r18novel Chapter 470 Naruto: I'm going to the Land of Stars!
Chapter 470 Naruto: I'm going to the Land of Stars!
Chapter 470 Naruto: I'm going to the Land of Stars!
On the street, Naruto's smile seemed even brighter.
He even waved vigorously at the villagers who were giving him malicious looks, and shouted, "Hey! Good afternoon, everyone!"
Then, before the villagers could react and unleash even harsher curses, he sped up and dashed off toward the outskirts of the village.
Yamato looked in the direction Naruto had gone and muttered to himself, "That's the direction of the third training ground, right? That Naruto guy seems to have been training with Jiraiya-sama a lot lately?"
Kakashi gave a soft "hmm" in affirmation.
His right eye narrowed slightly as his gaze swept over the rooftops of the streets around Naruto, the shadows at the alley entrances, and the branches of the trees in the distance.
"That Danzo guy even sent some tails to follow him." Kakashi's voice was calm, but Yamato could hear a hint of coldness in it.
Upon hearing this, Yamato immediately looked carefully in the direction Kakashi was pointing.
Sure enough, around Naruto's running path, in a few inconspicuous corners or in the shade of the rooftops, a figure flashed by, following closely behind the orange figure.
Since Menma's identity was fully exposed and he left Konoha, and Danzo officially took over, several people who were close to Menma, including Kakashi, who trained Jonin, as well as his former teammates Naruto and Hinata, were all subject to restrictions and surveillance to varying degrees.
Kakashi is strong and experienced, and has a high reputation among the Konoha ninjas. Danzo cannot find a suitable reason or manpower to deal with him directly, so he can only use some subtle political means to exclude and marginalize him.
Hinata Hyuga is the head of the Hyuga clan, the largest ninja clan in Konoha. She holds a pivotal position and wields immense power within the village. Even if Danzo wanted to take action against her, he would have to be extremely cautious and dare not act rashly.
Only Naruto Uzumaki.
He is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the village's strategic weapon, but also the incarnation of the "Demon Fox," and has a terrible reputation among ordinary villagers.
His greatest reliance at present is Jiraiya.
Therefore, Naruto naturally became Danzo's primary target for surveillance and control.
Those who followed him were not only monitoring Naruto's movements and his contact with Jiraiya, but also perhaps had the intention of controlling the Jinchuriki.
Yamato also heard the malicious comments about Naruto coming from below.
He frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "These rumors—are they the work of Root? Deliberately inciting and amplifying the villagers' fear and hostility towards Naruto—"
He paused abruptly, then turned sharply to look at Kakashi beside him.
He recalled some rumors that had been circulating quietly among the lower-ranking ninjas in Konoha recently.
The rumors subtly pointed the finger at Kakashi, suggesting that during his time guiding Team 7, he might have already noticed or even condoned Menma's abnormalities, implying a close, unspoken relationship between the two, and that Kakashi bore undeniable responsibility for Shura's growth.
When Yamato looked at Kakashi, he found that Kakashi had turned his head back at some point, his eyes lowered, staring at a certain spot on the railing below. His usually lazy, dead-fish eyes were now obscured by the shadow of his silver hair, making it impossible to discern his emotions.
Seeing Kakashi's appearance, Yamato couldn't help but shudder.
He suddenly remembered another famous tragedy in Konoha's history.
Sakumo Hatake, the legendary ninja known as the "White Fang of Konoha," was the father of Kakashi-senpai!
Back then, that hero failed a mission because of an "unconventional" choice, which led to him being surrounded by rumors in the village, accusations from his colleagues, and even pressure from higher-ups. Ultimately, under immense mental pressure—
He chose to end his own life.
Did the rumors of that year also have the shadow of "Root" behind them?
Is it also a means of political infighting and eliminating dissidents?
And now, a similar trend seems to be quietly forming around Kakashi-senpai. Danzo was able to force Konoha's White Fang to his death using that method, so why couldn't he use the same ruthless methods to deal with Kakashi-senpai now!
"Senpai—" Yamato couldn't help but call out, his voice filled with obvious worry.
Kakashi seemed to be startled awake by his voice and slowly raised his head.
His expression had returned to its usual languid calm, as if the silence and gloom of the moment before were merely Yamato's illusion.
