Chapter Fourteen
It was the end of the day, and the golden hues of the setting sun bathed the Hidden Leaf Village in a warm glow. Laughter echoed from adults enjoying their evening, while children played carefree in the streets. The village was at peace.
On the quieter paths of the Uchiha compound, two figures walked together. Naruto, bruised and battered from an intense training session, was slumped over the back of his new adoptive family member, Shisui Uchiha. Exhaustion weighed heavily on him, but his grumbles of frustration were still audible.
"Stupid red eyes…" Naruto muttered under his breath, clearly still upset that he hadn't been able to land a single hit on his older brother during their sparring.
Hearing this, Shisui chuckled, the sound light and carefree, which only irritated Naruto further.
"What's so funny?" Naruto pouted, his voice tinged with childish annoyance.
Shisui's laughter softened into a gentle smile. He paused mid-step, shifting Naruto's weight on his back, and gazed up at the sky. "I'm just happy," he said simply. Then, turning his head slightly to glance at Naruto, he continued, "You know, Naruto, you really are like a little brother to me. Being able to take you under my wing—it makes me feel genuinely happy."
Naruto's eyes widened at the unexpected confession, and a broad smile stretched across his face. "Woah, you really mean that, Shisui?"
Shisui nodded, his expression warm and sincere. "I'm serious, Naruto. Since I've taken you in, I want you to think of me as your older brother. Someone you can count on, no matter what."
Naruto's heart swelled with joy. "Thanks, Shisui. I promise I—"
But then, the world began to distort. The vibrant warmth of the sunset faded, and the peaceful streets of the Uchiha compound twisted into a shadowy, warped reality. Naruto's smile evaporated, replaced by a look of fear and confusion.
Everything changed.
Shisui stood at the edge of the Naka River, his posture calm despite the grim reality surrounding him. His eyes—both of them—were gone, blood trailing from his eyelids and staining his pale face. His body bore the unmistakable signs of poisoning, the substance eating away at his strength. Yet, despite everything, his expression remained serene, almost peaceful, as if he had accepted his fate.
"I'm sorry, Naruto," Shisui said, his voice calm yet heavy with emotion. "Danzo took one of my eyes, and in my condition, giving you the other is the only way I can protect you now."
Naruto stood frozen, trembling as he tried to comprehend what was happening. "Shisui… no… please…" he managed to stammer, his voice choked with despair.
Shisui smiled softly, his lips curving into a gentle farewell. "Naruto, live a good life. Grow up to be the best man you can be. Please promise me that."
Tears streamed down Naruto's face as he shook his head violently, his small hands trembling as they reached out. "No! Brother, don't! I can't—please don't leave me!"
Shisui's smile deepened, his resolve unwavering. "I'm sorry, little brother. But you can't stop fate." He paused, the weight of his words sinking into the silence. "I'll miss you, Naruto. You were my family."
And then he fell.
"No!" Naruto screamed, his voice echoing in the emptiness as he lunged forward. His hand stretched out desperately, but it was too late. Shisui disappeared into the abyss below, his body swallowed by the dark waters of the Naka River.
"SHISUI!!!" Naruto's cry tore through the silence, raw and filled with anguish.
Overwhelmed by grief and fury, Naruto slammed his fists into the ground, his knuckles bruising as he tried to make sense of the unbearable loss. His footing slipped, and before he realized it, he too was falling. The darkness rushed up to meet him, consuming him as his scream echoed one final time.
"Shisui…" he whispered into the void, his voice breaking as the abyss claimed him.
XXX
Naruto floated in an abyss, aimless and adrift in an overwhelming void. Darkness surrounded him, pressing down from all sides, and yet within the blackness, his right eye—once vibrant blue—was now devoid of life. His left sharingan eye, however, pulsed violently, its crimson hue glowing fiercely, a beacon in the void.
Then, grotesquely, the pupil of his left eye began to split, fragmenting and morphing no longer looking like the original form. Slowly, two distinct red irises formed within the eye, pulsating with raw, otherworldly energy. The eye, already glowing with power, now seemed to respond, its presence transcending the very boundaries of sight. The red irises gleamed brighter, piercing the infinite darkness with an awareness that extended beyond reality itself.
