Uchiha's forgotten Ember

Narration – Kaizen

The morning sun poured over Konoha as if trying to hide the scars of war beneath golden light. But I could still feel them—the silence in the air where the Third once laughed, the uneasy glances exchanged by Jonin as whispers of Akatsuki and Orochimaru spread like windborne embers.

Jiraiya had gone off to report. Tsunade-sama was now Hokage, sharp-tongued and restless, filling Sarutobi's shoes with defiant heel stomps and sake breath. Naruto had flopped into his bed muttering about training again tomorrow. I couldn't rest. Not yet.

Something inside stirred. A familiar hum.

> [Enhancement Points Available: 75]

"Would you like to allocate them now?"

Yes. Equally distributed. Efficiency: Maximum.

---

🔥 Enhancement Allocation: 75 Points Spread Evenly

1. Physical Stats (15 Points)

+5 Strength: Kaizen can now casually deflect chakra-enhanced attacks and break stone with punches.

+5 Speed: His movement borders on Shunshin speeds. Flickering afterimages are now a natural result.

+5 Endurance: He can tank high-level taijutsu strikes and keep fighting through mid-level injuries.

2. Chakra Control & Reserves (15 Points)

+7 Chakra Control: Kaizen can now perform silent hand seals and manipulate multiple chakra natures simultaneously.

+8 Chakra Reserves: Rivaling even the Uzumaki—he can now use advanced techniques like Sage-enhanced jutsu longer.

3. Fused Eye Abilities (15 Points)

+5 Sharingan-Ketsugan Sync: Genjutsu now occurs passively when Kaizen locks eyes.

+5 Visual Prediction: Reacts instantly to high-speed threats (even from Chunin or Jonin-level).

+5 Eye-Special Skill – Ketsugan Mode Alpha: Unlocks Ebon Vein Illusion – can see chakra flow inside genjutsu and reflect it back to the caster once per battle.

4. Ninjutsu/Technique Mastery (15 Points)

+5 Summoning Mastery: Kaizen now fully bonds with Draconic Contract Beast: Suiryoku, the Verdant Flame Drake.

+5 Elemental Control: Begins fusing Lightning and Fire Release into an early prototype of his unique style: Plasma Ash Jutsu.

+5 Rasengan Progression: Kaizen's Rasengan can now embed elemental chakra. First successful Ember Rasengan performed.

5. Bloodline/Legacy Growth (15 Points)

+5 Kurata-Uchiha Hybrid Mutation: DNA continues to stabilize. Kaizen begins manifesting instinctive chakra shields.

+5 Ancient Memory Integration: Gains ancestral combat knowledge—Kurata-style taijutsu (Moon's Dagger Palm) unlocked.

+5 Sage Affinity: Begins sensing natural energy without motion. A soft golden pattern now glows when still.

---

"Kaizen! I did it!" Naruto yelled, skidding into the clearing with Gamakichi on his shoulder and a wide grin on his face. "I summoned a bigger one this time! Not the big boss yet, but we're getting there!"

Kaizen gave him a nod. "Your chakra's syncing better. Just focus on intent—not just power."

"Yeah, yeah. Mr. 'Cool-Eyes' over here with his fancy fusion dojutsu," Naruto teased, puffing out his chest. "Bet you can't summon a frog like me!"

"I don't need to summon frogs," Kaizen smirked, lifting his hand.

He wove a series of unfamiliar hand signs—ones he'd created during their journey.

> "Summoning Jutsu: Lesser Ember Drake!"

A flicker of black flame erupted into the shape of a small draconic creature, its scales flickering with faint chakra heat. It let out a low rumble and perched on Kaizen's arm like a winged serpent.

Naruto's jaw dropped. "You can summon dragons now?!"

Kaizen merely smirked. "It's not a full one. Yet."

---

Jiraiya's Observation

From a tree branch nearby, Jiraiya watched silently, arms crossed. "Hmph… those two are growing fast. Especially Kaizen. That bloodline of his… it's like watching a storm figure out it doesn't need to rage to be powerful."

He paused.

> "And yet… he still doesn't know what waits beneath his ice cocoon."

---

Return to Konoha

By the end of the week, the trio made their way back to Konoha.

