Departure

Chapter 87 Departure

Whoosh!Whoosh!Whoosh!

Several whooshing sounds rang out.

Might Guy carried Gaara, who had been knocked unconscious and bound like a dumpling, and landed below the stands.

Following closely behind were Sasuke, Sakura, and the others, who arrived panting heavily.

"This is----"

When Kai looked up and saw the scene on the high platform, even someone as battle-hardened as him couldn't help but be shocked.

Every Konoha ninja who arrived later seemed to be frozen in place, as if they had been subjected to a freezing spell.

It was a scene straight out of hell.

On the high platform, corpses lay strewn everywhere.

Those once elegantly dressed, high-ranking nobles are now piled up on the stands like dead pigs, their blood forming streams that drip and trickle down the steps.

And at the very top of that pool of blood.

Danzo's mangled corpse lay at Naruto's feet like a dead dog.

The sunlight was blinding.

Naruto paid no attention to the horrified looks around him.

He was holding a glass bottle, admiring the scarlet Sharingan inside with great interest.

He is laughing.

But that gentle smile, set against the backdrop of corpses scattered on the ground, sent chills down one's spine.

Just then.

The purple barrier that had been enveloping the roof suddenly flickered twice without warning and then disappeared.

"The barrier has disappeared?"

The secret agents gasped in surprise.

The moment the barrier disappeared, an aged figure leaped down from the roof like an angry lion, landing heavily on the stands opposite Naruto.

It was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He gripped his Ruyi Jingu Bang, his chest heaving violently, clearly indicating that his battle with Orochimaru had exhausted him greatly.

But at this moment, he no longer cared about Orochimaru.

His gaze swept across the entire scene, looking at the dead dignitaries from various countries, before finally fixing on Danzo, who was standing at Naruto's feet.

"Naruto————"

The third generation's voice trembled.

It was extreme anger, as well as extreme heartache and disappointment.

"Do you—do you know what you've done?"

"Executing the daimyo's relatives—killing Konoha's high-ranking officials—are you trying to bring Konoha to its utter destruction?!"

Faced with the Hokage's roar and the gradually closing in, murderous Anbu.

Naruto didn't panic at all.

He slowly put the Sharingan in his hand into his spatial pocket, casually smoothing the golden bangs that were partially obscuring his vision behind his head, revealing his terrifyingly calm azure eyes.

"Utter ruin?"

Naruto chuckled softly and said slowly, "Don't you know what Danzo did?"

"Betraying compatriots, assassinating allies, conducting human experiments, colluding with foreign enemies, and enriching oneself —"

"Enough!" the Third Hokage interrupted sharply.

"He is the root of Konoha—if the root rots, the tree will die."

Naruto remained unmoved by the Third Hokage's words, then pointed to the pile of noble corpses, his eyes filled with contempt: "As for these people? Human trafficking, embezzlement of disaster relief funds, and taking lives for their own amusement—"

"Tell me, Hokage-sama, what value do these pieces of trash have in their existence?"

As he spoke, Naruto's hand trembled, and he casually tossed the list and evidence he had prepared earlier at the Third Hokage's feet.

These are irrefutable pieces of evidence, written in black and white, gathered by Orochimaru's intelligence network.

Ordinary people are almost as transparent as blank sheets of paper when facing ninjas.

Even among these high-ranking officials and nobles, very few could afford to employ high-ranking ninjas for long-term protection.

The Third Hokage looked at the evidence on the ground and at Danzo's unseeing face.

He opened his mouth, but found himself speechless.

He didn't need to look at those things; as the Hokage, he naturally knew what kind of people these were.

In a world lacking oversight, the evil deeds committed by those in power are likely far greater than the evidence presented by Naruto.

However, under the existing order and rules, ninjas must depend on them for survival.

These rules are a long-standing and stable foundation.

Naruto, however, has just shattered this set of rules with his own hands.

"Naruto! Even if Danzo is guilty, it's not your place to execute him on your own!"

A third-generation direct subordinate ANBU squad leader couldn't help but roar, drawing his long sword from his back: "Surrender immediately! Otherwise—"

"Otherwise what?"

Naruto tilted his head slightly, his eyes cold, looking at him as if he were looking at a dead man.

"Move him! Take him down!"

At his command, the surrounding Konoha ninja were about to swarm forward.

