Chapter 105: Takamimusubi no Mikoto - Naruto
The Nine-Tails' tone was extremely serious: "Just now, I sensed a very strong chakra fluctuation. I didn't pay it much mind at first, but then there was another extremely strong pupil power fluctuation!"
"It's the evil pupil power unique to the Mangekyō Sharingan!"
The expression on Naruto's face instantly froze, his eyes hardening.
But in a flash, he returned to normal, took out his wallet, and paid Teuchi.
"Come again, guest!"
Amidst Teuchi's enthusiastic voice, Naruto walked out of Ichiraku Ramen at an unhurried pace.
Immediately, he activated Kagura Shingan, his gaze turning gravely towards a certain direction.
"Uchiha clan grounds... Sasuke!"
Naruto was just about to use Body Flicker towards the Uchiha clan grounds when,
Swish!!
A sound of tearing wind echoed around him, and three masked ninja directly appeared before Naruto.
One of the ninja said coldly: "By order of Lord Hokage, the entire village is under lockdown! Return home immediately!"
Naruto paused upon hearing this, asking back with a smile: "I want to find a classmate. Is that not allowed either?"
Although a smile was on his face, his eyes looking at the three before him held no amusement whatsoever.
Facing Naruto's question, the three ninja didn't reply, merely staring coldly at Naruto.
"Is that so?"
Naruto's eyes flickered, but he didn't intend to get entangled with them.
Under the gaze of the three, he turned and walked in the opposite direction of the Uchiha clan grounds, eventually disappearing from their sight.
At this moment, inside the seal space.
"Hmph, see that? This is your Konoha."
The Nine-Tails snorted coldly, speaking to Minato beside him: "You always say I'm the embodiment of evil, but in my view, the malice of you humans is truly terrifying."
This guy Namikaze Minato was a ninja outstanding in all aspects.
Exceptional talent, exquisite ninjutsu, extremely strong approachability...
But this guy still made the mistake of trusting human hearts too much, trusting too much in the kindness of those schemers.
"Yes..."
Minato also smiled bitterly upon hearing this: "I was too naive."
He thought Sarutobi Hiruzen's malice was the limit, but now it seemed the Uchiha clan was also in trouble.
The village I protected... was it everyone's village, or the Konoha higher-ups' village?
Suddenly, Minato recalled Ame-no-Minakanushi's words.
"Idealists are incurable. If he is cast out of his paradise, he will create an ideal hell in its place."
Idealist...?
"Then, what will you do?"
Just then, Naruto, having returned home, stood by the window.
He looked at the leaves swaying in the wind on the large tree outside, his azure blue eyes narrowing slightly.
"These guys really are like lingering ghosts."
He suddenly somewhat missed the white-haired ANBU from a few years ago.
After all, that guy always liked to slack off; sometimes, even if he saw something, he'd pretend he didn't.
Swish!
Naruto drew the curtains, turned off the light, and the room instantly became very dim.
After confirming his actions wouldn't be monitored by the ANBU outside, Naruto then opened a cabinet.
Inside was a three-eyed cat-face mask carved with a leaf-shaped pattern, a letter placed beside it.
Opening the letter, the very first sentence made Naruto sigh in relief.
"When you read this letter, the Night of the Uchiha Clan Massacre has probably already begun."
Uchiha... Clan Massacre Night...
Seems Menma-nii already has corresponding plans, so I don't need to worry too much about Sasuke's safety.
No matter what happens tonight, it has nothing to do with him; he's just the unknowing Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
Thinking this, Naruto sat on the bed and began to read the letter quietly.
Immediately, he saw the purpose and meaning of this mask.
"A mask capable of summoning the Nine Masked Beast: Azure Dragon, and also... Takamimusubi no Mikoto of Crimson Moon?"
Naruto gazed at the mask, a smile flashing in his eyes.
Menma-nii had told him many myths before, among them the story of Takamimusubi no Mikoto.
Takamimusubi no Mikoto, full name Takamimusubi-no-Kami, also known as Taka-mi-musubi-no-Kami or Takagi-no-Kami (High Tree God), meaning manifested from trees.
Takamimusubi-no-Kami, Kamimusubi-no-Kami, like Ame-no-Minakanushi-no-Kami, were the first Solitary Kami and Hidden Kami to appear in Takamagahara. Thus, along with Ame-no-Minakanushi-no-Kami, they are known as the "Three Gods of Creation".
Takamimusubi-no-Kami and Kamimusubi-no-Kami, these two deities, are complementary Yin and Yang principles, deities presiding over reproduction and fertility.
