"Sakura!" Tsunade's sharp eyes immediately spotted her apprentice lying on the ground in a pool of blood. She rushed forward to begin treatment.
Jiraiya then saw Sasuke, also on the ground, his condition unknown. In the distance, trees had been snapped by a monstrous force, revealing a path. At the end of it lay another figure. That conspicuous white hair… wasn't it Kakashi?
So…
Naruto had faked his own death, used the Nine-Tails to stall them, and then came here to kill his own comrades?
Was his goal to sever his bonds?
Jiraiya glared at Naruto's retreating back.
"Why would you do this, Naruto!!!" he roared.
Tsunade, in the middle of healing, also shot Naruto a furious look. She was very fond of her apprentice. The name she heard most often from Sakura's lips was Uzumaki Naruto. Sakura's feelings for him were so strong that everyone could see it. With her apprentice on one side and the genius Tailed Beast Jinchuriki on the other, Tsunade had naturally hoped the two of them would have a happy ending.
But now it seemed that Uzumaki Naruto's warmth was all a lie. His heart was cruel and merciless to the extreme!!
Hearing Jiraiya's shout, Naruto's retreating figure paused.
"It's not time for you to make your entrance yet, Jiraiya-sensei."
Ripples spread through their vision, and the entire world shattered like a mirror. Before Jiraiya and Tsunade's disbelieving eyes, Naruto's figure vanished from sight.
"This is Naruto's Kekkei Genkai, Kyoka Suigetsu? Doesn't it need a Shikai release to activate?" Jiraiya said, stunned.
"It seems Uzumaki Naruto is not so simple. He's hidden a great deal," Tsunade said grimly, her face dark. "We must find him as quickly as possible."
A deep unease settled in Jiraiya and Tsunade's hearts. They had a feeling Naruto's goal was not so simple. What was even more unsettling was that they were always one step behind him. It felt as if Naruto was deliberately leaving openings, leading them by the nose.
Jiraiya had a hunch. Naruto's goal was more than just severing his bonds.
After an examination, it turned out that Kakashi and Sakura were not seriously injured. Sasuke, on the other hand, was the most grievously wounded. His body was covered in internal injuries from the lightning-style chakra, and he had various burns on the outside. But after some simple treatment from Tsunade, his condition stabilized, and he regained consciousness.
"Naruto… Naruto!!" He looked around, searching for Naruto's figure, but saw nothing. A look of desolation fell over his face.
"Sasuke, Naruto isn't dead? Why did he come here?" Jiraiya asked gravely.
Sasuke recounted everything that had happened. After hearing it, Jiraiya's expression became heavy. Naruto's actions were all extremely bizarre. He had stabbed Sakura, punched Kakashi, and brutalized Sasuke. If his goal was to sever his bonds, he hadn't actually killed a single one of them. From the looks of it, his goal seemed to have been to help Sasuke awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Why would he do that?
Naruto's actions left Jiraiya and Tsunade deeply confused, but they knew that for now, they had to find him as quickly as possible. They left a few Jonin to protect Team Kakashi and spread out into the village. An order was issued: all ninja were to be on the lookout for Naruto. If he was spotted, they were to be cautious and avoid conflict, prioritizing evasion.
The order left the Konoha shinobi bewildered. Wasn't Uzumaki Naruto a Konoha ninja? Why was the Hokage's order treating him like a missing-nin?
Could it be… Uzumaki Naruto has defected from the village?
The countless ninja who were on good terms with Naruto were filled with worry and unease, a dark premonition in their hearts.
"How could this happen? Naruto, where are you?" Iruka, who was evacuating civilians, looked worriedly toward the area of the previous battle, his eyes full of concern. Naruto was his most proud, most trusted student. He was everyone's sun, warming all those around him. It was no exaggeration to say that Naruto had done half of his job as a teacher for him. Under Naruto's influence, all the students of his generation had worked especially hard.
How could a ninja who inherited the Will of Fire like that be a traitor? There must be some mistake. Or maybe Naruto is caught up in some kind of conspiracy.
Once all the villagers were evacuated, Iruka gritted his teeth and ran toward the center of the village. He wanted to find Naruto and get to the bottom of things. If Naruto was in some kind of trouble, he would risk his own life to clear his name.
"Be careful of Naruto? What kind of joke is Lady Hokage making?" The Konoha 12 had all received the message, their expressions strange, as if they had just heard some outlandish tale.
