what if naruto was itachi brother

The victory over the rogue leader had come at a steep price. Though Konoha had been spared the immediate threat, the battle left a bitter taste in Naruto's mouth. There was a gnawing feeling in his gut, a sensation that told him this was only the beginning of something much darker. Something deeper. The enemy they faced wasn't just after Konoha; they were after the very foundation of everything the village stood for.

Naruto stood at the village gates, staring out into the horizon. The sun was setting, painting the sky in hues of orange and red. The usual warmth of the village felt distant, as if the shadows of the past were slowly creeping in, threatening to envelop everything they had fought for. It was during times like this, when the world felt still, that Naruto found his thoughts drifting to the past.

Sasuke had been right when he said that the battle was over for now. But the words didn't carry the same sense of finality that they once would have. The air was thick with the promise of something worse to come.

Behind him, the village was in the process of recovering from the battle. Medical ninjas were tending to the wounded, and the villagers were helping where they could. But amidst the recovery, Naruto couldn't shake the feeling that things had changed. The mission was still far from complete. The rogue ninja, though defeated, had spoken of something bigger. And even in his last moments, there had been a certain certainty in his words.

"You're too late," the rogue leader had said. "The Hokage's death is already sealed."

The rogue ninja's words echoed in Naruto's mind. The Hokage was safe, for now. But the mention of the Hokage's death—along with the dark power the rogue had wielded—was a reminder of the forces that were quietly gathering in the shadows. Whoever they were, they were patient. They knew exactly how to strike when Konoha was vulnerable.

---

### **A Message from the Hokage**

Later that evening, Naruto and Sasuke were summoned to the Hokage's office. Tsunade, the current Hokage, had called them to discuss the aftermath of the battle and the growing threat to Konoha. Naruto entered the office first, with Sasuke following silently behind. The atmosphere in the room was heavy, the air thick with the weight of responsibility. Tsunade was already seated at her desk, her face set in a serious expression. Her eyes were tired, but there was a fierce determination behind them.

"Sit," she said, gesturing to the chairs in front of her desk. "We need to talk."

Naruto sat down, feeling the weight of her gaze on him. Sasuke remained standing, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall, his eyes unwavering. Tsunade paused for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts.

"I assume you both know by now that the rogue leader's words were no empty threat," Tsunade began, her voice steady but full of concern. "This wasn't just an attack on Konoha. It was a test. A way for them to gauge our strength. And there's more to it than that. The enemy we faced… they have powerful allies. People we don't know, with agendas that go beyond mere conquest."

Naruto clenched his fists. "Who are they? What do they want from us?"

Tsunade's eyes darkened, and she leaned forward. "We don't know yet. But we've intercepted reports of movements in the shadows—rogue factions gathering across the lands. I've seen similar patterns before, back when Orochimaru was still around. This isn't a simple band of rogue ninja. This is an organized effort. And from what I can tell, they know a lot more about Konoha than they should."

Naruto and Sasuke exchanged glances. Naruto could feel the tension rising in the room, the weight of the Hokage's words sinking in.

"Are we prepared for this?" Sasuke asked, his voice calm, but with an underlying edge of urgency.

Tsunade took a deep breath. "We're doing everything we can to prepare. The village has been on high alert. Our intelligence network has been working overtime. But there's something you need to know. The rogue leader you fought wasn't just a mercenary. He was part of a much larger organization—one with ties to a number of powerful individuals. Some of them are former shinobi, others are… something else entirely."

Naruto furrowed his brow. "Something else?"

Tsunade hesitated before speaking again. "I don't have all the details yet. But there's been talk of an ancient order—one that has remained hidden for centuries. This order has been manipulating events from the shadows. Their goal isn't just to destroy Konoha. They want to rewrite the entire shinobi world."

Naruto's mind raced. "Rewrite the world? How?"

Tsunade didn't answer right away. Instead, she stood up and walked to the window, gazing out over the village. "I've been in this position long enough to know when something's not right. And right now, everything about this situation feels off. We've been through wars, attacks, and betrayals before, but this is different. This is bigger. And the stakes are higher than ever."

Sasuke pushed off the wall, stepping forward. "What do you need from us, Hokage?"

Tsunade turned back to them, her eyes filled with resolve. "I need you both to continue your training, prepare for anything, and gather information. I've already dispatched a team to investigate the origins of this order. But you two are our best hope at getting answers. Trust no one. And keep your eyes open."

Naruto's jaw tightened. "We won't let Konoha fall."

Tsunade gave him a small nod, her expression softening for a moment. "I know. But remember this—what you're about to face is nothing like anything you've faced before. It won't just be battles and enemies. It's going to be a war for the very soul of the shinobi world."

Naruto and Sasuke exchanged another glance. The weight of Tsunade's words hung heavy in the air. This wasn't just about defending Konoha. It was about defending the very ideals that had built the world they lived in.

---

### **The Path Ahead**

As they left the Hokage's office, the weight of the mission began to settle on both of them. Naruto's usual optimism was tempered by the growing sense of dread. There were forces at play that they couldn't yet comprehend, and the idea that an ancient order had been manipulating events from the shadows sent a chill down his spine.

Sasuke walked beside him, his expression unreadable. "We'll need to stay one step ahead of them," Sasuke said. "We can't afford to underestimate their reach."

Naruto nodded. "We'll figure it out. Together."

As they walked through the village, Naruto looked up at the sky, the sun now fully set. The village was peaceful, but he knew that peace would be short-lived. Dark forces were stirring, and they were about to face a war unlike any before.

Konoha's future was uncertain, and the path ahead was shrouded in darkness. But no matter what came, Naruto was ready. He wasn't alone. And together, he and Sasuke would face whatever shadows emerged from the past.