(Minato's POV)

I look at the elders in frustration as I repeat what I just said.

"We need to take action! We can't just stand idly by! God knows what my son is going through at the moment!"

Danzo squints his eyes at me and says, "You should calm down, Hokage. At times like this, the advice of the older generations must be heeded. If you act without a level head, we will have to deal with heavy repercussions."

"I am calm," I say, looking him dead in the eyes. Damn him.

I've had enough of these old folks. I slam the round table we are sitting at and get up.

"If I find even a hair of my child touched, every one of you will see what I'm like when I'm not calm," I warn them and walk out, not forgetting to slam the door shut as I leave.

Just you wait, my son. I will find you.

....

(Orochimaru POV)

Tension in the village is high.

I don't think I've ever seen Minato this angry. He doesn't believe Kumo at all. Jiraiya went and confirmed that the 600 assassins were cut up as Kumo told us, and he even brought back the news that the brat didn't want to return.

It's pretty tough on the young parents.

But this is great for me. I have been planning on getting my hands on some more people to do experiments, and this situation has presented me with the perfect opportunity.

Jiraiya has been investigating me for a while now. He thinks I don't know. This has made me more cautious, and it has hindered my progress. But, not anymore.

Knowing the efficiency of the bureaucratic Konoha, it will take them a while to respond. Especially considering that the relationship between sensei and Minato has become cold due to the recent happenings.

Minato wants to retaliate, but sensei and his old friends don't want to. This conflict will go on until something happens to change this status quo.

This gives me some free time. Konoha is expecting something to happen so its shinobi have not been sent on missions, and that includes me. I think I will visit the Land of Water to see if there are some treasures to take.

Members of the clan with kekkei genkai are being massacred left and right in that country at the moment. It's a great opportunity to find some orphans and manipulate them to raise as guinea pigs.

They do have some interesting kekkei genkai.

I think I'll give the Kaguya clan a visit.

...

(Kimmimaro POV)

Naruto Namikaze. Naruto Uzumaki.

I wonder what his real name is. I heard some clan members calling him Namikaze and some others called him Uzumaki.

He's five years old, only three years younger than me, and yet he killed 600 of Kumo's best assassins. I wonder if they will put him in a cage too?

I have a kekkei genkai and it's pretty strong too, and I've been put in a cage. If they put him in a cage, will his cage be bigger or stronger or both? Or, will they even be able to catch him?

"Kimmimaro, come out. It's time for your fight."

Ah, if I become as strong as him, will I not have to fight like a slave? Will I be free if I become that strong?

"Don't waste time, and get up quickly!" The guard shouts at me, but I can feel his voice quivering a little. I guess he is a little scared of me. I wonder why, though. I just do what the clan asks me to do without failing every single day.

The clan says to fight, I fight. The clan says to kill, I kill. What's there to be scared of?

As I walk through the corridor, a few of the hooligans laying on their backs inside the jail get up and start screaming at me.

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"Monster!"

"The demon is going again!"

"Fuck you, bonehead! I hope you die today!"

I didn't care about the insults. The Clan leader arranges for me to fight one of the inmates and has us kill each other. It doesn't matter who it is that just screamed; they always beg for mercy when I'm about to kill them.

It has happened plenty of times, after all. They like to act tough until death stares them in the eyes.

I'll make sure they beg today as well.

A curved wide rusted gate appeared in front of me, two guards pushed it open. Upon entering, I found myself in the familiar circular room with walls about 15 meters tall, it had three other similar gates spread equally apart.

I watched as three adults entered the arena, their clothes tattered and filthy, marking them as prisoners held by the clan. They looked scared and desperate, but I felt no sympathy. This was just another fight, another day in this endless cycle.

Opening my palm, I summoned a bone to jut out from the center, repeating the action with my other hand. Without hesitation, I launched into an attack. I wanted to get this over with; the monotony of this daily ritual was wearing me down.

As I fought, they hurled insults at me, trying to gang up and overpower me. One of them, a man with a deep scar across his face, shouted, "Monster! You won't get away with this!"

I ignored him and swung my arm, the bone slicing through the air. "Just die already," I muttered.

This is a waste of my time.

