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After what felt like half an hour of twists, turns, and endless corridors, they finally reached their destination.
"This is two thousand meters beneath Konoha," Danzo said, his voice low and proud. "Absolutely secure. Absolutely hidden. This base contains the culmination of all my life's research."
Obito didn't respond.
Danzo had no choice but to continue talking to himself.
"But if I'm going to take revenge on Uchiha Akira, I'll have to activate the unfinished projects ahead of schedule."
"I don't have time for your rambling," Obito cut in, frowning. "Take me to your so-called secret weapon."
Danzo's expression stiffened back into its usual sour mask. Without another word, he formed a complex hand seal and slammed his palm against the massive door.
A deep rumble shook the ground.
The heavy steel gates slowly split open.
Danzo stepped inside first.
The interior was brightly lit. Root operatives dressed as researchers moved briskly between stations, busy with their work.
When they saw Danzo, surprise flickered across their faces.
This place was sealed off from the world—practically its own isolated domain. Aside from Root shinobi who delivered supplies on schedule, no outsiders ever came here.
Even Danzo himself had only visited once before—when the facility was first completed.
This was his second time.
And he'd brought strangers with him.
Something big was about to happen. Everyone could feel it.
Soon, the man in charge of the facility hurried over. Shigaraki Tanuki dropped to one knee.
"Lord Danzo, for you to personally come here… something major must have occurred."
Because of the base's isolation, he had no idea what had transpired outside.
Danzo didn't explain.
"I'm activating the 'Gozu Tennō' project."
Shigaraki's eyes widened. "So soon? Lord Danzo… has something serious happened?"
"Just carry out my orders. Since when is it your job to question them?" Danzo snapped coldly. "It seems I've stayed away too long. Have you forgotten the duty of Root? Root shinobi obey. Nothing else concerns you."
"Yes! Lord Danzo! My apologies!" Sweat beaded on Shigaraki's forehead.
"Follow me," he said quickly, rising to his feet.
He led them into a massive laboratory.
The ceiling was high, but only a few scattered lights illuminated the space. Most of the room lay in shadow, leaving only the central area bathed in dim green light.
At the heart of the lab stood an enormous incubation tank, occupying nearly half the room.
It was filled with murky green liquid.
Floating within it was a grotesque creature.
Its face resembled an ape's. It had the body of a raccoon dog, tiger-like limbs, and a snake's tail.
A stitched-together monstrosity.
Danzo's secret weapon, born from his experiments with the First Hokage's cells.
Its name: Nue.
Also known as the "Gozu Tennō."
"This is your secret weapon?" Obito stared at the creature inside the tank, his brow furrowing. "From what I can sense, its chakra levels barely reach jōnin tier. It's weaker than most summon beasts."
His gaze turned icy.
"And you're telling me this thing can help test Uchiha Akira's full strength? That it can destroy the Uchiha? Even wipe out Konoha?"
He locked eyes with Danzo.
"You'd better give me a proper explanation. Or everyone in this base dies for your stupidity."
"Bastard! How dare you speak to Lord Danzo like that!"
One of the Root guards stationed nearby snapped. Eager to prove his loyalty, he drew his blade and charged.
Danzo didn't stop him.
He simply watched.
This was his most important base. The Root shinobi stationed here weren't just numerous—they were elite among elites.
From the surrounding darkness, more than a dozen sharp gazes fixed on Obito.
Here, in this place, Danzo believed he had leverage.
He was the darkness of Konoha. He wouldn't tolerate being pushed around forever.
"Die!"
In less than a breath, the Root shinobi was upon Obito, blade slashing diagonally toward his neck.
A sharp whoosh—
"What?!"
The guard froze in disbelief.
His sword—and his body—had passed straight through Obito.
"Foolish insect."
Obito shifted slightly, extending one arm. His palm opened toward the man's back.
The next instant—
A dozen jagged wooden spikes burst from his palm.
Wood Style: Cutting Sprigs Technique.
