Chapter One : Prologue Begins
To grasp the history of Whirlpool, one must delve into the origins of chakra, birthed by Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, the progenitor of chakra. Kaguya bore two known sons: Hagoromo, later revered as the Sage of the Six Paths, and Hamura. Hagoromo was a beacon of peace who introduced chakra to humanity, leading to the flourishing of ninjutsu, clans, and the foundational ninja villages. His lineage bifurcated into the Senju and Uchiha clans, two factions pivotal in the annals of shinobi history.
Hamura, embodying a stern but just demeanor, played a crucial role in his mother's downfall and subsequently chose a solitary vigil, guarding her sealed remains on the moon. His descendants formed the stoic Hyūga clan.
Less known is the tale of a third sibling, a firstborn expunged from the annals of history, a deity-like figure who rejected Kaguya's philosophy. This enigmatic son viewed the world through a lens of balance and non-intervention, a stark contrast to his mother's tyranny. His response to the chaos wrought by his mother's creation, the monstrous Ten-Tails, was the genesis of Fuinjutsu, the art of sealing. He vanquished the Ten-Tails, confining its chakra into nine distinct forms and sequestering its body within the moon, thereby establishing his lineage as the Uzumaki clan, known for their unparalleled sealing techniques.
As generations passed, the era of the ninja villages dawned with the formation of Konohagakure through the alliance of Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara. This village set a precedent, leading to the establishment of the Five Great Nations. Yet, the fragile peace was soon shattered by the Third Great Ninja War, an era marked by the utilization of Tailed Beasts—creations of the nameless son—as weapons.
Though the revelation, that the Uzumaki could counter these formidable 'weapons', plunged the world into fresh turmoil, setting the stage for a conflict that would test the very foundations of the ninja world.
Within a high-stakes meeting unfolded in a dimly lit war room. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, presided over the gathering with Danzo, the formidable head of his Anbu, at his side. Across from them sat Ashina Uzumaki, the revered leader of Uzushiogakure, flanked by his stern brother Azashiro. The relentless warfare against Suna, Kiri, Iwa, and Kumo had driven both Konoha and Uzushiogakure into desperate straits.
Danzo whispered urgently to Hiruzen, prompting the Hokage to break the tense silence. "Lord Ashina, thank you for your swift response to our call. Our villages face grave threats; the Uzumaki are targeted relentlessly. Konoha is prepared to extend protection to your people," Hiruzen declared solemnly.
Azashiro, skepticism etched across his face, questioned sharply, "And what does Konoha expect in return for this protection?"
Before Azashiro could continue, Danzo's hand twitched in annoyance at the perceived insolence, but Hiruzen's raised hand halted any further escalation. Taking a deep breath, Hiruzen revealed the crux of their request. "We propose that Kushina Uzumaki become the new jinchūriki for the Nine-Tails. With Lady Mito no longer able to bear the burden, and the war draining our resources, we desperately need a strong host to prevent another catastrophe."
Silence enveloped the room as the gravity of the request sank in. Ashina remained stoic, though his eyes briefly betrayed his pain. Azashiro, unable to contain his outrage, slammed his fist down and stood, his voice laced with fury. "You dare suggest we sacrifice Kushina, one of our own, for your village's safety? This is an outrage!"
"Know your place," Danzo snapped back, but Hiruzen's calm demeanor prevailed as he addressed Ashina directly, bypassing Azashiro's wrath. "I understand the magnitude of this sacrifice. However, without a strong jinchūriki, the threat of the Nine-Tails looms over us all. Our alliance, our survival, depends on mutual sacrifices."
"And if we refuse? How can we trust Konoha to protect Uzushio?" Ashina questioned, his voice tinged with both skepticism and a trace of desperation.
"Our bond is founded on trust and necessity," Hiruzen assured. "But I must be clear—without a new jinchūriki, our ability to defend ourselves and support our allies diminishes significantly."
Azashiro bristled, "You speak of sacrifice, yet it seems it's always Uzushio that must pay the higher price. This isn't an alliance; it's coercion."
Attempting to soothe tensions, Ashina signaled Azashiro to sit and weighed their grim options aloud. "This decision is not just about power—it concerns the future of Uzushio, and our very survival. Give us time to deliberate."
Ashina then looked deeply into Hiruzen's eyes. "We will consider your proposal, Lord Hokage. But know this: if we agree, it will be because we see no other choice, not because we are willing."
