116-120

Chapter 116: The New Generation  

“So boring...”  

Naruto slumped over his desk, occasionally glancing at Iruka, who was lecturing passionately at the front, and then at the classmate seated to his right.  

From time to time, he looked out the window to his left.  

A perfect example of zoning out and being completely distracted.  

“Naruto, stop squirming around! Do you have fleas or something?”  

Sasuke, who shared the desk with Naruto and sat to his left, scolded him with irritation.  

“Naruto! Stand outside and listen to the lesson!”  

Without even looking back, Iruka continued writing furiously on the blackboard while speaking.  

He couldn’t be bothered to even glance at Naruto, whom he found insufferable. Paying him too much attention only made things worse.  

...  

Hearing Iruka’s command, Naruto pouted and stood up.  

Sasuke stifled a laugh; this guy ended up standing outside the classroom almost every day.  

Naruto glared at Sasuke, then reluctantly left the classroom, muttering to himself.  

"If only I could perfect the Shadow Clone technique, I’d stop coming here. This is so annoying—always making me stand outside. Why not just let me go home early? Don’t they realize standing burns more energy? When I become a ninja, I’ll definitely teach Iruka a lesson for picking on me all the time. It wasn’t even me talking earlier; it was Sasuke! All I did was look around a bit..."  

As Naruto stepped outside, Sasuke calmed his mind and focused on his books. He’d already learned everything Iruka was teaching and had started studying next year’s material.  

Thanks to being influenced by Hiruzen Sarutobi, Sasuke no longer solely focused on strength. He understood the importance of knowledge, especially when still weak—it helped distinguish right from wrong.  

...  

“Naruto...”  

Hinata, a short-haired girl with pale eyes, softly murmured Naruto’s name as he walked out. Her index fingers fidgeted nervously.  

Meanwhile, Ino Yamanaka and Sakura Haruno were staring dreamily at Sasuke’s focused profile, their eyes filled with longing.  

It was as if they were imagining a life where they married Sasuke, monopolizing him, and living happily ever after. They had probably even picked out baby names by now.  

Kiba Inuzuka, on the other hand, was busy playing with his little pup.  

Shino Aburame, wearing sunglasses, sat quietly in the corner while small bugs crawled over his head. To an uninformed observer, it might have looked like he hadn’t washed his hair in ages, attracting swarms of tiny insects.  

...  

Taking advantage of the noise Naruto made while leaving, Choji Akimichi swiftly reached into his bag of chips, grabbed a handful, and stuffed them into his mouth. He then covered his mouth with his chubby hand, waiting for the chips to soften from saliva before chewing.  

Eating one chip at a time didn’t deliver enough flavor, but thanks to Naruto’s distraction, he could now indulge himself.  

The rich taste and texture of the chips made him ecstatic. Chips were best enjoyed in big bites.  

Shikamaru propped his right elbow on the desk, resting his cheek on his hand, while spinning a pen with his left hand.  

“This is starting to feel personal,” Shikamaru muttered under his breath.  

Then he sighed, bored out of his mind.  

“Man, what a dull life... I wish I could just go out and play. What about you, Choji?”  

Caught in his thoughts, Shikamaru addressed Choji, who was sitting ahead of him.  

“Mm-hmm...”  

Choji turned around, his cheeks puffed out, nodding with a muffled response.  

“At this rate, your chips won’t last until the end of class,” Shikamaru commented, noticing the crumbs at the corners of Choji’s mouth.  

“Huh?”  

Choji froze for a moment before responding with a startled noise.  

Watching Choji pull out a scroll from his backpack, Shikamaru shook his head in silence. He’d never understand the world of a foodie.  

...  

“What’s the situation with the Hidden Mist Village?”  

In the Hokage’s office, Hiruzen Sarutobi, holding a document, asked a kneeling ninja in front of him without looking up.  

“They’re using the same old rhetoric, claiming that Konoha broke its promises of good faith. They accuse us of using the alliance as a pretext to wreak havoc and cause destruction in their village.”  

Hearing this, Hiruzen frowned slightly and put down the document.  

If it weren’t for his troublesome son frequently bringing it up, he might have forgotten about this entirely.  

When it came to negotiations, the more proactive side often ended up at a disadvantage.  

“By the way, has Kakashi returned yet?”  

Hiruzen suddenly remembered that he hadn’t seen Kakashi in quite some time—his unique mask and distinctive hairstyle had been absent lately.  

“Lord Kakashi hasn’t been heard from since he left the village on his last mission. It’s highly possible that he was killed...”  

The ninja from the Anbu responded somberly to Hiruzen’s inquiry.  

“Impossible. He’s the son of the White Fang of Konoha. He wouldn’t go down so easily. He’s probably run into some trouble. Those rogue ninjas wouldn’t have the power to defeat him. Send someone to investigate!”  

Hearing the words from the Anbu, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes gleamed sharply, exuding a powerful aura like that of a tiger awakening from slumber, pressing down on the Anbu before him. 