The spikes tore through the guard's body before he could even react.
Blood splattered across the floor.
He was dead.
Danzo's pupils contracted.
"Space-time ninjutsu… and Wood Release? Who are you?"
But regret was already blooming in his chest.
Space-time techniques. Wood Release.
With that kind of power, this masked man might rival Uchiha Akira—the very monster Danzo feared.
Flattening this entire base would be effortless.
Shadows shifted.
More than a dozen Root shinobi emerged, surrounding Danzo defensively, weapons drawn.
"I told you," Obito said calmly, tilting his head back. "I am Uchiha Madara."
He looked at Danzo.
"It seems you have a death wish."
Danzo forced out a dry laugh.
"Lord Madara, you misunderstand. I never ordered that subordinate to attack. He acted on his own. His death was well deserved."
He gestured toward the tank.
"I was just about to explain Nue's capabilities when that impulsive fool made his move. An unforgivable offense."
Then he barked at the guards around him.
"What are you doing? This is the legendary Uchiha Madara—an honored guest of Root. Put away your weapons and stand down."
Reluctantly, the guards melted back into the shadows.
Danzo turned back to the tank, stiffly shifting the conversation.
"We've named this creature 'Nue.' Yes, its chakra levels are currently only at jōnin class. But that's temporary. Its true ability is far more terrifying."
He paused, noting that Obito hadn't made another move.
Relief flickered across his heart.
"Nue can absorb chakra without limit. The more chakra it devours, the larger it grows—and the stronger it becomes. With a stable, sufficient supply, reaching Kage-level power is inevitable. Surpassing it? Entirely possible."
A thin smile crept across his face.
"But that's not even its core function."
He leaned closer, voice thick with pride.
"Its true destructive power lies in self-detonation. The more chakra it absorbs, the greater the explosion. Give it enough… and destroying Konoha would be effortless."
"Then stop talking," Obito said flatly. "Let's begin."
Danzo nodded and pointed toward Izumi.
"Seal Nue inside the girl."
Shigaraki hesitated.
"Th-That may be difficult, Lord Danzo."
Danzo shot him a sharp look.
"The research on Nue isn't even fifty percent complete. Many of its functions are unstable. The risk of losing control is extremely high. If it goes berserk, years of work will be wasted. The losses would be enormous, and—"
"Enough," Danzo snapped.
Before he could finish speaking, he was cut off by Danzō's icy voice.
"No need to think so much. Nue is nothing more than a disposable tool. As long as it can wipe out the Uchiha clan, that's enough."
"Yes!"
Shigaraki Tanuki stopped arguing. After taking Izumi from the Root shinobi, he began inscribing the sealing formula.
On the other side of the village, Akira found himself staring at what used to be his childhood dream.
The academy was gone.
All that remained was rubble. It had probably been destroyed in the aftermath of that day's battle.
Construction workers were already rebuilding, hammering and hauling under the sun.
Akira asked around and learned that classes wouldn't resume until the new building was finished.
After thanking one of the workers, he turned and headed for Naruto's place.
According to the information the Uchiha had gathered, Naruto lived in an old apartment building. But when Akira got there, the door was shut and the room empty.
Not home at noon? Then there was only one place he'd be.
Akira changed direction.
From a distance, he spotted that unmistakable tuft of blond hair inside Ichiraku Ramen.
Up close, Naruto was hugging a ramen bowl bigger than his own face, slurping like a starving wolf.
"Thanks for the meal, old man! I'm stuffed!"
Naruto set down the empty bowl, patted his belly, and grinned in pure satisfaction.
"Alright! Naruto, your appetite's as good as ever!"
The relatively young Teuchi took the bowl, then noticed Akira standing at the entrance. He smiled warmly.
"Welcome! What can I get you, kid? Not to brag, but this is the best ramen in all of Konoha! Hahaha!"
"No need. I'm here for someone."
Akira shook his head.
The day after the Konoha council meeting, he'd come here to try the legendary Ichiraku ramen that the anime had hyped to the heavens in his previous life.
