Meeting The Nine-Tails!

Not far off, Itachi was chasing the trail of bodies and explosions, desperately searching for Arashi and Naruto amidst the destruction. The scene was one of devastation, with shattered trees and the stench of blood in the air.

'Did Arashi do this?' Itachi wondered, observing the claw marks and sensing a strange chakra lingering in the surroundings. 'No, that's not it. Naruto did.'

His gaze shifted upward, noticing smoke rising in the distance. Itachi hastened his pace, determined to reach the source.

'The Uchiha compound will be in turmoil with this level of destruction and casualties. The clan's animosity will only grow... But I can't worry about that now. Finding Arashi and Naruto is my priority. I hope it's not too late.'

Just as he thought that, Itachi stumbled upon multiple lifeless bodies scattered on the ground. One of them caught his attention, and his eyes widened in recognition. 'Is that Lord Danzo?!'

Cautious of potential ambushes or traps, Itachi sought refuge by a nearby tree. He threw a kunai at his feet, ready to react to any sudden movement.

"Who's there?!" Naruto's voice rang out, kunai drawn and prepared for battle.

'Naruto?'

"It's just me, Naruto. Relax," Itachi called out, descending from the tree.

"What happened? Are you alright?"

"You need to help Arashi quickly!" Naruto pointed behind him, concern etched on his blood-stained face. Blood still flowed from his eyes, evidence of the fierce battle he had endured.

"Arashi..." Itachi's gaze shifted to his fallen comrade. He approached him, carefully turning him over. The sight that greeted him was gruesome, Arashi's face was covered in blood, his blood.

'Not only is he depleting his chakra rapidly, but he has also lost a significant amount of blood,' Itachi noted, activating his Sharingan to assess the extent of Arashi's injuries.

"Naruto, do you remember what happened?" Itachi inquired his focus still on Arashi.

"Yeah, but... I'm not entirely sure. Arashi... he... He looked at them and pulled me aside, and then... and then they all collapsed," Naruto explained, his voice tinged with confusion and worry.

"They all collapsed?" Itachi repeated, his mind racing to comprehend the situation. Naruto nodded affirmatively.

"Listen, I'm not entirely sure what happened, but Arashi saved me, you know?"

'There's no doubt about it now. He placed them all under a genjutsu, and a potent one at that,' Itachi concluded, observing the state of the incapacitated shinobi. 'To ensnare them all with a single glance... Not even Shisui has demonstrated such power.'

Releasing his grip on Arashi, Itachi turned his attention to one of the affected shinobi, attempting to break the genjutsu through his Sharingan. However, his efforts proved futile.

"Heavy breathing, sweating, and worse... He's bleeding from his nose and mouth. What kind of genjutsu is this?" Itachi questioned himself, deep in thought. He removed the shinobi's mask, unveiling his eyes.

'His eyes... They bear the Rinnegan pattern. Yet, there's a difference. Arashi's eyes always have a purple background, while this shinobi's eyes display a red hue with multiple rippled patterns.'

Closing the shinobi's eyes, Itachi carefully lifted Arashi onto his back. "Come with me," he instructed Naruto, determination evident in his voice. Together, they sprinted toward their next destination, their race against time fueled by the urgency to save their friend.

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Shisui and Kakashi met inside the Hokage's office. There was a hidden room that remained well guarded.

They've been meeting there for a while to avoid spies and keep vigilance, only the higher-ranked members of the Anbu, and a selected few could enter.

"Lord third, we would like to report Danzo-sama," Kakashi stated.

"Danzo? What now?"

"He attacked us, he attacked Shisui and me, while we were coming up with a plan for the Uchiha situation." Kakashi starts,

"And then just now he came from attacking Arashi and Naruto. Itachi stayed behind to get them to safety. We haven't heard anything from them ever since," Shisui says with a grim look,

Hiruzen frowned.

"What?!"

The Hokage put his cigar on the tray and quickly got up.

'Attacking Arashi Uchiha was bad enough, but now even our jinchuriki?!

Danzo has gone too far.'

"Shisui, I hope you understand that I had no part in this. You must understand this before I retaliate and-"

Slam!

They all turned their heads when Itachi slammed the door carrying Arashi while Naruto followed.

"Itachi? What happened?"

