"Uncle, who are you?" Naruto's blue eyes blinked in confusion as he stared at the man before him. The stranger's features were unmistakably
"Uncle, who are you?"
Naruto's blue eyes blinked in confusion as he stared at the man before him. The stranger's features were unmistakably familiar—so much so that Naruto's heart almost leapt. He looked almost exactly like his father, yet older, as though the years had caught up to him far too quickly.
The man pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation. His voice carried a sharp edge of impatience."I am your father, Naruto!"
"Nani!?" Naruto yelped, his face twisting in disbelief. He almost lunged forward in anger before freezing. Looking more carefully, he realized that the resemblance was too close to ignore. His fists slowly unclenched as his eyes widened."It's really you, Dad!? How did you get so old!?"
Minato Namikaze—though looking as though forty years had been added to his youthful features—let out a weary sigh. He lowered himself onto a stool nearby, shoulders sagging."It's all Chiga's doing," he muttered gloomily. "That boy is becoming more and more troublesome."
Naruto's jaw dropped. At the mention of Chiga, his tension drained away almost immediately. He let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding, wiping the sweat from his brow with exaggerated relief."So that's it. I was scared for a second."
Minato raised a brow. "And what exactly are you relieved about?"
"Obviously about Uchiha Chiga, Dad," Naruto said quickly, his grin returning. "If he can make you look old, then he can just as easily make you young again. Honestly, with how you look now, you wouldn't even need to wear a mask anymore!"
Minato blinked, taken aback, before chuckling bitterly."Well… I suppose that's one way to look at it." Still, he couldn't help but wonder. If he returned home like this, what would Kushina think when she saw him aged decades beyond his years? The thought made his stomach twist uncomfortably.
The next morning, Minato walked openly behind Chiga. Despite his drastically aged appearance, most people merely glanced his way before dismissing him as another of Chiga's attendants. Only the Fourth Raikage's sharp eyes lingered on Minato longer than most, his brow furrowing as if trying to recall a memory. Yet even he soon turned his focus back to the matter at hand: the looming threat of Akatsuki.
When the coalition leaders had all assembled, Chiga rose to address them. His calm yet commanding tone cut through the cold air."As you all know, Akatsuki struck at us last night. That was their declaration. War has begun. Now we must make our preparations."
His solution was frighteningly direct: mobilize every capable ninja and prepare for a decisive clash with the Akatsuki.
Many in the chamber shifted uneasily. The aged Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, frowned deeply, his voice laced with concern."Hokage-sama, we still know far too little about the Rinnegan. Is it wise to rush into battle without understanding its true power?"
His words drew the room's attention to the Raikage. Of all those present, he alone had crossed blades with the wielder of the Rinnegan firsthand.
The Raikage's usually booming presence dimmed for a moment as he recalled that battle. His fists clenched tightly."The power of the Rinnegan is terrifying," he said gravely. "Its abilities are strange, unpredictable, and overwhelming. It can generate crushing force fields from nothing, capable of massive destruction. Do not underestimate it."
As he listed what he had witnessed, the other leaders' expressions grew grim. Every ability of the Rinnegan exceeded conventional ninjutsu, and together, they formed something monstrous.
Minato and the others exchanged worried glances. Though they knew Uchiha Chiga wielded such eyes, none of them had truly seen their power. The thought of two Rinnegan users clashing sent a chill through the room.
Itachi Uchiha's sharp mind worked overtime. He had always believed nothing in this world was without flaw, yet everything he heard about the Rinnegan contradicted that belief. Six different forms of overwhelming ability, combined in one pair of eyes—it was as though the wielder became an all-encompassing warrior. And with the Ten-Tails lurking in the background, the prospect seemed even bleaker.
Chiga listened with feigned surprise, tilting his head slightly."It does sound formidable. Perhaps this war won't be as straightforward as I first thought."
Minato nearly rolled his eyes at that."Quit pretending," he muttered under his breath. "Just show them your Rinnegan already. They're about ready to faint."
The heavy atmosphere thickened. Then Chiga spoke again, his words making every heart skip a beat."At the start of battle, I will personally face Akatsuki's Rinnegan user. The rest of you, hold your ground and observe."
"Nani!?"
Gasps erupted around the table, followed quickly by a ripple of relief. None of them had wanted to be the first to clash with such a foe, and Chiga had volunteered without hesitation. To them, it seemed a stroke of fortune.
What they did not realize was that this had been Chiga's intention all along. Only by demonstrating overwhelming power could he open their eyes to the true gap between themselves and him. And in truth, Nagato's Rinnegan alone was not enough. Eventually, they would need to see Uchiha Madara's might with their own eyes.
But before that battle, Chiga still had another matter to attend to—helping the orphanage director who had quietly reached out for his aid.
Rising from his seat, his gaze swept across the leaders like a storm rolling over the horizon."That is all. Return to your preparations. This meeting is adjourned."
The way he spoke carried no room for discussion. Though this was the Land of Iron, Chiga commanded the chamber as though it were Konoha itself. Not even Mifune, leader of the samurai, dared to object.
From that point forward, the alliance could do little but prepare and wait for Akatsuki's next strike.
The tension spread quickly. Ninja from every village flooded into the Land of Iron, the snowy fields filling with shinobi banners and encampments. The war drums were silent, yet the air thrummed with their coming beat.
It was against this backdrop that Chiga strolled casually through the icy streets, Yūgao Uzuki and Kurenai Yuhi at his side.
The Land of Iron was a realm of perpetual winter. Snowflakes drifted lazily from the heavens, blanketing rooftops and cobblestone roads. Yūgao and Kurenai bundled themselves in thick coats, their breath rising in white clouds. Chiga, in stark contrast, wore only a thin robe, his composure unshaken by the chill. He looked every bit the anomaly, drawing subtle stares from passing samurai.
The samurai themselves treated him with remarkable courtesy. Each patrol that crossed his path stopped to bow before continuing on. Their discipline and quiet dignity stood in stark contrast to the unruly warriors of Wano. In Chiga's eyes, even Mifune was leagues above the foolish Kozuki Oden.
As his two companions admired the winter scenery, Yūgao's sharp eyes caught sight of two figures ahead. She tugged at Chiga's sleeve."Chiga-sama, look! Isn't that Itachi-san and his brother?"
Chiga turned his head. Sure enough, Itachi was kneeling before Sasuke, carefully tying a long blue scarf around his younger brother's neck. Sasuke tried to squirm away, face set in mock annoyance, but the broad smile tugging at his lips betrayed his joy. His prideful façade cracked, revealing the younger brother beneath.
At the same moment, Minato walked past with Naruto at his side. Naruto sported a vivid red scarf that stood out against the snow. He leaned toward Sasuke with a teasing remark, making Sasuke's cheeks flush crimson. Sasuke turned away abruptly, only for his eyes to lock on Chiga standing in the distance.
His breath caught, and he blurted out,"Eh? Chiga-sama!"
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