She no longer hesitated, her hands quietly forming seals in front of her, and through the summoning contract, she began to summon the crow that had been guarding Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan, which contained the power of Kotoamatsukami.
The power of that eye was the ultimate genjutsu, capable of silently altering the will of others.
In the original plan, this eye was intended as the final, mandatory correction to bring Satsuki back to Konoha after her future 'revenge' arc.
But now it seems... perhaps before ensuring the 'insurance' for Satsuki takes effect, an instruction could first be planted on the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
An absolute instruction that would ensure he could 'play his proper role' in Satsuki's growth at a critical moment, or at least not become an obstacle.
However, just as Uchiha Itachi's hand seals were about to be completed,
an extremely ominous, violent aura suddenly erupted without warning! Instantly coloring the surrounding air with ferocity and crimson!
This aura was so massive, so scorching, that it forcefully interrupted Itachi's hand seals, and a subtle crack appeared in her cold expression.
She clearly saw—Uzumaki Naruto, lying on the ground, uncontrollably gushing out a large amount of viscous, blood-like, boiling, lava-like crimson Chakra from his body!
These Chakra were incredibly violent, rolling and roaring like living beings, instantly painting the entire world before Uchiha Itachi's eyes a terrifying orange-red!
In this ominous glow, the violent Chakra quickly enveloped Naruto's body, dressing him in an outer coat made of pure energy.
Naruto braced himself with his hands and slowly stood up.
The originally hideous and terrifying Penetrating wound on his body was now rapidly healing at a visible speed under the crimson Chakra's embrace!
"Sorry, Kurama… I really didn't want to just run away like this, but, please lend me your Chakra for now."
Unlike the original work's rampage, which was triggered by negative emotions, the Chakra currently enveloping Naruto, though equally violent and terrifying, had less chaos and more controlled wildness.
This was power willingly lent by Kurama, not carrying the malice of eroding the host.
Therefore, this scorching energy did not evaporate Naruto's skin but completed the initial Tailed Beast transformation while protecting his body.
Sizzle—!
The crimson Chakra cloak became even more solid, its color deepening, and terrifying energy fluctuations spread out in circles like substantial shockwaves, stirring up dust and fallen leaves on the ground.
Immediately after, under Uchiha Itachi's extremely grave gaze, one, two, three... a total of four fiery red tails, made of pure Tailed Beast Chakra and resembling burning flames, slowly condensed and formed behind Naruto.
— — — — — —
"…What is that?"
In the secluded depths of the forest outside Konoha Village, Uchiha Shisui, who was on alert, suddenly looked up, instinctively gazing towards the village, especially in the direction of the Uchiha Clan Compound.
An inexplicable sense of unease seized him without warning, and the invisible fluctuations it emitted, even from such a distance, caused a slight disturbance in his Chakra.
This faint unrest, originating from deep within his bloodline, made him feel inexplicably uneasy.
But the next moment, his attention was drawn to the changes beside him.
He saw Menma, who had been kneeling on the ground, trembling slightly, suddenly stop breathing.
He slowly stood up and reached out to carefully straighten the fox mask on his face, which had been askew due to the previous pain.
"Leader, are you alright now?" Shisui asked with concern.
"Mm… I'm alright now." Menma's voice returned to its usual calm, and he let out a long sigh of relief inwardly.
The impact his main body encountered was too sudden; to maintain the stability and Chakra output of that crucial Shadow Clone in the Hokage's office, he had almost drawn upon most of the energy and control from all other clones.
This clone almost dissipated due to Chakra disturbance… Fortunately, the most difficult stage was over.
Did Kurama make a move?
It seems the crisis on the main body's side has been resolved, and I might not need to go and settle accounts with Uchiha Itachi.
His thoughts became clear again, and Menma quickly adjusted his plan.
"Shisui, the plan has changed. Come with me; we will enter Konoha immediately."
"Enter the village? Now?"
"Mm," Menma nodded, "to retrieve some 'things.' Once we have them, our work for tonight will be completely finished."
"Retrieve things?" Shisui was even more puzzled. What was worth risking infiltration at this moment?
"It's Danzo Shimura's 'relics.'" Menma's voice carried a hint of cold mockery, "You saw with your own eyes how he squandered and desecrated that power, hailed as 'enough to pacify a chaotic world,' like a clown."
"The secret of his ability to use Wood Release, the origin of those Sharingan on his arm… these 'evidences' can allow the Hokage to see firsthand what kind of illicit dealings his trusted old friend has been secretly engaged in for years."