10 Years Before The Fourth Great Shinobi War

The Sage Of Hatred

Ay's office trembled under the weight of his wrath. His clenched fists, massive like boulders, slammed into his desk, turning it into a pile of splinters with a deafening crash. His teeth ground together audibly, and his face twisted into a snarl that could have sent even the bravest shinobi fleeing. His roaring voice reverberated through the room.

"Naruto Uzumaki!'' That brat has the audacity to mock me, the Great Raikage?!" Ay's booming voice carried his fury to the farthest corners of the compound. "Sending me the eyes of my ambassador instead of Hiashi Hyuuga? Is this how Konoha declares war?!"

Darui, standing at attention, exchanged a cautious glance with Samui, who had just entered the room. Both shinobi had seen Ay angry before, but this time, his rage was something else entirely—an inferno threatening to consume anything and anyone in its path.

"Darui!" Ay barked, his gaze snapping toward his second-in-command. "Prepare a letter. No, forget that. Prepare the troops! If that insolent Hokage wants war, I'll give him war!"

Darui gulped but nodded. "Understood, Raikage-sama." He turned toward the door, his movements slower than usual as though hoping Ay might reconsider before it was too late.

But just as Darui reached the door, there was a knock. The sound was soft, almost hesitant, as if the person on the other side knew the storm they were walking into.

"What now?!" Ay snapped, his voice dripping with venom. "Who dares interrupt me—"

Samui stepped forward, bowing quickly. "Raikage-sama, forgive me, but there's… a visitor."

"Then kill whoever it is and—"

Before Ay could finish, a voice—high-pitched and eerily calm—cut through the room like a knife.

"Is this how you treat your guests, Ay? I'm not surprised."

Everyone froze as Naruto Uzumaki, the 12-year-old Hokage of Konoha, strolled into the room like he owned the place. His red hair caught the light streaming in through the broken glass, and his blue eyes sparkled with confidence. Despite his small stature and youthful face, his presence was overwhelming. He wore the white haori of his office, the kanji for 'Crystal' emblazoned boldly on the back, and a smirk played on his lips.

"You…" Ay growled, his voice low and menacing. He took a step forward, each movement heavy with restrained violence. "You dare show your face here, Hokage?"

Naruto cocked his head slightly, his smirk widening. "I heard something about war," he said nonchalantly, brushing imaginary dust off his haori. "Thought I'd save you the trouble."

"Save me the—" Ay's voice exploded in fury, but he stopped mid-sentence as Darui stepped hesitantly toward the massive glass wall.

"Raikage-sama… You need to see this," Darui said, his voice trembling.

Ay's eyes darted toward his subordinate, his anger momentarily replaced by confusion. "What are you talking about?" he demanded, following Darui's gaze.

The sight outside the glass wall stole the air from the room. A massive crystalline Buddha floated in the sky, its sheer size blocking out the sun and plunging the entire village into shadow. Its towering form sparkled in the dim light, an ethereal glow emanating from the translucent surface. The details of the statue were intricate, every fold of its robe and every serene feature of its face rendered with impossible precision.

The Buddha's hands were clasped together in prayer, but there was no mistaking the oppressive energy radiating from it. The sheer scale of the construct dwarfed even the Raikage's tower, its presence a silent, undeniable declaration of power.

"That… That's impossible," Ay muttered, his voice uncharacteristically quiet. His fists unclenched, and for the first time in years, he felt a flicker of unease.

Naruto stepped beside Darui, his eyes fixed on the Buddha. "You think this is impressive?" he asked, his voice casual, almost bored. "This is nothing compared to what I could do if you pushed me."

Ay's unease snapped back into anger. He turned on Naruto, his fists slamming together. "Are you threatening me, Uzumaki?!"

Naruto didn't flinch. He met Ay's gaze with a calm, steady confidence that only infuriated the Raikage further. "I'm not here to threaten you, Ay. I'm here to end this nonsense before it escalates."