"Anyone could betray the village, but there's no way that guy Naruto would," even Kiba, who had always been at odds with Naruto, said. "That guy has been working his whole life to become Hokage!"
Everyone nodded, agreeing with Kiba.
"Lady Hokage didn't say Naruto was a missing-nin, just to be careful. There's probably some misunderstanding. Ah, what a drag," Shikamaru said with a shrug.
"Of course it's impossible. But speaking of which, where are Sasuke and the others?" Ino said casually.
"They're probably on a secret mission. There might be a Kage-level intruder in Konoha."
"Munch, munch." Choji worked on a bag of chips, mumbling, "What's with today? The Nine-Tails might have broken its seal, and now Naruto seems to be a missing-nin."
"Everyone be careful. These are troubled times."
"Let's all stay in contact. Report anything immediately."
The Konoha 12 split up and began to search for Naruto.
Hinata moved quickly through the streets, her brow furrowed. She absolutely did not believe the rumor that "Naruto is a missing-nin." Naruto's gentleness and elegance were deeply ingrained in her heart. If Naruto was a traitor, then this world was far too false.
Hinata was likely the one who believed in Naruto the most. From a young age, she had experienced his kindness firsthand. Without Naruto, she would never have changed so much. Her father would never have looked at her differently. In her heart, Naruto had always held a very important place.
She searched continuously through Konoha, hoping to find him. She wanted to hear the truth from his own lips!
After the Nine-Tails was unsealed, the Third Hokage had helped the other ninja evacuate the civilians. With his one arm, his strength was barely at the Kage level. He was no match for the Nine-Tails. If he forced himself into the battle, he would only hinder Jiraiya and the others. He was positioned not far from the battlefield, so he could quickly provide support if a crisis arose.
Because of what the Nine-Tails had revealed, the Third could clearly feel that the other ninja's attitudes toward him had changed. He could only understand. Sometimes he even thought that if he had died during the Chunin Exams, perhaps he would have left behind the image of an unyielding Hokage in people's minds. Not like now, a disgrace to all the Hokage who came before him.
When people get old, they tend to reminisce. The Third sighed softly. The first half of his life had been glorious. He became the student of the Second Hokage, achieved numerous military honors, and finally, as everyone expected, became the Third Hokage. Under his rule, Konoha maintained its title as the number one village in the ninja world, and he himself was highly respected.
But he never expected to lose his integrity in the second half of his life. Life truly played tricks on people.
And what the Third regretted most was Uzumaki Naruto, the son of the Fourth Hokage, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki of Konoha, the one in whom he had placed such high hopes. He clearly had potential exceeding the Kage level, yet he had died an unjust death. And the mastermind behind it all was Danzo, whom he had indulged.
Cause and effect. Perhaps this was his punishment. If he had revealed Naruto's identity from the beginning, allowing him to grow up showered with love and resources, perhaps Naruto would have already become a Kage-level powerhouse. He wouldn't have joined Root, and he certainly wouldn't have been persecuted by Danzo.
"Perhaps I really was wrong," the Third sighed, his cloudy eyes filled with tears.
Tap. Suddenly, the crisp sound of footsteps echoed. A figure emerged from a corner, looking at the Third with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.
"You…" The Third's eyes widened, as if he was seeing something unbelievable.
"Naru… Naruto?!" When he saw the person clearly, the Third asked in disbelief. He couldn't believe his eyes.
Isn't Naruto dead? The image of his body pierced by Wood Release was still vivid in his mind. He could even remember the pungent smell of blood. But now, he saw Naruto standing before him, alive and well.
What is real?
He immediately circulated the chakra in his body, trying to break the so-called genjutsu. But the world remained the same. Nothing changed.
It's not a genjutsu!
His heart skipped a beat. He looked at Naruto in disbelief. A terrifying guess surfaced in his mind. This was perhaps a plan orchestrated by Naruto and Danzo together.
"Yo, Grandpa Third. Long time no see," Naruto said, looking at the Third, his eyes calm. His voice lacked its usual warmth, instead filled with a chilling coldness.
"Naruto!" The Third subconsciously took a step back, his muscles tensing. Though he was half in the grave, his vast combat experience told him something was wrong. He immediately prepared for battle.
The Third's peripheral vision scanned the area. He realized that besides himself and Naruto, the entire street was empty.
Tap. At that moment, two more figures emerged from the corner and came to Naruto's side.
