**Chapter 179: The Great Tree Clan!**

**Chapter 179: The Great Tree Clan!**

The thought of a village's kage participating in the Chūnin Exams—what a scene that would be!

If Naruto and his group figured out who this person was, they'd probably be overjoyed and shout, "Now we don't have to worry about the exam anymore!"

Worried about what?

Is worrying even useful?

If it's not, then why bother worrying?

That guy will do whatever he wants. Just go with the flow!

He has the power to put you in whatever position he pleases.

"Hmph!"

Gaara let out a cold snort, leaving under the protection of his sand.

"Gaara!" 

Kankurō and Temari quickly chased after him.

But...

Before leaving, Temari turned her head and glanced at Itsuki.

Itsuki winked at her.

He was quite interested in Shikamaru's future wife.

Also...

Itsuki wasn't some older guy chasing after younger women.

Temari was around his age, probably about sixteen or seventeen.

Itsuki guessed that Temari and Kankurō were holding back their advancement. Otherwise, with their abilities, they would've already been promoted to Chūnin.

Their real goal was the "Konoha Crush" plan. 

They wanted to play their part in the plan.

"Orochimaru-sensei, where are you now?" 

Itsuki chuckled softly. "I'm doing my part as promised, keeping everyone's eyes on me. Don't let me down!"

In the original storyline, Konoha wasn't destroyed. What about now?

"Hey!"

A loud shout rang out.

Naruto!

He glared at Itsuki and yelled, "Where's Sasuke? Why isn't he here? Aren't you from Hidden Fire Village, taking part in the Chūnin Exams?"

Itsuki looked at the blond-haired boy, blinked, and smiled, "Did you find out about your parents? And what about that little fox inside you, do you know about that?"

Naruto froze.

*Whoosh!* 

A figure suddenly appeared in front of everyone.

Kakashi!

He looked at Itsuki seriously but said nothing.

Not because he didn't want to.

But because he didn't dare.

His appearance was just Konoha's way of saying they knew about Itsuki.

But!

Angering Itsuki... the consequences would be unimaginable for Kakashi.

"Heh!"

Itsuki only glanced at him before ignoring him completely. Smiling, he focused back on Naruto and said, "Hey, blondie, have you found your answer yet? And is it the answer you're satisfied with?"

"Ha-ha!"

He turned and walked away.

Naruto's previously low energy returned.

For the first time, his face darkened.

He didn't know...

Inside him...

In the sealed space...

The Nine-Tails slowly stood up, staring coldly at the figure before it.

"This dark, ominous chakra... Uchiha?"

"Exactly!" 

Itsuki stood before the Nine-Tails, smiling. "I've got a little something I want you to do."

"You..."

*Buzz!*

Itsuki merely looked at the fox.

The Nine-Tails' eyes immediately reflected a pair of Sharingan.

Genjutsu!

If Obito could control the Nine-Tails with just one glance, there was no reason Itsuki couldn't do it too.

As a top-tier villain, he wasn't interested in wasting time.

Villains die from talking too much.

Plus, it's a fox—why waste words on it?

"Alright, everything's in place. Now we wait!" 

Itsuki smiled, ready to leave, but suddenly stopped.

An evil grin spread across his face.

He began drawing out portions of the Nine-Tails' chakra, manipulating it to spread through the sealed space and slowly merge with Naruto's body.

Outside, Naruto's aura grew colder, and his expression became even darker.

"Dark Naruto... ha-ha-ha!"

With a loud laugh, Itsuki's figure vanished from the Nine-Tails' sealed space.

The Nine-Tails remained standing like a statue.

But part of its dark chakra had now completely become a part of Naruto.

...

"Hey, I..." 

Sakura, watching Itsuki's back, was about to speak when, in the blink of an eye, he had disappeared.

"Huh?"

Sakura's eyes widened. "He's so fast!"

Kakashi, on the other hand, grew more serious, even starting to sweat.

"Space-Time Ninjutsu? 

As expected, Uchiha Itsuki! 

So strong!"

Just a glance from Itsuki felt like being a frog staring into the eyes of a snake.

No wonder his true strength was still a mystery.

He was known as the second coming of Uchiha Madara, having founded a new ninja village and gaining recognition from the Five Great Shinobi Villages through sheer power.

If he was an enemy, how many moves would it take for him to kill Kakashi? 

Would it be an instant kill?

"Kakashi-sensei!" 

Sakura shouted.

"Huh?"

Kakashi raised his head, smiling. "Sorry, I was just thinking about something else. Let's go!"

"But, Sasuke..."

"He'll come." 

Kakashi replied softly, "I saw Sasuke's name on the list."

"The list?"

"Yeah, Hidden Fire Village provided a list of participants for the Chūnin Exams."

Kakashi's eye twitched.

Hidden Fire Village, Chūnin Exam participants: "Uchiha Ichiki, Uchiha Niiki, Uchiha Sanki!"

Uchiha Itsuki! 

Are you seriously naming them after trees?

Even from the names, you could feel his mischievousness.

...

In the Hokage's office...

"Any news?"

"No, we've completely lost track of him!"

"What about the barrier? Didn't they say the barrier would work?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was losing his patience, his voice filled with anger.

"The barrier did work!" 

Sarutobi Shinnosuke patiently explained. "It restricted his use of the Flying Thunder God technique, but with other movement jutsu like Body Flicker, the barrier can't stop that. He used the Flying Thunder God to cover a distance and then escaped using Body Flicker."

Hiruzen let out a sigh of relief.

As long as the barrier could limit the Flying Thunder God, that was enough!

At his age, he'd lost too many nights of sleep worrying about Uchiha Itsuki suddenly appearing out of nowhere to kill him.

Body Flicker was much easier to handle!

"Expand the barrier as much as possible. We must block all space-time ninjutsu!"

"Yes!"

Hiruzen turned his gaze to Danzō. "When are the other villages' teams arriving?"

"Very soon!" 

Danzō replied with a hint of annoyance. "But none of the kage are coming."

"That's not surprising!" 

Hiruzen nodded in agreement. "A kage can't just leave their village easily."

Danzō shot him a glance.

Was this his way of justifying his own reluctance to go to the front lines?

"The other villages agreed to send some top-tier fighters, especially the Sand Village. Chiyo herself is leading fifty Jonin here."

"That many?" 

Even Hiruzen was taken aback.

"That's not surprising." 

Danzō sneered, "After the whole ordeal with Rasa, the Sand Village hates the Leaf with a passion. Given the chance to destroy us, they won't hesitate."

Hiruzen frowned. "Danzō, be careful. With so many high-level ninjas entering Konoha, things could easily get out of hand."

Danzō laughed coldly. "Hiruzen, you're as indecisive as ever. Uchiha Itsuki is in Konoha right now. This is a rare opportunity. If we let this slip, do you think there'll be another chance?"

"I believe... there will be!" 

Hiruzen thought for a moment and then firmly stated, "Uchiha Itsuki is just that kind of unpredictable person!"

Danzō: "..." 

(End of Chapter)