Chapter 87: Naruto Gradually Perceives the Clues
"Naruto, what exactly happened with the Hyuga Clan?"
"Hinata was kidnapped by a mysterious Uchihaclansman!"
After spending three consecutive days in the shelter, Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke finally returned to Naruto's residence. Once they had a private space, they could discuss sensitive topics without worry.
"Why do things happening in Konoha always revolve around the Uchiha..." Uchiha Sasukefrowned. "And since when does the clan have so many Mangekyo Sharingan!"
The hatred in Uchiha Sasuke's heart remained as strong as ever, but he could now manage not to be blinded by it, and his analysis of many matters had become more objective.
"This will require slow investigation; many secrets are not things you and I can casually access right now."
Naruto knew many truths, but it was better to keep them from Uchiha Sasuke for now. If Uchiha Sasuke knew too much all at once, Naruto wasn't sure what kind of actions Uchiha Sasuke might take.
"Naruto, I think..."
"Wait a little longer. Konoha is currently on high alert. If we defect now, it will be very easy to suffer severe pursuit."
Although Naruto could use his other identity to assist Uchiha Sasuke in defecting from Konoha, doing so might accelerate Naruto's plans, but the consequences would still be very troublesome.
As for the source of the trouble, it was, of course, Uchiha Sasuke's brother, Uchiha Itachi!
Having experienced Uchiha Itachi's life, and having long since recognized the Uchiha's pathological love, if the Itachi from the original world learned that his younger brother had defected from Konohawith the help of an Uchiha clansman who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, given his mind, he would absolutely not let this matter go.
And don't forget, the Mangekyo Sharingan in Naruto's eyes had some connection to Uchiha Itachi.
The same patterns, the same colored Susanoo...
These two things alone were enough to drive Uchiha Itachi crazy. If he were to find out that his most beloved brother was in Naruto's hands, the thought of it alone was troublesome!
Although Naruto was no longer afraid of Uchiha Itachi in terms of strength and could even rival Nagato, who possessed the Rinnegan, this would undoubtedly disrupt Naruto's plans and cause his years of plotting to go down the drain.
A good man needs help; being able to fight a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand is far from enough. Naruto didn't want to become a public enemy yet. At the very least, before building his own power base, Naruto didn't want to be exposed.
After all, there is a difference between fighting alone and having a sphere of influence to rule as king. Just look at Orochimaru, who is living quite comfortably now.
Orochimaru doesn't need to worry about small matters or trivialities himself. He only needs to act during major events or situations that require his personal intervention. This way, not only can he save time and energy, but he can also better immerse himself in the goals he wants to pursue.
By comparison, while sweeping through a country alone is indeed imposing, the strengths and weaknesses after the fact are self-evident.
"Thanks to Teacher Liu Renju!"
Naruto felt very fortunate to have met Liu Renjuduring his first life experience game. Although a bit pedantic, the knowledge he taught Naruto was still incredibly useful to him today.
"And the parents from that time, it was truly the most unforgettable experience of my life..." Naruto's eyes showed sadness. After all, fifteen years of Family affection is not so easily erased, especially since Naruto was only three years old at the time.
"But you pampered Sun Yi, while I am Uzumaki Naruto... The parents of this world are my true home!"
After a brief moment of sadness, Narutoexchanged a few more words with Uchiha Sasuketo calm him down, then began to urge him to leave. After all, the subtle changes happening to his own body had not yet been investigated, which made Naruto very uneasy.
The body was his own; Naruto was somewhat worried that something had gone wrong with his Awakening of the Sage Body.
"Little Nine-Tails, what exactly happened to my body?"
After Uchiha Sasuke left, Naruto called out the Little Nine-Tails, which had transformed back into a Ninja tool pouch and attached itself to him, and asked the question he had been worrying about.
"I don't know when it started, but whenever I see Uchiha Sasuke, I always have an inexplicable sense of closeness, and what's more..." Naruto was searching for wording to describe his inner feelings toward the Uchiha, "This sense of closeness carries a sense of dependence, just like a younger brother treating his older brother... In any case, it's annoying!"
Naruto had long since discovered the signs of this feeling, and he had ruled out the possibility that it was an influence brought about by his third life experience game where he possessed Uchiha Itachi.
Even if there were an influence, it should be the older brother's doting on the younger brother, not the exact opposite feeling he was having now.
After noticing the abnormality, Naruto began to constantly probe this inexplicable feeling, and he realized that besides closeness and dependence, there was also an impulse to completely change Uchiha Sasuke.
"This... might be your illusion..." Little Nine-Tailsclearly knew something. "Perhaps it's a symptom that should appear before Awakening the Sage Body, and besides, I'm not you; you asking me won't make me know."
"Is that so?"
Naruto was half-believing of the Little Nine-Tails' explanation; after all, the Little Nine-Tails had a prior record, and at times it was not on the same page as Naruto.
"Then when I rescued Hinata a few days ago, why was the violent, negative emotion in my heart suddenly suppressed?" Naruto pointed to his eyes. "With these eyes, the negative emotions in my heart are always uncontrollable when I use them, but this time... without warning, and without my suppression, they suddenly dissipated..."
Naruto could be certain that when he controlled the Perfect Susanoo to slash that blade, although he held the intention of going easy, it was absolutely impossible for it to result in only a large number of low-level Ninja getting injured without a single death.
This was indeed too unreasonable!
"Is my subconscious playing tricks on me?" Narutocouldn't help but ask himself. "But my subconscious should be even more negative... After all, without external intervention, what I experienced since childhood would always make a person become cruel and sensitive!"
Naruto, who believed he hadn't received guidance or influence, was very confident. Ever since the first life experience game ended and he returned with an extra fifteen years of life experience, his thinking had basically solidified.
Coupled with the later two life experiences, Narutodared to assert that he was not a complete villain, but he was definitely not a good person either!
He certainly wouldn't be someone who would care about others' lives in the rage when Hyuga Hinatawas about to be branded with the Caged Bird Seal!
All of this was strange everywhere...
"Little Nine-Tails, tell me the factors for the Awakening of the Sage Body again. I think the problem must be there!"
Naruto turned his gaze to the Little Nine-Tails, who was looking around, hoping to temporarily turn invisible, and said the words the Little Nine-Tails least wanted to hear or answer today.