It was Rock Lee and Aburame Neri.
The Third's pupils constricted. Rock Lee and Aburame Neri were Naruto's comrades in Root.
It seemed… Naruto had been led astray by Danzo!
"Is this Danzo's order?" his voice was cold.
"Danzo?" Naruto's expression was one of disdain. "He's already dead."
"Dead?!" The Third was horrified. He looked at Naruto as if he were a complete stranger. The Naruto now was completely different from the gentle Naruto in his memory. And Rock Lee, who had always projected an image of hard work, also had a cold expression on his face.
"You… you all…" the Third pointed at them in disbelief.
"Surprised, Grandpa Third?" Naruto held out his right hand. "But you don't have time to be surprised now. The stage has been set, and you are an important character."
"Bakudo Number 9: Geki." A red beam of light shot from Naruto's hand, snaking toward the Third.
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
"Earth Release: Mud Wall!"
The Third, already prepared, reacted instantly. After painstakingly forming hand seals with one hand, he unleashed an earth dragon that charged toward the red light. A wall of earth at least three meters high also materialized in front of him.
"Why is it that you, just like Sasuke, resist even when you know you can't win?" Naruto's voice was calm. He tapped a fist on the mud wall. The seemingly thick wall instantly crumbled, revealing the Third's wary eyes behind it.
Naruto… his strength is truly not that of an ordinary Kage. To be able to shatter a mud wall so effortlessly with just taijutsu… Naruto had hidden his power too well.
But the Third was, after all, a long-renowned Hokage.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow River." He first used an earth-style jutsu to change the surrounding terrain, turning it into a muddy mess.
"Wind Release: Cyclone!"
He then spewed a violent gust of wind from his mouth, stirring up the mud in front of him.
But no matter what jutsu the Third used, Naruto approached slowly, as if walking through an empty room.
The Third suddenly looked down, and the cyclone shot directly at the ground. He used the force of the blast to launch himself into the air.
"Lightning Release: Thunderclap!"
"Water Release: Water Stream!"
In mid-air, the Third first used a water-style jutsu to fill the entire Earth Flow River with rushing water. Combined with the murky mud, it trapped Naruto within.
Then, a shadow clone appeared, and working with the original, it sent a powerful lightning-style jutsu into the rushing river of mud. The lightning was dazzling, and the entire ground trembled.
"As expected of the Professor of Ninjutsu. He can use all chakra natures with ease. It seems his organs are also of great research value," Aburame Neri said calmly from the side.
"Neri, you're a young girl. Don't talk about organs all the time. It's creepy," Rock Lee said, subconsciously taking a step away from her.
"Neri? Am I that familiar with you, Bowl-cut?"
"Hey, we're comrades, aren't we?"
No longer needing to use their codenames, the two of them were a bit more relaxed. There wasn't a hint of worry for Naruto in their tone.
"Grandpa Third, you're old." The Naruto trapped in the Earth Flow River vanished, turning into a shattered image. In the next moment, he had already grabbed the Third's shoulder and crushed it.
With a cry of pain, the Third's body lost its balance and fell to the ground.
"Bakudo Number 9: Horin." A yellow rope of spiritual particles completely bound the Third.
At Naruto's signal, Lee rolled up his sleeves and slung the Third over his shoulder.
"Third Hokage captured. We can now proceed to the final stage," Naruto chuckled, his gaze falling on the distant Hokage Rock.
"Naruto! Why are you doing this? What is your goal?" the Third asked sternly. His body was bound like an insect, completely unable to break free from the Horin.
"Why… That's the question I've heard most today," Naruto said, shaking his head, his eyes turning cold. "You are now a prisoner. Just obediently await your end."
The Third fell silent. This Naruto was so strange. It seemed Naruto had long since resolved to become a missing-nin.
What puzzled the Third was how Naruto had survived after the Nine-Tails was unsealed. It didn't make any sense. The Third's eyes were filled with inquiry, his heart racing with anxiety.
I must find a way to inform Jiraiya and the others. Naruto's goal doesn't seem to be simple.
Suddenly, he saw a look of surprise on Naruto's face, followed by a mumble: "It's her? Interesting."
In the next moment, the Third saw ripples in the air before him, and a small figure walked out from a street corner.
Purple hair, and a pair of white eyes.
It was the main family's eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan, Hyuga Hinata.
