Leaving the memorial monument, Naruto returned home.
He understood the whole truth, but his anger did not lessen—it only grew stronger.
Inside the room, everything was destroyed, and Naruto sat on the floor like a lost soul, staring blankly.
"As you wished, I've seen the truth."
Naruto spoke quietly toward the empty space, "Now, are you satisfied?"
A shadow appeared from there—it was Orochimaru. He looked at Naruto's hollow eyes and smiled faintly.
"Tell me, Naruto-kun, do you want revenge?"
The word revenge seemed to ignite Naruto's anger.
Slowly, he lifted his head. "Yes, I do!"
"Good. Now you've become more interesting to me."
Orochimaru saw the light in the boy's eyes—pure and shining like gold.
"Then come with me, Naruto-kun. I will tell you the whole truth and make you stronger!"
Naruto remained silent for a long time.
At that moment, many people appeared in his mind.
His blurred memories of his parents, the once kind Third Hokage, and so many friends.
"Naruto-kun, this world hides too many secrets you don't know,"
Orochimaru whispered softly, almost like he was tempting him. "I'm very curious about the power you possess, but I won't kill you. As an exchange, I will give you power, and you will let me study you. That's all. If you agree, then give me your answer."
After a long pause, Naruto's voice was hoarse as he said, "Alright, I agree."
"What?!"
Inside the hospital room, Sakura and Sasuke heard a shocking fact from Kakashi's mouth.
Uzumaki Naruto had defected from the village half an hour ago!
"That's impossible!"
Sasuke's face was full of disbelief, her lips tightly pressed. "I don't believe Naruto would betray the village!"
"Yeah, it must be a mistake," Sakura said, also unwilling to believe it. That passionate and cheerful fool who always talked about becoming Hokage—how could he betray the village?
"I hope it's not true, but according to the Anbu's report, it is," Kakashi said with a heavy sigh, his eyes full of sadness. "Naruto knocked out the gate guard and left the village with some shinobi from Otogakure."
"Otogakure…"
Hearing this, Sakura and Sasuke's minds suddenly flashed back to the mysterious man wearing the Otogakure headband during the Chunin Exams.
That mysterious man was none other than Orochimaru — the killer of the Third Hokage!
"It's him! It has to be him!"
Sasuke's pupils contracted sharply. Ignoring her injuries, she threw herself off the hospital bed.
"I have to bring Naruto back!"
"Wait, Sasuke!" Kakashi raised his hand and firmly held back the impulsive Sasuke. In a serious tone, he said, "With your current condition, even if you catch up, can you really bring Naruto back?"
"Even so, I must bring Naruto back!"
Sasuke's gaze was resolute. "Even if I have to break Naruto's legs, I will bring him back!"
Kakashi was silent for a moment, then slowly loosened his grip and sighed. "Konoha has already dispatched a pursuit team. Go, bring Naruto back."
"Thank you."
This was the only time Sasuke thanked the man before him.
"Wait, although I approve of your action…"
Kakashi's eyes grew serious, his voice grave. "The two Hokage advisors have issued orders: bring Naruto back at all costs. If it's impossible, destroy him immediately."
Sasuke's body stiffened instantly.
"What?" Sakura covered her mouth, eyes filled with fear. "Naruto is our comrade? Why give such an order?"
"It's because of what's inside him, isn't it?" Sasuke bit her lip, a trace of sorrow in her eyes.
"You actually know?"
Kakashi was slightly surprised but quickly accepted it and nodded. "Yes. Naruto carries the Nine-Tails Beast sealed inside him — the same beast that almost destroyed Konoha once. So Konoha must take him back."
"So you mean I have to find Naruto before those people do, right?" Sasuke asked.
"No mistake, that's exactly what I mean."
Kakashi looked toward Sasuke and said, "I'll buy you some time, but in the end, it's up to you."
"Sasuke."
Sakura watched the young girl with worry.
Sasuke opened the hospital room window without looking back and said calmly, "Don't worry, Sakura. I will definitely bring Naruto back."
In the vast forest, Naruto ran swiftly along the tree trunks, heading toward the Sound Village.
He was well aware that pursuers must be behind him, but according to Orochimaru, this was a test.
If he didn't even have the ability to escape Konoha's chase, then there was no point—no meaning—in chasing after the truth of the world or the mystery of his parents' disappearance.
Swish—swish—
The sound of fast movement darted through the woods, passing right by Naruto's ears.
But at that moment, a figure suddenly appeared, flashing with lightning, blocking the path ahead with astonishing speed.
"I knew you would come."
Naruto stopped running and looked at her with a complicated expression. "Sasuke."
"Now, you have two choices."
Sasuke raised her hand, tossing her ponytail aside, her cold eyes fixed on Naruto.
"Either you come back with me quietly, or I break both your legs and carry you back myself."
"Sorry, Sasuke."
Naruto took a deep breath, his gaze equally firm.
"I won't go back with you."
"Why?"
Sasuke's eyes were complicated as she lightly bit her lip. "Why do you have to leave?"
"Every time. Since I was a kid, I've always been at the bottom. But now… I just want power!" Naruto stared at Sasuke, then said in a low voice, "I'm going to find Orochimaru. He's right. I can't stay here!"
"Is that so…"
Sasuke looked at the stubborn Naruto. Her eyelids dropped slightly, and lightning appeared in her palm. "If that's the case… I'll just break your leg and then bring you back!"
Lightning Release: Chidori!
The sharp, crackling sound cut through the forest like a flash of lightning.
Naruto had no time to react before he felt a heavy strike to his abdomen. He flew backward like a cannonball, splitting a tree in half.
Amid the dust, Naruto spat out blood. "Damn, you're really strong."
If Sasuke hadn't deliberately dispersed the Chidori at the last moment, Naruto would have been pierced right through!
"Wow~ so pathetic, getting beaten up by your little girlfriend."
Lu Mingze sat nearby, watching the scene like it was a show, a sly smile on his face.
"Do you have to say that now?" Naruto supported himself with one hand. The sharp pain in his stomach made it hard to focus. Sweat dripped down his cheek.
"If you have nothing better to do, don't bother me. And Sasuke is not my girlfriend!"
"No, no, no. I'm the kindest devil~"
Lu Mingze wore a teasing smile as he swung his legs back and forth.
"I really couldn't stand it any longer, so I decided to give you two reminders."
"Reminders?"
Naruto held his stomach, staggering to his feet, gasping for breath.
"What reminders?"
Lu Mingze held up two fingers and smiled.
"First, during our last deal, as a bonus, I gave you two Word Souls."
"Second, the moment of that deal, you gained the bloodline of the Dragon Clan. To be precise, you, Uzumaki Naruto, are now a hybrid."
"Hybrid? Word Soul?"
Naruto froze, not quite understanding what he meant.
"It means…"
Lu Mingze's golden eyes flowed like molten lava.
"You've long had the power of the Dragon Clan within you, but you couldn't use it. Now, release the power hidden in your bloodline."
*******
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