Konoha.
As the sun rose as usual on the second day, countless villagers stepped out of their hos, looking up in confusion at the many ninjas leaping across the rooftops.
It wasn't until a piece of explosive news spread that everyone learned what had happened the previous night.
The Hokage's advisors, together with the clans, had planned a coup to assassinate the Hokage, but the ANBU and countless Konoha ninjas discovered and stopped the upheaval in ti.
Imdiately after, the darkness of the top ranks of the previous three generations of Hokage was exposed, especially all the human experints conducted by the Root division, instantly causing a huge uproar throughout Konoha.
Human experints! Killing fellow village ninjas! Researching the bloodlines and secret techniques of their comrades!
All kinds of inhumane evidence were laid out, and the bla pointed directly to the incident when Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin, defected. There were many secrets behind it.
As well as the Uchiha massacre and the Nine-Tails incident.
The Konoha high-ranking official Danzo Shimura, possessed both the Sharingan and Wood Release! The manipulation of the Nine-Tails and the framing of the Uchiha clan seed to all be connected.
Especially with Uchiha Sasuke's return.
"This is the third-generation leadership killing the Fourth Hokage to regain power and then framing the Uchiha!"
"That's right! Who else but the third-generation leaders could have controlled the Nine-Tails? The Uchiha only have Sharingan, not Wood Release!"
"I can't believe Uchiha Sasuke was entrusted by the Hokage to act as a spy!"
"This is outrageous—even our Yamanaka clan was treated this way!"
"Look at this data, almost every secret technique in the village was researched! Root is terrifying!"
"Thank goodness the Hokage disbanded Root, otherwise the village would be too dark."
News of last night's events spread shock and disbelief throughout Konoha's streets and alleys. After all, the destruction of three clans was no small matter. Tsunade had no desire to cover up the truth to protect the reputation of the past Hokage.
All the dark evidence was announced publicly outside the Hokage's office.
This ti, the third Hokage's reputation couldn't be salvaged at all. Could you say you knew nothing? Impossible! Although he was already dead, the third Hokage never expected that even after death, he would find no peace.
Konoha lost the elite ninjas of three clans, but at the sa ti gained the return of a more powerful Mangekyo Uchiha.
anwhile, inside Konoha Hospital—
"Tsunade! About Naruto this ti!"
Jiraiya looked helplessly at Tsunade. Tsunade had just walked out of the operating room and, upon seeing Jiraiya, snorted coldly.
"Tsunade-sama!"
Kakashi Hatake, Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, Inoichi Yamanaka, Hiashi Hyuga, Might Guy, and other Konoha Jonin all looked tense.
Even Naruto sat on a chair, looking lost. When he saw Tsunade, there was hope and anxiety in his eyes.
He hoped his friends were all right, but was anxious about how to face them.
"They're all out of danger."
Seeing the concern from all the jonin—the parents of these tough kids—Tsunade said this with a slightly grim expression. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, thinking as long as no one died, it was fine.
But Tsunade's next words made everyone's expressions change dramatically.
"However, Hinata Hyuga's injuries are too severe. She probably won't be able to beco a ninja anymore in her life. And Lee's leg is even more seriously injured than during the Chunin Exams—it's crippled. Kiba's ninja dog is also ruined."
"What!"
Hiashi Hyuga and Might Guy both cried out in shock—one was a daughter, the other a student!
"Lee!"
Might Guy's face was full of tears as he spoke, trembling. But who could be blad? Uzumaki Naruto was the village's Jinchuriki, and it was not unusual for a Jinchuriki to lose control.
"Hinata!" Hiashi Hyuga showed anger mixed with complicated emotions.
He was angry his daughter lost her qualification as a ninja, but also felt a bit of relief—maybe now Hinata wouldn't have to bear the Caged Bird Seal, and her younger sister could inherit the main family.
Besides, Hinata's personality was not suited to be a ninja.
"How could this be!"
Kiba's eyes turned red when he heard that his ninja dog Akamaru was ruined. He grabbed Naruto by the collar and roared:
"Uzumaki Naruto! This is all your fault! You ruined Akamaru! I'll never forgive you for the rest of my life!"
