Naruto: Just Want To Be A Death God

An unexpected development.

Sasuke was surprised, but his hands didn't stop moving. His "Sage Chakra" surged.

"Sage Art: Chidori Sharp Spear!"

The blinding lightning pierced through Susanoo, blooming in white brilliance within the crimson aura.

At the moment when his guard was down and his target was Naruto, he didn't hesitate—he pierced Uchiha Itachi's heart.

Naruto was also surprised.

He was merely a "spectator."

He hadn't even managed to take down Sasuke yet, and now he was being attacked?

"You can hear me, can't you?" Uchiha Itachi spoke, his voice weak and faint.

He turned his head with effort, staring into the distance at the golden figure.

Every move he made was under Naruto's watchful eye, so his words naturally entered his ears.

"You're too dangerous."

"This world shouldn't have someone like you."

"You're a good person, but also a threat."

"Let me seal you forever within the Totsuka Blade—"

He didn't finish.

What happened before him almost broke his Mangekyo.

A crimson blade slashed forward.

Naruto didn't move.

The Yang Nine-Tails leapt out—only then did Itachi notice something strange about it.

It was black all over, dressed in something like a kimono.

A blade on its back.

And now, with a sweep of its tail, it drew the blade.

"Shine forth—Kokuzō no Kagami (Fox-Hidden Mirror)."

The blade suddenly transformed.

Something Uchiha Itachi couldn't comprehend occurred.

When the crimson blade clashed with the Nine-Tails' weapon, the gourd he held had no reaction.

The slash was dissipated effortlessly.

The chakra seemed to be completely "devoured" by the Nine-Tails.

A flash of white.

"Hadō #4: Byakurai (White Lightning)."

The lightning burst from a single fingertip of Naruto.

Susanoo, which Sasuke had struggled to crack open, was effortlessly pierced by this white light.

The red gourd was struck precisely, shattered, and dispersed into its purest chakra form.

Itachi raised a hand, opened his mouth, wanting to speak.

But his chakra and stamina had been depleted—he could do nothing.

The illness that had long troubled him erupted in this instant.

And the Chidori Sharp Spear, extended from Sasuke's hand and piercing through his chest, drained the last of his life force.

He grinned.

Brought his index and middle fingers together, and pointed forward.

Sasuke's pupils dilated in silence.

He knew what this gesture meant—it was the one this man used to make when they were young, before he destroyed the Uchiha clan with his own hands.

They were only a meter apart.

Itachi's outstretched hand was less than ten centimeters from Sasuke's forehead.

But that tiny distance…

Felt like an insurmountable chasm.

Sage Chakra dispersed from Sasuke's body, ending Sage Mode—the battle had drained him immensely.

He knelt on the ground, staring at the corpse.

He had killed the one responsible for the massacre of the Uchiha clan, avenging his parents, relatives, and friends. It should've been a joyful thing.

Yet why…

Why was it a different emotion lingering in his heart?

His Sharingan spun uncontrollably, chakra surging.

The tomoe changed.

A look of surprise appeared on Naruto's face—but not because of the Sharingan's evolution.

What he sensed on Sasuke… was a chakra that didn't belong to him.

A chakra of the same nature as the one called "Ashura" inside himself.

He grabbed Karin's hand and used Shunpo to appear beside Sasuke.

"Congratulations on your revenge," Naruto said as he landed.

Sasuke turned blankly, eyes vacant, staring at Naruto. "No, it's not over."

"That day, besides Itachi, there was another Uchiha."

"I asked him in the illusion—he said that Uchiha was Uchiha Madara."

Naruto shook his head. "No, he's not."

Sasuke was stunned.

"The other Uchiha in the Akatsuki only claims to be Uchiha Madara, but he isn't," Naruto explained. "I'm working on uncovering his real identity."

Sasuke said quietly, "Is that so?"

"Whoever he is…"

"I'll kill him with my own hands for revenge."

He paused and looked at Itachi's corpse. "By the way, Naruto."

"Please let me have Itachi's eyes."

Naruto didn't speak.

Karin frowned. "Didn't you already awaken the Mangekyō?"

"Itachi told me…" Sasuke swallowed hard—he hadn't even caught his breath from the earlier battle. "The reason he left me alive…"

"Was for the Eternal Mangekyō."

A new term.

The Uchiha clan always seemed to come up with new, unimaginable powers.

Layer upon layer of evolution.

"By transplanting the Mangekyō of a blood sibling into one's own eyes, the Mangekyō can evolve again."

Naruto nodded. "I see."

