Naruto:Dark Return

"B*****d!"

As Naruto was held aloft, Aburame Torune twisted and struggled, but Ichiro's grip was like iron. No amount of effort could free him from the merciless hold. His life now rested entirely in Ichiro's hands.

The red, ominous Chakra from Nine Tails swirled around Ichiro as he looked down at the immobilized Torune with cold, indifferent eyes.

"Tell me," Ichiro said, his voice icy and calm, "who sent you to deceive us? Speak, and maybe I'll spare your life."

Of course, Ichiro already knew the answer—Danzo. But playing the part of an inquisitor amused him.

Torune sneered, defiance burning in his eyes. "Didn't they teach you the ninja code at the academy? Do what you will, but you won't get a word out of me."

Even in the face of death, Torune held firm. To him, his failure was shameful enough; dying in silence was the only way to retain some semblance of honor.

Ichiro chuckled. "You've got guts, I'll give you that."

Suddenly, one of the tails of Chakra lashed out, stabbing through Torune's wrist.

"Urgh!" Torune grunted in pain, but his glare remained defiant.

The sight only seemed to amuse Ichiro more. Without hesitation, another Chakra tail pierced Torune's knee, then another through his other arm, and another through his leg.

Torune's body was riddled with bloody holes, yet his lips twisted into a grim smile. He knew what awaited him—death would silence him forever. His hands drooped limply, his body slack as he surrendered to his fate.

But Ichiro wasn't finished.

"This is fun," Ichiro said, his tone almost playful as he toyed with his captive. He continued to stab Torune's body, creating more gaping wounds.

Inside Naruto's consciousness, the anger that had fueled him moments ago had subsided, leaving only dread. Watching Ichiro torture Torune, a wave of guilt and pity began to stir.

"Ichiro, that's enough!" Naruto's voice rang out in Ichiro's mind. "He's already defeated—there's no need to keep going!"

Ichiro frowned. Naruto's pleas were as grating as they were predictable.

"He's your enemy, Naruto. Are you really defending him?" Ichiro asked, his voice filled with scorn.

Naruto stammered. "I-I'm not defending him, but… he's already lost. He's just following orders. He doesn't deserve to die for that."

The sheer naivety of Naruto's words nearly made Ichiro laugh. Instead, he gritted his teeth in frustration.

"You want me to let him go?" Ichiro growled. "After all this, you still think the village will punish him?"

"I trust the village! I trust Grandpa Third Hokage!" Naruto insisted, his tone earnest.

Ichiro's patience snapped.

"F**k you!" he shouted, his voice laced with fury.

Ichiro's Chakra tail rose, poised to deliver the final blow. Torune's throat was the target.

"B*****d, stop it!"

A voice echoed from the distance, followed by a flurry of kunai and shuriken flying toward Ichiro.

"Heart Turning Technique!"

The voice belonged to Yamanaka Fū, and with him was a group of masked Root operatives. But their interference came too late.

Ichiro effortlessly blocked the projectiles with his Chakra cloak and dodged the mental assault from Fū's jutsu.

With no hesitation, his Chakra tail pierced through Torune's neck.

The life in Torune's eyes faded instantly, his limp body collapsing to the ground as blood pooled beneath him.

Inside his consciousness, Naruto's voice erupted in a mixture of grief and fury.

"Why did you do that?!" Naruto screamed. "You didn't have to kill him!"

"He was a threat," Ichiro replied coldly. "If you can't see that, you're an idiot."

"I hate you!" Naruto shouted, his voice trembling with emotion. "You're nothing but a murderer!"

[Host personality trust and dependency value: 10%]

Ichiro felt a powerful force pulling him back into the recesses of Naruto's consciousness. The hostility in Naruto's voice made it clear—he wanted Ichiro gone.

"The show's over for now," Ichiro said with a smirk as his consciousness began to fade. "Enjoy cleaning up my mess."

In an instant, the red Chakra dissipated, and Naruto regained control of his body.

Naruto stood over Torune's lifeless body, his face pale with regret and horror.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. So you figured me out."

The lazy voice broke the tense silence. Kakashi Hatake, dressed in his signature mask and headband, dropped down from a nearby tree, a book in hand.

"You…" Naruto whispered, his voice filled with a mix of relief and uncertainty.

Kakashi shut the book with a snap, his single visible eye surveying the scene. "You're quite the handful, aren't you?"

From the shadows, Yamanaka Fū and the Root operatives emerged, their expressions cold and calculating.

"That's enough for today," Kakashi said, his voice calm but firm. "Take your dead and leave."

Fū's eyes narrowed, but he gave a curt nod. The Root operatives collected Torune's body and disappeared into the trees.

Sasuke and Sakura, who had been watching from a distance, approached cautiously.

Naruto couldn't meet their eyes. Guilt weighed heavily on him, the reality of Ichiro's actions sinking in.

"What happened here?" Sakura asked, her voice shaking as she looked at the bloodied battlefield.

"It doesn't matter right now," Sasuke said, his tone sharp as his gaze locked on Kakashi. "Who are you?"

Kakashi sighed, running a hand through his silver hair.

"I'm Hatake Kakashi, your team leader," he said flatly. "And judging by what I've just witnessed, I've got my work cut out for me."

End of Chapter.

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