Honestly? It was just okay.
Didn't even compare to the luosifen he used to eat.
Then again, he wasn't much of a noodle person to begin with.
Naruto, hearing the voice, shifted on his stool and turned around.
When he saw Akira, surprise flashed across his face. Then he quickly masked it with indifference.
"Oh! It's you, huh? Mr. Cool Guy Akira."
He snorted.
"That ninja sparring match at school the other day… you ran off 'cause you were scared I'd beat you flat, right? That's gotta be it! Hahaha!"
He laughed wildly at his own conclusion.
Akira was speechless.
This one-track idiot was still hung up on that dumb sparring match?
"Beat me flat?" Akira let out a scoff, crossing his arms and giving Naruto a sideways look full of disdain. "Where'd a dead-last like you get that kind of confidence?"
"Bastard Akira! Don't look down on me!"
Naruto shot to his feet, instantly triggered.
"Let's fight right now! You got the guts or not?!"
"Sure. Beating a dead-last won't take much of my time anyway."
Akira nodded casually.
Inside, he smirked.
Hooked.
Once they found the right moment, he'd tell Naruto the truth about everything. Let him join the Uchiha of his own free will.
Perfect.
"Just you wait! I'll knock your teeth out!"
Naruto cracked his knuckles.
The two of them walked out of Ichiraku one after the other, heading toward a nearby training ground.
As they moved through the busy streets, Akira casually flicked a few compressed air bullets toward several directions.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Thud.
Hidden in the shadows, every ANBU operative assigned to monitor Naruto stared at the sudden holes blasted into the walls right beside their heads.
They swallowed hard, cold sweat trickling down their backs.
"C-Captain… what do we do? Are we still following them?"
One of the masked shinobi whispered.
"If you want to die, go ahead," the squad leader muttered. "I'm reporting to the Third. Let him decide."
With that, he vanished in a Body Flicker, leaving the rest staring at each other.
Hmph. That spying sensation again. Must be the old man's Telescope Technique. Hasn't learned his lesson, I see.
Akira's Rinnegan flickered open for a split second before closing again. A surge of mental force shot toward the source of the gaze.
Crash!
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the shattered crystal ball on his desk, his expression dark.
Damn it. So he's setting his sights on the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki?
"Lord Third, what should we do? Continue surveillance?"
The ANBU captain bowed his head.
Hiruzen slowly calmed himself.
"No need. Recall your men."
His tone was steady.
"If Uchiha Akira becomes arrogant enough to forcibly take the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, I will personally ensure the Uchiha clan's reputation is ruined."
"Yes, sir."
The captain withdrew.
Grrrr~
A loud rumble broke the quiet.
Akira glanced sideways at the source and raised a brow.
"Seriously? You just finished a giant bowl of ramen. Hungry again already?"
"Hmph! What do you know? I trained super hard this morning, that's why I get hungry faster!"
Naruto glared at him, embarrassed and defensive.
"You? Train?" Akira snorted. "Give me a break. You're either pulling pranks or on your way to pull pranks."
Then his tone sharpened.
"If you'd actually put effort into training, you wouldn't be dead last in class."
In the original timeline, Naruto's talent was never bad.
His father was Minato Namikaze, after all. A civilian-born genius who rose to Kage level.
There was no way his son's potential was truly lacking.
It was just that Naruto had been too mischievous as a child. And with the Nine-Tails interfering with his chakra control, his aptitude looked worse than it actually was.
Only after graduating and going on real missions did his monstrous talent begin to surface.
But things were different now.
Since Akira had arrived in this world, he wouldn't let Naruto's gifts stay buried.
Training had to start early.
Not only would it add a powerful asset to the Uchiha clan in the future, it would also give Akira another layer of security.
After all, with his presence here, the storyline was already in chaos.
Who knew what would happen next?
Just to be safe, pulling the Child of Destiny over to his side was a very necessary move.
"..."
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