206-210

Chapter 206: Returning to the Village 

Sakura was absolutely furious, but she was completely surrounded by a dense crowd of people and weapons. She could only rage uselessly, there was nothing she could do. 

She admitted she was wrong again; she shouldn't have charged straight into the crowd like that idiot Naruto. 

She often called Naruto an idiot when he ran headfirst into a crowd. 

And now she was doing the same foolish thing... 

It's always easier said than done, right? 

... 

"Ah..." 

Just as Sakura was struggling to defend herself, trying only to protect herself, a series of pained cries suddenly erupted from the field. 

Sasuke's eyes showed a hint of surprise. 

That "rasengan" Naruto used earlier... it was quite powerful... 

There was a spiraling mark on the swordsman's stomach, a massive hole... 

His body flew backward, still spinning, knocking into many people... 

... 

"Combined Jutsu: Wind Flame Exploding Wilderness!" 

Both Sasuke clones finished their hand signs. 

Then, they breathed out scorching flames that made the air incredibly hot, showcasing immense power. 

But it didn't end there. 

The flames burned among the swordsmen. 

One of Sasuke's clones unleashed a Wind Release jutsu. 

This immediately fueled the fire. 

The already powerful flames, which seemed capable of burning anything, had their temperature almost doubled by the Wind Release. Combined with the Wind Release's ability to spread, the battlefield instantly became like a giant furnace. 

It was like a crematorium... 

... 

How could ordinary people resist ninja techniques? Seeing this situation, they all rushed towards the nearby river. 

What was the point of fighting? They weren't even on the same level as these opponents. 

At this point, they just wanted to escape. After all, you only live once, and if you die, that's it. 

They wouldn't get to spend all the ill-gotten gains they'd made over the years. 

What was worse? 

What if some old guy showed up... 

Slept with his... 

Wife. 

Beat up his... 

Son. 

Spent his... 

Savings. 

That would simply be a life tragedy. 

... 

"There are only two of them... kill them!" 

Gatoh panicked when he saw how ferocious the two were. 

However, seeing the fear on the faces of the swordsmen around him, Gatoh had a bad feeling. 

He quickly continued, "Kill one ninja, and I'll reward you with ten million! You'll never earn that much money in your entire lives, seize this opportunity!" 

Gatoh wanted to ignite their greed to counteract their fear. 

Sure enough, as soon as Gatoh finished speaking, a group of people, their eyes gleaming, rushed forward like wild beasts. 

They were already desperate individuals. 

Their opponents seemed small, and with so many of them, they felt they could take a chance. 

They subconsciously forgot the power the two had just displayed... 

... 

Meanwhile, Gatoh noticed no one was paying attention to him and quietly slipped away to the back of the crowd... 

Escaping was paramount. 

He still had so much money he hadn't spent; he couldn't die here. 

He still had so many beautiful concubines he hadn't had the pleasure of being with. 

If he died, who knew which scumbag would benefit. 

... 

Sakura, who had been the center of attention, became completely ignored. 

The swordsmen who had surrounded her all went to gang up on Sasuke and Naruto instead... 

Sakura, feeling exhausted, plopped down on the ground. 

She was panting heavily. 

She stared blankly at the ferocious Sasuke and Naruto, once again realizing the gap between them. 

She had initially thought that Sasuke and Naruto weren't that impressive, just that their opponents were too weak. 

But when she entered the fray, she found she couldn't even handle one, while Sasuke and Naruto moved through the crowd as if taking a stroll. 

They effortlessly defeated large groups of people... 

... 

"Sasuke-sama is amazing! I want to have your babies!" 

"Naruto-sama is so handsome! Ahhh!" 

Two young women, seeing the two unleash their power, couldn't hold back. 

They turned into cheerleaders, shouting loudly. 

"Get lost! You should look in a mirror! Sasuke-sama is mine!" 

A plump, 1.4-meter-tall woman with a freckled face kicked the other woman aside, roaring fiercely and showing how tough she was. 

... 

A few minutes later. 

The ground was littered with groaning people. 

Naruto and Sasuke dispelled their Shadow Clones. 

"That was awesome." 

