Uchiha Kiyo decided it was time to leave Konoha and step into the wider ninja world to set the groundwork for his own grand design.
"How long will the Fourth Great Ninja War last? It's hard to predict. Especially with the emergence of the Akatsuki and the Immortal Organization, things could unfold differently."
Knowing that major events were looming, yet not knowing the exact timeline, left Uchiha Kiyo with an uneasy feeling. The only reference he had was the original manga's plot, and even that was vague in terms of timeframes. Years had blurred the precise details; at best, he remembered the order of pivotal events.
So, after the destruction of the Sarutobi clan, Uchiha Kiyo did something significant—he sought out historical records of this timeline. He wanted a better grasp of the current era. Through this, he confirmed the standard timing of the Third Great Ninja War and reviewed notable events of that conflict. Though not as detailed as the original manga—especially regarding secret manipulations—what he gained was authentic, unfiltered truth, free from the bias of hidden agendas.
As Uchiha Kiyo prepared to leave Konoha, several miles away along a remote road leading into the village, a familiar chakra presence approached.
Naruto, along with Yamato and others, were making their way back.
Two days ago, they had returned from sealing the Dragon Vein. Afterward, they rested in a nearby town, only to overhear the shocking news that Konoha had come under attack. Without delay, they rushed back to the village.
On their journey, they picked up more details—most notably the extermination of the Shimura clan. It was difficult to accept.
"Damn it… that's hundreds of lives lost," Naruto muttered grimly. When he learned that the attacker was a survivor of the Uchiha clan, his thoughts immediately turned to Sasuke. A silent weight settled over him.
"Could this be revenge?" he wondered.
Still, something didn't sit right. Naruto couldn't understand why a surviving Uchiha would target the Shimura clan specifically.
It wasn't until the previous night, when they overheard more reliable intel, that they pieced things together.
Danzo Shimura, head of Root, had orchestrated the Uchiha clan massacre. Uchiha Kiyo's vengeance on the Shimura clan was an act of retribution.
Although Naruto now knew the reason, the violence still gnawed at him. "If revenge only leads to more bloodshed, where does it end?" he thought.
Yamato, once a member of Root, was more composed. He understood the darkness of their operations but remained quiet, offering Naruto no explanations. Part of it was fear—fear that Naruto would be disillusioned or brainwashed by his ideals.
Initially, they believed Uchiha Kiyo had finished his revenge and moved on. But just days ago, after entering the Land of Fire, they sensed an overwhelming chakra pulse in the direction of Konoha. The pressure was suffocating—it had to be him again.
Though unaware of the black-market bounty posted for Kiyo, the sheer power behind the chakra terrified them. They quickened their pace, hoping they weren't too late.
But afterward, the chakra vanished as quickly as it had surged. Uncertainty clouded their thoughts. They said nothing but continued traveling for over two hours until Konoha came into view.
"We made it… looks like everything's alright," Naruto sighed in relief.
The village seemed peaceful. There were no signs of combat, and life resumed as normal.
As they entered, Hokage Rock loomed above them. But Naruto noticed something different—beneath the Third Hokage's face, the kanji for "sin" was carved in bold strokes.
Naruto froze.
He had always respected the Third Hokage. The gentle old man who gave him money for food and protected him as a child—now branded a sinner for the world to see.
A mix of guilt and anger surged within him. If he hadn't known that the symbol was part of the new barrier formation protecting the village, he would have stormed over and erased it himself.
Then he saw Danzo.
The dismembered corpse lay beneath the symbol, arms severed, Sharingan eye gouged out, a spear pinning him to the base.
Naruto felt nothing.
Though he had never known Danzo personally, his instincts—and stories from others—told him this man had brought suffering to many, including himself. Deep down, Naruto realized Danzo had threatened his childhood without even knowing it.
At Hokage's office, he and Yamato delivered their mission report to Tsunade. Of course, they omitted the part about traveling through time. They simply confirmed that the Dragon Vein had been successfully sealed.
"Well done," Tsunade nodded, but her tone lacked warmth. The situation with Uchiha Kiyo weighed heavily on her.
"You'll remain in the village for now. Things are unstable. There've been more reports of Jinchūriki disappearing in other villages. Something is happening out there—possibly the work of an organization."
Tsunade knew of the Akatsuki, and though the full extent of their activities was unknown, she needed Naruto safe.
"Yamato, you've come back at a good time. As you likely saw on your way in, Konoha's been damaged. While casualties were minimal aside from Uchiha Kiyo's direct targets, much of our infrastructure needs rebuilding."
Yamato sighed. It was clear she was assigning him back to labor duties. Again.
Uchiha Kiyo, meanwhile, stood far from the village's center. After enhancing his body and perception through countless modifications, his senses were far beyond any ordinary shinobi.
He felt it—Kurama's chakra.
"Ah, Naruto's returned," he murmured.
That much chakra couldn't belong to anyone else.
It had been over half a month; his return was expected. Kiyo paused. He had intended to leave, but perhaps it was worth staying a little longer—to meet the so-called Child of Prophecy.
He frowned.
"Where is Kakashi?"
Kakashi hadn't joined Naruto's trip to the Dragon Vein, nor had Kiyo seen him during his time in Konoha. Odd.
Unbeknownst to Kiyo, Kakashi had returned briefly but had been on missions that kept him away during each of Kiyo's major actions. The two had simply missed each other by chance.
"I suppose it doesn't matter," Kiyo muttered. "We'll meet eventually."
Packing his supplies, he stepped toward the Forest of Death.
He wasn't planning an attack. He merely wanted to observe Naruto. To see whether the boy was truly as special as legends foretold—and whether the fabled "Talk-no-Jutsu" actually had power.
Just then, Naruto exited the Hokage's office. He was almost home when he felt it—a deep, dark chakra hovering at the edge of his senses.
"Kid, someone's nearby," Kurama's voice growled inside him. "Strong."
Naruto's face paled. His body instinctively dropped into a defensive stance.
If even Kurama called this person strong, it meant serious trouble.
Kurama didn't sense killing intent, but the presence felt unnatural—unsettling.
Uchiha Kiyo smirked.
"So, Kurama's perception really is sharp. Far better than the others."
He had intentionally released a small trace of hostility to test Kurama's sensitivity. The result impressed him. Unlike the passive Three-Tails, Kurama picked up his intent instantly.
"You're the Uchiha who attacked Konoha!"
Naruto recognized him immediately.
Tsunade had shown him and Yamato pictures of both Uchiha Kiyo and Uchiha Teru, warning them to run at the first sign of trouble. No one knew how the Immortal Organization viewed Jinchūriki—if they were after tailed beasts, Naruto would be in grave danger.
Of course, Naruto remembered none of that. He just remembered the face.
And at this moment, he wasn't planning to flee.
He clenched his fists.
He remembered the sin marked beneath the Third Hokage's face.
He remembered the pain, the dishonor.
He wanted answers. No—he wanted justice. Maybe even revenge.
And Uchiha Kiyo… he was ready to give him the chance.