Hiruzen stood, signaling the end of the meeting. "I ask for your decision soon. This war waits for no one."
Soon both Hiruzen and Danzo left the room.
As the Uzumaki brothers left the room, Azashiro turned to Ashina, his voice a harsh tone. "We cannot give them Kushina. There must be another way!"
Ashina sighed heavily. "I know, brother. But we must consider all options. Our people depend on us."
Azashiro snarled, "Your cowardice comes at no surprise." He spat, which caused Ashina eyes to narrow.
The brother snarled and clenched his fist tightly, continuing. "If Konoha plans we pay for our salvation at the price of our children to be bred and used as livestock. Then I say they can go to hell and take their stick plans with them!" He roared.
The Uzukage killer intent slowly permeated of him. "Brother. You must take heed to the words you speak. Since I understand your displeasure, I'll tolerate your disrespect for now. Don't push it, I'm still your Kage." Ashina said, warningly. Exiting the building Ashina flared his chakra, causing the Fuinjutsu tag to glow and both disappeared into Uzu.
⁂
In the somber confines of his office, Azashiro Uzumaki stood silently, his body tense with suppressed rage. The weight of the recent meeting's decisions hung heavily in the air. Interrupting his brooding, Fūka Uzumaki, his apprentice, entered the room. She was a striking figure, her tall, curvaceous frame topped with flowing maroon hair, her blue eyes wide with concern beneath a single beauty mark.
"My lord, what troubles you?" Fūka asked softly, her voice tinged with worry.
Azashiro turned to face her, his expression a mixture of despair and determination. "The council has decided," he began heavily, "To use little Kushina as a bargaining chip in their political maneuvers. Despite my efforts, she may face a harsh future. I fear for what lies ahead."
Fūka's reaction was visceral; her eyes filled with tears as she struggled to maintain composure. "Kushina...my daughter," she murmured, her voice breaking. "Is there truly no other way? Thank you for standing up for her."
Azashiro's gaze hardened, his voice firm with resolve. "It may be enough for you, Fūka, but it is not enough for me. I am prepared to go to great lengths to protect our clan, even if it means defying death itself."
Fūka gasped, understanding the gravity of his words. "You can't mean... the reaper death seal? What can you give a God of death for he to aid the clan? Tampering with such forbidden Ninjutsu could be catastrophic! Do you realize the path you're choosing?"
Unmoved, Azashiro's voice was resolute. "Our entire clan's existence is at stake. I will do whatever it takes."
As fear flickered in Fūka's eyes, Azashiro placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "He has bestowed me a power that showed me the future. I've seen all possibilities and I know exactly what to do. We will be the catalyst to change our fate. Do you trust me Fūka?"
Overcome with emotion, she embraced him tightly, her tears flowing freely. "I... I trust you, with all my heart." She whispered, her voice muffled against his chest. Their connection deepened in that moment of shared resolve, culminating in a passionate kiss that sealed their fateful decision.
While hugging in a tight embrace Fūka didn't feel the Fuinjutsu seal placed on her due to her grief. Suddenly, she became drowsy as the world began to become dark. Catching her before she fell, Azashiro looked at her with an emotionless expression upon his face.
He stared into nothingness while she hung limply in his arms. Azashiro knew at that moment, that drastic measures had to be taken.
⁂
Months Later
Within the Uzukage office you see Ashina Uzumaki, leader of not only the Uzumaki clan but Whirlpool as a whole. He gave his entire life to further building and protecting his village and was made leader of Uzushiogakure over forty years ago.
Under his leadership, the Land of the Whirlpool became a power player in its own right. True, shinobi of Uzushiogakure weren't as well known by the average citizens as those from the Five Great Nations, but the high ranking officials of those countries did know an Uzushio-nin when they saw one. That meant jobs sent to Uzushiogakure were the high paying/high risk kind, the jobs Mizu-Nin couldn't accomplish.
These very dangerous, but few and far between, missions coupled with a peaceful lifestyle meant that there wasn't nearly as much work for Ashina as his counterparts. But that didn't stop the aging man from looking for more work, earning him the nickname Busy Bee. Due to that, Ashina could always be found in his office and he was usually leaning over his desk in concentration as he tried to complete the day's paperwork while stroking his goatee, as if the action was helping him to read his reports faster.
