Uchiha Naruto: The Strongest

Chapter 26: Another Strange Incident

The night in Konoha was peaceful, with the moon casting a gentle glow over the village. The streets were quiet, the hustle and bustle of the day giving way to the soft chirping of crickets and the occasional rustling of leaves in the cool evening breeze. Lanterns flickered warmly in front of homes, and the stone pathways reflected the pale light of the moon, creating a tranquil atmosphere.

Among the few villagers still out was a woman walking home with her young daughter. The little girl, her eyes wide with curiosity and energy, held her mother's hand tightly. The woman smiled down at her daughter, enjoying the quiet walk after a long day. The streets were familiar to them both, and they walked with a sense of ease, knowing they were close to home.

As they neared a familiar intersection, the daughter tugged on her mother's hand, pointing excitedly to a dark alley that cut through to the other side. "Mom, let's take the shortcut!" she suggested, her voice filled with innocent enthusiasm.

The woman glanced at the alley, a small smile on her face. They had taken this route many times before. It was just a narrow passageway between two old buildings, a convenient way to shave a few minutes off their walk. "Alright," she agreed, nodding. "But stay close to me."

Hand in hand, they stepped into the alley. The sound of their footsteps echoed softly against the walls as they walked further into the narrow space. The alley was lined with high walls on either side, dimly lit by a single flickering lantern near the far end. The light barely reached the middle of the alley, leaving most of it in shadow.

The further they walked, the more the shadows seemed to close in around them. Suddenly, a strange, metallic scent filled the air, cutting through the cool night breeze. The woman's smile faded as a sense of unease washed over her. She instinctively tightened her grip on her daughter's hand, slowing their pace.

"Wait a moment, sweetie," she said, her voice calm but tinged with caution. "Stay right here."

The little girl stopped, her curious eyes watching as her mother took a few steps ahead, peering around the corner where the alley bent sharply. The metallic smell grew stronger, and with it, the woman's apprehension.

As she rounded the corner, her eyes fell on something that made her blood run cold. Lying on the ground, illuminated by the faint light of the distant lantern, was a corpse. Blood pooled around the lifeless body, seeping into the cracks of the stone ground. The woman's breath caught in her throat, and a gasp of fear escaped her lips.

Her eyes darted up, and there, standing over the body, was a dark figure. The person was cloaked in shadow, their features obscured, but the glint of a weapon in their hand was unmistakable. The figure's head turned slowly, locking eyes with the woman. For a moment, time seemed to stand still.

Then, in a blur of movement, the dark figure leaped away, disappearing into the night before she could even process what she had seen. The woman stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest, the horrific image of the blood-soaked alley seared into her mind.

She turned back quickly, rushing to her daughter, who was still waiting innocently in the alley. "We need to go, now," she said, her voice trembling as she scooped the girl into her arms. Without another word, she hurried out of the alley, her footsteps quick and unsteady as she made her way back to the safety of the main street, her mind reeling from the terror she had just witnessed.

-Konoha-

The morning sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the training grounds as Neji Hyūga trained diligently. His movements were precise and fluid, each strike and rotation of his Jūken technique cutting through the air with practiced ease. The ground beneath him was marked by countless hours of training, small craters and displaced earth evidence of his relentless dedication.