Naruto: The Avenger of the Uzumaki clan

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Once they were gone, Shibuki exhaled heavily, tension leaving his shoulders.

He had feared that Fū wouldn't trust him, that she might distance herself in her confusion and pain. That outcome would have been disastrous for the village—and for his heart.

Ajun, Shibuki's trusted aide, stepped into the room cautiously. "Lord Shibuki, we may need to monitor Fū more closely. Her connection to Shisha runs deep. If—"

"There is no 'if,'" Shibuki interrupted sharply, waving a hand. "Fū understands the difference between right and wrong, even if she's still young. Besides, we have Grandpa Satoru. As long as he's here, she'll remain grounded."

His thoughts turned to Mizuno Satoru, the village elder who had been instrumental in holding Takigakure together after the rebellion. Despite his wisdom and strength, Satoru's advancing years and old injuries had taken their toll. His health had been in decline for years, and a recent illness had nearly claimed him.

The news of Shisha's betrayal had nearly undone all of Satoru's progress. The village's medics had stressed that he needed to avoid stress, which was why Shibuki had hidden the truth from Fū. She didn't need that weight on her shoulders, not when her training with the Seven-Tails was so crucial.

"Shisha-sensei, why?" Shibuki murmured to himself, his voice laced with pain. "Is ambition truly worth risking everything we've worked for?"

Ajun, sensing Shibuki's turmoil, bowed his head slightly. "Lord Shibuki, shall I send word to the Daimyō for additional support? If Shisha has gone to ground, we may need help from other villages."

Shibuki hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. "Do it. Expand the search as far as necessary. We cannot let this linger any longer."

"Yes, Lord Shibuki." Ajun bowed again and left, leaving Shibuki alone with his thoughts.

The silence felt oppressive. Shisha… I trusted you. Why did you turn against us? Against me?

Shibuki clenched his fists, determination hardening in his chest. He would uncover the truth, no matter the cost.

---

At this moment, the one occupying Shibuki's thoughts—the person he was determined to track down—remained hidden on the outskirts of Takigakure. He had retreated to a secluded valley beyond the village's eastern edges, a place feared and avoided by most.

Encircled by jagged cliffs and prowling with ferocious beasts, the valley was a natural fortress. Even Takigakure's shinobi only ventured there under direct orders.

The reason was clear.

This was the private training ground of Fū, the Seven-Tails' Jinchūriki.

A sensory barrier surrounded the area—not as advanced as those of the Five Great Nations, but effective enough to alert Fū of any intruders. Few would dare breach it, and even fewer could go unnoticed.

But Shisha wasn't just anyone.

He hadn't snuck in at all. He had walked in—openly.

Fū had granted him permission.

When she returned from the village, Fū headed straight for the valley's heart. The two shinobi assigned to accompany her were dismissed with a casual wave of her hand. Her destination was a modest cabin tucked within the valley, her home away from the scrutiny of Takigakure.

As she approached, the cabin door creaked open. Shisha stepped out, his face a mask of calm reassurance.

"It seems you've confirmed your suspicions, Fū," he said smoothly, his tone gentle but calculated. His sharp eyes observed the turmoil in her expression.

Fū clenched her fists, her frustration evident. "Yeah… I confirmed it, Uncle Shisha. Shibuki's been lying to me—just like you said. But… Grandpa Satoru—he's really sick, isn't he?"

Her voice wavered, the question heavy with emotion. It wasn't curiosity; it was part of the narrative Shisha had carefully fed her.

A test.

Shisha's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. It was working.

"I don't know for certain," Shisha replied, his tone dripping with false concern. "That's why I've been trying to act. You know Elder Satoru's health has been deteriorating these past years. He was critically ill last winter. I wanted to visit him, but Shibuki refused. He claimed it would disturb the Elder's rest."

Fū's expression darkened, her turquoise eyes narrowing.

"And then…" Shisha hesitated, as if reluctant to share the next part. "A few months ago, someone from the Land of Fire visited Takigakure. They carried a mission request—a sensitive one. I wasn't informed of the details, but I knew it involved Konoha. When I tried to raise my concerns, Shibuki blocked me from meeting Elder Satoru entirely."

He stepped closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "That's when I realized something was wrong."

Fū's face twisted in a mixture of confusion and pain. "Are you saying Shibuki… betrayed the Elder? Betrayed us?"

Shisha raised a hand to calm her, his expression somber. "I wouldn't call it betrayal—not yet. But I believe Shibuki is being influenced. He sees Elder Satoru and me as obstacles to his leadership. If we don't act soon…"

He let the sentence trail off, planting seeds of doubt in her mind.

"But Shibuki wouldn't…" Fū's voice cracked, her denial sounding hollow even to her own ears. "He wouldn't hurt Grandpa Satoru! He wouldn't hurt you, Uncle Shisha! Would he?"

Shisha placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, feigning kindness. "I hope not, Fū. That's why we need to help him—before it's too late. Perhaps Shibuki has been misled. Perhaps an outsider is manipulating him. But we can't stand by and do nothing."

Fū hesitated, her loyalty to Shibuki warring with the doubt Shisha had sown. Finally, she looked up at him, resolve hardening in her eyes. "What do we need to do, Uncle? Just tell me, and I'll help."

