NARUTO: Ninja World Scientific Revolution

Apart from some commercial prosperity, Konoha had barely changed. And even that prosperity was largely due to Hyuga Mirai's influence. 

Ninjas earned far more than the average citizen, making their wives and children the primary consumers in the village. 

As Mirai strolled through Konoha, he noticed that nearly thirty percent of the foreign trade associations in the village were somehow connected to him. Identifying them was easy—any business affiliated with him had a distinctive sign. 

These signs all bore mathematical symbols, a mark of Unit 18's handiwork, allowing Mirai to recognize them at a glance. 

Meanwhile, Uzumaki Trade Association shops seemed noticeably quieter. Unless they were selling a newly released game, the local market for computing devices had been entirely monopolized by the Uzumaki Trade Association. 

This was a major headache for Namikaze Minato. Too many Konoha residents had already purchased Uzumaki Trade Association's computers. If the association were suddenly expelled or banned, people would have nowhere to turn for repairs—an issue that would surely stir resentment toward the village leadership. 

"Hey, Kurenai, Kinoshita! Let's grab some grilled meat. We just wrapped up an A-rank mission—let's celebrate a little!" 

Mirai, still blending into the crowd, heard a voice he recognized. Though he had sealed his chakra and wasn't using his Byakugan, his senses were sharp enough to pick up on the familiar tone. Curious, he casually stepped out of the shop to take a look. 

Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi, and another ninja Mirai didn't recognize were walking toward him, chatting as they went. 

Kurenai, however, turned down Asuma's invitation almost immediately. 

"No thanks. I need to get back to training before my next mission." 

"Ahaha, Kurenai, you're really something else," Asuma laughed, unbothered by the rejection. "No wonder you're improving so fast." 

Kurenai's eyes suddenly locked onto Mirai. 

That familiarity—subtle, but undeniable. 

She couldn't quite place it, but there was something in the way he looked at her, how he averted his gaze right after, the slight shift in his posture as he walked away. 

She couldn't shake the feeling. 

Following her intuition, she approached him. 

"Excuse me, sir," Kurenai said. "May I ask who you are?" 

Mirai maintained his disguise effortlessly, bowing slightly in greeting. 

"Oh, ninja-sama, I am Jinzo, an inventory inspector from the Inoki Trade Association. I came with the chairman to audit our stock. May I ask if there's a problem?" 

His expression was calm, polite, and perfectly natural. 

He wasn't sure why Kurenai had approached him, but he was completely confident in his disguise. 

"...No, I apologize for the intrusion," Kurenai said, bowing her head. 

As she had approached, she had subtly used a chakra-sensing technique—but she had detected nothing. The man before her was, by all appearances, an ordinary civilian. 

With a slight nod, she turned and left. 

Even as she walked away, she tried to shake the lingering doubt. Perhaps she had been overthinking things. Maybe she had been training too hard, making her more paranoid than usual. 

'I should increase my training time,' she told herself. 'Maybe then I won't have time for these meaningless distractions.' 

Mirai, meanwhile, mused to himself. 

"I barely step outside, and I nearly get caught. How did Kurenai sense something?"

His transformation and sealing techniques were flawless. The only possible explanation was that she had picked up on small, unconscious habits of his. 

But it didn't matter. If she hadn't noticed him up close, she certainly wouldn't now. 

The layout of Konoha was etched into Mirai's memory. He had even brought along Senju Tobirama's reanimated remains, disguising them carefully. 

With sealing techniques and Flying Thunder God at his disposal, he was determined—no matter what, the Nine-Tails would be his. 

For the next two days, Mirai played his role flawlessly, moving through Konoha like any other merchant. He meticulously checked inventory, carrying out an exhaustive stock audit. He even went so far as to rent a warehouse from the village's administration, further cementing his cover. 

On the evening of the third day, Mirai and Ayaka left their inn. 

"What a tiring job..." Mirai sighed as they walked. "I could really use a drink and a good night's rest." 

Ayaka, quick to seize the opportunity, beamed. "Jinzo-kun, would you like me to give you a massage to help you relax?" 

Mirai flatly refused. "No thanks. I just need to finish this inventory check. Once we leave Konoha, I plan to find a good hot spring to soak in." 

Despite their casual conversation, both had been on high alert. Using Byakugan and Kagura's Mind's Eye, they had scanned the area, but Konoha's barrier network was extensive, revealing nothing of interest. 

However, according to Unit 18, Kushina was due to give birth tonight. That was why Mirai and Ayaka had finally left the inn—to find a vantage point where they could observe the events unfold. 

---

Though night had fallen, the streets were still active. 

Ninjas were scattered across the village—eating, drinking, patrolling. The Uchiha Police Force was making its rounds, along with ANBU operatives keeping watch. 

But Mirai knew Konoha's patrol routes inside and out. Using this knowledge, he led Ayaka to a secluded rooftop, unnoticed by anyone. 

Hidden by the darkness, they would appear to any distant observer as nothing more than two people idly chatting in the night breeze. 