"You killed my man!" Ay bellowed. "You humiliated me by sending his eyes back instead of paying retribution! Do you have any idea who you're dealing with, boy?"

"I know exactly who I'm dealing with," Naruto replied, his voice sharp now. "A power-hungry leader who thinks he can bully others into submission. You sent your shinobi to kidnap a child from my village, Ay. Be thankful I only sent his eyes back."

"You insolent—" Ay's fists clenched again, and the ground beneath him cracked as his chakra flared.

"Enough!" Samui's voice rang out, surprising everyone in the room. She stepped forward, placing herself between the two leaders. "Raikage-sama, please. This isn't the time for rash decisions."

Darui nodded, adding quickly, "Naruto-sama has already shown his power. If he wanted to, he could've destroyed us all without even stepping foot in Kumo."

Ay glared at his subordinates, his pride warring with the logic of their words. He turned back to Naruto, his voice a low growl. "If you think this changes anything…"

"It changes everything," Naruto said, cutting him off. He turned toward the door, his haori swishing behind him. "No war, Ay. No kidnapping attempts. Keep it that way, and Kumo will not perish."

With that, Naruto vanished in a puff of smoke.

"Shadow clone?" Ay muttered, his voice dripping with disbelief. His fists trembled as the realization sank in. "A damned shadow clone?! That brat mocks me again!"

Darui sighed, scratching the back of his head. "At least he didn't outright destroy the village like he did with Iwa," he murmured.

Samui nodded. "That Buddha statue alone is larger than Turtle Island…"

Ay clenched his fists, his rage simmering beneath the surface. "Naruto Uzumaki…" he muttered. "That brat will pay for this humiliation."

But deep down, even Ay couldn't ignore the truth. Naruto Uzumaki wasn't just a Hokage. He was a force of nature.

Ô~Ô

The tension in the Konoha Council room was thick enough to cut with a kunai. Fugaku Uchiha sat rigidly, his expression calm yet tense, as the other councillors glared at him. The air was heavy with distrust, years of brewing animosity bubbling to the surface. The Uchiha clan head glanced around the room, aware that every word he spoke now could either ease or worsen the fragile relationship between his clan and the rest of the village.

One of the councillors, a wiry man with a sharp voice, leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Fugaku, you say you're trying to calm your clan, but what of the rest of Konoha? The distance between the Uchiha and the village grows every day. You're stoking conflict instead of quelling it."

Fugaku's voice was steady, but there was an edge to it. "I have been doing everything in my power to ensure the Uchiha do not act rashly. But perhaps the rest of Konoha should consider not treating us with such disdain. We are not enemies. We are your allies."

"Allies?" scoffed a heavyset councillor, slamming his hand on the table. "The Uchiha are the only ones with the ability to control a tailed beast. Like Madara Uchiha! And look at what he did to this village!"

Fugaku's fists clenched under the table, though his expression remained calm. "Madara Uchiha is long gone. None of us have his level of power, nor do we possess any desire to control the Kyuubi, let alone attack our own village. The Uchiha Clan has suffered losses just like everyone else."

"Losses you brought on yourselves!" another councillor hissed. "If you hadn't—"

"Enough!"

The voice cut through the room like a thunderclap, silencing the rising arguments. All eyes turned to the figure seated at the head of the table. Naruto Uzumaki, the Godaime Hokage, radiated authority despite his young age. His face was calm, but his blue eyes held a steely resolve that silenced even the boldest dissenters.

He turned his gaze to Fugaku, his tone measured but firm. "Fugaku Uchiha, I'll ask you directly: did you, or anyone in your clan, use their Sharingan to free the Kyuubi and attack Konoha six years ago?"

Fugaku straightened his back, meeting Naruto's gaze without hesitation. "No, Hokage-sama. Neither I nor anyone in the Uchiha Clan had anything to do with the Kyuubi's attack. We would never harm our own village."