Connecting this with Naruto's previous expression, the Third immediately shouted, "Run! Go inform Jiraiya!"
After splitting up with the Konoha 12, Hinata had activated her Byakugan, trying to find a trace of Naruto. But her eyes couldn't find a single flaw in the illusion. After walking for about ten minutes, she suddenly saw the world before her shatter like a mirror. A terrifyingly strong power appeared in her Byakugan's vision.
That power was so familiar.
"Naruto!" Her heart leaped with joy, and she quickened her pace.
After turning the corner, she saw an unbelievable scene. The Third Hokage, revered by all the villagers, was being carried over Rock Lee's shoulder in a sorry state. Naruto stood to the side, a faint smile on his lips.
"Run! Go inform the Hokage and Jiraiya!" the Third Hokage roared.
Hinata's mind went blank for a moment. She knew everyone present; they had even eaten together not long ago. But why had things developed in such a bizarre way? Rock Lee and Naruto were subordinate to each other. Rock Lee had captured the Third. The Third was telling her to run. The two sides seemed to be enemies.
Could it be… Naruto really is a missing-nin?
Naruto looked at Hinata, who was standing there as if in a daze, and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
Is she scared stiff?
Naruto still held a sliver of hope for Hinata. After all, the Hyuga clan was a great clan on par with the Uchiha. The potential of the Byakugan shouldn't be as simple as what was commonly known. So, before he left, Naruto wanted to see if Hinata had any potential.
"Hello, Hinata," he said, giving her a warm smile. "Do you want to save the Third Hokage now?"
Hinata frowned at the scene, her mind already made up.
Naruto might really have become a missing-nin!
Veins bulged around her Byakugan as she looked at Naruto. She didn't see anything out of the ordinary. A surge of anger suddenly welled up inside her.
"You're not the Naruto I know!" Her heart filled with killing intent. "Where is the real Naruto?"
Not another one who's in love with Naruto. Rock Lee looked at Hinata, then at Naruto, and subconsciously took a step back.
"The organs of the Hyuga clan seem to be quite good, too," Aburame Neri said, staring greedily at Hinata, a perverted smile unconsciously forming on her lips.
Naruto looked at Hinata with amusement. He naturally knew about her feelings for him.
"I am Uzumaki Naruto."
"It's just that… the gentleness you thought you knew was all fake."
Naruto slowly walked toward Hinata. He soon stood before her, and the Reiatsu from his body created a pressure that made it difficult for her to move. She struggled to look at him, her eyes filled with fury.
Naruto lifted Hinata's chin, meeting her white eyes. He suddenly chuckled softly.
"Up close, these eyes are quite beautiful."
Hinata froze for a moment, the fire of her anger momentarily extinguished, replaced by a sense of bewilderment. The Naruto of this moment bore a slight resemblance to the Naruto she remembered. But that gentleness only lasted for an instant. Naruto's eyes once again returned to their cold indifference.
He looked down at Hinata haughtily and said coldly, "So, do you want to stop me?"
"No matter what, I will not allow you to take Lord Third!" Hinata said stubbornly, gritting her teeth.
"Oh? Have you ever considered that perhaps the Third is the traitor, and I am carrying out a mission to eliminate a Konoha missing-nin?" Naruto asked lightly, releasing Hinata's chin.
Hearing this, for some reason, the hair on Hinata's arms stood on end. She suddenly understood why the Fifth Hokage had said to avoid Naruto at all costs and immediately inform other ninja if he was spotted. Because the Naruto of now was too unpredictable, too dangerous.
This unfamiliar Naruto made Hinata's heart ache with sorrow. She remembered her childhood, when Naruto was gentle and elegant, warming everyone around him. He had protected her, too. He was everyone's sun, the person everyone wanted to follow.
How could a person like that be a missing-nin! How could he be a missing-nin!
What chilled Hinata's heart was that those eyes, once as gentle as water, now held nothing but bone-chilling indifference. He seemed to view his defection as a game, and her as a pawn in it.
"If you're not a missing-nin, then let Lord Third go. I'll inform Lady Fifth. They will definitely help you," Hinata said, her eyes pleading. If Naruto turned back now, perhaps it wasn't too late.
Naruto quietly looked at those beautiful white eyes and chuckled softly. "As I told you before, if in the future you discover that I am not the person you thought I was, will you still hold on to those naive feelings?" Naruto looked at Hinata with more curiosity than anything else.
