"A child with red hair and glowing eyes forced Ay of the Hidden Cloud to his knees…"
What began as rumor had now spread like wildfire through the undercurrent of the shinobi world — carried by fleeing Kumo scouts, intercepted communications, and terrified whispers from survivors.
And as the news travelled, the world listened.
---
Kumo – Hidden Cloud Village
Raikage's Office
The Third Raikage stood like a mountain, arms folded as Ay — his son — stood silently, still bearing the faint scar across his cheek.
"You hesitated."
Ay clenched his jaw.
"It wasn't fear. It was… like he knew my next move before I made it."
The Raikage narrowed his eyes.
"A genjutsu?"
"Worse. A battlefield conductor," Ay muttered. "I wasn't fighting a boy. I was fighting a strategy made flesh."
The Raikage turned to his advisors.
"Double surveillance on Uzu. If that child survives the next few years, we may face a greater problem than the Uchiha."
---
Iwa – Hidden Stone Village
Ōnoki's Inner Council
The Sandaime Tsuchikage floated midair, glaring at the intel scroll.
"A prepubescent Uzumaki weapon with tactical insight and a chakra signature that made Ay bleed?"
One elder scoffed.
"Exaggerated stories. Fear sells faster than fact."
Ōnoki slammed the scroll to the ground.
"Even if only half of this is true — it means a six-year-old nearly humbled a Kage-tier ninja. You think that's an exaggeration?"
"Uzu may be weakened, but it's breeding monsters again."
"And monsters force alliances to shift."
---
Suna – Hidden Sand Village
Council of Sand
Lady Chiyo read the report, eyes sharp with curiosity.
"Uzumaki... of course. That chakra. That madness."
She handed the report to her brother.
"The last time a red-haired child was underestimated, the world bled. Never forget the Nine-Tails' vessel bore the same blood."
Baki, still a younger shinobi, asked:
"Is it wise to interfere?"
Chiyo smiled grimly.
"We won't need to. The world will rush to break him.
And when they fail — we'll see who's left to negotiate."
---
Kirigakure – Hidden Mist Village
Blood-soaked Silence
No words. Just a hand-drawn sketch.
Red hair. Two eyes glowing.
Beneath it: "Akashi Uzumaki – Age 6 – Classified: Threat Potential B+ (Rising)"
The current Mizukage circled the name. Then slit the page in half with his blade.
"Update his rank.
Make it A."
---
Konohagakure – Village Hidden in the Leaves
Hiruzen's Personal Study
Sarutobi Hiruzen read the scroll twice.
He said nothing the first time.
Nor the second.
He finally folded it and turned to his crystal ball — its surface blank and quiet.
"The boy is real.
If the eyes are real.
And Uzu is no longer just a distant cousin.
They are a variable."
He drew in a long breath, exhaled smoke from his pipe, and whispered:
"And variables… are dangerous."
---
Konoha, Root Compound – Subterranean Chamber
Dimly lit. Silent.
Only the shifting flame of a single oil lamp lit the room.
Danzo Shimura stood alone in front of a tall scroll-painting of Konoha's crest — bisected by a slash.
Behind him, soft footsteps echoed.
Hiruzen entered, dressed not as the Hokage, but as an old friend — robes loose, shoulders tired.
"You sent for me."
Danzo turned slowly, his right eye cold and analytical.
"The boy," he said simply.
"Akashi Uzumaki."
Hiruzen frowned but said nothing.
"He faced Ay… and won. At six years old."
"Do you know what that means, Hiruzen?"
"It means we've allowed a living weapon to grow — outside our borders."
---
The Strategic Fear
Hiruzen crossed his arms, his voice weary.
"He is still a child. Born into war, yes. But not born for it."
Danzo's voice sharpened.
"So was Hashirama. So was Madara. So were we."
"Don't fool yourself with sentiment, old friend. The boy is a bloodline cluster — sealing mastery, Uzumaki chakra, a rare ocular ability with precognition-level combat utility."
He stepped closer, lowering his tone.
"And he hates us already."
---
The Root Proposal
Hiruzen exhaled slowly.
"What do you intend?"
Danzo didn't blink.
"Control."
"We plant assets. Watch him. Gauge his weaknesses. If necessary, we orchestrate an… opportunity. A defection. A rescue. Even a disappearance."
"Better he be an asset in the dark than a threat in the light."
---
The Third Hokage looked toward the scrolls lining the room. Old names. Lost promises.
"You would turn a child into another tool…"
Danzo's voice was ice.
"I would prevent another Madara. Another world war."
"Let me do what I must in the shadows so you can keep pretending the sun still shines."
---
Danzo walked to the shadows near the wall, Root operatives already waiting.
"Uzu will fall. Whether in one year or five."
"And when it does, he will survive. And he will remember."
He looked back one last time.
"You should pray he remembers fondly."
As Hiruzen left the chamber alone, he muttered to himself beneath his breath:
"The Will of Fire burns less brightly… when fed by fear."
---