Naruto stared at him, unblinking. The room held its collective breath as the silence stretched on. Finally, the Hokage leaned back in his chair and nodded. "He speaks the truth."

The councillors exchanged uneasy glances.

"How can you be so sure, Hokage-sama?" one of them demanded, his tone laced with skepticism. "You can't just take his word for it!"

"Yes, this is a serious accusation—"

The protests died abruptly as a sudden pressure filled the room. It was suffocating, like standing at the edge of a vast, unending ocean. Naruto rose slowly from his seat, his expression unreadable. Black markings began to crawl up his face and arms, glowing faintly with an otherworldly energy. His once-blue eyes turned into a brilliant jade, shining like polished gemstones.

The councillors froze, the sight of him rendering them speechless.

"High Sage Mode…" someone whispered in awe, their voice barely audible over the crackling energy emanating from the Hokage.

Naruto's voice was calm but carried the weight of absolute authority. "Anymore questions?"

The room was silent. No one dared to meet his gaze, let alone speak.

"Good," Naruto said, his tone final as he dismissed the transformation, the markings fading as quickly as they had appeared. "Council dismissed."

The councillors filed out of the room in stunned silence, their earlier bravado completely deflated. Fugaku lingered for a moment, nodding respectfully to the Hokage before leaving.

As the doors closed, Naruto exhaled quietly, his posture relaxing. He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling for a long moment. In the quiet of the empty room, he allowed himself a brief moment of vulnerability, his mind already turning to the next challenge awaiting him.

Ô~Ô

Obito Uchiha paced relentlessly in his dimly lit hideout, his cloak brushing against the cold stone floor. The cavernous space was eerily quiet, save for the faint drip of water in the distance and the occasional rustle from the two Zetsus—one black, one white—standing before him.

White Zetsu tilted his head, his expression curious. "What's on your mind, Obito? You look like you're about to explode."

Black Zetsu's deep, gravelly voice interjected. "He's probably worrying about the project. It's almost time, isn't it?"

Obito stopped pacing, his single visible eye narrowing under his mask. His voice was low and heavy, laced with frustration. "The Akatsuki is ready. Tsuki no Me is on the verge of beginning. And yet, we haven't secured a single Bijū."

"Then start hunting the Jinchuriki," White Zetsu suggested nonchalantly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Obito turned sharply, his glare cutting through the room like a blade. "Fool! Do you have any idea what would happen if we started now?"

White Zetsu blinked, genuinely confused. "Uh… what?"

"The Nine Tails Jinchūriki," Obito snapped, his voice rising. "Menma Uzumaki, the 'younger' son of the late Yondaime Hokage." He paused, his voice dropping into a growl. "If his 'elder brother', Naruto Uzumaki, the 'Godaime Hokage', catches even a whisper of our activities, he'll annihilate us all before we even get close to Menma!"

White Zetsu scratched his head. "But we have Pein, right? I mean, he's got the Rinnegan and all. Surely he can handle Naruto?"

Obito's glare intensified, his voice dripping with disdain. "You think Nagato stands a chance against Naruto?"

White Zetsu opened his mouth to argue but closed it when Black Zetsu sighed deeply. "He's right. Nagato's strong, but Naruto Uzumaki… He's something else. His reputation isn't just propaganda."

Obito resumed pacing, his fists clenched. Memories of Naruto flooded his mind—flashes of the boy's determination, his unwavering spirit, his relentless pursuit of strength. "Naruto is more than just strong," Obito muttered, almost to himself. "He's… too much."

Black Zetsu tilted his head slightly. "Then what's the plan? If we can't go after Menma directly, how do we proceed?"

Obito stopped again, his eye gleaming with a mix of anger and resolve. "I need a plan. I need to remove Naruto before he becomes a permanent obstacle. If he's alive when we start moving against the Bijū, all of this will be for nothing."

White Zetsu tilted his head again, his tone almost playful. "You seem… personally invested in this, Obito. It's not just strategy, is it?"

