"Dravak! You came!" Naruto shouted, his voice bursting with excitement as he stepped out of the academy and spotted Dravak waiting for him. Without hesitation, he sprinted over, grinning from ear to ear. The display left the surrounding academy students frozen in shock—after all, Naruto was usually the one who had no one waiting for him.
"Of course I came," Dravak replied with an easy smile. "Did you really think I'd ignore my little brother? I'll come get you whenever I can. I can't promise it'll be every day, though—I'm a busy man."
"It's okay, I understand," Naruto said sincerely, his usual energy softening into something warmer. Dravak gave him a small, approving smile in return.
"But you might not need me for long," Dravak remarked as Naruto began leading the way toward his home. The comment made Naruto blink in confusion, his head tilting slightly as he tried to figure out what Dravak meant.
"You want to know why I'm so sure you'll become strong in the future?" Dravak asked with a light smile, his tone carrying quiet confidence. Naturally, Naruto nodded without hesitation, eager to hear the answer.
"Because something about you is… different," Dravak said, his tone steady yet carrying a hint of intrigue.
"I could feel it back when we were eating ramen. It made me wonder why someone like you would be treated so poorly by this village." His eyes narrowed slightly, recalling the events after they parted ways. "But after I left, Anbu showed up. They didn't seem too pleased that I was spending time with you… and if I'm not mistaken, there should have been a shift—people suddenly acting a bit nicer toward you, right?"
Naruto froze mid-step, his eyes widening as the realization hit. "Yes… a masked man came up to me yesterday," he said quickly, almost tripping over his own words in surprise. "He gave me this weird look."
"Makes sense," Dravak said lightly, his gaze sharp yet calm. "They raised you believing the only way to earn the villagers' respect was by becoming Hokage. The moment I told you there's another path—a path different from the one they laid out for you—they started moving, making sure your future stayed tied to the Hidden Leaf." His voice carried an almost amused edge, though his expression didn't change.
Naruto's eyes went wide at the implication, his mind racing as the truth settled in.
"So, yeah… it sucks," Dravak continued, exhaling in a faint sigh. "But that also means you don't really need me. Once I'm gone, I'm sure more people will suddenly start being nice to you."
"I… I don't want that," Naruto said, his voice low and heavy, eyes fixed on the ground. His small hands curled into fists at his sides.
Dravak glanced down at him, a flicker of confusion crossing his face.
"I want to be your brother," Naruto continued, his voice trembling. "You're the only one who's ever cared about me… I don't care about the villagers, or about being brainwashed, or whatever they're trying to do. I just… I want to be your brother." Tears welled in his eyes, threatening to fall, his expression showing the raw fear that Dravak might walk away.
Dravak's words had opened Naruto's eyes. The so-called Will of Fire, the way the Third Hokage always found time for him yet never for the other academy students, suddenly felt hollow. The sudden change in how the villagers treated him after Dravak's arrival was proof enough—proof that the village had been trying to chain him down, molding him into something they wanted him to be.
"I'm not a good person, Naruto," Dravak said evenly, his gaze steady. "Just because I saved you when you were getting picked on doesn't mean I go around saving people. I'm a man who would go through hell and back for my family—but for those who aren't family… they're just tools. Tools I use to make sure my family stays strong."
The blunt honesty hit Naruto like a strike to the chest, leaving him frozen in place, eyes wide in shock.
"Shocking, right?" Dravak's voice was calm, almost casual, yet his words carried a weight Naruto couldn't ignore. "But it's something everyone in power has to do. Let me give you a small example—imagine you had a girlfriend who was sick. At the same time, someone else's mother was also sick, and you only had one medicine that could heal either of them. Who would you choose? Most people would pick the person they're attached to over someone they barely know."
He let that sink in before continuing. "The Hokage and others in positions like his face these kinds of decisions all the time. And of course, they put their village first. No matter how much they talk about peace, peace can't truly exist because their own people will always come first. Take this, for example—a village in the desert desperately needs resources. They might be on friendly terms with the Hidden Leaf, but there's a limit to how much the Leaf can give, and a limit to how much that desert village can afford to buy. At some point, friendship gives way to necessity."
"This causes people to grow displeased," Dravak continued, his tone steady but sharp. "That displeasure turns into resentment, and soon the other village begins to dislike the Hidden Leaf. In turn, the Leaf is forced to take steps back—small compromises here and there—just to stay on good terms. But there's a limit to how many steps backward they can take before the losses start piling up, before their own people grow restless and unhappy… You want to know how I plan to fix all of this?"
"How?" Naruto asked quietly. "It seems… unfixable."
"Indeed," Dravak said, almost amused, "but it can be solved—easily, in fact—if the strongest person in the world unites all nations under one banner, forcing them to work together. I plan to do exactly that one day. And of course, every nation will refuse. They'll brand me as the villain, and they wouldn't be wrong."
