Danzo's Stirrings

"Do you feel it? The legendary Mangekyo Sharingan."

Uchiha Kei wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"The Uchiha tradition of awakening the eyes is indeed cruel, but it can be avoided. Just like now, without the extreme pain of a real tragedy, you have still awakened the Mangekyo."

Itachi still touched his eyes in disbelief; what had happened today was truly beyond his imagination.

"The talk of a curse is complete nonsense. I admit, the Uchiha clan is extreme, but as long as they are guided, the things you worry about will never happen!"

Uchiha Kei's voice was gentle.

"Becoming the first Uchiha Hokage is the first step in that guidance!"

Itachi looked up abruptly, his Mangekyo Sharingan staring blankly at him.

"How about it? Do you want to dance with me?" Uchiha Kei extended his hand. "Let's dance out a different kind of Uchiha!"

Itachi seemed moved; his hand reached out tremblingly, but he paused just as he neared Uchiha Kei.

Uchiha Kei laughed heartily and gripped Itachi's hand firmly.

"It's settled then!"

After saying this, Uchiha Kei pulled his hand away and bowed slightly. "The future Fifth... Lord Hokage."

Itachi was momentarily at a loss, his face flushing red.

On a tree not far away.

A pair of pinwheel-like Mangekyo eyes watched the two of them quietly.

A smile appeared on a delicate face.

"If Itachi were to become Hokage..."

"That doesn't seem so bad."

Early the next morning, Uchiha Kei walked toward the academy while yawning.

Because the thatched hut had been destroyed and Itachi had left in a rush due to his turbulent emotions, he had forgotten about that matter, leaving Uchiha Kei with nothing but the sky for a blanket and the earth for a bed.

That night had been somewhat difficult to endure.

Rubbing his sore arms, Uchiha Kei sighed.

"Kei! Kei!"

A familiar shout came from behind.

"What are you yelling about so early in the morning? You really have no sense of public decency."

Uchiha Kei muttered to himself, knowing exactly who it was without turning around.

"What are you mumbling about? We're going to be late!"

Naruto shouted and hollered, grabbing him and sprinting toward the academy.

It had to be said, Naruto's strength was truly on a superhuman level.

Uchiha Kei's feet left the ground, his face filled with utter despair.

A moment later, when the two arrived at the classroom, Iruka had already begun the lesson.

The previously quiet classroom exploded into chaos the moment they pushed open the door.

"It's the demon fox."

"And the demon fox's friend, he must be a monster too."

"That Uchiha Kei really showed off yesterday."

"Well, he's a monster, so it's understandable if he acts abnormally sometimes."

"..."

Whispers broke out below. Almost all of their peers looked at the two with disgust, and a small portion even held hatred in their eyes.

Except for the Konoha Rookies.

Naruto naturally heard them, his expression instantly turning dejected as he subconsciously kept his distance from Uchiha Kei.

A cold glint flashed through Uchiha Kei's eyes, and he smilingly took Naruto's hand.

"You call him a demon fox? And call me a monster?"

Uchiha Kei scoffed. "Don't you all like to let your strength do the talking? Come on, come on, I'll give you all a chance."

Releasing Naruto's hand, he circulated his genin-level chakra wildly within his body, and an aura of slaughter swept through the room.

Silence!

The chattering below vanished instantly.

Uchiha Kei stood full of oppressive pressure, looking proudly at the brats below.

"This ninja world is very dangerous, and I don't mind letting you get a taste of it early."

Uchiha Kei's face was all smiles, but the words he spoke made people shudder.

"Hmph! A fox demon is a fox demon, am I wrong?"

"Exactly! He is a fox demon through and through!"

"My mom said he's the one who caused my father's death!"

Even so, a few children below stiffened their necks, their faces twisted with deep-seated hatred.

Iruka had intended to intervene, but upon hearing these words, he stood frozen in place.

The gaze he directed toward Naruto was incredibly complex.

His own parents had also died because of the Nine-Tails.

On that blood-soaked night, countless Konoha ninja and civilians had perished at the hands of the Nine-Tails.

That hatred had now been transferred onto Naruto, who served as its vessel.

Uchiha Kei shook his head in disappointment and was just about to step forward when a thin, weak hand grabbed him.

"Kei, don't," Naruto said, his head bowed and a sorrowful expression on his face. "They aren't wrong. I am a fox demon; I can feel its presence."

Having grown up amidst rumors and whispers, Naruto hadn't understood at first, even harboring resentment toward the people of Konoha.

As he grew older, he gradually began to sense something existing within his body.

Scarlet eyes, malevolent chakra, a destructive and violent aura...

Perhaps these people were right; he really was a fox demon, and he was the one who had killed their parents and loved ones.

Uchiha Kei paused, realizing what Naruto meant.

It seemed he was already able to perceive the presence of the Nine-Tails.

Inside the Hokage Building.

"Do you see? The evil fox demon and the despicable Uchiha—this is the consequence of your constant indulgence of them!"

Danzo, his body wrapped in bandages with only one eye exposed, pointed at the image displayed by the Mirror Technique.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, seated behind his desk, took a puff of his pipe. "They haven't done anything."

"Haven't done anything?"

Danzo slammed his hand onto the desk, his face contorted with rage. "Must there be a river of blood before you finally repent?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned. "It's not as serious as you make it out to be; they are still just children."

"When will you ever get over this soft-hearted habit of yours?"

"Children? Uzumaki Naruto has the Nine-Tails sealed inside him! If his emotions spiral out of control, we could face another Night of the Nine-Tails!"

"And that other one, Uchiha Kei, has always been a dead last with abysmal talent. Yet yesterday, he suddenly turned it all around with a perfect score in shurikenjutsu. What does that tell you?"

"It means the brat has been biding his time, hiding his true ability! Why would a child do such a thing? It must be the Uchiha clan putting him up to it!"

"The Uchiha clan has been plotting a rebellion all along!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's brow furrowed deeper, his expression becoming indecisive.

"Enough, you don't need to trouble yourself. Just leave it to me to resolve."

Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression, Danzo knew he had succeeded. He waved his hand, leaving without giving him a chance to speak.

Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his hand, watching Danzo's retreating back, but ultimately said nothing.

According to the reports from the Anbu monitoring Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto's chakra had been boiling unstably lately.

The Nine-Tails...

Perhaps it was about to break the seal.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up and looked out the window at the Hokage Rock.

The faces of the First and Second Hokage were somewhat weathered, and his own showed the marks of time as well, but the Fourth's remained exceptionally pristine.

"Minato, the seal on the Nine-Tails is loosening."

"Naruto has lived among rumors and whispers all these years; I have done my best..."

"I have already failed you, and now, I can only fail Naruto."

"I hope your spirits in heaven can watch over Konoha..."

"And ensure its prosperity!"