Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Naruto was born 7 years earlier, his sister hosts Kurama, Minato and Kushina are alive, Naruto's will be with Fem!Itachi known as Izumi or with Konan.
Longer description: In a dark world where loyalty is a rarity and betrayal lurks at every turn, Naruto Namikaze, known as "The Kinslayer," struggles with the weight of his past and a mysterious illness that threatens his life. His paths cross with Akatsuki, an organization of rebel shinobi, where he finds both new allies and old enemies. Torn internally between the desire for redemption and the inevitability of death, Naruto must face his demons, fighting for what he believes is right, while trying to secure the future of those he once harmed. His journey is a battle to understand the power that defines him and the search for true strength in the bonds that connect people beyond the chasms of the past.
"The most important decisions in our shinobi life always lead us down a path of no return. It is there, in the darkness, that we must make difficult choices, often sacrificing much to achieve our goals. But it is in these moments that we learn the true meaning of our choices."
Shisui's gaze, filled with a mixture of pain and determination, met Naruto's eyes. The young Namikaze felt a wave of emotions well up in his throat, and tears began to well up in his eyes. However, he fought back the urge to cry with all his might. He understood that now was not the time for weakness - this was the moment when he had to show strength.
"I promise you, Shisui," Naruto whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I will do absolutely everything in my power to protect Konoha and prevent another war from breaking out. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten."
A faint but warm smile appeared on Shisui's face. Relief and an unwavering faith were reflected in his eyes. "I believe in you, Naruto," he replied. "You have the strength and heart to do great things."
Naruto, filled with determination and resolve, looked back into Shisui's eyes. He saw in them not only fear and pain, but also a spark of hope that had not extinguished even in the face of his impending sacrifice.
In a dramatic gesture of self-sacrifice, Shisui, with unwavering determination, plucked out his eye, offering it to Naruto as a final gift. Naruto, though hesitant, accepted this bloody gift, feeling the weight of responsibility that fell upon him.
Before Naruto could react, Shisui turned and walked towards the raging river. The young man, in an act of desperation, reached out his hands to try to stop him. However, it was too late. Shisui disappeared into the dark depths of the river, and his last words echoed in Naruto's heart:
"Remember your promise, Naruto... Protect Konoha... Protect the shinobi world..."
Standing on the shore, Naruto felt devastated, but at the same time even more determined. He realized that Shisui had sacrificed his life not only for him, but also for the future of Konoha. Now it was he, Naruto, who had to continue this mission, so that Shisui's promise would be fulfilled and the shinobi world could live in peace.
Naruto's eyes were wide and glistening in the darkness. His heart was pounding like a hammer, and his blood ran cold. He couldn't believe that his friend, his brother, had just thrown himself into the abyss.
"I promise, my friend," Naruto replied. His voice was full of determination, but also pain.
As Naruto spoke these words, he felt a surge of strength coursing through his body. His Sharingan began to glow even brighter, and his eyes changed shape. The dots on his irises transformed into three prongs. Naruto had reached the next, forbidden level of the Sharingan - the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Naruto stared into Shisui's eyes as he fell down. He felt his heart break into a million pieces.
He looked down at his hands, which were still holding Shisui's eye. He felt tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Let this be your legacy, Shisui," Naruto whispered. "I promise to fulfill your request. I will not let another war happen."
Naruto closed his eyes and focused on his Sharingan. He felt a new energy flowing through his body.
"This is my oath," Naruto said. "I swear that I will do everything in my power to protect Konoha and its people."
Naruto opened his eyes. His Sharingan was now much stronger than before. He knew he would need this power to fulfill his oath.
"I swear that I will not let another war happen," Naruto repeated. "I promise, Shisui."
At that moment, Naruto never hated his eyes as much as he did now, because he knew that the Sharingan had etched the image of Shisui falling to his death into his memory. He would never forget this, and his dreams would be haunted by it. Bloody tears streamed down his face, and his expression was filled with sadness and grief.
Naruto stared at Shisui's body floating on the surface of the water. The river was dark, and the night sky was full of stars. Naruto felt alone and terrified. He knew that Shisui was the only person who could have helped him stop the war. And now he was dead.
