Naruto: Vengeance

The battlefield was a collapsed shrine—long abandoned, swallowed by vines and soot. Ash floated through the broken beams, and the air felt electric.

Naruto had expected resistance.

He had not expected Killer Bee.

The Eight-Tails Jinchūriki stood calmly, sword across his shoulder, sunglasses reflecting the firelight.

"So, you're the ghost," Bee said, voice steady. "Uzumaki Naruto, right?"

Naruto said nothing.

The name didn't feel real anymore.

The air between them pulsed with killing intent.

Kurama stirred in Naruto's mind.

"This one's different. He's not like the others you've killed."

"I can see that," Naruto replied.

Bee didn't charge.

He waited.

Measured.

And then—moved.

The speed was unnatural.

Swords sang from every direction, spinning in his signature seven-sword kenjutsu. Naruto activated his chakra cloak and chains instantly, deflecting four blades, catching one—barely—but the fifth struck his shoulder, burning into flesh.

He didn't cry out.

He turned, kicked Bee through a broken pillar, and shot forward.

"Spiral Seal: Bindstorm!"

Chains shot into the air, wrapping around the battlefield like lightning rods—but Bee was already free.

"Rhyme time's up, kid!" Bee shouted, channeling chakra.

"Time to learn how a real Jinchūriki swings!"

The Eight-Tails burst out behind him.

Not fully released—but enough to change the sky.

Naruto narrowed his eyes and reached deep.

Rasengringu.

The orb formed—dark violet, rings spinning faster than usual.

He launched.

Bee met it with raw tailed-beast force.

The clash wasn't a fight.

It was detonation.

When the dust cleared, both stood panting—Bee bleeding slightly, Naruto's entire right arm fractured.

Kurama growled. "You're pushing the limit."

"I know," Naruto replied coldly.

He charged again.

But Bee ducked, elbowed him in the ribs, spun behind him, and hit a Chakra Pulse Point.

Naruto hit the ground hard.

He tried to move—but couldn't.

Bee stood over him.

Not mocking.

Just watching.

"I don't know what you've been through," he said quietly, "but if you keep fighting like the world is already dead, you'll end up the same way."

Naruto stared up at him.

"I am already dead."

But Bee didn't finish him.

He left.

And Naruto... didn't chase.

Hours passed.

The sky turned silver with dawn.

Naruto sat at the edge of the broken shrine, arm still useless, blood seeping into his cloak.

Kurama was silent.

For once, Naruto was too.

Because this wasn't failure.

This was the wall.

The ceiling.

The moment where a boy full of rage realized that vengeance wasn't enough.

"Not yet," Naruto whispered.

He looked down at his hand.

"Not strong enough."

And with that—

He vanished.

Vanished from the world.

From bounty lists.

From Kage records.

From whispers.

No one saw him again for three years.

Only rumors:

That the ghost was learning to become something worse.

Something unkillable.