Disclaimer: I own nothing. The series and its characters are the creative property of Masashi Kishimoto.

—oOo—

The village of Konoha was in a state of chaos, with flames licking at the buildings and the sounds of screams echoing through the streets. Destruction stretched out as far as the eye could see. The once beautiful land of the village was strewn with rotting corpses, burnt houses, and demolished buildings, while a vast cloud of dust and smoke hung over the village, showering nothing but suffering and pain. Almost every major street in the village was filled with debris, making it really hard for people to move around.

From a distance, two silhouettes could be seen standing still above the scorched earth of the forest, far away from the chaos of the burning town.

"Kushina..." A soft whisper escaped from one of them.

"Minato," Kushina weakly responded, her voice filled with pain, as blood stained her lips and wounds on her frail body continued to bleed. "How did things end up like this?" Her gaze shifted downwards, lingering on the long nail that had pierced her abdomen just moments before. It was soaked in her blood and was dangerously close to injuring her child, who was weeping uncontrollably on the altar.

Minato closed his eyes, unable to bear the sight unfolding before him. It was heartbreaking and too much to handle. "I-I don't know," he whispered, his voice barely audible as his trembling lips betrayed his lifeless state. He could feel it, the end was near. "How it happened this way."

"I-I know," the redhead shivered as the icy wind brushed against her exposed skin. "What sh-" her words were instantly silenced by the feeble cries of her son. "Naruto…" As soon as her eyes landed on her son's beautiful face, the sadness inside her doubled. He was just like her. Cute enormous eyes, chubby cheeks, and crazy blonde hair. If she had to be honest, she would say Naruto was her trying to disguise as Minato. "He is just like me, Minato."

As the walls around his heart finally crumbled, Minato's eyes welled up with tears and they began to trickle down his cheeks. "I-I'm sorry Kushina. It's because of me-"

"Psst... cheer up, Minato. It's Naruto's birthday, let's not let our sorrows ruin the mood."

Minato attempted to speak, starting with "I know -" but his wife interrupted him once again, directing her attention to their son with the most heartwarming smile on her face.

"Naruto… happy birthday!" Kushina whispered, her eyelids heavy, as if they could flutter shut at any second. "I don't have many things to say right now," she choked out between violent coughs. "Don't be a picky eater. Eat lots of vegetables so that you can grow strong. Make sure you wash up every day so you stay clean and toasty. Also, don't stay up too late too often or it might mess up your eyesight." The smile on her face widened.

"Make sure to make friends. They're super important. You don't need too many of them, though. Just a couple, the ones you know you can trust, will do." A brief pause followed as her body was shaken by another bout of coughing. "I wasn't great at it, but make sure you keep studying and practicing ninjutsu as much as possible. Also, when you're doing it, don't forget that everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. So don't get bummed out if you're not good at something. I'm sure you'll gradually figure it all out."

Her eyes fluttered, indicating that the end was near. She mustered the last of her strength and gave her son one final smile. "Naruto, from now on, life's gonna get hard for you and will throw a ton of challenges your way. But remember to stay strong and be true to yourself for me, okay?" Another fit of coughs interrupted her words, causing them to come to an abrupt stop.

"There's so much more I want to pass on to you," she cried, her tears leaving stains on the ground beneath her. "I wish I could spend more time with you, Naruto. But I can't. So, please forgive your mother for leaving you this early."

"We love you, Naruto!"

The golden barrier surrounding them disappeared, and the large fox that had been growling behind them earlier vanished as well. Her eyes started to close slowly, as the life within her began to vanish with each breath she took.

"Kushina!"

Violet's eyes swiftly opened once more, only to be met by a familiar face. "Hiruzen-sama," she uttered softly, her voice as weak as her child's whimpering.

"H-how did this happen?" The man asked, his eyes locked onto the motionless body of his successor. This was not the way he had envisioned things unfolding. Minato wasn't supposed to die. He was supposed to protect this village, his dear village.

The lady smiled at the man, her head resting on the altar where Naruto was peacefully sleeping. "The seal-" she paused, wincing at the sharp pain in her chest as a violent cough erupted, leaving her mouth tainted with blood and flesh. "It wasn't as strong as we thought."

