Chapter Twenty Seven: Shadows of Ash and War part 2
Flames danced in the darkness, consuming all in their path. Bodies lay scattered, lifeless and broken, a silent testament to ruin.
There he stood.
Atop a mountain of corpses, his figure was shrouded in smoke and shadow, a silhouette against the inferno. His gaze, distant yet piercing, seemed to pierce through the chaos, searching for meaning—or perhaps its end.
Across the endless ocean of destruction, they stood against him. Defiant. Hopeful.
"You need to end this!" a voice cried, desperate, raw. "All this death—why?"
He didn't answer. The words hung in the air, hollow and unanswered, before being swallowed by the roar of a beam of pure chakra. It surged forth from him, obliterating the protestor in an instant, leaving nothing but ash drifting in the fiery wind.
Then came the chant.
A name. His name.
The voices were countless, rising in unison, echoing through the blood-soaked battlefield. Yet the name felt foreign, unfamiliar. It wasn't his name—not yet.
The chanting grew louder, a cacophony that pressed against his mind, suffocating and relentless. His chest tightened as the weight of their voices bore down on him.
And then—
Silence.
He awoke, the dream fading like smoke, but the weight of it remained. A prophecy, a warning, or a glimpse of a future he couldn't yet understand.
He shot up in a cold sweat, his eyes darted around in the flash boar appeared. "Are you alright Kitsune-sama? Another dream?" Naruto rubbed his face taking slow calming breathes before nodding, "Sorry Boar-san, I think I'll take you up on you adivce later today." Boar disappeared in a flash returning to his position as Naruto's shadow. It'd been a long week, getting adjusted to his position in ANBU, the unveiling on an entire hidden branch of ANBU, and organzing a shadow of the Hokage duo, they insisted on no security but that wasn't up to his father, it was his job to protect Konoha and her interact from the shadows. He stood wrapping himself in a robe attending to his daily routine, his was quiet at home. "Report." His voice was calm but it was clear he hadn't fully woken up, Boar flashed once more kneeling. "Yondaime-sama and his apprentice Itachi-sama left the village late last night to avoid any wondering eyes, as you requested Veil Squad is watching from a distance. But in order news we got word from one of our agents that the Mist Seer is on the move." "Destination?" "Here." He took a sip from the coffee he prepared, placing it down before turning to face the anbu. "Prepare a room under one of our alias names for a week, if we need to extend we will. Keep an eye on her, if the rumors are true she probably knows what we're already doing this." He scoffed, "Do you not believe her ability to see the future?" "If she had the ability why allow such death?"
There was silence."
"This stuff is so bland."
"It's black coffee. You're supposed to add stuff to it for flavor."
"Why do you always feel the need to ruin my mood?"
The other man scoffed. "I can't believe this." He began walking away.
"Wait! Where are you going?!"
"Our mission briefing."
Trailing behind, the man clutched his mug with both hands, dodging and weaving through figures moving quickly down the corridor. "Man, things are really changing around here…"
The lead nodded. "I think it's good. It'll help with effectiveness."
The man shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee. They reached the briefing room, and his companion pushed the door open. Filing inside, the room was packed—nearly every seat was occupied. The thing that stood out most, however, was the mop of blond hair at the front of the room. Naruto stood confidently at the front, a genjutsu projection of key information hovering behind him. The seals on the door glowed briefly as it closed, activating layers of security. Naruto took that as his cue to begin. "Three weeks ago, Hound was captured during a covert operation in Otogakure. During this mission, his unit uncovered vital information, including the locations of key bases, the identities of important figures, and more." In a puff of smoke, a stack of files appeared on a nearby table. Naruto gestured to them, and the operatives stepped forward to retrieve their copies. Kaoru set his mug down as he flipped open a file. His eyes widened at the map of the Elemental Nations within. Circles marked suspected enemy bases, and there were far more than he expected.
"Hey, Kenta…" Kaoru whispered, nudging his partner.
Kenta raised an eyebrow before elbowing him. "Don't use my off-duty name here, idiot."
Kaoru smirked. "But seriously, look around. Have you ever seen this many operatives in one place?"
Kenta scanned the room and nodded. "Not in all my years."
Naruto cleared his throat, his sharp voice cutting through the murmurs. "Am I boring you two?"
All eyes turned to them. Kaoru and Kenta straightened immediately.
"No, Kitsune-sama. Apologies," Kenta said quickly.
Naruto's gaze lingered for a moment before he continued. "As I was saying, the information in these files will disappear once you leave this room, so study them carefully. This operation isn't a simple one. After reviewing the specifics with Dragon, this company has been assembled to uproot Otogakure, eliminate all key figures, and recover operative Hound." Murmurs broke out, and someone raised their hand.