As for the name Crimson Moon...
"Menma-nii really is... quite mischievous, but it does fit well."
Naruto shook his head with a chuckle, then slowly placed the mask on his face.
Click!
The leaf-shaped pattern on the forehead flashed with a green light.
"From now on, I am Takamimusubi no Mikoto of Crimson Moon."
...
Meanwhile, inside the Uchiha clan grounds.
Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Fugaku faced each other, an invisible contest of pupil techniques occurring between the two Mangekyō possessors.
Unsure how much time passed, the Mangekyō in both their eyes stopped spinning.
Uchiha Itachi's figure trembled slightly, but he still did his best to maintain alertness and composure.
Only, his gaze towards his father now held more gravity and seriousness.
In the genjutsu contest just now, he had lost to his father.
That black and white genjutsu space, like his Tsukuyomi, was a Mangekyō Sharingan genjutsu-type pupil technique.
And compared to his father, who had awakened his eyes many years ago, his pupil power was ultimately slightly inferior.
"Didn't expect Father to be this strong. Do I have to use that technique?"
Uchiha Fugaku stood with arms crossed, figure unmoving, a complex expression in his eyes as he looked at Itachi.
"Is this the future you wanted me to see?"
The Uchiha clan would perish, but the Uchiha bloodline would continue through Sasuke; Sasuke would grow up safely.
And Itachi would die at Sasuke's hands. Sasuke would transplant Itachi's eyes to obtain the Eternal Mangekyō, eventually becoming Konoha's hero.
This kind of future...
"This is the future I saw for the village, for the clan."
Uchiha Itachi's tone was firm, his hand gripping his short sword tightly, ready to continue fighting at any moment.
However, looking at his son's resolute eyes, the scarlet color in Uchiha Fugaku's eyes suddenly faded.
"Is that so... Sasuke..."
As the murmured words fell,
Under Uchiha Itachi's astonished gaze,
Poof!!
A puff of white smoke suddenly exploded. Uchiha Fugaku's figure actually vanished from before him.
"...A Shadow Clone?"
Uchiha Itachi also fell silent for a moment upon seeing this, a hint of bitterness at the corner of his mouth, his steps even faltering slightly.
The genjutsu contest just now had made his head somewhat dizzy, yet the father he fought against was actually just a Shadow Clone.
This level of strength...
Huff!
Uchiha Itachi let out a long breath, raising his hand to wipe the dried blood from his face.
The Sharingan, reflecting the blood, appeared even more scarlet and evil.
"Father... is my greatest enemy. This will be a true contest between two Mangekyō Sharingan ninja."
But no matter what, he had already made all preparations.
Immediately, Uchiha Itachi's figure flashed, heading straight to his own home.
However, when Itachi carefully peeked through the crack of his father's room door, he suddenly froze on the spot.
"Hmm? How come no one's here?"
There was no one in the room before him, but the candlelight was still burning, a trace of warmth lingering in the room.
All these signs indicated his father was in the room just moments ago.
Instantly, Uchiha Itachi immediately became alert.
But just then, in the silent courtyard, a familiar voice suddenly came from the room next door.
"In here."
Itachi abruptly looked towards the sound.
That was originally the room used for quiet sitting.
Seemingly sensing he was still wary, the person inside spoke again: "No traps. Come in."
The calmness and relief in the voice made Itachi pause slightly.
Click.
He carefully pushed open the door. The crisp sound of the door opening echoed in the room.
But he only saw two figures kneeling quietly inside.
Under the moonlight shining in from outside, the two knelt without a word, as if waiting for something.
Uchiha Itachi, seeing this, felt no joy, but instead a wave of pain rose in his heart.
"Father..."
"I don't want to fight my own son to the death," Uchiha Fugaku said, looking straight ahead, his tone resigned.
Itachi paused upon hearing this, a flicker of emotion finally crossing his impassive face.
"Father, Mother, I..."
But, he still slowly raised the sword in his hand.
Uchiha Mikoto said gently: "We understand, Itachi."
His mother's gentle voice made Itachi's hand holding the sword tremble.
He had already made his decision, but he actually began to doubt if what he was doing now was right or wrong.
But... there's no other way...
"Itachi, promise me one last thing."
Uchiha Fugaku's lips trembled for a moment, as if he had many things to say.
But in the end, a thousand words condensed into one sentence: "Sasuke... I entrust him to you."
