Nighttime.
Konoha Village was very quiet.
Because the Anbu ninjas were guarding this peaceful village.
Konoha is the most prosperous and largest ninja village in the Ninja World. Other villages inevitably harbor hostility towards Konoha, even during times of peace, seeking every opportunity to gather intelligence on Konoha.
A group of Anbu ninjas, clad in gray armor, continuously leaped around the outskirts of Konoha, patrolling to ensure no breach in Konoha's defenses.
Akihara Kagura was also one of them.
However, unlike the others who diligently patrolled, this young Anbu merely checked a section briefly and then rested.
"This kid, shirking his duties during a mission?"
The Venus Flytrap Monster, hidden underground, monitored Akihara Kagura. The black half-face couldn't help but lower its opinion of this lazy Akihara Kagura.
Its white half-face quietly defended, "Kids will be kids, maybe they still enjoy playing... Seems like he's talking to himself?"
"Go eavesdrop..."
The Venus Flytrap Monster slowly crept close to Akihara Kagura, just near enough to overhear his mutterings.
"Who is framing me?"
"If that person doesn't keep killing with Wood Release, will I ever catch the one framing me? I must think of a way to kill with Wood Release, frame the person framing me, at least clear my suspicion…"
"I need to make a bigger commotion…"
"Best if it scares the entire Konoha…"
"Like when the Nine-Tails attacked all of Konoha…"
"..."
Is this kid crazy!
The Venus Flytrap Monster was taken aback.
How can there be such a bizarre person in the Ninja World!
A person framed by the use of Wood Release thinking not of handling it quietly but aiding the real culprit, even escalating the framing case!
The Venus Flytrap Monster thought this kid's personality too odd and promptly reported to the mysterious masked man to avoid losing control of the situation.
"Framing the culprit?"
The mysterious masked man sneered at the information: "That kid doesn't even know who I am, how could he frame me? I'll just see how that kid plans to frame me!"
Indeed.
Akihara Kagura didn't know the mysterious masked man's identity.
No one in the Ninja World should know of him, apart from a few, none knew of the mysterious masked man.
However…
Sometimes, to frame someone, identity is not needed.
Logically, Akihara Kagura didn't have the masked man's information, but he knew who had seen him.
The most ferocious Tailed Beast.
The Nine-Tails.
The last Nine-Tails attack on Konoha was orchestrated by the mysterious masked man. The Nine-Tails bears a deep grudge against any who have controlled it!
The mysterious masked man takes the Nine-Tails very seriously.
Should the Nine-Tails truly face any issue, he would undoubtedly rush over.
If the mysterious masked man doesn't show, Akihara Kagura has another plan: by disguising as the masked man, the Nine-Tailed Chakra would likely cause an upheaval, leading many to uncover the mysterious masked man's existence, compelling them to explore the truth…
Now…
It's time to find Naruto Uzumaki.
Is it easy to meet Naruto Uzumaki?
Very easy.
Could happen anytime, anywhere.
Young Naruto Uzumaki grew up without parents, never taught how to live, and Konoha barely afforded his living expenses.
Late at night, he would be too hungry to sleep, either fishing by the Konoha River or mushroom picking in the Back Mountain…
Tonight.
Coincidentally, the little guy was hungry again.
Naruto Uzumaki, happily picking wild mushrooms, was unaware of Akihara Kagura's watchful eyes from a large tree.
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
The Venus Flytrap Monster, hidden within the tree, also watched Akihara Kagura, noting Naruto Uzumaki's presence.
Akihara Kagura gathered Wood Pikes in his hand, seemingly unaware of eavesdroppers, carelessly contemplating: "The Nine-Tails should be important, right? Is there anything more alarming to Konoha than the mastermind killing the Nine-Tails?"
"..."
Huh?
Ah!
What is this kid saying!
The Venus Flytrap Monster was on the verge of mental explosion!
Why would this kid utter such horrifying words, casually discussing killing the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, can he really be a Konoha Ninja!
Even more troubling, the Nine-Tails resides within Naruto Uzumaki, the Tailed Beast and Jinchuriki's lives are linked. This weak Jinchuriki, Naruto Uzumaki, could indeed be killed by this kid, Akihara Kagura!
This would cause chaos in Konoha!
No!
It could even stir turmoil across the entire Ninja World!
"This kid is too extreme…"
"This must be stopped before it happens, right?"
The Venus Flytrap Monster's two minds quickly reached a consensus, notifying the mysterious masked man to come immediately, as it had no combat capabilities!
"..."
The mysterious masked man hurried over using Space-Time Ninjutsu.
This dark figure, hidden behind the Ninja World, who once thought he could manipulate everyone, felt for the first time something was out of hand.
Even though he didn't know what impact killing the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki might have on him, this was clearly out of his control!
Especially…
This guy wants to frame him!
Furthermore…
The child Naruto Uzumaki…
During the last Nine-Tails attack, the masked man had killed his teacher, irrevocably deciding his path from a Hokage aspirant to a schemer intending to overthrow the Ninja World.
Perhaps there was still a sliver of conscience, or maybe because Naruto Uzumaki, this Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, kept the Nine-Tails in check, there was no need for his early death!
Konoha Back Mountain.
Akihara Kagura, as if by happenstance, patrolled here and casually greeted Naruto Uzumaki: "Hey, Naruto Uzumaki, what are you doing here?"
"Kagura!"
Naruto Uzumaki, excitedly, waved at Akihara Kagura, flaunting his colorful mushrooms: "I just picked some mushrooms, want to have soup together?"
"..."
Green mushrooms…
Red mushrooms…
These must be poisonous mushrooms, right?
Akihara Kagura frowned, his expression changing: "If we eat these, we might meet your parents…"
"Eh? Really?"
Naruto was pleased.
The young lad didn't quite grasp Akihara Kagura's meaning, charging at him with mushrooms in hand, happy to meet someone who didn't dislike him.
"Stay away from him!"
A voice suddenly echoed!
A Space-Time Vortex appeared between Akihara Kagura and Naruto Uzumaki, the mysterious masked man's figure swiftly emerged from it!
As he arrived, the mysterious masked man had no time to think of other plans, he hastily intervened, knowing he could erase any memory of his exposure with the Sharingan!
Whoosh!
Blood splattered!
A Wood Pike punctured the flesh!
The instant the masked man appeared using Space-Time Ninjutsu, a Wood Pike unexpectedly struck his body, as if lying in wait for that precise moment, leaving him no time to evade!
"Good evening, intruder…"
Akihara Kagura's eyes gleamed with a hint of amusement.
Quite unexpected, that a mastermind behind the Ninja World would fall so easily for a trap…