His emerald green eyes were hard with experience and only softened when with his clansmen and their children was around. His red hair was only beginning to show a few silver strands and was usually kept in a businessman-like cut. And usually he was dressed in a long-sleeved, black outfit, with the crest of his village on his shoulders, and be basking in the warm sun's glow. But today was not like normal days.
Today there was more then just a few reports on the lives of the villagers and an assassination mission or two on his desk.
Today, he could not afford to wear such comfortable clothes and traded them out for worn armor.
Today there was no peace, just war, and today he could be found standing over his desk. Staring down at the desk which is riddled with maps of the Five Great Nations instead of daily reports.
The Third Shinobi World War had stolen the calming peace that had once been over the Land of the Whirlpool. And in it's place was the suffocating grip of war.
At first, they had been able to avoid joining into the war, but then one country after another fell into chaos and Ashina was receiving reports of Iwa, Kumo and Kiri vessels surrounding their home. He had no choice but to raise his defenses and call his people to arms.
But now, with almost a year had gone by since he had a meeting with Hiruzen, Ashina could see that his people were dying out. He couldn't keep the citizens or children out of the war anymore and knew that if Uzushiogakure didn't get help soon, they would be at the mercy of his enemies.
And that grim fact had aged the man more then anything else in his short life of Fifty years.
Deep lines of worry and frustration had carved themselves in his forehead and around his mouth. His eyes, though still hard from the war, were beginning to look tired and his hair had lost a lot of it's vibrancy as it traded out the red strands for a duller grey.
That did not mean however, that Ashina Uzumaki looked weak. Quiet the opposite in fact. It just made him look stoic and determined to see this war through. And it was this look he wore everywhere, hoping that it comforted his people. In the privacy of his office however, he let his true worry show. Especially as he stared down at the maps that littered his desk with the latest movements of the enemy surrounding him and his people.
On the top most map, which he has been leaning over for almost an hour already, he can see the latest intel of the war that his shinobi have provided him. With his forces marked in blue and the Kiri forces marked in red, it became apparent to the man that if his people survive it will be largely due to luck.
But Ashina Uzumaki was not one to think highly of luck in times like these. Times where the world is tearing itself apart in war and when clans' secrets are hunted for like wounded prey in a ravenous carnivores den.
Which had led him to his current predicament.
With the outlook of the war playing unfavorably for him and his people, how was he to insure his people's safety? How was he going to protect his clans history or it's knowledge?
There was no definite answer for the head of the Uzumaki clan and he cursed at the maps, as if doing so would change the maps characteristics. His mind worked furiously to think of a solution but every possible answer he thought of was immediately rejected as he didn't have the time or the resources. Caught in the cycle of brainstorming and rejecting any idea that surfaced, Ashina didn't seem to notice when his brother entered his office.
"So it seems the other Nations decided to test the Uzumaki might." Azashiro, the younger brother's voice called to get his older brother's attention.
Jolted from his thoughts by the sudden arrival, Asina turned to face him.
His brother was nothing like him. Even though all Uzumaki's looked similar, this man was different despite the obvious; Ashina being older then him. If it wasn't for the fact that he saw him grow from a boy to a man, he would've questioned the validity of his heritage.
Ashina looked grim "So you've heard.. Azashiro"
Azashiro Uzumaki, there he stood at six foot three he has silky dark amber hair, finely-combed, and it's held back with a golden hair clip that keeps his hair in an upright manner.
He has two long bangs hanging down neatly from each side of his face. He wears a black and red haori with collar that has large golden edges with a unique Uzu designs on it. Underneath his haori he dawned red battle armor.
He is the most ferocious member of the clan and he was the man who rivaled Madara and Hashirama in strength.
"The reply from Konohagakure has arrived by hawk." the older brother said as he held a scroll up for Azashiro to take.
Taking the scroll away, he tore the scroll open and read it's contents with a no expectation of anything positive. His thoughts was confirmed as he read through the scroll before placing the message onto of the maps Ashina had been staring at perviously. Suddenly he kick over the desk, causing his older brother to let a disheartened sigh escape him. Azashiro clenched his fist in anger and shouted to the heavens. "DAMMIT!! I WARNED YOU THIS WOULD HAPPEN!"
Hearing such a outburst, the older Uzumaki remained silent understanding the one will feel in such a situation.
