Chapter 119 - 120
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6 mars
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Köpt
Chapter 119 Is the illusion real or the illusion fake?
Mikoto, for her part, was happy to see it happen; experiencing more of the kindness of those around him would be very beneficial for Naraku to emerge from the gloom.
However, she was also very cautious, often secretly observing Naraku's state, and if there was any problem, she would immediately take him back.
Fortunately, Naraku's performance was indeed as Mikoto had hoped, and he began to gradually recover from his pain.
When they were out for a walk, if familiar Clan Member came over to talk to her, or if a few Uchiha children whispered nearby, looking over with curiosity, Naraku would silently stand by, quietly waiting and watching.
Even when many people watched him, his expression was always calm and serene, allowing the Clan Member to fix their gaze on him; he no longer showed the helplessness and vulnerability he had on his first day home.
Even though everything about Naraku was slowly getting better, Mikoto always felt uneasy.
This recovery process was too smooth, so perfect it seemed like a gradual performance.
She wanted to believe that perhaps the emotional rift was healing, allowing Naraku to gradually return to normal;
But it was also possible that... he had already become skilled at it, and the feigned smile on his face was so natural that it was impossible to distinguish its authenticity.
Was Naraku really better?
Were his current actions all an illusion?
If Black Zetsu, who had been lurking by Naraku's side, could read minds and knew the doubts in Mikoto's heart, it would surely laugh wildly and triumphantly, and answer her with the facts it had observed:
No!
This brat had long since completely fallen into the abyss!
After observing in the shadows of Konoha for so long, it was almost 100% certain that this brat named "Uchiha Naraku" looked normal on the outside, but his emotions were completely broken.
He knew what kind of expression to show and what kind of words to say at certain times, but these were not from emotion; it was simply because he knew he should do so.
Every night, when Mikoto, tired from pregnancy, fell into a deep sleep, Uchiha Naraku, due to excessive pain, could not easily fall asleep, always staring blankly at the night sky, lost in thought.
He almost every night avoided everyone who cared about him, running to that small river to salvage the necklace discarded by Kakashi Hatake.
He searched inch by inch along the riverbed, piously turning over every stone, but he couldn't find it.
Actually, Black Zetsu had also thought about salvaging that necklace to completely extinguish Uchiha Naraku's hope, but perhaps the current was too swift that night, and even it didn't know where the item had been washed away.
If it couldn't find it, how could Uchiha Naraku?
Thinking of this, Black Zetsu relaxed again, tossing aside that broken necklace and focusing on waiting for the right moment to quietly abduct him.
But what was Naraku, whom Black Zetsu believed to be staring at the moon, unable to sleep, and beyond saving, actually doing at this moment?
He was reading those fanfictions in the forum, the highly angsty kind.
Anyway, he had to pretend to be awake in front of Black Zetsu; this all-nighter would be so boring without something to read.
His unfocused, blurry eyes read the text reflected in the void, showing a hint of sadness from being infected, and from time to time he would exclaim in his heart, "Damn, that's so awesome, holy crap," while having the system take notes.
Who knows when it might come in handy.
Interspersed within the fanfiction posts were also a few short video clips, which were also very popular, especially one that used a trending song from Douyin, with comments filled with cries of despair.
—
"[kakashi] The Drama of a White Dove and a Crow in Love"
1L (OP): I heard it while scrolling on Douyin and felt it was especially fitting for kakashi, so I stayed up all night to edit it. [Video].
PS: I also posted it on Bilibili and Douyin, [Link], [Link].
2L: I... I'll fight you knife-wielding experts! (ง ᵒ ̌ dish ᵒ ̌ )ง ⁼ ³ ₌ ₃
3L: A national banquet! But it's knives stir-fried with sugar!
4L: Boss, doesn't your conscience hurt?
5L: It's really similar, Kakashi is the white dove, and Naraku is the crow watching him from afar...
6L: There's an even more angsty one. "The white dove in the church won't kiss the crow, just like I'm unworthy of him under the starry sky... How did time reach the sunset, we smiled and said there was nothing we could do..."
7L: Are you trying to kill me, upstairs?
8L (OP): Reply to 6L: That's really good, I'll edit another one!
9L: No! 6L, look what you've done! ( ' -' )
10L: I can't take it anymore, I'm going to read some sweet stories to ease my mood... I've had too many knives lately...
