A teacher—
is one who passes on knowledge, imparts skills, and resolves doubts.
The autumn wind was cool, and scattered leaves drifted through the air.
A seventeen-year-old red-haired boy stood alone atop the cliff above the Hokage Monument.
Uzumaki Kyūsei gazed quietly at the village that Hatake Sakumo had protected all his life.
The wind tugged at his long red hair, strands fluttering across his eyes and blurring his vision.
It reminded him of the last lesson Sakumo had ever given him.
That night had been warm.
In the middle of summer, fifteen-year-old Kyūsei and Sakumo sat together in the old courtyard of the Hatake house, each holding half a watermelon, watching four-year-old Kakashi roll around in the mud.
Sakumo pointed at his foolish son and said to Kyūsei:
"This world isn't beautiful."
"The ordinary days we live now could disappear at any moment."
The white-haired man looked at Kakashi, who kept falling in the mud yet stubbornly standing up again.
"But don't give up."
"Giving up is the easiest and most depraved choice."
"As a ninja, you must hold the belief of protecting your country, protecting your village, and protecting your comrades."
"This road may be filled with regret…"
Sakumo turned to his disciple, ruffled Kyūsei's hair, and smiled.
"But so those regrets don't remain regrets…"
"Keep moving forward."
"Shape this imperfect world into the one you wish to see."
Now Kyūsei looked down at Konoha.
A fierce glint appeared in his clear eyes.
Shape the world the way I want?
Fine.
Then I'll reshape this damned world.
The first step—
is making that bastard Satori die.
"Kyūsei."
A familiar old voice sounded beside him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the edge of the cliff.
"Old man, what did they say about Hōzuki Castle?"
"Or Akatsuki?"
Kyūsei's tone was calm and cold.
Hiruzen studied the boy beside him.
For a brief moment, he realized something.
The child he had watched grow up had finally matured.
He was no longer the mischievous Kyūsei he once knew.
"Neither Akatsuki nor Hōzuki Castle has responded."
Hiruzen said heavily.
"But ANBU has discovered something."
"Hōzuki Castle seems to be developing some kind of secret weapon."
"Perhaps they want to rise from the ashes."
"I see."
Kyūsei brushed the hair from his eyes.
"Then I'll head there."
"I'll be back tomorrow."
"Won't delay anything."
His words were calm yet absolute.
Hiruzen opened his mouth as if to object.
But in the end—
"…Alright."
He only spoke one word.
Kyūsei left immediately.
Hiruzen stood alone on the cliff and sighed deeply.
The child had grown up.
He could no longer be restrained.
Once Kyūsei went to Hōzuki Castle, Akatsuki would certainly react.
But…
Hiruzen smiled helplessly.
A smile like an elder watching a child cause trouble.
After all—
wasn't he still here?
Even if war truly broke out, so what?
With his current prestige, he could withstand the anti-war pressure at home if necessary.
When Kyūsei returned home, the first thing he saw was Kushina rushing toward him with worry.
"Well, Kyūsei?"
She was worried about Sakura.
"Kushina-nee, just focus on resting here."
Kyūsei's expression softened slightly.
"What does that mean?"
Karin immediately grew uneasy.
"Sakura seems to have lost her mind."
"She threatened the old man—said if we don't hand over the Nine-Tails, she'll cooperate with Akatsuki."
"Clearly… she's abandoned you."
His words shocked everyone.
Even Sasuke sat up straight.
"What do you mean?"
"Sakura would never do something like that."
Karin didn't shout.
Instead she frowned deeply and began thinking.
"I don't have time for this."
"I have something to do."
Kyūsei ignored them and quickly packed his things.
But instead of heading straight to the village gate, he went to the Konoha Hospital.
He met Uzumaki Mika.
Kyūsei had placed the Heavenly Flame Prison Seal on Menma.
Since he was going to Hōzuki Castle, he couldn't bring Menma along, nor could he remove the seal.
So someone had to temporarily control it.
That person needed to be someone who wouldn't alarm either Hiruzen or Sasuke.
Mika was perfect.
A Konoha resident.
And Karin's counterpart mother.
Someone Kyūsei trusted.
He soon spotted Mika studying under a doctor and waved to her through the window.
She excused herself and came outside.
"Kyūsei-sama, did you need something?"
"I need your help."
"Please tell me."
"Give me your hand."
Mika hesitated but extended her hand.
Kyūsei grasped it.
Golden chakra flames ignited.
A burning sensation spread through her palm.
When he released her hand, a golden flame mark remained.
