Naruto : Cruel Rebirth

That night, after high-intensity training with his thousands of shadow clones, Naruto achieved the unsealing of the Chidori! 

But Naruto, being human, was worn out from continuous training and battles, and his chakra finally ran low. 

After a day of rest, he regained his strength. While searching the sea with Kisame, he began training again. 

Three days later, he mastered multiple variations of the Chidori and became an expert in Lightning Release! 

Becoming an expert was just the beginning. 

Next, Naruto devoted himself tirelessly to training "Purple Lightning"! 

This process wasn't smooth. 

Purple Lightning required a proper mix of Yin Release within Lightning Release. 

First, Yin Release, which Naruto didn't possess in his previous life, was an unfamiliar area for him. 

Second, he had difficulty finding the right balance of Yin Release to incorporate. 

This caused slow progress at first. 

Luckily, his experience from refining chakra during the Tailed Beast Ball training in his past life helped him here… 

After many trial-and-error attempts, Naruto finally grasped the key! 

That night, Naruto stood on the muddy ground, his left hand, covered in purple lightning, bruised and battered. 

In front of him were ten shadow clones! 

Naruto shouted, 

"Let's do this…!" 

The ten shadow clones all formed hand seals! 

—Lightning Release: Thunder Tiger Rampage! 

"Roar...!!!" 

Ten normal Lightning Release-made lightning hounds merged into a mighty thunder beast. With the clones guiding the lightning ropes, it lunged at the real Naruto! 

Slash! 

But Naruto simply waved his left hand, which was covered in Purple Lightning. 

"Roar...!!!!!!" 

The thunder beast vanished in a scream. Not only that, but the purple arcs of electricity spread through the ropes, shocking the clones holding them! 

Boom, boom, boom...!! 

The ten shadow clones all disappeared in a puff of white smoke. 

This was the peak of Lightning Release… the power of Purple Lightning! 

Crackle! 

The purple lightning dissipated from Naruto's left hand. 

"Ha, ha, ha, ha…" 

He lay back on the ground, breathing heavily, but smiling, 

"Finally succeeded... Kakashi-sensei, this really is your strongest technique! It took me a full ten days to truly master it!" 

"Can I rest now?" 

Konan walked up to him.

"No, you have to strike while the iron is hot. I want to master the [Lightning Release Chakra Mode] in one go!" 

Naruto sat up, took out the precious scroll from his chest, and spread it out in the muddy ground. He then gathered his chakra again and performed the Multi Shadow Clone Technique!

Konan thought to herself: If things had gone as originally planned, the so-called Fourth Great Ninja War would be nearing its end, but for the ninja world now, everything is just beginning...

Akatsuki's hideout. 

Whoosh! Uzumaki swirled, and Obito emerged, tossing the captive he had been carrying on his shoulder to the ground! Rustle, rustle! Black White Zetsu crawled out from the ground, looking at the unconscious ninja.

White Zetsu said, "Oh? Isn't this the guy named Yamato from Konohagakure? Orochimaru's test subject from back then. How did you capture him?"

Obito said as he walked over to a coat rack, "I went to Konohagakure for some reconnaissance, saw him use some good Wood Style jutsu, so I brought him along to boost your combat strength. It's better to keep him here than outside where someone might take an interest..."

Black Zetsu muttered, "Heh, funny. Another person seems to be interested in him too. Looks like you got to him first~."

But Black Zetsu's cryptic words didn't catch Obito's attention. 

Obito walked up to the coat rack, took off his damp Fire Cloud robe, and asked White Zetsu, "How's the intel you were scouting?"

White Zetsu replied, "After that, there's been no news of Naruto..."

Obito shook off the water from his robe and hung it up, "Do we know why Naruto attacked Kumogakure?"

White Zetsu said, "It seems to be because of a scroll, something called the [Lightning Release Chakra Mode]?"

"Oh? Is it that jutsu that past Raikage used? It activates reflexes and enhances the body, but it seems only those with strong chakra can learn it. Looks like Naruto wants to rely on reflexes and speed to win..." 

Obito unconsciously touched his bare shoulder. The wound from sixteen years ago had long since healed, but for some reason, it still ached faintly.

Looking at his back, Black Zetsu said meaningfully, "Does that bring up some unpleasant memories?"

"Hmph, times are different now. Even if Minato were alive today, I still have the confidence to defeat him!" 

Whoosh! Obito put on a fresh Fire Cloud robe and turned around, "Where's Sasuke?"

White Zetsu replied, "He's been practicing his new techniques over and over. He was worried about not being able to use them here, so he went outside." 

Obito sat slowly on a stone chair, "It seems that previous setback made him impatient..."

White Zetsu couldn't help but worry, "If we let him continue growing, could it turn against us?"

Obito adjusted his sitting position slightly, his eyes deep behind his mask, "It's nothing. Even if his Sharingan grows to Madara's level, the gap in practical experience will limit him from surpassing Madara..."

A thought flickered in Obito's mind, but he didn't say it out loud.

Moreover, even if the situation worsens and they can't retrieve the Rinnegan from Naruto, if Sasuke awakens the Rinnegan, the Moon's Eye Plan can still be restarted. 

White Zetsu said, "Do you think we should send my clones to Amegakure Village for an on-site investigation?"

Obito thought for a moment, "No need. While White Zetsu could infiltrate Amegakure and track Naruto's movements, there's also the risk of information leakage. With the power of the Rinnegan's Human Path, I believe any safeguards I place using the Sharingan would be useless..."

White Zetsu shook his head, "What a pity... This feeling of not having enough intel on the enemy as the great battle approaches is unsettling."

Obito's gaze darkened, "No rush. We still have plenty of time. The day Konohagakure finishes rebuilding will be the day our 'Dark Akatsuki' goes all in! After all, the emptiness of something new, something reset to zero, is what truly defines 'despair'!"

Having already assumed the existence of the 'Light Akatsuki,' Obito now identified himself with the 'Dark Akatsuki,' seeing Naruto as his equal, and looking forward to facing him in battle!

--- 

Amegakure Village, at dawn.

Boom! Boom! Boom! All the shadow clones disappeared, sending their chakra and learning experience back to the original body. In the open area, under the heavy rain.

Naruto stood shirtless, fists clenched, eyes tightly shut.

Crackle! The explosive Lightning Release chakra surrounded his body, forming a layer of purple lightning as an outer coating!

—Purple Lightning Chakra Mode! 

Konan's beautiful eyes trembled, "Such powerful chakra...!"

Naruto clenched his fists, filled with power, "Yeah, this mode is even more incredible than I expected! Now, even if Kurama isn't cooperating with me for a while, there won't be any gaps in my fighting power..."

"Hmm?" Naruto looked up at the rain.

The rain falling from his 'Rain Tiger Freedom Technique' detected a powerful chakra entering.

Konan narrowed her eyes, "What's going on?" 

Naruto smiled, "Orochimaru has finally returned. If he's not here for the next part, it'll be really difficult for me..."

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