Naruto shook his arms, a look of satisfaction on his face. 

Sasuke wiped a few drops of sweat from his forehead, his breathing completely steady, as if he had just warmed up. 

However, his physique was slightly weaker than Naruto's. 

Sasuke just rolled his eyes at Naruto's remark, not bothering to respond... 

... 

The villagers gathered around the two, asking how they were doing. 

Sakura, meanwhile, sat ignored in the distance. 

Only a few people, who thought they looked pretty good themselves, walked towards Sakura. 

Even if Sakura wasn't very strong, she was still a ninja, and she was pretty, and from Konoha. 

If they could impress her, they might have a bright future. 

These were a few ambitious young people... 

... 

A day later, Naruto, Sasuke, and the others left. 

A group of villagers spontaneously came to see them off. 

They even suggested that once the bridge was built, it should be named the Naruto-Sasuke Bridge. 

Gatoh had been dealt with, so their biggest threat was gone, and they could finally build the bridge with peace of mind. 

And when they left, no one said anything against it. 

However, Sakura felt annoyed hearing the villagers flatter Sasuke and Naruto. 

If it weren't for her, why would Sasuke and Naruto care about ordinary people like them? 

What was with them crossing the river and burning the bridge now, completely ignoring her? 

And the Naruto-Sasuke Bridge didn't even involve her! In her opinion, it should be called the Sakura-Sasuke Bridge; it sounded better and had more meaning... 

... 

No one paid attention to the twitching Sakura. 

The few self-proclaimed ambitious young men, their faces bruised, dared not approach... 

"Sakura, carry Sensei's body. We're getting ready to head back." 

Sasuke, hands in his pockets, waved slightly, signaling that they were leaving. 

Midway, he realized he'd forgotten something and spoke to Sakura... 

Naruto, meanwhile, had zoned out again, contemplating life. 

"Oh..." 

Sakura didn't dare disobey Sasuke's words. 

She could only respond glumly. 

Sasuke really had no sense of romance. 

Naruto is truly deeply hidden; even I was almost fooled by him... 

... 

"Sasuke, this mission..." 

Back home, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at a table, smoking. 

Before Sasuke could even speak, Hiruzen's brow furrowed as he began. 

"Grandpa, it's all my fault. When we found out there were ninjas and the mission rank was wrong, we should have decisively abandoned it; we shouldn't have..." 

Sasuke hung his head. 

He had already reported the mission results when he handed it in. 

"Silly child, that's just how life is. The reason that rule exists is to protect you, but you continued the mission out of kindness. However, your jonin sensei, knowing the consequences, still agreed to your suggestion, which was truly uncalled for..." 

Hiruzen Sarutobi's rough, wrinkled hand gently patted Sasuke's head, speaking softly. 

His cloudy eyes reflected Sasuke's remorseful expression. 

Yes, in his opinion, for a battle-hardened ANBU captain to make such a mistake was inexcusable. 

After all, if he agreed to continue the mission because of Sasuke's suggestion, wouldn't that put Sasuke in danger? 

Chapter 207: The Lost Sasuke 

"Hey, old man, can I get a seafood ramen, but just the seafood, no noodles!" Naruto cheerfully walked into the ramen shop, a mischievous grin plastered on his face. 

"..." 

"Naruto, you're back! That's really brave of you, going on dangerous missions for the village at such a young age." The man sitting at the table to the front left, slurping his noodles, paused. His ramen-filled chopsticks stopped halfway to his mouth. 

... 

"Old man, just kidding... I want a large bowl!" Naruto rubbed the back of his head, eyes squinted, not bothering to acknowledge the old man's words. Most people in the village used to shun him, but the old man at Ichiraku Ramen never gave him those weird looks. He even used to give him free ramen coupons. Naruto was truly grateful. 

... 

"Check, please! And get that kid ten bowls of ramen, it's on me." Itachi stood up and walked to the counter to pay, pointing at Naruto, indicating he'd treat him. Naruto froze, completely bewildered. But secretly, he swallowed a gulp of saliva. This smells way too good... 