Hiruzen was about to ask her more about what had happened, but decided not to when he saw how pale she looked. She was on the brink of death. "I'm sorry, I couldn't-"

"There is no need for that, Hiruzen-sama. There was nothing you could have done about it."

The old man acknowledged with a nod, his head bowing slightly in response. "Is there anything else I can do for you?" He asked.

Kushina was swift in her response. "Make sure to look after Naruto. That's all I want from you." Her smile started to falter, and her eyes followed suit.

"Kushina, I promise you, he will be kept safe."

A wave of relief washed over her, easing the tension in her heart. The assurance that someone would be there for her precious child during his journey was the only thing she needed to hear at that moment. "Thanks a bunch, grandpa!" She giggled, her melodious laughs fading into the silence as the cold embrace of death consumed her.

"Kushina... Minato..." Hiruzen murmured, his face no longer showing signs of sadness. "What have you done?" A look of disappointment crossed his face as he glanced at the child in front of him. The boy was weak. Hiruzen could notice that just by looking at the seal that was shining on his belly. His small, fragile body was struggling to contain the powerful chakra of the fox within. "You weren't supposed to trap the monster in your child, Minato," he grumbled, his discontent clear in the downturn of his lips. "You were aware that he would be born with a frail physique." His hands gently picked up the small boy, who was still crying due to the pain caused by the sealing process.

"That's why we even had a vessel ready for this very cause." The hard work put in for months was completely ruined by these two stupid people. "All you had to do was wait for a little longer." Hiruzen knew it was futile now, but he still wanted to vent out his frustration. "But you didn't," he said through gritted teeth, the cries of the poor baby in his arms growing louder. "Is this because you still can't let go of the teachings ingrained in you by my naïve student?" The old man shook his head, memories flooding back of one particular student he couldn't forget.

"What should we do with their bodies, Hiruzen-sama?" The man standing next to the old man leaned over and asked his senior.

Glancing up, Hiruzen frowned at the crimson hue that illuminated the skies above them. It was a painful reminder of Minato's poor decision-making throughout the entire ordeal. He ditched his village to keep his family safe. That's not how a shinobi, especially the village leader, was supposed to act in situations like this. It was against the will of fire. "Cremate Minato's remains and arrange for Kushina to be transferred to Danzō. He will take care of everything else."

"Burn? But we usually bury-"

A single look from Hiruzen was all it took to silence his subordinate. "Just do as I say!"

Uncomfortable, the man shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "O-Okay Hiruzen-sama," he stammered, and in an instant, he and his friend disappeared from the scene, taking the lifeless bodies of the couple with them. One body was prepared for cremation, while the other was destined for the dreaded depths of the ROOT laboratory.

"Naruto, that's your name, isn't it, little one?" Hiruzen finally took a look and smiled at the sleeping child, who was now softly crying in his arms. He had an adorable and innocent look on his face, causing a pang in Hiruzen's heart. It was unjust for this child to be burdened with a life like this. He was supposed to be free, and enjoy the luxuries that accompanied his status as the son of a Hokage.

However, from now on, the boy's life would be marked by constant suffering, burdened by the weight of being the vessel for the mighty nine-tailed fox. And if that's not enough, the poor kid would be constantly fighting the chakra of the demon inside him with his weak body.

"I hope you turn out to be a better servant than your old man was to this village."

—oOo—

"I'm still confused about why Hiruzen-sama told us to burn Hokage-sama's body. I don't see any harm in burying it, you know, like we do with other shinobi." Jiko, one of Hiruzen's most trusted subordinates, asked his friend Juno as they ventured through the dark, lush part of the forest.

Juno scowled at his friend, his brows furrowing in displeasure. "Are you dense or something? Just do what we are told to do. Hiruzen-sama does nothing unless there's a purpose behind it. He must have a good reason to order something like this."

"I know," Jiko whispered. "But I'm feeling a bit sad about lady Kushina. Even after her death, her tormented soul will continue to suffer." Jiko subtly gestured towards the storage tag on his wrist, which held Kushina's body. "Danzō-sama won't stop until he uncovers the Uzumaki clan's secrets, and I really don't like the idea of what he'll do to her body."