"Why now? Won't this many operatives being deployed weaken Black Ops' effectiveness elsewhere?"
Naruto shook his head. "This was accounted for. The compilation of this company won't make a dent in our overall effectiveness."
Hinata, seated near the front, placed her file down after finishing her review. Naruto continued.
"This company consists of Gamma, Epsilon, Theta, Kappa, Sigma, and Ashen Squad. Squad leaders will receive directives in the field. Upon Hound's recovery, he will assume direct leadership—pending clearance from Siren and Cat for field readiness. Once this operation transitions into covert war, all communication will cease for security purposes. "The operation will begin in Hi no Kuni. From there, squad leaders will have free rein to complete their objectives. Any questions?" The room was silent. "This briefing is over. The operation commences in one week. Squad captains, return to this room tomorrow morning for further discussion. Dismissed."
In a puff of smoke, Naruto vanished.
The room quickly filled with chatter as operatives broke into smaller groups. Kaoru and Kenta wove through the crowd, eventually stopping at a seated figure.
"Umbra! You're actually on time?" Kaoru grinned, his tone teasing.
Umbra smirked faintly. "Seems like you two managed to make it as well."
Kaoru laughed, elbowing Kenta. "Barely! This guy decided to stop for coffee for the first time ever and then complained it was bland." Umbra chuckled softly and gestured to an empty seat. The three settled in, the hum of conversation around them fading slightly. After a pause, Umbra spoke. "Did you notice the new face at the briefing?" Kenta nodded. "Yeah. I've never seen them before." Kaoru frowned thoughtfully. "Must be a subspecialized squad. Considering the squads we have, I'd guess their focus is something destructive."
"Bingo."
The calm, smooth voice came from behind them. They turned to see a woman with long brown hair and a confident smirk standing nearby.
"It's nice to meet you all," she said, her tone measured but commanding. "My codename is Ember. Not very creative, I know, but it suits my squad. We're Ashen Squad—specialists in scorched-earth tactics. When we're done, there's nothing left."
He woke up in a cold sweat. Another dream—more vivid than the last. It was like they were trying to tell a story, each one feeling all too real for the Uchiha's liking. Sasuke sat up in bed, the soft chirping of birds echoing through the open window. For a moment, he considered sleeping the day away, but that wasn't an option. Pulling himself together, he moved through the house, greeting his mother as he passed. Since his father had taken on the role of department head, he was barely home anymore, and Uchiha Police work left little time for anything else. Itachi, meanwhile, was out of the village visiting the ruins of the Sky Fortress. A knock on the front door broke his train of thought. Opening it, he found his teammates waiting—teammates who, annoyingly, had earned nicknames before he had. "It's time to get back into the mission flow," one of them said. Sasuke ran a hand through his hair, stepping outside just as a soft breeze rolled over the hill, brushing past him. They walked mostly in silence, the village around them still waking up.
"I've been having the strangest dreams lately," Sasuke muttered after a while, breaking the quiet. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. How so?" "They come in flashes throughout the night. It's been happening all week. As a kid, I'd dream of futures that changed every night, but now…" He shrugged, trailing off. Shikamaru nodded thoughtfully. "I've been experiencing something similar myself." From behind, Shino gave them a subtle glance before pushing his glasses up. "Well, the village was just attacked. People don't get over something like that easily. Maybe you two should compare notes later. For now…" Shino gestured ahead. "We've arrived."
Before them stood the Hokage Tower, looming in all its glory. Inside, the halls were a whirlwind of activity, shinobi and messengers moving with purpose. Despite the chaos, the mission desk itself remained relatively calm. "Oh, it's good to see you kiddos! What can I do for you?" Iruka smiled warmly from behind the desk, looking as though he hadn't aged a single day in five years. Before anyone else could respond, Sasuke stepped forward. "Something S-Rank." Shikamaru turned to him in visible shock. "What—?" Iruka gave a small, apologetic smile. "Sadly, I don't have those here. But the Hokage might—" Before he could finish, an ANBU appeared in a blur of motion, whispering something into Iruka's ear. The mask made it impossible to read the ANBU's expression, but the exchange was brief. Iruka accepted a slip of paper, scanning it quickly before looking back at the team. "While it's not S-Rank, the billing is about the same," Iruka said finally. "There's a VIP client headed to Konoha. Your task is to meet them halfway and guide them safely the rest of the way here. This is your mission." Sasuke took the paper, his eyes narrowing slightly as he processed the assignment. It wasn't quite what he was hoping for—but it was a start.
