Warning
Chi Yu had already determined that Orochimaru's time in Konoha was running out.
Uzumaki Kushina, her face tense, said urgently:
"Then Chi Yu, hurry and remind Orochimaru of this."
Chi Yu shook his head.
"There's no need. Orochimaru has already been preparing to leave. That's why he ignored Hiruzen's warnings and continued his experiments so brazenly. After leaving Konoha, he'll establish a hidden base in the Land of Rice Fields—what later becomes the Hidden Sound Village. From there, he'll recruit shinobi and eventually align himself with the Akatsuki. His departure is inevitable. My actions only accelerated the process. It's nothing to worry about."
Kushina exhaled, visibly relieved.
"That's good. I've lived in this village for so long, yet I feel more and more like a stranger here."
Chi Yu took her hand firmly.
"When I've finished training Neji and once Naruto's life stabilizes, we'll leave Konoha together."
Kushina nodded softly.
"Alright."
Just then, the cries of Uzumaki Cangna came from the bedroom. Kushina stood and went to comfort the child, leaving Chi Yu sitting on the sofa, deep in thought.
His compromise with Hiruzen—to spare Utatane Koharu's life—wasn't born of mercy but strategy. He wanted to see how Naruto's future unfolded once their paths crossed.
Would Naruto, once he learned the truth—that he wasn't an orphan, that his parents still lived, and that the village he protected had also persecuted him—still forgive Konoha? Or would he side with his mother?
And as for Miyuki Uzumaki… Chi Yu decided he would reveal everything to Naruto on the day they finally left the village.
---
In the following weeks, Konoha was plunged into a state of high alert.
The village had barely recovered from the Nine-Tails' attack when it was struck again: the Hokage Building destroyed, and the Fourth Hokage's wife abducted. The blow to Konoha's reputation was severe.
Though Hiruzen Sarutobi dispatched several teams to "rescue" Miyuki Uzumaki, he knew well that the mission would fail. Still, appearances had to be maintained—especially since, in the eyes of the villagers, Miyuki was the late Fourth Hokage's wife.
Hiruzen also ordered those teams to drive away the foreign shinobi lurking on Konoha's borders. Spies from the other great villages were undoubtedly watching. With tensions so high, Hiruzen dared not provoke conflict and could only quietly repel them.
Meanwhile, whispers spread quickly: Naruto, the orphan born the night of the Nine-Tails' attack, was connected to the disaster. The villagers' fear and hatred soon shifted toward him.
---
The next morning, Danzo Shimura awoke in his hospital bed. His right eye throbbed with pain, the socket empty where Chi Yu had torn out his Sharingan. His expression twisted with rage.
Homura Mitokado entered the ward.
"You're awake, Danzo."
He sat down at the bedside.
Danzo rasped, his voice bitter and hoarse:
"What happened after? Did Hiruzen deal with him?"
Homura shook his head gravely.
"No. Chi Yu's strength is beyond anything we imagined. At this point, he's no different from Uchiha Madara himself… and we no longer have Hashirama."
Danzo's face, already swollen, contorted further.
"So we simply let this go?"
Homura sighed.
"Last night, Koharu suggested targeting his family. He returned and nearly strangled her to death. Her throat is crushed—she may never speak or eat properly again. If not for Hiruzen, she would already be dead. And you, Danzo… if not for Hiruzen's protection, you'd be gone too. You should be grateful to him. Hiruzen still sees us as comrades. Don't oppose him endlessly. Right now, Konoha needs stability. Revenge can wait. For now, the best path is maintaining the balance."
Danzo's jaw clenched. He already suspected this outcome but still asked bitterly:
"And what of the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki? Did he really adopt the boy?"
Homura shook his head firmly.
"Of course not. The Jinchūriki will remain in Konoha as an orphan. And you, Danzo—you are forbidden from making contact with him. If you try…"
He didn't finish, but Danzo understood. If he so much as approached Naruto, Chi Yu would kill him.
Danzo seethed silently. He was powerless for now, and he knew it. Even Hiruzen would cut him down if his actions endangered Konoha further.
After Homura left, Danzo sat in silence, his hand brushing the empty eye socket. He had not seen Chi Yu's Susanoo personally, but he had once witnessed Uchiha Madara unleash it in his youth. The sheer dread it invoked was unforgettable.
As he turned toward the window, his gaze froze.
A small black snake perched there, tongue flickering as it watched him. Danzo's instincts screamed—it wasn't wild. It was Chi Yu's.
He was being watched.
The snake made no effort to hide itself. It wanted him to know. It was a warning: every move he made was under Chi Yu's eye.
With a puff of smoke, the snake vanished.
Danzo's fists tightened, but then slowly relaxed. He couldn't win against Chi Yu, not now. Even harboring such thoughts was dangerous.
Still, his hatred burned.
Touching his empty socket, he whispered through clenched teeth:
"The power of the Uchiha Clan… Uchiha…"
A cold glint shone in his remaining eye.
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