—
Although he knew the video posted by the OP was very angsty, Naraku still clicked on it without repentance.
It's just a knife; he had eaten plenty of them these past few nights, watching them as soon as he opened his eyes.
—
The video was very short overall, so it was already the latter half of the song when it began.
[Busy signal, tick-tock, you hung up the phone]
Kakashi picked out the braided string of the necklace and threw the pendant into the river;
[Raindrops, tick-tock, as if mocking me]
Naraku stood alone in the rain, letting the downpour make him gasp for breath;
[The story diverges, you left me behind]
Kakashi walked into the night without looking back, leaving only a blurry silhouette;
[Feigned elegance, I pretended to let go]
In the Hospital, Naraku forced a smile while talking to Kana;
[May you meet someone better than him]
The screen split in two, one side showing Kakashi, the other Naraku, both with lost and dejected expressions;
[Just like a wave cannot kiss the sunset]
[I am already powerless to struggle]
Lightning flashed across the night sky, illuminating Naraku's desolate face and Kakashi's empty palm;
[Once, we cherished each other]
[Later, only deviation remained]
When they first returned to the Clan's territory together, Kakashi was close beside Naraku's shoulder, but in the Hospital, they stood opposite each other;
[Just like a wild flower cannot touch the crescent moon]
[It can only be broken by the evening wind]
In a flashback, Naraku gave Kakashi a pendant in the sunlight; later, lying in a Hospital bed, he picked it up again, saying it would protect him, and Kakashi's melting gaze;
[The drama of a white dove and a crow in love]
[Only happens in fairy tales]
The screen rapidly flashed through scenes of the family happily together in the past: New Year's fireworks, a steaming dinner table, the flashing glint of blades around the three of them in the training ground...
—
Naraku understood why everyone in the comment section was crying so miserably.
This technical skill, this emotional expression, what a master.
Just as he was admiring the editor's superb skill, the system notification sounded.
[Friendly reminder: The animation has been updated with 2 episodes]
He was just wondering how to pass the next hour; wasn't this like getting a pillow just as he was about to doze off?
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Chapter 120: Let the audience suffer again, and Danzo will take the blame
The scene initially focused on Kakashi's perspective, the time should be after Naraku was discharged from the Hospital.
Lights and shadows flickered, he sat blankly in his empty home, in a daze, not knowing how much time had passed, letting time slip by amidst the occasional sharp pains in his mind.
Finally, at a certain moment, his unfocused pupils refocused, regaining a faint glimmer of light.
Kakashi shook his head as if waking from a long dream, loneliness and hunger made him instinctively ask the question he had repeated countless times.
But no one answered.
[This feeling of being left alone in an empty house...]
[Kakashi, your Naraku is gone!]
[Damn, you're so ruthless, I acknowledge your attack power]
[This is nothing, it's not as ruthless as The Old Thief's knives in the first two episodes]
[The Old Thief definitely needs to give an explanation, Kakashi is clearly in trouble]
It wasn't until Minato knocked on the Hatake Household's door, saying he needed to take Kakashi on an escort mission, that he was pulled from his extremely poor state.
After dinner, at Minato's insistence, Kakashi finally lay down in bed immediately upon arriving home, closing his eyes to sleep and recover his strength.
[If Minato hadn't come, would Kakashi have just died at home?]
[I think it's very possible]
[I'm starting to believe the forum's theory about Kakashi being affected; who else would nearly starve themselves to death?]
[Actually, The Old Thief's hints are already quite obvious...]
Early the next morning, the two, one tall and one small, packed their bags and left the village, following their employer's caravan westward into the Land of Rain.
Several scenes were shown consecutively, accompanied by the employer's old man's voice.
"The Land of Rain has newly renovated two trade routes..."
Minato and Kakashi took turns scouting ahead of the caravan, ensuring the road conditions were good enough to continue;
"It is said to be an organization called 'Akatsuki'..."
Occasionally, mountain bandits or Rogue Ninja would attack, but most were eliminated by shuriken, Kunai, or senbon before they could even get close to the caravan, and the remaining few were finished off by Kakashi's exquisite swordsmanship;
"Even now, they..."
At night, while on guard duty, the two sat in a vacant cart in the caravan, chatting casually about trivial matters, with a bonfire burning not far from their feet, its warm, yellow light reflecting on their hair and faces;
"...They are truly incredible people, hahaha."