"What's wrong?" Kakashi asked, his tone relaxed, and he even raised his hand to scratch his messy silver hair.
Yamato looked at Kakashi, opened his mouth, and the words about the rumors, about Sakumo, and about his worries rolled around in his throat, but in the end he couldn't say them.
He suddenly realized that, with Kakashi's wisdom and understanding of the dark side of Konoha, he probably knew the current situation and potential threats better than he did.
Some things, once said, only cause more trouble.
"No, it's nothing." Yamato finally shook his head and turned his gaze back to the distance, but his brows furrowed even more.
Kakashi didn't press the matter further.
He leaned back against the railing, his gaze distant.
The mountain breeze continued to blow, carrying the coolness of early autumn, as well as the increasingly oppressive and somber atmosphere that permeated the air above the fallen leaves.
On the Hokage Rock, two figures stood side by side, silently gazing at the village they had once sworn to protect, a village that now felt increasingly unfamiliar.
the other side.
On the rooftops of Konoha Village, Uchiha Sasuke moved silently at an incredible speed through the gaps between the uneven rooftops, smoke, and clothes racks.
He wore the standard black tight-fitting combat uniform of the Konoha Anbu, covered by a lightweight gray breastplate, carried a ninja sword of moderate length on his back, and wore a plain white cat-face mask without any patterns on his face.
He maintained an efficient pace of movement, his gaze fixed on Naruto running down the street below, through the eye openings of his mask.
Unlike the other monitors belonging to "Root", Sasuke's brows were tightly furrowed beneath his mask, and his dark eyes were filled with a complex and growing anxiety.
It's been several days already.
Several days have passed since Menma's identity was fully exposed, he displayed his earth-shattering power in the Konoha Crush Plan, and ultimately disappeared along with those two mysterious enemies.
-
For the first two days, Naruto seemed to have lost his soul. He was often distracted during training, his eyes were empty, and he would occasionally stare blankly at the air, unconsciously muttering things like "Menma-kun" and "Why-kun".
Sasuke observed from the shadows, feeling disdain for Naruto's behavior and thinking that Naruto was an emotional fool.
There was also a kind of empathy that even he himself was unwilling to admit.
After all, that guy was once his classmate and the goal he had always pursued!
But soon, Naruto recovered at a speed that surprised even Sasuke, like an unkillable cockroach.
He became boisterous and carefree again, and his face once more wore that radiant smile that seemed to shine like the sun forever.
He would still be hurt by the villagers' vicious words, but he could turn around and forcefully leave those dark things behind.
To an ordinary observer, this might seem like Naruto Uzumaki's obliviousness.
But Sasuke knew that wasn't the case.
Naruto may seem rough around the edges, but he actually has an extraordinary obsession with bonds and recognition.
To him, Menma was a close friend, a companion, someone he had fought alongside and shared dreams with.
This kind of relationship is not something that can be easily severed or forgotten.
So, what is Naruto's opinion on Menma?
What choice will he make?
Should he remain in Konoha, known as the Demon Fox by the villagers, pursuing his unattainable dream of becoming Hokage amidst ostracism and surveillance?
still----
Whenever Sasuke thought about that possibility, a restless anticipation would well up inside him.
He recalled what the man who called himself Kabuto Yakushi, with round-framed glasses and a gentle yet enigmatic smile, had said to him a few days ago: "Sasuke-kun, please be patient. Wait patiently, and things will naturally develop in the right direction."
"Naruto-kun—he will find his own path."
wait?
Sasuke hates waiting the most.
But being in the Anbu, especially now that Danzo has complete control over it, he must be even more cautious.
Kabuto's hint seems to indicate that Naruto will take some action.
But what exactly is this action?
When will it begin?
Just as Sasuke was feeling uneasy, Naruto ahead had already entered the forest area on the outskirts of the village.
This is the remote third training ground, where Naruto has recently been training with Jiraiya.
Sasuke immediately composed himself, his body moving like a swallow as he leaped onto a large, leafy tree and silently hid in the shadows of its canopy.
Behind the cat-face mask, the Sharingan eyes glowed slightly red as they sharply scanned the training ground below.
This is a relatively open clearing in the woods, with obvious signs of trampling and ninjutsu practice on the ground.
