Root's Assassination Attempt, Naruto's Outburst

The two Root ninja exchanged glances, unsure whether to laugh. Did these kids think Jonin grew on trees?

Two Genin who had only recently graduated actually dared to fight Jonin.

"Sasuke, let's give it everything we've got!"

Naruto Uzumaki felt most of his Chakra recover in an instant.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Aside from Shadow Clones, it was the only Ninjutsu Naruto Uzumaki knew.

A fierce wind swept forward, sending sand and stones flying and blurring the two men's vision.

"And you call that Great Breakthrough?"

Wind Release: Great Breakthrough was a worthless Ninjutsu, good for little more than stirring up a breeze.

Pouring in more Chakra could strengthen it, but anyone with that much Chakra had better uses for it than a technique with no real killing power.

Naruto, though, was a freak. He had poured in enough Chakra to whip up a gale.

Even keeping their footing took effort.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Sasuke Uchiha seized the opening and spat out a fireball.

Fed by the wind, even the weakest Fire Release Ninjutsu suddenly surged forward when paired with Great Breakthrough.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

A Root ninja spat out a wall of water. The fireball struck it, and both vanished in midair.

We nearly got caught off guard by two Genin! The thought hit them both.

They had gone from dismissing the boys to taking them seriously.

If we don't get serious, we might actually lose!

"Konoha Style: Instant Slash!"

"Lightning Release: Lightning Flash!"

A flash of lightning instantly blinded Naruto and Sasuke.

Sasuke Uchiha forced his eyes open. A blur slashed toward him; even with his awakened Sharingan, he could make out only its rough outline.

"Ah!"

A huge gash opened across Sasuke Uchiha's back. Blood burst from it.

"He dodged a fatal blow even then! Uchiha Clan members really are hard to deal with!"

"Konoha Style: Instant Flash: Triple Slash!"

"Lightning Release: Lightning Light!"

Light flared, blocking Naruto Uzumaki's sight again. All he could hear was Sasuke Uchiha screaming.

"Sasuke! Sasuke, where are you?"

When his vision finally cleared, Sasuke lay on the ground, bloodied and barely breathing.

"Mission complete!"

The two turned to leave. Spending so much time on two Genin was embarrassing enough.

"Where do you think you're going? What did you do to Sasuke?" Naruto Uzumaki demanded, tears in his eyes.

Neither looked back, so neither saw the red, bubbling Chakra spread over Naruto Uzumaki's body.

"Behind you!"

A huge blood-red hand came down from above.

They dodged in a rush. An enormous handprint appeared in the ground; taking that blow would have left either of them in bad shape.

Naruto Uzumaki lacked the strength to control this state. Reason was gradually fading from his foxlike slit-pupiled eyes.

All he wanted now was to destroy the men who had killed Sasuke.

In the blink of an eye, Naruto Uzumaki was in front of them. One punch sent one of the men flying.

"Kaede, are you all right?"

Another huge hand appeared behind Naruto Uzumaki and swept toward the Root swordsman.

"Konoha Style: Swift Slash!"

The red Chakra arm was severed with ease. It broke into red bubbles and vanished into the air.

"So this is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki? He can unleash this much power?" Kin said. He had come within a hair of being hit.

"Earth Release: Earth Prison Dome!"

A massive prison instantly enclosed Naruto Uzumaki.

Jinchūriki were strategic weapons for every ninja village. The two men had to hold back against him; they did not dare use powerful Ninjutsu.

Kaede's plan was simple: use the Chakra-absorbing Earth Prison Dome to drain Naruto Uzumaki dry. Then he would calm down.

The idea was sound. The problem was that Kaede had badly underestimated Naruto Uzumaki.

The earthen prison had barely risen when a punch smashed through it. Behind Naruto Uzumaki, a second tail formed beside the first.

Kill you. Kill you. Kill you.

That was all Naruto Uzumaki could think.

"Kaede, we have to fight to kill him! Otherwise, we won't survive!"

"Konoha Style: Instant Flash: Sevenfold Slash!"

Kin swung his longsword at Naruto Uzumaki, its edge cutting through the air with a whistle sharp enough to pierce eardrums.

Seven wounds appeared across Naruto Uzumaki's body in an instant, then visibly healed.

The attack seemed to enrage Naruto further. A third tail formed behind him, and the menace radiating from him grew more terrifying.

"Honestly, I have to deal with this myself?"

At some point, Uchiha Yoru had appeared behind Naruto and placed a hand on his head.

Naruto Uzumaki, lost to reason, turned on him and lashed out with a palm strike.

Uchiha Yoru opened his Sharingan and used Genjutsu to return Naruto to normal.

Naruto Uzumaki went limp and collapsed.

The Root ninja stared at each other. That was it? They had struggled so hard and still failed to stop him.

But another problem stood before them: their second target had appeared, and they had little Chakra left. Should they stay or go?

They exchanged a glance and decided to kill Uchiha Yoru.

After all, everyone knew Uchiha Yoru was a slacker who spent his days flirting with girls or hunting down good food!

They chalked up what he had just done to the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan, not to any ability of Yoru's own.

"Earth Release: Earth Flo—"

"Kamui!"

One of Uchiha Yoru's eyes took the shape of a shuriken. In an instant, it twisted off one man's arm.

"The Mangekyō Sharingan!" both men cried.

"Kin, run! You must tell Lord Danzo that Uchiha Yoru has the Mangekyō Sharingan!"

Kaede endured the pain and charged Uchiha Yoru, hoping to delay him with what remained of his body.

"You hurt my brother and my student. Did you think you could just walk away?"

Uchiha Yoru had checked Sasuke Uchiha's injuries. Without treatment, Sasuke could die, and where was Yoru supposed to find a medical ninja out in this wilderness?

Perhaps that was why they had not bothered to finish Sasuke off.

"Lightning Release: Chidori Sharp Spear!"

The lightning spear shot through Kaede's chest.

Uchiha Yoru said nothing more and rushed after the fleeing Kin.

"Konoha Style: Swift Slash!"

Kin tried to force Uchiha Yoru back, but Yoru caught the blade.

"Chidori Stream!"

Countless arcs of electricity erupted from Uchiha Yoru. Kin's body instantly charred black. He was clearly at death's door.

"They did well!"

Uchiha Yoru was impressed. Two Genin had pushed their opponents this far. They really were the children of destiny who would one day save the world. He began treating Sasuke, leaving Naruto alone.

Members of the Uzumaki Clan were tough as nails.

Sooner or later, I need to get Hashirama's Cells transplanted into me! Using his Mangekyō just once had left Uchiha Yoru feeling drained.

In the original story, Obito Uchiha had transplanted Hashirama's Cells. That was why he could use his Mangekyō Sharingan without going blind.

The Uchiha Sharingan drew on Yin Release Chakra, while Hashirama's Cells embodied Yang Release. Balancing the two had not evolved Obito's Sharingan, but it had removed the risk of blindness.

Elsewhere, a half-black, half-white creature walked beside a masked man.

Suddenly, the man in the Spiral Mask covered one eye.

"Madara, what's wrong?" Zetsu asked.

"Nothing. Let's keep moving," the Masked Man said. Kakashi, have you started using that eye's power too?

He could not mistake that sensation. It came from his other eye.

And that eye belonged to Kakashi now.

He knew full well that the Mangekyō Sharingan was strongest when its two eyes were together.

But because of the feelings he still carried, he had never intended to take it back.

This was not something he wanted Zetsu to know. Better to keep it hidden.