The old man's words ended just as the caravan entered the Land of Rain.
Coinciding with the rising sun, clouds rolled and unfurled, and amidst the overwhelming morning glow, the audience saw the very simple gravel road, gleaming in the morning light from the dew clinging to it.
The light-colored road at this moment flowed like a river across the wilderness, its end disappearing into the boundless jungle, guiding countless travelers and merchants who trod upon it, leading them towards distant horizons.
Sunny days are few in the Land of Rain, yet its diligent people have personally forged a "sun" to tread upon and illuminate their future.
[How amazing! Yahiko and the others really did it!]
[Even if it's paved with gravel, it's still a broad road leading to happiness]
[Tears welled up, Akatsuki is the light of hope for the Ninja World!]
[With an organization like Akatsuki, the Land of Rain will definitely get better and better]
— —
Across the screen, Naraku was also awestruck by everything Akatsuki had accomplished.
He had only mentioned it as a favor back then, yet Yahiko had truly embraced hope, leading others day and night, enduring hardships to complete it.Chapter 121 - 129
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6 d
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Köpt
Chapter 121 Although the Land of Rain is small
Although the Land of Rain is small, and these two trade routes aren't grand in scale, it's this kind of breakthrough from nothing that is most touching and exhilarating.
But what surprised him most was hearing his own name from 'Kasai's' lips.
— —
"It's probably Naraku."
From the mouth of a Ninja from a thousand miles away, who had no contact with Konoha, came a name that Minato and Kakashi had not expected at all.
It turned out that among the countless stones that paved this road, there was one called "Uchiha Naraku."
[Naraku also contributed]
[Is Kasai the Ninja who rescued Naraku?]
[At first, he rescued a spy, and then the spy became an ally]
[Kasai, you've done so many good deeds, you deserve all this happiness]
[Even if they are in two different places, their desire to make the Ninja World better is the same]
[Yes, ordinary people just want to live peacefully in the Ninja World]
The camera, from behind Minato, gradually focused on the distant path they had come from, finally aiming at the eastern horizon, where there was no gloomy rain, and the ever-changing clouds in the sky were pure white.
Then the screen blurred for an instant; the clouds were still the same, but as the camera moved down, the audience realized they were already in Konoha, with sunlight filtering through the clouds and spreading over the vast land.
Naraku walked a few steps out of the Hospital and then stopped, seemingly unsure where to go.
["No matter who you are, no matter where you are"]
["We are all under the same blue sky"]
[The Old Thief's subtle tenderness is the most deadly]
[Finally, it's Baby Naraku's turn to appear again!]
[Naraku, you must get better!]
In the next episode, Naraku "coincidentally" met Mikoto, who was there for a check-up, at the Hospital entrance. The latter seemed to understand his predicament, and with a mix of persuasion, feigned tears, and pitiful acts, she took Naraku back to her home to stay for a while.
When Naraku expressed that he could manage no matter what, fearing he would be a bother, she gently encouraged and comforted him to cheer up.
[Wow, Mikoto has a baby! Congratulations!]
[Mikoto, your acting really needs improvement]
[I think Naraku knows Mikoto is faking it]
[How could he, being so smart, not see through it? He just couldn't bear to refuse such kindness, especially since he truly had nowhere to go]
[Don't even mention it, just thinking about what Naraku went through makes me want to cry]
[Naraku is going back to his cautious self, boo hoo hoo hoo]
[Why does The Old Thief abuse him like this? Is it just to create a darkened childhood friend for Kakashi?]
The animator also included a cute chibi flashback, explaining how Mikoto kicked Fugaku out to live in another house. The latter didn't even finish a single sentence the whole time, standing at the door with a bewildered expression, a bundle of luggage thrown at his feet.
[Mikoto is so kind!]
[Fugaku: So, wife, love fades, doesn't it?]
[Hahahahahahahahaha Fugaku is henpecked]
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Chapter 122 Fearing he might lose control of his emotions, Naraku volunteered to go to the market to buy things.
[Fugaku: Do you think I dare to speak?]
Fearing he might lose control of his emotions, Naraku volunteered to go to the market to buy things.
At first, he was carefully selecting items, but as he continued to shop, his eyes glazed over in a daze, not even noticing that the vegetables in his hand were crushed.