The void around Naruto quaked and shuddered, vibrating madly as if unable to contain the power awakening within him. Suddenly, hundreds—no, thousands—of shadowy hands erupted from the unseen depths below. The arms were long and grotesque, and at their ends were faceless beings cloaked in darkness. Their forms shimmered, undefined, yet vibrant red hair flowed from each of their heads like a crimson tide, creating an ocean of scarlet beneath Naruto.
The red glow from his left eye pulsed harder, matching the rhythm of his heartbeat. His form began to shift, grotesquely reversing through the stages of his life. First, he was a boy. Then a toddler. Then a baby. He regressed further still—a fetus, then a single, pulsing cell in the void. The cell throbbed as if filled with purpose, slowly evolving, reforming. A new infant took shape, fragile yet unbroken.
One of the faceless red-haired beings emerged from the mass, its presence towering and divine. The darkness melted away from its form, revealing the radiant figure of Kushina Uzumaki. Her flowing red hair glowed like fire, and her serene smile radiated warmth. She cradled the infant Naruto in her arms, her hands glowing softly as if shielding him from the void's unrelenting pull.
The infant Naruto was lifeless—blind, deaf, mute, and paralyzed. Yet Kushina held him as if he were the most precious thing in existence. She did not waver; her eyes spoke of certainty. She knew he would survive. Slowly, her glowing figure began to dissolve, her essence flowing into the child in her arms. Her love, her chakra, her hopes and dreams—all of her experiences—poured into Naruto, becoming one with him.
The void responded to this act of union. The hands that had erupted from the shadows now glowed with brilliant light. Chains made of golden chakra erupted from their grasp, snaking toward Naruto. One by one, the chains latched onto him, not as bindings but as lifelines. Each chain pulsed with energy, feeding the boy the collective strength, knowledge, and will of countless souls.
Naruto began to awaken, his senses returning one by one. His sight, his hearing, his voice—all restored as the chains pushed him upward, propelling him toward consciousness. His body aged with each passing moment, his form growing stronger, more defined.
The void was no longer silent.
"U…
Zu…
Ma…
Ki…"
The chant reverberated through the void, a cry of unity from the thousands of voices surrounding him. The sound carried him higher, the power behind it lifting him further from the darkness. Naruto now stood at his prime—taller, older, his body radiating strength. His eyes remained closed, but the voices grew louder, urging him forward.
"U…
Zu…
Ma…
Ki…"
The chant turned into a cry of jubilation, but as the joy of the countless souls washed over him, so too did their sorrow. He felt their despair, the anger of betrayal, the crushing grief of annihilation during the Third Great Shinobi War. The emotions surged within him, intertwining with the overwhelming hope they now pinned on him—their king reborn.
Silence fell as Naruto's eyes slowly opened.
His left eye gleamed with power, its crimson glow brighter than ever. But it was his right eye that was still shadowed by the void of darkness showing an incomplete being. The eye now bore multiple red irises, layered like rings, spinning with an intensity that seemed to pierce the fabric of existence itself. The void trembled beneath his gaze, the once-overwhelming darkness now yielding to his presence.
Visions flooded his mind, memories of an entire people. He saw their joy, their triumphs, their pain, and their betrayal. He saw Uzushio rise and fall, its people sacrificed in the flames of war. He felt the weight of their collective anguish but also their unwavering hope—a hope that now rested solely on his shoulders.
Naruto's lone eye focused, and with it, the void stilled. His voice, steady and resolute, echoed through the silence.
"I see now. I understand."
The chains around him pulsed once more, their light bright and unyielding as they solidified his purpose. The void no longer held him. It was now a part of him.
Naruto Uzumaki had risen, not just as himself but as the embodiment of his people's will.
"No more dreaming."
Root Base
The dimly lit Root base was cloaked in oppressive silence, broken only by the faint hum of chakra-laden air. Danzo Shimura stood stiffly, his calculating eyes narrowing as he stared at the figure emerging from the shadows. His breath hitched momentarily as Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped into the light, fully adorned in his battle gear. At his side stood Enma, the Monkey King, in his menacing form, ready to transform at his master's command.