Ruins of the Sky Fortress
The ruins were a sight to see in the early morning, crashed down in the middle of the country a couple of hundred miles away from the border. Minato stood in the tent overlooking the examination of the fortress looking for any technology that could be repurposed, lucky the destruction was kept to a minium so lucky a lot of things were still enact. "Alright that'll be all." The construction builder nodded collecting the papers walking out, Itachi sighed putting down the pen. "Did you really have to deny the ANBU support?" Minato smirked taking a seat, "Why an ANBU protection detail when were two of the strongest? Plus I have the royal guard, it's not that big of a deal." Itachi frowned, his mentor really did act like a child at times. He shrugged, from his knowledge Kitsune placed a squad near the border. In the shadows of the night they moved like shadows, the perfect kill squad, the trees were motionless with each step and vibration. At the lead was the Iron Titan, the Tsuchikage and his right hand man. The Raikage followed by his right hand, two jinchuriki and platoon of their best ANBU. Some may consider this overkill but this is no ordinary man, they were drawing near. Han tenketsu exploded, his chakra boiled building up once again and shattering the trees around him, his steps grew leaping ahead as he entered the clearing. There one was, Iwashi Tatami barndished a set of senbon unleaashing them only to bounce all of the demonic chakra infused armor.
He pounced like a great beast shattering every bone in his body on impact, his organs were turned to mesh as his brain accelerated. The natural urge for survival taking the wheel. He weaved a set of hand seals, and Han crushed his skull. His danger senses exploded, his backpack billowed releasing steam into the air as the sound of the reverberation of chakra sounded out. The perfect manifestation of chakra sounded out and with grinding screech of the Rasengan destroying his pack sending him a short distance away, he flashed another Rasengan manifesting in an instant impacting on his chest shattering his ribcage, blood shot from his mouth as the agonizing pain only grew. Flashed a short distant away dodging the large hammer that would've shattered his skull on impact, Jiro Saburo dropped his hammer near the end of Han looking down. "Running off ahead again you dumb beast, you think you've learned by now."
The entire squad flashed into the clearing, A's lightning cloak burst to life his kage robe flying away caught into the breeze. Minato's face was cold, "What do you think your doing here." It didn't feel like a question, but Jiro smiled. "Well, we're here to greet the amazing Yellow Flash of Konoha, and send you to an early grave." His smile dropped after saying that gripping his hammer, Itachi appeared in a flock of crows with the remaining members of the royal guard. Minato's eyes hadn't left them once. "Itachi. Leave." Itachi looked at the side of his face, "What do you mean-" "I mean leave Itachi, that's in order."
"But you said-"
"My words don't matter if there's no one capable of leading Konoha, you're ready." He allowed a soft smile to form on his face, "Plus, this is childs play."
Jiro laughed, "How sweet! But sadly I can't allow you to leave either-" He flashed, kunai poised to strike as an Iwa Anbu flashed in the way clashing with their tanto. He cloaked his kunai with wind chakra penetrating straight through the blade and into their skull, he rotating meeting the steely grip of the Tsuchikage as the Raikage shot across the field fist cocked back. His breathing was calm, he flicked a single of his kunai up into the air weaving a single seal as they multiplied. Time seemed to slow for a moment as the kuani rained upon the field, A's fist, only inches away and with a flash he was gone, flashes filled the clearing and before anything happened the reverbration of chakra echoed once more.
Impact.
Lightning shot throughout his arm but nothing amounted to the pain the Raikage must've been experiencing in that moment.
Then it happened, Jiro unwrapped a scroll slamming his palm into it as a field expanded, Itachi barely escaping followed by a detachment of ANBU and Han. But that wasn't important, he couldn't feel his harshin marks, this field nullified this technique.
Jiro lifted his mighty hammer and with a single he brought it around, but the man wasn't there. He flashed around, a battle application of the shunshin a single jutsu isn't what gave him his title as the fastest. He flipped dodging another swing, then he felt sharp pain as he was sent barrelling away a formation of rock shattering something upon impact. Kuro Taniguchi had finally joined the battle, something wrapped around his leg picking him up, something wet, and with a thunderous bomb he was thrown against the ground. Jiro ran heavy stomps before launching himself into the air bringing his hammer down, rock and steel alike aross from the ground surrounding the hammer as Minato could only manifest another, bigger Rasengan, bigger than anything they never seen. They two constructs clashed, all of his concentration, pain, his wind pipe shattering from a lightning enhanced lariat. He summoned his chakra flashing a distance away choking up blood upon landing.
"Do you see it now? Your death?"
