Chapter 92: Uchiha Iizumi Must Be Planning to Reenact the Nine-Tails Uprising! (5000 words)

Naruto didn’t understand what the terrifying man meant by “potential seedling.” All he knew was that he wouldn’t die.

Relief washed over him—but it didn’t bring joy. Instead, a cold dread settled in his chest.

When he realized that a Nine-Tailed Fox truly lived inside him, and that this beast had caused massive destruction in Leaf Village the very year he was born, Naruto couldn’t help but feel fear creeping in. Was he afraid the fox would devour him from within? Or was it the thought of the monster harming the village that chilled him to the bone?

He finally grasped the meaning of the word container.

So… he was just a bottle.

Someone had sealed the Nine-Tailed Fox inside him. That’s why the man called him the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.

Even as Te Da placed a steaming bowl of ramen—overflowing with broth, noodles, and toppings—directly in front of him, Naruto couldn’t summon the appetite.

His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.

Yet, strangely, he somehow found courage again. He swallowed hard, his small head trembling slightly, and dared to ask the terrifying man:

“Why… why did you seal that monster inside me?”

“I…”

He lowered his gaze, eyes wide with confusion, biting his lower lip. “All these years… everyone has hated me. Is it because of the monster inside me?”

“If I didn’t have this beast… I could’ve gone to school like the others. I could’ve come home like everyone else… just… normally.”

His voice cracked. He sniffled, unable to stop the runny nose that betrayed his emotions.

“I could’ve lived like everyone else. I wouldn’t have to do pranks just to get noticed. I wouldn’t have to… be this way…”

Uchiha Iizumi watched Naruto, head bowed and silently weeping.

He spoke, voice calm, detached, yet precise.

“The Fourth Hokage’s intention was never to let the Nine-Tails’ power fall into the hands of outsiders—especially not into the hands of the masked man who triggered the Nine-Tails Uprising: Uchiha Obito. And you, Naruto Uzumaki, possess the bloodline of the Uzumaki clan. Among everyone present at the time, you were the most suitable vessel for the Nine-Tails—its Jinchūriki.”

Naruto froze.

Fourth Hokage—a name that sounded unfamiliar, yet somehow… familiar.

It triggered a memory: Leaf Village’s Fourth Hokage. The one who had died young. The one Third Hokage had once called the youngest Hokage in village history.

That was all Naruto knew.

Oh, right—he’d seen the Fourth Hokage’s monument. The giant stone face carved into the mountainside behind the village. Impossible to miss.

“Logically,” Iizumi continued, “only a handful of people in Leaf Village knew about the sealing back then. But rumors spread. The idea that you were the fox itself grew louder and louder. Eventually, everyone believed it.”

He didn’t exaggerate. Didn’t gloat. He simply stated the truth—harsh, unfiltered—direct to a seven-year-old child.

And at the time, Iizumi himself had been only eleven.

Naruto blinked.

“Hokage… Grandpa…?”

Just as warmth began to rise in his chest—just as he felt a flicker of gratitude—Tachibana Jiro cut in, voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Kid, don’t get emotional yet, okay?”

The cat’s paw flicked up, snatching a piece of fish from the ramen. It popped the morsel into its mouth, chewing with exaggerated pleasure.

“Don’t you want to know who started spreading the rumors that you’re a fox? Don’t you want to know if Third Hokage even knew?”

Tachibana Jiro swallowed, licked its paw, and narrowed its golden eyes.

“Back then, it was Danzō’s people—those rootless dogs—spreading the lies. Why? Who knows. Maybe he resented the Fourth. Maybe he wanted to use the village’s hatred to push you into breaking down. A broken child, a rampaging beast… and then, poof—a hero Hokage sacrifices himself, sealing the fox once more. Perfect opportunity for Danzō to step into power.”

It paused, then added, “Third Hokage did know. But all he did was order everyone not to talk about it to your face. That’s it.”

“Danzō was the one behind it. And Third Hokage? He didn’t punish him. Twice, Iizumi tried to kill Danzō. Twice, the Third Hokage stepped in to protect him.”

The cat’s voice turned icy.

“Kid…

You actually feel grateful toward a man who protected the man who hated you?

You’re naive.

Third Hokage’s actions had nothing to do with justice.”

The words struck Naruto like a storm.

He opened his mouth—wanting to defend the Hokage, to explain how kind and warm he’d always been. How he’d been the first to comfort him when he was alone. How he’d invited him to Ichiraku Ramen, given him money when he was struggling, even when Naruto spent it poorly.