"If possible, please leave them to me," Sasuke said numbly. "I'll pay whatever price."

Naruto crouched down. "Of course."

"I'll give them to you."

"But I'd like you to help me with an experiment, okay?"

Sasuke looked over. "No problem. What experiment?"

"Something very interesting just happened to you," Naruto said, drawing his golden short blade. "Did you feel it?"

Sasuke hesitated. "You don't mean awakening the Mangekyō, do you?"

"Aside from that, I didn't notice anything changing in my body."

Naruto spoke gently. "Let me introduce my sword."

"Its name is Ashura."

Sasuke was puzzled.

He understood naming a sword—named blades were rare and valuable.

But giving it such a personified name…

"It's a sword forged from Ashura's chakra," Naruto continued. "And this Ashura…"

"Was one of the sons of the Sage of Six Paths, the ancestor of the Uzumaki clan."

"He had an older brother named Indra."

Sasuke furrowed his brow.

The Yang Nine-Tails cut in. "And Indra… is the ancestor of your Uchiha clan."

Sasuke began to realize.

"Just now, I sensed a strange chakra fluctuation in you," Naruto said, placing the blade against Sasuke. It trembled slightly, as if reacting. "It's likely the chakra of Indra."

Sasuke tilted his head. "But I don't have a sword like that."

"I only have the Kusanagi sword Orochimaru gave me."

Naruto shook his head. "Of course not."

"The experiment I want to try is to see if we can forge a blade out of the power of Indra within you."

After witnessing the battle between the brothers at the White Snake Sage's place…

After realizing there was someone as powerful as Ashura—Indra.

Naruto had been wondering.

If Ashura's power could be inherited…

Then what about Indra's?

And more importantly—what about forging Zanpakutō?

If the Nine-Tails could become one… and Ashura could too…

Then why not Indra?

Although Ashura's sword was born through a Zanpakutō base—

The Nine-Tails wasn't.

If Indra could be successfully forged—being both conscious and a massive energy source—it would be ideal material for a Zanpakutō.

"I see," Sasuke replied. "Of course, I agree."

Naruto extended his hand. "For now, let's heal you first."

Sasuke's injuries weren't light.

Itachi had truly aimed to kill him—broken ribs, chakra exhaustion.

He could barely move on his own.

Naruto had to carry him back to Orochimaru's base with Adamantine Chains.

"You two really made a big mess," Orochimaru said with a greedy glint in his eye, licking his lips. "Sasuke-kun is a wreck."

"But being able to kill Itachi…"

"Sasuke-kun's talent really is enviable."

Naruto placed Sasuke on a hospital bed and left him to Kabuto. "I'll be staying at your base for a while."

"Don't trust me?" Orochimaru chuckled. "I'd never go against Naruto-kun."

"That'd be foolish."

Naruto waved and walked off with Karin to find a room to rest.

"Wait, Naruto-kun, I have something to discuss with you," Orochimaru stopped him.

They stepped outside the room.

"The Rinnegan is with you, isn't it?" Orochimaru's eyes gleamed. "Let's make a deal."

"How about you give it to me?"

"You don't need that power, right?"

"In the right hands, it would be truly useful."

"Pain didn't use it properly, and if you keep it, it'll just go to waste."

Naruto's tone turned cold. "I refuse."

"I'm studying how to properly conduct scientific research too."

The power of the Sage of Six Paths…

Still gave him pause.

That legendary figure's presence in the ninja world was nearly equivalent to the Soul King's role in the Three Realms.

Who knows if he's tied to the world's balance?

Giving it to Orochimaru was too risky.

"Fine," Orochimaru didn't seem too disappointed. He tilted his head. "Then let's discuss another deal."

"Naruto-kun…"

"Can you return my hands to me?"

Naruto looked at him.

"I heard you caused quite a stir at the Uzumaki Shrine in Konoha," Orochimaru grinned. "Made quite the scene."

"Aside from undoing the Reaper Death Seal, I can't think of any reason for you to go back."

"So…"

"If your parents' souls were freed, then my arms should have been as well, right?"

Naruto shook his head.

At the time, he had indeed sealed Orochimaru's hands.

"Not now," he said with a smile. "I refuse."

"That's not what we agreed on, Naruto-kun," Orochimaru said warmly.

"But you didn't help with undoing the seal," Naruto replied just as warmly. "And you can still do your research without them, right?"

"You're a dangerous man, and I think you've got a bright future."

"So not now."

"Maybe when you're under my watch, I'll return them."

(End of Chapter)