"Lord Danzo… damn that Kira!"
"Hurry, inform Lord Hokage—"
"Don't panic. I'm not dead yet."
The Root operatives froze in shock.
They had seen Danzo's head explode, his corpse hit the ground. But now, a pale-faced Danzo emerged from the shadows, clutching his bandaged arm. The body had vanished.
"Damn it… I wasted another Sharingan." His expression twisted. "The plan to wipe out the Uchiha must move faster. And I'll need to contact Orochimaru—another Sharingan has to be transplanted immediately."
Danzo's eyes darted nervously across the darkness, half-expecting Kira to strike again at any moment. From now on, he decided, he would only appear in public through clones.
"This matter is classified. No one is allowed to speak of it," he ordered coldly.
"Also, investigate the entire village in secret. That Kira is hiding here somewhere. He's far too great a threat—find him."
His gaze hardened. Izanagi, Sharingan, these secrets could not be exposed. More importantly, Kira's identity had to be uncovered. Until Danzo eliminated him, he would know no peace.
"Kotoamatsukami… I must seize Shisui's eye as soon as possible."
The next day, Naruto sensed nothing unusual in the village. Peace. Calm. As if nothing had happened.
The death of a village elder should have stirred chaos, at least whispers. Instead—silence.
"Tch. So he wasn't dead after all," Naruto muttered. "That old snake… too damn slippery."
His first strike had failed, and Danzo would only be more careful now. Killing him next time wouldn't be so simple.
Naruto sighed. He was only five years old. His mind was sharper than most, but still reckless. Rushing to kill Danzo had left him with nothing but frustration.
"Fine. There will be other chances. He can't escape me forever."
He set his thoughts aside and returned to his routine. Life came first.
Weighted training began as always—squats, sit-ups, push-ups, each movement flowing smooth and steady.
The weights still pressed down like mountains, but Naruto's body had adapted. His motions carried a rhythm, almost an elegance. To outsiders, it looked like he was straining under brutal loads, but to Naruto, the weights were as light as feathers.
By evening, sweat streamed down his face as he ran the back roads of the village, steady as ever—long breaths, strong steps, calm focus.
"Yo! Naruto boy! Care for a match of youth with me?!"
A figure in a green jumpsuit bounded up beside him, running on his hands. It was none other than Konoha's eccentric, Might Guy.
Naruto grinned. "Alright!"
"Hahaha! Today I'll finally beat you, Naruto boy!" Guy shouted, spinning forward like a whirlwind, hands churning the air.
Naruto pushed harder, legs pounding like iron under the weight, his body cutting forward like wind. Faster. Faster.
"Look, it's those two again."
"Don't call Guy weird—he's a Jōnin."
"And that kid… isn't he the Nine-Tails' host? He's grown so fast."
"His speed is insane."
"I've watched him for over a year. That boy trains every single day, never misses. His willpower's something else. But… no matter what, he's still the demon fox."
"Maybe it's just a rumor. He always looks so bright, always smiling… doesn't seem like a monster to me."
The bystanders whispered, their gazes on Naruto mixed—cold, wary, but tinged with something else.
"Hahaha! Naruto boy, I've got you this time—"
"Not so fast!"
At the final stretch, Guy had pulled ahead by half a step, but Naruto surged, legs blurring, and crossed the finish point first.
"Ah! I lost again!"
Guy flipped upright, disappointment written across his face. Then, his eyes blazed with admiration. "Naruto! You must learn Konoha's Strong Fist! It's incredible! With your body, it would be unstoppable!"
"No way! I'm never wearing those ugly green tights!"
Naruto turned him down flat, like always.
Guy had long since noticed Naruto's physical potential and tried time and again to take him as a student. But no matter how much Naruto respected him, he would never, ever wear those hideous jumpsuits.
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