Might Guy also put down Gaara, his expression serious as he prepared to attack.

At this critical moment.

"Hehehe—everyone, have you forgotten about me?"

A cold, hoarse voice, which sent chills down the spines of all the Konoha ninja present, suddenly rang out.

Everyone looked up abruptly.

Orochimaru, who had been locked in a life-or-death struggle with the Third Hokage, was leisurely leaping down from the rooftop.

He landed nimbly behind Naruto.

The entire room fell silent.

Orochimaru — standing behind Naruto?

Moreover, it was the kind of submissive, guarding posture—

The implications are self-evident.

That's why they find it hard to accept.

How could one of the legendary Sannin of Konoha stoop to serve under a mere Genin?

brush!brush!brush!

Immediately afterwards, several whooshing sounds rang out.

The Sound Four quickly landed around Naruto and assumed defensive stances.

From the shadows, Kabuto Yakushi emerged, pushing up his glasses, a slight smile playing on his lips.

He was still covered in fresh blood, but he didn't care.

He walked straight to Naruto's side and bowed respectfully: "Lord Naruto, all the data has been retrieved."

Other scattered remnants of the Sound Ninja also gathered here, surrounding Naruto like stars around the moon.

"Orochimaru—Shikabuto—you—"

The Third Hokage looked at them and felt a chill run down his spine.

This is not defection at all.

It was a long-planned coup d'état targeting Konoha and the old order of the entire ninja world!

The boy in front of me is no longer the mischievous prankster he used to be.

At some point, he had become a terrifying strategist with his own subordinates and even the ability to control the Three Ninjas.

Moreover, they were clearly on his opposite side.

"Stop them!"

The Third Hokage roared, his voice tinged with an unprecedented fear: "They must not be let out of the village! Otherwise, the ninja world will never know peace!"

"Oh? Do we still need to fight?"

Seeing the Konoha army about to surround him, Naruto did not adopt a fighting stance.

He simply sighed helplessly and pulled a specially made signal flare from his pocket.

"I originally wanted to be more presentable."

"But since you're so enthusiastic—I'll give you a parting gift."

He pointed to the Hokage Rock, a wonder that symbolizes the highest glory and history of Konoha.

"The idols of the old era are too much of an eyesore."

"Disappear."

call out!

He gently raised his hand, and a beam of fire shot into the sky, exploding into a dazzling firework.

This is sending a signal to the shadow clone.

next second.

Boom! ...

The earth-shattering explosion resounded for the second time today in Konoha.

A terrifying roar instantly drowned out all the noise, and the earth began to tremble once more.

Amidst the horrified gazes of everyone, the rock wall carved with the portraits of the Hokage of past generations, symbolizing the spirit of Konoha, collapsed amidst the continuous, towering flames.

First generation, second generation, third generation, fourth generation —

Four enormous rocks shattered with a deafening roar, and the dust they kicked up obscured half the village.

"This—this—"

The Third Hokage's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to his knees.

This is undoubtedly the most thorough trampling of Konoha's dignity.

"Don't despair yet, Grandpa."

Naruto turned around, looked at the stunned crowd, and gave them a kind smile.

"This is just a small warning."

"I won't tell you that I've also planted explosive tags in ninja schools, hospitals, shelters, and shopping districts."

"Now—is there anyone still trying to stop me?"

Dead silence.

Absolute silence.

Matt Kai's fist clenched and unclenched repeatedly.

The secret agents froze in place, too afraid to move.

Nobody dared to gamble.

"A wise choice."

Naruto nodded in satisfaction.

He turned around, and Orochimaru and Kabuto immediately followed.

And so, under the watchful eyes of all the elite ninjas of Konoha, the group swaggered toward the exit of the examination hall.

It was as if we were in an empty place.

"Wait—wait! Naruto!"

A cry choked with sobs broke the somewhat quiet atmosphere.

Sakura rushed into the crowd, spread her arms, and stood in front of Naruto without regard for anything else.

She trembled all over, her eyes filled with incomprehensible sorrow: "Why—why did it have to come to this?"

"Aren't we on the same team? Can't we just talk things out?"

"Please, don't go—if you admit your mistake now, everyone will forgive you—"

Naruto stopped in his tracks.

Looking at the tearful, innocent, and somewhat pitiful girl in front of me.

"There's no going back, Sakura."

