Silence.
A total and absolute silence surrounded the entrance to the Uchiha compound after Shin's words.
The surrounding ANBU were also astonished before slowly directing their hands to their respective weapons, and needless to say, the Uchiha were either thinking of making Shin disappear or praising him for having the courage to speak such words to none other than the Hokage without any hint of shame.
Hiruzen slowly lowered his pipe, his expression turning serious, his eyes focused on Shin.
Homura and Koharu were still too shocked to react.
"Shin… How dare you?!"
Kenji stepped forward, glaring angrily at the wayward youth. They still didn't have a chosen leader in the clan. Obviously, they couldn't go against the Hokage right now, or the situation would become even more unbalanced than it already was without a leader — and the only promising one was too young. The other one had died, but he hadn't been the right fit either… Kenji didn't want to go through what the Senju clan was going through — a once powerful clan, their greatest rivals, now reduced to literally nothing, without a leader, since Tsunade was literally Hiruzen's student and had abandoned them to their fate.
Kenji refused to believe that a Sarutobi, whose vassals during the Warring States period rose to power, was now taking revenge on the powerful with the military force left to him by that idiot Tobirama Senju… He had left an idiot in power who allowed the fall of the Uzumaki, allies of the Senju.
"Boy…"
Hiruzen took a step forward, looking at Shin, who did not back down. At any other time he would have, if Naruto hadn't attacked his Uchiha pride — which they were known for maintaining until the end.
Hiruzen: "Did you really mean that?" he asked, a cold tone seeping into his voice. No one had ever disrespected him like this since he became Hokage.
Shin shrugged nonchalantly.
Shin: "I'm just a messenger, nothing more… If it doesn't meet your expectations, that's not my problem," he replied sharply.
Kenji wondered what the hell was wrong with this guy. Was he suicidal or had something driven him to behave like this?
Pride, he realized, was the only answer.
Kenji: "Who said that?" he asked in an exasperated tone.
"No!"
Koharu stepped forward.
Koharu: "This is disrespectful to the Hokage. We're going to go and make them repeat it, or if it's this young man's doing, he'll have to pay for his disrespect toward the highest authority in Konoha," she said seriously, with some nodding while other Uchiha looked at Kenji, annoyed by the trouble he caused.
Hiruzen: "Elder Kenji…" he said seriously, giving the older Uchiha no way out. If they rejected Koharu's proposal, it would mean the Uchiha didn't recognize his authority as Hokage — which clearly didn't suit those present. Besides, this would also help him familiarize himself with the Uchiha compound he had never set foot in before. It was disrespectful; he was the Hokage, and all of Konoha belonged to him. There shouldn't be a place he couldn't monitor.
Kenji sighed and nodded. He would give him a pass to get out of this, but someone was definitely going to be punished later.
Not far away, observing the large entourage, Fugaku Uchiha could be seen frowning curiously at the Hokage entering Uchiha territory; this was undoubtedly strange.
Mikoto's Home – Second Floor – Bathroom
Coming out of the shower after removing the residue from a few hours ago, Naruto could be seen feeling great; the pain in his abdomen had disappeared, and he had enjoyed two sexy women until the next day, even though they were still sleeping in his room.
Naruto ran a hand through his hair, pulling it back, when a flash of light surrounded him and his Demon King armor enveloped him. He felt amusement nearby.
Naruto calmly left the bathroom as his shadow detached from him, forming a strange dark figure that stood up, taking on a humanoid shape, and moved to his bedroom door, which it covered with a magic shield.
Naruto hummed. He would let them sleep until they woke on their own, but in the meantime, he would have fun.
First Floor
Naruto arrived in the kitchen only to find nothing to eat. He sighed; he had forgotten that Mikoto always brought food prepared. She didn't cook because he rejected her dishes — they were more tomatoes than food.
Naruto: "I guess I'll have to eat something outside…" he muttered and left the kitchen, passing through the tidy living room with no bottles on the floor; there was nothing magic couldn't fix.
He approached the door and opened it as the sunlight illuminated him.
Hiruzen and company, who had arrived at Mikoto's house, stopped when someone unknown to many — but not to a few — came out wearing a strange outfit that surprised those present.
"What an annoying sun… It should be burned by Amaterasu so it never shines so brightly again."