"No! Kiba, listen to , I didn't an to, I..."
Naruto kept explaining fearfully and desperately, but this ti, the corridor was full of cold and indifferent faces from the other jonin.
Even Might Guy, usually so passionate, walked silently past Naruto.
"Everyone, please, let explain, I really..."
Naruto looked at the indifferent eyes in despair, scenes from his childhood flashing through his mind. He hadn't ant to.
"Tsunade!"
Jiraiya looked at Tsunade nervously, as if wanting to say sothing, but the impact was so great he felt choked up.
Naruto is a Konoha ninja, but aren't the others as well?
Tsunade snorted, glanced at Naruto, and finally walked away without looking back. But her last words brought a hint of comfort to Jiraiya.
"Sarutobi Konohamaru is labeled a missing-nin. Naruto lost control of the Nine-Tails last night. From today, Jiraiya, as his guardian, must conduct 24-hour surveillance, and prevent another loss of control!"
In the end, Tsunade couldn't bear to be too harsh, and Naruto was not severely punished.
After all, so many years of feelings can't just be cut off.
But at the sa ti, this incident also wore away whatever bonds Naruto had left with everyone.
"Naruto..."
Seeing Naruto's despair, Kakashi sighed sadly and shook his head:
"You went too far this ti."
"I—I didn't an to!"
Naruto said hoarsely, lost and devastated. He had almost killed so many of his friends and was now consud by guilt.
"Sas—"
A cold snort sounded. Naruto looked up, his eyes full of hope as he looked at Sasuke.
But this ti, Sasuke just glanced at Kakashi and left, saying:
"Kakashi-sensei, since everyone's out of danger, what they need now is peace. I'll be going."
Sasuke, cold and detached, walked right past Naruto. The bond between the two seed to have snapped.
No one could stand Naruto's impulsive, reckless, troublemaking personality—especially when he forced his ideas on others.
You don't have to accept others' actions, but you also shouldn't force others to do as you wish.
Unfortunately, Naruto's personality only beca more and more warped afterward.
"How did it end up like this? Sasuke, everyone... I..."
Naruto collapsed to the ground, his eyes empty and lifeless. It was as if all the recognition he had worked so hard for was leaving him.
But he hadn't done anything wrong!
"Damn! It's all because of the Nine-Tails! If it weren't for that power, how could I have hurt everyone?"
Naruto finally put all the bla on the Nine-Tails. If the Nine-Tails hadn't lost control, he wouldn't have hurt anyone. Then Konohamaru could have escaped, nobody would have been hurt, and everything would have been fine.
"Nine-Tails!"
At this mont, Naruto was filled with hatred for the beast sealed inside him. It was the Nine-Tails that caused all this tragedy.
"Naruto..."
When Naruto looked up and saw Kakashi staring at him, there was a desperate longing in his eyes, like the loneliness of his childhood.
But this ti, Kakashi just sighed and shook his head in disappointnt:
"Naruto, you're already a mature ninja. You shouldn't be making these mistakes. No one denies your ninja way, but you shouldn't force it on others, and you shouldn't act recklessly. If not for Tsunade-sama..."
Though he didn't finish, Kakashi's aning was clear.
If not for Tsunade's protection, Naruto would already be labeled a missing-nin.
"Kakashi-sensei, do you think I was wrong too?!"
Tears filled Naruto's eyes. Even Kakashi thought he was wrong.
"Ero-sennin, Kakashi-sensei, why does everyone in the sa village have to fight each other..."
Just as Naruto was about to keep explaining, Kakashi's words stopped him.
"All the clues uncovered from Root and the three clans point to the Nine-Tails incident. Your parents. Your misfortune began from that mont."
Kakashi's grave tone was almost spelling it out: Naruto, all your misfortune began with Root and the three clans.
"How could it be!"
Naruto stared in shock, but Kakashi just shook his head and walked slowly out of the hospital. With this incident over, maybe it was ti for him to see another world.
Jiraiya also shook his head. Naruto still didn't realize where he was wrong. He thought his only mistake was losing control of the Nine-Tails and hurting his friends.