... 

“Yes!” 

“White Fang… I never expected things to end like this. I only wanted to… Sigh.” 

In the empty office, a wistful sigh escaped Hiruzen Sarutobi’s lips.  

Both Might Guy and Kurenai, two of his most capable jōnin, were trapped in the Hidden Mist Village, and Kakashi’s whereabouts were also unknown. For a moment, he felt as though he had no one competent to rely on.  

That was why such a sigh slipped out.  

The prestige of Konoha’s White Fang had once been unmatched. Yet, due to his own misjudgment, he had almost been forced to resign in disgrace.  

White Fang was originally the best candidate for the Fourth Hokage. However, at the time, Hiruzen’s personal bias had swayed him—he didn’t want the Hokage title to fall into the hands of an outsider.  

So he had subtly suggested something to Danzo, knowing full well Danzo’s relentless ambition to become Hokage.  

Exploiting Danzo’s mindset, he let them fight amongst themselves, intending to stay behind the scenes and clean up afterward.  

But he had underestimated Danzo’s ruthlessness. Before he could react, White Fang was utterly defeated by Danzo’s schemes.  

It turned out Danzo understood human nature—and White Fang’s weaknesses—far too well.  

Even Hiruzen had not foreseen that the heroic warrior and Hokage candidate would ultimately take his own life.  

Hiruzen had never truly wanted White Fang to die; he simply didn’t want him to become Hokage.  

But it was too late. Even Orochimaru, the other potential candidate, had long been under Danzo’s manipulation.  

Back then, Danzo had been closer to becoming Hokage than ever before…  

Thankfully, Minato had risen to the occasion. After some maneuvering and Hiruzen’s efforts to package him as the ideal candidate, Minato successfully shattered Danzo’s ambitions.  

Still, even in defeat, Danzo had found ways to disgust him.  

And not just a little—Danzo had left him deeply repulsed.  

His most promising apprentice, Orochimaru… Sigh.  

... 

“Go to the Hidden Mist Village again and find out what this new Mizukage wants. Are they planning for war?”  

Hiruzen fixed his gaze on the Anbu captain he had summoned and issued his command.  

“Yes, Lord Hokage.”  

To Hiruzen, the Hidden Mist Village’s unreasonable detention of Konoha’s people was an overt display of hostility—a ploy aimed at Konoha.  

Two groups had already been sent over the past six months, yet they had returned without even a trace of Might Guy or Kurenai. This left Hiruzen seething with frustration.  

The idea that Might Guy and Kurenai would cause trouble in the Hidden Mist Village was utterly ridiculous.  

It was nothing more than a baseless accusation made to justify their actions.  

... 

Chapter 117: Unexpected  

"Bring me the registered ninja records," Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered his subordinates from his office.  

The current number of visible ninjas was no longer sufficient.  

It wasn’t feasible to send his elite personal unit, the Anbu, for every task.  

"Understood!"  

The response came from the Intelligence Department official, who also handled human resources.  

Moments later, the department sprang into action.  

Dusty, long-forgotten files, along with some brand-new documents, were retrieved and sorted.  

A few hours later...  

There was a knock at the door.  

"Come in," said Sarutobi Hiruzen.  

Bored, he had been fiddling with his crystal ball. Upon hearing the noise outside, he stashed it into a drawer and wiped his mouth—despite there being nothing to clean. Then, he addressed the person outside.  

"Lord Hokage, here is the complete database of all Konoha ninjas," the official said softly, bowing respectfully.  

"All the records? How long have you been in management? With this much material, how long do you expect me to go through it all?"  

Hiruzen’s voice was low as he stared at the towering stack of documents in the official’s arms.  

Inwardly, he couldn’t help but wonder how someone so incompetent had made it into management.  

“Which clan’s connections got him this role?” he thought, chuckling to himself.  

In his mind, he was already planning to strip the man of his position, depending on whether he stepped out of the room with his left or right foot first.  

"Lord Hokage, I’ve already sorted the information you requested. The stack on top contains ninjas who have been Chūnin for years but possess substantial combat experience," the official explained hurriedly, sensing Hiruzen’s dissatisfaction.  

"As for Jōnin-level personnel, we don’t keep backup files here—those are stored with you. The middle stack consists of promising individuals, including members of other clans and those used by the Fourth Hokage. Finally, the bottom stack contains civilian ninjas and some rogue ninja records."  

Hearing this, the official inwardly tensed but seized the moment to prove his competence. This was his chance to gain recognition from the Hokage himself.  

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow at the explanation, then relaxed slightly.  

"Not bad," he thought. "Maybe I promoted him myself—he certainly understands what I want."  

"Bring it here. Good job; keep up the hard work," Hiruzen said, his previously cold expression replaced by a warm smile.  

"Yes, thank you for your encouragement, Lord Hokage," the official replied, bowing deeply as he placed the files on the desk.  

He couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. “The Hokage clearly values capable ninjas like me. He even spoke to me personally!”  