Juno knew his friend was telling the truth. The secrets of the Uzumaki were highly sought-after by all villages, big or small, as each recognised the power they held. He, too, shared the same sentiment of disapproval towards disrespecting the dead, especially when the deceased happened to be the wife of the fourth.

"Jiko, that's the reality of our lives. We're shinobi, and our village is our entire world. Sacrificing ourselves for it is what we're here for," the green-haired shinobi smiled at his friend. "Remember what Hiruzen sama once said? A shinobi must be ready to take down anyone who tries to harm their village, even if it's someone they hold dear."

Just as Jiko was about to argue again, he paused and changed his mind upon hearing something being snapped. 'The branch behind us.' As soon as he heard the sound, he quickly understood that it came from a branch behind them, and he signalled his friend.

In a hushed tone, Juno whispered, careful not to be overheard, "I think we're being followed."

"I know."

"What should we do then?"

Jiko carefully slowed his pace and took up a position behind his friend. "You handle the front, I'll take care of the back," he said, assigning their roles. The plan was basic, and he was positive it would make the intruder mess up, and that's all he wanted. The intruder's slight error would give them enough time to capture and control him. "Don't go too fast, okay? We should be on high alert, you never know when the intruder might attack." His brown eyes blinked in surprise when he received no response from his friend.

"Juno?" With a lump forming in his throat, he mustered the courage to ask again, his voice trembling slightly.

"Juno?" He made an attempt to shift his head and get a glimpse of him, but his mind blocked his body from carrying out the action. It's like his mind was afraid of what he might see there.

"Ju-"

"Did you hear what your friend said earlier?"

Jiko's body went rigid as he heard the bone-chilling whisper of the intruder. "Who-" his words were abruptly silenced as the icy touch of a kunai's sharp edge grazed his cheek, leaving a shallow cut near his lips.

"Tell me…"

Thin layers of tears blurred Jiko's brown eyes as he desperately tried to break free from his attacker's grip. "Y-yes," he whimpered, his voice trembling with fear, mirroring his trembling body.

"So, why don't you show some respect and honour his words, eh?"

His sweat was flowing like a river by now. Never before had he felt such a chilling and ominous presence looming over him. It felt as though the man standing behind him was a physical manifestation of malice. "H-how?" He already knew the answer, but he couldn't resist asking the question anyway.

"By sacrificing yourself for your village."

'But my death will not bring any honour to my village!' Jiko wanted to argue with the man, but before he could voice his thoughts, his throat was mercilessly cut by the kunai's sharp blade.

"Why…?" Jiko finally turned around, and gasped when his eyes met the eerie, red glow of a sharingan hidden carefully behind a beautifully designed mask.

"Mocking her, even after she's gone. Is this what you call the will of fire?" The intruder growled, the ominous red sharingan whirling in his eye.

Squelch!

Countless drops of blood soared through the air, glimmering in the red moonlight, as the piercing kunai plunged deep into Jiko's chest.

"All villages are the same. It's just pain and suffering, nothing more!" The masked man's voice boomed as he yelled.

A sad smile appeared on Jiko's bloodied face as he blinked at the unfamiliar man. "Y-yes, you're right," he managed to say through choked breaths, before crumpling to the ground. His body went still as he lay there, his eyes locked on the sky, searching for something interesting, something that could give meaning to his sacrifice.

"Then why do you follow the orders of these people?"

For a moment, Jiko remained silent, his eyes still staring at the red skies above.

"What other choice do we have?" As the drops of rain began to descend from the red skies, he finally whispered.

"Choices?" The man's eye met Jiko's in the darkness, filled with nothing but hate and pain. "In a perfect world, you wouldn't need choices," he whispered in an indifferent tone. "In the world I'm creating, there won't be any need for choices. Everyone will be happy there. There will be no suffering there. The people who passed away today, these imposters, will not have a place in my world." His hand pointed at the dead bodies of Minato and Kushina.

"In my world, I will have the real Minato and Kushina!"

The downpour grew stronger, drenching everything in sight.