Naruto stood there stunned, mories of his life flashing by—years of misfortune, the death of his parents.
However...
Just as Kakashi was about to leave the corridor, a determined voice sounded behind him, full of disbelief and deep disappointnt.
"No! I believe everyone is my comrade. I do not accept killing my comrades—I stake everything as Uzumaki Naruto on that!"
In the hospital corridor, Naruto stuck out his thumb with unusual determination, following Kakashi.
This scene!
As Kakashi looked back, the mont overlapped with the past.
Back then, Naruto was still a child, equally determined. But those words from back then made Kakashi feel Naruto's optimism.
But now, Naruto had done sothing like this, and was already grown up—he could even put aside the hatred for his parents. Kakashi felt a chill in his heart.
Is this optimism!? To so easily let go of your parent's death—for a ninja whose life is about fighting, this is a shocking worldview.
"Kakashi-sensei, Ero-sennin, I, Uzumaki Naruto, swear I will earn everyone's forgiveness."
Naruto's eyes were determined, but in Kakashi and Jiraiya's eyes, it was childish.
It was as if you broke your friend's toy, and now bravely stood up to apologize, expecting forgiveness.
But the problem is, you're not a child. What you broke wasn't a toy, but you hurt your comrades!
"Naruto-"
Kakashi paused, then left in silence. Jiraiya's voice grew heavy as he placed a big hand on Naruto's shoulder.
Naruto looked gratefully at Jiraiya, thinking he approved.
But Jiraiya's expression was grave as he said sternly:
"Naruto, I'm glad you can remain so optimistic and forgiving, and I understand you! After all, you've never known your parents; to you, those words are just words.
Your forgiveness—I won't judge. But your impulsive recklessness this ti didn't just break a friend's toy or ninja tool, it almost killed your comrades! So of them can't even be ninjas anymore because of you!"
At this point, Jiraiya shook his head and sighed:
"Naruto, right now, you aren't suited to be a qualified ninja."
But upon hearing this, Naruto firmly retorted. Deep down, even in his soul, he never believed he was wrong.
Everything he did was for everyone—how could he be wrong?
"Ero-sennin, I will earn everyone's forgiveness."
...
In the hospital.
With the morning sun shining in, Lee looked out the window with dull eyes, unable to feel his right leg at all—worse than during the Chunin Exams.
"Lee, I'm sorry, it was because the Nine-Tails lost control, I..."
Naruto knelt on the ground, begging for Lee's forgiveness.
But Neji, on the next bed, looked furious. What is this? An apology or emotional blackmail?
"Neji!"
Seeing Neji about to get angry, Lee forced a weak smile.
"Naruto, I'm fine. You didn't an it."
"Haha, thank you, Lee, I knew you would forgive ."
Naruto's excited laughter sounded extrely ironic to Lee and Neji.
Just because you didn't an it, Lee can never be a ninja again.
"Neji!"
Lee stopped Neji from getting angry again. Naruto seed oblivious to the change in their expressions, excitedly saying:
"I still need to apologize to Hinata and the others. Neji, your injuries are the lightest—you'll be out in a few days. Take care of Lee."
Naruto's hot-blooded impulsiveness seed to completely ignore Neji's injuries.
After Naruto left, Neji, furious, knocked the ran Naruto brought to the floor.
He started coughing violently, blood trickling from his mouth. His injuries were hardly light—he was just pretending to be strong.
His organs had all been damaged and he needed two months of rest.
"Lee, Naruto went too far! Doesn't he know how serious your injuries are? How can a single apology be enough!"
Neji said angrily, while Lee's eyes were dim, forcing out a weak smile.
"Neji, it's fine. After all, it was because Naruto asked Tsunade to co back that my leg was healed last ti. We can't put too much pressure on him."
Though Lee said it was fine, the sadness and gloom in his eyes made Neji fall silent.
Naruto's impulsive behavior this ti, if it made them angry, then today's apology had created a deep rift between them.
Was Naruto's irresponsible behavior that of a qualified comrade!?
PS: Damn, Naruto's Talk no Jutsu is not working?
Reviews
All reviews (0)