It was he who failed to see how heavy Itachi's inner burden was, who exposed Itachi to the cruelty of war too early, causing Itachi to gradually become paranoid, thereby falling into the enemy's trap, becoming a sharp blade for the enemy to use against the Uchiha.
Itachi seemed to be acting on his own will, but from beginning to end, whether it was exterminating the clan or pledging loyalty to Konoha, it was all the result of those people's guidance.
The Uchiha clan had utterly failed. Since that's the case, let him be selfish as a father just this once.
Blood and tears mingled as they streamed down Itachi's face. He slowly walked behind the two.
The room was silent, only the sound of Itachi's approaching footsteps.
Tap~ Tap~ Tap~
He carried the dripping short sword, walking woodenly behind them.
This short distance felt like it weighed a thousand jun, each step slow and laborious.
Behind them, Itachi painfully closed his eyes. Blood flowed down his cheeks, the blade in his hand trembling slightly.
"Don't be afraid. This is the path you've chosen. Compared to yours, our pain will only last a moment."
Uchiha Fugaku's tone turned heavy: "Even if our ideas differ, I am still proud of you."
As soon as these words were spoken, Uchiha Itachi clenched his jaw, tightening his grip on the short sword.
Swish!
A flash of cold light, blood splattering everywhere.
The room fell silent, only the sound of blood dripping from the blade to the floor.
Itachi lowered his head, gazing at his parents' corpses on the floor, staring blankly, tears bursting from his eyes.
It was at this moment,
Urgent footsteps suddenly came from the corridor outside. Then, the door was pushed open.
"Dad! Mom! Outside..."
Hearing Sasuke's panicked voice, a scarlet light flashed in Uchiha Itachi's Sharingan eyes.
...
Meanwhile, outside the Uchiha clan grounds barrier.
Root ninja, hidden in the darkness, watched the Uchiha clan grounds with utmost concentration.
They were still waiting, waiting for the final cleanup work, waiting for the Uchiha clan's final curtain call.
Just then, a Root ninja wearing a hawk-face mask, as if sensing something, frowned slightly and looked around.
"Just now... was there some strange sound?"
However, the forest was very quiet at this moment.
So quiet that even the chirping of insects seemed to have vanished.
Only the sound of the wind, the rustling of leaves, and the faint breathing of the other ninja.
The Root ninja looked carefully.
He saw trees standing quietly one after another. The bright moonlight of the full moon pierced through the heavy tree shadows. The surrounding branches and leaves swayed with the wind, as if countless human figures were hidden among them.
And just then.
Drip~ Drip~
Faintly, the sound of something dripping from the trees.
A light breeze blew past. The Root ninja's nose twitched slightly, his eyes instantly hardening.
It was a faint smell of blood, spreading through the air with the wind.
And, very close!
"Ene—"
The Root ninja was just about to cry out a warning, but felt another gust of wind brush past, and the next second, lost consciousness.
Unfortunately, this sound still alerted some of the Root ninja present.
"Anomaly!!"
Everyone instantly raised their guard, looking around them.
But this look made them freeze for a moment, without exception.
Among the Root ninja, half of them were squatting there dazedly, completely unresponsive.
"...Hoshi?"
A Root ninja wearing a ferocious demon mask snapped back to reality.
He then cautiously reached out and nudged his motionless teammate beside him.
And the next second,
Thud!
A perfectly intact head rolled straight off the neck and onto the ground.
"This... Quick! Check them!!"
The others, seeing this, also snapped back, immediately shaking the bodies of those beside them.
Thud! Thud!
Thud...
In an instant, over ten heads, like ripe apples, fell directly to the ground.
A strong smell of blood filled the entire forest, stunning the numerous Root ninja present.
The lead Root ninja abruptly snapped back to reality.
"Inu! What happened?!"
He turned his head, roaring at the position behind him.
Although his voice was full of anger, if one listened carefully, there was more fear in his words.
For this operation, only forty ninja had come in total!
Yet over a dozen Root ninja had died so silently?
'Inu', the sensory ninja, gave no warning at all...
"Are you looking for him?"
A low, hoarse voice suddenly came, drawing everyone's attention and alertness.
The ninja looked towards the sound.
They saw a masked figure standing beside a Root ninja with a dog mask.
Oh, no.
That Root ninja's body had already lost its head.
That head was currently held in the masked man's hand, swaying continuously with the wind.
"Hmm, did you hear that?"
Facing the group of Root ninja, Menma tilted his head, smiling playfully: "It's the sound of the wind."
(End of Chapter)
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