“If my supervisor hears about this, I’m sure to get a promotion and a raise,” he thought smugly.  

With the room quiet once more, Hiruzen stared at the stack of documents, feeling a bit overwhelmed.  

Smoking his pipe and surrounded by clouds of smoke, he picked up the top stack, approximately 50 pages thick, and set the rest aside.  

“I still need to have dinner with Sasuke. If I go through all this, I won’t finish until tomorrow,” he muttered.  

Using a Shadow Clone was out of the question—his stamina wasn’t what it used to be. Overworking himself would only drain his already limited energy.  

Besides, the truly outstanding ninjas had long been recruited into the Anbu.  

Finding anyone exceptional in this “scrap heap” was unlikely.  

He simply needed to repurpose a few for less critical roles. After all, even a piece of paper or an old pair of underwear had its uses.  

As he sifted through the records, some long-forgotten family names began to resurface in his memory.  

After several hours, Hiruzen had discarded 48 of the 50 files, leaving only two relatively promising ones.  

His initial enthusiasm had waned as he reviewed them.  

“These are the kind of people you deploy as cannon fodder or for logistics during wartime,” he muttered in disappointment.  

File 1: 

Ashura: Age 20, Chūnin.  

• D-rank missions: 200 completed  

• C-rank missions: 30 completed  

• B-rank missions: 5 completed  

• A-rank missions: 3 completed  

• S-rank missions: 0 

File 2: 

Aganos: Age 26, Chūnin.  

• D-rank missions: 300 completed  

• C-rank missions: 50 completed  

• B-rank missions: 12 completed  

• A-rank missions: 5 completed  

• S-rank missions: 0 

Hiruzen felt a glimmer of satisfaction.  

“Chūnin with experience in A-rank and B-rank missions—promising indeed,” he thought.  

What truly impressed him was Ashura’s simple and honest-looking face. “This one has potential. An honest worker is invaluable.”  

Aganos was wearing a mask, likely a fan of Kakashi, with messy white hair. However, his left eye didn’t bear the scar left by the Sharingan transplant like Kakashi’s.  

From both their appearances and their past missions, the two were brave ninjas who dared to face any challenge.  

...  

These two were none other than Itachi and Kakashi.  

Kakashi’s name was personally chosen by Itachi.  

As for the duo’s mission records, they were manipulated by Danzo.  

Why didn’t Danzo make their records look better or elevate their ranks? Well, there’s a lot of context to that.  

After all, the difficulty of S-rank missions is significant, and Hiruzen Sarutobi would definitely have a vivid impression of such missions.  

Even for A-rank missions, Hiruzen could vaguely recall some details.  

As for the rank of jōnin...  

Jōnin, being the face of Konoha, requires a thorough examination. Every individual’s record is handled with great care.  

As the former Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi would never overlook such details.  

As the saying goes, the devil is in the details...  

...  

Of course, this was because Danzo understood Hiruzen Sarutobi all too well—practically inside and out.  

Danzo knew exactly how to arrange things to Hiruzen’s satisfaction.  

Regarding the scar from Kakashi’s left eye transplant, Itachi convinced Kakashi to have it repaired, claiming it looked unsightly.  

Kakashi reluctantly agreed after some hesitation. He was initially dissatisfied with the idea, as the scar symbolized his memories of Rin and Obito. However, after a fierce glare from Itachi, Kakashi had no choice but to give in...  

“Go call someone from Human Resources—cough, I mean, the Intelligence Division.”  

After reviewing the duo’s profiles and appearances, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with satisfaction and gave instructions to the hidden Anbu outside his office.  

The person outside did not respond but instead melted into the shadows and left.  

...  

Hiruzen Sarutobi stacked the two files and pressed them down with his arm.  

He then glanced at a taller stack of documents nearby.  

Clearly, he was somewhat intrigued.  

However, after realizing these files concerned people previously used by the Fourth Hokage, Minato, his interest faded.  

“Let them live peaceful lives without being disturbed,” he thought.  

After all, he didn’t want to bring up unpleasant memories for them.  

He was a considerate man—a thoughtful Hokage.  

...  

“Itachi... cough, Ashura, why are we here?”  

Kakashi followed behind Itachi, walking toward the edge of Konoha near the sewage drain.  

The stench from the sewer made Kakashi wrinkle his nose as he asked in confusion.  

“Compared to clear rivers, there are usually more fish and shrimp here, Aganos,” Itachi replied calmly without looking back.  

“Fish and shrimp? Are they even edible here? If you want fish and shrimp, you could just go to the nearby river. The villagers often fish there, and I hear it’s quite abundant,” Kakashi said, puzzled.  

Itachi didn’t respond. Instead, he climbed up a nearby tree step by step.  

Although Kakashi didn’t know what Itachi was planning, he followed him up the tree, step by step.  

Keeping secrets and being mysterious—that’s the most annoying thing, Kakashi thought.  

...  