"The corruption in this village has penetrated to the bone marrow. I don't want to play house with you anymore."

,"but----"

Naruto suddenly stretched out his hand, still wet with blood, and hovered it in mid-air, his tone full of seduction: "Although I don't need this village, I still acknowledge your talent."

"Come with me, Sakura."

"Abandon this decaying village, abandon your identity as a Konoha ninja, abandon your family and friends."

"If you're willing to give me everything, I can take you to a new world."

"Are you willing?"

Sakura was stunned.

In an instant, her heart pounded violently.

She instinctively raised her hand, wanting to touch that palm.

But----

She raised her hand slightly, then froze.

My parents' faces flashed through my mind, as did my peaceful life and everything from the past—

Fear, hesitation, and moral constraints —

Everything, like invisible chains, bound her hands.

one second.

two seconds.

three seconds.

"----really."

Naruto chuckled, withdrew his hand without hesitation, and brushed past Sakura without giving her another glance.

"You've already given the answer."

Naruto didn't look at her again, but instead called out softly to the ruins not far away: "Karin."

"exist!"

The red-haired girl, who had been hiding in the shadows and secretly following, responded instinctively when she heard the call.

Naruto looked at her and calmly asked, "Are you willing to follow me?"

"Even if I will become an enemy of the entire ninja world and live under the arrest of the wanted, my life will be uncertain from day to day."

3

Without any thought.

There wasn't even a fraction of a second of hesitation.

Karin suddenly rushed forward and, in full view of everyone, grabbed Naruto's clothes tightly.

"I do!"

"As long as I can follow Naruto-kun—even if it's hell, I'm willing."

For her, this world was already hell.

Naruto was her only salvation.

Naruto's lips curled into a slight smile: "See? This is why I no longer need my old comrades."

Sakura collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

This scene completely ignited Sasuke's anger.

The intense feeling of being abandoned and betrayed, along with—a faint sense of jealousy welling up from the bottom of his heart—completely destroyed his reason.

In Sasuke's eyes, he had finally found a rival, a partner, and a mentor named Jiraiya—

Everything was getting better, and even his desire for revenge had slightly diminished.

However, in that very instant, everything shattered.

He kept chasing that silhouette, not only destroying everything with his own hands, but even—

Even when choosing someone from another village, he wasn't asked.

"Are you kidding me?!"

"Naruto Uzumaki!!!"

A roar filled with rage and murderous intent suddenly rang out from behind.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle—!

The piercing bird calls instantly echoed throughout the venue.

Sasuke suddenly broke free from Kakashi's restraints, his body wreathed in violent lightning, and launched a suicidal charge towards Naruto.

"You bastard!"

Sasuke gritted his teeth, the lightning in his hand reflecting on his contorted face.

This was his fastest raid yet.

Lightning ripped through the air, heading straight for Naruto's chest.

He carried with him all his resentment, anger, and desire to prove himself.

however.

In Naruto's eyes, it was too slow.

Naruto didn't even take his hands out of his pockets.

He simply raised his foot casually and kicked Sasuke in the stomach.

"Cough!"

Sasuke's eyes bulged out, and the Chidori in his hand instantly disintegrated, flying backward like a rag doll.

"Too weak, far too weak."

Sasuke lay on the ground, his hands gripping the soil tightly.

It's happening again! It's happening again!

Naruto slowly walked to Sasuke's side, looking down at his former teammate.

"You really don't know anything, Sasuke."

Naruto crouched down, gently leaned close to Sasuke's ear, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Sasuke, the person you've always wanted to kill is Uchiha Itachi, right?"

"Use your brain and think about it. Do you really believe that someone would kill their entire clan without a reason?"

Sasuke's body trembled violently, his pupils contracted sharply, and he stopped struggling.

Before Sasuke could react, Naruto had already stood up and widened the distance again.

"Stay in Konoha and make the best of it, Sasuke."

"Right now, you're not even of any use to me."

After saying that, Naruto didn't linger.

He turned around, leading Orochimaru, Kabuto, Karin, and a group of Sound Ninja.

He swaggered out of the gates of Konoha.

All that remained was a pile of ruins.

And there was Uchiha Sasuke kneeling on the ground, his expression gradually changing from anger to blankness, his eyes filled with confusion.

What does he mean?

"Could it be that—"

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