But then—why hadn’t Hokage Grandpa punished Danzō?

And why did that man, Danzō, hate him so much?

Was it really about the Fourth Hokage? Or was it about becoming Hokage?

And what did any of it have to do with him, Naruto Uzumaki?

His small face scrunched in confusion.

The adult world felt too complicated.

Too dark.

Too unfair.

“Naruto Uzumaki,” Iizumi said, voice low and distant, “when endless malice, open isolation, and whispered curses all crash down on you—do you feel the same emptiness, the same helplessness… as Zetsu?”

Naruto didn’t hesitate. He nodded.

“Do you think they’re right?” Iizumi asked.

“No,” Naruto whispered. “It’s not right.

Hurting a kid like that? That’s not right.”

He knew how it felt.

He’d lived it.

“You see,” Iizumi said, “your sense of right and wrong hasn’t been poisoned by this rotten ninja world yet.

Because what you’ve suffered… is the world’s evil.

Evil doers—those who twist the system for their own ends—have poured their worst hatred onto an innocent child.”

Naruto felt tears well up again.

He didn’t even know these people.

He was just a baby when it started.

Why were they doing this to him?

Was it because of the evil the man spoke of?

“The evil of this ninja world breeds endless suffering. It traps countless innocent lives in despair. You are just one of them.”

“And what you’ve endured?” Iizumi added. “It’s not special. It’s just… ordinary.”

Naruto’s breath caught.

“If you truly want to see the real face of this world’s evil,” Iizumi said, “finish your ramen. Then follow me. Walk through Leaf Village. If you’re unlucky… you might witness it firsthand.”

Naruto stared at Iizumi’s profile—the cold, expressionless face, the eyes that had seen too much.

He sensed something in the man.

Not just indifference.

Not just detachment.

But beneath it… a flicker of hope.

Not hope for himself.

Not hope for the world.

But a quiet, stubborn belief—like the one Naruto himself carried, deep in his heart: the belief that one day, people would see him.

Would accept him.

And maybe… that was why this terrifying man kept meddling in things that weren’t his.

Logically, Naruto should’ve run.

Hokage Grandpa had warned him: Stay away from Uchiha Iizumi.

But as he stared at the steam rising from the ramen, something strange stirred in his chest.

A pull.

A heartbeat.

Without thinking, he nodded.

And then—without a word—he dug into the ramen, shoveling it in with wild, desperate speed.

---

Just then, the door to Ichiraku Ramen creaked open.

Izumi glanced sideways.

A plain-faced man stepped in—ordinary, unremarkable.

But Izumi’s eyes narrowed.

There—on the man’s hip—was a mask.

The unmistakable face of an Anbu Ninja.

The newcomer sat in the corner like any other customer, calm, composed.

But Izumi noticed: the man had looked at Naruto.

A brief, almost imperceptible glance.

Perhaps he’d confirmed Naruto was safe.

Because the Anbu’s shoulders relaxed—just slightly.

Izumi understood.

This was a watcher.

A monitor.

Assigned by Hokage-sama to keep an eye on the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.

She was right.

The Anbu had sensed danger the moment Naruto had stepped out of sight—especially when he’d gone off with Uchiha Iizumi. His instincts screamed.

What if Iizumi uses his Mangekyō Sharingan to control the Nine-Tails?

What if he decides Naruto is a threat—and kills him?

What if he brainwashes the boy with hatred toward the Hokage… toward the village?

No choice.

The Anbu had to act.

He removed his mask.

And walked in—no fanfare, no hesitation.

Only he knew how much sweat had soaked through his back.

Only he knew the pressure crushing his chest.

And when Iizumi’s gaze flickered toward him…

The Anbu nearly drew his blade on instinct.

But nothing happened.

Izumi didn’t move. Didn’t speak.

Just… looked.

Maybe because the Anbu had no intent to harm.

Or because he was from the Yamanaka Clan—whose leader had a surprisingly good relationship with Iizumi.

Maybe the Anbu was just lucky.

And Naruto was still alive.

Still eating.

Still… normal.

So far, nothing had gone wrong.

Then—another sound.

A soft thump.

A black Ninja Cat slipped through the door, leapt onto the table, and began meowing urgently at a fat, orange cat sitting beside the counter.

The orange cat blinked, then—without warning—spoke in human voice:

“Iizumi-sama, a new case has been discovered in the village!”

The Anbu exhaled.

Perfect.