Naruto stayed silent, unsure if he was more shocked by the plan… or by how calmly Dravak spoke about becoming the bad guy.
"For this reason," Dravak said evenly, "I think you and I should go our separate ways. You're a bright kid, and I don't want to drag you into the darkness of this world. It was my fault for approaching you in the first place, planning to one day have you join my side."
Naruto froze, staring at him for a moment before slowly reaching out and taking Dravak's hand. The small, determined gesture caught Dravak off guard.
"W-we're brothers," Naruto said, his voice trembling but his gaze steady, "and brothers support each other."
"You can always find new brothers," Dravak replied calmly. "Don't force yourself into something that makes you uncomfortable. My path is to attempt the impossible—to unite all nations under one rule—an idea no one will ever willingly accept. Your path is to earn respect and find a family. We care about different things."
His words lit a spark of anger in Naruto's eyes.
"Different? Different how? You're clearly searching for a family—so why don't you want me to join?" Naruto shouted, his voice cracking with frustration.
Dravak's expression shifted, a faint trace of conflict flickering in his eyes. He looked at Naruto for a long moment before speaking, his tone calm but edged with something heavier.
"Because… you're not the kid I thought you were. When I first saw you, I believed you were like me—completely alone, surviving day by day in a world that would rather see you crushed than standing. But clearly," he said, tilting his head slightly, "you have people in this village who care for you. As much as I dislike the way they go about showing it, it doesn't feel right to take you away from here. Not when you still have the chance to learn more about yourself… and maybe even find your place in this world."
"Who said I want a place here!" Naruto yelled, his voice raw with defiance.
The outburst caught Dravak off guard, leaving him staring into Naruto's heated gaze. For a long moment, neither spoke—the tension between them almost tangible. Finally, Dravak exhaled slowly, his shoulders easing ever so slightly.
"How about this," he said evenly, "you take the time to grow. For now, forget everything I've told you. When you've become a genin—if you still want to join me—you can follow me. And when that day comes, I'll apologize for putting you through this… with a special gift."
Naruto's lips pressed into a thin line as he nodded, though the gesture was stiff and reluctant.
Dravak gave a faint nod before glancing to the side, his gaze locking on Kakashi. The masked shinobi's lone visible eye was narrowed, studying him with quiet suspicion. Dravak lifted a hand in a casual wave, then dismissed him without another thought, turning back to continue on with Naruto.
…
Later that night, the village was quiet, the streets still under the pale silver wash of moonlight. Inside his small apartment, Naruto slept soundly, his breathing slow and even—until a shadow cut across the moonlight streaming through his window. His eyes fluttered open, confusion giving way to curiosity.
Padding over, he peered outside and spotted two Anbu on the rooftop nearby. They stood close together, their masks gleaming faintly under the moonlight as they spoke in hushed tones about something he couldn't quite make out.
"He's fast asleep… but Dravak is ruining everything. If this keeps up, we may have no choice but to kill Naruto if he shows any sign of leaving the village," one of the Anbu said coldly, his voice devoid of hesitation as he kept his gaze fixed on the full moon above.
"Give Kakashi some time," the other replied in a quieter tone. "He was Naruto's father's student—he'll try to connect with him. Even if he's not ready to face the fact that his sensei is gone, he'll still do his best to keep the boy here."
Naruto's eyes widened as the words sank in. A cold, heavy knot formed in his stomach. Every instinct screamed at him to throw open the window and charge out—yell, fight, do something. But the moment he shifted, fear gripped him so tightly it froze him in place.
He backed away from the window and curled into his bed, pulling the blanket over himself as if it could shield him from what he had just heard. He stayed that way, motionless, too terrified to even let the Anbu know he was awake.
"Shut up. Don't talk about that," the first Anbu snapped, his voice sharp and cutting through the quiet night. "If Naruto ever heard and started digging into his father, Kakashi would be tortured and executed before the week was over."
"He's asleep. You worry too much," the second Anbu replied with a dismissive tone. "If he were awake, I'd kill the kid right here and now. Everything was going perfectly until Dravak showed up. That brat was supposed to grow up as a slave to the Hidden Leaf—obedient, loyal as, the perfect weapon for the village." He sighed, as if the thought of that lost future weighed heavier than the life of the boy they spoke of.
"Has any information about Dravak been found? That man is impossible to track. He comes and goes as he pleases, and someone with that level of power doesn't just appear out of nowhere," the first Anbu asked, his tone low but tense.
"Come on. I want to show you what I've learned about him," the second Anbu replied, stepping away from the rooftop edge. "I overheard part of his conversation with Naruto earlier. From the bits I caught, it sounds like he's aiming to conquer the world… basically setting himself up to become a world enemy."
As he spoke, his form shifted and blurred, reshaping into a doppelganger before vanishing into the night. The first Anbu followed suit, his own body twisting into the same eerie clone before disappearing as well.