--Kakashi... how is he doing now?-- Is he still angry with me?
--If it weren't for me, things wouldn't have turned out this way...-- Self-reproach and self-loathing dyed Naraku's surroundings a deep black, leaving him alone in the darkness, gradually swallowed by emptiness.
[Naraku probably had nightmares these past few days, because after watching the breakup scene, I dreamt about it at night, it was hell]
[You're so miserable, my friend]
[This is the first time I've genuinely followed a show, but The Old Thief made me lose so completely, damn it!]
[He still subconsciously cares about Kakashi, I'm crying my eyes out]
[How could he not care? Kakashi was the first ray of light in his life]
[Baby! It's not your fault, boo hoo hoo hoo... (sobbing profusely.jpg)]
[This plot rhythm, it's either a tragically deceased white moonlight or a darkened sworn enemy]
His spiritual descent was interrupted by a short call, and Naraku awoke from his daze, looking blankly at his side, holding the ruined radish in his hand.
Uchiha Fūyō, who hadn't appeared for a long time, stood in the sunlight, appearing before the audience like a savior. His straightforward and firm concern immediately earned everyone's unanimous praise.
[The darkening progress bar was interrupted, yay!]
[The Old Thief: Young man, how could I let you guess what I'm thinking?]
[Fūyō, you came at a good time! As expected of a mature and reliable adult!]
[This forced satisfaction is great]
[So warm, I'll ship a little]
[I'm standing by FūNaru for a second]
Hearing Naraku's self-deprecating words, Uchiha Fūyō went so far as to mess up Naraku's soft black hair into a tangled mess. It was a rough and impolite action, yet his expression and movements warmed the audience's hearts.
"You are the hope of those you love," "Don't give up on yourself"—these words were like a bullet, breaking through layers of shackles and piercing Naraku's gradually closing heart.
[Yes, Sakumo is still counting on you, Naraku, you must be well]
[Raise the FūNaru flag high!]
[Sorry, Kakashi, I promise this is the last time]
[Don't blame me, if I just broke up with my ex-boyfriend and met a man like Fūyō, I would really fall in love with him]
[Omnivore shippers, let's go!]
[No! We kakashi don't want a bad ending, boo hoo hoo hoo]
[Why can't we have both?]
[Sister, this is the comment section, not a deserted area]
The scene shifted, fast-forwarding to Naraku visiting Tsunade to adjust his Ninjutsu. From her expression and relieved demeanor, his condition seemed to be quite good.
However, upon seeing Naraku needing to learn the extremely difficult Mystical Palm Technique and Healing Seal within two months, and Tsunade's matter-of-fact expression, the audience immediately couldn't sit still.
[I'm constantly worried about Naraku's illness, afraid it will worsen at any time]
[Yes, if the bloodline limit sickness flares up, the body will quickly collapse]
[Ah, two months? For an ordinary Medical Ninja, just getting started in two months would be good enough]
[Is Naraku so versatile? Fire Release, Lightning Release, Genjutsu, Taijutsu, swordsmanship, and now Medical Ninjutsu and Sealing Jutsu—he's not a genius, he's a god]
[Tsunade leaving is good news, it means Naraku's condition is still optimistic]
[Yes, yes, if the doctor isn't nervous, then the illness isn't serious!]
[Liked, the previous person has really been to the Hospital]
The audience, who had initially been overjoyed by the hope for Naraku's condition, became despondent again when Naraku entered the private room to care for Sakumo, whimpering and wishing for him to wake up quickly, while continuing to curse Danzo.
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Chapter 123 The room was filled only with the ticking of instruments and the rustling of Naraku's clothes as he moved.
The room was filled only with the ticking of instruments and the rustling of Naraku's clothes as he moved.
Finally, Naraku wanted to doze off, so he pulled Sakumo's hand over his head.
He lowered his head and closed his eyes, pretending he could still receive his father's forgiveness and comfort, pretending his father was only briefly asleep, and that when he woke up, he would see his father smiling gently.
Just like before.
[Waaahhhhhh! ToT]
[I can't... my eyes are misty...]