In a corner of the open space, near several huge rocks, a tall, white-haired figure leaned against the trunk of a thick tree, his head tilted to one side, his chest rising and falling rhythmically, emitting a snoring sound like a bellows.
It was Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin.
He was still wearing that red coat, the "oil" character headband on his forehead was slightly crooked, and an empty wine gourd lay at his feet.
Naruto ran up to Jiraiya in a few strides, took a deep breath, and then yelled at the top of his lungs into Jiraiya's ear, "You! Pervert! Sage! Wake up!!!"
"Whoa!!"
Jiraiya shuddered and sprang up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, flailing his arms wildly in the air and nearly punching Naruto in the face, who was standing right next to him.
He was still sleepy-eyed, his hair was messy, and there was a trace of drool at the corner of his mouth.
"Enemy attack?! Beauty?! The payment arrived?!" he shouted incoherently. When his vision cleared and he saw Naruto standing in front of him with his hands on his hips and a smug look on his face, he slumped his shoulders like a deflated balloon and yawned deeply with heavy sleepiness.
"What the heck? It's Naruto!" Jiraiya rubbed his sleepy eyes, stretched out a big yawn, and his bones cracked softly.
"Ah~~~ I'm so sleepy————"
"How long did I sleep?"
"What else can you do besides sleeping, peeping, and writing those lousy novels, you perverted sage?!" Naruto complained angrily.
"And sometimes, a little drink, and—" Jiraiya said earnestly, arms crossed.
"Hey! Perverted Sage! Look! Look at this!" Naruto interrupted Jiraiya, his blue eyes brimming with excitement at the prospect of sharing.
He extended his left hand, palm open, and held it up in front of Jiraiya, a smile brighter than the sun spreading across his face:
Jiraiya yawned again, looking at Naruto's palm with a puzzled expression.
At first there was nothing there, but the next second, Naruto's eyes suddenly became incredibly focused.
The chakra within his body began to flow and condense at a high speed.
Buzz—
A soft chirping sound was heard.
Above Naruto's outstretched left palm, the air began to distort, and a highly condensed light blue chakra light emerged, swirled, and compressed!
In just two or three breaths, a chakra sphere about the size of a fist, with a sky-blue color, its internal chakra spinning wildly like a storm, while its surface maintained a relatively stable spherical shape, was formed!
Rasengan!
Moreover, compared to the unstable version that Naruto barely managed to create with the help of shadow clones and using three hands half a month ago, the Rasengan before him is incomparable in terms of size, stability, and the degree of chakra concentration!
Most importantly, Naruto is doing this all by himself with one hand!
Without hand seals or shadow clones, relying solely on one hand and a profound understanding of the masterful control and transformation of chakra, he effortlessly mastered this A-rank, no-hand-spell ninjutsu!
Jiraiya's sleepiness and laziness vanished instantly.
He stared wide-eyed at the steadily spinning pale blue ball of light in Naruto's palm, then looked up at Naruto's azure eyes, which were filled with pride and expectation, as if saying, "Praise me, praise me!"
In a daze, he seemed to see another blond figure.
The one who showed him the newly developed technique was Minato Namikaze, with a warm yet firm smile.
Time flies, things change and people change —
He still finds it hard to believe the news that Minato and Kushina might still be alive.
A complex mix of emotions welled up in Jiraiya's heart—gratification, nostalgia, pride, and a touch of melancholy at the capriciousness of fate.
But he quickly suppressed these emotions, put his hands on his hips, puffed out his chest, and let out a hearty and unrestrained laugh: "Hahahaha! Well done, Naruto!"
Jiraiya patted Naruto's shoulder hard, making Naruto grimace.
"He mastered the one-handed Rasengan in such a short time! No wonder he's my disciple, the Toad Sage Jiraiya!"
He paused, then rubbed his hands together eagerly, saying, "Now that you've completely mastered the Rasengan, it's time to move on to the next stage of training!"
"It's time to teach you the art of summoning! Sign a contract with me and become a member of Mount Myōboku—"
"Perverted Sage!" Jiraiya's enthusiastic lesson announcement was interrupted by Naruto before he could finish.
Naruto dispersed the Rasengan from his palm, and the pale blue ball of light quietly dissipated, leaving only a faint wisp of chakra residue.
