Early Morning – Home
The sun had barely crested the horizon when I finished making breakfast. The quiet hum of the morning was broken only by the soft clinking of plates. I carried a tray and walked to Naruto's room, pushing the door open gently.
He was still curled under the blanket, sleeping soundly, his mouth slightly open, his blond hair a messy halo on the pillow.
I knelt beside the bed and whispered, "Hey… Naruto. Wake up."
He stirred, mumbling as he blinked the sleep from his eyes. "Uhh… hey, Johan. When did you get back…?"
I gave a small smile. "Just last night. You were already asleep."
He yawned and sat up slowly. "Oh…"
I handed him the tray, and he blinked at the breakfast. He always looked surprised, like it was a small miracle.
"Well," I said casually, "I've got some free time today. So after the academy, stay inside, alright? I'll come get you."
He blinked up at me, surprised again. "Really? You're picking me up?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Just wait for me. And don't leave early. Promise?"
He gave a small smile. "Thanks, brother. I'll be waiting… don't take too long, okay?"
I ruffled his hair gently, the smile on my face not quite reaching my eyes.
"Okay."
---
ANBU Base-
The air inside the ANBU base was cold, sterile, and heavy with tension. The silence before a storm.
My footsteps echoed faintly in the underground corridors, each step a reminder of the path I had chosen.
Captain Tenzo stood before us, arms crossed, eyes sharp.
"This mission is critical," he began, voice like iron. "There's no room for error. No second chances."
He looked each of us in the eye. Ko, Yugao, and me, measuring our resolve.
"We've confirmed the intel gathered by the spy," he continued. "The enemy intends to abduct Naruto after school. They've studied his patterns, mapped his habits. They think we're blind. They think this village is weak."
He turned to me.
"Johan. You'll take Naruto's place. Use transformation. Blend in. Let them come to you."
I nodded once, expression unreadable.
He went on. "If it's just a band of underground mercenaries, this will be clean. Quick. But don't underestimate them. The fact that they infiltrated our academy… means they're bold. And desperate."
He faced Ko and Yugao. "Surround the extraction point. No survivors. No trails. We finish this."
We all nodded in unison.
Evening – Academy Exit
As the bell rang, the children poured from the academy gates. Laughter. Innocence. None of them knew how close the shadows crept.
I formed a shadow clone and sent it inside the academy to fetch Naruto.
Then, taking a deep breath, I transformed into him. messy blonde hair, bright orange jacket, that carefree, familiar grin, and walked into the crowd just as he would. Confident. Loud. Unbothered.
To everyone around me, I was Naruto.
I even waved at iruka sensei.
I headed toward the playground, loitered for a while, kicked a ball, scratched my head. Played the fool.
Then I left, wandering toward Ichiraku, just as the intel suggested.
But unlike Naruto… my senses were sharp. My chakra extended like a net.
At first, nothing. Then… a ripple. A subtle shift in the air behind me.
Got you.
I turned into a narrow alley.
And he appeared.
A blur of movement. body flicker. A hand clamped down on my shoulder. A jutsu activated.
Paralysis surged through me like liquid stone. I froze mid-step, locked in place.
Then he grabbed me and ran, fast and low, weaving through trees as the village gave way to forest.
His voice was cruel and mocking. "Heh. So this is Konoha's 'security'? I expected more. This was too easy."
His laughter cut through the trees.
Half an Hour Later – Deep Forest
The trees were thick now, shadows long and oppressive.
Two more figures awaited us in a clearing, their eyes sharp with impatience.
"What took you so long, Kenma?" one barked. "We thought the mission failed."
Kenma snorted. "Relax. The brat was just playing around. Took time to isolate him."
The third. taller, voice calm but cold, spoke. "Enough chatter. We don't have much time. Let's move before the Leaf wakes up."
Kamikura, they called him.
They took off again, vanishing into the woods with practiced ease.
So three are confirmed. Possibly more waiting.
I slowly began to test the chakra bindings. Weak, sloppy work. I could break them.
But not yet.
I softened my expression, let panic seep into my voice.
"Wh… who are you? Where are you taking me?" I whimpered, voice trembling, eyes wide.
One of them sneered. "Jutsu's wearing off already, huh?"
"Just hold him 'til we get to the boss," Kamikura muttered. "He'll decide what to do with the brat."
Tears welled up in my eyes, convincing, trembling.
"Please… don't kill me. I don't wanna die…"
Kenma laughed. "Kill you? Nah. You're worth more alive. A jinchūriki? You'll make us rich."
I sobbed quietly. They didn't care. They didn't look at me again.
One Hour Later – Forest Hideout
We stopped in front of a cave. Hidden well overgrown with moss, shielded by giant trees.
Three more emerged from the shadows within. The air changed. Heavier.
One stepped forward. bigger, older, with cold, calculating eyes.
The boss.
He looked me over.
"Any trouble?" he asked, voice deep and low.
"None," Kenma replied, smug. "Just like the intel said. No one watches him. Everyone avoids the brat. We got lucky."
The boss nodded at another, who weaved hand signs, hands glowing faintly as he scanned the area.
After a moment, he nodded. "No chakra signatures. We're clear."
I curled in on myself, voice small. "Please don't hurt me. I didn't do anything. I'm not a monster…"
The boss looked at me, eyes hard.
"So… you really don't know what you are."
He crouched slightly, his face only inches from mine.
"That's fine," he whispered. "We won't kill you. Not yet."
He stood, turned to the others. "Let's move. We can't stay here. We take him to base. Once we're there… no one will be able to find us."
I lowered my head, trembling. But inside?
Rage coiled like a serpent. Cold. Silent.
Yes. Show me your home. Let me see your faces… before I burn them into ash.
I kept my tears flowing, my face hollow and broken.
But behind my eyes?
The storm waited.
---
Underground Base
They took me through a seedy bar on the edge of a nearby town. A guard opened a hidden door behind the counter.
We passed into a chamber with scattered chairs and tables.
The boss made a hand seal. The ground cracked open, revealing a stone staircase.
Beneath it, a massive underground hall. Crowded. Dim. The stink of smoke, sweat, and blood.
Not everyone here was a shinobi. Most weren't. Just thugs.
They threw me in a corner, bound me with thick rope. Like that would help.
They started talking. casual, careless.
It didn't take long. I confirmed what I needed.
No village. No backing. Just mercenaries driven by gold.
I made a subtle hand sign—ANBU code.
---
Outside – Forest Perimeter
Ko, eyes glowing with the Byakugan, saw everything.
"We've got the signal. Johan confirms, no village involved. Just mercenaries. Driven by greed."
Tenzo's voice was cold. Final.
"Then let's end it."
---
Inside – Underground Base
A blast split the air.
Above us.
Dust rained from the ceiling. The ground trembled.
Panic swept the room.
"They found us!"
"But—how?! We were clean!"
The boss clenched his fists. "No wonder. It's Konoha. You never see them coming until it's too late."
I stood slowly.
The ropes fell from me like spider silk.
All eyes turned.
They froze.
I stared at them, expression hollow. Emotionless.
"You stirred a monster…"
My voice was quiet. Too quiet.
"…and now the monster is hungry."
I stepped forward. My chakra flared, cold, dark, alive.
"For blood."