On the day of the massacre, anything of value was looted by the perpetrators.
Over nearly twenty years of desolation, some explorers inevitably ventured in, taking away what they deemed valuable.
What remained were these stone tablets engraved with fragmented and disordered records.
Time's relentless passage caused great erosion, rendering some of the inscriptions faint and difficult to discern.
By nightfall, it took the combined effort of two people to finish transcribing the records from six tablets.
With poor visibility after dark and no urgent time constraints, they decided to rest.
They found a relatively intact house at a high point in the village to use as a temporary shelter.
Gathering some dry wood, they lit a bonfire to fill the space with light.
Karin was browsing a scroll, reading the text with furrowed brows. "These entries are all about the history of the Uzumaki Clan."
"Why are events from the Warring States period etched on them?"
To the Uzumaki Clan, these records held great significance.
But for Naruto, they fell far short of what he had hoped to find. "We must have been looking in the wrong place," Naruto said as he read alongside, "Let's check nearby for any shrine-like locations tomorrow."
Karin nodded but didn't put down the scroll, attempting to extract useful information from the gaps between the lines.
Naruto stirred the fire, then suddenly halted his motion. "Two powerful individuals are approaching."
"At this time, in a place like this, they're likely targeting me."
Karin pulled back slightly into the house, "Powerful? Just how strong are they?"
"Judging by the feel of it, they're around Orochimaru's level," Naruto considered, making his assessment.
Karin's eyes widened as she exclaimed, "Orochimaru?"
He was renowned as one of the "Legendary Sannin," rated as S-Class, capable of killing the Third Hokage, a formidable rogue ninja.
Though Naruto had defeated him, it wasn't due to Orochimaru's weakness but rather Naruto's exceptional strength.
How were individuals of that caliber becoming so common?
Even in an obscure place like the Land of Whirlpools, they could encounter such foes, and more than one at that. "We should run," Karin suggested after a moment's thought.
Naruto shook his head, his tone calm as he stated a fact, "Too many pursue us just by following our scent."
"If we run, they'll become excited, thinking us easy prey."
"Only by giving them a painful lesson, making them bleed, will some of them die."
"Then they'll understand not to provoke us."
Karin pursed her lips, her tone filled with worry, "But those two are like Orochimaru..."
"The tougher the opponent, the sharper the blade must be to cut it." Naruto stood up, looking down at Karin, "Don't worry, I'm stronger than I was a few days ago."
"Be careful."
"Is there a way for you to hide?"
"If not, just get far away. I'll find you."
On the island, there are other dangers—bandits or rogue ninjas—but compared to the two men who entered Uzumaki Village, such threats can be ignored.
"If it's just hiding, I can handle it," Karin assured him, "I've almost mastered the Kagura Mind's Eye."
"I can keep myself safe."
She was well aware of her role beside Naruto.
In terms of talent, she was far from matching Naruto. Even if she spent a lifetime, she might not reach his current level.
Thus, she chose not to study the "Adamantine Sealing Chains" or other ninjutsu but instead focused on the "Kagura Mind's Eye."
This is also one of the Uzumaki clan's secret techniques.
Once the eyes are closed and the technique activated, one can sense all chakras within a radius of several kilometers.
If mastered to its fullest, one can sense the emotions within the chakra and even detect lies.
Of course, Karin's purpose for practicing this ninjutsu wasn't for its sensory abilities alone.
Rather, this technique also allowed her to hide her chakra in moments of danger, avoiding detection.
Around Naruto, if she couldn't provide support, then at least she shouldn't hold him back.
"Then hide." Naruto nodded, "Wait for my return."
Karin concealed herself, closing her eyes to perform the technique.
Amid the ruins of Uzumaki Village, two figures in black cloaks with red clouds walked along the village waterway.
"So this was once the famous Land of Whirlpools," Kisame remarked, glancing around with curiosity. "It's hard to imagine what a flourishing scene it must have been when intact."
Itachi Uchiha remained silent.
"No offense," Kisame tilted his head towards Itachi, "but I do have some doubts."
"Can the two of us find the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki?"
Uchiha Itachi lifted his head, glancing at the moon, "The Jinchūriki has strong sensing abilities."
"If he senses us, he'll come to us willingly."
Kisame nodded thoughtfully, "Do you think he won't run away?"
Itachi Uchiha didn't reply.
He merely tilted his head, looking to the left side.
There, a half-collapsed pillar stood, atop which was a blond youth draped in a white cloak.
The moonlight perfectly outlined him from behind, creating a scene reminiscent of a ukiyo-e painting.
