"Naruto!"
"Tell me! Right now!"
Sasuke's voice rang out, tense and urgent. His eyes were locked on Naruto, burning with a mixture of desperation and hope.
Even as a member of the Uchiha clan, Sasuke knew very little about the night his clan was wiped out.
What he did know—
Was that that man had murdered their parents with his own hands.
That same man had gone on to slaughter every last Uchiha.
But beyond that…
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
He had once asked the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had come to comfort him after the massacre.
But when Sasuke asked about the truth, Hiruzen had only shaken his head sadly.
With a heavy heart, the old Hokage told him—
That even he didn't know much more than Sasuke did.
Sasuke had searched for answers elsewhere.
He questioned shinobi, villagers, elders.
But every path led to the same dead end.
No one could—or would—tell him the truth.
And so…
He was left in the dark.
Why had that man—his own brother—done something so monstrous?
Why had he slaughtered their clan?
Sasuke couldn't believe it was just madness.
There had to be something else.
Something deeper.
And to uncover that truth, he vowed to become strong enough to kill his brother.
To avenge his parents.
To avenge the entire Uchiha clan.
But never—never in his wildest thoughts—did Sasuke imagine that one day, he would hear the truth from Naruto of all people.
Naruto… knew what really happened?
At that moment—
Naruto didn't try to avoid the question.
He didn't hesitate.
He turned to Sasuke and said with solemn resolve:
"Sasuke… think about it carefully."
"How could the Uchiha—Konoha's strongest clan—be destroyed by someone from within the village?"
"And that someone being your brother, Uchiha Itachi?"
"Do you really think the Third Hokage and the others didn't know?"
"They knew, Sasuke. They knew better than anyone."
"Then why didn't they stop it?"
"Why didn't they do anything?"
Naruto's voice lowered.
"Because…"
"The truth behind the Uchiha massacre—"
"Is that Konoha's higher-ups, led by the Third Hokage, couldn't allow the Uchiha clan to threaten their control."
"They didn't want the Uchiha interfering with the political power held by Hiruzen and his faction."
By now—
Sasuke's expression had changed.
His hands trembled. His breath grew shallow.
He looked as if lightning had struck through the center of his soul.
He couldn't believe it.
The ones behind the Uchiha clan's extermination…
Were the very leaders of Konoha?
The Third Hokage?
The elders?
The village that raised him—
Had conspired against his family?
Sakura stood frozen, her face pale with shock.
She was just a girl—gentle, emotional, and caught up in dreams of love. Never could she have imagined that the peaceful, prosperous Konoha she knew... that the kind, grandfatherly Third Hokage...
...was behind the order to massacre Sasuke's entire clan.
Kakashi's gaze shifted to Naruto.
He could sense it—Naruto's contempt.
The boy held no respect for the Third Hokage anymore.
No loyalty to the current Konoha.
Naruto was speaking with a cold clarity that didn't waver, regardless of how shaken the others were.
He went on:
"Like I said."
"The ones who gave the order to wipe out the Uchiha clan… were the top brass of Konoha."
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage."
"Shimura Danzo, founder of the Root division."
"Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, the Hokage's advisors."
"They all conspired together… and decided the Uchiha had to go."
"And the one they used to carry out their will—was your brother, Uchiha Itachi."
Naruto's voice turned bitter.
"Itachi was brainwashed. Completely consumed by his so-called loyalty to the village. He became their weapon."
"He killed his own parents. Slaughtered his kin."
"All because he thought he was protecting peace in Konoha."
He paused.
His words cut deeper than a kunai.
"They turned him into a tool."
"And he obeyed—without question."
Even Kakashi didn't know all of this. Some of what Naruto said was completely new to him—secrets buried even from ANBU.
Naruto continued.
"Sasuke, the reason Itachi left you alive…"
"It wasn't mercy."
"He wanted you to live."
"To grow stronger."
"To one day defeat him—and carry the burden he left behind."
Naruto's voice grew colder still.
"I'll admit… for not killing you, maybe Itachi had some twisted form of love left in him."
"But murdering his entire family? His parents? His friends? Just because the Hokage told him to?"
"To me, he's nothing more than a fool."
"A fool brainwashed into believing that Konoha was worth more than his own blood."
At that moment—
Sasuke stood as if struck by lightning.
He couldn't speak.
Couldn't breathe.
He stared at Naruto—at the truth, laid bare before him.
His brother…
The person he had once idolized, then sworn to kill…
Had done it all on orders from the Hokage and the village council?
That was the reason his father and mother had died in a pool of blood?
Just… politics?
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Sasuke let out a primal scream.
The pain exploded in his chest and roared into his skull.
A surge of power erupted from within, pouring into his eyes.
At that moment—
Kakashi and Sakura gasped in unison.
Blood streamed from Sasuke's eyes.
His pitch-black pupils twisted, warping into the shape of two spinning magatama.
"The Sharingan…" Kakashi whispered in his mind. "It's evolved."
His heart ached for the boy—but it made sense.
Sasuke's new form was born of grief and rage. It was the trigger for evolution.
Sakura looked at Sasuke, terrified and confused. She didn't understand what had just happened to him.