Everyone present heard the strange words as the figure became fully visible, and the most experienced ninjas couldn't help but feel that this stranger had no weaknesses, even though he looked vulnerable… It was simply strange.
Kenji blinked in surprise; the photo wasn't enough — the feeling this stranger gave off was chilling.
Shin stepped forward.
Shin: "I said what you told me to say. Now the problems are yours, Naruto," he said seriously with his arms crossed.
Naruto tilted his head slightly, looking at Shin.
Naruto: "So you're not a coward… Heh…" he said calmly before laughing.
Hiruzen looked curiously at this stranger staying in the Uchiha compound; he had a vague memory but thought he had already been expelled from Konoha.
Hiruzen slowly brought his pipe to his lips and tried to light it.
Naruto: "Don't do it… You're polluting the air I breathe… You're already polluting my sight with your monkey-like appearance…" he said, focusing his gaze on Hiruzen, who paused mid-motion.
Kenji blinked.
Hiruzen lit his pipe and moved his hands behind his back only to see Naruto already in front of him; he had lost sight of everyone else.
Naruto's hand fell on Hiruzen's shoulder; the Hokage's eyes widened.
FLISSSS
POOOOMMMM
The pipe flew from Hiruzen's mouth and he staggered backward, clutching his stomach before bending over and vomiting a torrent of blood onto the ground.
"Hiruzennnn!!"
"Sandaime-samaaa!"
Kenji and the Uchiha present stared in disbelief, as did those spying from afar.
The ANBU reacted immediately, jumping at Naruto. Being so close to the Hokage, he couldn't use jutsu — so they used taijutsu.
A sudden pressure paralyzed the ANBU in place; they felt heavy, as if their strength was being drained.
Naruto: "I understand that this village and this world follow the strongest… Are you opposing me?" he asked with a smile as the ground cracked open, revealing a sea of fire and skeletons that grabbed the ANBU and began dragging them down.
"AAAAAAHHH—NOOOO!!"
"STOP—AAAAHHHH—!!"
Koharu fell onto her backside, Homura trembling beside her. The ANBU they brought — the elite… more than twenty — were being dragged away.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
Naruto: "You scream too much…" he said, looking at Homura, who suddenly grabbed his head in pain just before it burst, showering everyone with blood — except Naruto.
Thud.
Koharu watched in disbelief as Hiruzen coughed before collapsing to the ground.
Even Shin stared in shock; the most powerful individuals had been destroyed in seconds.
"Rasengan!!"
Naruto raised his hand.
BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!
Jiraiya's eyes widened, as did Minato's, who grabbed Hiruzen and Koharu before vanishing in a flash.
A powerful gust of wind battered those present.
Naruto, without visible injury, swiped at Jiraiya, only to grab a splintering wooden log.
Naruto blinked and looked in the distance at the toad-faced creature.
"Kenji-samaaa!"
Some Uchiha approached, staring in disbelief as the ground sealed itself.
Naruto turned his gaze to Kenji, who swallowed hard.
Naruto: "No one enters the house, or I'll kill you when I return," he said calmly with a confidence that sent chills down the older Uchiha's spine; not even Madara-sama had ever been so intimidating.
Naruto vanished and almost grabbed Jiraiya, who disappeared in a flash the moment Naruto appeared.
Naruto sneered as two dark flame wings emerged from his back and he took flight.
"Close the Uchiha compound and call the Uchiha out!"
Kenji barked orders without hesitation; he would never help his enemies, nor would he allow his clan to help them. Aid was always repaid with oppression by the higher-ups. Now they should focus on that strange monster who might be a path to salvation for the Uchiha. He wasn't wrong; they respected power above all else… well, some did; others were idiots with mental problems like Kagami.
Fugaku ran to the exit, trying to help the ninjas against that thing.
Sarutobi Complex – Main House
Biwako Sarutobi was healing her still-unconscious husband. She had seen the internal damage… It was a miracle he was still alive. One lung had literally burst from the inside, and the other was overworked. This was something only a Tsunade-level punch could accomplish.
Biwako: "What happened?!" she roared, looking at the newly arrived Jiraiya and Minato, who were equally confused.
Koharu sat in shock, unable to respond, while other Sarutobi members rushed about; someone had attacked their Hokage in his own village — someone would pay in blood.
