"Who are you?"
Shisui and Itachi asked in unison.
They were sure this mysterious "Kira" came from Konoha… yet no matter how they went through the list of every known shinobi in the village, not a single name matched.
Kira's identity was completely unknown.
If not for the incident with the Hyuga clan, they probably would never have seen him at all.
"Who am I? You'll learn in time," Naruto said calmly, his eyes flashing with an idea.
"I've created an organization—the Red Sun Society. Would the two of you like to join?"
"The… Red Sun Society?"
Shisui and Itachi exchanged uncertain looks.
An organization with a faceless leader? Trusting it seemed impossible.
But then Naruto's expression grew solemn, and words poured from him like fire.
"The red sun rises, its path blazing bright.
Rivers surge, waves sweeping across the world.
Dragons stir in the abyss, their scales and claws flashing.
Tigers roar in the valley, shaking the beasts in fear.
Heroes emerge in chaos, bound yet unbroken.
The heavens wear their blue, the earth its gold.
Even across eight desolate lands, the future stretches like the sea… vast and endless."
The verses seemed to leap straight from his heart, fierce and unyielding. Though only five years old, Naruto's voice carried a force that rolled through the valley like thunder.
Shisui and Itachi stood frozen, stunned.
The grandeur in those words, the brilliance they painted—this was unlike anything they had ever heard.
Compared to it, the "Will of Fire" preached by the Hokage felt pale and hollow, utterly lacking.
"…Red Sun Society," Itachi whispered, his mind racing.
For years he had thought himself mature beyond his age, able to see from a Hokage's perspective. Yet now he realized he had been trapped in circles—thinking only of clan and village. His vision had been narrow.
Naruto's words blew open a door he hadn't even known was there.
"The Red Sun Society is built on the light of the rising sun," Naruto said, his eyes burning. "Haven't you noticed the rot in Konoha, in the other villages… in the entire shinobi world?"
"Three ninja wars. Countless battles. Why do they keep breaking out? Why can't people understand one another? Why must shinobi always live in darkness, never knowing the warmth of the light?"
Each question struck like a hammer.
"Why did Cloud come to steal the Hyuga's eyes, knowing it could trigger war? Why did Danzo take your eyes, Shisui? Did he think nothing of the consequences? Why do the Hokage and Danzo always turn on their own—the Hyuga, the Uchiha? And why does your clan feel forced into rebellion?"
Naruto's voice hardened.
"The human heart has twisted. The world has twisted. Everyone—consciously or not—chooses the worst path. That's why I created the Red Sun Society. To be the first ray of light in this darkness."
His words blazed with conviction. His eyes glowed like embers fanned into flame.
Shisui and Itachi stared at him, unable to look away. In that moment, he seemed gilded with light, radiating hope.
The future he painted wasn't just bold—it was irresistible.
Especially for Shisui, who had nearly lost all faith. His broken spirit lifted as if a beacon had been lit before him.
"…How many members does the Red Sun Society have?" Shisui asked at last. Surely, an organization with such a grand mission would be filled with believers ready to give everything to change the world.
Naruto coughed lightly, straightening. "Well, I'm the president. As for you two—how about vice presidents? Or maybe guardians of the left and right?"
Shisui blinked. "Wait. Don't tell me… it's only you?"
"What, you underestimate me?" Naruto puffed his chest out. "Every great movement starts small. A spark is all it takes to ignite a wildfire. Without the spark, where would the fire come from?"
He said it with such confidence, such certainty, that even the absurd sounded reasonable.
"If you join now," he added, "you won't just be members—you'll be the first veterans. You'll witness history being written step by step. And if I go astray, you'll be there to correct me. Isn't that worth it?"
Shisui hesitated, then looked at Itachi. Slowly, a smile spread across his face.
"…Let's join."
The three of them clasped hands together, sealing the birth of the Red Sun Society.
-------------------------
For advanced chapters, visit patreon.com/Varnok