—oOo—

{Hokage Office}

The Hokage office was considered a place of utmost importance and respect in the village of Konoha. The grand hall, with its polished stone and masterfully carved wood, had been the focal point of every significant event that shaped the village's history. Throughout its existence, the office had observed numerous events, ranging from mundane day-to-day affairs to decisions that have sparked wars, spanning both the past and the present.

Presently, the place was taken up by the legendary third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, along with his infamously notorious friend and advisor, Danzō Shimura. Both men were staring at the baby resting on the chair beside the table, his eyes filled with curiosity as he watched them intently.

"It's sad that our little Naruto will now have to experience a life similar to his mother's." Hiruzen quietly spoke while observing the baby as he gazed in another direction with his curious eyes. It was adorable if you asked him.

Danzō, seated beside him, responded with a disgruntled grunt, clearly showing his disapproval of his friend's handling of the situation. "Once again, Hiruzen, you're being a fool," he muttered with a mix of disdain and anger, finally turning to look at his friend. "It is clear that this child cannot handle the immense power of the Kyūbi." He added. "Can't you see it?" Upon hearing his question, Hiruzen's expression turned sorrowful.

"I can, Danzō, I can. But what other options do we have?"

The one-eyed man shook his head slowly in response, clearly let down by his friend's answer. The reason he couldn't praise Hiruzen's reign as the Hokage was moments like these, which only reinforced his disappointment. Unlike Minato, his successor, who had no qualms about sacrificing his morals to protect his village and loved ones, Hiruzen remained bound by his own moral code. Danzō would even go as far as saying he was better than Hiruzen at making village decisions. That's why it was crucial for him to be present whenever Hiruzen was making a decision concerning the village.

"Remove the beast from him," he paused to gauge his friend's reaction and was highly pleased to see him utterly shocked. It was important for Hiruzen to have occasional reminders of reality through his words. "As a jinchūriki, this boy is of no use, so don't look at me like that Hiruzen."

"Danzō!" Hiruzen was in disbelief at the words that had just been spoken by his friend. They were shocking and heartless. "Are you even aware of how ridiculous you sound?" His eyes burned with intensity as he glared at the man, who scoffed at him with an air of indifference and icy detachment. "Naruto is a member of our village now, and that gives him the right to live." The moment Danzō's gaze fell upon the boy, he realised he had touched a nerve.

"Hiruzen, he doesn't have any rights. Not anymore. The moment the Fourth trapped that bijū within him, he became a weapon for our village, and a weapon isn't entitled to any rights. Its primary duty is to protect our village and guarantee the safety of its residents during times of crisis. Unfortunately, I don't believe it will be able to accomplish this task due to its fragile body."

Hiruzen was once again caught off guard by his friend's unexpected words. "Stop talking about him like he's a weapon, Danzō," his glare grew stronger as his anger started to rise. "I know little Naruto has a weak body, but that doesn't mean that we can extract the beast from him and endanger his life," Hiruzen's gaze fell upon the baby, and he sighed with sadness. "Naruto, like everyone else in this village, deserves to live a normal life. It's his right, and we can't deny him that." His eyes, filled with wrinkles, bore into his friend with scrutiny and a touch of resentment as he fiercely argued back.

Hiruzen knew what his friend was trying to say and understood the appeal of a weapon for their village's security, but he couldn't sacrifice a child's future for it. It went against everything his teachers had taught him.

"Hiruzen, there is a reason the concept of jinchūriki exists in our world. If they were supposed to be ordinary individuals leading normal lives, then why would they be labelled as human sacrifices?" The room fell into complete silence as Danzō started to explain himself to his friend. "The sacrifice to create a jinchūriki is a necessary measure for villages to stay relevant and secure in our war-ravaged world. As a Hokage, you must make that sacrifice," Danzō murmured, his cane hovering over the head of the peacefully sleeping child. "Our current jinchūriki is unstable and poses a risk of causing more casualties in the future. This is the reason we require a new one that can serve its intended purpose."

The room fell completely silent after the one-eyed man finished speaking. Even the professor, known for his unbeatable debating skills, Hiruzen, was left speechless. What his friend had just said was completely true, without a doubt. The concept of jinchūriki, also known as human sacrifice, was developed solely for the purpose of protecting the village. The word sacrifice meant that they would be abstained from living a normal life, something that their sacrifice would allow others to have.