Another prisoner, a woman with tangled hair, screamed, trying to make me emotional so that I'd slip and make a mistake, "You're nothing but a tool for them! It doesn't matter what you do!"

Her words stung, but I pushed the feeling aside. "I know," I whispered to myself, dispatching her quickly. They were just ordinary people, and I swiftly defeated them. The audience in the circular room erupted in screams of joy at the sight.

My face remained impassive. I was strong, yes, but not strong enough to escape this life. The cheers and applause were hollow, meaningless.

After the fight, as I stood there, victorious yet empty, I felt a yearning for something more.

Is this all there is?

Just killing and being cheered for it?

I craved something beyond this endless cycle of killing worthless people.

I wanted to find worth in the world, a purpose beyond being a tool of entertainment for the clan.

I wanted to do something great in the world. One day, I am going to die. And if death is the ultimate end, then I want to die while pursuing something great.

The clan head was incredibly powerful, even though he lacked the Shikotsumyaku. At only eight years old, I knew I couldn't take him down.

One of the guards approached me, a smug look on his face. "Good job, kid. But try to make it more bloody. When you just crush through those peasants straight away, it just isn't all that fun."

I looked at him, my eyes cold. "I'll keep that in mind."

He laughed, patting my shoulder. "Good, good."

Bunch of psychopaths.

After such a long time, perhaps I've become one too.

Every day, I wished for someone to save me, to free me from this misery and sense of worthlessness.

As I stood in my cage yet again, I felt a yearning for something divine, something that could rescue me from this bleak existence.

I needed a miracle to find the worth and purpose I so desperately sought.

....

(Zabuza POV)

I can't believe I trusted the crazy Kaguya Clan's word. As time goes by, I only feel more and more stupid.

This was the weapon they promised me?

A fucking eight-year-old!?

I watched as the kid swiftly killed the three civilians. Pretty good for his age, I won't deny. However, this is still idiotic.

"Hehehe, so what do you think, Lord Zabuza?" Katsumaro, the clan head, said.

I mentally slap my forehead. God, he doesn't even realize it!

But, I still smile and give him a nice look. Sure, Katsumaro needs help in the mental department, but his strength cannot be questioned. That is also the only reason I am holding back from removing this waste of oxygen from the world.

"He is strong, Lord Katsumaro. But, he is young. Too young. The one we will be fighting against is the Mizukage, who is also the jinchuriki of the Three tails. The battlefield will be something only the likes of you can join," I praise him.

"You flatter me, Lord Zabuza. And you are right. Stay here for a day, and we will be ready with our demands."

I nod and get up, and a servant walks me to my room. I can't help but roll my eyes. Bunch of battle-crazed lunatics, can they even make demands? Do they have the calm, calculating mind that it requires one to have to make a good demand?

God, it's going to be a heck of a long day, I just know it.

Mei will be hearing an earful from me.

....

(Naruto POV)

"I will become a miracle then," I said. Haku had been annoying me for a while, asking me what my purpose was, and I just told him that I want to unite the world and end all conflicts once and for all. That wasn't my true goal, but it aligned perfectly well.

Ain't no way I'm telling an 8-year-old kid what I truly want.

"Cool!!!" He said, stars shining in his eyes.

Ok, maybe I shouldn't have even said that.

Haku had decided to stay with me, I agreed.

It was just dumb luck that the first island I stopped at after escaping the Land of Fire turned out to be the island Haku lived on. What was even more miraculous is that he was about to be killed by his father.

In the series, he was pretty talented and also had the Ice Release. With my guidance, I think he has the potential to be very strong. I planned to build an organization so having him as the first member won't be too bad.

Haku huddled with me by the fire I had built from cut woods. The flames crackled and danced. I poked at the burning logs with a stick, trying to coax more heat from the dwindling embers. The chill in the air was biting, and I pulled Haku's cloak tighter.

Haku smiled at that.

"Go on, sleep," I said. He nodded and within a few minutes, he fell asleep.

I thought about what to do next. Since I've already started with my orphans-collecting scheme, I guess it's time to go get another one.

Hmm...Kimimaro is a good choice.

He has a weird disease if I remember correctly, but I guess I'll figure out how to deal with that after I examine him thoroughly.