Unlike usual, he didn't eagerly ask questions like, "What is a summoning jutsu?", "Where is Mount Myōboku?", or "Are there any powerful ninjutsu there?"
Instead, he clenched his fists, raised his head, and his usually energetic, sometimes silly blue eyes were now incredibly serious and bright as he looked directly at Jiraiya.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves and shone on his face.
"I've been thinking about this a lot these days." Naruto's voice wasn't loud, but it echoed clearly in the quiet forest clearing, carrying a maturity and composure that was completely different from his usual boisterous self.
"I've figured it out!"
Jiraiya paused for a moment, looking at Naruto's unusually serious expression, and a string in his heart inexplicably tightened.
He scratched his messy white hair, looking somewhat confused.
He thought Naruto was referring to the recent rumors circulating in the village.
Since Danzo came to power, the ignorant villagers' accusations and rejections of Naruto's "demon fox" identity have become increasingly vicious. Jiraiya saw this and was anxious, but he found it difficult to directly stand up for Naruto.
He could only devote more energy to training, using intense practice and the sense of accomplishment from mastering new ninjutsu to distract Naruto and help him resist those invisible harms.
Jiraiya stepped forward, a relieved smile on his face, trying to soothe him with a relaxed tone: "Oh? You've figured it out? Don't worry too much about those rumors, Naruto. There are always some people in the village who like to gossip, you just need to—"
"No, that's not it, you perverted sage." Naruto shook his head, interrupting him.
"Hmm?" Jiraiya frowned slightly, his unease growing stronger.
"What is that?!"
Naruto took a deep breath, straightened his back, and the sunlight fell on his golden hair and orange jacket, making him seem to glow.
Then, in a somewhat loud voice, he said, word by word, "I'm going to the Land of Stars!"
He paused, then a burning light ignited in Naruto's eyes, his voice even more resolute: "I'm going to find Menma! I'll ask him face-to-face!!"
'
""
The clearing in the woods fell into a deathly silence in an instant.
The wind seemed to have stopped.
The leaves no longer rustled.
Even the faint chirping of birds in the distance disappeared.
Jiraiya's smile froze, his mouth slightly open, as if he hadn't understood what Naruto was saying.
His eyes, which always held a cynical air, were now filled with astonishment and a hint of panic.
Hidden in the shadows of the trees surrounding the training ground, all the observers, including Sasuke, were also shaken to their core at that moment!
Beneath the mask, Sasuke's pupils suddenly contracted!
The hand gripping the tree trunk unconsciously tightened, the knuckles turning white, and tiny cracks appeared in the hard bark.
"This guy is such an idiot!!!!"
Sasuke's heart was practically roaring.
Anger, anxiety, helplessness, and a hint of panic!
He never expected that Naruto, that stubborn idiot, would shout out his "defection" intentions in such a straightforward, loud, and unguarded way!
This is Konoha!
There are countless eyeliners around!
Doesn't he realize what that would mean if it got out?!
This means that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki may have defected!
This was enough to make Danzo immediately take the most extreme measures!
Sure enough, the instant Naruto finished speaking, Sasuke's Sharingan's keen perception immediately detected extremely subtle yet hurried chakra fluctuations and sounds of movement from several other hidden locations around them.
Upon hearing Naruto's earth-shattering declaration, those "Root" monitors did not hesitate for a moment and immediately chose to retreat!
They needed to send this intelligence back to their master, Danzo Shimura, as quickly as possible!
Regardless of whether Danzo is on his way to the Land of Iron at this moment, this information is enough to cause an earthquake in Konoha!
We must not let them leave!
A chilling thought struck Sasuke's mind like lightning.
Almost simultaneously, his body reacted.
His right hand moved with lightning speed, reaching behind him, and with a soft "whoosh," the ANBU standard ninja sword that had been with him for so long was firmly in his hand.
The cold blade reflected a chilling glint in the dappled light of the forest.
The black eyes beneath the mask instantly turned crimson.
The Sharingan with three tomoe quietly appeared, locking onto the blurry backs of the "Root" ninjas who were rapidly disengaging and about to disappear into the forest.
A murderous intent silently gathered around Sasuke!