Ayaka, now free to return to her true form, let out a sigh of relief. "*Finally, I can undo the seal... Lord Mirai, shouldn't we actively search for clues instead of just waiting?"

"No need. We'll wait," Hyuga Mirai replied, undoing the sealing technique on his body. "If the extraction fails, we'll just treat this as a sightseeing trip to Konoha."

But given Obito's relentless nature, he wasn't likely to let this opportunity slip away.

The two remained on the rooftop, waiting for the Nine-Tails to appear. Ayaka Uzumaki kept her Kagura's Mind's Eye active, while Mirai set up a small barrier technique to avoid drawing unwanted attention.

Suddenly, Ayaka furrowed her brows.

"Lord Mirai, about seven kilometers south of the village—two individuals with immense chakra are fighting. Wait... one of them just vanished. And now the other one too..."

"That must be Namikaze Minato and his student," Mirai deduced. "Looks like the Nine-Tails has been extracted from its jinchuriki... Edo Tensei!"

With that, he summoned Senju Tobirama. Before coming to Konoha, he had ensured Tobirama had placed numerous Flying Thunder God markers both inside and outside the village. Even if Konoha's forces discovered them, they could escape at a moment's notice.

A heavy tension suddenly spread through Konoha, like the oppressive calm before a storm.

Then, from the direction of the village gates, an overwhelming and terrifying chakra erupted.

A towering fox, dozens of meters high, stood there. Its nine massive tails whipped through the air with enough force to level mountains, its body cloaked in a fiery red chakra. With a deafening roar, it bared its fangs to the heavens.

"So that's the Nine-Tails..."

Ayaka gazed in awe at the beast outside Konoha's gates. Its chakra dwarfed hers completely. Even from this distance, she could feel its raw, violent energy, filled with rage and negativity.

"It's far stronger than the Three-Tails... If it's at full power, Lord Mirai, I'll need time to adjust before I can handle it."

Mirai observed the Sharingan glowing in the beast's eyes and shook his head.

If Obito harbors hatred for Minato because he failed to save Nohara Rin in time, what grudge does the Uchiha clan bear against him?

Back in the Academy, any student who could master the Great Fireball Jutsu and shuriken techniques was respected. The Uchiha had treated Obito fairly well. So where did all this hatred come from?

This was why Mirai despised dealing with madmen. They didn't care about logic, had no clear motives, and negotiating with them was pointless. The only way to handle them was with brute force.

After tonight, the Uchiha would find it impossible not to rebel. With such an enormous Sharingan visible in the Nine-Tails' eyes, the other clans in Konoha would never trust them again.

As soon as the Nine-Tails appeared, Konoha's forces sprang into action, desperately trying to halt its advance. Many laid down their lives in the attempt.

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, though retired from his role as Hokage, donned his battle gear and rushed to the front lines, determined to defend the village.

Summoning Enma, the Monkey King, Hiruzen transformed his staff into a mighty Adamantine Prison Pole and used it to push the Nine-Tails back.

But the battle raged on. Despite wave after wave of ninja throwing themselves at the beast, they couldn't let it set foot inside the village.

Then, from above, a massive toad wielding a shield and a trident came crashing down on the Nine-Tails—one of Mount Myoboku's summons. But the enraged beast swatted the toad aside, sending it back to its summoning realm.

That was when Minato finally acted, teleporting the Nine-Tails away using the Flying Thunder God technique.

"Lord Mirai, southwest—five kilometers!" Ayaka's voice was urgent. With Kagura's Mind's Eye, she immediately pinpointed the Nine-Tails' new location.

Mirai smirked. "Ah, I remember placing a Flying Thunder God marker there."

At his command, Tobirama placed a hand on both of their shoulders, and in an instant, they teleported away.

The moment they landed, Mirai activated his Byakugan. Within seconds, he spotted the Nine-Tails a kilometer away.

"Ayaka, keep up."

Without another word, he vanished with a Body Flicker, while Ayaka entered Sage Mode and followed at top speed.

"Minato... cough!"

Kushina Uzumaki coughed up blood, her body weak and frail. She knew exactly what Minato was planning—but she couldn't bear the thought of their child suffering the same fate as her.

A life as a jinchuriki... Kushina knew its pain all too well. Even with Mito's care, a loving partner, and immense personal strength, she had still been confined within the village, always watched, always restricted.

And now, Minato was using the Reaper Death Seal at the cost of his life. Meanwhile, she was barely clinging on after having the Nine-Tails ripped from her.

If they both died here... who would protect Naruto?

She already knew the answer.

An orphaned jinchuriki... She could only imagine the kind of life her son would face.

Suddenly, a voice echoed from beyond the barrier.

"What a pitiful end... Princess Kushina."

Her eyes widened in shock. That voice—she knew it.

"…Ayaka?"

"Yes. It's me," came the calm response.

Beyond the adamantine barrier, Ayaka Uzumaki stood, her vibrant red hair flowing in the night breeze.

(End of Chapter)