The Border of the Land of Fire
"Big Ball Rasengan."
"Big Ball Rasengan."
Two colossal, azure orbs clashed violently.
Boom!
Rotating chakra at an intense concentration exploded, releasing a surge of powerful wind. Dust erupted from the ground, spreading in all directions.
Even the aftershocks of their battle left the surrounding buildings in ruins, riddled with cracks and debris.
The strength of the two combatants needed no explanation.
This was the border of the Land of Fire, but its once-thriving natural beauty had been utterly destroyed by the ongoing clash.
"Naruto, come back with me. Stop going further down this path of no return."
The speaker, clad in a red cloak, with long white hair and a headband inscribed with the kanji for "oil," was none other than Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin.
Naruto looked at him and sneered, his lips curling mockingly. "Pervy Sage—no, Jiraiya—are you still spouting such naive nonsense?"
"Look around, oh mentor of the Fourth Hokage. These ignorant villagers, living their lives happily, eating and drinking without a care, on the very land that buried the Fourth Hokage.
"But what about me? I'm the son of a hero, not a harbinger of calamity. They have homes to return to. And me? Jiraiya, where's my home?"
Jiraiya's gaze darkened at Naruto's words. He opened his mouth as if to reply, but no words came.
For a moment, silence enveloped the two.
Naruto shrugged and continued. "Jiraiya, don't bother trying to convince me. You're always 'just one step short.' One step short of saving a friend, of reaching love, of rescuing a student, of saving the old man. Always one step short."
"Naruto..." Jiraiya's expression faltered, and his emotions grew increasingly conflicted.
"I'll say it again, Naruto. Come back with me. Things haven't reached the point of no return yet."
Naruto smirked. "Go back with you? Don't make me laugh, Jiraiya."
"Going back? As a Jinchūriki, you know what fate awaits me. Don't pretend you don't know."
Jiraiya froze.
Even a moment's thought revealed the truth: Naruto's return would result in his chakra being sealed or the Nine-Tails forcibly extracted.
And a Jinchūriki without a tailed beast? Their fate was death.
Yet as a loyal shinobi of Konoha, Jiraiya couldn't allow Naruto—an individual with the power to deter rival villages—to defect. His departure posed a significant threat, one that could ignite conflict among the five great nations.
"Naruto, I'm sorry. I can't let you leave. Your absence would endanger Konoha."
Saying this, Jiraiya bit down on his thumb, drawing blood. With a few swift strokes, he marked his face with crimson lines.
The seemingly haphazard marks made Naruto's eyes widen in shock. "The Blood Contract...!"
Naruto's brows furrowed slightly. Jiraiya was serious, so serious he was prepared to enter Sage Mode.
"Jiraiya, you can't stop me. I'm leaving."
"In that form, you'll never catch me."
As Naruto turned to leave—
From the distant peaks, several figures emerged, darting toward them with precision and speed.
Naruto glanced over his shoulder, his sharp eyes narrowing.
"Kakashi, Might Guy, Asuma, Kurenai, and Inoichi Yamanaka."
"Tch. Well, this just got troublesome. All these annoying pests have arrived."
He sighed inwardly and muttered, "Nine-Tails, lend me your chakra. I'll return it afterward. Or forget it, if I don't, you'll just have to deal with it."
"Hmph, never have I seen someone so shameless," growled the Nine-Tails within.
"Oh, come on, you and I are practically partners."
Naruto knew that dragging things out would only complicate matters. A quick resolution was his best option.
Red chakra, thick and fluid like molten lava, enveloped his body. Eight tails of chakra flickered and danced in the air.
"Stage Two."
Boom!
---
Crimson Sky
The blood-red hues of the sunset painted Naruto's cheeks, while the faint clattering of bird talons echoed through the forest.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, and a trace of killing intent emanated from him.
The birds perched in the trees scattered instantly.
The sight before Naruto's eyes was of a gently flowing stream.
A fishing rod rested in his hand, the line swaying softly in the breeze.
Naruto furrowed his brows slightly.
"I can't believe it's been so long, and I'm still thinking about it."
Shaking his head, he muttered, "Forget it. I'll head back early today."
Naruto packed up his fishing basket, which held two lively fish—his dinner for the evening.
But deep down, Naruto harbored a secret.
He wasn't the original Naruto. He had once been an ordinary Earthling, living on a planet called Earth. He had died from overwork one fateful night, only to awaken as another personality within Naruto's mind.
If the Naruto from the original story represented goodness, then this new personality was evil—pure evil. He was the side of Naruto that the Nine-Tails favored most.
Karin had once said, "It's astonishing how such a bright chakra can conceal a bottomless darkness."
According to the story's original timeline, Naruto would perish while mastering the Nine-Tails' chakra.
But this new personality refused to die.
So, the only solution? Naruto had to die instead. He wasn't a hero—he wasn't even a good person. It was that simple.
Upon completely seizing control of Naruto's body, his first act was to defect from Konoha.
Ignorant villagers.
The rejection from his peers.
The repulsive faces of Konoha's leadership.
Naruto wanted no part of it.
But reality was cruel. Without absolute strength, resistance was futile.
Until the unexpected happened. He was transported again.
This time, it was Konoha's 39th year. The Second Shinobi World War had just ended, with Konoha emerging as the biggest victor.
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