"They aren't coming..." He relented softly as Ashina slowly shook his head in the negative.
"Kiri and Kumo have taken sea while Iwa and Asuma took the land between us. Anyone coming to our aid is impossible." Ashina said softly before standing slowly.
Ashina looked grim "I will bring the council members together, we must begin discussions on how to appeal to the four great nations."
"Surrendering again? Have you no pride?" Azashiro proclaimed, his eyes narrowing at the Clan Head.
"We have no choice. The only other alternative is to be eradicated." Ashina defended as he looked at Azashiro determinedly.
"So we are just to roll over and obey the so called 'Great Nations'?! Honestly that has to be the worst decision we can make!" Azashiro shouted, his blood beginning to boil at the thought of just laying arms down. "Our ninja are not so weak that we need to stand down." He added
Frustrated, the elder Uzumaki glared at the hot headed Azashiro.
"What would you have them do then, huh? Keep fighting? Let more and more children die in the vain hope that we can survive one more day? And what about after the war? If we are destroyed then our history and the archives will belong to the victor! YOU of all people know just as well as I that we cannot allow that!" The older man shouted back at Azashiro.
Everyone in Uzushiogakure knew that the archives contained information that could not be let outside the Uzumaki family, with the exceptions of those few individuals the family thought could properly handle such information. In fact, the scrolls of the archives could only be opened with a small blood offering made by an Uzumaki so most residents would rather see the library-like building destroyed rather then have it fall into enemy hands but to do such would cause such a lapse in knowledge that the Uzumaki Clan's allies would be behind by generations. If they survived the war as well that is.
Which meant that the Uzumaki Clan had to survive, in one way or another. At first, Ashina had thought he could fight the war out and his people survive that way, but a force of Suna, Kiri, Iwa and Kumo were too strong together. The only way his people could survive is if they stopped fighting and waited the rest of the war out, even if that meant making themselves prisoners.
And with that knowledge, a heavy silence fell between the two men that was almost palpable as the Azashiro realized Ashina's point. And this made the silence drag on, as Ashina silently began to envision not just their village destroyed but his family as well. No he could not allow that. Shaking his head, Ashina went to restate his order when the younger man cut him off.
"You know as well as I that even if we surrender, they will demand the archives. And if we don't comply they will kill everyone and take them regardless." Azashiro said softly.
"But if we fight, we will all die and they will take the archives anyways." Ashina pointed out, getting a nod from the younger man before Ashina saw a spark in the mans eyes.
"There is a way out." The man said, his voice steady and determined.
"What do you mean?" Ashina asked quietly as he tried to figure out how the man had come to such a conclusion from their impending doom.
Azashiro eyes darkened before quickly answering. "I made a deal with the Shinigami to save the future of the clan... We will rise again and have our revenge."
Ashina chakra spiked in rage "ARE YOU INSANE?! The Death God isn't an entity that should be trifled with. Even if it does work how does revenge ensures our clans future?"
"You've always been weak brother..."
SQUELCH
Ashina looked down in shock to see a chakra chain piercing his chest, he took a step back when realizing it was from his brother. Azashiro walked towards him slowly as Ashina fell onto the ground bleeding out. Slowly, he placed the death mask from the Uzu Temple on his face, "With this power I shall determine the future.."
The attack came at dusk. It was a festival night, the air filled with laughter and the scent of festival treats, the Uzumaki unsuspecting of the impending betrayal. Explosions shattered the revelry as allied forces of Kiri, Iwa, Suna and Kumo, along with roots of the great tree, launched a surprise assault. The village's intricate array of sealing barriers initially repelled the attackers, but the sheer number overwhelmed Uzushiogakure's defenses.
Azashiro, amidst the chaos, fought fiercely alongside his kin. His prowess in Fuinjutsu was unmatched, sealing enemies one after the other into oblivion. But even his strength had limits. Around him, his people fell, their crimson hair a stark contrast against the dark soil of their homeland.
In the heart of the village stood the Shrine of Seals, where the Uzumaki's most forbidden jutsus were kept. Azashiro, bloodied but unbowed, reached the shrine with a handful of his most trusted kin. There, they enacted a desperate plan—a forbidden seal that would erase their knowledge from existence, preventing their enemies from acquiring their techniques.