Obito's fists tightened further, his knuckles cracking under the pressure. "It's not personal," he lied, though his voice wavered. "It's necessary. For the greater good. For Rin. For everyone."

Black Zetsu, ever the schemer, pressed further. "But there's more to it, isn't there? You knew him, didn't you? Naruto Uzumaki."

Obito's gaze darkened. His mind raced back to the past, to days when he wasn't a phantom cloaked in shadows but a boy filled with dreams and hope. Naruto had been a bright light even then—a relentless presence, always chasing him, always asking questions, always demanding to learn.

The memory came unbidden: Naruto, barely three, tugging on Obito's sleeve with that maddening grin. 'Hey, nii-san! Show me that cool jutsu again! The one with the fire and the big explosion!'

Obito had always brushed him off back then, finding the boy's energy both amusing and exhausting. Yet, there had been a time when he'd cared for Naruto, if only faintly—an older brother figure, a surrogate mentor. But those days were gone.

"I have to kill him," Obito muttered, more to himself than to the Zetsus. "It's the only way. If I don't, everything I've worked for will crumble. He's too strong, too… relentless."

"But can you?" Black Zetsu asked pointedly.

Obito hesitated, the question hanging in the air. Could he truly kill the boy he once saw as a brother? Could he snuff out that bright, blinding light that reminded him so painfully of what he had lost?

He gritted his teeth, forcing the doubt away. "I have to," he said again, this time with more conviction. "For the plan. For Rin. For peace."

White Zetsu, ever the joker, chimed in. "Well, good luck with that. Naruto doesn't exactly scream 'easy target.'"

Obito ignored him, his mind already racing with possibilities. He needed a strategy, something that would eliminate Naruto without drawing too much attention—or worse, retaliation from Konoha.

Black Zetsu watched him silently, his dark eyes gleaming. "If you're serious about this, Obito, you'll need more than brute force. You'll need manipulation, deception… and a lot of luck."

Obito nodded slowly, his resolve hardening. "Then I'll do whatever it takes."

The room fell silent, the weight of Obito's words settling over them like a heavy fog. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but Obito knew there was no turning back.

For the Moon's Eye Plan to succeed, Naruto Uzumaki had to die. And no matter how much it pained him, Obito would make it happen.

Ô~Ô

Naruto sat in his office, the soft glow of the evening sun filtering through the shoji screens. The room was quiet, save for the occasional rustling of papers on his desk. In front of him stood two figures clad in dark attire—Itachi and Shisui Uchiha, their faces grim.

"Speak," Naruto said, his voice calm but carrying the weight of command.

Itachi glanced at Shisui, who gave him a subtle nod before stepping forward. "Hokage-sama," Itachi began, "there is growing unrest within the Uchiha clan. They believe they've been sidelined and disrespected for too long. Some of the elders are planning a coup against the village."

Naruto leaned back in his chair, his sky-blue eyes narrowing slightly. "And you two? Where do you stand in all of this?"

Itachi immediately lowered his head. "My loyalty lies with the village, Hokage-sama. Always."

Shisui placed a hand on Itachi's shoulder, his expression less rigid but no less serious. "I stand with peace. But the clan is family. This is... complicated."

Naruto nodded slowly, taking in their words. "The Uchiha elders must be truly desperate if they think they can pull this off. Tell me, do they actually believe they can overthrow the village?"

Itachi hesitated, then shook his head. "No. It's a suicide mission. They don't stand a chance against you, the Crystal Sage. But desperation blinds reason. They might act regardless."

Naruto sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "If worst comes to worst, what will you do?"

Itachi looked up, his eyes sharp with resolve. "I will choose the village. If it comes down to it, I will do what must be done."

Shisui frowned, his hand dropping from Itachi's shoulder. "I disagree. I'll choose both."

Itachi turned to Shisui, his expression incredulous. "Both? That's not possible. You can't save the village and the clan."