Sakura greeted them at the gate with a half-smile and folded arms. "So… the God of Gambling's our Hokage now?"

Naruto grinned. "Yup! And she's awesome! Super strong too!"

Kaizen, meanwhile, eyed the village roofs.

Something lingered in the wind. A warning.

> "Trouble's not done with us," he muttered.

And sure enough, in the distance… the shadow of Sound and Sand was far from finished.

Kaizen sat alone atop the Third Hokage's stone head.

His cloak, black with silver trim, fluttered in the breeze. The air below bustled, but up here, it was quiet—lonely, even. Tsunade-sama was busy reforming the ANBU. Kakashi had returned to training Team 7—except now, Sasuke's jealousy burned brighter than ever.

"I saw what you did to Jiraiya's toad," Sasuke said one afternoon, arms crossed, face tight. "And to Gaara. You weren't even trying."

Kaizen didn't answer right away. He could hear the static of Sasuke's growing frustration—the curse mark singing low, foul chords.

"You're stronger than me. Than all of us," Sasuke admitted.

"And?" Kaizen asked calmly, eyes not turning.

"You're wasting your time here. Why not just leave?"

Kaizen smirked faintly.

"Because this village raised me. And you? You're like a brother, even if you can't see it."

Sasuke clenched his fists.

Late that night, a strange chakra flared in the outer forests. Four cloaked figures with black markings stepped through the trees—The Sound Four. Orochimaru's claws had reached out once more.

Kaizen felt it in his bones as a dragon-shaped pulse of warning surged through his summoning seal.

> "A storm's coming," he muttered, opening his fused eyes.

"And I won't let him take another one of us."

Konoha – Hospital Rooftop

The tension in the air was almost visible, the thick silence between Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha vibrating like a taut string about to snap.

Sasuke stared down Naruto with cool, narrowed eyes, the recent memory of his defeat at his brother's hands still clawing at his pride. Naruto, on the other hand, was visibly confused, frustrated, and emotionally exhausted from the Akatsuki encounter just days ago.

Before things could escalate further, the sliding rooftop door creaked open. Kaizen Uchiha stepped out, still resting from their last mission, but his gaze sharpened as he registered the atmosphere.

> "You two again," Kaizen muttered, stepping forward. "Are we really doing this here?"

But neither of them was listening.

Sasuke made the first move, lunging at Naruto with speed driven by fury and desperation. The blonde genin gritted his teeth and parried, their fists clashing in a blur.

Kaizen leapt to the edge of the roof, watching them exchange blows, sharingan active but arms folded. He wanted to intervene—but not yet. There was something deeper in this fight that neither Naruto nor Sasuke had voiced.

As Sasuke's Chidori and Naruto's Rasengan charged to full power, Kaizen's eyes widened.

> "Are you both insane?! You'll kill each other!"

But they didn't stop.

Just as they were about to clash—

> Kakashi appeared, shunshinning between them in a burst of silver and chakra. His arms extended outward, grabbing both boys and redirecting the attacks—blasting nearby water tanks instead.

The explosion of water and steam echoed over the village.

Kaizen exhaled in relief… but he wasn't done.

As Naruto and Sasuke collapsed on the ground, panting, Kakashi scolded them. Kaizen stepped forward, his voice low but biting.

> "You think you're so strong, Sasuke? Picking fights with Naruto to feel better about losing to Itachi?"

"You don't know anything about it," Sasuke hissed.

"You're wrong. I do," Kaizen answered, eyes glowing with the flicker of his Ketsugan beneath his sharingan. "You think you're the only Uchiha who's lost everything? Grow up."

Sasuke looked away, his pride too damaged to argue further. Naruto looked at Kaizen, silently grateful.

---

Later that Evening – Uchiha Compound Ruins

Sasuke sat in the cold remains of his home, clutching his chest where Kakashi had grabbed him.

Kaizen found him there, silent. The two brothers—bound not by blood, but by a twisted legacy—stood apart.

> "Are you going to leave?" Kaizen asked simply.

> "I don't know," Sasuke replied. "But I can't stay weak."

Kaizen stared at him for a long moment before turning to leave.

> "You're already strong. But if you walk away from us… from the people who still care… you'll never get the strength you're after. Only the loneliness."

But Sasuke didn't reply.