I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

Deformed Country-Village System

Itachi was seeking the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, so he massacred his clan to prove his strength?

Upon hearing this, Shisui frowned. This explanation could justify Itachi's attack on the Uchiha, yet something felt amiss—an unease he couldn't quite articulate.

After a moment of contemplation, Shisui continued, "Is that why you spared Sasuke?"

Itachi met Shisui's gaze and nodded. "That's right. I killed our parents in front of Sasuke to push him toward awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan. Unfortunately, his grief wasn't deep enough—he only managed to awaken the dual-tomoe Sharingan. He disappointed me."

"Aren't you afraid I'll kill Sasuke and stop your plan to obtain the Eternal Mangekyō?"

Itachi was momentarily stunned before chuckling. "The reason I'm telling you this is because you've already lost your chance to escape. Do you really think only Kisame and I came to the Land of Waves?"

Before his words finished, Itachi activated Amaterasu, and black flames clung to the hem of Shisui's cloak.

Shisui swiftly severed the burning fabric, but the flames remained undying. He frowned, eyes narrowing at the bloody tears trailing from Itachi's Mangekyō.

"This is your Mangekyō ability?"

"Of course. This is Amaterasu—flames that never extinguish. Show me your Mangekyō, Shisui. Or… have you already lost it? Who took it from you?"

Shisui snorted, his figure splitting into multiple afterimages. "Even without the Mangekyō, I am still 'Shisui of the Body Flicker.' I can still capture you and make you kneel at the Naka Shrine."

"Naka Shrine?" Itachi scoffed. "Then let's see you try, Shisui."

---

Due to the rising floodwaters, Gato was forced from his hidden chamber to the third-floor balcony, where he watched the distant battle unfold.

The waist-deep flood and glistening ice crystals scattered across the battlefield made Gato's stomach churn.

As a wealthy man, he had hired shinobi before—to eliminate troublesome dissenters. Yet, witnessing ninjutsu of such devastating scale, rivaling natural disasters, shook him to his core.

Could even the daimyo and elite jōnin stand against shinobi of this caliber?

Sensing his fear, Obito smirked. He enjoyed the superiority of being a shinobi, reveling in Gato's shock. But as he looked toward the distant watchtower, his expression darkened.

A lone figure stood there, gazing down at the battlefield. Obito recognized that cloak instantly—Uzumaki insignia emblazoned across his back.

Just as he processed this, Naruto flashed before him using the Body Flicker Technique, his Rasenshuriken forming in an instant.

Obito, well aware of its destructive potential, chuckled. "No need to rush. You wouldn't want to accidentally harm Mr. Gato, would you? He's quite the influential figure in the shinobi world."

Naruto narrowed his eyes but dispelled the jutsu. "This is the third time you've provoked me, counting Kirigakure. Next time, I won't hold back."

"Three times?" Obito mused, failing to recall the alleged encounters.

Before he could ask, Naruto abruptly launched the Rasenshuriken. Obito phased through it with Kamui, his expression darkening. "Didn't we agree on 'next time'? Why attack now?"

Naruto shrugged. "I can't kill you anyway, so I figured I'd test my control."

Obito's face twisted slightly before he spoke in a low tone. "I considered striking while you were away, but it seems I miscalculated. I lost this time. Next time won't be so simple."

With that, he severed his connection to White Zetsu's clone, his body dissipating into spores.

Just like before, Obito chose to retreat rather than risk an uncertain battle. He had plenty of ways to sow discord—Nagato bore the true weight of Akatsuki's mission, not him. If he could fuel tensions between Naruto and Nagato, it would work to his advantage.

If Nagato and Menma united to capture the tailed beasts, how would he ever claim the Rinnegan and control the Ten-Tails?

Now, only Naruto and Gato remained on the balcony.

Gato, having overheard their exchange, trembled. "You're the leader of Uzushio Village? You sent those shinobi after me?"

"That's right," Naruto replied calmly. "Your men attacked Uzushio's territory. Now you must pay the price."

Gato swallowed hard. "I understand. I'll compensate your village. If Uzushio needs anything, Gato Shipping Company will provide it."

Naruto remained silent, staring at him.

Realizing this wasn't enough, Gato hesitated before raising his offer. "Three hundred million ryō. That's enough to buy the lives of a dozen jōnin."

Naruto shook his head. "Still too low. It doesn't make up for Uzushio's losses."

Gato's expression darkened. "Then what do you want? Money is money."

Naruto smirked. "Simple. I want half of Gato Shipping Company's shares. And beyond that, the Land of Waves will fall under Uzushio's jurisdiction."

Gato's face contorted between fury and fear. "You're overreaching. The great nations won't sit idly by while Uzushio annexes the Land of Waves."

Naruto chuckled. "I'm not negotiating. I'm informing you. If you refuse, Gato Shipping Company will vanish from the shinobi world."

"This is robbery!" Gato spat, unable to contain his rage.

Naruto remained unfazed. "If this is robbery, then what do you call your exploitation of the Land of Waves? Under Uzushio's rule, the people will no longer suffer under a tyrant like you."

Gato sneered. "You shinobi only know how to fight and kill. What do you know about governance? You are the ones who start every war in the shinobi world."

Naruto's gaze remained cold. "That's why I'm not just the leader of Uzushio. I am also the daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools. Under my rule, the village and the nation will no longer be divided into a deformed country-village system."

"I've wasted enough words on you. I don't need your approval—I simply want you to understand that I will change the world. The old order ends with me."

"Now, watch closely. Witness the outcome of this battle."

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