Chapter 118: The Thunder Rolls   

Itachi stood silently on a thick tree branch covered with lush leaves, saying no more. Kakashi, enduring the odd stench in the air, perched on a nearby branch and pulled a book from his pouch, pretending to read.   

However, the corner of his eye constantly flicked toward Itachi, as though afraid of revealing some secret.   

--- 

Some time passed.   

A blond-haired boy with a backpack slung over his shoulder and his hands behind his head leisurely strolled toward a murky drainage ditch.   

The tail following behind him stopped short upon catching the strange odor, refusing to go any closer. It remained hidden in the shadows, observing the situation from a distance.   

This unfortunate child had a habit of wandering into this area, leaving his unseen protectors helpless and exasperated.   

--- 

“Shh, finally here.”   

Naruto tossed his backpack by the base of a tree, rolled up his pant legs, and headed straight for the drainage ditch.   

What others saw as a disgusting place was, in his eyes, a treasure trove.   

For some reason, small fish and shrimp thrived in this otherwise abandoned area. Compared to the riverbanks, where competition was fierce, this neglected spot gave him the chance to gather plenty of protein-rich food.   

Protein was essential for him. Compared to instant noodles and other junk, these fish provided the energy he needed to refine chakra.   

Perched on the tree, Itachi quietly observed Naruto step into the shallow, mud-filled waters of the ditch.   

Kakashi, who had long since shifted his attention away from his book, alternated his gaze between Naruto and Itachi. He worried that Itachi might take an interest in the “thing” sealed within Naruto and attempt something harmful.   

--- 

“Got one!”   

Before long, Naruto’s hands and feet were covered in black mud as he held up a wriggling catfish, its body as thick as three fingers.   

He cheerfully tossed the catfish onto the bank and continued his search.   

Soon, three or four more catfish were flopping on the ground, their gills and mouths opening and closing as they struggled for air.   

“Hey, kid! Who said you could fish here?”   

Naruto, now satisfied and ready to pack up his catch, was startled by a gruff voice.   

A man wearing a conical hat and carrying fishing equipment approached slowly, step by step, toward Naruto.   

“Uhh, mister… is fishing here not allowed? I thought no one cared about this place,” Naruto asked timidly, sensing the hostility emanating from the man.   

--- 

“You brat, what do you know? These fish are mine! Got any money? Pay up, and I might sell them to you. If not, put them back. Otherwise, I’ll beat you to a pulp!”   

The strange man in the conical hat loomed closer, his presence exuding an oppressive force that made Naruto hesitate.   

He stared longingly at the fish on the ground, his mouth watering at the thought of the rare delicacy.   

But the man’s imposing demeanor left Naruto torn. On one side was the promise of a delicious meal; on the other, the threat of a beating.   

--- 

“A fox demon… You dare come here? Haha, the heavens have heard my prayers!”   

As the man drew closer and caught a better look at Naruto in the dim light, he ripped off his hat to reveal a scarred face twisted with rage. Throwing down his hat and fishing equipment, he lunged at Naruto, his expression as fierce as a demon’s, his eyes bloodshot and full of killing intent.   

Once, he had a happy family and a peaceful life.   

But ten years ago, the Nine-Tails’ attack destroyed everything.   

Of his family of six, only he survived—a decrepit old man struggling to get by.   

Discovering the abundance of fish in the drainage ditch had been a lifeline. Every evening, he would secretly catch a few to sell, carefully disguising the odor before taking them to market.   

But today, he saw the very cause of his misery. It was as if the heavens themselves had sent Naruto to him.   

--- 

Naruto had never encountered such raw hatred before. Usually, people only yelled insults or threw rotten eggs at him. But this man, with his bloodshot eyes and grotesque face twisted in fury, looked ready to kill.   

The sheer malice in his expression made Naruto’s legs tremble. He collapsed into the black mud, his body shaking with fear.   

“I’m sorry! I’ll give the fish back! Please don’t hurt me!”   

Naruto’s hands brushed against the wriggling fish by his side, jolting him into action. He quickly pleaded for mercy, realizing how dire the situation was.   

With no one around to help, if this man beat him up, the outcome could be disastrous. He might even be crippled for life, unable to pursue his dream of becoming a ninja.   

--- 

“Heh… Hurt you? No, I won’t just hurt you. I’ll kill you!”   

The old man’s voice was low and cold, his eyes wide as he stared unblinkingly at Naruto.   

“I’ll drink your blood, tear out your tendons, and devour your flesh. Then, I’ll use your skull to honor my poor grandchildren, you damned fox demon!”   

The man’s body trembled with a frenzied excitement, his twisted grin deepening. He relished the thought of revenge, his mind spiraling into madness as he imagined the scenes.   

--- 

“I’d love to torture you slowly, make you feel every bit of the pain I’ve endured these years. But the Hokage seems to favor you, doesn’t he? I’ll just have to burn your face into my memory for later enjoyment.”   

The man bent down, picking up a sharp stone. Without standing, he crawled toward Naruto, savoring the boy’s terrified expression.   