However, there was still a part of him that was unwilling to accept his friend's words. It still wanted the boy to live a normal life. "Right now, the villages are at peace with each other-"

"I believe what you are trying to say is that, at present, the villages lack vital resources, causing them to hesitate in starting another war."

Hiruzen made no effort to dispute what Danzō said and simply nodded in agreement. "Yes, and since the lack of reserves is keeping them at bay. Right now, I don't think we need another weapon, especially one made from an innocent child's life."

Danzō's response to his friend's utterly stupid statement was a simple, light grunt of annoyance. "Don't act irrationally again, Hiruzen. How much longer do you think the villages will stay silent?"

"I don't know."

"Then how can you jump to the conclusion that we don't require a weapon?" Danzō's single eye burned with anger as he rested his hand on the Hokage's desk. "At the moment, our village is facing a serious dearth of capable shinobi. With the exception of you, Gai, and Kakashi, there are no extraordinary shinobi left in our village, which is why we need to utilise that vessel." His eye narrowed as his friend turned away from him. "Yondaime made a mistake by not waiting and sealing the beast into his child when he had a suitable container available. Now, you are repeating the same mistake by allowing that beast to stay sealed within this child." Danzō's speech was suddenly interrupted when his friend stood up and walked over to the child.

"Naruto..." Hiruzen whispered, his voice a little shaky, as the baby stirred and locked eyes with him, causing a pang of guilt to course through his veins. "My dear little boy," his heart shattered at the sight of his eyes, so innocent and full of purity, gazing up at him. "Please forgive me."

Why?

"Because I'm about to do something that will cause you a little pain."

Hiruzen lifted his hand, his fingers radiating intense blue chakra, and forcefully pressed them onto the seal positioned on Naruto's abdomen. Suddenly, the baby burst into loud sobs, tears flowing uncontrollably down his cheeks like a wild river.

"Hush now, little boy, you need to bear this pain for just a little longer, for your village."

The seal on Naruto's belly started to emit a bright light and quickly spread across his entire body, enveloping every part of his skin. As the seal gleamed brighter, Naruto's cries grew louder and more desperate. It seemed as if the boy was pleading for help, causing Hiruzen to break down even more.

The reason he was making such an effort to argue with his friend was because of this. Despite knowing his friend was correct about everything, Hiruzen couldn't find it within himself to sacrifice a child for the sake of his village. Why? Because he didn't possess the same level of detachment and indifference that his friend Danzō did.

It was actually ironic if you asked Hiruzen. A few hours ago, he was criticising Minato for being selfish by choosing to protect his family instead of ensuring the village's security. And now, a little while ago, he was in the midst of trying to do the same thing. He was prioritising the life of a child over the safety of his village.

The child he was holding wasn't suitable to become a jinchūriki. He lacked the body for it, specifically the type of body required to contain the most powerful of all bijūs inside it. Hiruzen was well aware of that fact. He also knew sooner or later he was going to be forced to do the thing that he was about to do now. Yet, he did not want to do it now. His heart had this hope that maybe no one would question or care about it. But he was mistaken. If he wanted his village to remain secure and feared among the other villages, he had no choice but to make this sacrifice.

So, after pushing aside the remaining guilt, he directed his gaze towards the baby and managed a sorrowful smile.

"There, there," he comforted the baby with a gentle sway. "It's over, Naruto." The man's words were accompanied by a bright light that surrounded Naruto's body, causing him to cry even louder. Soon, the light started to fade, and when it eventually disappeared, there was no evidence of the seal on Naruto's belly. All that remained was a mark in the shape of a whirlpool on his wrist.

The mark was identical to the one on Mito Uzumaki's arm when she transferred the Kyūbi to Kushina, without having to open the seal and release the bijū.

"You can take him now."

Hiruzen averted his gaze and directed his attention towards the window as Danzō approached him, swiftly taking the sobbing child from his embrace. As the child's cries grew fainter, a deep sadness settled in his heart and tears streamed down his face more intensely.

'I'm sorry, Kushina.'