Only then did the crushing weight in the air lift, the fear that had gripped Naruto's chest, begin to ease. He lay frozen for a moment, finally letting out a shaky breath. But instead of relief, a quiet sob broke free, and he buried his face into his blanket—crying silently in the dark.
On the cliff high above the Hidden Leaf, Dravak stood with a faint smirk tugging at his lips. He pinched his index finger and thumb together, forming a small circle, and peered through it as though framing the entire village in his sight.
"Everything is falling into place perfectly," he murmured, his tone carrying quiet satisfaction. "Any further attempts by the Third Hokage will only come across as desperate brainwashing. Sasuke and Naruto… both are mine now."
He lowered his hand slightly, still gazing at the village below. "What do you think?" he asked without turning, his voice light.
Two doppelgangers emerged soundlessly behind him, the faint ripple of their arrival barely disturbing the still night air.
"As you requested, my lord, we released just enough of the fear aura on Naruto to ensure caution takes root in him," one of the doppelgangers reported with deep respect. "He will be too afraid to share that moment with anyone but you. Out of fear alone, he will tread carefully from now on."
"That's perfect," Dravak replied, his voice laced with quiet satisfaction. "Even more so that today just happens to be the day Shisui dies… well, more like I sped things up."
The circle he had formed with his fingers began to glow faintly, the light sharpening his vision as though the air itself became a magnifying lens. Far away, the scene came into perfect focus—Shisui Uchiha, tense and battle-worn, standing across from Danzo. Dravak's gaze lingered without blinking as he watched Danzo's hand strike with ruthless accuracy, pulling Shisui's eyeball free.
Shisui staggered, blood trailing from the hollow socket, before turning sharply and fleeing into the night.
The poison coursing through Shisui's veins burned like liquid fire, sapping his strength with every passing second. Under normal circumstances, he could have stood his ground—fought Danzo and the Root operatives at his side—but now, survival meant retreat. Gritting his teeth, he turned and fled, each step heavier than the last, the shadows of pursuit close behind.
His path led him straight to Itachi. Without hesitation, Shisui pressed a small, bloodstained hand into his friend's hands, revealing the last eye he had left. "Take it," he urged, his voice hoarse and weak. "And… end it. Kill me. You'll awaken the Mangekyō."
Shisui knew the poison was already claiming his life. If death was inevitable, then he would meet it on his own terms—ensuring his sacrifice would grant Itachi new power.
Itachi's hands trembled as tears blurred his vision, but his resolve hardened under the weight of his friend's request. With a pained expression, he drew his blade and, in one swift motion, drove it through Shisui. Blood splattered against the cliff's edge as Shisui's body staggered backward, tumbling over into the dark abyss below, swallowed by the roar of the river beneath.
Dravak snapped his fingers, and in an instant, Shisui's lifeless body materialized beside him, the stillness of death clinging to it like a heavy shroud. The young Uchiha's face was pale, his expression frozen in that final moment between resolve and release.
"Take him back to the guild," Dravak ordered calmly, his tone carrying the weight of authority without a hint of urgency. "Bring him back to life. I had considered conducting research on him… but as he is a future member of the guild, I will respect his body."
His gaze lingered on Shisui for a moment longer, as if measuring the value of the man's loyalty even in death, before he turned his attention away, already thinking several steps ahead.
"Understood," the doublegangers replied, still inwardly stunned by what they had just witnessed. The act had been simple in appearance—a mere snap of Dravak's fingers—but the reality behind it was staggering. He had altered reality itself, bending existence to his will without possessing the specialized job class normally required for such feats.
This was the advantage of Dragon God Wisdom. It allowed Dravak to bypass prerequisites entirely, granting him access to abilities far beyond the scope of his listed classes. With a single gesture, he could change the very rules of the world—an ability considered devastatingly potent, for reality alteration ignored most forms of resistance and countermeasure.
"Now," Dravak said, his voice calm but laced with intent, "time to see if I can acquire the Sage of Six Paths' chakra. It should be of a high enough tier for me to learn, even with my class restrictions."
From the air beside him, he drew forth a series of test tubes, each glinting under the light. Within them swirled the crimson essence of two of the Leaf's most important shinobi—Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha. The liquid shimmered faintly, carrying more than just blood; it carried potential, lineage, and power waiting to be unlocked.
Dravak carefully placed the test tubes back into storage, sealing them away as if locking up a priceless treasure. Without another glance, he turned and stepped through a portal, the swirling energy parting around him like water. On the other side lay his next destination—a place where he could find someone he knew would be far too tempting to pass up his offer.
Orochimaru.
The snake-like shinobi's ambition was as predictable as it was unyielding—immortality. That singular obsession defined him, consumed him, and ultimately made him an easy mark. Dravak smirked faintly to himself. Recruiting Orochimaru wouldn't be a matter of if, but when. After all, immortality was the kind of bait even the most cautious predator couldn't ignore… and Dravak had far more than just bait to offer.