At Naruto's home.
Watching Naruto struggle to mold chakra inside the house, only to fail again and again, Oto Uchiha sighed inwardly from her perch in a nearby tree.
Because he had become the Nine-Tails' vessel and was affected by its tailed beast chakra, Naruto was not as gifted as his father. He was even among the dead lasts at the Ninja Academy.
But Oto Uchiha understood that Naruto's current standing meant little. As a jinchūriki, he was destined to shine in the future-provided he survived the calamity before them.
The alarm echoing throughout the village proved that it was under attack, and the attackers could only be the Akatsuki.
Knowing this, Oto did not act rashly. Her sole objective was to protect Naruto, the jinchūriki.
Oto glanced at the nearby bushes, where a Root squad was also stationed.
Recognizing the importance of protecting Naruto meant that Danzo had some brains, at least. Whether they were there to protect him or watch him, however, was difficult to say.
Apparently, that Root leader advocated raising Naruto into an emotionless war machine.
Oto snorted disdainfully. "How cruel..."
According to the scant ANBU records, Danzo was undoubtedly a ruthless man who placed the village's interests above all else. Even his own Shimura clan had been left with few surviving members because of the wars.
But was the village he envisioned merely the village of his own imagination?
After so many years of intense warfare and her experience commanding the Military Police Force, she was no longer that naïve, impulsive little girl.
Reining in her wandering thoughts, Oto looked back at the panting Naruto inside the house, remaining alert for enemies who might appear at any moment.
Suddenly, a distorted vortex appeared in the room, and Obito emerged before Naruto.
Looking at the mysterious