As the seal activated, a blinding light enveloped the survivors. Azashiro felt a tear escape his eyes, not for his impending death, but for the future generations who would never know the glory of Uzushiogakure. With a final burst of chakra, the seal expanded, consuming the village in a spectral maelstrom that left a crater where Uzushiogakure once stood.
The aftermath was silence and ruin. The attackers found nothing but destruction, their victory hollow as the secrets of Uzushiogakure vanished with its people.
Present Day
Rain drenched the Land of Fire, veiling the landscape in a heavy downpour. In this secluded region, two hooded figures stood before a concealed base, its structure carved into a mountain terraced with lush forestry. Flanking the mountain were two towers, connected directly to the central edifice.
Penetrating the silence of the rain, the duo entered the base, discovering an expansive meeting hall. The symbol of the Whirlpool was prominently displayed, framing the doorway. Dominating the room was a throne set upon a raised platform, adorned with the Whirlpool insignia and intricate series of seals. Behind the throne, a banner displayed the kanji for "Dragon," encircled by eight spirals. The hall bore the scars of neglect, with visible indentations marring the walls.
This was the Uzumaki Mask Temple, a repository of powerful, enigmatic masks — relics of a once formidable clan. These artifacts, ranging from demonic to arcane, posed significant risks to those versed in Uzumaki sealing techniques. Yet, shockingly, the temple lay unprotected just outside Konoha's borders, a stark testament to a grave oversight. The Uzumaki's legacy, entrusted to Konoha, had been woefully neglected.
Venturing deeper, one of the figures halted before a tomb, his attention captured by an epitaph penned by someone unknown : "Here lies the brother of Ashina Uzumaki, descendant of the Sage, and warrior of Whirlpool, may he find peace in the afterlife. Farewell, Lord Azashiro Uzumaki."
The figure revealed himself as Orochimaru, his face splitting into a devious smile. "Marvelous, this discovery could not have been timelier. We owe our informant greatly. Now, to find the perfect candidate for my project."
His companion, Kabuto Yakushi, shed his hood, his expression one of confusion. "My lord, why seek this tomb? What value does this corpse hold?"
Orochimaru's laughter echoed in the damp hall. "Oh, Kabuto, this is no mere corpse. This is a warrior from a clan so formidable, it terrified nations. This clan is kin to someone you know — Karin from Kusa."
Kabuto's eyes widened. "Karin... she's an Uzumaki?"
"Correct. The Uzumaki clan's prowess was unparalleled, their sealing techniques beyond compare. Their threat was so profound that five great nations united to obliterate them, fearing the might they could lend to their allies."
Kabuto, increasingly uneasy, listened as Orochimaru continued, "Their power to neutralize Tailed Beasts made them targets; their annihilation was thorough and brutal."
Sealing the remains into a scroll, Orochimaru pocketed his prize. "The Uzumaki's vitality makes them key to achieving immortality. Their intense life force on the battlefield marked them as savages, especially this man, Azashiro."
With the corpse secured, Orochimaru adjusted his hood, his thoughts dark. "They were too formidable to be left unchecked. The genetic legacy of an Uzumaki clan leader could hold the secret to perfection."
As they departed the echoing halls of the temple, the weight of their discovery loomed large, setting the stage for a sinister new chapter in Orochimaru's endless quest for power.
⁂
Hidden Leaf Village
Hinata Hyuga, barely five years old, stood in the Hyuga compound's training yard. Snow fell softly around her, a stark contrast to the harshness of her training. Her breath came in visible puffs as she faced the wooden training post, her small hands already bruised and bleeding from countless failed attempts. Her father, Hiashi Hyuga, watched her with stern, unyielding eyes.
"Focus child," Hiashi commanded. "The Gentle Fist technique is the core of our clan's strength. Without mastering it, you are nothing."
Hinata's heart pounded in her chest, but she nodded determinedly. She stepped into the starting stance of the Gentle Fist, her tiny feet sinking slightly into the snow. The cold bit at her exposed skin, but she ignored it. Her father expected nothing less than perfection.
"Begin!" Hiashi's voice was like a whip crack in the still air.
Hinata thrust her hands forward, trying to channel her chakra with precision. Her small fingers extended, aiming for the invisible points that her father had described to her countless times. Each strike was supposed to be gentle yet devastating, targeting the opponent's chakra network.