“Grandpa… You’ve got the wrong person! I’m not the fox demon! My name is Uzumaki Naruto! I’m not who you think I am!”   

Naruto’s voice trembled, desperation lacing his words as he tried to reason with the deranged old man.   

Naruto was startled by the old man’s bizarre behavior, his voice trembling as he tried to explain with a sobbing tone. 

... 

As the old man moved closer, Kakashi clenched his fists tightly, the veins on his arms bulging. 

Itachi’s figure appeared silently beside Kakashi. 

“Just watch for a bit longer. This might actually benefit him. After all, in the future ninja world, scenes like this will be commonplace...” Itachi whispered softly into Kakashi’s ear. 

Looking at the old man and the boy below, a glimmer of light flashed through Itachi’s eyes. 

How will this unfold? If those small fry in the distance notice what's happening here, should he eliminate them and let Naruto truly experience the twisted nature of this world? 

The primary reason, however, was to observe how the Nine-Tails would react to the situation as events unfolded. 

Even the Nine-Tails, sensing their presence, became unusually subdued. 

... 

“But...” Kakashi murmured quietly, his tone filled with confusion. 

Itachi, however, offered no explanation for Kakashi’s doubts. After all, Kakashi had never truly cared about Naruto before. He could have done so much but chose to do nothing. 

Now he was acting as if he deeply cared about Naruto. Was this an emotional reaction or a shred of remaining conscience? 

... 

“Ah!” 

Naruto cried out in pain, clutching his head tightly with both hands. 

“Something’s wrong!”  

Two slightly drowsy ninjas, startled by the young boy’s cry of agony, rushed toward the scene without delay. If something happened to Naruto, they wouldn’t be able to escape responsibility. 

They had been careless... 

As the two drew closer, just as they were about to see what was happening, two sharp gusts of wind sliced through the air. 

Two branches pierced through their throats... 

Their lifeless bodies, propelled by the force of the branches, were pinned harshly against the tree trunks behind them. 

Their eyes, wide open beneath their masks, were filled with confusion and disbelief. 

Their heads tilted to the side, crimson trickles slid down, dripping to the ground beneath their feet. 

... 

“Ah...”  

All these subtle disturbances were drowned out by Naruto’s second scream of pain. 

A sharp rock struck his forearm, fracturing it as he tried to block his head. Its jagged edge pierced deep into his arm—and into his spirit. 

The searing pain from his arm and the old man’s bloodthirsty expression made it clear to Naruto that this was no joke. 

“Am I going to die...?”  

Naruto’s arm limply rested over his head, his eyes losing their terror and gazing blankly at the sky. He murmured softly to himself. 

He had given up—given up resisting. 

The old man, sitting on his waist and pinning him down, had rendered him immobile. With his arms shattered, he was completely defenseless. 

“Yes, you’re going to die... Why don’t you scream? The more you scream, the more excited I get! Scream for me!”  

Hearing Naruto’s murmur, the old man became frenzied, trembling with exhilaration. His face flushed with a twisted excitement, the light in his eyes growing ever brighter. 

Gripping the sharp rock, his large, coarse hand grew even more forceful, veins bulging on the back of his hand as though experiencing a final surge of vitality. 

Roughly swiping aside Naruto’s limp, dangling arm that partially covered his face, the old man swung the jagged rock toward Naruto’s temple. 

Naruto’s pupils reflected the old man’s grotesque visage and the sharp rock inching ever closer... 

“Why... Why is life like this? Why do I have to go through all this? Why am I being treated this way?”  

Memories of his life flashed through Naruto’s mind. Ever since he could remember, he had been treated unfairly. Adults and children alike mocked and bullied him. 

Even the supposedly noble teachers who were meant to educate and nurture showed nothing but disdain. 

Even the revered Hokage was nothing but hypocritical. 

Naruto’s gaze grew dull, yet a storm of resentment, fury, despair, and hatred brewed deep within his heart. 

A faint golden light flickered in his mind, radiating a mysterious energy. 

And then, all at once, the light extinguished. 

“Why? Why? WHY?!” 

The once calm sky turned ominous, dark clouds rolling in as thunder suddenly roared. Trapped beneath the old man, Naruto’s feeble questioning transformed into a roar of rage and desperation.  

He stared up at the sky as though demanding answers from the heavens. Why was this happening to him? 

... 

Enraged, Naruto bellowed, venting the pent-up frustration and injustice in his heart. He was going to die. 

But even his final scream of defiance was drowned out by the crashing thunder above, as if the heavens themselves were mocking him. 

The furious roar of the thunder masked his voice, and Naruto’s childhood face twisted with fury, startling the old man. 

Yet the old man’s hand, gripping the rock, did not falter. Not even the thunder striking his own head could stop him. Today, he would exact his revenge on the demon fox! 

No one could stop him. 

Chapter 119: Hidden Power   

Just as Naruto was about to be shot in the head, his blood spilling on the scene—  

Itachi’s hand slowly withdrew from Kakashi’s shoulder. He knew that even if Naruto were to fall into a false death or even die, he would revive.   

