Chapter 98: Naruto's Identity Exposed (Three Updates!)
"Rustle, rustle, rustle..."
The sound of flipping through mission reports was clearly audible in the quiet Hokage Office, and as the flipping stopped abruptly, Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face looked up.
"Kakashi, your judgment..."
"Naruto is too perfect..." Kakashi Hatake's mouth, hidden beneath his mask, twitched slightly. His voice was calm and peaceful. "Whether it's Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, awareness, or combat intelligence... no one can find a single flaw in Naruto."
"This is a good thing." Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't feel anything was wrong. "Konoha has a successor for the future. This is what Minato's child should be like; after all, Minato was the same back then."
After Hiruzen Sarutobi mentioned the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, Kakashi Hatake was left speechless. Although he always felt that Naruto was a bit off, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't agree with his argument, so Kakashi Hatake couldn't insist on anything more.
"By the way, Kakashi, after you encountered 'Tian', is Uchiha Sasuke's mental state really that serious?"
"I saw Uchiha Sasuke's desire for power, and 'Tian's' strength and his Mangekyo Sharingan are undoubtedly fatally attractive to Uchiha Sasuke. Moreover, 'Tian's' invitation doesn't seem fake."
"Uchiha Sasuke's psychological issues are left to you, Kakashi." Hiruzen Sarutobi lit his old pipe. "Let Naruto be for now; after all, I started teaching him when he was very young."
Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi had said this much, Kakashi Hatake didn't dwell too much on the Naruto issue. However, thinking of Uchiha Sasuke, Kakashi Hatake's head inexplicably began to ache.
He had suffered a sudden, massive change in his Family at a young age, and the person who ostensibly slaughtered the clan was his own older brother. More importantly, there was the support of the Konoha higher-ups behind it.
Trying to untangle Uchiha Sasuke's emotional knot was as difficult as ascending to heaven, which left Kakashi Hatake feeling very unconfident.
"It seems there is only one way now..."
Walking out of the Hokage Building, Kakashi Hatake looked at his raised right hand and made a helpless decision in his heart, though whether this decision was good or bad, Kakashi Hatake did not know.
...
"You shouldn't have stopped me at that time!"
"That was definitely not the best time!"
"You are afraid of me!" Uchiha Sasuke argued with Naruto so fiercely for the first time. "Are you afraid that after that person calling himself 'Tian' teaches me, my strength will surpass yours!"
Naruto slapped his forehead speechlessly. Uchiha Sasuke's change in temperament was truly... impossible to complain about!
"I am the same person as 'Tian', okay..." Narutodidn't say this out loud and could only silently complain in his heart. "No matter how strong you become, in the end, you will still have to work for me."
"I didn't expect you to think of me as so despicable!" Naruto also feigned anger. After loudly reprimanding Uchiha Sasuke, his tone softened slightly. "Have you forgotten that your father's eyes are in Orochimaru's hands?!"
"..." Uchiha Sasuke was silent, but a moment later, he raised his eyes fiercely. "I know! I know all of this, but what can I do now?! Continue doing boring D-rank and C-rank missions, and then watch myself stand still!"
"You've been pretending since you were a child! Pretending to be harmless to humans and animals, pretending to be loved by everyone!" Uchiha Sasuke roared loudly. "You have your Hokage Grandpa teaching you with all his might, you have your father's subordinates helping you in secret! And what about me! Except for that house that still reeks of blood, I have nothing!"
"You are on good terms with the Hyuga Clan, you have a harmonious relationship with all your classmates, and no one can match your talent!" Uchiha Sasuke suddenly deflated and sat down on the chair powerlessly. "But that's what you deserve. I can't do anything other than envy you... but!"
Uchiha Sasuke slammed the armrest of the chair, and the wooden armrest snapped instantly. Uchiha Sasuke stood up instantly and kicked the chair into the corner.
"You shouldn't have stopped me from pursuing power! You shouldn't have stopped me from taking revenge! And you shouldn't use what you have to lecture me wantonly! I've had enough! I'll say it again! I! Uchiha Sasuke! Have had enough!"
Looking at the silent Naruto, Uchiha Sasukewalked to the door while roaring and reached for the doorknob. He seemed to feel some reluctance in his heart, but the anger and arrogance inside him made him unable to say sorry, nor would he explain anything to Naruto.
"We are friends, brothers, and even more so, rivals. I haven't forgotten, but I hope you don't forget either..." Uchiha Sasuke slammed the door and left, disappearing without a trace after leaving a slightly dull sentence. "You are the tool for me to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan. Don't be misled by the feelings in front of you; when the time comes, I will never hold back!"
"It's really a cliché plot, and it's really a cliché Uchiha!" Naruto was stunned for a long while before sullenly speaking his heart. "Love-hate relationships or whatever are not in my script. What I need is not this..."
...
"'Tian', the two subordinates you newly recruited have not been honest these past few days!"
Orochimaru, still fiddling with bottles and jars, didn't care at all about the Naruto Shadow Clonewho was acting intimately with Hyuga Hinata. "Do you want me to discipline them for you, and by the way, teach Hyuga Hinata?"
"I won't trouble you to discipline them." Naruto's Shadow Clone refused. "However, I still have to thank you for teaching Hyuga Hinata!"
"You know, what I want is not your thanks." Orochimaru turned around and stared directly into the eyes of the Naruto Shadow Clone. "Don't you think so, 'Tian'? Or... Uzumaki Naruto?!"
"But I would prefer you call me 'Tian'!"
Naruto had known from the beginning that as long as he brought Hyuga Hinata to Orochimaru, his identity could not be hidden. After all, a fool could not survive in the chaotic Ninja World until now, and live so comfortably at that.
"Naruto-kun's growth speed is a bit too surprising, and your Mangekyo Sharingan is my request this time!" After a few compliments, Orochimaru got straight to the point. "Possessing both the Uzumaki Bloodline and the Mangekyo Sharingan, this kind of experimental material really makes me wake up laughing in my dreams."
"You want to understand how different Bloodlines can be compatible with the Sharingan, right..." Naruto's Shadow Clone understood what Orochimaru meant. "I can tell you, and I can let you experiment on me, but obviously, your chips are not enough!"
"What a very unfortunate piece of news!" Orochimaru spread his hands. "Then if your true face were known to the entire Konoha... I think that would be very interesting!"
"Let's be frank, Orochimaru." Naruto didn't buy Orochimaru's act at all. "You should know that the current Konoha cannot cause me any substantial trouble."
"Although it will disrupt some of my plans, I don't think this is a price you, with your weakened Soul, can afford right now!" Naruto Shadow Clone's Mangekyo Sharingan opened instantly. "And if you have Konoha as your backer, it will not only be helpful to me, but also to you."
"I'm all ears!" Orochimaru's eyes narrowed, and after stepping back slightly, he stared intently at the Naruto Shadow Clone.
"I know you are researching Edo Tensei and have even improved this Jutsu." Naruto's Shadow Clonestepped forward aggressively. "I know you are difficult to deal with, but I am equally hard to handle, so... tell me your plan. I think we can join forces and get what we need!"
"It's a really annoying feeling!" Orochimarusuddenly laughed. "Just like the owner of those Rinnegan, except he is naked control, while you are a predatory collaboration!"
"Say whatever you want." Since his identity was already known, Naruto would no longer hide it. "Cooperation is a win-win, or it could be a winner-takes-all. As for who laughs last, that depends on the individual."