Naruto: I, Uchiha, Just Want to Die

Chapter 191: The Rift, and the Cherished One!

"Lord Shura, please go back. We're just following orders,"

said one of the Root Shinobi, the taller of the two.

Uchiha Ci finally realized what made these two different from other Root operatives:

they were excessively polite to him.

Unlike typical Root members, who acted imperiously with their cold, lifeless expressions, these two seemed to show him a hint of... respect?

What was going on?

A sudden realization struck Uchiha Ci. These two were among the Root operatives led by Aburame Ryoma who had assisted him back in the Land of Hot Water!

They were subordinates of Orochimaru, weren't they?

Looking toward the Third Training Ground outside, where a colossal ethereal Nine-Tails loomed in midair, Uchiha Ci was stunned.

To interfere with Konoha's inner workings, especially the defense of its Jinchūriki, only someone groomed as Hiruzen Sarutobi's successor—like Orochimaru—could pull that off!

"Orochimaru is really going this far!?"

As this thought surfaced, an absurd sense of disbelief filled Uchiha Ci's heart.

Perhaps Orochimaru had been too kind to him recently, to the point that his life felt like an overpowered game.

Artifacts, Cursed Marks—delivered as easily as clicking a button.

Kage-level warriors ready to assist at any time.

Not to mention Hashirama Cell Gift Packs and Cursed Mark Power-Up Packs queued up on cooldown timers, ready to deliver surprises when the time came.

But it was only at this moment that Uchiha Ci truly realized—

Orochimaru was no good guy!

This man was the first major villain in the original series!

His goodwill extended solely to Uchiha Ci.

To everyone else, they were likely nothing more than insignificant insects crawling on the ground in Orochimaru's eyes!

Be it sacrificing Konoha's assault team or unleashing the Nine-Tails to wreak havoc, it all showed his utter disregard for any life beyond himself and Uchiha Ci.

Witnessing the scene before him, Uchiha Ci's expression turned grim.

He finally understood Orochimaru's intentions.

Didn't Orochimaru realize the catastrophic consequences of unleashing the Nine-Tails?

But he did it anyway—just to push his disciple onto the battlefield!

Imagining the chaos to come, envisioning Konoha devastated by the ferocious beast, and considering the possibility of Orochimaru defecting early if this plan was exposed, Uchiha Ci clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and abruptly looked up.

In his crimson Sharingan, twin tomoe spun violently.

The eerie red glow of his eyes reflected in the two Root shinobi's pupils, plunging them into a distorted genjutsu illusion.

Taking advantage of the moment, Uchiha Ci leaped out, scaled the second-floor balcony of the lab, grabbed the eaves of a distant attic, and somersaulted onto the rooftop.

He darted from one Konoha building to another, piercing through the stifling night like an arrow racing toward dawn, charging straight for the Third Training Ground!

"Damn it, you bastard of a teacher!"

"This time, let me be the one to save you!"

---

In Konoha,

within the Uzumaki Barrier set up to seal the Nine-Tails' power,

Kushina bound the four Anbu guarding her using the Adamantine Sealing Chains.

She then hurriedly dashed out of the Uzumaki Clan residence, sprinting through the long streets.

Finally, she stopped at the line drawn on the ground in front of her—a boundary between freedom and chains.

Her gaze wavered slightly, her teeth clenched, and her fists tightened as she fell silent.

At that moment, the Nine-Tails' tempting voice echoed in her mind:

"What are you hesitating for?"

"Kushina,

the Uzumaki Clan takes pride in its whirlpool-like sealing techniques, but while you use that power, they use you in return.

In this turbulent era of whirlpools and currents, you're drowning, unable to break free.

That's right.

Let it be this way!

The only one who can release you from the chains that bind you, from being reduced to a mere tool in their hands—is me!

Never forget your hatred, and trust no one!"

Kushina suddenly raised her head, her jet-black eyes flashing red, pupils elongating into sharp, cold slits.

"Shut up!"

"Nine-Tails.

I... I just don't want to lose Minato!"

Silencing the Nine-Tails' persuasive words with resolute determination, Kushina stepped out of the barrier and ran toward the Third Training Ground under the dark night sky!

Earlier that day, after Uchiha Ci fired the Shadow Dog Cannon,

Minato left with his teammates for a mission and training, along with a few suspicious "fox-like" women who clearly had their eyes on him.

This broke their promise to spend time together.

She got angry at him, but immediately felt regretful afterward.

Because of that little brat Uchiha Ci, her Anbu guards were doubled!

Now, under Konoha's increasing surveillance, Minato was the only friend—or boyfriend—she could see or interact with.

If she didn't resolve the misunderstanding immediately, she might lose the one she cherished forever for such a ridiculous reason!

For Kushina, this was unacceptable!

She wanted to find Minato and apologize to him face-to-face.

She wanted to hold on to Minato.

---

As dark clouds parted slightly, pale moonlight spilled over the Third Training Ground.

"Sorry, Kushina!"

"The truth is, the reason I broke our promise was to perfect this jutsu...

a jutsu created to protect you!"

"With the Third Great Ninja War ongoing, you might be sent to the battlefield at any moment.

So I developed this jutsu specifically to counter Tailed Beasts and enemy Jinchūriki.

It even resonates with your chakra.

I want to teach this jutsu to you,

because I—"

"don't want to lose you!"

Minato muttered his apology to the empty night air, his cheeks flushed red.

In his hand, he held a pitch-black, tightly compressed Rasengan—

Rasengan: Lunarity!

After getting the complete concept from Uchiha Ci, it had taken him less than half a day.

Using the principles of the Uzumaki Clan's Eight Trigrams Sealing Technique he learned from Kushina,

Minato quickly figured out how to compress both the core and outer layers of the Rasengan simultaneously.

He had been training at the Third Training Ground ever since, and now, the technique was finally complete.

"Ahhh, so nervous!" Minato scratched his head, crouching with the Rasengan in hand, feeling like he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.

The thought of saying these words to Kushina tomorrow filled him with both excitement and anxiety—what if she didn't forgive him?

"How do I make Kushina forgive me?"

"Maybe I should buy her some accessories girls like?"

"Or maybe—"

Suddenly, a clear, melodious voice rang out from behind him:

"Minato! I'm the one who should apologize!"

"This voice..." Minato's eyes widened in shock.

"Kushina!"

As he turned around in surprise, what he saw was—his beloved's joyous face,

tainted by the sudden appearance of icy, violent, hate-filled fox-like pupils!

In the next instant, a fiery red claw lashed out, ripping a deep gash from Minato's stomach to his chest to his jaw, before slamming him to the ground with a thunderous crash!

Nine crimson tails burst forth from Kushina's berserk form, breaking free of their seal!

A violent and ominous chakra exploded outward, shaking all of Konoha to its core!

"Ahhh! Cough!"

Midair, Minato spat out a mouthful of blood, his face pale with horror.

"This is bad—"

"Kushina is about to fully transform into the Nine-Tails!!"