"Um, thank you, big brother... My name is Naruto Uzumaki, and you, big brother..." Seeing Itachi turn around, revealing a young, unfamiliar face, Naruto awkwardly tried to strike up a conversation. He was so used to people leaving as soon as he showed up, as if he were the plague. For someone to suddenly be nice to him felt weird, and he was a little flustered. He didn't know how to react... 

... 

"You'll know in time. Eat up and grow strong." Itachi looked at Naruto, a soft smile gracing his lips. He then patted Naruto's shoulder and walked past him. 

"What a nice guy..." Naruto muttered to himself, finally snapping out of his daze as he watched Itachi leave. But then he turned to Teuchi with an excited look. "Old man, did that big brother really pay?" Naruto's eyes were wide with anticipation, continuously swallowing saliva. He usually only did D-rank missions, which didn't pay much, and Ichiraku Ramen wasn't cheap. This time, their long C-rank mission ended in a mess, and they didn't even get paid. It would have been too embarrassing to ask. 

... 

He wouldn't have even come if he hadn't been craving ramen for so long. 

"Yep, what do you want to eat, Naruto? I'll make it for you right now." Seeing Naruto's eyes light up, Teuchi said with certainty, just as happy as Naruto. 

"Old man, I'm gonna dig in!" Naruto's cheerful voice echoed through Ichiraku Ramen. Honestly, only in the ramen shop, when there were no strangers around, could Naruto truly be himself. Other times, he was always putting on an act, and it was suffocating. He was tired... 

The Chunin Exam News 

"What? The Chunin Exams? That's great!" At Hiruzen Sarutobi's house, Hiruzen noticed Sasuke's mood wasn't the best, so he told him that the Chunin Exams were coming up in a few days and asked if he wanted to participate. Sasuke's spirits immediately lifted. Being a Genin was just too awful. 

"Oh, and you should ask Naruto and Sakura if they want to participate too. If they do, fill out the forms. If they don't, you can't participate either, okay?" Hiruzen said with a smile, looking at the excited Sasuke. 

... 

Knock, knock, knock... Knock, knock! 

"Naruto, Naruto, open the door!" Sasuke's excited shouts and increasingly loud knocking came from outside Naruto's house. 

"Naruto's not back yet..." Hearing Sasuke's knocking and excited voice, a well-fed Naruto lay on his bed. He figured Sasuke was here to either study jutsu scrolls or challenge him to a fight. All he wanted to do right now was sleep. 

"Huh?" Sasuke was bewildered by Naruto's muffled voice. 

... 

Hearing the footsteps outside fade away, Naruto let out a sigh of relief. "Good thing I'm a genius... Little Sasuke..." 

"Naruto! You bastard!" Just as Naruto was about to finish his smug sentence, the window slid open, revealing Sasuke's head! 

"Ah? Sasuke, no!" Seeing Sasuke pounce like a hungry wolf, Naruto, unwilling to move, widened his eyes and quickly scrambled away. If Sasuke landed on him, his round belly would surely explode! 

... 

"You're the only one home, and you said Naruto wasn't here... Can you try a little harder when you're fooling someone? Do I look that stupid?" Sasuke sat at the table, chugging a glass of water, and said impatiently to Naruto, who was grudgingly walking towards him. 

"Aren't you?" Naruto's eyes darted around, and he blurted out instinctively. But then he froze. "Crap, why did I say that..." 

"Naruto!" Sasuke's usually calm eyebrows shot up, radiating killing intent. This Naruto is going too far! 

... 

"Uh, I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about that idiot Sakura." Naruto avoided Sasuke's gaze, feeling flustered. 

"..." 

"I'm here for something important. The Chunin Exams are about to start. Good thing we came back early, or we wouldn't have this chance..." Sasuke suppressed the anger building inside him and spoke. 

"Huh? The Chunin Exams? Is it one of those events where a lot of people watch?" Naruto asked, his expression serious. 

"Yeah, exactly! Isn't this what we've always dreamed of? We can bring honor to the village." 

And make Grandpa proud... Sasuke didn't say the last part out loud, just thought it to himself. 

"Then I'm not going..." Hearing Sasuke's words, Naruto looked like a wilted eggplant. The little bit of energy he had gathered instantly drained away. 

... 