Flashback
In the moonlight that filtered through the dense branches of the trees, young Naruto and Shisui sat on a higher branch of one of the great trees that surrounded the Konoha training grounds. It was a moment of peace after an intense day of training, a moment when both could forget about their shinobi duties for a while and simply enjoy each other's company.
Naruto, always full of energy and enthusiasm, was unusually quiet now, listening to Shisui's words about the importance of the responsibility that comes with the powerful techniques and abilities they possess. Shisui, known for his calmness and wisdom, hoped to instill in Naruto a deeper understanding of the shinobi world, which was not always black and white.
"You will understand one day, Naruto," Shisui said, looking at the young Uzumaki with warmth in his eyes. "The power we possess does not define us. It is how we use it, how we protect others and what we sacrifice that truly matters."
Naruto, gazing at the stars, pondered these words. Shisui was not only a friend to him, but also a mentor, someone who showed him that being a shinobi is not only about fighting, but also about protecting those you care about.
"Shisui, I promise to protect Konoha, just like you," Naruto said, with a determination that made Shisui smile with pride.
"I promise you, Naruto, that I will always be there for you, helping you stay on the right path. Even when difficult times come, we must remember what is truly important," Shisui replied, placing his hand on Naruto's shoulder in a gesture of support.
End of Flashback
"Shisui... it should have been me, not you," Naruto said, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Of the two of us, only you had hope that this situation could be resolved peacefully. I, on the other hand, gave up on peaceful intentions long ago, and now? Tell me, where should I go? To the left, where nothing is right, or to the right, where nothing has been left?"
Naruto vowed to avenge those responsible for his friend's death. But he knew that wasn't enough. He had to do something to stop the war before more innocent people died.
The 15-year-old boy looked up at the night sky. The stars were especially beautiful that night, as if to comfort the young man and ease the pain he was now feeling.
In the darkest recesses of his mind, Naruto made a choice that would have consequences for the future of Konoha. He stood alone, surrounded by the silence of the night, which seemed to emphasize the weight of the decision he faced. Lost in thought, he recalled Shisui's words about protecting the village and realized that his mission required a greater sacrifice than he could have ever imagined.
Naruto's ultimate plan was drastic, but he believed it was necessary to ensure peace in Konoha. He knew that the Uchiha clan was planning a coup d'état, and that the ROOT organization, led by Danzo, intended to support this rebellion, though likely for their own benefit. Naruto saw this as a threat not only to the stability of the village, but also to everything he believed in and loved.
With a determination that left no room for doubt, he devised a plan to eliminate all members of the Uchiha clan who were privy to the coup d'état plan. He believed it was the only way to prevent an internal conflict that could destroy Konoha from within. His decision to assassinate members of the Uchiha clan was motivated by the belief that the sacrifice of individuals was justified for the greater good.
Naruto also knew that the ROOT organization and its leader Danzo, despite their assistance to the Uchiha clan, were acting with their own hidden motives, which could be just as destructive for Konoha. He decided that ROOT had to be eliminated to eradicate all sources of potential danger.
However, the most difficult choice was to consider what to do with those closest to him: the Hokage, his father, whose duty it was to protect the village from any threat, and his own family, who might stand in his way, not understanding or accepting his motives. Naruto realized that his actions could be seen as treason, but he was willing to pay that price if it meant protecting Konoha from internal collapse.
Within Naruto's heart, a conflict raged between his love for his family and his sense of duty to the village. He knew that his decisions could mean the end of everything he had ever known and loved, but he believed that the true strength of a shinobi lies in the ability to make the most difficult decisions for the greater good.
In the solitude of that shapeless night, Naruto became a symbol of sacrifice, ready to face the darkness that threatened his home. Determined to prevent a larger bloodshed, he made the heaviest of all possible decisions, hoping that history would one day understand his motives. This was his ultimate choice - a choice that would be paid for with solitude and stigma, but which he believed would secure Konoha's future.
Deep in his heart, where turmoil intertwined with determination, Naruto took on the burden of a decision whose consequences exceeded the boundaries of his life so far. He decided that the truth about these events would remain an eternal secret, hidden from the world, locked in the silence of his own heart.
"Let all the hatred of the world fall on me," he thought, accepting the burden of accusations and condemnation that would inevitably follow. "Let me be known as a traitor, a monster, if it means protecting Konoha and securing its future."
