bloodline Limits in the area and alerting him instantly.
[Detected fallen Sharingan power.] [Acquired. Sharingan upgraded to Mangekyō Sharingan.]
[Detected fallen Sharingan power.] [Acquired. Sharingan enhanced. Ninjutsu obtained: Izanagi!]
...
He scanned the entire district one final time and returned to the home where he had once lived.
Three bodies lay in the courtyard.
A family of three.
The head of the household was Yoru Kumo's uncle.
Yoru Kumo's heart bled with grief.
I... couldn't do anything.
His current strength was not enough to oppose the entire village of Konoha. Even as a transmigrator who knew about the massacre in advance, he could only watch it happen helplessly.
He had no choice but to continue living as the adopted child of two Konoha jonin. After all, he was not Sasuke. If he revealed his true Uchiha identity, the village would execute him without mercy.
All he could do was grow stronger in secret. While performing missions as a Konoha ninja, he would use his system to collect various Bloodline Limits.
[Acquired!] [Sharingan upgraded: Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan — Ultimate form!]
In an instant, Yoru Kumo's normal eyes transformed. The tomoe first morphed into a scythe shape, then dozens of tomoe shadows appeared in his pupils. They twisted and merged into complex black patterns across the sclera. The scythe-shaped tomoe grew even more intricate. A terrifying, murderous aura erupted from his body. For a moment, the full moon turned blood-red, and a massive presence swept across the skies above Konoha.
"Hm?"
"Not the Eternal Mangekyō?"
He realized he had awakened something even more powerful than the Eternal Mangekyō.
"Konoha!!"
"I, Uchiha Yoru Kumo..."
"Will make you all regret what happened today. Your blood will flow like rivers!"
Soon after, Konoha ANBU arrived.
Yoru Kumo hadn't yet left the Uchiha district when four masked figures suddenly appeared around him, radiating intense killing intent.
"Who are you?"
"I am Yoru Kumo, a genin of Konoha. I was on patrol and came to check when I heard the commotion..."
They clearly didn't believe him at first, but one of them whispered something after looking at his face.
"You may leave. But do not tell anyone about encountering us tonight."
...
Konoha — Third Chunin Exam.
The matches were in full swing.
The previous round had been Rock Lee vs. Gaara. Although Gaara won, Rock Lee's burning spirit of youth had set the entire arena on fire.
That was what a Konoha ninja looked like. That was what youth looked like.
The crowd was still buzzing with excitement when the next match was announced.
"Next round — Match 10!"
"Contestants: Konoha's Yoru Kumo!" "Konoha's Choji Akimichi!"
As the two appeared on opposite sides of the arena, a blinding white light suddenly engulfed them. One second later, the light vanished — along with both fighters.
They were gone.
Even Kakashi and the other jonin looked stunned. The entire stadium fell silent.
Just as confusion spread, an ancient, majestic aura spread across the entire shinobi world — even reaching the Pure Land.
Accompanied by a thunderous bell-like sound, a massive structure materialized in the sky.
It was surrounded by five enormous pillars, each carved with dragon and phoenix patterns never seen before in the shinobi world.
[Welcome to the Arena!]
[Fighters: Choji Akimichi!]
[Uchiha Yoru Kumo!]