But Kakashi did not know this.   

The chakra within Kakashi's body was on the verge of losing control.   

Itachi had no reason to play the villain and tarnish the image Kakashi held of him.   

However, just as Kakashi's figure was about to leave the tree trunk, the two froze in place.   

--- 

At some point, an immensely powerful chakra burst out from Naruto's body, enveloping him in a dark, red-tinged chakra.   

The leaves on the trees rustled violently; some dry, yellow leaves were instantly swept away, scattering like a whirlwind of falling leaves.   

Thankfully, the trees in Konoha seemed to defy nature, and many green leaves stubbornly clung to the branches, concealing both Itachi and Kakashi’s forms.   

At the moment Naruto's heart sank into despair, filled with grievance and fury, and tears welled up as he prepared to embrace death— a sigh echoed within him.   

The sound was faint yet resonated louder than thunder in the heavens.   

“This world has always been this way... kid.”   

As the voice spoke, a surge of powerful chakra filled Naruto’s entire body.   

The wounds on his arms and the broken bones healed instantly.   

Naruto felt his entire body brimming with strength.   

The Nine-Tails had finally taken action, unable to sit idly by. It had sensed something amiss, its keen perception of good and evil compelling it to intervene.   

--- 

Naruto’s right hand moved slightly, twisting just a little, his bones cracking audibly.   

Then, lazily, almost casually, he extended his hand toward the direction of the old man's attack.   

With an exaggerated gesture, he pressed his thumb against his middle finger and flicked lightly, as though intending to tap the old man's forehead as a joke.   

In the blink of an eye—   

The sharp stone, along with the old man's hand, disintegrated into a spray of blood mist.   

“So, this is how it always is, huh? This world always treats people like me, the unfortunate ones, like this?”   

Naruto casually waved his hand, sending the old man who had pinned him down flying like a cannonball into the sky.   

Mockery laced his voice as he responded to the mysterious voice echoing within him.   

Hovering momentarily in the air, Naruto slowly descended and stood firmly on the ground.   

His eyes had turned blood-red, his pupils nearly disappearing, and deep whisker-like marks etched his cheeks.   

“Get lost!”   

The blood-red eyes glared at the old man falling from the sky. Naruto could sense that the red energy was dissatisfied, trying to invade his mind and consume his will.   

With a furious shout, the hidden, formidable energy within his body erupted, instantly subduing the rebellious red chakra.   

“This energy…”   

The voice in his mind was low and dissipated into silence.   

The blood-red in his eyes gradually faded, returning to their clear, bright blue.   

--- 

“Did you even consider the consequences?”   

Naruto’s youthful figure radiated overwhelming energy.   

With a single hand, he gestured, and the old man froze midair, his throat gripped tightly by a massive, tangible red chakra hand.   

The old man’s face contorted in terror, his eyes wide with shock, the scars on his face turning crimson from blood flow, making him appear even more grotesque.   

He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. His face flushed deeply red.   

“Heh... heh... hahahahaha…”   

Naruto gazed at the old man’s pitiful state and the fear in his eyes.   

He laughed—a hearty, carefree laugh that echoed as he threw his head back.   

“So this is power… I like that look in your eyes. Are you afraid?”   

Moments later, Naruto’s laughter ceased, and a faint, almost unhealthy smile spread across his face.   

--- 

“This feeling… Damn it! Naruto!”   

While enjoying dinner with Sasuke, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly sensed the sinister, malevolent energy and stood up in alarm.   

After briefly sensing the direction, his face turned pale with fear.   

Other strong individuals around the village also turned their gazes in the same direction—toward Naruto.   

Without hesitation, they rushed toward the source of the energy.   

“Gather the troops and evacuate the civilians to the shelter!”   

Hiruzen cast an apologetic glance at Sasuke before shouting his command and bolting toward the door.   

In an instant, a heavy gloom settled over Konoha.   

Everything felt eerily reminiscent of that night ten years ago.   

Ten years, as though fate itself had brought it full circle…   

But this time, Konoha had no Fourth Hokage to turn the tide.   

--- 

Just as the villagers assumed Naruto had lost control, that the Nine-Tails had broken free, and another night of bloodshed was imminent—   

The malevolent energy vanished as quickly as it had appeared, like an illusion.   

“Heh…”   

Noticing the approaching crowd, Naruto lightly clenched his fist.   

The old man suspended midair was instantly reduced to a cloud of blood mist.   

The spray of blood splattered across Naruto’s face, and tiny shards of bone scattered on the ground. Naruto’s expression grew complicated. 

---  

A complex mix of emotions—enjoyment, satisfaction, and intrigue—flickered in his eyes.   

Then, he walked to a nearby tree, picked up his backpack, gave it a good shake, and brushed off the fallen leaves.   

Hopping and skipping away, he moved toward the distance like a cheerful schoolboy heading home after class.   

