Naruto Gone Insane

The sealed space fell silent. Alex Carter kept his head down, deep in thought, while Kurama waited patiently for his response.

"To be honest, Kurama, I'm a bit surprised by your honesty. But I appreciate it. Honesty is the start of any good partnership."

Alex smiled, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. "As for the whole 'parents' thing, it's complicated for me. They gave me life, but it's hard to look at them as anything more than that. The village, on the other hand, they only gave me malice."

"They could have sealed you in someone else or let you leave the village, but no... They chose to keep the Nine-Tails here, without ever considering how I, the Jinchūriki, would be treated. In the end, they chose the village over me."

"Sure, they might not have meant it that way, but they're still the driving force behind my suffering. That's why I don't hate them, but I also don't hate you. So, don't worry. No ill will from me."

Alex grinned again, his teeth gleaming white. Even Kurama felt a shiver run down his spine at the sight, though his usual arrogant demeanor quickly returned.

"Fine then. Let's see what you want."

"The Reincarnation of Ashura…"

"I want your power."

A red chakra line slowly emerged, connecting Alex and Kurama in the cold, damp darkness.

---

Meanwhile, in Konoha's Hokage Building…

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had been stuck at the office all night, dealing with conflicts between the Security Department and the civilians. Being Hokage was a never-ending responsibility, and tonight was no different.

Frustrated, he took a long drag from his pipe, briefly relaxing as the smoke filled the air. But the peace was short-lived. He had more pressing matters to deal with than the Uchiha clan's ongoing issues.

"The Jinchūriki… He's extracting chakra. Could someone have secretly contacted him? Or is it the tailed beast...?" Sarutobi muttered to himself, his face hidden by the smoke.

Before he could process the situation, the door burst open, and in walked an elderly man with a cane, exuding the dark aura of Konoha's shadow. Shimura Danzo, the leader of Konoha's Root, walked in without ceremony.

Sarutobi didn't even need to look up to know who it was. Danzo was one of the few who could get away with such an entrance.

Without waiting for Sarutobi to speak, Danzo jumped straight to the point.

"Hiruzen, I heard that the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki has started extracting chakra..."

"Bang!"

Sarutobi slammed his pipe down onto the desk, annoyed. "Danzo, I am the Hokage!"

The room fell into a tense silence. Sarutobi was already under stress from his duties, and Danzo's unannounced visit only added to his irritation.

Danzo, however, wasn't fazed. He was accustomed to this kind of reception.

"This is serious, Hiruzen. Someone is bypassing Root's surveillance and contacting the Jinchūriki. There are forces at play here, and we cannot afford to let him go unchecked. There are those skilled in illusion and surveillance in this village—dangerous people. Konoha's safety is at risk."

Danzo's face twisted with anger as he raised his cane in the air, his voice growing louder. "The Jinchūriki must be handed over to Root! We can guide him properly. Under my supervision, he will become the weapon Konoha needs."

Sarutobi's expression darkened. He exhaled a puff of smoke and remained calm, despite the rising tension. "I've said it before, Danzo. I will not hand Naruto over to you."

"He's the son of the Fourth Hokage. He should be raised in the light of Konoha's Will of Fire, not in the shadows of your Root."

Danzo clenched his fists. "You're not seeing the bigger picture, Hiruzen. This is bigger than your sentimental ideals. The Jinchūriki is valuable. He's the key to Konoha's future. If we don't train him, someone else will."

Sarutobi, still calm, leaned back in his chair. "Naruto doesn't need your guidance. He needs a future, a chance to live beyond being just a weapon."

"You're weak, Hiruzen!" Danzo's voice was sharp with fury. "You can't even see what needs to be done. I'm the one who'll do what's necessary."

Sarutobi blew out a final ring of smoke, his face unreadable. "Enough, Danzo. When you're done, leave. I've made my decision."

Danzo stood frozen for a moment, his rage boiling under the surface. He gritted his teeth but forced himself to hold back his anger. "You will regret this, Hiruzen."

"I am the Hokage, Danzo."

"Bang!" Danzo slammed the door behind him, his frustration evident in his every step.

Sarutobi watched him leave, a troubled look crossing his face. He knew the stakes had just risen, but for now, he had made his choice.

As the door slammed shut, Sarutobi muttered to himself, "Danzo, even if I die, you will never become Hokage."