[My Baby Naraku, my heart aches for him, boo hoo hoo hoo]
[I'm sitting in front of my computer screen crying my eyes out, Naraku's life is too hard]
[Don't use family emotional knives to kill me, ahhhhh... (っ╥╯﹏╰╥c)]
[I declare Naraku has already won the game T-T... From now on, I will never say I can handle emotional knives particularly well]
[Naraku really wants to be the child who can act spoiled in front of Sakumo again, but unfortunately, he can't]
[It's already sad enough, but the comments always stab me in the heart suddenly]
— —
Amidst a pale stillness, the new ending song flowed slowly and mournfully.
The comment section was filled with cries and lamentations, many viewers genuinely saddened for Naraku, shedding countless tissues.
Naraku's few remaining shreds of conscience throbbed faintly.
But to awaken Sakumo as soon as possible, he couldn't stop now.
So he could only make the audience suffer a little longer, as for the blame, Danzo would bear it.
The comments were a mess of tears, and the forums weren't much better.
Two episodes of the anime had been updated, and several days had passed in the modern world. The hot posts he had seen on the forum half an hour ago had already been pushed down by numerous new posts, some even on the next page.
This feeling of time jumping was quite strange.
— —
"Looking back at the Hatake family of three sitting in the courtyard counting fireworks, the happier they smiled, the louder I cried."
1L (OP): [Image], [Image]
Last month I recommended naruto to a friend, and just now my friend was catching up on episodes. Since I had nothing to do today, I went over to peek, and he happened to be watching the New Year's special where Sakumo, Kakashi, and Naraku were all still well. My tears immediately gushed out.
2L: +1, knowing the future and then looking back at the past, every warm scene makes me incredibly sad.
3L: Viewers don't shed tears easily, only when they reach the point of heartbreak.
4L: My younger brother is not very old, and he always says in a very chuunibyou way that he's a tough guy. Today, after watching the end of the latest episode, he was so angry he cried, and while crying, he told me, "Sister, Naraku doesn't have a dad again."
5L: Reply to 4L: Waaahhhhhhh (howling.jpg)
6L: A kakashi fanfiction post in the fanfiction section has almost become a memoir of emotional knives, the more I read, the sadder I get.
7L: OP, I have a great idea for you. Tell your friend that the Hatake family will be super sweet later, and when he watches it, secretly record his reaction...
8L (OP): Reply to 7L: Are you a devil?...But I like it! I can't be the only one crying anyway!
..."A Dream as Long as Daybreak [Hand-drawn Animation] (Father-son-son family love)"
1L (OP): I was comforting myself that Kakashi and Naraku would definitely reconcile later, and Sakumo would definitely wake up, so I managed not to cry.
But that head pat completely broke me, wah wah wah wah (.┰ω┰.)... I couldn't take it anymore, and since it was the weekend, I got up in the middle of the night to draw!
[Video].
Please enjoy, it's guaranteed to be sweet!
2L: What did I see! Has the great artist Qingfeng Ruxu posted a sweet hand-drawn animation?!
3L: Did the sun rise from the west today???
4L: The Old Thief is still superior, he even made Qingfeng emo.
5L: So sweet, I will love you forever, Madam!
... — —
After happily indulging in fanfiction, with about ten minutes of his late-night session left, Naraku continued to browse the fanfiction section.
When he saw Uchiha Fūyō appear in the anime earlier, Naraku knew that fanfiction writers would definitely stir things up again. Sure enough, fanfiction about him and Fūyō as a couple started pouring out.
"Far Away (Fūyō x Naraku)", "Meeting You Is Like Seeing a Mountain (Fūyō x Naraku)", "After Being Called an Old Cow Eating Young Grass, the Captain Became Depressed (Fūyō x Naraku)"... Regardless of whether they were stories or illustrations, their popularity was decent.
Although he currently desperately needed popularity points and had to find ways to gain more, and an extra new CP meant an additional source, Naraku was still very concerned about how his and Kakashi's CP fans were doing.
Were they disheartened and dejected because of their temporary separation?
After all, kakashi/naka (naraku/kakashi cp) CP fans and Uchiha Naraku solo fans were the most stable producers of popularity points.
Fortunately, the authors were still active in the fanfiction section, not overshadowed by this "unhealthy trend" of "FūNaru"; kakashi/naka (naraku/kakashi cp) remained consistently popular among many CPs.
After reading one or two fanfictions, the system prompted that time was up.
Naraku closed the website and returned from his mental space to reality, feeling his body, which was slightly cold even under the covers, and slowly closed his eyes as usual...
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