But her movements were clumsy. Her chakra control, still undeveloped, wavered. She stumbled, her hands scraping against the rough training post. The skin of her palms tore open, and blood began to seep from the wounds, staining the pure snow crimson.
"Again!" Hiashi's voice held no sympathy.
Tears pricked at Hinata's eyes, but she blinked them away. She raised her hands again, the pain sharp and immediate. She struck once more, and again, and again. Each time, her strikes grew weaker, her chakra flickering like a candle in the wind. Her hands bled freely now, the pain nearly unbearable.
"Pathetic," Hiashi muttered, shaking his head. "You are a failure, Hinata. How can you hope to lead this clan if you cannot even master the basics?"
The words cut deeper than any physical wound. Hinata's vision blurred as tears spilled over, freezing on her cheeks. She couldn't bear to look at her father, couldn't stand the disappointment in his eyes. Without thinking, she turned and ran.
"Come back here!" Hiashi's voice echoed behind her, but she didn't stop. She ran through the compound, past the astonished gazes of her clansmen, and out into the open forest. The snow crunched under her sandals, the cold air biting at her exposed skin.
She ran until her lungs burned and her legs gave out beneath her. Collapsing into the snow, she hugged her knees to her chest and sobbed. The cold seemed to seep into her bones, but she didn't care. She felt so small, so worthless. Her father's words echoed in her mind.
"A failure," she whispered to herself. "I'm a failure."
The forest was silent around her, the snow absorbing all sound. She felt utterly alone. But in the stillness, she heard footsteps crunching in the snow. She looked up, her vision blurry from tears, to see a young boy with bright blond hair and a wide, genuine smile approaching her.
"Hey, are you okay?" The boy asked, his voice filled with concern.
Hinata sniffled and wiped her tears with the back of her bloody hand. "I...I don't know," she admitted softly.
He crouched down beside her, his blue eyes filled with kindness. "You look hurt. What happened?"
Hinata hesitated, then mumbled, "Training... I failed. My father... he said I'm a failure."
Naruto's face grew serious. "You're not a failure," he said firmly. "Everyone makes mistakes when they're learning. It doesn't mean you should give up."
"But... but my hands..." Hinata showed him her bleeding palms, the sight of them making Naruto's expression soften with sympathy.
"Those look really painful," he said gently. "But you know what? Wounds heal. And every time you get back up after falling, you get stronger."
Hinata looked at him, her tears slowing. "You really think so?"
"I know so!" Naruto said, smiling brightly. "I've been told I'm a failure too, but I keep trying. And one day, I'm going to be Hokage! Believe it!"
Hinata couldn't help but smile at his infectious enthusiasm. "Hokage?"
"Yep! And you can be strong too. I believe in you," Naruto said, offering her his hand.
Hinata took it, feeling a warmth spread through her despite the cold. Naruto helped her to her feet, and together they walked back towards the Hyuga compound. As they walked, Naruto chatted about his dreams and adventures, his positive energy lifting Hinata's spirits.
When they reached the gates, Naruto whistled at the vastness of the compound. "Woah, you live in a big house like this and you're out here crying?"
Hinata eyes widen and look at Naruto.
"I'm alone. I don't have anyone but I never cry. I mean I never ever cry. Isn't that weird?" He turned to her and smiled brightly chuckling.
Hinata felt a newfound determination. She turned to Naruto and bowed slightly. "Thank you, Naruto."
He grinned. "No problem! Just remember, never give up. Okay?"
Hinata nodded, her heart lighter. "Okay."
As she watched Naruto run off, she felt a small flame of hope reignite within her. She wasn't a failure. She appreciate everything she's been blessed with and would train harder, push herself further, and one day, she would make her father proud. And she would remember Naruto's words: 'never give up'.
With renewed resolve, Hinata stepped back into the training yard, ready to face the challenges ahead.
Naruto watched as Hinata Hyuga stepped back into the Hyuga compound, a newfound determination evident in her eyes. He smiled to himself, feeling proud that he had been able to lift her spirits.
With a quick wave, he turned and started running back towards his own modest home in the heart of Konoha.
The snow continued to fall softly, blanketing the forest and the village in a serene white. Naruto's breath came out in visible puffs as he ran, his sandals crunching in the snow. He felt invigorated, his earlier conversation with Hinata filling him with a sense of purpose and joy.
