Naraku and Hiruko were not familiar with each other, so going up to greet him might backfire.
The Second Great Shinobi War was about to end, and this was the time when Hiruko began to feel his limitations and prepared to develop the Guiya Jutsu.
"As long as I take control of the security forces and arrest him before the Third Hokage notices, it should be easier to discuss cooperation then."
After paying, Naraku suppressed his curiosity and resisted the urge to chat with Hiruko. He turned and left Ichiraku Ramen.
"This guy seems to be paying attention to me?"
After Naraku left, Hiruko looked thoughtfully in the direction he had gone.
"My strength is too weak. Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade are already known as the Sannin of Konoha. If I don't work hard, I'll never catch up."
After suffering repeated setbacks in the Second Shinobi World War, Hiruko had faced several life-threatening battles. He deeply felt his own weakness and mediocrity.
He had already begun thinking about surpassing his limits. His talent had peaked — now, to grow stronger, he would have to shatter his own shackles.
---
Uchiha Clan Compound — Naraku Residence
Uchiha Mei, Naraku's mother, watched with concern as her husband Uchiha Sanzō and Naraku faced each other in the yard.
"Don't worry, Mom. Dad and I are just sparring."
"Mei, go back. Our son is older now. Let me test him."
Hearing their conversation, Uchiha Mei's eyes filled with worry, but she trusted Sanzō and quietly stepped away.
"Boy, let me see how much you've grown," Sanzō said calmly.
As one of the strongest shinobi of the Uchiha, Uchiha Sanzō couldn't help but shake his head inwardly at Naraku's boldness.
"This kid thinks he's invincible just because he's gained the reputation of a Copy Ninja. Let's show him that there's always someone stronger."
"Father, you're no match for me," Naraku replied coolly.
"Hahaha, you're confident — I like that. At your age, I might not have been this strong. But you're still too young."
"Then let's begin."
Naraku's chakra surged to his eyes, turning them red as three tomoe rotated slowly.
"Sharingan!"
Sanzō activated his own Three Tomoe Sharingan without hesitation.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Naraku hurled a kunai and several shuriken. Sanzō leapt high to dodge and countered mid-air with kunai of his own.
The clash of weapons rang out across the yard.
Naraku dodged effortlessly, leaning left and right, narrowly avoiding the projectiles with graceful movements.
Sanzō landed and looked at Naraku, both men now serious.
"Genjutsu: Sharingan!" Sanzō whispered.
The Sharingan, when fully awakened to the three tomoe stage, could trap an opponent in genjutsu through eye contact alone.
Suddenly, within Naraku's mind, a pair of immense, scarlet Sharingan eyes hovered in the void. His limbs and torso were pierced by spectral stakes, locking him in place.
This was the Genjutsu: Binding Illusion Jutsu — also known as the Golden Binding Illusion, one of the strongest paralyzing illusions of the Sharingan.
Because the Uchiha clan mostly served within the Konoha Police Force and rarely took external missions, their fearsome strength had long been underestimated.
"Son, you're still too young. You have a long way to go in mastering the Sharingan," Sanzō said inside the illusion.
"Oh? Really, Father?" Naraku asked calmly, expression blank.
Sanzō frowned. Something felt wrong.
Cracks formed across the illusory Sharingan in the sky — one, then several, until the entire illusion shattered.
Suddenly, Sanzō felt a stabbing pain in his eyes. He tried to reach up but realized—he couldn't move.
Now he was the one impaled by chakra stakes, with Naraku standing freely before him.
"Wh-What? This is... your Sharingan?"
Sanzō was paralyzed, his words slurred.
"Illusion mastery is crucial to the Uchiha. Father, you've spent too long in administration. Your combat instincts have dulled."
Naraku had reversed the illusion and trapped Sanzō in his own technique — a flawless counter.
"Father, you high-ranking Uchiha sit back and critique others, thinking you're untouchable. But in real combat, you're no stronger than the average shinobi."
Sanzō paled, struggling to break free with raw chakra — to no avail.
Naraku sighed, formed a release seal, and whispered, "Kai."
The chakra binding Sanzō instantly dissipated.
He collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath.
"Father, you've been defeated."
"Can we call it a draw and go again?" Naraku offered, trying to save face.
"No need. I may be your father, but I'm not shameless enough to deny a clear loss."
Sanzō's breathing steadied.
"What about the control of the Police Force?" Naraku asked softly.
"You can take over. But have you considered how Fugaku will feel?"
"Wouldn't it be better if Brother Fugaku could serve as vice-captain?"
"Naraku, it's not that simple. The Uchiha leadership and guard captain roles have always been passed down in parallel. Your uncle Daizō once led the clan while I ran the guard. Now that you're clan head..."
"So you and Uncle agreed that I would lead the clan while Fugaku took the guard?"
"Yes. That was our arrangement. Breaking it now could fracture the clan."
---