Minato didn't try to answer, they only needed to see his words in action. His skin burned, seals marking his body becoming visible under his robes. Chakra filled him, followed by something else he hadn't experienced since he learned it, Senjutsu, something all too familiar to Kuro Kaniguchi.
His wounds mended as the natural energy refilled his tenketsu, the familiar marking showing upon his body. This, was a declaration, a declaration he'd pay back in body, they'd learn today why he was the strongest.
Hi no Kuni - Black Site Location - Unknown Location
TThere were many black site locations, none as important as this. Millions of the defense budget poured into this prison—a place for those too unstable to release, yet holding vital information.
"Come on, Fumiko, we need to figure something out," said Uchiha Obito, his voice light with patience.
Fumiko Yamanaka, the forgotten S-Rank shinobi of Konohagakure no Sato, strode forward with the same composed elegance she had always carried. After her role in uncovering those involved with the plot against the Namikaze family, she had been granted this position: Director of the most classified detention facility in the Land of Fire—and, perhaps more unexpectedly, a fiancé in Obito Uchiha. Years of experience tempered her features into a more mature form. She still wore the traditional Yamanaka kimono, though many clan customs no longer applied to the prodigy that Fumiko had become.
She smiled faintly as they walked the dimly lit halls. Their current discussion? Wedding rings—one of many trivial topics Obito liked to bring up when they had time.
"I don't really care. You pick, like everything else," she said, barely glancing at him.
He sighed, shoulders sagging a little. "But this is us getting married, not just me."
She stopped suddenly, turning to face him, her expression firm but soft. With one finger, she tapped his chest. "I don't care about that as long as I get to spend the rest of my life with you. Now hush up—it's time."
She kissed him briefly, her demeanor shifting the moment she turned toward the imposing steel door ahead. In seconds, the warmth faded from her face, replaced by the hardened mask she wore when analyzing the most mentally unstable prisoners in the elemental nations.
Fumiko placed her hand against the door. Seals glowed faintly with a deep purple hue, flaring to life as the door clicked open. Inside, a padded cell awaited—silent, sterile, and oppressive. The first thing anyone would notice was the reinforced glass that separated the visitor from the prisoner. In the corner of the room sat an older woman, her frame frail and worn with age. Patchy gray hair framed her face, and her arms were tightly bound by a series of restraints, though she showed no signs of resistance.
Fumiko approached the glass, pressing her hand to it. Once again, a series of seals became visible, shimmering into existence like invisible ink under light. The glass slid open with a hiss, and Fumiko stepped inside.
"Sandra Saito. Member of the Disciples," she began evenly, her tone cold and professional. "Let's try this again. What are the names and abilities of your allies, key locations, and your plans?"
Silence.
Fumiko sighed, her patience wearing thin. "I wanted to do this nicely." She weaved a single-handed seal, her chakra flaring faintly. The form of the now-aged Sandra stiffened as Fumiko closed the gap, pressing her palm against the woman's head.
The process was grueling, as it always was. Mental barriers shifted and reformed like walls in an endless maze. For weeks, Sandra had proven adept at keeping secrets locked away, her mind an ever-changing puzzle. But Fumiko had the advantage: Mind's Eye.
This jutsu—a masterpiece of her creation—was unlike anything even the Yamanaka clan had seen. It allowed her to memorize the neurological pathways and synapses within the brain, identifying openings and remembering shifting defenses with absolute precision. Yet, it came with a cost: the strain of holding such vast information made it a jutsu no one but Fumiko could hope to endure.
She dove.
At lightning speed, her consciousness pierced through Sandra's mental defenses. The pathways of the mind flashed before her like a storm of neurons firing and shifting, but she was faster. Her spector—the mental projection of her invading mind—manifested and pressed deeper, molding chakra to navigate the pathways. Each twist and turn was met with resistance, but Fumiko moved like a shadow, slipping past defenses that cracked under her precision.
Then she froze.
Something shifted.
A presence. An existence.
A second consciousness—cold and jagged—emerged from the depths of Sandra's mind. Fumiko's pulse quickened. This wasn't Sandra's doing. It was something else, something foreign—an uninvited presence layered within the woman's mind like a parasite. It stirred, sensing her spector as an intruder.
What is this? Fumiko thought, her mental projection weaving through the maze with urgent precision. The foreign consciousness moved like a predator, scanning for her, its presence pulsing with malevolent intent.
She couldn't linger.
Channeling chakra, Fumiko tightened her grip on her spector. Her mind honed to a razor's edge, she concentrated a burst of chakra into the foreign presence—a devastating strike of willpower against willpower. The consciousness recoiled violently as her chakra exploded through it.