Shisha's smile widened, though he quickly masked it. "We need to start by gathering proof. If we confront Shibuki too soon, he might deny everything. Leave the planning to me, Fū. All I need from you is your trust."

"You have it," Fū said without hesitation.

"Good." Shisha's voice took on a confident edge. "Together, we'll save this village—and Shibuki—from whatever is clouding his judgment."

Fū nodded, fully committed to his cause, unaware she was now a pawn in Shisha's game.

As Shisha outlined his plan, his mind raced ahead. With Fū's trust and the power of the Seven-Tails at his disposal, his ambition to seize control of Takigakure was closer than ever. Elder Satoru was no longer an obstacle, and soon, neither would Shibuki.

The only question left in Shisha's mind was how to best use the young Jinchūriki.

---

Shisha had spent nearly half an hour laying out the intricacies of his plan to Fū.

It was a web of deceit, layered with half-truths and carefully constructed manipulations. Fū didn't need to understand the full scope of his machinations—only the parts she was required to play. Everything else, Shisha kept hidden, viewing her merely as a pawn in his bid for power.

As long as Shibuki, Elder Mizuno Satoru, and their loyalists were out of the picture, Shisha could seize control of Takigakure. His first act as leader would be to secure the Hero Water and replace Fū as the Seven-Tails' Jinchūriki.

Takigakure's tailed beast wasn't just a weapon—it was a symbol of the village's power. For Shisha, mastering that power meant cementing his dominion over not just Takigakure, but the shinobi world itself.

"Strength, status, and absolute control... all of it will be mine," Shisha thought, his hands clenching tightly as his lips curled into a sinister grin.

Fū, oblivious to his true intentions, clenched her fists. Her expression was resolute, masking the confusion and unease bubbling beneath the surface. "I understand, Uncle Shisha. I'll handle Ajun and the others. They won't interfere with your plans."

Shisha's tone was gentle, almost fatherly, as he placed a hand on her head. "I believe in you, Fū. You're the pride of Takigakure—a kunoichi unlike any other. And don't worry. If Shibuki and the others recognize their mistakes, no one has to get hurt."

Fū nodded, determination lighting her emerald eyes. "Got it. I won't let you down."

"Good." Shisha gave her shoulder a reassuring pat before disappearing into the dense foliage, his movements as silent as a shadow.

Once alone, Fū let out a deep breath and slapped her cheeks lightly. "Come on, Fū. You've got this!"

With a renewed sense of purpose, she turned and headed toward the village outskirts. "Brother Echizen! I need help with my training!" her voice echoed through the valley as she hurried away, utterly unaware of the snare tightening around her.

Hidden among the treetops, Shisha watched her go, a dark glint in his eyes. "So naive," he muttered to himself, his smirk widening.

"Shibuki, Mizuno, your time is running out. And you, Fū... you'll pave the way for my rise to power."

As he left Fū's training grounds, a middle-aged man awaited him at the edge of the forest. The man's sharp, horse-like features were partially obscured by the Takigakure forehead protector tied around his brow.

"Master Shisha, how did it go?" the man asked eagerly, his voice tinged with nervous anticipation.

Shisha didn't bother hiding his smugness. "Better than I expected. Fū is completely under my thumb. As for that spineless fool Shibuki? He won't see this coming until it's too late."

The man nodded enthusiastically. "Your plan is brilliant, Master Shisha. Once the civilians are evacuated and the southern cliffs are cleared, we'll launch a surprise attack. Shibuki won't stand a chance!"

"Patience," Shisha warned, his tone sharp. "I won't tolerate any slip-ups. Are all our men in position? And what of our allies from Amegakure?"

"Yes, Master Shisha. Our forces are ready, and the team from the Hidden Rain arrived as scheduled. They're waiting for your orders."

"Good," Shisha said, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Let's not keep them waiting."

With a flicker of movement, the two vanished into the forest, heading toward the southern cliffs of Takigakure. Normally, this area would be heavily guarded, but Shisha had ensured the stationed shinobi were either bribed or replaced with his loyalists.

When they arrived, a group of foreign shinobi awaited them. Clad in distinct uniforms, their scratched forehead protectors bore the symbol of Amegakure. At the forefront stood a man with short, spiked green hair and a fierce expression. A long blade was strapped to his back, its hilt unmistakably ornate.

Shisha's eyes briefly lingered on the weapon before addressing the man. "Aoki from the Hidden Rain, I presume? I was expecting Kulin to lead this mission."

The man smirked, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Kulin's busy with another operation. You'll have to settle for me."

Shisha chuckled lightly, masking his annoyance. "On the contrary, I couldn't be happier. A man of your reputation, wielding the legendary Thunder God Sword? Success is practically guaranteed."

Aoki's smirk widened. The Thunder God Sword, once the weapon of the Second Hokage, was a symbol of his defection from Konohagakure. Now, as a jōnin of Amegakure, he wielded it with deadly precision.

"Enough flattery," Aoki said, his tone brusque. "We're here to get the job done. What's the plan?"

Shisha's grin returned, colder and more calculating. "Patience, Aoki-san. The pieces are falling into place. Soon, Takigakure will belong to us."

With that, the conspirators disappeared into the shadows, their ambitions poised to plunge Takigakure into chaos.

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