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—"Is this... really my son?" said his father when he was born.
—At one year old: "Why hasn't this kid cried even once since he was born?"
—At two: "Nanako... do you think our son is...?"
—At three: "Hey, son, want me to teach you how to read today?"
—At four: "My son really is a genius like no other!"—At five: "Today I'll teach you the Uchiha clan's specialty: Fire Style – Fireball Jutsu!"—At six: "Time for school! Do your best out there!"
"....!"
All those words his father used to say—words that had once annoyed him—suddenly echoed in his ears. Images of his father flashed through his mind, stopping at the moment he took a fatal blow meant for his son, protecting him from the Second Raikage.
Aki screamed in his heart, full of regret:"I haven't done anything to repay you yet... not a damn thing!"
Thousands of emotions surged through him, boiling into pure rage. His Sharingan spun wildly—until the three tomoe vanished, replaced by a star-shaped Mangekyō pattern.
"Bastard! I'm gonna kill you!"
As Aki roared, the space around him cracked like glass. From the rips in reality, black flames poured out, surging toward the Second Raikage.
Seeing the black flames coming for him, the Raikage kicked Uchiha Kagami's limp body aside and slashed at the fire. But unlike ordinary Fire Style jutsu that would vanish under his blade, the black flames clung to his sword and began melting it. Shocked, the Raikage dropped the weapon and leapt back.
"What the hell is this fire?" he muttered, eyes flicking between the flames and the furious boy in the distance."He's an Uchiha… this has to be his doing."
He quickly formed hand signs."Lightning Style – Black Panther!"
Dark lightning exploded from his body and shaped itself into a panther, which darted toward Aki.
But Aki vanished in an instant—then reappeared behind the Raikage, his body wrapped in black flames. He inhaled and unleashed a jutsu:"Fire Style – Fireball Jutsu!"
Even the fireball he spat out was pitch black, blasting straight for the Raikage.
"Lightning Style – False Darkness!"The Raikage turned and blasted a massive bolt of lightning from his mouth, piercing through the black fireball and shooting straight at Aki. But Aki disappeared again, while the black flames didn't vanish—they scattered and kept closing in.
The Raikage quickly dodged, thinking,"These flames won't go out... That's a problem. But they're slow, so that's their weakness. I'll deal with the other Konoha ninja first, then come back to this brat!"
Just as he was about to bolt toward the mountaintop, a loud yell came from underground:
"RUYI! RUYI! MEGA SMASH!!"
A massive staff burst from the earth and smashed the Raikage away. Sarutobi Hiruzen crawled out of the dirt, looking beaten up and frustrated.
Staring at the black flames and Uchiha Kagami's body on the ground, Hiruzen clenched his fists."I couldn't even block one of the Raikage's attacks... I got Kagami-sama killed. And this fire... what is it?"
Aki appeared beside him out of nowhere and said coldly:"Don't be scared of the black flames, Monkey Bro. It's a jutsu I summoned. The Raikage has no way to deal with it."
Hiruzen looked at Aki, stunned by his cold demeanor, but said nothing. He simply charged straight at the Raikage.
The black flames wrapped around Hiruzen like armor, making it hard for the Raikage to land a hit. Frustrated, the Raikage growled:"Enough! I'm done playing!"He crouched and roared:"Black Thunder God!"
Dark lightning surged over his body. In an instant, he vanished, reappearing beside Hiruzen and punching through the black flame armor, slamming him into the ground. Without pausing, he flashed over to Aki and landed a devastating punch before Aki could even react, sending him flying through the air.
Looking up at Aki soaring into the sky, the Raikage shouted:"It's over, brat!"He launched himself upward, the impact of his jump leaving a crater in the ground.
"Four-Fingered Thrust!"
Suddenly, a figure appeared between Aki and the Raikage. It was a man, casting a jutsu midair:
"Water Style – Water Cleansing Wave!"
A massive wave surged around him and slammed into the Raikage, knocking him back to the ground. The Raikage stared at the newcomer and said:"That much water jutsu... in midair? So you're the one who held off my student and the Gold and Silver Brothers. Tobirama Senju!"
It was the Second Hokage, who had rushed from the Konoha base. Holding the unconscious Aki, he landed and gently laid him down.
Then, staring at the Raikage with disdain, he spat,"Three second-rate punks, and now you have to step in yourself to fight a child. And they dare say you're one of the greats of our era? What a joke."
