After reviewing the surveillance footage, the guards of the Hokage Building were completely dumbfounded.
The video clearly showed that the person who attacked the vault containing the Sealed Scroll… was an ANBU directly under the Hokage's command.
Stack those two facts together and things got awkward fast.
Was this an internal mission… or some high-level political crap staged by the Third Hokage himself?
They didn't dare guess.
Whether it was dirty politics or not, their job was still their job. They immediately dispatched a pursuit team and reported everything to Hiruzen Sarutobi, even though the old man had left less than thirty minutes ago.
…
Meanwhile—
After finally shaking off his tail, Naruto Uzumaki couldn't wait to grab the Sealed Scroll.
He tried opening it—
Nothing.
Layer after layer of sealing jutsu wrapped around it like a damn iron coffin.
If he forced it open, the scroll would self-destruct.
Worse, there might even be tracking seals attached.
"…Tch."
Naruto's face darkened.
Still, he didn't regret stealing it.
Not even a little.
After forming hand signs and setting up a perception-blocking barrier, he tucked the scroll away and headed toward the Forest of Death.
Everything was ready.
Now all he had to do was pick a good spot… and wait for Shisui's performance.
But just when he left the village outskirts—
Someone blocked his path.
Again.
This time, it was Kakashi Hatake.
Dressed in ANBU gear, mask on, one eye cold and sharp, Kakashi stared at Naruto… and the scroll in his hands.
Naruto frowned.
Unlike Yugao, Kakashi wasn't half-baked ANBU.
He was a real elite jōnin.
A monster.
Definitely not easy to deal with.
After a moment of silence, Kakashi spoke first.
"Naruto… what's in your hand? And why are you heading out of the village?"
Naruto shrugged casually.
"The Sealed Scroll. As for why I stole it?"
He grinned.
"Because I'm defecting."
Kakashi's expression instantly sank.
"Ninja life isn't a game. Don't throw everything away just because you failed early graduation. Missing-nin live worse than dogs. Put it down. Hokage-sama will forgive you."
Naruto laughed.
"I know exactly what defection means."
"I'm just tired."
"Tired of the village. Tired of the 'Will of Fire.' Tired of being treated like trash."
"And tired of being a damn Jinchūriki."
Kakashi froze.
"You… know you're a Jinchūriki?"
"Does it matter who told me?" Naruto said coldly. "To them, I'm not Naruto. I'm just the Nine-Tails. A punching bag."
Kakashi tried to reason with him.
"That was before. Things can change. You have comrades. The villagers don't even know the truth—"
"Oh?" Naruto tilted his head, smirking.
"You mean the truth that I'm actually the Fourth Hokage's son?"
"Funny, right? The 'monster fox' is secretly a hero's kid."
He spat to the side.
"But you still expect me to protect the same idiots who looked at me like I was shit my whole life?"
"Why the hell should I?"
Kakashi went silent.
He hadn't expected Naruto to know everything.
And worse… Naruto wasn't screaming or crying.
He was calm.
That scared him more.
No matter what, though—
He couldn't let his teacher's son defect.
Even if he had to break Naruto's legs.
The two moved at the same time.
Clang!
Kunai collided. Sparks exploded.
"So you're going all out, Kakashi-senpai," Naruto mocked.
Kakashi pulled up his forehead protector.
The Sharingan spun.
Against someone this strong, holding back was suicide.
But Naruto simply turned his head slightly, avoiding eye contact completely.
Shadow clones burst out.
"Trying genjutsu on me? Waste of chakra, old man."
Kakashi clicked his tongue.
Lightning gathered in his palm.
Raikiri!
Zap—
Clones were shredded instantly.
But through the smoke—
"Rasengan!"
Boom!
Blue chakra smashed against lightning. A violent explosion erupted.
Kakashi slid backward, breathing heavier.
Since when did this brat get this strong?!
And that chakra reserve… it's ridiculous!
Before he could think—
"Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!"
A screaming vortex of wind tore through the air.
Kakashi's eyes widened.
"That thing is the size of a damn millstone—are you trying to kill me?!"
He didn't even try to block.
Just ran like hell.
BOOOOOOM!
The forest was flattened.
Trees gone.
Ground erased.
Only a massive crater remained.
Kakashi knelt at the edge, bleeding, shoulder torn open.
He stared at Naruto like he was looking at a monster.
This wasn't a genin anymore.
This kid was straight-up scarier than most jōnin.
Naruto winced too.
Using Rasenshuriken without Sage Mode felt like punching himself in the arm with a chainsaw.
"Damn… hurts like hell."
Still, his HP bar was way thicker than Kakashi's.
He healed himself while walking forward calmly.
"I don't hate you, Kakashi-senpai."
"But blocking my road?"
"Yeah… that's on you."
Just as he stepped closer—
WHOOSH!
A green blur dropped between them.
Then—
"Konoha Strong Whirlwind!"
A kick blasted toward Naruto's face.
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