Naruto : Cruel Rebirth

"Mm..."

In the stone chamber of the Forbidden Valley, Raikage opened his eyes. His body and hands were bound by chains, his chakra drained, and he had no strength left at all.

He was trapped in the shadow of a monster.

In front of him was a five-meter-long black gorilla, its body covered with black rods, showing sharp teeth and large Rinnegan eyes, staring at the man before it.

Without a doubt, this gorilla was the summoning beast of Naruto's Beast Path.

"Yo... you're awake."

The one speaking was a parrot on the gorilla's shoulder, about a meter long. The parrot's wings and back also had black rods, and its eyes were Rinnegan as well.

"!?" In Raikage's surprised gaze, the parrot said, "Don't be shocked, this is my summoning beast, 'Great Power Kong' and 'Sakura'..."

Raikage said, "Your summoning beast can speak for you!?"

The parrot replied, "Speaking is 'Sakura's' ability. As for Great Power Kong, in terms of raw strength, it might even surpass yours..."

Raikage shouted angrily, "Are you saying I can't even beat this gorilla?!"

The parrot said, "I didn't say that, don't misunderstand..."

Raikage, fuming with anger, glared at his shoulder wrapped in bandages and asked, "Why don't you just kill me!!"

The parrot replied, "If you're not blocking my way or touching my nerves, I usually don't take lives..."

Raikage yelled, "So you're saying I'm not a threat to you?!"

The parrot shrugged, "If you want to understand it that way... there's nothing I can do."

Raikage, furious, snapped, "I get it, you're trying to humiliate me. A man can die, but he cannot be insulted. Hurry up and kill me!!!"

The parrot replied, "I'm busy, and you've got a wall behind you. You can just run into it yourself..."

...

On the Forbidden Valley training platform.

Naruto, dressed in his purple lightning coat, was fiercely attacking the 'Thunder Pillar'. With each punch and kick, lightning struck down, refining his body.

As mentioned before, this Thunder Pillar was one of the sacred treasures of the Forbidden Valley. It could withstand any attack and, depending on the force it received, would unleash lightning of matching power!

Crackling!

While striking, Naruto gazed at the black wooden pillar, feeling curious.

"This is amazing. It looks like just a piece of wood, but it absorbs all my attacks. This can't be ordinary wood. Could it be a product of Wood Style?"

*Thud!*

Naruto's fist paused on the pillar, and he placed his palm on it, lost in thought...

"The Forbidden Valley... is a masterpiece left by a disciple from the time of Rikudou Sennin."

"Everything here, from the ever-changing weather, the land that automatically repairs after being destroyed, to this wooden pillar, is the work of that disciple."

"The first two abilities are likely related to Yin-Yang Release techniques. This wooden pillar, crafted from Wood Style, is extraordinary. It must be a combination of Wood Style and Yin-Yang Release..."

"Now that I think about it, the disciple of Rikudou who built this Forbidden Valley... could it have been 'Ashura'!?"

Ashura was Rikudou Sennin's youngest son!

Naruto is the reincarnation of Ashura!

"If that's the case..."

Naruto looked around at the mountains and rivers, feeling a newfound connection to the Forbidden Valley.

In the stone chamber, seeing Raikage looking down in frustration through the visual sharing, Naruto teased him intentionally through Sakura's voice: "Raikage, the Forbidden Valley is my home. You're not allowed to train here anymore..."

"..." Raikage remained silent, his head lowered.

So, Naruto continued teasing through Sakura's voice: "How about this, Raikage? I'll let you train here, as long as Kumogakure sends 100 million ryo for construction support every year~!"

"..." Raikage stayed silent again, but the chains rattled.

After a while, Naruto finished his training, draped a towel over his shoulder, and walked into the stone chamber. 

He took out the lunch Konan had prepared for him and gave Raikage a portion: "Eat..."

*Rustle!*

Naruto broke the chopsticks apart and started eating with great enjoyment.

After finishing, he looked up at Raikage and asked curiously, "Why aren't you eating?"

Raikage lifted his head, his eyes wide with anger, and shouted, "Untie me!!"

Naruto scratched his head, "Uh... sorry, I really didn't mean to."

...

After the meal, Naruto returned to the forbidden training area.

"Alright... let's officially start the intense training!"

He used multiple Shadow Clones and began his grueling training in the harsh environment.

"..." In the stone room, Raikage listened to the loud noise outside, unsure of what to think.

...

Late at night, Naruto finished his training and came back.

Raikage said, "Hmph, if you're so capable, don't use Lightning Release to protect yourself while training the pillars. I could have done that three years ago!"

Naruto didn't argue, "Don't compare me to a muscle beast. But what you suggested, I'll give it a try…"

"Hmph, you're being too reckless!" Raikage knew that without the foundation of twenty years of Taijutsu training, trying that would be suicidal.

Naruto actually tried it.

But with the help of the Rinnegan's Hungry Ghost Path, he used his body to withstand some of the lightning, and whatever he couldn't handle was absorbed using the Hungry Ghost Path's ability.

In this way, his training progressed smoothly, and before he knew it, he had developed finely toned muscles—not the bulky kind like Raikage's, but condensed and filled with power.

Zzzz!

A few days later, Naruto's Kotoamatsukami ability was restored.

He approached Raikage and asked, "E… earlier when I attacked Kumogakure, there was a reason for it. Will you be willing to turn our enemies into friends?"

Raikage replied, "Uzumaki Naruto, I admit you have the ability, but in my ninja way, 'retreat' has never been an option! Unless you kill me today, I'll come after you one day!"

"Just as I thought, you're still the same. I admire your backbone, so…" 

Naruto smiled faintly and reached for his mask, revealing his right Sharingan.

Boom!

Just then, the Shadow Clone he left in Amegakure was dispelled!

Naruto paused for a moment, then put his mask back on.

"Fine, war can make ninjas stronger. One day, this power will point to the 'real enemy.' I look forward to you getting stronger, Ei…"

Whoosh!

Naruto vanished in a flash of Flying Thunder God, leaving Ei confused and baffled.

Amegakure Village, high tower.

Konan said coldly, "I just got word, Akatsuki is planning a full-scale attack on Konoha…"

Naruto said solemnly, "Ah, I know. That's why I'm back."

Boom, boom, boom…!

Outside the high tower, lightning flashed, and heavy rain poured down… The biggest battle since Naruto's return was about to begin!

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