Chapter 14: The Death of Sasuke (Chapter 14 title may cause confusion as story involves Naruto too, but keep as per context)

It's now or never!

Wood Release: Root Burst Burial (Ensure the name is consistent with the original concept)

Tanzō used the Hashirama cells in his right hand to create a huge tree. Its branches twisted and coiled, with dense foliage, instantly enveloping both himself and Naruto.

Hashirama Senju's Wood Release was highly effective against the chakra of the Nine - Tailed Fox. Naruto's Nine - Tailed Fox cloak was immediately suppressed.

The red chakra was tightly wound around by the tree branches, and the part of the Nine - Tailed Fox cloak that first came into contact with the Wood Release began to dissipate bit by bit.

Tanzō was in no better shape. His arm transformed into a tree, and his body gradually became wooden. Naruto, confined and in pain, let out a desperate howl, but the branches tightened even more, until they completely enveloped him and Tanzō, turning them into part of the earth.

Izanagi

The exhausted Tanzō appeared beside. He gasped heavily, his eyes full of venom.

In that last attempt, he had used up all eleven Sharingan eyes he had stored on his body. Most of the Root members around him had died. The price he paid to deal with this little punk was really high.

Tanzō felt Naruto tightly wrapped by the [Root Burst Burial]. He could sense Naruto's strong vitality from inside the tree.

As expected of the Jinchūriki of the Nine - Tailed Fox, he still wasn't dead. However, his end was near. It was time to send them all to hell at once.

He gathered the last bit of chakra in his body, took a deep breath, and his chest swelled visibly.

Wind Release: Vacuum Wave

Invisible wind blades flew thick and fast across the Wood Release, shattering the surface into fragments until Naruto and Sasuke, who had fainted inside, were revealed.

"Kids, see you in the next life."

.....................

Fugaku Uchiha and his clansmen, who were rushing towards the place where the Nine - Tailed Fox had appeared, encountered the Third Hokage and the leaders of other Konoha clans, like the Hyuga, Inuzuka, Nara, and Aburame, who were also hurrying here.

Fugaku glanced at the entourage beside the Hokage and thought to himself that it was a good thing he hadn't launched a coup d'état during the chaos. Otherwise, they would be at odds with so many clans in Konoha now. He leaped to the Third Hokage's side.

"Lord Third Hokage!"

"Is that you, Fugaku? Isn't the Uchiha clan having a sacrifice?"

"Yes. During the sacrifice, we suddenly sensed the Nine - Tailed Fox's chakra. The situation was urgent. After the Police Department and I reported it to you, we rushed here with our men."

The Third Hokage's eyes showed relief. He knew that the Uchiha clan would not rebel. They still recognized and loved this village deep down.

"The situation is critical. Let's move!"

"Yes!"

Everyone quickened their pace and rushed forward.

"Look, there's someone over there! The chakra of the Nine - Tailed Fox disappeared from there."

"That person is... Lord Tanzō!"

"Lord Tanzō, are you... okay..."

The one who asked saw the bloodstains, wounds, disheveled hair on Tanzō, and his venomous viper - like eyes. He looked anything but okay!

Frightened by Tanzō's terrifying presence, he couldn't help but back behind the Third Hokage.

" Tanzō, where's Naruto? Have you seen him? I felt the power of the Nine - Tailed Fox leaking from his body."

The Third Hokage fixed his eyes on Tanzō right in front of him. He always felt that the leakage of Naruto's Nine - Tails' Power was related to Tanzō.

"Sasuke!"

Itachi exclaimed and quickly rushed in front of Tanzō. He saw his younger brother's small body covered in wounds, his little face completely pale without a hint of color, leaning against the equally miserable Naruto.

"Sasuke, Sasuke, wake up quickly!"

He stretched out his trembling hand but was too scared to move it forward. He was afraid that when he touched, he would feel his brother's cold body temperature.

"Itachi, what are you standing there for? Hurry up!"

Fugaku Uchiha was definitely worried when he saw his son lying there covered in wounds. He immediately urged Itachi.

Itachi finally made up his mind and felt Sasuke's pulse.

In an instant, his face turned ashen. He couldn't believe that his younger brother had died just like that.

With his trembling hands, he picked up Sasuke's body, hugged him tightly in his arms, and gently wiped the dirt off his face.

How could it be? He was still a lively child not long ago. Why was he lying here with a cold body now?

Who on earth killed him?

"Drip, drip."

The previously dry ground was soaked by the tears. Fugaku Uchiha saw this and sadly turned his head away, looking dejected.

" Tanzō, care to explain the current situation?"

Itachi's Sharingan was activated, and the bloody tears trickled down his cheeks and dripped onto the ground. The patterns in his eyes unexpectedly changed.

[Mangekyō Sharingan]

All the clan leaders who had rushed here couldn't help but gasp. How old was he this time?

Twelve?

He was already able to activate the [Mangekyō Sharingan]! The Uchiha clan first had the dreaded Shisui Uchiha, and now Itachi Uchiha. Their younger generation was truly amazingly excellent!

Although they all had such feelings in their hearts, seeing Itachi's hateful eyes staring intently at Tanzō, the tense atmosphere between the two was on the verge of explosion.

"Youngster from the Uchiha clan, be more respectful to Lord Tanzō before the matter is clear."

Immediately, one of Tanzō's lackeys in the crowd scolded.

Itachi's eyes glowed with a cold light as he swept towards the person who had just spoken.

"Ah---ah-----ah-----"

The man grabbed his head and let out a heart - wrenching scream. He stared wide - eyed and scratched his skin frantically as if he felt no pain. His sharp nails pierced through the flesh, and the blood splashed out with pieces of flesh.

"This is Genjutsu. Hurry and break it for him!"

One of his fellow clan members stepped forward, grabbed him, and formed a hand seal with one hand.

"Release!"

He still kept clawing at his already - torn skin.

"It's useless!"

He glared at Itachi Uchiha hatefully and still acted arrogantly.

"Itachi Uchiha! Release it for him quickly!"

"Itachi, the matter hasn't been clarified yet. First, ask Lord Tanzō what exactly happened. Why did Sasuke die here, and why did the Nine - Tails' Power start leaking?"

Fugaku Uchiha stared at Tanzō with bloodshot eyes. It's as clear as day that this matter has something to do with him. His poor son, still so young, has been dragged into the power struggle among the Konoha higher - ups.

He had to seek justice for Sasuke.

Upon hearing his father's words, Itachi grudgingly lifted the Genjutsu. However, those who had been caught in the Genjutsu crumpled to the ground unconscious, like flickering candles in a gale.

"What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and take him to the hospital!"

"Humph! Have your long - buried ambitions finally become too hard to suppress? Are you using this as a pretext to deliberately cause me trouble and stage a coup?"