Kakashi gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Give him some space," he said calmly.
Sakura nodded.
Naruto, meanwhile, stared at Sasuke with grim approval.
The Sharingan awakened through his words.
A reminder that Sasuke was still a true Uchiha prodigy.
But Kakashi turned back to Naruto.
He narrowed his eye.
There was too much Naruto hadn't explained.
How did he know all this?
Who had told him?
Why was he revealing it now?
Still, he asked only one question—his voice low and serious.
"Then tell me, Naruto."
"Tell all of us…"
"What are you planning to do next?"
Naruto met his gaze without flinching.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Revenge."
He spoke with conviction.
"I believe in justice—an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."
"Those decrepit old men—Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo—they've ruled long enough."
"It's time they stepped aside… or were removed."
Kakashi's heart sank.
He had expected this answer.
But hearing Naruto say it aloud…
"Are you seriously thinking of overthrowing the Third Hokage?" he asked, voice rising.
"Don't be foolish, Naruto!"
"You don't understand just how powerful Hiruzen is!"
"You have no idea what you're up against!"
Kakashi's voice was stern now. Not as a teacher—but as someone desperate to protect a student from self-destruction.
He hated what the Third Hokage had done.
But this?
This was suicide.
"If you want to keep living in Konoha—if you want to survive—just keep your head down. Pretend none of this happened."
"Forget it, Naruto."
Naruto just smiled coldly.
As if forgetting was never an option.
Kakashi stood frozen, words caught in his throat.
He couldn't predict what kind of future awaited Naruto if this path continued.
And that scared him more than anything.
He feared the day he'd have to witness Naruto standing alone, bloodied and broken, against the power of the village he was once sworn to protect. That's why he had to stop Naruto now—before any more dangerous thoughts took root in the boy's heart.
Sakura watched helplessly as the confrontation unfolded before her.
Caught in the middle.
Paralyzed by indecision.
She didn't know what to say. She didn't know what to do.
Beside her, Sasuke was still curled in silent agony—crushed by the weight of the truth he'd just learned.
To be honest, for someone like Sakura—who knew nothing about the deeper political machinery of Konoha—this situation was overwhelming. Utterly impossible.
Naruto, meanwhile, turned to face Kakashi. His expression was calm. Almost too calm.
He wasn't angry at Kakashi.
In fact, he understood where his teacher was coming from.
From Kakashi's point of view—
Naruto was still just a Genin.
Even if he had mastered the Rasengan, it was nothing compared to Sarutobi Hiruzen—the Third Hokage, known as the "God of Shinobi," the strongest Kage of his time, and the master of all five basic nature transformations. A living legend.
And Naruto wanted to take him down?
Not just him.
Also Shimura Danzō—the shadowy leader of Root, the one who operated outside the law for the "sake" of the village.
And the two elder advisors—Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane—pillars of the old regime.
Naruto was one Genin.
They had entire factions of loyal shinobi—veteran Jonin, ANBU, and political influence built over decades.
Even if they just stood there and spit on Naruto—he could drown in the flood.
But of course...
Naruto already knew all of this.
He wasn't charging into a battle blindly.
What Kakashi didn't realize—what no one truly understood yet—was just how much Naruto had changed.
How powerful he had become.
How much strength he had already gathered—both inside and out.
Kakashi had no idea how many Chunin or Jonin were quietly watching, silently supporting, or simply waiting.
And even if Naruto had no one—no allies, no support—he would still never be like the Naruto from before.
He would not grovel in a village built on lies and blood.
Even if it cost him his life—
He would die standing.
He would face that old coward Hiruzen Sarutobi in battle and carve his truth into the bones of history.
Naruto's voice cut through the silence like a blade:
"Sensei Kakashi," he said firmly, "I don't think you really understand how strong I am now."
There was no arrogance in his tone.
Just truth.
His words shimmered with the brilliance of conviction—like the rising sun burning through a long, dark night.
Kakashi blinked.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Because Naruto was right.
He didn't know how strong he had become.
And it all began… with that day at the training ground.
Naruto had demonstrated astonishing physical strength and taijutsu prowess.
And not long after that, he mastered the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique—a forbidden jutsu requiring enormous chakra control—almost instantly. A feat few even dared to attempt.
Then came the mission to the Land of Waves.
Naruto showed more than just combat skill—he revealed a level of psychological resilience rare for a Genin. He didn't flinch in the face of real battle. He stood firm. Fearless.
And now, with the Rasengan fully mastered…
Kakashi couldn't help but wonder—
Just how much strength is Naruto still hiding?
Then, Naruto looked directly at him—eyes calm, voice steady.
"Kakashi-sensei," he said seriously, "will you side with the Third Hokage… or with me?"
It wasn't a question Kakashi had prepared for.
And yet, suddenly—it was everything.
On one side stood the Hidden Leaf Village—Konoha. The place he had nearly died for, countless times. The symbol of everything he had once sworn to protect.
On the other side stood Naruto—the only son of his late teacher, the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato. A boy Kakashi had come to care for deeply. A student he had failed, perhaps, to fully understand.
His father was gone.