Sasuke had unleashed power far beyond his previous limits because of his bonds. So, could Hinata break the limits of the Byakugan because of love? It was an interesting question.
"So you still remember our five-year promise," Hinata said, her expression bitter. "You're leaving Konoha, aren't you? From now on, you'll be an enemy of the village."
A young girl's intuition is very accurate.
Seeing Naruto nod, Hinata looked at him with disappointment, her heart like dead ashes.
"Why have you become like this?" she asked in a low voice. She didn't understand why things had come to this. Was there really no turning back?
"Come back with me. Just give me one reason, and Konoha can accept you again," Hinata said, looking up, her eyes filled with hope.
"But the Third has already heard everything," Naruto said, pointing at the Third Hokage with a playful expression. "Tell me… if he dies, then I can frame Danzo for everything, and then I can return to Konoha, can't I?"
"How about this? You kill the Third, and I'll consider your proposal. How does that sound?"
"Uzumaki Naruto!!" the Third roared. He knew Hinata was a very kind child, the future head of the main family. Konoha had high hopes for her, hoping she would become the clan leader. A relatively kind Hinata would surely be willing to concede more benefits. But now Naruto was trying to lead her astray. The Third understood Naruto's personal charisma. Hinata wasn't fully mature yet. If she was tricked into defecting, it would be a disaster.
Hearing this, Hinata's heart completely died. She struck out, aiming a palm at Naruto.
"Naruto, you are a great disappointment."
Hinata used all the taijutsu she had learned, continuously attacking Naruto's pressure points. With muffled thuds, her palms repeatedly struck Naruto's body. Her attacks were ruthless, showing no mercy.
Naruto looked at Hinata with some surprise. "You actually have the resolve to kill me. I underestimated you."
The world rippled. In the next moment, Naruto appeared at Hinata's side. He leisurely grabbed her right hand and whispered in her ear, "If you attack me, you must also be prepared to be killed."
Crack. Hinata suddenly spun around, her left palm forcing Naruto back. She used an intricate footwork to close the distance again, launching a relentless assault.
"The Naruto I know is the gentle Naruto who would die to protect everything."
"Before, I wanted so much to be your bride."
"But since you've completely changed, I will kill you."
"So that the perfect Naruto can live on in my heart." Hinata's tone was firm, her eyes filled with killing intent, every move aimed at Naruto's vital points.
"Interesting. You've surprised me," Naruto said, his eyes filled with genuine astonishment.
Hinata was like Sakura, yet different. Both were in love with Naruto. But after learning Naruto's true face, Sakura chose to submit and accept. Hinata, however, chose to resist.
If I kill the you of now, the you of the past will live on in my heart forever.
How domineering.
But…
"The weak are all the same. The only difference is the degree of their weakness."
"But luckily for you, you have the potential to become strong."
Naruto easily caught Hinata's attacking right hand. With a crisp crack, her arm broke.
Hinata let out a muffled grunt of pain, but her left hand attacked without a moment's pause. The willpower and killing intent that this once-gentle girl erupted with in this moment made even Naruto take a second look.
"To be on par with the Uchiha, yet the upper limit of the Byakugan is so far below the Sharingan," Naruto said, not dodging, letting Hinata's blows land on his body. "But in my opinion, the full potential of the Byakugan has not yet been realized."
"This fight with you was interesting. To express my gratitude, I will give you a chance to evolve." Naruto's eyes turned cold. He grabbed both of Hinata's hands and transferred a thread of tangible Reiatsu into her eyes.
"You are about to experience a moment of collapse. Don't disappoint me."
"I hope that the next time we meet, you will be strong."
Naruto released his hands. Hinata fell to the ground, a heart-wrenching, bone-deep pain erupting from her eyes, so intense that it felt like her very soul was freezing. Hinata curled up on the ground, as if trying to preserve her body heat. She moaned and trembled.
"Naruto, you're too cruel," the Third said, looking at Naruto in disbelief.
"Cruel? No, this is mercy," Naruto said calmly, his gaze leaving Hinata. "I have given her a chance to evolve her Byakugan."
"Why have you become like this?" the Third asked, his eyes filled with pain and self-blame. The current Naruto's emotional detachment was terrifying. His standard for judging people seemed to be only potential and strength. This made the Third deeply regretful. If he had handled Naruto differently in the past, perhaps it wouldn't have led to Naruto's psychological distortion.
Yes… psychological distortion. That was the Third's assessment of Naruto.