--- 

Up in the tree, Itachi and Kakashi exchanged confused glances. They couldn’t make sense of Naruto’s actions.   

As they silently observed, Naruto suddenly noticed the person hanging in the tree and the pool of blood on the ground. He froze in shock.   

There’s someone here...   

That meant everything he had just done had been witnessed.   

He had planned to keep his disguise intact and carry out his revenge carefully, but now that plan was completely disrupted. His face darkened.   

“Who’s there? Come out!”   

Naruto shouted loudly.   

If today’s actions were exposed, it would mean a major flaw in his plans, something he absolutely couldn’t allow.   

Standing under the tree, he was like a startled bird, tense and on edge. But the hidden observer didn’t reveal themselves, and Naruto couldn’t sense their presence at all, filling him with frustration.   

As he noticed people from the village beginning to gather and head in this direction, Naruto could only cast one last furious glare around him before leaving in anger.   

Still, as his mind cleared from the haze of power, he realized a bitter truth—he was far too weak.   

If the hidden observer hadn’t shown themselves, it likely meant they weren’t an enemy—or perhaps they were waiting for the right moment to confront him with their demands.   

Coming to this conclusion, Naruto resumed his carefree hopping and skipping, his figure moving like a phantom, vanishing swiftly into the distance.   

Meanwhile, the Nine-Tails within him fell into deep thought.   

The fox had sensed a familiar power and presence within Naruto—weak and fragmented, but undeniably real.   

This power...   

An image surfaced in its mind—a man who had once grabbed it with a single wooden arm and declared that it was too strong to control.   

Even more overwhelming was the sight of that man’s wooden arms, stretching endlessly behind him, blotting out the sky...   

--- 

“We should leave as well.”   

Itachi spoke softly to Kakashi, whose gaze was filled with complexity. Itachi, however, remained outwardly composed.   

But within him, things were far from calm.   

The Hashirama cells he had long suppressed began to stir restlessly, like a bullied child suddenly spotting their protector, eager to run and tell.   

“What’s wrong?”   

Noticing Itachi’s unusual expression, Kakashi snapped out of his thoughts and asked.   

“Nothing. Let’s hurry and leave,” Itachi replied, hiding the fluctuation in his aura.   

“Alright…”   

Seeing Itachi’s demeanor, Kakashi didn’t press further.   

The two figures turned into blurs and disappeared from the scene.   

All that remained was a mess of black sludge, three dried-out catfish corpses, pools of blood, shattered bones, various footprints of different sizes, and, in the distance, two bodies hanging from a tree.   

--- 

Chapter 120: The Troubled Child  

“Did you already know that the old man and Naruto would meet? Is that why you were waiting there in advance?” 

In the room, Kakashi looked at Itachi, who was sipping tea, and asked in confusion.  

"???"  

Hearing Kakashi's question, Itachi looked utterly perplexed.  

He didn’t know anything about it. All he knew was that Naruto liked going to that area, so he decided to stake it out.  

“That was unexpected. I just wanted to observe the boy. I didn’t expect the story to unfold in such an interesting way.”  

After some thought, Itachi decided not to overplay his hand. He didn’t want Kakashi to think of him as overly godlike—it might not be a good thing.  

In truth, he found Naruto’s current state quite intriguing.  

That fleeting power—was it the Asura chakra hidden within Naruto?  

But why hadn’t the will of Asura manifested?  

Wasn’t it often said that Naruto’s lack of corruption was largely thanks to Asura’s will guiding him?  

Naruto’s behavior today was strange—his smile and expression carried an odd hint of malice.  

In any case, Naruto had thoroughly piqued Itachi’s interest.  

It wasn’t just about activating the Hashirama cells in his body. Naruto’s future now seemed genuinely fascinating.  

The current Naruto must be significantly different from the Naruto in the original story.  

And if the fate of the main character had shifted, how should he position himself in this altered narrative?  

The situation seemed increasingly ominous.  

This direction reeked of an impending collapse of the story’s structure...  

However, Itachi had no intention of stopping it. Instead, he found himself eager to see how it would all unfold.  

After all, back then, all he wanted was to save Tenzo, but he almost lost his life in the process—utterly absurd.  

When the first group of Konoha personnel arrived, they exchanged puzzled looks.  

“Lord Hokage...”  

Before long, Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived, clad in battle attire and wielding his golden staff. He rushed to the scene.  

As he arrived, he noticed a few Hyūga clan members using their Byakugan to search the area. He felt slightly reassured.  

“What’s the situation?”  

Clearing his thoughts, Hiruzen asked gravely.  

“Lord Hokage, there’s no one here. All that’s left are two sets of footprints—one large, one small—a few fish from the sewer, a puddle of blood and shattered bones, and two dead ANBU members. We found no trace of the Nine-Tails... or its jinchūriki.”  

Hyūga Hiashi bowed slightly as he reported, his tone respectful.  

Just as Hiruzen was about to order a thorough search of the forest, an ANBU operative approached him and whispered something in his ear.  