Jiraiya: "We have to warn the others — the Uchiha—" He stopped as the ground trembled violently.
BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!
A powerful explosion shook the earth. Jiraiya and Minato ran to the window along with many others, only to see Mount Hokage reduced to rubble.
Cold sweat ran down their bodies as Minato's gaze turned deadly.
The sky darkened abruptly as fire began to rain from above, to everyone's disbelief.
"Hokage Mountain…"
"GRRRAAAAAAAAAHHHH—!!"
A powerful, primal roar echoed across the village, sending shivers through everyone who heard it.
Lightning struck as ANBU rushed forward, glimpsing a small figure in a sea of fire.
They weren't alone — the clan leaders and their elites followed, jumping house to house until they reached the destroyed monument and climbed the walls.
There were thousands of them, drawing their weapons.
The Nara clan patriarch swallowed but composed himself; his son was safe within the compound. What happened here was his responsibility.
"There's someone there…"
"I can't feel them…"
"It has no chakra… Only a spiral-shaped black hole…"
The murmurs grew, alarming those present, when the figure revealed itself fully — a young man.
Several gasped.
"You attacked Konoha?!"
"Why? Don't you know how many died?!"
"Damn you—!"
"He must be killed—!"
Many roared, realizing it was a single person, but none of the patriarchs jumped in; war veterans knew that where there was calm, there was a storm.
Naruto: "Surrender to me and I will let you live," he said with a confident smile.
"Do you think—?"
Shiku Nara stepped forward, silencing everyone.
Shiku: "Why do you think we would surrender to you, stranger? Especially after you destroyed the Hokage Monument?" he asked seriously. He didn't attack — curiosity held him back, and with the dark sky, all of Konoha was within the Nara's control.
Strong, cold winds buffeted several people.
Naruto crossed his arms.
Naruto: "I don't destroy for pleasure… I do it because it's my nature. And you, by trying to stop me, are only delaying the inevitable… everyone does. Do you recognize strength? I already destroyed your strongest Hokage… What can you do?" he said calmly, his words echoing through the ruins. None present had seen the Hokage — he should have been the first to arrive here, and yet…
The clan leaders frowned, wondering if he was telling the truth.
"KONOHA WILL NOT BEND—!"
Naruto: "Done," he replied with chilling calmness.
"No, that's not—"
Someone tried to shout when Naruto appeared before a paralyzed old man with white eyes.
"Father—!"
"Hideki—!"
Naruto calmly moved his fingers and pulled out one of the white eyes.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH—!!"
"LOOK OUT—!"
"RAITON—!"
"SUITON—!"
BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!
A massive explosion sent them all flying as burning debris rained down on Konoha.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHH—!!"
Calamity had arrived in Konoha.
Mount Myōboku
In the resting room of the Great Toad Sage Gamamaru, the old toad slept peacefully before abruptly awakening, cold sweat streaming down his face. His eyes widened in horror.
"The child of prophecy is manifesting far earlier than expected, and not only that… everything has deviated from what I foresaw."
Gamamaru trembled; he had also witnessed the destruction of Mount Myōboku.
"Did the unborn child of prophecy take the wrong path from the womb?"
"Call Jiraiya!"
Gamamaru shouted in panic.
Land of Tea
Moving through the trees at high speed, a certain blonde woman clutched her chest with unease; she needed to return — fast.
Konohagakure – Uchiha Complex
From within their newly erected barrier, all the Uchiha silently watched the immense cloud of smoke rising near the Hokage Tower. These were the militant faction and civilians — about eight hundred members… the only ones with brains, one could say, since the Dove faction had gone out to "help the village and the Hokage."
Kenji scoffed. Whether they helped or tried to change the situation, they would be oppressed regardless; it didn't matter what they did — in the eyes of the Sarutobi and their group, the Uchiha had no place in Konoha. And perhaps everyone thought the same… if they were so despised, it wasn't their obligation to help.
BOOOOOOMMMMM—
"The earth is shaking—!"
"What is—?"
"We…"
Mikoto's Home – Naruto's Room
Resting comfortably, unaware of the chaos outside, Mikoto and Kushina slept peacefully, embracing each other for warmth.
TO BE CONTINUED