In the northern border of the Land of Water, there lay an ordinary village where generations of its people lived off fishing.
At dusk, by the riverbank overgrown with lush grass, a handsome young boy with short red hair sat fishing. Dressed in a raincoat and straw hat, he held a blade of grass between his teeth as he patiently waited.
Despite his youth, he was an expert at fishing. Every morning, rain or shine, he would head to the riverbank to fish, working tirelessly until evening for years without fail.
Plop!
Ripples spread across the water—a fish had taken the bait. The boy pulled the rod, and with a splash, the fish leapt out of the water, tracing a graceful arc in the air before landing in his hands, still flapping vigorously.
"Heh, enough for a hearty dinner tonight!"
The boy smiled innocently and tossed the large carp into the basket behind him.
He had a self-imposed rule: the first fish he caught each morning would be his breakfast, and the last fish he caught before evening would be his dinner. The fish he just caught would be his dinner—a portion large enough to satisfy him.
As for the rest of the fish, he would hand them over to the village.
No one forced him to do this; it was entirely voluntary. He loved the village that had nurtured him and wanted to contribute in his own small way.
Lately, his basket had been filling up to the brim each day.
The boy was delighted. He packed up his fishing gear and prepared to head home. But as he turned around, he saw two unfamiliar figures standing on the riverbank behind him.
The two were dressed in black cloaks, their faces unfamiliar.
Having grown up in the comfort of this peaceful village, the boy didn't think much of it. Assuming they were strangers looking to buy fish, he said, "Are you outsiders here to buy fish? Sorry, I only catch fish—I don't sell them. You can buy some at the village market."
Little did he know, the two standing before him were none other than Kabuto Yakushi and Sasuke Uchiha, two of the most powerful figures in the ninja world.
Kabuto Yakushi, his glasses reflecting the light, smiled faintly. "Patience pays off. After nearly three months of searching, we've finally found you—Senju Kokushō, grandson of Senju Jishin!"
Indeed, Senju Jishin had passed away decades ago, and even Jishin's son had died young. The boy before them, Senju Kokushō, was Jishin's 14-year-old grandson.
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, his smile deepening. "That red hair of yours—it seems you not only carry the bloodline of the Senju but also that of the Uzumaki Clan. The powers of your great-grandfather and great-grandmother, Hashirama and Mito, manifest in you. There's no doubt—you are the reincarnation of Asura!"
Kokushō looked confused. "I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're talking about."
Kabuto's expression turned serious. "From your father's generation onward, your family has lived in hiding, so much so that you know nothing of your own lineage."
Kokushō replied, "I really don't know what you're talking about. Can you step aside? I need to go home."
"Listen carefully," Kabuto declared coldly, "from now on, you have only one destiny—to belong to me, Kabuto Yakushi!"
Swish! With those words, Kabuto attacked.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The outcome was predictable—Kokushō was defeated, left sprawled helplessly on the ground.
He had never received any ninja training and didn't even know how to use chakra.
His basket was shattered, and Kokushō looked at the scattered fish on the ground, his hand digging into the dirt as he lamented, "The village's fish... and my dinner for tonight..."
Seeing Kokushō's pitiful state, Sasuke couldn't help but doubt. "Kabuto, is he really the one we're looking for? Aside from being able to take a beating, he doesn't seem to have any special qualities."
Kabuto, however, was certain. "Without a doubt, it's him. Sasuke-kun, follow my instructions and give him a taste of your power."
Crackle!
Sasuke activated Sage Mode from Ryūchi Cave, his horns protruding and serpents coiling around him. He formed hand seals.
Sage Art: Five Dragon Flame Bullets!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Sasuke and four serpents unleashed five massive dragon-shaped fire pillars into the sky, scorching the atmosphere and creating rising air currents that formed rain clouds.
The sky darkened instantly.
Kokushō felt an ominous foreboding. Struggling to his feet, clutching his bleeding shoulder, he stared at the darkened sky. "What... what are you doing?"
Kabuto adjusted his glasses and said, "Kokushō, it's clear that you love your village dearly."
Rumble!
Natural thunderclouds gathered above, taking the shape of a wrathful Kirin.
The scale of the Kirin depended on the intensity of the heated atmosphere, and Sasuke's Sage Fire Release had created an unprecedentedly enormous one.
Crackle!
Lightning condensed in Sasuke's palm as he raised it high.
Kabuto spoke dangerously, "Sasuke-kun will direct the lightning toward your village. If you watch helplessly as the things you cherish are destroyed before your eyes, what will you do, Kokushō?"
Kokushō trembled, his voice shaking. "No... please don't!"
Kabuto's tone turned cold. "Sasuke-kun, do it!"
Swish!
