The day began as any other for Naruto Uzumaki, a seemingly normal child living alone in his humble apartment in the Hidden Leaf Village. However, today was different. Today, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had decided to visit him personally.
As the sun reached its peak, a knock resounded on Naruto's door. He quickly wiped his hands on his shirt, having just finished eating a bowl of instant ramen.
"Come in!" Naruto called out cheerfully, already aware of who it was.
Hiruzen entered, wearing his usual robes and carrying a warm smile. He held a small envelope in his hand, which he offered to Naruto.
"Good afternoon, Naruto," Hiruzen said kindly. "I have some news for you. Starting next week, you'll be officially admitted to the Shinobi Academy."
Naruto's face lit up with excitement, though it was all an act. "Really, Jiji? That's awesome! I can finally become a ninja and protect the village!"
Hiruzen chuckled, his heart warming at the boy's enthusiasm. "Yes, Naruto. You'll learn many skills that will help you achieve your dreams. This is your monthly allowance as well."
Naruto took the envelope, bowing slightly in gratitude. "Thanks, Jiji. I won't let you down!"
The Hokage stayed a little longer, asking about Naruto's well-being before departing. As soon as the door closed behind him, Naruto's cheerful demeanor dropped, replaced by a calculating expression.
Naruto's Plan in Motion*
Naruto sat on his bed, pulling out his diary and flipping to the latest entry. His mind was racing with possibilities. The Shinobi Academy would provide him with a platform to interact with other future shinobi, but his real plans were far more ambitious.
That night, he summoned his loyal ANBU operatives, three of whom were secretly Root agents under Danzo's command. They knelt before him, their masks concealing their faces.
"I have an important task for you," Naruto began, his voice steady and authoritative. "Keep an eye on Danzo Shimura. Inform me immediately if he makes any moves against the Uchiha clan."
The three Root agents exchanged brief glances but nodded. "Understood, Uzumaki-sama," one of them said.
Naruto smirked slightly. He had worked hard to manipulate the ANBU under his influence, planting false memories and reshaping their loyalty to align with his own goals. They believed they were chosen and trained by the Fourth Hokage himself, and now they saw protecting Naruto as their duty.
Six Months Later*
Naruto's patience paid off. Late one evening, one of his ANBU returned with urgent news.
"Uzumaki-sama," the masked figure said, kneeling before him. "Danzo is meeting Shisui Uchiha tonight. He intends to ensure Shisui doesn't interfere with his plans for the Uchiha clan."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "And Root?"
"They've been ordered to intercept Shisui if he attempts to escape."
Naruto nodded, dismissing the ANBU. Once he was alone, he opened the system shop, scanning through its vast array of items. He had been saving his exchange points for months, and now it was time to put them to use.
With a few deliberate selections, he purchased a Sharingan and the Mangekyou Sharingan, along with the unique ability Kamui. It cost him a significant amount of points, but it was worth it. He also bought a black, featureless mask to conceal his identity.
Looking into the mirror, Naruto activated his newly acquired Sharingan. The tomoe spun briefly before settling, and he felt a surge of power coursing through him.
The Night of the Meeting*
Under the cover of darkness, Naruto left his apartment, his mask concealing his face and his Sharingan hidden under a layer of chakra. He reached the meeting point—an isolated clearing near a river—just in time to see Danzo and Shisui standing a few meters apart.
Naruto stayed hidden, observing the confrontation. Shisui, the wielder of the Kotoamatsukami, looked tense but determined as he faced Danzo.
"You can't stop this, Shisui," Danzo said coldly. "The Uchiha are a threat to the village. They must be neutralized."
"I won't let you destroy my clan," Shisui replied, his Sharingan glowing. "There's still a way to resolve this peacefully."
Naruto's sharp eyes caught movement in the shadows—Root agents closing in on Shisui. He clenched his fists. *They're going to corner him...*
As the tension in the clearing escalated, Naruto prepared to act. This was his moment to intervene and change the course of history.