The Raikage laughed off the insult."Great or small, noble or not—it doesn't matter. As long as it brings glory and benefits to my village, I'll do whatever it takes. Besides, who are you to talk? You're known for assassination. Don't pretend you're so noble."
Tobirama glanced coldly at Kagami's corpse, then glared at the Raikage."Looks like it's time you and I settled this—for killing the Uchiha clan leader of Konoha!"He drew the Raijin Sword and charged.
The Raikage laughed loudly,"Didn't kill the brat, but taking out the Uchiha leader is just as good—cuts down Konoha's strength!"Dark lightning exploded from his hand as he lunged forward with a punch.
"Flying Thunder God Slash!"
Tobirama slashed the Raikage away with his sword, but the Raikage caught himself mid-air, slammed his hand into the ground, kicked off, and charged back with a punch straight into Tobirama's stomach, sending him flying.
Tobirama stabbed the Raijin Sword into the ground:"Lightning Style – Earth Current!"
Lightning burst through the ground. The Raikage ignored it, barreling forward.
"Water Style – Steel Rain Fist!"A massive fist made of water formed around Tobirama and punched toward the Raikage. The Raikage dodged mid-charge, but another giant water fist slammed him from above, driving him into the ground.
"Thunderstorm Hell Thrust – Four-Fingered Attack!"Black lightning exploded upward as the Raikage charged with four fingers extended, aiming to pierce through Tobirama.
Tobirama didn't hold back."Summoning Jutsu – Fourfold Rashomon!"
Four massive gates rose from the ground, blocking the Raikage's charge. Each time he passed a gate, he curled one finger back, and by the time he broke the fourth, his jutsu had burned out.
Tobirama summoned his Raijin Sword again, planted it in the ground, and shouted:"Lightning Style – Thunder Dream Trap!"Four massive spheres of lightning formed around the Raikage, all firing bolts at him simultaneously.
The Raikage used a jutsu:"Lightning Rod!"He spun his body rapidly, drawing all the lightning into his hands. When he could no longer hold the energy, he hurled it toward a nearby mountain valley.
The massive lightning ball exploded, flattening the trees and leveling the hills.
Tobirama looked at him and said,"Not bad. So Cloud ninja aren't just meat shields, huh?"
The Raikage roared,"True strength means fighting with your own hands! You rely on your sword for power—don't act like you're better than me! Let's fight bare-handed—if you dare!"
Tobirama laughed coldly."Trying to bait me? Pathetic. You talk about fairness while hoarding the Seven Star Sword, Red Gourd, and Banana Fan. Spare me."
The Raikage stopped talking and rushed in again, but just then, Konoha ninjas appeared at the base of the mountain. The Raikage paused and growled,"Tch, lucky bastard. Next time, I'm tearing you to shreds!"Then he leapt off the cliff and vanished into the distance.
Tobirama stood silently, watching him go."This isn't working... No matter who wins, there won't be any real victors in this war. What should we do now?"
After nearly three days of battle, the fighting between Cloud and Konoha began to die down. Things gradually returned to a tense calm. Both sides once again faced off near the border of the Land of Lightning and the Land of Frost.
In a temporary office at the base, Tobirama turned to Hiruzen and asked,"How's Aki doing?"
Hiruzen replied helplessly,"Still locked in his tent. Won't talk to anyone. He's just sitting by his father's body—not eating, not drinking."
Tobirama fell silent for a moment, then said,"Send ANBU to escort him back to Konoha. Tell the Uchiha clan... that Uchiha Kagami passed on the position of clan head to Aki right before he died."
Then he reconsidered."No, Monkey... you go yourself. Take Aki back to the village and tell the Uchiha my message face to face."
Hiruzen nodded and left the office, heading for Aki's tent. Inside, the room was pitch dark—no sunlight at all. A pair of blood-red eyes stared at him from the shadows.
Lifting the tent flap, Hiruzen said,"The Second Hokage ordered me to bring you back to Konoha. You're to take over as head of the Uchiha clan. We'll bring your father's body too—so he can return home."
Aki stared blankly, voice hoarse:"I'm going to kill the Second Raikage. Help me, Monkey Bro."
Hiruzen sighed."This might be the toughest war Konoha's ever fought. If I had the strength, I'd help you. But you saw yourself—I can't beat him. Maybe the Second Hokage will manage it... maybe. Right now, you should go home. Your mom just lost your dad. She needs you."
Aki sat in silence, staring at his father's corpse. After a long pause, he finally said,"I'll go with you."
"....."