Shattered.
The presence fragmented like broken glass, scattering and fading into nothing. Fumiko exhaled sharply, her mind swimming as she steadied herself within Sandra's maze of neurons.
But this was far from over.
That's a new defense, she thought grimly, narrowing her mental focus. Her Mind's Eye guided her deeper, twisting and weaving through the labyrinth of Sandra's thoughts.
This would be a long dive.
Hi no Kuni - Ruins of Sora no Kuni - Twilight Dance
This was no ordinary battle. Not for a Kage. This man—no, this creature—wasn't human. His speed defied logic, eclipsing thought itself. The absence of the Hiraishin no longer mattered. Minato was the battlefield.
His senses were sharper than ever, heightened to perfection by Sage Mode. Every strike was deliberate. Every move—flawless. The kunai struck true, and Frog Kata ensured the openings were punished. Senjutsu cloaked him like an unseen specter, reflexes honed beyond mortal limits.
Jiro roared, his steel cleaving downward in a devastating arc. But Minato twisted mid-air, evading with animalistic grace. His blade flashed, severing the tentacle at the joint. The Hokage's feet hit the ground, molding chakra in an instant—a single seal summoned a raging Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu (Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet).
The dragon surged forward like a coiled leviathan. A intercepted it, his fist crackling with lightning as it shattered the beast into mist. He grimaced—his back throbbed, still aching from Minato's earlier strike.
"Enough!" Jiro's voice shook the earth itself. Cracks spiderwebbed outward as his chakra surged, rattling the barrier that contained them. It faltered, and in that fleeting instant, Minato flashed.
The tip of Minato's glowing fingertip grazed Killer B's chest. The Eight-Tails' host froze mid-step, his chakra system locking under the spread of the seal. Minato pushed off, the Hiraishin seal blooming like ink across B's skin. A lunged, but Minato was already gone.
"B!" A's shout reverberated as his brother collapsed into his arms, convulsing. His skin paled; the markings burned deep.
Minato reappeared—a blur of gold—his blade poised to cleave A in half.
CLANG!
Yukito moved. The Storm King's katana intercepted the kunai, chakra ringing through the air like a bell. His eyes narrowed, locked on Minato. "About time."
He meant to speak further, but words failed. A clone—soundless, smokeless—appeared behind him. How? When? Questions flooded his mind, but answers never came. Minato's clones moved like shadows, pinning each opponent down.
Yukito twisted, backhanding one clone into the dirt. But it didn't pop. That strange chakra—it lingered. Minato flipped into a seal sequence mid-air, unleashing a roaring Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Fireball).
Yukito met it with a counter—a Daitoppa (Great Breakthrough). Flames spiraled, colliding in an inferno so hot the air tasted of ash. A fissure split the earth beneath them, a crack that widened before shattering like glass.
The floodgates were open.
A moved, dodging a clone's strike. His forehead met its chest with a thunderous crack. Disoriented, the clone fell into A's grasp. With a violent spin, A hurled it like a missile into another. Lightning surged; both evaporated in bursts of smoke.
"This isn't how it's supposed to go," A muttered, his cloak sparking. Four S-rank shinobi. Two Jinchūriki. And they were losing.
The earth trembled. Chunks of forest lifted into the air, weightless. Trees uprooted as Jiro unleashed his full might—no longer holding back. His chakra burned hot and violent, flooding the battlefield with power. Formations of rock slammed down, obliterating clones in cascades of debris.
But the real Minato was already moving.
Jiro's spine arched as a kunai grazed his neck, narrowly missing the carotid artery. Pain erupted through him, white-hot, molten. His chakra surged outward in a desperate explosion, launching Minato's clone back.
Reverberation.
The sound froze the battlefield. It was the scream of bone and flesh under impossible strain.
Jiro fell to one knee, his body shaking, his vision blurring. He looked up. A clone hovered above him, its blade ready to end it.
"Think—think!"
A chunk of earth hurtled into the clone, scattering it in a puff of smoke. Jiro's breathing slowed. It wasn't over yet.
But somewhere, in the back of his mind, he understood.
Minato Namikaze was not a man.
He was a force of nature.
Hi no Kuni - Moving - With Itachi
The chakra from the battle between the Kage itched at his back like a pain, thoughts swirling in his mind, how he would do things differently if he could just go back in time. But that wasn't a luxury he had. His eyes were fixed ahead, the faint hint of demonic chakra drawing near. He needed to make a decision now.
"GO! At the border, there's a platoon of ANBU waiting. Direct them here and send word to our allies about what's happening. I'll buy you some time."
