Konoha, Year 35
The Land of Whirlpools — Uzushiogakure
Swords clashed, and violent explosions echoed through the narrow streets. Masked figures looted and killed without mercy, forcing terrified villagers to flee in all directions. Among the flames and bloodshed, the village fell into despair.
Inside the Uzushiogakure Chief's Building, Uzumaki Ashina, a man over sixty with a face marked by age and battle, stood surrounded by several red-haired young shinobi.
His voice was stern and unwavering, "Our sealing techniques are too valuable—Konoha won't arrive in time. You must take the children and escape through the secret passage. The future of the Uzumaki Clan is in your hands now. Go!"
"Yes!" The young ninjas vanished in a flash, disappearing from the crumbling building.
Outside, a masked shinobi appeared. Swiftly forming hand seals, he slammed his palms into the ground and shouted, "Earth Release: Weighted Boulder Jutsu"
From the ground, a massive boulder the size of a truck erupted and hurled itself at the Chief's Building, smashing through walls like paper. More masked shinobi arrived, surrounding the area with killing intent.
One of them stood out, wrapped in a blue chakra cloak crackling with electricity, his very presence dark and suffocating like a void.
Inside the building, Uzumaki Ashina stood tall among the rubble. Blood ran down his face, but his voice rang out with defiance,
"You thieves who covet our sealing arts... sink with me!"
As the building collapsed, black liquid surged out from beneath the ruins, spreading in all directions like ink spilt from a giant's hand.
Then came Ashina's final words, a last-ditch act of defiance, "Sealing Technique: Four Symbols Seal "
The black liquid solidified into a circular transparent barrier, erupting from the ground and enveloping a radius of 300 meters. The masked shinobi gasped in horror, attempting to escape.
"What is this!?"
Before any could use the Body Flicker Jutsu, the barrier suddenly shrunk—collapsing in an instant, swallowing everything inside. When it vanished, it left behind only a crater. The village leader, the masked attackers, and the structure itself had been completely erased.
Land of Fire – Eastern Sea Base
Uchiha Naraku, 13 years old, Jōnin of Konoha, stood watch at the Eastern Sea. Though young, he was already renowned as one of the elite of the Uchiha clan.
Staring at the horizon, Naraku's thoughts drifted.
"It's been ten years since I reincarnated… I awakened my past life memories at age three."
Being born into the Uchiha had both advantages and dangers. He remembered the fall of the clan and its internal strife in the world of Naruto and knew well that their fate had been shaped by fear and disunity.
Behind him, a voice called out.
"Naraku, still staring at the sea? Come practice ninjutsu with me."
It was Uchiha Yashiro, a powerful young elite in his twenties and Naraku's senior by age—but not by strength.
Naraku replied calmly, without turning, "Brother Yashiro, we're on a defensive mission. Wasting chakra on training now would be foolish if something happens."
Yashiro laughed and shook his head.
"Yes, yes. You're right, Lord Naraku."
Despite being older, Yashiro had come to respect the younger shinobi. Naraku had already earned the nickname "Copy Ninja of the Uchiha", a prodigy considered on par with Uchiha Fugaku, a candidate for clan leadership.
Just then, Naraku's sharp eyes noticed movement at sea.
"Hmm? Something's coming..."
Thick smoke billowed from three approaching ships. Naraku's eyes narrowed.
"Yashiro, gather the others. Something's wrong."
Yashiro nodded and fired a flare into the sky, summoning reinforcements.
Naraku ordered, "Yashiro, use Earth Style: Underground Concealment Jutsu. Stay hidden."
Though technically Yashiro led their squad, he deferred to Naraku in both tactics and execution.
Naraku turned to their third member, "Ritsuji, scout the ship."
Uchiha Ritsuji, a capable Chūnin, nodded and leapt toward the ocean. Skimming over the surface like a dragonfly, he reached the ships swiftly.
On the deck, Ritsuji found corpses scattered across the blood-soaked wood. The battle was still raging.
A red-haired ninja, bloodied and barely standing, saw the Uchiha insignia and called out, "Konoha Shinobi! Help us! We are from Uzushiogakeru—Konoha's allies!"
Ritsuji didn't respond. He vanished instantly, returning to the coast.
"Naraku, Yashiro, it's Uzushio shinobi fighting masked attackers. They're losing!"
Naraku stroked his chin, pondering. He recalled the Senju-Uzumaki alliance—and the enmity between the Uchiha and both clans.
Yashiro sneered, "Uzushio? Hah! Why not kill them all and blame the masked shinobi? They're no better than the Senju!"
Naraku remained silent. He understood now why, in the future, the Uzumaki were scattered refugees. It was politics and old grudges that sealed their fate.
After a pause, he made his decision.
"No. We'll help. The Uzumaki are our allies now, not enemies."
Naraku dashed toward the ship, his figure cutting through the air like a blade.
Onboard, the red-haired shinobi gasped in surprise as another Konoha Shinobi arrived.
"How dare you attack Konoha's allies! Surrender now!"
Naraku's appearance was striking—dressed in a Konoha vest, sword on his back, long black hair tied neatly, and crimson Sharingan eyes scanning everything with precision.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Kunai flew at him from the masked attackers. With smooth motion, Naraku unsheathed his blades and deflected them effortlessly.
One masked shinobi weaved hand signs rapidly and launched an attack, "Lightning Release: Wave of Inspiration"
A beam of lightning shot from his palm, splitting mid-air into a wide, crackling electric net.
Naraku was engulfed in it, screaming in pain—his body convulsing under the voltage.
Yashiro and Ritsuji arrived just in time, tossing shuriken at the masked shinobi, who evaded them effortlessly and lunged forward, blade drawn.
Suddenly—crack!
An electric trap fell from above and caught the masked shinobi in a surge of lightning.
"Aaaah!" he screamed, collapsing.
The Naraku writhing in the net turned into the water—a perfect Water Clone.
From above, the real Naraku descended, Sharingan glowing and sword at the ready.
His voice was cold and calm, "Target: Eliminated."