"Arashi most likely used too much chakra.

His eyes are bleeding and Danzo and his subordinates are nearly dead from a genjutsu, I checked on them and tried to get answers but I can't break them free."

"Old man, is Arashi gonna be okay?"

"He'll be fine, Naruto, but I'm worried about you too."

Naruto looked away,

"What? Just cause I'm the village's special weapon?" He muttered,

Hiruzen's eyes widened.

'Damn you, Danzo, you've even said all this?'

"I'll forget about it as long as Arashi gets better."

Itachi gave Arashi to Shisui.

'Arashi, I've failed at protecting you again…' He thought as he held his little brother in his arms,

Shisui looked up,

"Let's go, we'll take them to a medic." He says to Itachi.

Itachi nods and they hurry out of there.

Kakashi remained in the office while Shisui, Itachi, and Naruto went to the private medical center in the Hokage's office.

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While all this was happening, Arashi slowly regained consciousness. As he opened his eyes, he found himself in a dimly lit, filthy area that resembled a sewer.

"Grrrr..." A deep growl reverberated through the space, giving Arashi the impression that a formidable beast was lurking nearby.

Drip! The sound of water echoed ominously, further adding to the eerie atmosphere.

"Ugh... Where... Where am I?" Arashi muttered, his eyes darting around, trying to make sense of his surroundings. As he attempted to lift his arm, he noticed it was wet, and upon further inspection, he discovered a yellow substance covering it.

"Ah! Is this pee?!" Arashi exclaimed, recoiling in disgust and hastily standing up.

Bump bump! An intense pain coursed through his body, causing him to lose his balance and fall back. 'That was stupid of me. This place doesn't even reek.'

"Naruto? Shisui?" Arashi called out, hoping to find his comrades nearby. But there was no response, and he realized he was alone in this strange place. He surveyed his surroundings. A tunnel with rough, ragged walls and a foreboding path.

Arashi clutched his head, feeling a throbbing pain that made it hard to think clearly. "My head feels like it's about to explode! But I have to find out where I am."

Despite his weakened state, Arashi summoned the last of his strength and attempted to rise, but his body refused to cooperate. He felt a sense of malevolence in the air as if an evil entity lurked within the confines of the sewer.

"Hello? Who's in here with me?" Arashi's voice echoed through the eerie sewer, the silence weighing heavily around him.

"Hmph." A deep, resonating voice scoffed in response. "I was wondering when you'd come to see me."

Arashi noticed his trembling hand and made an effort to steady it. "This place... It feels sinister as if an evil presence is here with me."

Whoosh! A sudden gust of wind swept past his body, sending a shiver down his spine. Arashi recognized the sensation. It was chakra.

"This feeling... I've experienced it before," Arashi thought, memories of encounters with Naruto flooding his mind.

"Hey, are you... the Nine-Tailed Fox?" Arashi ventured, cautiously addressing the source of the chakra.

"Hm hm hahaha! How about I help you find out," the voice replied in a mischievous tone.

Just as the voice spoke, Arashi felt a surge of chakra hurtling toward him. He turned around and saw a vortex of orange chakra barreling toward him with immense force. Before he could react, the chakra enveloped him, carrying him through the corridor.

As the powerful chakra propelled Arashi, he noticed something peculiar. But before he could fully grasp it, he was forcefully thrown, landing with a jolt.

"My eyes... They're back to normal," Arashi realized, a glimmer of relief washing over him. However, his momentary joy was abruptly interrupted as he beheld a colossal fox standing before him, its tails swaying ominously.

Arashi tensed up, standing face to face with the Nine-Tails. His Rinnegan activated instinctively, its piercing gaze meeting the malicious eyes of the beast.

"Hmph, what's wrong? Are you afraid?" the Nine-Tails taunted, an evil grin adorning its monstrous face.

"So, you are the Nine-Tailed Fox. Do you have a name?" Arashi questioned, his voice laced with determination.

"A name?" the Nine-Tails pondered, taken aback by the unexpected query. "I am the living embodiment of hatred," it replied, its voice filled with centuries of resentment.

"Hatred? Why would you want to be that? It's sad. Is that the reason you killed so many people, including my mother? I don't like you very much. But if you did it out of hatred... then I'm not afraid of you!" Arashi declared boldly, his voice unwavering.