"But Itachi-sama—"
"I gave you an order, and it's Godiame-sama to you now. Go."
What was the point anymore? The only person who'd ever understood him was gone now—Roshi was dead, and they'd done nothing to avenge him. He knew they were expendable, but to not even attempt to avenge him made his blood boil. Six entire years, and yet not a single effort made against the group. It angered him to no end. That man, who dared call himself Tsuchikage, was nothing like Onoki. He was a bastard, yes, but a bastard who, on some cruel level, actually cared for them. But that didn't matter now.
A single, the most powerful of their chakra signatures, vanished. Was he taught that accursed jutsu? His senses flared, something moving to a halt in the forest trees. The detachment of ANBU followed closely behind. Whatever it was circled them like a mad dog—it was one entity yet moved as many.
His tenketsu flared, destroying the branch he stood on. As he descended into the darkness of the forest, crows cleared the canopy before darkness consumed his vision. The demonic chakra filled his system, and his eyes adjusted to the new sight.
There he was. Itachi descended like a phantom menace, a cloak of crows surrounding him before descending like meteors. He flipped, propelling himself off of a branch downward to the ground. His vision shifted as the crows nailed him like a million needles. In a burst of chakra, they were destroyed, steam rising from every inch of his body. His backpack hissed and groaned, the damage from the pinnacle of shape manipulation only growing. He was running on borrowed time. The steam concentrated into his arm as Itachi grew closer, and with a jab, the canopy was obliterated as steam filled the empty air. But Itachi wasn't there.
He looked around, crows filling every part of his vision. His tenketsu expanded before expelling the foreign chakra. The ANBU were all dead as he stood on the treetop, pain coursing through his body from the tanto protruding from his torso. Crows flocked and cawed as a giant fist of flame descended. He dispersed into the steam itself. Then it happened—static shock coursed throughout the precipitation, his formlessness shifting back into form. With another explosion of chakra, his environment shifted once again.
They were on the move. The single most powerful chakra signature disappeared. Was he taught that accursed jutsu? Wait, something was off about all of this. He came to a grinding halt, looking towards the detachment of ANBU. His tenketsu expanded before growing into something far greater—a compressed ball of demonic chakra formed in front of him as the demonic chakra cloak surrounded him. Swallowing the chakra, he unleashed it onto the forms of the ANBU. They could do nothing. Crows filled the air once more as his tenketsu expanded. Pain shot from his back as the peak of shape manipulation impacted, destroying his backpack with a swing from his hammer. Minato was gone, a distance away. The giant hammer impacted against the ground, inches away from his head.
"Running off ahead again, you dumb beast? You think you've learned by now?"
He sighed, standing up. They talked as Jiro engaged the Yellow Flash, but the Uchiha boy was getting away. He moved to intercept a platoon of ANBU following closely behind. Today, Konohagakure would be weakened. Wait, something was wrong about all of this. Crows filled the clearing, turning Jiro into meat along with everything else. A single crow flew in front of him, the eyes of the Uchiha clan dojutsu visible before his world shifted. Flames filled the surrounding area, the cloaked form of Itachi reaching out, placing a tag against his chest. A body fell lifelessly behind him.
"You're some kind of demon."
His eyes were cold as he pushed Han's form to the ground. His chakra severed once again. Konohagakure's ANBU flashed into the clearing, filling the canopy and beyond, all staring down at the form of Han. But a single familiar mask reached out.
A fox?
The world shifted again—this time, it was subtle. He blinked, but the environment had already changed. Itachi's form melted into the shadows, his presence now engulfing the very space around them. The air thickened, and Han's vision warped. His surroundings became a labyrinth of twisting corridors, mirrors reflecting his every move but distorting his reflection into grotesque shapes. He couldn't tell which way was forward anymore. The sound of crows filled his ears, their cawing distorted and layered over each other, as if coming from every direction at once. Panic set in. He stumbled, disoriented, only to find his own hands not responding to his commands. In the mirrors around him, his reflection smiled maliciously back at him, the grin widening until it split his face in two.
"Foolish," a voice echoed around him, soft but chilling. Itachi's voice.
Han gasped, his breath shaky. His own reflection in the mirrors laughed, the sound unnatural and mocking. He reached out, only for the mirrors to ripple and pull away from him, twisting the space further.
"Escape is futile," Itachi's voice rang out again, this time louder, the words sharp like daggers. "You've already lost."
The illusions shattered suddenly, and Han's surroundings warped once more, the labyrinth vanishing. It was as if nothing had changed at all, yet his body was frozen in place, his chakra locked within the genjutsu. He stood, rooted to the spot, unable to move or even scream. And yet, he felt the cold presence of Itachi's gaze—deep, unwavering. The Uchiha was everywhere and nowhere all at once, manipulating reality itself, bending his mind to its breaking point.