—oOo—

Danzō was a man void of emotions. To him, emotions were a sign of weakness, and he saw himself as anything but weak. In fact, he prided himself on being like this. His unwavering heart and lack of morals made him the best candidate to make decisions about the village, unlike his weak-willed friend, Hiruzen, who always second-guessed himself.

Hiruzen was a failure according to him. He embodied everything that a Hokage should never represent. Besides having exceptional power, Hiruzen did not possess a single quality that made him a suitable leader for his village. Yet, he was chosen as one by none other than their great teacher.

Danzō was not sure about what qualities his teacher saw in Hiruzen that influenced his decision at that time, but was convinced that his teacher was now regretting his decision in the afterlife. Tobirama gave a chance to a failure, and he did exactly what he was destined to do. Hiruzen failed his village, not once, but multiple times.

"That's why it's crucial to keep that man under control," Danzō's solitary eye darted across the dimly lit room of his office, where his men were transferring the bijū's chakra from the weak boy to the chosen vessel.

The process was progressing seamlessly, even more smoothly than he had expected.

When he first saw the death reaper's seal on the boy's belly, Danzō was sure it would be impossible to open the seal without the key, but Hiruzen surprised him today. The old Hokage had a hidden knowledge about seals that he never revealed. Danzō did not know what his friend did, but Hiruzen somehow managed to create a chakra channel on the boy's wrist that allowed them to extract the bijū's chakra without breaking the seal. A seal like that was unheard of, and that fact alone was enough to make Danzō angry.

"But anger can wait," he said, a faint smile trying to break through before disappearing completely. He then focused his eye on the boy again and nodded his head, looking satisfied with how things were going.

Danzō was relieved that Minato's child turned out to be as weak as they had expected. Otherwise, Hiruzen would never have given him permission to carry out his carefully crafted plan, a plan that he spent years preparing. From sacrificing countless lives to orchestrating events that caused unimaginable devastation, there was nothing he did not do to ensure the success of his plan.

The pain he felt today, seeing his village being engulfed in flames, was something that he alone understood. It was a sad and painful sight to look at, but he knew it was a sacrifice he had to make to ensure the wellbeing of his village and its people. Minato and Kushina needed to die, and so did their child. While he held Minato in high regard as a leader, Danzō couldn't overlook the lingering influence of Minato's previous mentor in his actions.

Even on the brink of their deaths, Minato and Kushina's actions reflected the teachings instilled in them by that man. Instead of waiting for help like planned, they went against everything and sealed the bijū inside their son, hoping to protect him against any harm the monster might have posed.

"Weak," Danzō sneered, his voice dripping with disdain for them. Instead of acting with logic and reason, they let their hearts take control, showing a lack of discipline. If they had just waited a little longer, they would have successfully sealed the bijū inside the planned vessel and would have died a meaningful death.

"Danzō-sama!"

Danzō looked to his side and narrowed his gaze when he saw one of his men standing there, his face covered with a porcelain mask. "What happened, Kanoto?" He asked, picking up on the urgency in his subordinate's tone.

"The lifeless bodies of Jiko and Juno were discovered near the mountain."

"What about her body?" The ROOT leader wasted no time in asking. Her dead body was more important than anything else.

"We were unable to locate it."

Danzō let out a deep sigh and tightly gripped the arms of the chair. "Minato?" He asked, his voice filled with frustration, and turned his gaze away when his man shook his head.

The mission was unsuccessful. Even after her demise, Uzumaki Kushina found a way to escape his clutches.

'It's him.' Danzō didn't even have to consider anyone else. He knew who was responsible for the disappearing dead bodies. No one in the entire world loved them more than that man did. Sure, Kakashi was there too, but the boy lacked the skills to kill two people and escape without being detected by his men.

"You are dismissed, Kanoto," Danzō stated in his icy tone, shifting his attention back to the weeping child. Soon, the room was filled with the echoing sound of footsteps as Kanoto made his exit. ' Kushina, your child will suffer the consequences of your mistake.' With a small smirk on his face, he observed as the red chakra flowed through the seals on the ground and entered the small girl on the other side.

The new jinchūriki was almost ready. The chakra of Kyūbi was visible as it flowed through her veins in his eyes. It was amazing to look at. Why? Because he knew that once fully matured, the girl there would become the invaluable asset her village desperately needed right now.