"If you truly hate Konoha so much, then kill me. It's all my fault," the Third said gravely.
"The past, the present, the future… they are all just states of mind. I am who I am. It's just that you have never understood," Naruto said lightly in response to the Third's words. "Don't take yourself so seriously. In the eyes of others, you are just a tiny grain of sand."
If it were the past, Naruto might have mocked him, laughed at him. You, the Third Hokage, think too highly of yourself. But from the moment he defected, Naruto's state of mind had been elevated. He would no longer let trivial emotions affect his judgment. Everything he did, everything he thought, was to pave the way for his own goals.
"Let's go. The final stage has been set. All the characters are in place," Naruto said, starting to walk slowly toward the Hokage Rock.
"Third, you'd better behave," Rock Lee said, patting the Third's butt and leisurely following behind Naruto.
Aburame Neri gave Hinata a greedy look and also followed Naruto. Without Naruto's command, she wouldn't dare to touch his work.
After Naruto left, the piercing pain in Hinata's eyes gradually subsided. When the pain stopped, she opened her eyes, only to be met with a darkness so complete she couldn't see her hand in front of her face.
Her eyes had lost their light.
Not long after, Tsunade found Hinata leaning against a wall, her eyes vacant. Through Hinata, she learned what had happened.
Naruto had kidnapped the Third Hokage.
The usually strong Fifth Hokage suddenly felt her heart grow heavy. She leaned against the wall, silent. After thinking for a long time, a weariness that didn't match her youthful face appeared on her features. She sighed.
"In the end, it still came to this."
"This is all the disaster sown by Danzo and sensei."
After hearing the Nine-Tails' story and the subsequent encounters of Sasuke, Hinata, and the others, the fact of Naruto's betrayal was basically confirmed.
Tsunade, unlike Kakashi and the others, hadn't experienced Naruto's warmth and gentleness during his childhood. So, Naruto's image was not deeply ingrained in her mind. For a child who had endured the malice of Konoha to become a missing-nin as an adult… it seemed entirely reasonable. Some people just change over time. Even Orochimaru was like that.
"S-rank missing-nin, Naruto."
"All ANBU, move out. Find and locate Naruto. Seal off his routes. Avoid direct confrontation as much as possible. Stall for time and wait for support."
As Tsunade's words fell, a dozen ANBU shinobi appeared, bowed, and then vanished again.
In less than five minutes, almost every ninja had received the news.
"Naruto is an S-rank missing-nin. He is currently holding the Third Hokage hostage and is extremely dangerous."
Tsunade's face was expressionless, a cold light flashing in her eyes.
Without a doubt, Konoha owed Naruto, who should have been the son of a hero. Naruto's actions in retaliating against Konoha were justified.
But!
That didn't mean Konoha could accept this behavior.
There was no absolute right or wrong in this world. What Konoha had done before was just to better control Naruto. As for the Fourth… he loved Konoha so much, he would surely understand. The only problem was that there had been a slight mistake in the control process, which led to Naruto developing a desire to defect.
Now, Naruto was the enemy.
And Konoha was never merciful to its enemies.
As the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade had long been prepared!
"Inform Jiraiya. Naruto has completely defected. If necessary, he can be killed on sight!"
The sun was exceptionally bright that day, and the scenery of Konoha was pleasant. But no one stopped to admire it. Countless figures darted through the streets of Konoha, searching for Naruto.
"Uzumaki Naruto is an S-rank missing-nin. Do not engage," all the ninja were on high alert. The last S-rank missing-nin was Uchiha Itachi, who had massacred his entire clan. And now, this S-rank missing-nin, Uzumaki Naruto, had kidnapped the Third Hokage, a long-renowned Kage-level powerhouse.
What was even more bizarre was that not a single ninja had noticed anything amiss. This meant that the Third had been taken down by Naruto in an extremely short amount of time. The battle between the two hadn't even attracted anyone's attention. For such a strong person to become a missing-nin was truly lamentable.
Among them, the ones who found it most difficult to accept were, of course, the Konoha 12, who were close to Naruto. Even though Tsunade had given them a warning, they had still chosen to believe in Naruto. And now, that trust had collapsed.
"Are you kidding me? Naruto is really a missing-nin? And he kidnapped the Third?"
"It's true. Sasuke and the others were seriously injured. Sakura almost died."
"No way. Naruto is that ruthless?"