Itachi's cloaked figure appeared before him, closer now, his eyes piercing into Han's soul. "It's over."
That Day the Crimson Demon of the Sharingan was born.
"Something's wrong."
"I'm sorry, I don't understand, Kitsune-sama. What do you mean?"
Naruto sighed as he adjusted his new attire. His dreams—his visions—had only intensified. Flashes of fire and ash, but this time it was different. A battle beneath the twilight sky, between his father and others.
"The Harshin tag on my father has faded twice. Twice, Boar-san. That doesn't happen unless someone—or something—is interfering with the feedback. Most likely some kind of barrier technique. It's holding for now, but I need to investigate. Summon Owl and her platoon. We leave in five minutes."
The battlefield was chaos incarnate. Four titans—Kage-level shinobi, legends in their own right—stood against one man. Yet that man, draped in golden sunlight and shadow, moved as if the gods themselves had chosen him.
Minato Namikaze stood at the center of it all.
Sage Mode.
The air vibrated with his presence, chakra thick and potent enough to bend the wind itself. His golden hair flowed like flame as his sharp, slit-pupiled eyes watched his opponents with deadly calm. He didn't look hurried. He didn't look worried. He stood there—balanced, still, perfect.
And that's what made it terrifying.
"Together, or we're done here!" roared A, the Raikage, his body cloaked in lightning—crackling with energy that turned him into a force of nature. A blur of movement. A streak of light. In an instant, A shot forward, fists aimed to crush Minato into dust.
But Minato was gone.
He flickered out of existence, the afterimage of his form dissolving like mist. A's blow met nothing but shattered rock as the earth splintered beneath his fists. "Damn it!" he growled, lightning surging harder as his chakra pulsed violently.
"Steel Release: Adamantine Barrage!"
Jiro, the Tsuchikage, followed in the chaos. Spikes of sharpened steel exploded from the ground, glinting under the light like blades thirsty for blood. The entire field turned into a deathtrap of impaling iron.
But Minato reappeared, perched gracefully atop one of the spires, untouched. He tilted his head, almost mocking, as he observed the carnage unfolding beneath him.
"Is that the best you can do?"
"Shut up, you damn brat!" Turo snarled, his crimson chakra roaring like wildfire around him. As the leader of the Stone Guard, he unleashed his fury with brutal precision. "Earth Release: Mountain Collapse!"
The spire Minato stood on exploded—the ground swallowing it whole in a monstrous quake. Stones and dust choked the air, but Minato flickered through the debris, untouched and untouchable.
Yukito, observing from above, didn't waste the opportunity. His hands moved in a blur. Lightning snaked through his fingertips, culminating into a storm of power. "Lightning Release: Stormcaller Barrage!"
A thousand bolts descended like a meteor shower, their brilliant arcs turning night into day. The crackling energy set the air ablaze, the entire battlefield consumed in the storm.
There's no escaping this, Yukito thought.
But Minato welcomed the lightning.
He emerged from the storm with a Rasengan, the spiraling sphere glowing brighter than a star, its weight bending the space around it. His movements were fluid—graceful as a predator—and he descended upon Yukito like a falcon.
Too fast.
"Rasengan!"
The impact sent Yukito crashing into the earth, a crater splitting outward in a deafening boom. Blood spilled from his mouth as the world spun, Minato already gone again—a golden blur flickering across the battlefield.
"Damn you!" Jiro snarled, slamming his hands together. "Steel Release: Iron Fortress Wall!"
A dome of unbreakable steel rose around the Tsuchikage, locking him into an impenetrable defense. But Minato's chakra surged—the very air resonating with Sage energy. He formed a massive Rasengan, larger than anything seen before, its power roaring like a hurricane as he leapt above the wall.
"Defense won't save you."
BOOM.
The steel wall crumbled like paper. Jiro staggered, coughing as molten steel dripped from the ruins of his own jutsu. Minato landed beside him, his aura still calm and measured—a god staring down at a mortal.
"Yield," Minato said softly.
Jiro swung. A desperate, heavy punch aimed for Minato's temple.
He missed.
Minato slipped the blow, pivoting with effortless grace as his fist collided with Jiro's side. The force shattered the Tsuchikage's armor like glass—steel against sage strength, and steel lost. Jiro gasped, knees hitting the earth.
But there was no reprieve.
"Lariat!"
