Stop

"Just as I thought, it's not that simple." Toru Kujyo frowned slightly and immediately dispersed his chakra. "The Rasengan's stability depends on precise rotation and compression. Changing its size disrupts that balance."

He was not discouraged. If anything, he grew more excited. The greater the challenge, the greater the rewards of success.

"I need to recalculate the ratio between rotational speed and chakra density." Toru Kujyo began another round of attempts. "And figure out how to implant six smaller cores inside the enlarged Rasengan."

After several attempts, however, Toru Kujyo realized that developing this ninjutsu was far more dangerous than he had expected. If it went out of control, the explosion would be powerful enough to flatten the entire courtyard.

"Looks like I need somewhere safer to train." Toru Kujyo stopped and looked toward Hokage Rock in the distance. "Still, a suitable opportunity might come along soon."

Time slipped quietly by, and before long, it was mid-May.

May 15-a day destined to go down in the history of the shinobi world.

At school, Toru Kujyo's shadow clone behaved as he always did, listening attentively, occasionally answering the teacher's questions, and interacting normally with his classmates. But his attention remained fixed on one person-Sasuke Uchiha.

Sasuke looked no different from usual that day. He wore the same cold expression and kept to himself as always. But Toru Kujyo knew this might well be the last time Sasuke came to school with his current mindset.

After tonight, Konoha's young prodigy, Sasuke Uchiha, will be gone for good, Toru Kujyo thought. In his place will be an avenger driven by hatred.

After school, Toru Kujyo watched Sasuke walk away alone with his schoolbag on his back, a flicker of complicated emotion crossing his eyes. He knew what Sasuke was about to experience, what pain that proud boy would have to endure.

But he would not stop it, nor could he.

This is a path you have to walk, Toru Kujyo silently told him. Only by experiencing despair can you gain true power. And I need this opportunity, too.

Night fell, and Konoha settled into silence. But in the Uchiha Clan Compound, a bloody massacre was quietly unfolding.

Early the next morning, news that would shake the entire shinobi world spread through Konoha.

"The Uchiha Clan has been wiped out!"

"Uchiha Itachi did it! He killed his entire clan!"

"Sasuke Uchiha was the only survivor!"

All of Konoha erupted into an uproar. In streets and alleys, teahouses and taverns, talk of the Uchiha Clan Massacre was everywhere.

"Wasn't Uchiha Itachi a prodigy? How could he do something like this?"

"I heard he's already been listed as an S-Rank Rogue Ninja. The bounty on his head is terrifying!"

"Poor Sasuke. He lost his whole family in a single night."

The news caused an enormous stir at the Ninja Academy as well. Everyone was shocked and sympathetic that the normally proud, aloof Sasuke Uchiha had suffered such a sudden tragedy.

Toru Kujyo stood among the crowd, listening to his classmates' discussions. Outwardly, he showed the appropriate shock and sympathy, but inwardly, he calmly analyzed the consequences of the incident.

The destruction of the Uchiha Clan marks Konoha's weakest period since its founding, he calculated. The Third Hokage was already old, and now he's Konoha's only Kage Level fighter. If the other ninja villages want to strike at Konoha, this is their best opportunity.

But Toru Kujyo knew the other ninja villages would not act rashly. The annihilation of the entire Uchiha Clan was far too suspicious; there had to be deeper reasons behind it. Recklessly declaring war on Konoha could easily bring disaster down on their own heads.

"Instead, we'll get a few years of peace." The corners of Toru Kujyo's lips rose slightly. "That's a perfect opportunity for me to grow. And..."

His gaze turned toward the distant Uchiha Clan Compound.

"It should be deserted now. Just the place to practice a new ninjutsu."

The Uchiha Clan Compound, once home to Konoha's strongest clan, had become a deathly silent ruin. The smell of blood still hung in the air, while broken doors and windows and scattered belongings bore witness to the previous night's tragedy.

To Toru Kujyo, however, it was the perfect secret training ground. Spacious enough, secluded enough, and unlikely to be disturbed anytime soon.

Late that night, when all was quiet, Toru Kujyo slipped into the Uchiha Clan Compound. Moonlight spilled across the deserted training ground, casting an eerie glow over the ruins.

"This spot will do." Toru Kujyo found a relatively open area and began developing the Super Hurricane Multi-Ball in earnest.

This time, he no longer had any reservations. Even if the ninjutsu went out of control and exploded, it would neither harm innocent people nor expose his whereabouts.

Blue chakra gathered in his palm, gradually taking the shape of a Rasengan. Then he carefully began increasing its volume.

Once its original size, twice...

The Rasengan trembled more and more violently, but through sheer force of his purple-grade Chakra Control, Toru Kujyo kept it stable.

"It worked!" Excitement flashed in Toru Kujyo's eyes.

Next came the more crucial step-implanting six smaller cores inside the enlarged Rasengan.

This required incredibly precise manipulation and exceptional Chakra Control. The slightest mistake could cause the entire ninjutsu to collapse or even explode.

Toru Kujyo took a deep breath and began the final push.

News of the Uchiha Clan Massacre spread across the shinobi world like a thunderclap.

In the Raikage's Office in Kumogakure, in the Land of Lightning, Fourth Raikage A was discussing the shocking news with his adviser.

"The Uchiha Clan was wiped out in one night, and Uchiha Itachi was the killer?" The Raikage slammed his fist onto the desk. "Impossible! The Uchiha Clan had so many elite jōnin. How could one person kill them all?"

"Lord Raikage, according to the intelligence our spies sent back, Uchiha Itachi does possess the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan, but..." The adviser paused. "There is absolutely no way he could have slaughtered the entire clan in a single night on his own."

The Raikage narrowed his eyes. "What are you suggesting?"

"Konoha High Command must have been involved. For the entire Uchiha Clan to be annihilated without putting up any resistance, they must have prepared in advance and deployed more than one Kage Level fighter."

The situation in Iwagakure, in the Land of Earth, was much the same. Though Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki was old, his judgment remained as sharp as ever.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi, oh, Hiruzen Sarutobi. I never knew you had such ruthless methods in you." Ōnoki sneered. "Erasing the entire Uchiha Clan in one night-with that kind of strength and decisiveness, even I have to reassess how much of a threat Konoha poses."

"Then should we take this opportunity to strike at Konoha?" asked the Tsuchikage's bodyguard beside him.