"What?!" Sasuke was dumbfounded by Naruto's reply. He thought Naruto would agree without hesitation. He never expected Naruto to refuse so readily. This completely caught him off guard. He figured he'd have to persuade Sakura, but he didn't expect to get stuck with Naruto. This Chunin Exam was crucial for him. Because... Itachi had told him he would be nearby, just not able to meet him. He wanted to prove himself in the Chunin Exams. He wanted Itachi to see that he had grown up. That he could share burdens now. He wasn't a child who needed to be looked after anymore. And he wanted to quickly master the ninjutsu Itachi taught him, to show Itachi that his talent wasn't bad either. 

... 

But his imagination was so beautiful, and now his teammate was totally ruining the pace. This left him feeling helpless and a little lost. 

"Sasuke, what's wrong?" Naruto, who had been spacing out, noticed Sasuke hadn't spoken. He looked at Sasuke and saw the light in his eyes seemed to have faded. He was a bit confused. 

... 

"The Chunin Exams require a whole squad to participate..." Hearing Naruto's question, Sasuke, unwilling to force Naruto, said glumly. "This Chunin Exam is really important to me, very, very important..." 

Chapter 208: The Hidden Truth 

"Sorry, I don't want to hog the spotlight... My situation isn't really great right now..." Naruto said with an apologetic look, seeing how down Sasuke was. If his eyes weren't changing into three different patterns outside, he'd totally be down to mess around. But his current strength didn't allow him to be reckless. So, even if it hurt Sasuke's feelings, he couldn't agree. 

... 

"Then can't you just participate? Just help me get in the door?" Sasuke asked, still unwilling to give up, trying a different approach. 

"I'll think about it..." Naruto looked at Sasuke and quietly replied, neither agreeing nor refusing. 

... 

He was already being watched, and if he pulled off any flashy moves in public to attract attention, it would be like an old man tying a noose around his own neck—just asking for trouble. 

"Alright, I'll come find you tomorrow..." Sasuke placed a form on the table and dejectedly walked away. Watching Sasuke open the door and leave, Naruto felt terrible. 

"Damn it..." Naruto cursed under his breath, not knowing who he was cursing at. He glanced at the form on the table, instinctively picking it up, ready to tear it. But then he remembered Sasuke's disappointed expression and just couldn't bring himself to do it. 

... 

Naruto lay on his bed, looking at the moonlight through the window, his brows furrowed. He was tired, but he couldn't fall asleep. He was wide awake. Time passed quickly. Soon it was the middle of the night. 

"Naruto... Still awake?" Just as Naruto was feeling completely stifled, wanting to sleep but too restless to do so, a voice suddenly echoed through the room. Naruto instinctively shivered. When did... when did someone get next to him? This is insane. 

... 

"Naruto, what are you thinking about? Can you tell me?" The unfamiliar man sat at Naruto's table. What was eerie was that the people watching outside seemed to notice nothing. They were just wasting their time. 

"It's alright, I've taken care of the people outside. They can't see or hear anything." Itachi said softly, seeing Naruto with his head down, about to speak. 

... 

"You're... you're the big brother who bought me ramen tonight?" Naruto felt a wave of relief when he heard Itachi. He sat up, then got out of bed. As he was about to say something, his eyes widened. But his guard eased quite a bit. After all, this big brother seemed nice and even bought him ramen. Ten bowls, too; he knew how much Naruto could eat. 

... 

"My name is Itachi Uchiha. The white-haired guy who taught you ninjutsu last time is my friend. So, you can tell me anything you want, including any questions you have." Itachi set down his cup and looked at Naruto calmly. The light in his eyes made Naruto unable to meet his gaze directly. 

"White hair? You mean the white-haired big brother? What's his name?" Naruto's heart skipped a beat when he heard Itachi's words, then filled with joy. Has the time finally come? 

... 

Itachi raised an eyebrow slightly at Naruto's words. "His name is Kakashi Hatake, and he was your father's student. Naruto, don't ask about trivial things like that anymore." Itachi saw that Naruto still wanted to ask about Kakashi and quickly spoke up. He originally wanted to give him five questions, but after thinking about it, three would be better. Otherwise, he'd probably keep asking about Kakashi. 