The path through the forest was a familiar one, and Naruto's thoughts wandered as he moved. He imagined the day he would become Hokage, standing atop the Hokage monument, looking out over the village. He imagined the cheers and smiles of the villagers, finally acknowledging him for who he was.
Suddenly, a rustling sound broke through his daydream. Naruto stopped in his tracks, his senses alert. The forest, usually so peaceful, now seemed eerily quiet. He turned slowly, scanning the trees for any sign of movement. His heart began to race, but he tried to stay calm.
Out of nowhere, a massive snake burst from the underbrush, its scales glistening in the dim light. The creature was enormous, its eyes gleaming with predatory intent.
Before Naruto could react, the snake lunged at him, its jaws opening wide.
The blonde barely had time to scream before the snake swallowed him whole. Darkness enveloped him as he was pulled into the creature's gullet, the slimy walls of its throat pressing in on him from all sides. Panic surged through him as he struggled to breathe, the air thick and stifling.
He fought desperately, kicking and punching, but the snake's grip was too strong. He could feel the powerful muscles contracting around him, dragging him deeper into the abyss.
His mind raced, searching for a way out, but the situation seemed hopeless.
As the snake continued to swallow him, Naruto's thoughts turned to his friends, to the village, to his dream of becoming Hokage. He couldn't let it end here, not like this but his strength waned and he passed out. Not to be seen for quite some time.
⁂
Hidden Lab
Rain streaked the window of a dimly lit laboratory, where a pale hand pressed against the glass of an incubator, reflecting a grotesque grin. Inside, Naruto, now with startling red hair, floated in stasis, unconscious. The boy, once fated to loneliness by his father's decision to seal the Nine-Tails within him, was now the subject of a dark ambition. Orochimaru, the rogue ninja, reveled in the boy's vulnerable state, hidden from the villagers' eyes and perfect for his insidious experiments.
Orochimaru, having lost control of the Nine-Tails which once kept the Akatsuki at bay, discovered an unforeseen benefit—the unsealed chakra pathways surged, enhancing his powers tenfold. His covert return to Konoha went unnoticed, even by his former mentor, the Third Hokage.
His laughter echoed off the cold laboratory walls as he watched Naruto, the culmination of all his dark dreams. This child, born of Kushina Uzumaki, held the potential for unparalleled strength. If his experiments succeeded, Naruto would inherit the formidable Uzumaki vitality and something more—a perfect fusion of genetic potential. The final piece he needed was the Sharingan.
Orochimaru's obsession with perfection was unyielding. Disillusioned with the impermanence of life and the inherent flaws within himself, he sought a flawless existence, a body free from the ravages of time and battle. His experiments in Konoha had been his secret pursuit of this goal until his exile for their ethical breaches.
Now, all rested on this pivotal experiment. The last vial of necessary blood had been used; success was the only option left.
Suddenly, a stern voice shattered the silence. "OROCHIMARU!"
He turned to see his old mentor, Sarutobi, anger etched deeply in his features. "Ahh... Sarutobi-sensei? You've come for the child?" Orochimaru feigned calm, but inwardly he urged the process to complete.
Minutes ticked by agonizingly as the two confronted each other.
"I thought I banished you years ago. How dare you abduct the Yondaime's son! I thought I raised a strong and righteous shinobi," Sarutobi declared, his voice thick with betrayal.
"Shinobi are never righteous, sensei. We seek power. Such is the fate of all weapons," Orochimaru retorted, eyes flickering to the incubator as time dwindled down.
The machine suddenly flatlined; the experiment had failed. Cursing under his breath, Orochimaru prepared for escape as Sarutobi summoned his guardian, Enma.
"As much as I'd love to end this, I have other plans," Orochimaru hissed, disappearing in a gust of wind as Sarutobi hesitated, torn between pursuit and the welfare of the child.
Sarutobi rushed to the incubator, emptying the fluid and gently lifting Naruto. The child coughed, sputtering back to life, and Sarutobi felt a surge of relief mixed with sorrow for the lost innocence.
"Uzumaki Naruto, continue your father's legacy and surpass it. I'll be counting on you," Sarutobi whispered, securing Naruto in his arms and exiting the desolate scene.
As the lab faded into the background, a faint glow of ominous chakra began to radiate from Naruto, hinting at the brewing storm within, a portent of the chaos and power that lay dormant, waiting for the moment to awaken.