Though you brushed it off with a casual remark, you still paid out of your own pocket to treat Naruto to a meal.
Watching him devour the extra portions without hesitation, you smoothly shifted the conversation toward the "Nine-Tails," saying that even though you'd only just arrived in Konoha, you'd already heard people calling him a demon fox. But honestly, aside from the color, you really didn't see any resemblance at all…
Your words seemed to win Naruto over slightly, but perhaps because he'd been deceived by similar kindness in the past, you could still see a trace of guarded suspicion deep in his eyes.
At the same time, your sharp instincts picked up a chilling presence behind you—colder and more intense than before.
But their anger didn't matter. You were a legitimate Chūnin of Konoha, with your ANBU ID badge conveniently hung at your back.
What, just because you're ANBU means I'm not?
Worst case, you'd go to the Hokage, and let Danzō handle it. Let the two sides fight it out.
Whether it was Sasuke, Konohamaru, or now Naruto, you thoroughly enjoyed this feeling—like the Sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of Konoha's higher-ups.
Just a light squeeze, and their so-called power would burst like overripe yolks, leaving nothing but a splatter of pulp on the floor.
As the only Uchiha under Danzō's command, this was the confidence that let you dance in a minefield.
You didn't believe for a second that Danzō—who wouldn't hesitate to assassinate a Hokage—would hand you over to Hiruzen Sarutobi over some petty issue. On the contrary, if you could build a good relationship with Naruto, that would be exactly the kind of result Danzō would be pleased to see.
You might even be able to use your connection to Naruto to completely break free from Danzō's control in the battles to come... New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on noⅴelfire.net
Still, you knew that it was best to keep some distance between people—especially when you and Naruto had only met once. Getting too close too fast would only turn off someone like him, who had been isolated for so long.
After some idle chit-chat, you excused yourself, walking off into the depths of the night...
At the same time, a concrete plan had taken shape in your mind on how to control the Flame of the Infested.
Simply put, it was a unique fire-natured chakra. It originated from your Fire Release undergoing a qualitative transformation, a product of an unexpected fusion during the burning of mutated parasitic insects. Later, it also absorbed part of the power from Wood Release chakra.
No matter how special, it was still chakra. The Nine-Tails—like all the Tailed Beasts—was chakra.
If a fully conscious Nine-Tails could be sealed inside Naruto and eventually harnessed through mutual understanding, then this Flame of the Infested, which lacked even a shred of consciousness, could surely be tamed by you as well...
All you lacked was a sealing technique. You decided that once you got back, you'd request the Four Symbols Seal from Danzō under the pretense of strengthening your abilities.
Thinking this far, your mood lifted. You turned a corner and stepped into an empty training ground.
"Hey, hey! You've been following me from way too far back. You really thought I didn't notice?"
Truth was, you'd sensed it long ago. Ever since leaving Ichiraku Ramen, one of the ANBU monitoring Naruto had started tailing you.
But you'd been too deep in thought to care—until now. Now that your plans were clear, it was time to deal with the tail that had been clinging to your back.
"You could tell I was following you?"
A masked figure dropped agilely from a tree. The signature silver hair and covered left eye made his identity unmistakable.
"Hatake Kakashi. Father took his own life after being blamed for failing a mission while saving a comrade. Promoted to Jōnin at twelve. Sole survivor of the previous Hokage's squad..."
You stood in the center of the training ground, your back to Kakashi, reciting his resume without missing a word.
"So, a lonely guy like you wants to train the Fourth Hokage's son into another genius mission machine—just like you?"
"I have no obligation to answer your questions..."
Kakashi stepped behind you. He remembered every ANBU member—but had never seen you before.
As a spy, your cover was airtight—even your ANBU identification was flawless. But you couldn't fool his eyes. As a complete stranger, you had dared to approach Konoha's deadliest weapon.
Three shuriken flew toward the vital points on the back of your neck.
But with just a twist and a raise of your hand, you caught all three kunai with ease.
The moment you turned, Kakashi tried to circle behind you with a Body Flicker Technique, but you intercepted him. He drew a kunai. You drew your short blade. After a brief exchange of blows, you both leapt back several meters.
It had been just a probing attack—but Kakashi's brows furrowed. You were no pushover.
Though he had the upper hand in Strength, your Speed was nearly on par with his. And your swordsmanship—bizarre, unorthodox, utterly unpredictable—targeted vital points with every strike. Even Kakashi, hailing from a lineage of blade masters, couldn't guard against it completely.
That made him go serious.
Kakashi pulled up the hitai-ate covering his left eye, revealing the glowing red three-tomoe Sharingan in the shadows.
A wave of intense Ocular Power surged toward you.
You didn't know whether your Spirit could overpower Kakashi's, but as far as Sharingan went—even with both your eyes open—you were no match for that Mangekyō disguised as a three-tomoe Sharingan!
Fortunately, you didn't have to face it head-on.
A kunai charged with Spirit, prepared long in advance within your eye, shot out like an invisible blade, clashing mid-air with Kakashi's immense Ocular Power. Both dissipated in an instant.
However, a second kunai—completely undetectable—slipped quietly into Kakashi's unguarded mindscape. Caught by surprise, Kakashi's danger sense blared. He endured the pain, leapt backward, and retreated into the cover of the woods before the pressure began to ease.
"What's wrong? Can't the great Copy Ninja even manage a preemptive jutsu?"
You strolled forward leisurely, closing the distance to the forest with taunting words.
True, you'd just burned through two pre-charged Soul Slash attacks and wouldn't be able to form another one for a while.
But you were certain Kakashi was too smart to fall for the same Genjutsu trick twice with his Sharingan.
Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!
Suddenly, four walls of earth shot up around you, boxing you in tightly.
No—something was off. These walls weren't meant to trap you, but to block your line of sight!
You leapt left, clinging to the wall like a gecko using chakra.
Just as you steadied yourself, a bolt of lightning shot through the exact spot you'd been standing. The figure that pierced the earth wall like a spear crackled with lightning—if you had hesitated even a second longer or failed to anticipate Kakashi's intent, you would've been skewered by Lightning Blade!
Fire Style: Hiding in Ash!
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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