"As for him," Danzō's eye landed on the pale, feeble, and shivering form of the boy. "He will be forever remembered for the sacrifice he made for his village." He smirked again, his words dripping with contempt, like a taunt aimed at the poor boy fighting for his life on the cold slab of stone.

"The transfer has been successfully executed, Danzō-sama."

Danzō's eyes lingered on his man for a moment before turning to the quivering form of the boy. Soon, a sinister smile spread across his aged face as he observed the infant's last efforts to keep himself alive, his mouth opening wide to inhale as much air as he could.

"Transport the child to the hospital and inform Hiruzen about his situation."

As much as he wanted to see that failure suffer, he knew he could not let him die in his organisation's building. Failure or not, it was crucial for the boy to take his final breaths in front of witnesses to ensure that no one would speculate about foul play in his death.

"Thank you, little one, for your sacrifice."

But that did not stop Danzō from mocking the boy's inevitable death one last time.

—oOo—

The hospital in Konoha had a significance beyond being a mere building. For the inhabitants of the village, it served as a beacon of hope and healing, offering solace in troubling times. On normal days, the tall structure, constructed with fine stones and countless bricks, was typically occupied by a few people who required care and the hard-working staff who provided it. Sadly, today was not one of those days.

Today, the entire building reeked of blood and was filled with the decaying bodies of villagers, shinobi and civilians alike. The once vibrant halls, usually echoing with the sounds of medical professionals rushing to aid patients, were drenched with blood-soaked floors and the lifeless forms of medics and nurses scattered throughout.

There was chaos everywhere.

But even among the bodies and chaos, a room on the second floor of the building stood untouched. A silent and dark room where a baby named Uzumaki Naruto was taking his last breaths, with no one present to grieve for him. His face, pale and round, was soaked with tears as he gazed up at the ceiling with his wide watery eyes, hoping to see someone in the dark, someone who could stop the pain that was coursing through his veins.

Unfortunately for the poor baby, there was no one coming for him.

"Wah!" The baby's cries filled the dark room, growing louder and more frantic, as the pain inside him increased and his breaths grew weaker.

Soon, the boy's inevitable death became even more clear when blood started to trickle from the corner of his small mouth after his desperate cries for help. Drop by drop, the red liquid of death dripped from his mouth, seeping into the white sheets below. As blood continued to trickle from his mouth, his breaths became even more feeble than before.

"Wah!" With one last cry, Naruto's mouth opened, and blood flowed from his lips, cascading down like an uncontrolled river.

The dark room was filled with the haunting echoes of his cries for a while, cries that gradually faded away until silence enveloped the space. In a last effort to do something before his death, the baby raised his hand and gestured as if catching something in mid-air. Though it proved to be of no use, the baby's blood covered lips formed a delicate smile for some reason. His eyes, which were once clouded with tears, now sparkled with curiosity and joy as they peered into the darkness, as if recognising a familiar figure.

"Baa…" Naruto opened his mouth and let out a cute sound, one totally different from the cries before.

The child wanted to say something more, but before he could, his eyes grew heavy as death began to envelop him with its cold touch. With each passing second, the boy struggled to keep his eyes open for just a little longer.

Eventually, he could no longer resist the grip of death and gently shut his eyes. The last thing he saw was a looming shadow, stretching long and dark, as its warm presence coiled around his small frame.

"You will not die, Master Naruto."

An icy voice, one that was filled with nothing but respect for the child, echoed in the room's darkness.

"You will live, because you're meant for greatness."

The individual's eyes, a pair of piercing green, gleamed with a mix of pride and happiness as they looked at the face of the child.

"Just like your father."

—END—

I hope you liked the chapter.

This is one of the new stories I've been working on for the past few weeks since completing Saigo. As stated in the summary, the focus of this story revolves around an important decision made by Hiruzen in the past, which completely alters the course of the future.

Don't forget to leave a review. They motivate me a lot while writing, and also act as a source of valuable feedback.

Also, my lemon story 'Enyu' was deleted, just like every other lemon story I had tried to publish. In fact, it getting deleted was the reason I removed Meishu too because I wanted to focus on something new all together. Something other than lemons and crossovers.

Thank you.