Naruto uzumaki : The Will To Rise

After feeling pity for the Kyuubi Jinchuriki, several Cloud Ninjas continued with their mission.

Not long after, a Yun Ninja hiding in the shadows grew vigilant as a masked figure approached them from a distance.

The masked man's attire was no different from that of an ordinary Konoha villager. However, at this time and place, how could it be an ordinary person appearing in a remote alley—unless it was entirely intentional?

It seemed that someone like him had successfully drawn Konoha Anbu's attention.

The Yun Ninja captain smirked, already thinking of an excuse for his presence here.

Soon, the masked man arrived in front of the Yun Ninja captain. Taking a step forward with a stern expression, the captain said, "You're a Konoha ninja, aren't you? The Jōnin we were following disappeared. Was that your doing?"

In their interactions with Konoha's higher-ups in recent days, the Yun Ninja had learned that while the lower-ranked Konoha ninjas were tough, the higher-ups were generally cautious and weak.

The captain believed that by intimidating the Konoha ninja, he could make them retreat to avoid jeopardizing the peace talks.

The masked man didn't answer. After surveying the Cloud Ninja before him, he said coldly, "Good. It seems everyone's here. Let's proceed. We must capture the Jinchuriki today."

The Yun Ninja captain's expression darkened, but before he could act, the masked man vanished.

It was unclear whether it was the Body Flicker Technique or a clone technique.

The Cloud Ninjas exchanged puzzled glances, and one of them asked, "Captain, has the plan changed? Are we attacking the Jinchuriki?"

"What nonsense is this? That's a spy from another village! We've been tricked," the captain growled, realizing too late to stop the masked man.

Above, Konoha's Anbu had noticed the commotion. They were leaping across rooftops, rapidly approaching the scene.

Hearing the sound of their approach, the Cloud Ninja began to discuss quietly.

"Captain, what do we do now?"

"We'll explain that someone else is targeting the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki."

As the captain spoke, Moonlight Hayate and Uzuki Yugao appeared before the Cloud Ninjas, their expressions serious.

"We've been watching you for a while. Explain your presence here," Hayate demanded.

"Konoha Anbu, would you believe us if we said we just happened to wander here?" the Yun Ninja captain replied, though even he found the excuse flimsy. It was all he could muster.

Moonlight Hayate sneered. "Do you think we'll believe that? Come with us willingly."

---

Meanwhile...

Naruto yawned, heading to the bathroom to wash up.

Since he couldn't witness the commotion, he decided to get ready for bed. With his current strength, interfering in such events would only draw suspicion.

A sudden thought made him glance toward the window.

Activating his malice detection ability, Naruto sensed someone harboring great hostility approaching his position.

In the sealed space, the Nine-Tails opened its eyes and warned, "Hey, Naruto, someone's coming for you. Judging by their chakra, it's a ninja."

Naruto nodded, already aware it was a ninja, though their identity and strength were still a mystery.

"Where are those Konoha Anbu who are supposed to be watching me?" Naruto wondered aloud.

"They're occupied with another group," the Nine-Tails explained. "They won't make it here in time. You're on your own."

Naruto's expression hardened.

Though apprehensive, he wasn't the type to flee from a fight. He quickly searched his room for any sharp weapons. As a fledgling ninja, he understood that striking first could give him an edge.

"If your life is truly in danger, hand over control to me," the Nine-Tails offered. "With my chakra, there's a chance you'll survive. If you die, however, you're gone for good."

Naruto didn't reply but silently agreed.

---

Outside Naruto's Room

The masked man climbed the courtyard wall and glanced at the window. Removing his mask, he revealed the face of a middle-aged ninja Naruto had once seen at Ichiraku Ramen.

The man's once-dejected demeanor was gone, replaced by steely determination and malice.

Climbing into Naruto's room, the intruder noticed the boy wasn't present. Seeing the bathroom light on, he guessed Naruto was showering and wouldn't emerge for some time.

The ninja, named Tianfeng, looked around the room. His gaze fell on a framed photo of Naruto on the bed. Picking it up, he seemed momentarily lost in thought, his lips curving into a faint smile.

But the moment passed, and his expression turned ferocious. Crushing the photo in his hand, he muttered, "Naruto Uzumaki, you should never have been born. You don't belong in this world."

He approached the bathroom and pushed the glass door open. Spotting a silhouette in the steam, he thrust his kunai forward without hesitation.

But something felt wrong. The blade met no resistance, as if stabbing into air.

A sharp pain suddenly shot through him—a fruit knife embedded in his foot. Blood began to pool around him.

"You're the one who doesn't belong in this world!" Naruto's voice rang out.