Obito was gone.
Rin was gone.
Everyone he once called family was lost to the past.
Now, Kakashi Hatake stood alone.
Just like Naruto.
The silence dragged on. Kakashi didn't speak. He couldn't.
His mind turned in endless circles, caught between loyalty and love.
He had never imagined he'd be forced to choose between the village he'd bled for and the son of the man who once saved it.
Whichever path he took—
Something would be lost forever.
If he chose the village, he would hand over Minato's only child to the same regime that betrayed the Uchiha.
If he chose Naruto, he would be turning his back on everything he once believed in.
Just as Kakashi stood frozen in indecision—
A voice cut through the stillness.
"Naruto!"
Sasuke's voice.
Blood still streaked his cheeks, the remnants of tears now dried on his face. But his expression was firm, eyes burning with resolve and hatred.
"Whatever you're planning to do to this village," he said, "I'm with you."
The words struck Kakashi's heart like a hammer.
Naruto turned to Sasuke, a rare softness flashing in his eyes.
"…Yeah," Naruto said quietly.
"I'll make sure you get your revenge, Sasuke."
Sasuke nodded back without hesitation.
That was enough. No further words needed.
Men like them didn't need speeches. Pain was their language. Resolve was their bond.
Sakura, standing nearby, was completely lost. She couldn't understand how everything had escalated so quickly. What was happening? Why had it come to this?
But when she looked at Sasuke—his fierce expression, his unwavering decision—her heart responded before her mind could catch up.
She had always been drawn to Sasuke.
And if he stood with Naruto…
Then she would follow him.
No matter what happened next.
She didn't think about the consequences. She couldn't. She was just a girl following the only person she truly cared about.
Kakashi, watching it all unfold, could already sense how deeply things had shifted.
Sasuke had chosen his side.
It was no longer a matter of teaching or discipline.
It was a matter of ideology. Of war.
And to be fair…
After everything Sasuke had learned about the Uchiha massacre—
Kakashi couldn't blame him.
In some twisted way, Sasuke and Naruto were alike.
Both had grown up carrying pain no child should ever endure.
Both had been betrayed by the village they were supposed to trust.
So Kakashi stood there in silence once more.
There was no clear answer.
Just the weight of impossible choices.
Finally, he opened his mouth and said the only thing he could:
"…I don't know yet," he said quietly. "I need time. Give me some time to think."
Naruto didn't argue.
He simply nodded.
"…Alright."
"But your time runs out when we return to Konoha."
Naruto's approval let Kakashi breathe a small sigh of relief.
At least… there was still time.
Time to think.
Time to plan.
Time, perhaps, to teach Sasuke and Sakura new ninjutsu—while it was still possible.
With the tension momentarily eased, Sasuke and Sakura descended from the rooftop, returning inside to rest. Their minds were full, their hearts conflicted, but the moment had passed—for now.
Kakashi and Naruto also prepared to follow, but just as Naruto stepped through the doorway, he suddenly paused.
He turned back and looked at Kakashi, who still stood at the edge of the rooftop, his thoughts lingering far behind his body.
"Oh, right," Naruto said offhandedly, as if remembering something trivial.
"In a while, you'll be able to meet my dad and mom. You can talk with them in person."
And with that, he turned again and disappeared into the house.
Kakashi froze.
His breath caught.
For a moment, he could only stare blankly at the soft glow of the open doorway.
That one sentence hit him harder than everything else that night.
Minato-sensei… and Kushina?
Could it really be possible?
But… hadn't they both sacrificed themselves during the Nine-Tails' attack?
Minato had sealed the beast into his newborn son. Kushina had perished in the process.
Or so he thought.
Was it really possible that they were alive somehow—or their chakra preserved?
Kakashi couldn't shake the thought.
Naruto had said it so casually, like it was just another conversation. But it had turned Kakashi's world upside down. Again.
That night, Kakashi didn't sleep.
Not for a second.
His thoughts churned restlessly. One revelation after another clawed at his mind.
Naruto's power.
Naruto's goals.
Naruto's unwavering hatred toward the current leadership of Konoha.
And now this—Minato and Kushina?
The weight of it all left him restless. Exhausted. Hollow-eyed.
And yet…
There was a part of him that couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Of course Naruto knew what kind of impact that line would have on him. He said it at the end on purpose.
It was just like him.
A bit of Naruto's cheeky side—the kind of playful cruelty that made people take him lightly, only to regret it later.
But more than that…
It was Naruto preparing him.
Preparing Kakashi's heart for what came next.
Because while Kakashi was busy helping Sasuke and Sakura grow stronger—training them, passing down jutsu to prepare them for the road ahead—
Naruto wouldn't be idle.
There was still some time before the bridge's construction would be completed.
And Naruto had made a decision.
He would completely release the seal restraining Kurama, the Nine-Tails.
And with it…
He would also unlock the chakra of his parents—Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki—sealed deep within him since birth.
The time had come.
It was time his parents knew what he was planning to do to the Hidden Leaf.
It was time to inherit the Flying Thunder God Technique from his father.
And it was time—
To awaken everything that had been sealed away.
...
TN:
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