"You think I wouldn't notice your scheming, old friend?" Hiruzen's voice cut through the tension, sharp and unyielding. The weight of authority rang clear in his tone. "Tell me, Danzo, what are you planning this time? You cannot hide in the shadows forever."
Danzo's expression barely flickered, but internally, his mind raced. His position was compromised, and Hiruzen's sudden appearance confirmed his worst fears. Yet, he remained composed, his voice measured as he responded, "Are you accusing me of treachery, Hiruzen? After all I've done for Konoha?"
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on the staff in his hand. "Don't insult my intelligence, Danzo. I've turned a blind eye to your machinations for far too long, hoping you would eventually see reason. But this—your obsession with controlling the village—has gone too far. Root, your experiments, the massacre of the Uchiha clan, your theft of the Sharingan… it all ends today."
A dangerous silence stretched between them, and then Danzo spoke, his voice cold and laced with bitterness. "You speak of control, Hiruzen, but look around you. The village is weak because of your sentimentality. You coddle them, and in doing so, you doom Konoha to stagnation. Leadership requires strength, not blind compassion."
"And strength without wisdom is tyranny," Hiruzen retorted sharply. "You would turn Konoha into a shadow of itself, a place ruled by fear and oppression, rather than the Will of Fire."
"Your version of the Will of Fire is a fantasy," Danzo sneered, his voice rising. "It is a weakness that has blinded you to the realities of the world. Do you think peace is achieved through kindness? No, Hiruzen. It is achieved through power—unyielding, undeniable power. And I am the one who has done what was necessary while you sat idly by."
Hiruzen's patience snapped. "Enough of your lies and self-justifications. Your ambitions have poisoned this village long enough." With a single motion, he raised Enma, who transformed into his adamantine staff with a growl. "This ends now, Danzo."
Danzo's expression darkened. "So be it."
The tension was palpable as two former comrades prepared to settle a bitter rivalry. Hiruzen Sarutobi stood with his adamantine staff, his expression stern yet resolute. Across from him, Danzo Shimura, his grotesque arm of Sharingan exposed, glared with the cold intensity of a man whose ambition knew no bounds.
The silence shattered as Danzo charged forward, a kunai in hand. Hiruzen met him in a flash, the heavy staff swinging with precision.
CLANG
The sound of metal against adamantine echoed in the underground chamber, sparks flying from each collision. They moved with blinding speed, their decades of experience on full display.
Danzo's movements were sharp and calculated, his kunai dancing dangerously close to Hiruzen's defenses. Yet the Hokage was no novice. He parried with swift rotations of his staff, deflecting each strike while maintaining perfect balance. Their taijutsu bout intensified as they exchanged blows, the staff clashing against Danzo's kunai in rapid succession.
But Danzo's cunning emerged. He feigned a high slash, then spun low, sweeping Hiruzen's legs. The Hokage staggered but recovered, vaulting over a follow-up strike. The battle's tempo quickened, with Danzo's kunai locking against Hiruzen's staff in a test of raw strength. With a burst of effort, Danzo shoved the staff aside, driving Hiruzen back.
"You can't win with brute strength alone, Hiruzen," Danzo sneered, lunging forward.
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed as he gripped his staff tighter. "Strength isn't all I have, old friend."
The Hokage retaliated with a sudden sweep, forcing Danzo to leap back. But Danzo's smirk widened as he weaved signs midair, his voice echoing in the chamber.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!"
Danzo's kunai shimmered as it extended with wind chakra, the sharpness cutting through the very air. Hiruzen eyes narrowed as he countered with a flurry of precise staff strikes, but the amplified kunai sliced through the adamantine staff's tip. Seeing this, Danzo pressed his advantage, forcing Hiruzen onto the defensive.
Realizing the tide was shifting, Hiruzen backflipped to gain distance, weaving hand signs as he landed. "Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet!"
A massive torrent of flame erupted from Hiruzen's mouth, roaring toward Danzo. But the elder Root leader was ready. "Wind Release: Vacuum Blade Wave!"