Sasuke's gaze hardened as he brought his hand down forcefully.
Sage Art: Kirin!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The blinding lightning storm filled the entire field of vision.
Kokushō's pupils froze in that moment.
Kabuto thought to himself, "I had Sasuke's Kirin avoid the village, but from this distance, Kokushō shouldn't be able to tell. Now, what will he do?"
Kokushō lowered his head, his face hidden in shadow. Anger etched dark lines across his features.
"You dare... you dare..."
Crack! Crack! Crack! Golden Adamantine Sealing Chains erupted from Kokushō's slender back, splitting into twenty-one chains that intertwined and clattered loudly.
Roar! Kokushō bellowed as his body surged with power. His injured left shoulder swelled dramatically, and with a sickening crunch, a blood-stained Wood Dragon burst forth from his flesh.
Then, under the stunned gaze of Kabuto and Sasuke, Kokushō's entire left side pulsated chaotically, sprouting a second, third, fourth—until a total of seventeen colossal Wood Dragons towered in the air, glaring down at the two men below.
Kabuto exclaimed in awe, "Subarashii! [Amazing!]"
The twenty-one Adamantine Sealing Chains separated into seventeen, coiling around the Wood Dragons.
Kokushō raised his head abruptly, his pupils consumed by murderous intent.
"I will never forgive you! Die!"
Wood Release: Adamantine Wood Dragon!
Seventeen Wood Dragons, enhanced by Adamantine Sealing Chains, roared downward!
Kabuto shouted, "Sasuke-kun, dodge quickly! The Wood Dragon can absorb chakra, and the Adamantine Sealing Chains can suppress it. If you're caught, it's over!"
Swish!
The two hurriedly evaded.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The riverbank collapsed, wind sweeping through the dust and debris.
Amid the chaos, the Wood Dragons stood tall, their eyes glowing with golden light.
"Die!"
Amid the terrifying chakra storm, Kokushō charged furiously!
"So fast!"
Crackle! Kabuto's left eye transformed into a Mangekyō Sharingan.
Earthen Command!
He shouted, "Stop!"
Krrrk!
Kokushō's charge halted abruptly.
Kabuto urged, "Sasuke-kun, use your ocular power to subdue him at once!"
Crackle!
Sasuke's eyes locked onto Kokushō.
Indra's Arrow: Majestic Thunder!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Thunder dragons crashed down, striking Kokushō's frail body.
Crack! Crack!
As Kokushō took damage, the Adamantine Wood Dragons disintegrated.
Thud!
Kokushō, his body scorched black, collapsed weakly to the ground.
Crackle!
Sasuke's Sharingan receded.
Phew. Kabuto exhaled deeply, marveling, "I didn't expect a single burst of potential to cause us so much trouble. Truly, the reincarnation of Asura is extraordinary!"
"Hm?" At that moment, Kabuto's white snake scouts sensed something in the distance.
Kabuto's expression turned grim. "The inevitable has come. Sasuke-kun, take Kokushō and flee far away!"
Sasuke's gaze sharpened. "Could it be..."
Kabuto replied solemnly, "Naruto is here!"
Sasuke's pupils contracted sharply. "Can you handle him alone?"
Kabuto felt a warmth in his heart but explained the stakes. "Naruto is undoubtedly after me. There's no need to involve you. More importantly, Kokushō must remain unharmed. He is the reincarnation of Asura and the key to awakening your Rinnegan. Small sacrifices must be made for greater plans. Sasuke-kun, go now!"
"Be careful, Kabuto!"
Though reluctant, Sasuke ultimately prioritized the mission. He carried the unconscious Kokushō on his shoulder and retreated.
Kabuto adjusted his glasses and smiled faintly. "Sasuke-kun, hearing those words from you makes everything worthwhile."
Golden light streaked through the sky, dropping a kunai.
Thud!
The kunai landed, and Naruto Uzumaki appeared via Flying Thunder God Technique.
Swish!
Kabuto immediately retreated, activating Sage Mode. The corneas of his serpent eyes shielded his vision.
Naruto slowly stood and greeted him with eerie calm. "Yo, Kabuto. We haven't seen each other since the Land of Fields. How have you been?"
Kabuto replied casually, "Thanks for asking—everything's been fine. Even this left eye of Shisui Uchiha has been well-preserved."
Naruto smiled warmly, exuding a natural charm. "That's good to hear. Would you mind handing it over?"
Kabuto's gaze darkened. "Well, I could... but I have one condition."
Naruto glanced at the surrounding ruins and the mysterious bloodstains, then looked back at Kabuto, his tone measured. "Tell me. As long as it's not excessive, I'll agree."
Kabuto's next words were shocking: "Bring me Hinata Hyuga—alive—for my research!"
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