... 

"My father's student?" Naruto was instantly captivated by Itachi's answer. He couldn't think of any other questions, his mind freezing. News about his father... 

"Can... can you tell me about my father?" Naruto asked timidly and cautiously. At this moment, Naruto was a bit like Sasuke—cautious, almost humble. He was still just a child and couldn't keep his composure. 

... 

"That's a long story..." "Your father's name was Minato Namikaze. And I'll tell you your mother's name too: your mother was Kushina Uzumaki. Your father was the Fourth Hokage. On the day you were born, he sacrificed himself to protect the village... And your mother did too... She was a woman from the Uzumaki clan who married your father. But the Uzumaki clan was wiped out, so your father, to make up for your mother's regret and fearing his enemies would seek revenge, gave you, his first son, the Uzumaki surname." Itachi spoke concisely, the information he imparted wasn't long, but it was incredibly significant. It hit Naruto like a lightning bolt, his eyes glazed over, thunder ringing in his ears, making him unable to hear anything else. 

... 

Itachi said nothing more, waiting for Naruto to absorb the information. He gazed out at the small window to the world outside, his eyes a little distant. The lights in the houses were starting to go out, and besides the clear moonlight, there was only darkness, a blackness that seemed to swallow everything. 

"Then why did they treat me like that?" Finally, Naruto mumbled, coming back to his senses. Naruto, who thought he had found his place, couldn't feel happy at all. Wait... Itachi Uchiha... Isn't that Sasuke's brother? 

... 

Naruto's slow thoughts gradually cleared. That person who annihilated his entire clan, except for Sasuke... Could there be another hidden truth, just like with himself? He's the son of the Hokage, yet he suffered all this. Naruto thought a lot in that moment, his ears perked up, ready to hear Itachi's answer. 

"Are you sure you want to use one of your chances to ask that question?" Itachi was silent for a moment, then asked curiously, skillfully twirling the teacup in his fingers. 

... 

"I... I..." Hearing Itachi's words, Naruto hesitated. His eyes gradually became unfocused, and his mind grew clouded again. But after a moment, his eyes hardened. After learning that his father died protecting Konoha, Naruto's desire for revenge against the village wavered. After all, this was the village his father loved and sacrificed his life for... 

... 

In the world, there are nine Tailed Beasts. Tailed Beasts are enormous and possess immense power and destructive capabilities. Among them, the Nine-Tails is the strongest. This is why they call you "demon fox"; they're referring to it. And after years of research, people gradually discovered how to use the Tailed Beasts' power: through Jinchuriki. Your mother was a Jinchuriki... And on the day you were born, the seal loosened and was broken by someone. A Jinchuriki who loses their Tailed Beast will die... The Nine-Tails was unleashed. Although your father was powerful, he couldn't directly confront a Tailed Beast, and it appeared within the village. So your father moved the Tailed Beast outside the village, and ultimately sacrificed himself, sealing half of the Tailed Beast inside you and half within himself. And you are the new Jinchuriki. The Jinchuriki that every village envies. 

... 

Itachi spoke concisely, explaining the main events. He looked at Naruto's complex expression, showing no emotion himself. 

Chapter 209: Night Talk 

--- 

"Big Brother Itachi, you still haven't told me why..." 

Seeing Itachi fall silent, Naruto pressed him, confused. 

Itachi had only told him what happened, not the fundamental reason why his life had been so difficult. 

Didn't his father, who sacrificed himself to protect the village, deserve their respect? 

Didn't his mother, the Leaf Village's Jinchuriki who provided a powerful deterrent to other villages, deserve respect? 

Why were they treating him like this...? 

Naruto's heart was a mix of complicated emotions. 

--- 

"When your parents died, the outside world's battles had just ended, and the Leaf Village had very little strength left." 

"And your father was a war hero, your mother a Jinchuriki who could pose a massive threat to other villages. The Leaf Village instantly lost its pillar and its morale plummeted. On top of that, the Leaf Village had just been devastated by the Nine-Tails, with heavy casualties. Basically, internal and external troubles all piled up." 

Itachi spoke calmly. 

