Danzo's Restlessness

"Did you feel it? The legendary Mangekyō Sharingan."

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

"The traditional way the Uchiha awaken their eyes is indeed cruel, but it can be avoided. Just like now—you awakened the Mangekyō without experiencing any real, extreme pain."

Itachi still couldn't believe it. He touched his eyes, unable to process what had happened today.

"The whole idea of a curse is utter nonsense. I admit the Uchiha Clan can be extreme, but with the right guidance, the things you're worried about simply won't happen!"

Uchiha Kei's voice was gentle.

"Becoming the first Uchiha Hokage is the first step toward guiding them!"

Itachi looked up sharply, staring at him with his Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Well? Do you want to dance with me?" Uchiha Kei held out his hand. "Let's dance our way to a different future for the Uchiha!"

Itachi seemed moved. His hand trembled as he reached out, but he stopped just before touching Uchiha Kei's.

Uchiha Kei laughed and firmly clasped Itachi's hand.

"Then it's settled!"

With that, Uchiha Kei withdrew his hand and gave a slight bow. "Future Fifth Hokage... Lord Hokage."

Itachi was at a loss for a moment, his face turning red.

In a tree not far away,

a pair of windmill-shaped Mangekyō watched the two in silence.

A smile appeared on the watcher's handsome face.

"If Itachi became Hokage..."

"That might not be so bad."

Early the next morning, Uchiha Kei walked to school, yawning.

The thatched hut had been destroyed, and Itachi, overwhelmed by emotion, had hurried off without giving it another thought. That left Uchiha Kei with nothing but the sky for a blanket and the ground for a bed.

It had been a rough night.

Rubbing his aching arms, Uchiha Kei sighed.

"Kei! Kei!"

A familiar voice called from behind him.

"What's with all the shouting this early? Have you no consideration for anyone?"

Uchiha Kei muttered to himself. He knew who it was without turning around.

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

Naruto shouted, grabbed him, and dragged him into a sprint toward school.

Naruto really did have superhuman strength.

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

A short while later, the two arrived at the classroom. Iruka had already started the lesson.

The classroom had been quiet, but the moment they opened the door, it erupted.

"It's the Fox Demon."

"And the Fox Demon's friend. He must be a monster too."

"That Uchiha Kei really showed off yesterday."

"Hey, monsters are bound to act weird sometimes."

"..."

Whispers spread through the room. Almost all the students their age looked at the two with disgust, and a few even glared at them with hatred.

Everyone except the Konoha Rookies.

Naruto heard them too. His expression fell, and he instinctively moved away from Uchiha Kei.

A cold glint flashed through Uchiha Kei's eyes. Then he cheerfully took Naruto's hand.

"You call him a Fox Demon and me a monster?"

Uchiha Kei gave a scornful laugh. "Don't you all like to settle things with strength? Come on, I'll give you a chance."

He let go of Naruto's hand. Chakra at the Genin level surged through his body, and a murderous aura swept over the room.

Silence!

The chatter below stopped at once.

Uchiha Kei's presence was oppressive as he looked down at the little brats with haughty confidence.

"This Shinobi World is a dangerous place. I don't mind giving you a taste of that early."

Uchiha Kei smiled as he spoke, but his words sent a chill through the room.

"Hmph! The Fox Demon is the Fox Demon. Am I wrong?"

"Exactly! He is a Fox Demon!"

"My mom said he's the reason my father died!"

Even so, a few children stubbornly raised their chins as they spoke, their faces twisted with deep hatred.

Iruka had been about to intervene, but those words left him frozen in place.

He looked at Naruto with a complicated expression.

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

On that blood-soaked night, countless Konoha Ninja and civilians had died at the Nine-Tails' hands.

Now, all that hatred had been turned on Naruto, the Nine-Tails' container.

Uchiha Kei shook his head in disappointment. He was about to step forward when a thin hand grabbed him.

"Kei, don't." Naruto lowered his head, his face full of sorrow. "They're right. I'm a Fox Demon. I can feel it inside me."

Naruto had grown up surrounded by rumors. When he was younger, he hadn't understood them and had even come to resent the people of Konoha.

As he grew older, he gradually began to sense something inside him.

Red eyes, sinister chakra, a violent urge to destroy...

Maybe they were right. Maybe he really was a Fox Demon, and he was the one who had killed their parents and loved ones.

Uchiha Kei froze, understanding what Naruto meant.

It seemed Naruto could already sense the Nine-Tails inside him.

Inside the Hokage Building,

"Do you see? The evil Fox Demon and the despicable Uchiha! This is what comes of letting them run wild!"

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

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

"Haven't done anything?"

Danzo slammed a hand on the desk, his face furious. "Do you have to wait until the streets run red with blood before you finally come to your senses?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen furrowed his brow. "It's not as serious as you make it sound. They're still children."

"When are you going to get over this soft-heartedness?"

"Children? The Nine-Tails is sealed inside Uzumaki Naruto! If he loses control of his emotions, we could have another Night of the Nine-Tails!"

"As for the other one, Uchiha Kei, he's always been at the bottom of his class, with virtually no talent. Yet yesterday he suddenly turned things around and got a perfect score in shuriken. What does that tell you?"

"It means the boy's been hiding his abilities all along! Why would a child do that? The Uchiha must have told him to!"

"The Uchiha Clan is plotting a rebellion!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's brow furrowed deeper and deeper, his expression turning uncertain.

"Enough. Don't trouble yourself. I'll take care of it."

Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression, Danzo knew he had won. He waved a hand, gave him no chance to respond, and left.

Sarutobi Hiruzen raised a hand and watched Danzo walk away, but in the end, he said nothing.

According to a report from the Anbu assigned to monitor Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto's chakra had been churning unstably for some time.

The Nine-Tails...

It might soon break free of its seal.

Sarutobi Hiruzen rose and looked out the window toward Kage Rock.

The Kage Rock faces of the First and Second were already somewhat worn. His own bore the marks of time as well, while the Fourth's was strikingly new.

"Minato, the Nine-Tails' seal is weakening."

"All these years, Naruto has lived surrounded by rumors. I did everything I could..."

"I've already failed you. Now, there's nothing for it but to fail Naruto too."

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

"And keep it prosperous!"