"You were right, Itachi," Kisame squinted, lifting his hands slightly. "The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki has indeed come to us voluntarily."
Naruto looked down at them, "So, your target is indeed me."
He didn't hold back his chakra, releasing it completely.
Yet these two only changed expressions slightly.
Under the pressure he emitted, they neither retreated nor seemed greatly affected.
"The audacity of this brat!" Kisame grinned grimly, excitement glinting in his eyes. "I thought that part was exaggerated."
"Just by his gaze, he scared away three Iwagakure ANBU."
"Turns out it really is that intense."
Itachi Uchiha said nothing, staring intently at Naruto.
With him closer now, the view was clearer.
Both wore the same black cloaks with red clouds.
Each had a ninja forehead protector, though the designs differed.
The one with the shark-like face bore the "Kirigakure" symbol on his forehead.
The shorter one, with the Sharingan, bore the Konoha forehead protector.
Despite the different protectors, both bore a single slash through them, defacing the village symbol.
This was the mark of a rogue ninja.
Therefore, were these two part of a rogue ninja organization?
"Are you Itachi Uchiha?" Naruto asked, looking at the shorter man, speaking his name.
Itachi responded softly, "You know me?"
"Sasuke has always wanted to kill you," Naruto said, placing his hand on his sword's handle.
Mentioning his brother, Itachi showed no change in emotion, his tone remaining cold, "He lacks the caliber to accomplish such a task."
"Caliber?" Naruto echoed the term.
Itachi raised his hand, "Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, let me see how your caliber measures up."
Naruto looked at him with a gentle smile, "Carrying humility on your lips."
"You've betrayed the village, yet still wear its headband."
"Those two words don't seem all that wonderful, do they?"
Itachi Uchiha replied in a low voice, "Is that so?"
No sooner had he spoken, his Sharingan began to spin.
Naruto's vision dimmed abruptly, the crimson sky rushed at him like waves.
His body felt heavy.
Huge iron stakes pierced his body, immobilizing him.
This is a genjutsu?
Silent and swift, it invaded his body.
"Nine-Tails," he called out in his heart.
The Tailed Beast's chakra flooded into him, instantly disrupting the existing chakra balance within his body.
This was one of the most effective ways to dispel genjutsu.
The iron stakes vanished, and the heaviness subsided.
When Naruto opened his eyes again, a giant fireball rolled towards him.
The intense heat distorted the air with its scorching blaze.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu."
Itachi seized the moment of Naruto's brief distraction.
Naruto remained calm, simply using Shunshin to dodge in a flash.
The red blade was unsheathed—
The red light slashed towards Itachi.
This seemingly frail man surprisingly had formidable taijutsu skills.
Wielding a kunai, he faced Naruto, exchanging blows for several rounds without falling behind.
Kisame did not join the fray.
For now, it was still Itachi's fight alone, not requiring his assistance.
However, while he had anticipated the blonde boy's skills, witnessing him exchange blows with Itachi on equal footing was still astonishing.
In Konoha, he encountered that kid with the Sharingan who was about his own age, but he couldn't even make Itachi take him seriously.
The difference was like night and day.
Naruto frowned.
Fighting Uchiha Itachi wasn't difficult.
The person in front of him didn't seem to have much desire to fight him.
He was testing Itachi's abilities, but it was clear Itachi was doing the same.
However, the endless illusions were giving him a headache.
They could deceive his senses and were activated silently without any warning, reaching the point of "indistinguishable from reality."
Not lethal, but they made it difficult to seize a decisive victory.
"Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, you truly are powerful," Uchiha Itachi suddenly spoke, "Even with just the power of the three-tomoe, it's not enough to deal with you."
"Have you ever heard Sasuke mention the evolution above the three-tomoe Sharingan?"
Naruto was taken aback.
The evolution of the Sharingan?
He locked eyes with Uchiha Itachi.
In the man's eye sockets, the three-tomoe spun and morphed, unraveling into a scythe-like pattern.
"Tsukuyomi!"
Chakra surged, dragging the blond boy into a mental world.
Naruto felt dazed.
The colors of the world faded like a film negative, leaving only black and white.
His body was abruptly bound, tightly constrained on a rack.
In front of him, Uchiha Itachi multiplied like performing "Shadow Clone Jutsu," densely packed into a large group.
When he spoke, his voice layered itself over repeatedly.
"This is the evolution of the Sharingan, the Mangekyo Sharingan."
"Do you have the capacity"
"to withstand this seventy-two hours of pain?"
A clone stepped forward, raising a knife high in the air, and thrust it towards Naruto.
(End of Chapter)