He wasn't adding his own thoughts, just stating the facts. 

--- 

"So? My parents were that important? What about the other people in the Leaf Village? Why did they leave my mother to lie alone on the birthing bed, waiting for death to come? Why did they let my father face that rampaging, weaponized beast of war by himself? Wasn't the Leaf Village supposedly the greatest village? Where were they? My father was the Hokage, the leader of the village, and no one came to help him?" 

After hearing Itachi, Naruto fell silent. 

But moments later, he was questioning furiously, his face full of anger. 

Childish words, yet they struck deep into the heart... 

"Yes, why indeed? I don't know the specifics myself." 

Itachi shook his head, not answering. 

--- 

"And then what, Big Brother Itachi? Why was I targeted? Why did I live like a dog? Wasn't I the village's secret weapon, the Jinchuriki? At the very least, my father sacrificed himself to protect the village, and my mother gave everything for the Leaf. They shouldn't have treated me like this, right?" 

Naruto still had a childlike innocence about him, but his questions were sharp and to the point. 

"At that time, some of the village's higher-ups wanted to keep you hidden and train you to be an assassin. Hiruzen Sarutobi refused their interference, which is why... 

"Alright, I can't make this up anymore. That's roughly how it went. I can't understand what Hiruzen Sarutobi was thinking either." 

Itachi stopped mid-sentence, going on strike right there. 

What was there to say? He didn't even understand it himself. 

If it was about protecting the Jinchuriki, Naruto's identity wasn't even hidden. 

He was called "demon fox" every day... 

Was he just hiding Naruto's status as the 'prince' or something...? 

--- 

Naruto looked out the window, vaguely sensing the positions of a few 'flies' in the shadows... 

"You can ask one more question. Oh, and this is your father's signature jutsu." 

Itachi looked at the distracted Naruto, who had become eerily calm, and placed a scroll on the table. 

"I..." 

Naruto's heart was filled with intense frustration. 

If this was the truth, he'd rather not have known. 

Because knowing the truth made him hate the village even more. He was almost at his breaking point, wanting to go on a rampage. 

Such a trash village deserved to be purged. 

He had wondered why the Hokage was so kind to him, the only one who seemed to look at him and treat him well. 

It turned out it was all just to make his love-starved self feel warmth, to make him rely on him, obey him, and become his secret weapon. 

The questions that had puzzled Naruto suddenly became clear. 

He now felt like punching Hiruzen Sarutobi's "chrysanthemum-like" face. 

--- 

"Big Brother Itachi, my last question is, what's your stance? If I want to get revenge on the village, will you stop me?" 

Naruto calmed down, remembering he had one question left. 

The Itachi before him seemed incredibly powerful, making him curious about Itachi's position. 

If Itachi's clan massacre was as ridiculous as his father's story and was for the village's sake, when would he ever go? 

Besides, Itachi and the 'White Haired Guy'... Kakashi-nii-san were together, and they were people who had looked out for him. 

If they were going to protect the village, and his father had sacrificed himself for the village, how could he possibly act? 

"Naruto, we're neutral, you know. We won't help anyone. But Kakashi and I will protect you..." 

Itachi heard Naruto's question. 

He answered softly, his voice growing fainter, his body shimmering and gradually fading away... 

--- 

Watching the fading figure before him, Naruto felt as if he were waking from a dream. 

Everything felt like a dream. 

The truth was even more brutal... 

He wasn't just an ordinary person... 

And his identity was even more extraordinary... 

Yet... even a small villager, a villager his father had risked his life to protect, dared to bully him... 

Images flashed through Naruto's mind. 

Almost every memory involved someone pointing at him... 

"Demon Fox, why aren't you dead yet? Want something to eat? Go eat dirt! I won't take your money, I won't do business with you, Demon Fox, die..." 

"I will make you all truly feel pain, experience suffering, make you live in agony, or die in agony..." 

Naruto murmured. 

His eyes were cold and sharp. 

Killing intent surged around him... 

--- 

Naruto turned on the room light, picked up the form Sasuke had left on the table, and began to fill it out. 

Since you're all so afraid of me, then I'll let you experience true fear. 