Danzo swung his wind-charged kunai, creating a powerful gale that dispersed the fire mid-flight. The two elements clashed violently, filling the room with smoke and embers.
"You're going to lose, Danzo," Hiruzen said, his voice resolute as he stood within the smoke. Sensing Danzo chakra through the smoke he unleashed another fire jutsu. As flames roared through the room, he forced Danzo to shield himself with Earth Style. Seeing that made Hiruzen shook his head disappointedly. "Danzo... You've always underestimated the strength that comes from protecting others."
As the smoke cleared, Danzo slammed his hands together in anger. "Summoning Jutsu!"
With a massive puff of smoke, the Baku, a gargantuan elephantine beast with a gaping maw, materialized. Its trunk inhaled violently, creating a vortex that began sucking in everything in its vicinity. Hiruzen's staff clattered as he struggled to maintain footing against the pull.
"Your resistance is futile, Hiruzen! The Baku will strip you of every defense!" Danzo declared.
But Hiruzen remained composed, even as debris hurtled toward the beast's maw. His hands blurred through seals. "Fire Style: Flame Bombs!"
Hiruzen unleashed a volley of fireballs, aiming directly for the Baku's suctioning trunk. The fire intensified as it was drawn inward, igniting the creature from within. The Baku roared in agony before vanishing in a plume of smoke, leaving Danzo momentarily stunned.
"Still think brute strength is enough?" Hiruzen said, his voice cutting.
Enraged, Danzo surged forward, only for Hiruzen to counter with blinding speed. The Hokage's sharpened by wind stabbed through into Danzo's chest, he then swung him around sending him skidding across the room. Danzo coughed out blood, clutching the hole in chest, but then… he disappeared.
Hiruzen froze, sensing chakra behind him. Danzo reappeared, slashing with his kunai. Hiruzen spun just in time, deflecting the strike and retaliating with a lethal chakra infused kick that sent Danzo flying again. But no sooner had Danzo hit the ground than his body faded, and he reappeared elsewhere, unscathed.
Hiruzen eyes narrowed but came to a conclusion based off his years of experience, "So that's your trick," Hiruzen muttered, his keen eyes catching the faint glow of Danzo's Sharingan arm. "Somehow with those eyes you're rewriting itself, no your own reality rather every time I land a blow. The Uchiha are truly dangerous, more than I realized."
Danzo smirked darkly. "Perceptive as ever, old friend. But perception alone won't save you. You can ever understand the might of my power!"
Hiruzen scoffed, resuming the battle by unleashing a relentless barrage of elemental jutsu. Lightning crackled through the air, water surged from cracks in the floor, and flames roared as the two clashed. But each time Hiruzen struck Danzo down, the man reappeared, unharmed and more determined.
Hiruzen's mind raced. Each use of this jutsu closed one of Danzo's Sharingan, but how many remained? His gaze flicked to the arm—six eyes had closed. Four more remained.
"It seems like I just have to outlast you," Hiruzen said, his resolve hardening.
Danzo scowled, his Sharingan glowing ominously as he weaved seals once more. "You won't live to see the end. Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!"
Compressed spheres of wind blasted toward Hiruzen, who deftly countered with an Earth Release: Mud Wall. The impact shook the ground, but Hiruzen burst through the debris, his staff whirling like a storm.
The two clashed again, the room becoming a battlefield of raw power and strategy. But Hiruzen's experience shone through. With each blow he landed, another of Danzo's Sharingan closed. And with each reappearance, Danzo's frustration mounted.
Finally, Danzo stood panting, his arm trembling as only one Sharingan remained open. Blood trickled down his face as he glared at Hiruzen, who stood firm, barely winded.
"This is over, Danzo," Hiruzen said, raising his staff. "Surrender, and I may show you mercy."
Danzo snarled, his hand moving to the green glow of Shisui's Sharingan in his eye socket. "It's not over until I say it is. You should have ended this when you had the chance, Hiruzen."
Before Hiruzen could react, Danzo's eye glowed fiercely, and a wave of energy engulfed the room. "Kotoamatsukami..." He uttered
The Genjutsu struck him like a silent storm, weaving its way into his mind. The staff in his hand faltered as his movements slowed, his vision blurring.