He knew that his actions would be condemned, that history might remember him as the greatest enemy of the village he so desperately tried to protect. But he accepted this fate, understanding that the true strength of a leader, the true strength of a shinobi, lies not only in glory, but also in silent sacrifice.
"I will take these secrets to my grave," he vowed, looking up at the night sky, which seemed to be the only witness to his inner struggle. "No one will ever know the truth of what I had to do. Let them remember me as a monster, if it protects even one innocent life, if it saves Konoha from self-destruction."
At that moment, Naruto realized that his legacy would not be written in the chronicles as a tale of heroism, but as a warning about the darkness that can consume even the noblest hearts when faced with impossible choices. But this was a sacrifice he was willing to make, sacrificing his name, his future, and potentially his life, just so that Konoha could flourish in peace.
His decision was final. Naruto resolved to operate in the shadows, eliminating threats with a determination that left no room for doubt. Every step he took, every blow he struck, would be done for the greater good, even if it meant eternal damnation.
This was his most difficult task, his ultimate sacrifice - to become a guardian of peace that no one would ever know, a guardian who embraced the darkness so that others could live in the light.
"I swear to fulfill your request," Naruto said. "I will not let another war happen."
Naruto closed his eyes and focused on his Sharingan. He felt a new energy coursing through his body. After a moment, Naruto opened his eyes.
"I swear that I will not let another war happen," Naruto repeated. "I promise, Shisui."
Naruto knelt down on one knee, feeling weak and helpless.
After a short moment of reflection, he looked towards the river once more.
"Forgive me, my friend... I hope that when we meet on the other side, you will not hate me for what I am about to do."
Naruto took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
Determined to fulfill his promise to Shisui, Naruto stood up and walked away.
In his heart, there was a mixture of emotions: pain, anger, determination, and hope.
Pain, because he had lost his best friend.
Anger, because those who had led to his death had to be punished.
Determination, to stop the war and protect the innocent.
Hope, that he would succeed in his goal.
Naruto turned and walked away, leaving behind only the darkness and the sound of the river.
After a short but intense walk in silence, Naruto calmed down and used the Hiraishin teleportation technique to find himself on one of the trees in the Namikaze family garden. From there, he could observe his family through the window: they were smiling and eating dinner at the table, talking happily. His younger sister, Misumi Namikaze, was eagerly awaiting the meal, especially since her mother, Kushina Uzumaki-Namikaze, had promised her favorite ramen to celebrate the start of her second year at the Konohagakure Shinobi Academy.
Naruto smiled at the thought, but his smile quickly faded. "I'm sorry," he whispered, standing on the tree and looking at his family. His heart was breaking with pain.
He loved his family more than anything in the world, but now he felt like he had failed them. Feelings of helplessness and loneliness overwhelmed him. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he whispered to himself, "I'm sorry," with his eyes closed and his head down.
Struggling with doubts whether his plan was the right solution, Naruto knew he had to carry it out to stop the events that had been set in motion. He had to fulfill the promise he made to Shisui.
He concentrated, creating several Kage Bunshin who immediately headed towards the Uchiha clan and the ROOT organization base, knowing their creator's plans. He jumped to the top of the tree and looked around his village, shrouded in silence. No one knew yet, but something terrible was going to happen that night, something no one could have imagined even in their worst nightmares.
The vast night sky offered no solace to Naruto. His mind churned with the weight of imminent actions. Though branded a traitor would be his fate, he felt cornered, duty leaving him no other choice. His heart hammered a frantic rhythm against his ribs, and despair coiled tighter with each passing moment. A brief spell of solitude brought no respite, only the vanishing act fueled by the Hiraishin, leaving two Kage Bunshin with their assigned tasks.
Torn between love and duty, a storm of emotions raged within Naruto, threatening to shatter his very core. Each step echoed through the minefield of his conscience. Shisui's words echoed in his mind, a haunting reminder of the promise now a heavy curse. The vision of harming Kushina, his life-giver, ripped at his heart, tearing it into a million shards. With trembling hands, consumed by an icy fear and gnawing uncertainty, he marched closer to the dreadful deed. His ragged breaths mingled with the sting of tears and the metallic tang of blood tracing down his cheeks. Naruto's inner turmoil shone through his pleading gaze, a silent cry for help unanswered.