Shisui shrugged. "Says who? I'll find a way. I'm not about to abandon either. Family is family, and this village is our home. I refuse to accept that it has to be one or the other."

Naruto's lips curled into a faint smile. "Good answer." He turned to Itachi, his gaze softening. "Loyalty is admirable, Itachi, but don't let it blind you. Never harm your family, and never betray the village. Balance is key."

Itachi's brow furrowed. "That's not... possible."

Naruto stood, his haori shifting as he walked around the desk. He placed a hand on Itachi's shoulder, his grip firm. "Then make it possible. You're an Uchiha, aren't you? You carry the blood of one of the strongest clans in the world. Don't let anyone—yourself included—convince you that there's no solution. But worry not," he said, stepping back. "I already have a plan to solve this issue. For now, stay away from Danzo. He's a snake in the grass, and he'd love nothing more than to manipulate you both into doing his dirty work."

Shisui raised an eyebrow. "You have a plan?"

Naruto grinned, the faintest hint of mischief in his eyes. "Of course I do. I've been Hokage for years now. Did you think I was sitting around eating bread for no reason?"

Itachi and Shisui exchanged a look before Shisui chuckled. "Fair enough. But if you need us, we're here."

"I know," Naruto said. "Now, you're both dismissed. Keep an eye on your clan, but don't make any rash decisions. And remember, this isn't just about loyalty. It's about doing what's right."

The two Uchihas bowed and exited the room, their minds racing with the weight of the conversation.

As the door closed behind them, Naruto sat back down, his expression turning pensive. "Desperation blinds reason," he murmured to himself. "But I'll make them see. One way or another."

Ô~Ô

The cemetery was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves as the wind whispered through the trees. Naruto stood before the gravestones, hands in the pockets of his white haori, his red hair slightly ruffled by the breeze. His sky-blue eyes gazed at the inscriptions—Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash, and Kushina Uzumaki, the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero.

He knelt down slowly, placing a bouquet of freshly picked flowers on the graves. His voice was calm, yet heavy with unspoken emotion.

"Hey, Mom. Dad. It's been a while, huh?" He sighed, letting the words linger in the air. "I know I promised you both that I'd protect Menma, keep him happy, keep him safe. But... I'm failing."

He stared at the names etched into the stone. "He hates me. Thinks I'm a monster, a manipulative, power-hungry jerk who doesn't care about him. And maybe... maybe I've given him reasons to think that."

Naruto's hands tightened into fists, but his face remained calm, stoic. "The village isn't much better. Sure, they give me respect—but it's begrudging, not genuine. They fear me, just like they feared you, Dad. And the world? They'd love nothing more than to see me stumble, to see Konoha fall. Sometimes... it feels like I'm holding everything together by a thread."

He chuckled dryly, shaking his head. "I don't cry about it, though. Can't afford to. I'm the Hokage, right? The Crystal Sage, the strongest shinobi alive. Who has time for tears?"

He rose to his feet, brushing the dust off his knees. "Still... I wish you were here. You'd know what to say. You'd know what to do."

Naruto turned to leave, but before he took a step, he sighed and glanced over his shoulder. "You can come out now. I know you're there."

The bushes nearby rustled, and a familiar figure sheepishly emerged. Mami Uchiha, wearing her usual crimson and black attire, scratched the back of her head with an awkward grin. "H-Hey, Naruto-sama! Fancy meeting you here!"

Naruto raised an eyebrow, his expression flat. "Mami."

"I swear I wasn't spying on you!" she blurted out, her words tumbling over each other. "I was, uh, dealing with mosquitoes! You know, pesky little bloodsuckers."

Naruto folded his arms, waiting.

Mami's grin faltered under his unimpressed gaze. "Okay, fine. Maybe I was... kind of... stalking you a little. But I had a good reason!"

"Which is?"

She flushed, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her sleeves. "Well... um..."

Naruto tilted his head, leaning slightly closer. "I'm waiting."