Danzo's lips curled into a sinister smile as he watched Hiruzen fall under the spell. "You were always too soft, old friend. It's what makes you weak." He stepped forward, his Sharingan spinning lazily as he loomed over the immobilized Hokage.
But before he landed a finishing blow a compressed amount of sinister chakra slammed on him. His eyes widened in shock not knowing where that power came from then something clicked in his head, "No... Impossible is it...?"
Land of Waves
The crater stretched 300 feet deep into the earth, still simmering with smoke and debris. At its edge stood Aoi, battered but alive, his face split into a feral grin. He threw his head back and laughed hysterically, the sound echoing across the desolation.
"HEEHEHAAHAAA!!! HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT, BOY? I WIN!!!" His voice carried triumph, fueled by delusions of grandeur. He calmed himself, his smile turning to smug satisfaction. "Lord Pain is going to be so pleased. What'll he bless me with? Power? Money? Women? Oh, man, I can't wa—"
A violent surge of energy cut him off mid-sentence. A massive arc of chakra erupted from the center of the crater, bursting through the smoke and ash like a tidal wave.
The sheer pressure slammed Aoi to his knees, his lungs seizing as if he had been plunged thousands of feet beneath the ocean. He gasped and wheezed, his vision swimming as he foamed at the mouth. His body refused to move, every muscle locked under the crushing weight of the chakra.
Above him, through the shimmering air, he saw someone floating slowly upward. His blood froze as he forced his eyes to focus on the figure.
Naruto Uzumaki.
The boy he thought he had annihilated now hovered in the air, his body limp yet exuding a serene, otherworldly presence. His face was tranquil, as if untouched by the battle.
Naruto breathed in.
He took in the smell of pollen carried on the breeze, of fresh grass and budding flowers, of ancient trees standing resilient and proud. The scents of the natural world enveloped him, calming the storm within. The world of green and life was infinitely more soothing than the bloody realm of shinobi.
He breathed out.
Beneath him, he felt the roots of the trees burrowing deep into the earth. He sensed the way they reached for water and nutrients, the endless cycle of hunger and growth. The roots converged into trunks, which stretched into branches that ended in leaves. It was a perfect system, unbroken and harmonious.
Breathe in.
He became aware of a rabbit digging a burrow nearby, oblivious to the destruction around it. Its mind was consumed only by the desire to mate and start a new warren. Farther away, a fox hunted, its nose tracking prey to feed its hungry cubs. The circle of life continued, indifferent to the chaos of shinobi conflict.
Breathe out.
Yes, everything had its place. Vegetation fed the herbivores, herbivores sustained the carnivores, and all returned to the earth to nourish the next cycle. Oxygen became carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide became oxygen. Nature balanced itself without interference.
Breathe in.
A gentle smile graced Naruto's lips. "This… this is what it means to be alive," he murmured. The ocean surrounding the island flowed in rhythm, red roses and pink sakura flowers blooming in response to his chakra. "Shisui… I'm sorry, but I have to admit…"
Naruto's left eye opened, revealing multiple spinning red irises that radiated power. His right eye shone a piercing blue, a tranquil contrast.
"I'm not even angry about your death anymore. I bear no grudges with anyone." He gazed at the birds flying overhead and felt the fish swimming beneath the waves.
"Without the ugly external influences… this world is truly, truly beautiful."
XXX
Meanwhile : Near Gato's Stronghold
Kakashi and his team raced through the terrain, the urgency in their movements reflecting the stakes of their mission. Pakkun led the way, his nose twitching as he tracked the faint traces of Naruto's scent. Behind him, Shikaku, Shibi, Tsume, and Jiraiya moved with grim determination, their minds sharp and ready for anything.
Suddenly, Pakkun stopped abruptly, his growl low and foreboding. The shinobi froze, their senses heightened as they scanned the surroundings.
Emerging from the shadows were a group of shinobi, their presence impossible to ignore. At the forefront was Killer Bee, the jinchūriki of the Eight-Tails, his sunglasses gleaming in the dim light. Flanking him was Yugito Nii, the jinchūriki of the Two-Tails, and a squad of Kumo ANBU, their masks reflecting the setting sun.
