Chapter 60: Uchiha Madara

Dawn was about to break, and a thick fog rose in the rain-soaked morning.

Two men wearing black cloaks patterned with red clouds stood atop a wall, looking down at Konoha from a high vantage point.

"It doesn't look like they caused much damage," said the taller man. "I was expecting a lot more chaos."

He had a fishman-like appearance, with gill-like markings on his cheeks, high on his cheekbones.

The slightly shorter man remained silent, his eyes glowing red — the Sharingan.

"But… why are we even here in Konoha?" the tall man turned his head and asked, "Wasn't there intel saying the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki has already left the village, traveling to grow stronger?"

"Maybe he just came back for a visit?"

"Itachi, someone like you still has sentimental feelings for this village?"

Uchiha Itachi shook his head coldly. "No. I don't feel anything for it."

"But Kisame, if you were one of Konoha's decision-makers…"

"Would you let the Jinchūriki leave at a time like this?"

Kisame raised an eyebrow. "Of course not. The previous Hokage just died—prime time to incite war."

"The Jinchūriki is a weapon of war."

"Ohhh—"

"So you think this was disinformation Konoha put out?" Kisame asked.

Itachi remained silent, gazing into the distance.

Kisame also fell quiet.

—

In the forest outside Konoha…

After listening to Jiraiya's explanation, Naruto placed a hand on his stomach. "So the Nine-Tails in me is only half?"

"Yes," Jiraiya nodded. "Minato sealed the Yang half of the Nine-Tails into you."

"And the Yin half—he used the Reaper Death Seal to lock it away."

Naruto lowered his head.

He recalled what Captain Unohana had said when she examined him at the beginning:

"Half of your internal power is missing."

So that wasn't referring to his dual swords…

It meant the Nine-Tails' power was incomplete — only half.

Jiraiya looked at Naruto's hand. "Naruto, how much control do you have over the Nine-Tails' power?"

Naruto quietly replied, "About up to seven tails."

"Seven, huh?" Jiraiya muttered. "Then once you've completely mastered the Nine-Tails' power, come find me."

"Minato left behind a key."

"It was originally meant for Kushina."

"But before it could be perfected… that incident happened."

"That key is a formula to help you fully master the Nine-Tails."

Naruto nodded absently. "But why would Dad leave me with half the Nine-Tails in the first place?"

"And that jutsu too."

"My mom was a Jinchūriki too, so he must've known how painful that is."

"Was it to protect the village?"

Jiraiya stayed silent for a while.

"Minato's not that kind of person." He thought hard before carefully responding. "He's not someone who'd sacrifice his own child just for the village."

"If he did it… he must've had no choice."

"I think…"

Jiraiya paused, his tone turning grave. "Kushina was from the Uzumaki Clan. She was very skilled in sealing techniques."

"Even if her power weakened due to childbirth that day…"

"She still had Minato by her side. The Nine-Tails couldn't have broken free easily."

"But… the Nine-Tails did break free."

"I think… maybe it was deliberate."

Naruto narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean, deliberate? Someone released it?"

"Just a theory." Jiraiya shook his head.

Naruto didn't speak. He sat cross-legged and entered his inner world.

Speculation was meaningless.

The one who would know best… was the one involved.

"You should've heard what I said to Jiraiya just now," Naruto said straight to the point, his tone a bit impatient. "On the day I was born, what happened? Was someone controlling you and broke Mom's seal?"

"Brat!" the Nine-Tails growled. "You're so rude!"

"Tell me the truth." Naruto's tone was firm.

The Nine-Tails bared its fangs. "Why should I tell you!"

Naruto formed a hand seal.

Golden chains surged forth with a clattering sound.

"Again!" the Nine-Tails jumped in frustration. "You Uzumakis are always like this!"

Its eyes met Naruto's gaze.

Irritated, but firm.

The golden chains swayed, though they weren't suppressing it yet.

Just a threat.

But there was no malice behind it.

Still, the message was clear: Talk, or I'll act.

The Nine-Tails sighed. "That night, someone released the seal on Kushina."

"It was a man… with the Sharingan."

Sharingan?

Those words made Naruto freeze.

His first instinct was to think of Sasuke.

But that was impossible—Sasuke was born just a couple months before him.

"Someone from the Uchiha clan?" Naruto asked, releasing the seal. The golden chains retreated.

"I was pulled out of Kushina," the Nine-Tails continued. "Then controlled by a pair of Sharingan eyes."

It quickly glossed over the part where it got controlled.

"Then…"

"When I regained my senses, I was already about to be sealed into you!"

"I tried to resist, but was stopped by the Fourth Hokage."

At the end, the Nine-Tails was clearly agitated.

It hated the feeling of being sealed and imprisoned.

"I see." Naruto clenched his fists. "Someone… took advantage of my mother giving birth…"

He exited his inner world.

"I just asked the Nine-Tails," Naruto said to Jiraiya, looking up. "It said a man with the Sharingan released the seal during my mother's labor, released the Nine-Tails, and controlled it."

Jiraiya's expression turned grim. "So it was deliberate after all…"

Naruto looked at the brightening sky. "The Uchiha clan is gone now."

"I've learned a bit about Sasuke's past."

"Now only he and the man he hates remain."

Jiraiya added more detail: "That man is his older brother, Uchiha Itachi — the one who slaughtered the entire Uchiha clan."

"Was it him?" Naruto asked.

Jiraiya shook his head. "Itachi's a genius, and very powerful. But he was only about five or six years old when the Nine-Tails attacked. He didn't have the ability."

"I suspect it might be…"

He carefully uttered a name: "Uchiha Madara."

"Who's that?" Naruto asked.

Madara?

He had never heard that name before.

"He's the founder of the Uchiha Clan in Konoha," Jiraiya explained. "He lived during the same era as the First Hokage."

Naruto was shocked. "That long ago? Could he still be alive twelve years ago?"

"But if we're talking about someone with enough power to bypass Minato's defenses and break the Nine-Tails' seal…" Jiraiya's tone grew even more severe, "Only the founder of the Uchiha Clan could've done it."

"Naruto."

"Now that you've left the village, you must be extremely careful."

"If that guy struck once, he'll strike again."

"If you're in danger, contact me immediately."

"This time… I won't be late."

Jiraiya clenched his fists, his expression and tone resolute.

(End of Chapter)