Mami's face turned beet red as she stammered, barely managing to get the words out. "Y-you... forgot to wear your underwear!"

Silence.

Naruto blinked, his expression unreadable. "...Sorry? I didn't catch that. Could you say it again?"

Mami's hands flew to her face, her voice a mortified squeak. "You forgot your underwear!"

Naruto's lips twitched, almost imperceptibly. "I see."

"Forget I said anything!" Mami wailed, backing away. "I-I was just trying to help, okay? It's not like I was looking or anything! And I wasn't stalking you! I was just—"

Naruto raised a hand, cutting her off. "Mami."

She froze, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

"Go home."

"R-right! Sorry! I'll, uh, see you later!" she stammered before turning and bolting away, tripping over her own feet as she disappeared into the trees.

Naruto watched her retreat with a sigh, rubbing his temple. "This village..." he muttered under his breath. Then, shaking his head, he turned back toward the graves.

"Well," he said, addressing his parents once more, "at least I've still got people watching my back. Even if they're a little... unusual."

With that, he adjusted his haori and walked away, leaving the cemetery to its peaceful silence.

Ô~Ô

Danzo paced back and forth in his dimly lit underground office, the faint flicker of the candlelight casting long shadows on the stone walls. His face was grim, his mind racing with dark thoughts.

This was bad.

He had always viewed the Uchiha Clan as a potential threat to the stability of Konoha, a powder keg waiting to explode. For years, he had been working in the shadows, biding his time, waiting for the right moment to eliminate the clan before they could pose a serious danger. But now...

The Fifth Hokage was proving to be a significant obstacle.

Naruto Uzumaki, the boy hailed as a genius since his early days, had grown too close to the Uchiha. Worse still, he wasn't just cordial—he seemed to actively favour them.

Mami Uchiha, a young woman with no Sharingan, had become something of an errand girl for the Hokage, running tasks with an enthusiasm that made Danzo's teeth grind. She was loyal to Naruto, and through her, the Uchiha had a direct line to the Hokage's inner circle.

Naruto's mother, Kushina Uzumaki, had been close friends with Mikoto Uchiha. That bond had extended to Naruto, who treated Mikoto with the respect and warmth of family.

Then there was Itachi Uchiha. Not just a prodigy but also a member of Naruto's personal ANBU guard, a position of trust and closeness that Danzo found intolerable.

Shisui Uchiha, another prodigious talent, had earned the Hokage's trust as a key Jounin, someone Naruto relied on in critical situations.

In short, the Uchiha had entrenched themselves into the very core of Konoha's power structure, and the Hokage welcomed it.

Danzo stopped pacing, his fists clenching behind his back. No, this couldn't stand. The Uchiha were a threat. Their Sharingan, their history, their ambition—it was only a matter of time before they turned against the village. And Naruto Uzumaki, with his misplaced trust and naïve ideals, was enabling them.

He needed to act. He needed a plan. Something to remove this obstacle before it was too late. Otherwise, the very foundation of the Leaf would crumble beneath its own weight.

"You seem tense, Danzo."

The voice came suddenly, echoing in the quiet chamber. Danzo's eyes widened as he spun around, his hand instinctively moving toward the hilt of his kunai. "Who's there?"

From the shadows, a figure emerged. A man wearing a spiraling orange mask that concealed his face, save for a single hole through which a Sharingan glinted ominously.

Danzo's grip tightened. "Who are you?"

The masked man chuckled, a low, unsettling sound. "I am someone who has similar goals to yours."

Danzo's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

The man took a step closer, the glow of the candlelight reflecting off his mask. "You want the Hokage out of your way, don't you? Well..."

Danzo's heart raced, but he kept his face impassive, waiting for the man to reveal his intentions.

Ô~Ô

Author Note:

Thanks for reading this chapter.

Drop your thoughts in the review section. Your words motivate me to write better, larger and with more depth.

Till next time!