Morning at the Corridor
The next morning, Naruto Uzumaki stretched his limbs along the corridor.
From the room at the end of the hallway, the door creaked open, and Konan stepped out, dark circles heavy under her eyes.
Naruto exclaimed in surprise, "Konan-nee, what happened to you?"
Konan gazed at the rain falling outside the window and replied, "It's a long story. Anyway, I've cracked the code left by Sensei. Take a look."
She handed Naruto a piece of paper with the deciphered code written on it.
The code was a single sentence:
"I return from Yomi, leaving memories, the Pure Land's dead, a taboo for the living, beware."
Konan asked, "What do you think?"
Naruto's gaze deepened. "From this one sentence alone, it's hard to figure out the full picture. But Ero-Sennin must have discovered a great secret, one so profound that he couldn't express it directly in words. He had to use this coded message to guide us."
Crash!
Lightning flashed, thunder roared, and rain poured down in torrents.
Sixth Floor of the Tower
Jiraiya sat on his bed, his weathered eyes filled with deep concern.
Seventh Floor Corridor
Naruto said, "I think there's more to this code. It might take a long time to truly understand what Ero-Sennin is trying to tell us."
Konan's expression turned somber. She faintly sensed that behind Jiraiya's resurrection and his silence lay a shroud of mystery, one that involved a monumental secret.
Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Naruto grinned and said, "But didn't Ero-Sennin say he's watching over us? So everything will turn out for the better!"
"Mm," Konan nodded, her unease dissipating somewhat. Seeing Naruto all geared up so early in the morning, she asked, "Are you heading out?"
Naruto replied, "Yeah, there's a place I need to visit!"
"Is it dangerous?" Konan asked.
"Not really~" Naruto replied casually.
Relieved, Konan said, "Alright then."
"Konan-nee, take care of Ero-Sennin. I'll be back soon~." With that, Naruto opened the window, ready to set off.
But Konan reached out and grabbed his sleeve.
"Konan-nee?" Naruto looked at her, puzzled.
Konan's eyes flickered. "Actually, after reading that book, I find it hard to face Jiraiya-sensei. If it's not too dangerous, could you leave a shadow clone and come with me to see him?"
"Alright then," Naruto said with a helpless smile, leaving behind a shadow clone.
A Dim Hideout in the Land of Fields
Half a day later, in a dark hideout in the Land of Fields, a battle broke out—and ended swiftly!
Amidst the wreckage of kunai and shuriken, Shin Uchiha, who had been knocked to the ground, glared in terror at the masked man approaching him. With his body enhanced by cloned Mangekyō Sharingan, he demanded, "Who are you?! How do you possess such overwhelming power?!"
Naruto's voice was cold and steady. "Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is that you, Shin Uchiha, have something I want."
Many people weren't familiar with Shin Uchiha.
Originally one of Orochimaru's test subjects, Shin possessed a unique body that could accept transplanted organs without rejection.
Because of this, Orochimaru implanted numerous Sharingan—collected by Shimura Danzo during the Uchiha clan massacre—into Shin's body. Later, Shin's right arm, which had been implanted with various Sharingan, was given to Danzo as his new arm.
Orochimaru also cloned multiple copies of Shin using his cells.
Eventually, Shin betrayed Orochimaru, taking his clones—whom he referred to as his "sons"—and using them as tools and spare organs for himself.
Though not an Uchiha by blood, Shin became obsessed with Itachi Uchiha, even adopting the Uchiha surname. Misinterpreting Itachi's actions, Shin rejected the value of peace, believing that only through constant conflict, like that pursued by Itachi and the Akatsuki, could humanity evolve.
At this point in time, Shin was lying low.
In Naruto's previous life, during the Boruto era, both he and Sasuke had fought Shin. However, due to their unfamiliarity with Shin's abilities and their diminished combat instincts after years of peace, they had initially struggled against him.
In this life, Kabuto Yakushi had used Shin's cells to enhance Danzo, transforming him into a monster capable of defeating Sasuke.
Shin growled, "Damn it! Whoever you are, you'll regret this!!!"
Tap.
A single-eyed creature landed beside Shin. Its deformed face bore a Mangekyō Sharingan, which began to spin, creating a spatial vortex to absorb Shin.
"So, it finally appears," Naruto muttered.
Swish!
Naruto vanished in a flash of Flying Thunder God, delivering a powerful kick that sent Shin flying!
The single-eyed creature, sensing danger, attempted to flee.
Banshō Ten'in!
Naruto extended his hand, and with a surge of gravitational force, pulled the creature toward him. He then gouged out the creature's Mangekyō Sharingan, which possessed spatial abilities!
Among all of Shin's Mangekyō Sharingan, only this one had developed spatial manipulation abilities.
Naruto already knew the origin of this eye from Orochimaru in his previous life.
During the cloning process, an accident had caused two eyes to merge into one, granting it a unique, unnamed ocular technique.
Butō Dōmei—a technique that extended the ability to manipulate ninja tools to spatial manipulation.
Although it didn't develop a power like Kamui, which allowed teleportation between marked targets and the user, it was still formidable.
Tap.
Naruto formed a hand seal, and the Mangekyō Sharingan crumbled into sand in his hand!
This was the Secret Technique: True Eye of Sand, a hidden technique of the Sand Village created by the First Kazekage, Reto. Superior to Gaara's Third Eye, it allowed the user to control an external eye made of sand.
By designating an eye to turn into sand, the sand could later reassemble into the original eye and reconnect to the user's optic nerve when needed.
"With this technique, I now have an external Mangekyō Sharingan. Beyond the Flying Thunder God, I've gained another spatial manipulation ability, allowing for more versatile strategies!"
"As for you, Shin Uchiha…"
Sizzle!
Naruto removed his mask, revealing his right eye, which transformed into a Mangekyō Sharingan.
Kotoamatsukami!
"Treat your sons well. It's not too late to become a good father."
Snap!
The malice in Shin's eyes vanished. From that day forward, he disappeared with his cloned "sons," living in obscurity.
Return to Amegakure
After resolving this matter, Naruto returned to Amegakure.
"Naruto," Konan said, "a girl from Konoha wants to see you."
Naruto froze, his composure momentarily shattered.
"Could it be… Hinata?!"
Konan replied, "She said her name is Haruno Sakura."
"Phew, so it's Sakura," Naruto exhaled in relief. "As long as it's not Hinata."
Calming his nerves, Naruto resumed his characteristic air of depth upon his return.
"Bring her to me," he said.
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