The moon cast a faint glow over the Hidden Leaf Village as Naruto crouched in the shadows, his mask securely in place. He watched the confrontation between Shisui Uchiha and Danzo Shimura with sharp, focused eyes. Shisui stood defiant, his Sharingan glowing with power, while Danzo loomed ominously, backed by his loyal Root operatives.
Naruto knew this was a pivotal moment, not just for the Uchiha, but for his own plans to reshape the future. He reached into his pouch and touched the special scroll he had purchased from the system shop weeks ago—a scroll containing a lifelike transformation dummy designed to mimic the appearance and chakra signature of a real person.
As Danzo's operatives began to close in on Shisui, Naruto moved swiftly. In a blur of motion, he activated his Kamui, phasing into the scene and positioning himself between Shisui and the Root agents.
Naruto didn't respond. Instead, he turned to Shisui and said in a low voice, "Trust me, I'm here to help."
Shisui hesitated but nodded, sensing no ill intent from the masked figure. Naruto immediately unsealed the dummy from his scroll and, with precise control, poured a few drops of Shisui's blood onto it. The dummy shimmered briefly before transforming into a perfect replica of Shisui's body—lifeless and still.
"Take this," Naruto whispered, handing Shisui another small scroll. "This will allow you to escape unnoticed. Go now, and stay hidden until I contact you."
Shisui looked at Naruto with a mixture of confusion and gratitude but didn't argue. He knew he had no choice but to trust this mysterious savior. Activating his teleportation jutsu, Shisui disappeared into the night.
The Aftermath
Danzo stepped forward, his expression calm but calculating. "It's over. Shisui Uchiha is dead," he declared, gesturing to the lifeless dummy. "Take the body back to the compound."
The Root agents obeyed, carefully sealing the fake body into a scroll. Danzo's lips curved into a faint smirk. "With this, the Uchiha rebellion will no longer be an issue."
Naruto remained silent, his masked face betraying nothing. He phased into the shadows with Kamui, ensuring he wasn't detected.
Naruto's Strategy
Back in his apartment, Naruto sat cross-legged on his bed, his mask lying beside him. He opened his diary and began writing his next entry.
Diary Entry: Day 450
"Today, I saved Shisui Uchiha and replaced him with a special dummy to fool Danzo. He thinks Shisui is dead, but the truth is far from it. My plans are progressing smoothly. The massacre is still inevitable, but I'll use it to expose Danzo's crimes and gain the trust of the other clans.
"I've also prepared myself for the encounter with Obito. The Kamui Sharingan will be my trump card. If I can neutralize him during the massacre, it will further solidify my position. My ultimate goal remains unchanged—unite all shinobi under one banner. But first, I must become Hokage."
He closed the diary and leaned back, a small smirk playing on his lips. Everything was falling into place.
Naruto turned back to Danzo and the Root operatives, who were already preparing to attack.
The Aftermath
Danzo stepped forward, his expression calm but calculating. "It's over. Shisui Uchiha is dead," he declared, gesturing to the lifeless dummy. "Take the body back to the compound."
The Root agents obeyed, carefully sealing the fake body into a scroll. Danzo's lips curved into a faint smirk. "With this, the Uchiha rebellion will no longer be an issue."
Naruto remained silent, his masked face betraying nothing. He phased into the shadows with Kamui, ensuring he wasn't detected.
Author's Note:
Hello, dear readers!
Thank you all for sticking with me through the first arc of this story, titled "Underdog". It's been a wild ride, and I deeply appreciate your comments, reviews, and support! Your feedback has been invaluable in shaping this journey.
As we transition into the next arc, "Power Holder", the stakes are about to get even higher. I know some of Naruto's decisions might seem a little similar to someone like Danzo, but let's face it—can you really entrust the leadership of a village to a 7-year-old? These decisions were necessary for the sake of realism and plot progression.
In the upcoming chapter, we'll dive into
Stay tuned!