IN NARUTO AS KURAMA

Sarutobi Hiruzen pushed open the door to Naruto's small apartment. The hinges creaked, and the musty smell of the neglected home wafted out to greet him. Inside, Naruto, with his messy blond hair and curious blue eyes, looked up at him, tilting his head.

"Grandpa Third? What are you doing here so late at night?" Naruto asked innocently.

Hiruzen chuckled warmly, masking the guilt in his heart. "Haha, nothing much. I just wanted to check on you, Naruto, and bring you something."

He pulled out a thin envelope from his robes and handed it to the boy. "This is your living allowance for the month. Make sure you spend it wisely."

Naruto's face lit up, though his smile didn't reach his eyes. He accepted the envelope with exaggerated reverence, tucking it into his frog-shaped wallet. "Thank you, Grandpa Third! I'll make sure to save it."

Hiruzen smiled and patted Naruto's head. "Good boy. Remember, I'm rooting for you. One day, you'll become Hokage, and the Will of Fire will burn brightly in you."

"I will! I promise, Grandpa!" Naruto said with conviction.

The Third Hokage gently closed the door behind him as he left. Outside, he turned to his ANBU escort. "Reduce the surveillance on Naruto for now. He seems fine."

"Yes, Hokage-sama," the ANBU captain replied before they vanished into the night.

Inside the house, Naruto's demeanor shifted. His innocent facade melted away, replaced by a cold determination. He tossed the envelope onto the table, his fists clenched. Pulling the curtains closed, he sat cross-legged on the floor and began practicing his chakra control.

---

Bang!

A puff of smoke erupted in the room as Shiro materialized, his fox-like features as striking as ever.

"Master," Naruto said, bowing slightly.

Shiro surveyed the room before fixing his gaze on his disciple. "How's the chakra training going?"

"It's progressing," Naruto replied, his tone serious. "I can feel my chakra reserves growing every day, and my control is improving."

Shiro nodded, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Good. Master the basics first. This three-body technique is essential. I'll be away for a bit, so don't slack off."

"I won't."

---

Meanwhile, in the abandoned Senju Clan compound, Shiro strolled through the desolate grounds, his expression somber. "The once-mighty Senju, reduced to this... Konoha truly knows how to squander its greatest treasures."

Suddenly, a shadow darted across the rooftops.

"Who's there?!" a masked Root member demanded, hurling a kunai at Shiro.

Shiro vanished in a blur of motion, reappearing behind the attacker. "Root, huh? Danzo's brainless dogs."

The Root ninja spun, his blade slashing at Shiro.

Clang!

The blade stopped dead between two of Shiro's fingers. His crimson eyes glinted with disdain. "Foolish."

Before the Root member could react, Shiro's hand clamped over his head, flooding the ninja's mind with an overwhelming command: "Uzumaki Naruto is your master. Protect him at all costs."

The ninja dropped to his knees, his mind completely rewritten. "Your orders, Master?"

Shiro smirked. "From now on, you'll be known as 'An.' Disappear into the shadows and protect Uzumaki Naruto with your life."

"Yes, Master." The ninja disappeared into the darkness.

Shiro sighed, his eyes narrowing. "Danzo and his Root... Konoha's rot runs deep. Even the Uchiha weren't spared."

---

At the Uchiha Clan compound, Shiro's presence was suffocating, his chakra exerting pressure over the entire area. Inside his home, Uchiha Fugaku bolted upright, his Sharingan spinning to life. A cold sweat ran down his face as he sensed the intruder's strength.

Moments later, Fugaku appeared before Shiro, his kunai at the ready. "Who are you? Why have you come to the Uchiha compound?" His tone was icy, though a flicker of unease lingered in his eyes.

Shiro smirked. "Relax, Uchiha patriarch. I'm not here to harm you. But I do have a warning—your clan is in grave danger. In two years, the Uchiha will be annihilated."

Fugaku's Sharingan blazed. "Lies! You're a spy from another village! I'll capture you and hand you over to the Hokage!" He lunged at Shiro, kunai aimed for his throat.

Shiro sidestepped effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise. "Typical Uchiha arrogance. Think it over. I'll be here again tomorrow at the same time." He vanished, leaving behind a fox-shaped mask.

Fugaku picked up the mask, his expression grim. "Who is he? How does he know so much about the Uchiha?"

Back in his room, his wife, Uchiha Mikoto, asked, "What's wrong?"

Fugaku stared at the mask, his mind racing. "Someone strong... someone dangerous."

As the first light of dawn crept over Konoha, Shiro wandered through the market streets, enjoying the brief tranquility. A vendor called out to him, "Hey there, beauty! Want to try a rice ball? They're delicious!"

Shiro froze, his face darkening. Without a word, he quickened his pace, vanishing into an alleyway.

The vendor called after him, "Don't go! I swear they're tasty!"

Once hidden, Shiro dissolved into a puff of smoke, reappearing in the sealed space. He threw himself onto the sofa, grumbling. "Damn it. Beauty? I'm a man! Do I look like a woman to you?!"

Minato, sitting nearby, stifled a laugh. "You do have... delicate features."

Shiro shot him a glare. "Say that again, and I'll send you straight into the void."

Minato wisely fell silent.

Shiro leaned back, his expression turning serious. "Next time Naruto comes here, teach him the Rasengan and Flying Thunder God. We'll leave Konoha soon."

Minato's eyes widened. "Leave? Are you sure?"

"We have to. As long as we stay, the current Hokage and Danzo will remain untouchable. Konoha's leadership is rotten to the core, and we can't cleanse it from within."

Minato nodded reluctantly. "I understand."

Golden light flickered in Shiro's eyes as he stared at a glowing Nine-Tails chakra construct he had created. His mind churned with plans, the weight of his mission heavy on his shoulders.

"Konoha... your reckoning is coming."