"ROAR—!"
A deafening roar erupted.
Several grotesque monsters, their bodies twisted and demonic in form, materialized out of thin air around Kurenai Yūhi and Namikaze Kirito, baring their fangs as they lunged forward.
Their intent was unmistakable—
to tear apart everything in front of them.
"Oh?" Kirito said calmly, eyes gleaming with interest. "So this is a genjutsu that manipulates the five senses… It really does feel real."
Unlike Kurenai, who instinctively took a defensive stance, Kirito showed no sign of urgency at all.
Every detail was vivid—the bluish skin stretched over sharp cheekbones, the jagged fangs dripping with saliva. He could even smell the rancid stench pouring off their bodies.
Yet therein lay the problem.
Genjutsu that manipulated the five senses should not work on Observation Haki.
Observation Haki did not rely on sight, sound, smell, taste, or touch. It was perception itself—something beyond the five senses.
And yet...
Even with Observation Haki fully activated, Kirito could still feel the presence of the monsters.
Their breathing.
Their hostility.
Their weight pressing against reality.
"This isn't a simple illusion…" Kirito muttered.
"It's already rewriting reality itself."
Calling it the strongest genjutsu was no exaggeration.
"If this keeps going, the noise will draw attention," Kirito said quietly. "But this ability…"
His lips curled upward.
"I want it."
The moment the words fell, Kirito's gaze turned cold.
He slowly placed both hands on the floor.
"Dark Cave Road."
Gurgle—
Thick, rolling black mist surged forth like an ocean tide, instantly swallowing the entire hall. The darkness spread across the floor, crawling up walls, devouring everything in its path.
Before the green-faced demons could even attack, they were dragged down—bit by bit—into the abyss, their forms dissolving into nothingness.
"…So this is Kirito's power?"
Kurenai stared in silence.
The boy she once protected had grown beyond her reach without her realizing it. In just a few short years, he had become someone who no longer needed her protection at all.
Minato-san… Kushina-san…
You can rest easy now.
Across the room, Yakumo Kurama stared at Kirito in pure terror.
She hurriedly raised her brush, trying to paint again but a cool hand closed around her wrist, stopping her.
"Sorry," Kirito said softly. "I already told you—I can't let you keep causing trouble."
He met her eyes directly.
"This power is too dangerous for you."
"So… leave it to me."
The ability of the Dark–Dark Fruit activated.
Billowing black mist surged forward, pouring into Yakumo's body through Kirito's hand.
Moments later, Kirito withdrew his hand.
Yakumo collapsed.
"Yakumo!"
Kurenai rushed forward at once, catching the girl and pulling her into her arms, holding her tightly against her chest.
She had always felt helpless—watching her student sink deeper into darkness without knowing how to save her.
Now, finally, someone had pulled her back.
"This is over," Kirito said quietly, feeling the new power settle within him. "I should go."
"Where are you going?" Kurenai asked, lifting her head. There was a trace of reluctance in her voice that even she didn't seem aware of.
"The Land of Wind," Kirito replied. "There's something I need there. It's time to retrieve it."
One's Own Life Reincarnation technique.
Plus the Edo Tensei.
A jutsu he had coveted for a long time.
His strength was now sufficient and with the power to manipulate the five senses added to his arsenal, there was no reason to wait any longer.
His parents had remained silent in the darkness for far too long.
"…When will you come back?" Kurenai asked.
Kirito didn't answer.
Instead, he stepped closer and placed his hand gently on her soft black hair.
"What?" he teased. "Will you miss me?"
"Um…"
Kurenai didn't dodge the question.
She answered honestly—without arrogance, without disguise.
Most of it was probably nostalgia from childhood. Whether it contained something deeper, even she couldn't say.
But that straightforward answer caught Kirito completely off guard.
"Pfft—"
Kurenai suddenly laughed, her smile blooming like a thousand flowers at once.
"So even you get nervous," she teased. "You're always making fun of me. Even though you're ten years younger, you still dare to act so smug."
"Hahaha!"
Kirito laughed along with her.
"If anyone hasn't changed, it's you," he said. "You grew up into a gentle beauty, but you never lost that playful side. Don't worry, Kurenai—I'll be back soon."
"And when I do," he added, eyes gleaming, "I'll bring you a surprise."
"Alright," Kurenai replied softly. "Then I'll be waiting."
After one last look, Kirito turned and walked out of the villa.
Kurenai remained where she was, quietly watching his retreating figure.
Night fell over Konoha.
The stone faces of the Hokage loomed over the village, symbols of authority carved into the mountain itself.
Atop the head of the Third Hokage, two shadows stood side by side, gazing down at the sea of lights below.
"Leader," Uchiha Itachi asked calmly, dressed in black. "Are you finished?"
Kirito stood at the edge, overlooking the village.
The lights shimmered below—clear, bright, and deceptively peaceful.
"What a false peace," Kirito said softly.
"Itachi… are you ready to overturn this world with me?"
"Ready."
There was no hesitation in Itachi's voice.
Earlier, Uchiha Fugaku had summoned him back to the clan. Father and son had spoken at length.
That conversation answered questions Itachi had carried for years.
Once he chose a path, he would walk it to the end.
"Our first stop is the Sand Village," Kirito continued. "But on the way, we'll gather information on Orochimaru."
In the entire shinobi world, there was only one scientist worthy of the name.
Cell transplantation.
Genetics.
Ninjutsu theory.
Soul research.
Orochimaru stood at the pinnacle.
With Itachi never joining Akatsuki under the masked man, Orochimaru was either already part of Akatsuki or soon would be.
Leaving such a resource unused would be a waste.
"One of the Legendary Sannin?" Itachi asked.
"Yes," Kirito replied. "He'll be very useful to us."
Itachi nodded. He didn't ask why.
After speaking with Fugaku, he had already decided.
What Kirito commanded—he would execute.
No reasons required.
The two figures vanished from atop the Hokage Monument, the night breeze passing through the empty space they left behind.
Deep beneath Konoha, in the Root base—
Shimura Danzō studied a report in silence.
It was a classified document concerning Namikaze Kirito.
He had wanted to control that boy for a long time.
Now that he finally had information, there was no way he would let it slip.
"Dispatch the third and fourth squads," Danzō ordered coldly. "Have them wait near the village exit. Once the target leaves Konoha, look for an opportunity to strike."
"And keep an eye on ANBU."
After issuing his commands, Danzō straightened and gazed into the darkness.
He knew his old friend well.
Sarutobi Hiruzen would definitely send ANBU to monitor Kirito.
Danzō didn't want the Hokage to know about his plan.
After all...
The more cards he held in his hand,
the tighter the leash on the Hokage,
and the smoother his ambitions would unfold.
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