Chapter 73: Reckoning
Killing villagers.
Killing fellow ninjas from the same village.
Every single act was a heinous crime.
In other words, this was the behavior of a rogue ninja—someone who had betrayed the village.
Sakura and Ino looked at Naruto with worry, wondering how he would be treated next.
At this moment, when everyone was tense, their heartstrings pulled tight—
Naruto arrived at the Hokage's office.
He glanced at the door, his eyes cold and intense, and pushed it open without hesitation.
Sakura and Ino couldn't think straight.
A trial?
No. No one was qualified to judge Naruto now.
Not even Konoha's Hokage—the Third, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Because Naruto had done nothing wrong.
All of this was what he should have done long ago.
Thirteen years of darkness deserved to be repaid like this.
Now was the time for that repayment.
After pushing open the door to the Hokage's office, everyone walked in.
Inside the Hokage's office—
In the current Hokage office, besides the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, there were two other people.
Those two were also very old, about the same age as the Third Hokage. They wore white robes and looked quite aged.
They were Konoha's elders—the Hokage's advisors.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.
When Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura saw Naruto arrive, they immediately shouted and roared:
"Uzumaki Naruto! You're finally here!"
"Do you know what you've done?! Look at what you've done! Killing ninja of the village is a heinous crime!"
The two old people pointed angrily at Naruto, shouting and venting their fury.
As for Naruto—he glanced at them with cold eyes and then looked away. He showed no intention of answering them at all.
Instead, he set his sights on the Third Hokage.
At that moment, the Third Hokage was also staring at Naruto.
Those sharp, aged eyes—like windows into a lifetime of vicissitudes—were fixed on Naruto.
As if trying to see through Naruto's thoughts, to see through everything about him.
But he couldn't see through Naruto at all.
Just as he had failed to notice Naruto's concealed strength and desire for destruction for thirteen years.
Even now, he didn't know what Naruto was thinking.
After the two stared at each other for a while, the Third Hokage took a deep breath and swept his sharp gaze across the group. It made everyone straighten up and feel nervous.
Then, the Third Hokage said in a very authoritative tone:
"Naruto, tell me why you did this."
Hearing the Third Hokage's words, Naruto sneered. He looked at the Third Hokage coldly, as if looking at an enemy.
That look seemed to say to the Third Hokage: Do you still think I'm that naive child who understands nothing and simply bears the pain?
Seeing Naruto's eyes, the Third Hokage was stunned and startled, as if he had noticed something.
Then, Naruto sneered and said lightly:
"Don't you know why I did this?"
The Third Hokage was stunned for a moment. Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu—who had been cursing—also stopped abruptly and looked at Naruto in astonishment.
Before they could speak, Naruto continued:
"For the past thirteen years, I've been under your surveillance the entire time."
"Everything that happened to me, you saw."
"Everything the villagers did—all the malice the people of Konoha directed at me—you knew about all of it."
"And now you're asking me why I did this?"
"Don't you already know why?"
His voice was full of mockery and sarcasm. When the Third Hokage heard it, his heart instantly went cold.
Only at this moment did the Third Hokage and the others gradually understand.
It turned out—Naruto probably knew everything.
Naruto knew what they had done.
But Naruto hadn't said anything. He had been hiding it all until now.
No complaints. He hadn't even spoken to anyone about it.
Instead, he had endured silently and waited patiently.
Until now.
Now, his anger had erupted.
All the darkness would be settled and repaid by Naruto from this moment on.
The Third Hokage, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura all gasped.
Then, the Third Hokage narrowed his eyes, stared sharply at Naruto's every move, and said coldly:
"I had my reasons."
Naruto sneered when he heard the Third Hokage's words.
"Reasons?"
"Your reason was to watch a child get constantly abused by the villagers? A child beaten by ninja and humiliated by countless people?"
"Your reason was to hide the truth, to choose to let a child bear the hatred and anger caused by the Nine-Tails destroying the village thirteen years ago? To let everyone take out their anger on a child?"
"Your reason was to watch all of this happen, to turn a blind eye to it—and even to encourage them?"
"Is that what you call your reasons? Answer me, Third Hokage."
Naruto stared at the Third Hokage with icy eyes and said coldly.
Hearing Naruto's words, the Third Hokage and the two advisors were shocked.
So Naruto knew everything.
Whether it was the Nine-Tails incident from thirteen years ago.
Or the truth about the villagers' anger and hatred over the past thirteen years.
Or the fact that the Third Hokage and Konoha's leadership knew about it all but did nothing.
Naruto was completely aware of everything.
Nothing could be hidden from Naruto.
But Naruto had never told anyone.
He had endured alone. Carried the burden alone. Hidden the pain and darkness that should never have been his to bear.
All to lead to the bloodshed of today.
All to seek justice today.
The Third Hokage took a heavy breath. His eyes were full of shock. And soon, they became full of complexity and coldness.
He knew—Naruto was completely beyond his control.
Even though he had been monitoring Naruto for thirteen years—
Naruto had still hidden so much.
Made it impossible for him to discover anything.
After Naruto finished speaking, before the Third Hokage could respond, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura spoke up forcefully:
"This was the consideration of the village's leadership! You have no right to question it!"
"Everything we do is for the good of the village!"
"As a Konoha ninja, you're supposed to obey the village's orders! And now you dare to come before us, cause a scene, and question us? This is treason! Outrageous!"
But their words did not make Naruto back down.
On the contrary, Naruto's eyes showed strong killing intent.
Naruto gave Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura a cold look.
Hearing their shameless, stubborn, brainwashing speech, Naruto snorted coldly.
Then he raised his hand. In an instant, he appeared in front of the two of them.
His palm came down.
Smack!
A slap landed on each of the two old people's faces.
Bright red palm prints appeared.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu stared at Naruto with wide eyes—horror and disbelief on their faces.
It seemed they couldn't believe that Naruto had actually struck them—two of Konoha's highest elders.
Before they could speak, Naruto said coldly:
"Shut up."