"This is part of a seal placed on someone very important in the village."
"Until I return—or until the mark disappears—you must not leave Konoha."
"I understand."
"I'll complete the mission."
Mika nodded seriously.
Kyūsei chuckled slightly.
"Actually… just live normally."
"Just don't leave Konoha."
After a few instructions, Kyūsei departed quickly.
He needed to reach Hōzuki Castle as soon as possible.
Mika looked at the seal in her palm.
Heavenly Flame Prison.
Did Kyūsei-sama seal some dangerous person?
Hōzuki Castle stood in the middle of the sea.
Endless water surrounded it.
Inside the prison were hundreds of guards and over a thousand criminals.
All were extremely dangerous.
To control them, Uzushiogakure had once gifted the Heavenly Prison Technique and Great Flame Prison to the Grass Village.
Now Uzushio was gone.
Grass Village had been destroyed by Kyūsei himself.
The salty wind whipped across his face as he approached the massive prison rising from the sea.
After traveling an entire day, he had finally reached the place where Sakumo had last been seen.
Kagura Mind's Eye activated instantly.
The entire castle entered his perception.
Dead.
Silent.
Those were the first sensations.
The castle was completely empty.
Not a single person.
Only one thing stood in the central plaza—
A gigantic steel box shaped like a demon's face.
As if waiting for him.
The Box of Bliss.
The legendary artifact said to have been used by the Sage of Six Paths to seal a monster.
Kyūsei stepped forward calmly.
Then—
Footsteps echoed above.
He looked up.
A figure sat on the box.
A shadow clone.
But the face made Kyūsei narrow his eyes.
Senju Nawaki.
Or rather—
someone wearing Nawaki's body.
"Yo."
The man grinned arrogantly.
"Nice to meet you, Nine-Tails jinchūriki."
"My name is Uchiha Yūma."
"You can also call me Senju Nawaki."
"Either works for me."
"A mere clone."
"No need for introductions."
Kyūsei's voice was ice-cold.
According to Naruko's memories, this man had caused the Nine-Tails disaster.
"So Kagura Mind's Eye is that sensitive?"
"My Sharingan and Byakugan couldn't detect this shadow clone."
"But you could."
Yūma scratched his head.
"But that doesn't matter."
"Before the real battle begins, I've prepared a gift for you."
"Please—"
A golden spear flashed.
It pierced straight through Yūma's chest.
"Too much talking."
Kyūsei's eyes were freezing.
But something strange happened.
The clone didn't disappear.
Yūma looked down at the huge hole in his chest.
Kyūsei grew wary.
Shadow clones normally shattered instantly.
Unless—
the clone itself was unusual.
Just like Naruto's clones, strengthened by Yang Release.
But even Naruto's clones would vanish if pierced like this.
"Yin-Yang Release… I see."
Kyūsei concluded instantly.
Yūma grinned.
"Sharp."
"But this isn't my battlefield."
"You'll be fighting him."
He patted the Box of Bliss beneath him.
The giant iron face creaked open.
A dark abyss appeared.
Footsteps echoed.
Something emerged.
A pale man in ragged clothing stepped out, holding a short blade.
White hair.
Kyūsei stared quietly.
He had prepared himself for this.
But even so—
His heart trembled.
Anyone thrown into the Box of Bliss would have their chakra and abilities controlled by Satori.
The man before him—
Was not truly Hatake Sakumo.
He was a puppet.
"Well then…"
Yūma waved mockingly.
"I'll leave you two to your reunion."
"Goodbye."
With a puff of smoke, he vanished.
Kyūsei ignored him.
His gaze remained fixed on the man before him.
The puppet called Hatake Sakumo.
He looked at the blood-stained white blade.
He knew the real Sakumo was gone.
"…Kyūsei."
The puppet spoke slowly.
"What a sentimental reunion."
"Yeah…"
"I didn't expect this either."
Kyūsei replied quietly.
"Kyūsei!"
The Nine-Tails roared inside him.
"That's not your teacher!"
"That's Satori, the monster sealed by the Sage of Six Paths!"
"Hatake Sakumo is already dead!"
Kyūsei didn't answer.
Golden chakra flames gathered in his hand.
A golden short blade formed.
Across from him—
Sakumo's blade lifted.
The sea wind howled.
Hair fluttered.
In the same instant—
Both attacked.
The White Fang's blade and the Thunder God's blade clashed in a blinding flash.
Two men who should have stood on the same side—
Now fought a battle of life and death.
To Read 60+ ahead advanced Chapters, head over to P@treon
patreon.com/DarkVerse146