The Chunin Exams! 

He was definitely participating! 

Just as Naruto was stewing in his anger... 

He was furious, but he realized... he couldn't write the words... 

He could do anything when he was angry, but homework? No way. The words he didn't know how to write, he genuinely didn't know... 

"Damn it!" 

--- 

"Naruto, what have you decided?" 

Early the next morning, Sasuke arrived at Naruto's house. 

Seeing Naruto, who also had dark circles under his eyes, he asked cautiously. 

But Naruto kept his head down, not speaking, making Sasuke's heart clench as if someone had grabbed it tight. 

"How about I give you one more day to think about it?" 

Sasuke watched Naruto's silence. 

Feeling a bit disappointed, he suggested again. 

--- 

"No need, I've already written my name... you can fill out the rest for me." 

Hearing Sasuke, Naruto snapped out of his daze. 

He still couldn't recall those few words he didn't know how to write, so he said, giving up helplessly. 

"Really?" 

Sasuke's eyes lit up at Naruto's words. 

He asked, surprised. 

"Yeah, really. You should go back. I thought about it all night, struggled all night, and I just don't want to disappoint you..." 

Naruto made up a story, looking at the surprised Sasuke. 

He really envied Sasuke for having such an amazing older brother. 

Now he had to rely on Sasuke, to build a good relationship with him and Itachi. 

It could even save his life in a pinch... 

Naruto thought to himself. 

--- 

"That's great! You really are my best friend, you didn't disappoint me!" 

Hearing Naruto's words, Sasuke was moved and gave Naruto a big bear hug. 

Naruto forced a bitter smile. 

But his mood had significantly improved. 

He decided: when he defects, he'd drag Sasuke, his 'big leg,' along with him... 

Not just a 'big leg,' but also his best friend, someone who could heal his scarred heart... 

Chapter 210: Kakashi Awakens, A Parting of Ways? 

"Chunin Exams? Is it dangerous?" After Naruto agreed, Sasuke rushed to Sakura's house. Sakura's parents, seeing how handsome and dashing Sasuke was, became even more enthusiastic when they learned he was Sakura's classmate. 

"Sakura hasn't caused you any trouble, has she? We've spoiled her rotten at home, so please take good care of her..." 

... 

"Uh... Mr. and Mrs., Sakura's quite skilled, she's a good teammate." Sasuke felt he might have been a bit too hasty. What was he thinking, making a move like that at Sakura's house? Fortunately, Sakura's parents chatted for a bit and then left, giving them some space. And Sakura, after understanding Sasuke's intention, spoke with some unease. After all, her skills were what they were; it was already good enough that she graduated. Participating in the Chunin Exams? That was pure nonsense. 

... 

"Here's a form, fill it out and give it to me later. I'll protect you. When it comes to the stages that require individual skill, just forfeit. Consider it experience for the future." Seeing Sakura procrastinating, Sasuke stood up, placed a form on the table, and then left. Talking with Sakura was just on a completely different wavelength. If it weren't for the fact that they needed to participate together, he wouldn't bother with Sakura. For now, he could only use Sakura as a tool, hoping she wouldn't hinder his performance. Sasuke thought to himself. 

... 

"Sasuke..." Sakura was speechless, watching Sasuke walk away. Still, she was happy that Sasuke had come to invite her. It meant Sasuke still considered her a teammate and didn't really mean what he said in the Land of Waves about kicking her off the team. Sakura fell into a reverie. Her eyes gazed out the window, looking incredibly serene. The morning light streamed through the window, as if coating her in gold. 

... 

The streets were bustling with people, and the shouts from the breakfast shops on both sides made Sasuke realize he was a bit hungry. He had run to Naruto's place without breakfast, and then immediately rushed to Sakura's. Was it easy for him? 

"Owner, two big meat buns, a cup of soy milk, a fried dough stick, and a small bowl of wontons..." Sasuke carefully folded the form and placed it close to his chest. He sat contentedly in the breakfast shop. Ignoring the strange glances from strangers around him, Sasuke had a satisfied smile on his face. Life was truly beautiful. He felt so good that he felt like he could eat even more. 

