That night felt unusually long.
Naruto crouched in the bushes, counting stars in boredom.
No matter how many times he looked, he couldn't help but notice that the moon in this world was different from the one in his previous life.
The phrase "as big as a silver plate" was no longer a mere aspiration or exaggeration.
The moon hanging in the sky was visibly enormous to the naked eye.
In this peaceful night, a figure dashed out of the Hyūga clan's territory.
He was carrying something in his arms.
Behind him, a group of pursuers gave chase.
Among them, one shadow broke away from the others, swiftly pursuing the fugitive.
With one glance, Naruto understood what was happening: "Hinata... has been kidnapped..."
"Hmph... so this is Konoha's internal security..."
Kyūbi, wearing a mocking expression, shared everything through Naruto's vision.
Just a week ago, there had been the arson and murder case of the mask shop owner.
The higher-ups of Konoha, those good-for-nothings, had supposedly tightened village security — and yet, something like this had still occurred.
Of course, there had also been the kidnapping of Kushina... Kyūbi brooded over these past events.
Naruto didn't respond to Kyūbi's sarcasm.
"Kyūbi, you mock the incompetent higher-ups, but I laugh because you don't understand politics."
After years of conflict with Kumo, even the Second Hokage had died at the hands of the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers.
Did the top brass of Konoha really not understand the true nature of those Kumo types?
After quickly cycling through various conspiracy theories, including one where the higher-ups were suppressing the Hyūga, Naruto prepared to take action.
"Wait, brat. Look over there..."
Kyūbi warned Naruto not to act recklessly.
Because this wasn't just a simple internal Konoha dispute.
The enemies this time... were Kumo ninjas!
Among the visitors from Kumo were eight shinobi and four non-combat dignitaries.
Aside from the one who had kidnapped Hinata, the other seven silhouettes were moving swiftly under the moonlight.
It was clear these seven were there to cover the escape.
"..."
Naruto scanned his surroundings, as if evaluating the situation.
A few seconds later, he rushed toward the seven men.
If he didn't intercept them, Hinata might be lost for good.
"Where the hell is Konoha's ANBU?! Useless bastards...!"
Seeing Naruto act, Kyūbi couldn't help but curse the ANBU.
But in reality, it wasn't even much of an insult.
After all, in the manga, whenever the ANBU showed up, they either died or failed miserably.
...
Black clouds passed overhead, occasionally hiding the moon.
Especially when the wind blew strong, it heightened the dark and stormy atmosphere, perfect for killing.
Naruto didn't show himself immediately.
Instead, he chose to approach the seven men stealthily.
He had trained hard.
Uzumaki Naruto had grown stronger through his own efforts.
He had already seen blood.
After dealing with civilians, it was time to face real shinobi.
Otherwise... what was the point of all that training?
Swish!
Naruto gradually bent his back, shifting from bipedal to quadrupedal posture.
Running on all fours not only helped him stay hidden, but also — combined with Kyūbi's chakra — allowed him to imitate the movements of beasts.
Like in the old Wuqinxi exercises or animal-style martial arts — tiger, snake, etc.
The source of a jinchūriki's strength lay in the beastly nature of the tailed beasts.
Running on all fours was, in a way, a return to that origin.
As red, needle-like lights lit up in his pupils, Naruto's eyes became vertical slits.
The whisker marks on his face turned the same shade of red.
His teeth lengthened, his hands and feet grew sharper, even his blond hair stood on end.
In this state, Naruto instantly felt a sense of "freedom♂."
The more he adapted to this form, the faster he became.
As he flashed past a cat perched on a rooftop, the feline's expression turned to stunned bewilderment.
As the cat tried to figure out what species this "human" was...
Naruto had already reached the seven Kumo ninjas.
This was Naruto's first time experiencing this free state.
The faster he ran, the more Kyūbi's chakra leaked out of the "eight trigrams seal"!
"Why?"
If Naruto sensed it, so did Kyūbi.
He was shocked and puzzled by what was happening.
Such compatibility with his chakra...
Could it be... Uzumaki Naruto was...?
Kyūbi shook his head, refusing to believe it.
If this was the reincarnation of Asura's chakra, how could he have such a demonic soul?
Asura, who loved peace, and Naruto, who acted less like a human... they had nothing in common.
Yet, facts were stubborn things.
Naruto, using Kyūbi's chakra to the fullest, felt an unprecedented surge of power!
The first unlucky ninja, leaping across rooftops, didn't even have time to react.
Naruto, on all fours, brought him down in one pounce.
Midair, Naruto slashed his throat with a claw.
Ssshh!
Hot blood sprayed.
Naruto, smelling the blood, showed neither excitement nor pity.
As if he had simply slaughtered a chicken, Naruto had killed his first ninja.
As the body fell with a plop, Naruto launched himself at his second target...