Now the Uchiha demon would be distracted.

He could finally get away from the Jinchūriki.

But then—

Iizumi stood up.

Still facing Naruto, he said coldly:

“Want to see it? Then come.”

The Anbu’s eyes widened.

What? See what?

Before he could react, Naruto slammed his bowl down, wiped his mouth, and scrambled to his feet, cheeks puffed with food.

“I’m coming!”

The Anbu stared.

Wait—what?!

Did he miss something?

As he watched Naruto follow Iizumi out the door, the Anbu felt a cold wave of dread.

This is bad.

This is very bad.

He’d failed.

He had to notify the Hokage.

He didn’t even wait for Te Da’s question.

He bit his thumb, slapped the ground.

“Summoning Jutsu!”

A pigeon—slightly larger than a regular one—appeared in a puff of smoke.

“Tell the Hokage!” the Anbu ordered. “Naruto Uzumaki has been taken by Uchiha Iizumi. The situation is critical!”

The pigeon nodded.

Then shot into the sky.

The Anbu took off after it—keeping a careful distance, never too close.

If Iizumi tries anything… I’ll die protecting the boy.

But will it even matter?

He wasn’t sure.

---

Minutes later.

Hokage Tower.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat with Tsunade Konoha and Hyūga Menji, discussing how to clean up the mess Uchiha Iizumi had caused.

Then—a soft flapping.

A pigeon flew through the window.

Hiruzen frowned.

He recognized it.

Yamada Ryosin’s Anbu Pigeon.

But Ryosin was supposed to be watching Naruto.

Hiruzen felt a chill.

That scene… it felt familiar.

Then the pigeon spoke.

“Hokage-sama. Naruto Uzumaki has been taken by Uchiha Iizumi. The situation is extremely urgent. Ryosin sent me.”

Hiruzen went silent.

Tsunade Konoha shot to her feet, her wrinkled face dark with fury.

“See?!” she snapped. “This is exactly what I warned you! Iizumi’s so-called Absolute Justice is just a mask for his ambition!”

“Born a Uchiha. Possessing the Mangekyō Sharingan. He knew what he was doing when he approached the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. And now he’s taken him!”

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her breathing.

“Even if he claims it’s for justice—that’s the problem. His justice is too extreme. He’s already killed a noble’s son. Who’s to say he won’t use the Nine-Tails to purge the entire village? For him, a dead village might be justice.”

She glared at Hiruzen.

“Hokage… The Nine-Tails Uprising is about to happen again.”

Hyūga Menji stood up, voice tight.

“Hiruzen, we must retrieve the boy. Regardless of Iizumi’s intentions—we cannot let him near Naruto.”

“Because even if Iizumi doesn’t want to harm him… others in the Uchiha Clan do. And if they get their hands on the Nine-Tails… the village will burn again.”

“We can’t afford another Uprising. The last one… we barely survived.”

Their words cut through Hiruzen.

He stood.

“Kakashi!”

The door opened.

Kakashi stepped in, silent, alert.

“Anbu, assemble. Now.”

Hiruzen’s voice was firm.

“With me. We’re bringing Naruto back.”

Tsunade stepped forward.

“I’m coming too.”

She turned to Hiruzen.

“Hiruzen, if you go alone, you’ll keep giving Iizumi free rein. Yes, he’s a powerful asset. But he’s also a threat. We must weigh the cost.”

Hiruzen’s brow twitched.

But he didn’t stop her.

---

“Meow,” the black cat said, leading the way. “Iizumi-sama, the village’s investigation team found a family of four—dead under their own collapsed home. Originally, it was ruled an accident. But the Investigation Corps looked closer… and something was wrong.”

Tachibana Jiro sat on Iizumi’s shoulder, voice low.

“The bodies were crushed—bruised, bloody, almost unrecognizable. But one corpse… had a strange mark on the neck.”

“Initially, we thought it was impact trauma. But it wasn’t possible. The angle… the location. It couldn’t have been caused by falling debris.”

“Only way it could happen? Before death. Someone struck the neck—hard. And if not for an Investigation Corps member activating their Sharingan, we’d never have seen it.”

Naruto froze.

Four people… dead?

He’d never paid attention to such tragedies.

Leaf Village… it had always felt safe.

Even if people hated him, it was still home.

Peaceful.

But now—just stepping out of Ichiraku Ramen…

He’d learned about a family massacre.

This… wasn’t the village he knew.

His heart pounded.

Is this really Leaf Village?

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end