--- 

## Naruto's New Challenge 

"What the heck? Isn't this the scroll I saw at Sasuke's place last time? Was Sasuke meeting with Big Brother Itachi then? No wonder he was spaced out for so long after he went out..." Naruto opened the scroll and looked at the densely packed words, feeling helpless. He couldn't even read all the characters; this was pure nonsense. Didn't Big Brother Itachi know he was a dropout of the literacy program at school? 

"Ugh, I should have studied harder back then. What do I do now? If I ask Sasuke, will he make fun of me?" Naruto thought to himself. No matter what, this was his father's ultimate jutsu, and he had to learn it. Even if it meant losing a little face, what did it matter? Plus, this jutsu was amazing; he could go anywhere he wanted, it was practically an essential tool for arson and murder. 

... 

Last time, when he saw this scroll at Sasuke's place, he was tempted, but it seemed too complicated, and he couldn't read the characters. He convinced himself that this jutsu might not be suitable for him, making all sorts of excuses to give up. He had already sensed the difficulty of this ninjutsu. But now, this was his connection to his father. How could such excuses still convince him? Even if he didn't have a talent for this jutsu, he would try until he hit a wall. 

--- 

## Kakashi's Awakening 

"Awake?" At Orochimaru's hideout, Orochimaru, who was researching intelligence, sensed someone had arrived. He saw that it was Kakashi and greeted him. 

"Lord Orochimaru, thank you so much... I feel great, and these new eyes are excellent too." Kakashi said, watching Orochimaru who briefly looked up at him and then buried his head back in his research. 

"They're just a pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan. As long as you're happy with them. If you want a Mangekyo Sharingan, it'll take a lot of time, and I don't have time right now." Orochimaru said without looking up, hearing Kakashi's words. To him, what was a pair of Three-Tomoe? 

... 

"By the way, Lord Orochimaru, did we make it back successfully? Did Obito... come back with us?" Kakashi noticed the atmosphere had become a little quiet. He parted his lips and finally couldn't help but ask. He vaguely remembered Itachi trying to attack Obito, but he stopped him, and then he fainted. He slept incredibly peacefully. After all these years, he finally got enough sleep this time. He didn't even wake up when Orochimaru transplanted his eyes. 

... 

"We're back, but over a year has passed in the ninja world. If that masked man is Obito, he came back with us. Also, you've been unconscious for several days, so go get something to eat. I have something to tell you later; Itachi is planning new actions." Orochimaru thought for a moment and then blurted out all of Kakashi's questions, along with what he wanted to say, answering and expressing all his thoughts at once. 

"Okay..." Kakashi was speechless as he listened to Orochimaru, but he still replied softly. He was indeed a bit hungry, very, very hungry. He felt like he could eat an entire ox right now. Although Orochimaru had injected him with enough nutrients for his body's needs, his brain kept reminding him that he hadn't eaten in a long time and kept sending him hunger signals. 

... 

"Itachi's next action is Konoha... He intends to completely destroy Konoha..." When Kakashi had almost finished eating, Orochimaru suddenly spoke. His golden vertical pupils stared deeply at Kakashi. The intelligence he was holding was placed on the table. 

"What?!" Hearing Orochimaru's words, Kakashi instantly stood up, his gaze sharp. He didn't care about being an enemy of Konoha, but if Itachi was going to destroy Konoha, he wouldn't agree. Even if it was Itachi... Orochimaru looked at Kakashi's eyes, which were sparkling with intensity, and was speechless for a moment. 

"You can leave. It seems we're not on the same side... You know Itachi's decisions, no one can convince him to change." Orochimaru stared at Kakashi calmly. After a long pause, Orochimaru turned his head away and said pointedly and decisively. 

... 

"No, I don't believe Itachi would attack Konoha! He did what he did for the sake of the village and Sasuke, didn't he? How long has it been? How could he possibly..." Kakashi spoke to himself as if he hadn't heard Orochimaru's words. His eyes were filled with confusion. But then his eyes fixed firmly on Orochimaru. 

"Did something happen to Sasuke?" Kakashi asked, puzzled. Besides that answer, he couldn't think of any other reason why Itachi would make such a decision. 

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