Chapter 3: The Uchiha's Secrets

Kaito moved swiftly through the dense forest surrounding Konoha, the Hidden Leaf Village. The leaves rustled beneath his feet as he navigated the twisting paths. His mind was racing with the thoughts of what he would find at the Uchiha Hideout.

It wasn't just a hideout; it was the last place that held the secrets of the Uchiha Clan—their ancient techniques, jutsus, and history. If Kaito was going to change the future, if he wanted to save the Uchiha, he had to get stronger. And fast.

But Kaito wasn't just searching for strength. He wanted answers too. Why had Itachi spared him? It wasn't a mistake; Itachi never made mistakes. Kaito was sure there was a reason, but he couldn't figure it out. And every time he thought about the way Itachi's eyes had locked on his, a shiver ran down his spine.

Kaito stopped for a moment, catching his breath as he reached the foot of the mountains. The Uchiha Hideout was hidden somewhere deep within these peaks. He remembered the location from the story, but now he had to find it in real life.

"I can't waste any time," Kaito muttered to himself.

The sun was rising higher in the sky, casting long shadows across the rocky terrain. Kaito started climbing, his hands gripping the jagged rocks as he pulled himself upward. His body moved with surprising ease. Every muscle felt stronger, more precise than his old body ever had been. He wasn't just Kaito anymore. He was an Uchiha now.

As he climbed higher, his mind wandered to Sasuke. In the original story, Sasuke had survived the massacre, but the trauma of losing his clan had driven him down a dark path, one that ended in revenge and destruction. Kaito couldn't let that happen again. If he could get strong enough, if he could figure out what Itachi's true plan was, maybe he could save Sasuke too. But that would come later.

First, he needed to survive.

After what felt like hours of climbing, Kaito finally reached the entrance of the hideout. It was a narrow cave, almost completely hidden by the thick vines and trees that surrounded it. If Kaito hadn't known where to look, he would've missed it entirely.

He cautiously stepped inside, the air cool and damp as he descended into the darkness. The tunnel twisted and turned, leading deeper into the mountain. Kaito felt a strange sense of deja vu. Even though he had never been here before, everything felt oddly familiar, like he had walked these halls in a dream.

Soon, the tunnel opened up into a vast chamber. The walls were lined with ancient scrolls, weapons, and relics of the Uchiha Clan. The room felt heavy with history, as though the weight of the past was pressing down on him.

"This is it," Kaito whispered.

He walked slowly through the chamber, his eyes scanning the shelves of scrolls. Some of them contained the most powerful techniques of the Uchiha, techniques that had been lost for generations. If Kaito wanted to stand a chance against the dangers that lay ahead, he needed to learn these techniques.

His eyes fell on one scroll in particular—a scroll with the Uchiha crest emblazoned on its cover. It looked ancient, the edges frayed with age, but Kaito felt drawn to it. He carefully picked it up, his hands trembling slightly. This scroll… it felt important.

Kaito unrolled it slowly, his heart pounding in his chest. As he read the first few lines, his eyes widened in shock.

The secrets of the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Kaito's mind raced. The Mangekyō Sharingan was one of the most powerful abilities in the entire Naruto world, capable of granting the user devastating techniques. But it came with a price—a heavy price. The user's vision would slowly deteriorate with each use, eventually leading to blindness.

But this scroll contained more than just the basic information. It contained something else. Something that had never been mentioned in the story.

A way to control the power of the Mangekyō without losing sight.

Kaito's breath caught in his throat. If this was true, it changed everything. He could gain the power of the Mangekyō without the terrible cost that came with it. But the technique was dangerous. It required intense training, and the scroll warned that failure could result in death.

Kaito stared at the scroll for a long moment, weighing his options. He needed power. There was no doubt about that. But was he ready to risk his life for it?

Before he could make a decision, a sound echoed through the chamber. Kaito froze, his eyes darting to the entrance of the hideout.

Someone was here.

Quickly, Kaito rolled up the scroll and stuffed it into his bag. He moved silently to the shadows, hiding behind one of the large pillars that lined the room. His heart pounded in his chest as the sound of footsteps grew louder.

Who could it be? Itachi? No, he would have sensed Itachi's chakra. But this presence felt different. Familiar, but not in a good way.

A figure stepped into the chamber, their silhouette outlined by the faint light filtering in from the entrance. Kaito's eyes widened as the figure came into view.

It was Zetsu.

The strange, plant-like shinobi was one of Madara Uchiha's creations, a spy who gathered information for the Akatsuki. Kaito remembered him from the story, but Zetsu shouldn't be here. Not yet. This was too soon.

Zetsu's eyes scanned the room, his expression unreadable. "I can feel something here," he murmured to himself, his voice low and raspy. "Something powerful."

Kaito held his breath, trying to remain as still as possible. Zetsu's senses were sharp, but Kaito had the advantage of knowing how he worked. Zetsu could sense chakra, but he wasn't a fighter. If Kaito could just stay hidden, maybe he could escape without being noticed.

But Zetsu paused, his eyes narrowing as he looked directly at Kaito's hiding spot.

"Come out," Zetsu said, his voice calm but firm. "I know you're there."

Kaito's heart raced. There was no point in hiding now. Slowly, he stepped out from behind the pillar, his eyes locked on Zetsu.

"What are you doing here?" Kaito asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

Zetsu tilted his head slightly, a strange smile playing on his lips. "I could ask you the same thing, Uchiha."