"Hinata is… blind, too."
"Why would he do this? What is Naruto's goal?" Shikamaru frowned, deep in thought. The only explanation that made sense was that Naruto had harbored a grudge against Konoha all along. Everything he had shown in the past was a facade to deceive everyone.
As the latest news spread, the Konoha 12 gradually fell silent. Finally, their eyes filled with anger.
"Naruto… has gone too far. If I see him, I definitely won't hold back," Kiba said fiercely.
"Naruto has been spotted!!!" Suddenly, all the ninja went on high alert. Following the report, countless ninja rushed toward Naruto's location.
"That guy is at the Hokage Rock? Is he trying to provoke Konoha? How dare he!"
"There are two other people behind him. One of them is carrying Lord Third."
As more and more information was revealed, the ninja were filled with rage.
"Let's go. I want to see what Naruto's real goal is!" Shikamaru said, his usual lazy expression replaced by one of seriousness.
Naruto's team stood leisurely at the base of the Hokage Rock, quietly looking at the beautiful village of Konoha.
"Now that it's quiet, I realize it's quite beautiful," Rock Lee said with emotion. The fact that he was carrying the Third Hokage on his shoulder made the scene very incongruous.
"It is indeed beautiful. But it will be even more beautiful later," Naruto said, a meaningful smile on his lips.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.
A dozen ANBU figures suddenly appeared around them, surrounding Naruto's team to prevent their escape. They didn't dare to move any closer, maintaining a certain distance from Naruto and the others.
"They're here pretty quickly." Under the extremely wary gazes of the ANBU, Naruto's gaze passed over them and landed on the figures rushing over from the distance.
Jiraiya, the Fifth Hokage Tsunade, the current head of the Hyuga clan, and the core members and ninja of the various great clans. Among them were familiar faces: the Konoha 12. Even Uchiha Sasuke had come here with Jiraiya's help.
"What a lively scene," Naruto straightened up. "Konoha's reaction speed is not bad."
Swish, swish, swish.
With several whooshes, Tsunade and Jiraiya appeared five meters away from Naruto. The surrounding ANBU ninja also spread out. After them came the Konoha Council elders, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
Seeing Naruto again, Jiraiya couldn't hide the disappointment in his heart. He couldn't help but sigh. "To think it still came to this. Naruto, it's not too late to turn back now."
As a Kage-level powerhouse and Jiraiya's student, Naruto only needed an excuse. With some maneuvering from the higher-ups, his name could be cleared. Jiraiya hoped Naruto would turn back. Because the current Konoha could not afford such a drastic change.
"Naruto…" Sasuke leaned weakly against a rock wall, his eyes filled with sorrow as he looked at Naruto. Sakura was still in the Konoha hospital, having just been stabilized. If Tsunade and the others had arrived a step later, Sakura might have died from blood loss.
The Fifth Hokage, Tsunade Senju, took a step forward, her calm gaze meeting Naruto's in mid-air.
"Uzumaki Naruto, according to various reports, you assassinated the Konoha elder Danzo, released the Nine-Tails, attacked Kakashi, Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, and Hyuga Hinata, and kidnapped the Third Hokage. Tell me, is this true?" Tsunade's expression was grave.
Hearing Tsunade's words, the ninja's bodies tensed, their gazes on Naruto filled with hatred.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu trembled, a wave of dizziness washing over them. They looked at Naruto in disbelief, their cloudy eyes welling with tears. "Why? Danzo was your teacher!"
"You hid it so well. You deceived everyone."
"I felt something was wrong from the very beginning," Utatane Koharu said, looking at Naruto coldly, her eyes filled with bone-chilling hatred.
Feeling everyone's gazes on him, Naruto's expression was playful, his voice magnetic.
"Is it true or not? Can't you see with your own eyes? Or have you been kneeling for so long that you want me to tell you a lie?"
"Insolence!" Tsunade roared. "Why did you do this?"
Behind Tsunade, Jiraiya's eyes were already full of disappointment. Konoha had once placed high hopes on Naruto. Even the two toad sages had thought that Naruto might be the Child of Prophecy. But the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment. Jiraiya's heart was not only filled with disappointment, but also a trace of bewilderment. He never expected everything to happen so suddenly. Just a moment ago, Naruto was a polite little sun. Now, he had suddenly become cold and ruthless.
"No way. Naruto really admitted it," the Konoha 12 exchanged a look, their eyes filled with astonishment.