The air between the two factions grew heavy with suspicion and unspoken hostility.
Kakashi's lone Sharingan narrowed. "Kumo shinobi… What brings you here?"
Bee smirked, his posture relaxed but his tone edged with caution. "Yo, silver-haired shinobi, don't get moody. We're here on business, so don't get snooty."
Shikaku stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Business that just happens to bring you to the same location as us? Seems a little too convenient."
Yugito's expression darkened, her sharp eyes locking onto Shikaku. "We could say the same about you, Leaf shinobi. What's your stake in this land?"
The tension thickened, the unspoken threats heavy in the air.
"We have no interest in conflict," Jiraiya said, his voice steady, though his presence exuded authority. "But if it comes to that, Konoha won't back down."
Bee's grin widened as his hand casually drifted toward his sword. "Conflict, nah, we ain't got the time. But cross the line, and you'll hear the rhyme."
Before the situation could escalate further, an immense wave of chakra crashed down upon them. It was an oppressive force that brought everyone—Konoha and Kumo shinobi alike—to their knees.
"What… what is this?" Tsume gasped, her voice strained as she struggled to lift her head.
Inside Bee, Gyūki, the Eight-Tails, growled in shock. "This chakra… it's beyond comprehension. It feels ancient, raw… No, this can't be… it's him."
Bee's carefree expression was replaced by one of genuine disbelief. "Gyūki, who is this? What are you saying?"
Gyūki rumbled ominously. "It's not something—it's someone. A power that transcends mortals. The all powerful one that created us Bijuu the one we called…"
Across the Seas : Land of Water
In the mist-laden forests of the Land of Water, Fūka Uzumaki and her husband, Azashiro, stood together, deep in conversation about the future of their clan.
"We will rebuild," Fūka said softly, her voice carrying both hope and conviction. "A future for the Uzumaki… a future of peace."
Azashiro nodded, his expression calm but resolute. "Peace, yes. But not without strength. We will ensure no one threatens us again. Our clan deserves to live without fear."
Their moment was interrupted as an overwhelming pressure of chakra slammed down upon them like a tidal wave. The sheer weight of it brought Fūka to her knees. Her eyes widened in shock as she gasped for breath, the power suffocating in its intensity.
"This… this chakra…" Fūka whispered, her voice trembling. "I've felt this before… only once. It's like… the Shinigami itself."
She turned to Azashiro, expecting him to share her shock, but what she saw froze her blood.
Azashiro was standing, his body trembling not with fear, but with exhilaration. His eyes, marked by his powerful dojutsu, glowed a deep crimson as his pupils split into multiple irises. His expression twisted into one of manic delight.
"Do you feel it?" Azashiro roared, his voice echoing across the forest. "DO YOU FEEL IT, DEATH GOD?! THE DRUMS OF LIBERATION ARE BEATING ACROSS THE WORLD!!!"
Fūka looked on in terror and disbelief as Azashiro threw his head back, laughing hysterically. "YES! YESSS! HE HAS RETURNED! HE WHO BEARS THE NAME OF THE KING! THROUGHOUT THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH, HE IS THE…"
Back to Naruto
Floating serenely in the air, Naruto opened his eyes, his left glowing with multiple red irises, while his right shone a vibrant, piercing blue. The morning sun rose behind him, illuminating the battlefield with a surreal, otherworldly glow.
He breathed deeply, taking in the scent of the earth and the salt from the ocean air. Around him, flowers bloomed, and the air hummed with life. He marveled at the beauty of the world, untouched by the greed and violence of humanity.
Looking down at the trembling Aoi, Naruto tilted his head, a serene expression on his face. The man who had struck him down with a dragon of lightning now lay in a heap, reduced to a mere shadow of his former arrogance.
"W-Who… who are you?" Aoi stammered, his voice quivering with fear.
Naruto's gaze turned toward him, the weight of his presence pressing down like an immovable force. The very air seemed to vibrate with his words as he spoke.
"The Almighty."
His voice echoed, carrying across the battlefield and beyond, a declaration that sent shockwaves through the very fabric of the world.