The Nine-Tails tilted its massive head, a perplexed expression crossing its fearsome features. "Hmph, you know nothing about how the world works. You are naïve and blinded, just like the average human trash.

For centuries, you humans have mistreated my kind due to your selfish wars. I can never trust a human, and the moment I break free from this seal, I'll kill you all," the Nine-Tails retorted, its tone seething with malice.

Arashi's expression hardened, his resolve unyielding. "I refuse to believe that hatred is the only answer. Naruto has shown me that even the darkest hearts can change. I will be the one to break the cycle of hatred and find a way to bring peace between us."

The Nine-Tails regarded him with an empty gaze, its thoughts hidden behind a facade of indifference.

"Breaking hatred? What a fool. I killed your mother, and you possess the power to kill or control me, yet you seek to break my hatred," the Nine-Tails sneered, a tinge of amusement coloring its voice.

Without warning, the Nine-Tails extended its immense form and reached out, grabbing hold of Arashi through the seal.

"What are you doing?" Arashi protested, attempting to resist. But his efforts were futile; he could only move a finger, restrained by the overwhelming power of the Nine-Tails.

"Stay still. You claimed you weren't afraid of me. Let's test how well you can endure my hatred," the Nine-Tails declared, tightening its grip on Arashi's body.

Arashi felt a surge of power coursing through his veins, the intensity almost overwhelming. As he clenched his fist, he sensed his strength gradually returning. However, before he could fully comprehend the situation, the Nine-Tails released its hold, and Arashi awoke in a hospital bed, his head throbbing with pain.

"Ugh..." He groaned, clutching his head and then stretching, his mind consumed by questions and determination to confront the Nine-Tails once more.

"Yawn…"

He looked around; he didn't know where he was.

'Who's room is this?' Arashi covered his eyes when the sun blinded him,

'My Rinnegan is back?'

He looked ahead and saw a friendly face sleeping on the couch.

Naruto was peacefully sleeping on the couch beside him, orange chakra still faintly emanating from his body and subtly coating Arashi's own. 'The Nine tails... Healed me?' He wondered.

The sound of footsteps caught Arashi's attention, and he turned towards the door to see Shisui entering the room,

"Big brother!" Arashi exclaimed, leaping out of bed and rushing to embrace Shisui, the residual chakra dissipating. Shisui reciprocated the hug, his expression a mix of relief and concern.

"Arashi!" Shisui hugged him tightly, a mixture of emotions evident in his eyes. Naruto, awakening from his slumber, rubbed his eyes and stretched his limbs.

"Arashi?" Naruto asked,

He widened his eyes seeing him, "Arashi!" he yelled, joining the heartfelt reunion.

Shisui shook his head solemnly, his grip on Arashi never faltering. "I'm sorry I wasn't there, Arashi. I should have brought you with me and kept you close. You almost died because of my mistakes."

"Big brother..." Arashi's voice quivered with emotion, understanding the weight of the situation and appreciating Shisui's remorse.

Soon after their reunion, Arashi and Naruto were dismissed, but Shisui made it clear that neither of them should speak about the events that had transpired. He kept them close, holding Arashi's hand as Naruto followed closely behind, guiding them toward the Uchiha compound.

Arashi's body was covered in multiple bandages, despite his insistence that he healed quickly. No one wanted to take any chances, as his survival had defied expectations.

As they stepped out of the main village, Arashi tugged on Shisui's hand, prompting him to look down at him inquiringly. Arashi hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Big brother, can Naruto stay with us tonight?" he asked, a hopeful expression on his face.

Shisui contemplated the request for a moment, understanding Arashi's desire for continued companionship. "You two can meet up tomorrow. I'm sure Kakashi is worried about him after what happened," he responded, a mix of concern and caution in his voice.

Arashi nodded, accepting Shisui's explanation. "Right," he acknowledged, a hint of disappointment in his tone. "Well, alright. Later, Arashi!" Naruto chimed in, staying behind as Shisui and Arashi began their walk toward their house.

"Later, Naruto!" Arashi waved back, bidding his friend farewell. As they departed, Shisui remained vigilant, fully aware of the gravity of their situation, while Arashi, still somewhat oblivious, walked alongside him, blissfully unaware of the challenges that lay ahead.