Hiruzen’s eyes flashed with surprise but quickly regained their composure.  

“Dismissed. Go back and eat your meals.”  

After a moment of silence, Hiruzen’s golden staff vanished as he waved his hand, signaling everyone to return.  

Seeing Hiruzen’s demeanor, the crowd felt reassured.  

The Nine-Tails hadn’t appeared, and they feared the jinchūriki might have been abducted.  

But judging by Hiruzen’s reaction, it didn’t seem like anything major had happened; otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent them back so quickly.  

The shinobi, along with the clan leaders and their members, gradually dispersed in an orderly manner.  

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.  

Back at home, Naruto took a shower.  

He scrubbed off the black grime from his hands and legs.  

“Grrr... grrr...”  

After putting on his patched-up, worn clothes, his stomach growled loudly, reminding him it was time to eat.  

Naruto sighed.  

He walked to the fridge, took out a carton of expired milk, and instinctively brought it to his mouth for a big gulp.  

But just as he was about to drink it, he stopped.  

He hurled the expired milk to the floor with force. The carton burst open, spilling its contents everywhere.  

Without hesitation, he walked out of the house.  

He’d had enough of expired milk.  

Today’s events had completely overturned his resolve and way of thinking.  

No way he was going to live like a pathetic loser anymore. He was going to eat fresh instant ramen—and add an egg! He’d drink milk that wasn’t expired!  

“Boss, give me two bags of chips and a carton of milk.”  

Naruto muttered as he walked through the street, lost in thought.  

Soon, he arrived at a shop near his house.  

“Alright, customer—wait, no.”  

The shopkeeper, initially rising to greet Naruto, stopped mid-sentence when he saw who it was. His demeanor turned icy and hateful.  

“Oh?”  

Naruto heard the shopkeeper's words and saw his cold, expressionless face. A faint, sinister smile appeared on Naruto’s lips, his tone filled with eerie malice.  

...  

The shopkeeper felt a chill run down his spine at Naruto's demeanor, and his mood soured to the extreme.  

Hiruzen Sarutobi had initially sensed the Nine-Tails’ chakra and immediately ordered the Anbu to evacuate the villagers to the shelters. However, the chakra vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leading him to cancel the order.  

As long as Naruto didn’t fully lose control or have the Nine-Tails extracted, the threat he posed to the village remained minimal and within manageable limits.  

“Such bad luck! You filthy brat, I’m not selling you anything. Now get lost!”  

The shopkeeper grabbed a broom beside him and, glaring at the young boy, hurled insults at him while preparing to chase him out of the store.  

He had already rehearsed excuses in his mind if the Hokage questioned him later.  

...  

Naruto, initially planning to bide his time and burn the shop down later that night without jeopardizing his broader plans, froze at the word "filthy brat."  

His blood pressure spiked instantly.  

If he had to endure even this, what was the point of becoming stronger? Why not just wait to die or become a farmer?  

Naruto’s face turned icy cold as he moved slightly forward.  

In the next moment, his small figure appeared in front of the shopkeeper, delivering a straight punch to the man’s gut. The shopkeeper flew backward, crashing into the shelves behind him, scattering goods all over the floor.  

“Murder! The demon fox is killing—”  

The shopkeeper, clutching his stomach in pain, tried to scream, but halfway through his cry, a small hand clamped over his mouth.  

“Don’t want your life anymore? Or maybe your family’s lives don’t matter to you?”  

Naruto’s small hand, surprisingly strong, gripped the shopkeeper’s face, causing him immense pain and muffling his voice into pig-like squeals.  

Noticing the man’s cries had ceased and seeing the terror in his eyes, Naruto chuckled mockingly.  

“Oh, you can be scared, huh? Didn’t you enjoy beating me with that broom before? You seemed to have a lot of fun then, didn’t you?”  

Naruto sneered at the shopkeeper’s terrified expression, then bent down to grab a bag of chips, tore it open, and ate a handful.  

“Ugh! Disgusting. I thought this stuff was supposed to be good. All that time I spent longing for it was wasted.”  

Naruto spat the chips onto the shopkeeper, his face filled with disgust.  

Then, he grabbed two cups of instant ramen and a carton of milk, casually walking toward the exit.  

...  

Just as the shopkeeper breathed a sigh of relief, the young boy stopped at the door.  

“If you dare tell anyone about this… heh heh heh…”  

A bizarre laugh escaped Naruto’s lips.  

To the shopkeeper, the ten-year-old’s small figure now loomed large and terrifying, like that of a demon.  

The boy's aura of suppressed rage and mercilessness was more intimidating than that of some ninjas.  

...  

Walking home with his stolen goods, Naruto pierced the milk carton with a straw and took a deep sip.  

“So, even these despicable people can feel fear. And their fearful faces—aren’t they even uglier than their usual ones?”  

Naruto murmured to himself as he walked away step by step.  

From afar, his small figure seemed to carry a tinge of loneliness.  

...