A's roar thundered through the dust. He appeared, lightning trailing his every movement as he barreled toward Minato, arm extended and chakra seething. The speed was monstrous, the blow undeniable.
But at the last moment—
Minato turned. Just slightly. Just enough. He grabbed A's wrist mid-swing.
The battlefield froze.
The Raikage's chakra surged violently, his teeth grinding as he pushed against Minato's grip, sparks flying. Yet Minato held him—calmly, without effort—as if stopping a storm with an outstretched hand.
A's eyes widened.
Minato's voice was soft, edged with something almost pitying.
"You're too slow."
Then he threw him. The Raikage, a human juggernaut, hurled through the air like a ragdoll, smashing through rock and earth before crashing into the far ridge with the sound of an avalanche.
Minato exhaled slowly. Dust swirled around him, illuminated by the golden chakra still blazing around his frame.
Across the battlefield, his enemies lay scattered. A groaned in a crater; Jiro clutched his ribs; Yukito struggled to stand; and Turo's chakra flared in desperation, his fury mounting.
Yet Minato stood tall—unshaken, unbroken, his eyes calm and cold.
"This is over," he said. His voice carried through the silence like a final judgment. "You were never going to win."
The four Kage, battered but alive, stared at the man before them—the Yellow Flash of Konoha. The man who fought like the wind, impossible to grasp. The man whose power rivaled legends.
And at that moment, they knew the truth.
Minato Namikaze was unstoppable.
Minato moved like a wraith, a golden blur against the chaos. His chakra burned within him, searing like a poison that defied all laws of nature. His arm darkened, fractures spiderwebbing along the skin as his tenketsu screamed under the strain. The veins pulsed, chakra overloading his system—visible, raw, dangerous. But this needed to end. Now.
He flashed.
A's guard met him first—a wall of raw power—followed by the monstrous arc of Jiro's hammer that tore the air apart. Minato ducked, his mind racing. This wasn't a fight anymore. It was a reckoning. Another explosion rocked the earth, shaking the remains of the battlefield. There was no telling if Itachi had made it to safety or if the Jinchūriki were still pursuing. The entire landscape was collapsing.
Jiro's hammer rose again, debris and steel coiling around it like a vortex, chakra flaring along its surface. His name was legend:
Yukito, the Man Who Tamed the Heavens.
Jiro, the Dwarf Who Shaped the Earth.
They stood as titans, unyielding, unrelenting.
Minato pushed forward. He could feel the chakra surge—more, more—until it became deafening. The battlefield was gone, reduced to ash and crumbling ruin. It was impossible to hear anything but the hum of his own chakra and the terrible stillness before a storm. Then it happened.
As though summoning a meteor, Jiro leapt forward, his hammer cascading downward in a blow that could rend mountains. Minato's feet shifted.
Step.
The golden aura manifested again, flickering, divine. Minato met him head-on, the forces colliding with a ripple of chakra that shattered the ground beneath their feet. Wisps of energy cracked through the air—visible, yet untouchable.
Step.
Minato pushed forward again. But then, the heavens screamed.
"Raiton: Raijin no Ikari (Lightning Release: Thunder God's Wrath)!"
A thousand bolts of lightning tore through the sky, their brilliance blinding. Thunder cascaded in a roar that swallowed everything—the earth, the air, the senses. A colossal bolt followed, slamming into the heart of the battlefield.
Obliteration.
When the dust settled, the surroundings were unrecognizable. Where once stood titans, there was only ruin. Silence reigned.
Minato staggered, his transformation fading, the last of his chakra spent. He reached out, feeling for any of his tags, the faint pull calling out to him. But before he could act—
"Gogyō Fūin (Five Elements Seal)."
The seal flared to life, severing his chakra. His vision blurred, darkness closing in.
The last thing he saw was his son—his boy—standing strong.
'I leave it all to the future… a future free of this system.'
For the first time in years, he let go.
When he opened his eyes, he stood before their old home, sunlight warming his skin.
"Kushina?"
She was there, standing as radiant as he remembered. Her laughter rang out as he swept her into his arms, spinning her around.
He smiled, holding her close.
For once, he could rest.
He could get used to this.
The Yellow Flash of the Hidden Leaf died with a smile on his face.
Shadows of Ash and War END
Authors Notes: Sorry for the long wait, I went back to the drawing board and had to stop myself from starting another fic, I don't think I could handle two stories but the next one will is already thought out. There were some major changes to the story and the flushing out of a character I didn't think I'd honestly use and with that came an entirely new Act but mostly a part two of the fic. I also used another format for the fight and I'm not to pleased personally but if you liked it let me know in the review. The conclusion of Act 2: Shadows will posted before the weekend.