Shikamaru was even more pained. He covered his face and whispered, "Naruto, why did you admit it so readily? Have you been plotting this for a long time? Then what were we to you? Pawns?"
"What on earth is going on? Did someone frame Naruto?" the straightforward Ino asked, her eyes full of confusion.
"Not just Naruto, but Lee too…"
If Naruto had betrayed the village because of his childhood experiences, then Lee's betrayal was completely baseless. He was born in Konoha, and his parents were ordinary ninja. But not long ago, his parents…
Wait a minute…
Could it be…
Tsunade's expression changed again. She suddenly understood why Rock Lee had also defected.
"Lee? Naruto?! Boys!! Why would you do this?!!" Guy's eyes were filled with hot tears. He roared at Naruto, "Why would you betray your youth?!"
Guy didn't understand. He really didn't understand!! Why would the gentle Naruto and the hardworking student walk a path opposite to Konoha! The ridiculous thing was, he hadn't noticed anything at all.
Rock Lee's expression flickered slightly, and he didn't dare to meet Guy's eyes.
Huuu~ The wind picked up, blowing Naruto's golden bangs aside, revealing his handsome face. Without the six whisker marks, Naruto's features were even more refined. But now, the face that should have been gentle was cold.
He glanced at Guy and said faintly, "This world has always been like Kyoka Suigetsu, full of false truths. Whether you look from the inside or the outside, you can never see its true nature."
"Only by transcending, by standing on a higher dimension…"
"As you've seen before, the Uzumaki Naruto of the past is already dead. The one standing before you is the Uzumaki Naruto who has transcended Konoha."
Naruto slowly removed the Hokage headband from his arm.
Screech. With a crisp sound, a long scratch appeared in the middle of the headband.
Under Guy's furious and pained gaze, Naruto casually tossed the headband aside, a cold smile on his lips.
Everyone felt their vision distort. The entire world shattered like a mirror. To their shock, Naruto suddenly appeared in the sky, floating high above like a god, looking down on them with a cold expression.
"Kyoka Suigetsu?! When did we fall under Kyoka Suigetsu?"
"I didn't notice anything at all," Tsunade and Jiraiya said, horrified. A terrifying guess surfaced in their minds. The ability of Kyoka Suigetsu was not as simple as controlling vision! No wonder Naruto could deal with Danzo so quietly and deceive everyone. Because his strength had already reached a terrifying level.
Jiraiya suddenly felt that Naruto was so strange, as if he was meeting him for the first time. He opened his mouth, his voice bitter. "So… everything you said before about becoming Hokage, about protecting everyone… was it all a lie?"
"Protecting?"
"Jiraiya-sensei, you have never understood me."
"Whether it's Konoha or the entire ninja world, there is too much darkness and sin hidden away…"
"No one desires to fight, yet they are forced to fight."
"The root cause of all this… is simply that no one strong enough to rule over everything has appeared."
Naruto's indifferent gaze swept over every face. Some were sad, some were disbelieving, some were angry.
"Naruto! Do you really intend to make an enemy of the entire ninja world? That is absolutely impossible!!" Tsunade reprimanded him angrily. Let alone Naruto being only a Kage-level powerhouse, so what if he was super Kage-level? What kind of arrogant person would dare to try to fight the entire ninja world?!
Faced with the question, Naruto chuckled softly.
"This is why I look down from above, and you look up from below." Naruto began to walk slowly toward the sky, his right hand removing his thick, black-framed glasses.
Swish. The glasses turned to dust in Naruto's hand, scattering with the wind.
"No one stood at the top from the beginning…"
"Not the Hokage, not even the God of Shinobi…"
"But the throne of heaven has been vacant for too long…"
Naruto gently lifted his hand, sweeping his golden bangs back from his forehead, revealing a pair of sharp eyes. The aura around him underwent a heaven-and-earth-shattering change. He became ambitious, cold, and ruthless.
How can a person change so much?
Everyone below looked at Naruto with disbelief. This was the first time they were meeting the real Naruto.
Boom.
An immense Reiatsu, no longer suppressed, erupted from Naruto's body like a tsunami. The entire Hokage Rock seemed to tremble. The ground below shook violently, and small cracks began to appear. Even the Jonin couldn't help but bend their knees and fall to the ground, their faces filled with shock.
A confident, indifferent voice sounded from above:
"From this day forward, I will stand in the heavens!"
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