Naruto: Linked to Kaguya, Corrupting the Ninja World

Hearing Hiroki Hyuga's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but chuckle bitterly.

If he couldn't make a decision, why had he asked just now?

Was it only to witness the tug-of-war between himself, Naruto, and Jiraiya?

Just to see everyone turn sharp-tongued, desperate, revealing their ugliest sides?

Human lives and shēngsī—were they nothing but jokes in their hearts?

I am the Hokage after all. How could I be so pathetic?

Hmph, what's so bad about dying anyway?

Thinking this, Hiruzen loudly declared, "Jiraiya, your ideal is correct."

Hiruzen had already made peace with death. All he wanted now was to spare Jiraiya and Naruto some pain.

However, the more he tried to do this, the more unbearable pain filled Jiraiya's heart.

If only Hiruzen would display a little meanness—then Jiraiya could convince himself to choose Naruto.

But no—he remained composed, dignified, and righteous to the end. And that only tormented Jiraiya all the more.

In this moment, Jiraiya guiltily lowered his head, thinking deeply.

When torn between honoring your elders and protecting your own, which comes first—duty or family love?

Is chasing greatness always doomed to be this painful?

He looked toward Yugao Uzuki and Hiroki Hyuga.

Especially Hiroki Hyuga. Although his smile was restrained, Jiraiya could still see amusement in Hiroki's eyes—an observer relishing the moment.

Why can they act so freely, treating human life as a joke, while I struggle within all these rules?

Why must good people continually face such torment?

Though my intention was saving more lives, why do I keep losing everything...

Suddenly, Naruto tightly embraced Hiruzen.

He thought, if he held on like this, he could summon both himself and Grandpa Third to Mount Myoboku together.

Frog Sage, you've witnessed it all, haven't you?

[Summoning Jutsu now…] Take me and Grandpa Third back to Mount Myoboku!

Quickly activate…

Meeting Naruto's gaze, Jiraiya somehow understood his line of thought.

Yet inside, he kept shaking his head, wearing a bitter smile on his face.

Naruto, this is something that can't possibly work...

Hiruzen tried pushing Naruto away. "Naruto, don't do this. People must part ways eventually..."

Hyūga Hiroki clicked his tongue disapprovingly.

After all, wasn't Hiruzen partly responsible for Naruto's tragic childhood? And yet now they seemed close like real grandfather and grandson.

"Master Jiraiya, how much longer will you wait? Dawn approaches soon; the village's chaos will settle shortly. You who attempt to escape will soon face even more pursuers."

As an observer, Sasuke felt a sense of tension upon hearing Hiroki's words.

The Third Hokage, Jiraiya, Naruto—none of them mattered to him.

Although witnessing the genuine emotions between Hiruzen and Naruto stirred slight pity in Sasuke, whose family he'd already lost.

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But how could these fleeting thoughts rival his future, his vision of vengeance, or his hunger for power?

Glancing at the sky, Sasuke couldn't help feeling somewhat anxious.

Sasuke looked at the entangled Naruto and the other, then fixed his gaze upon Yugao and Hiroki.

Why are these two so powerful? Could they grant me that kind of strength?

Such a thought suddenly rose in Sasuke's heart, but soon his excited emotions cooled down again.

"Value..." He muttered this word inwardly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes shifted toward Jiraiya, who somewhat guiltily averted his gaze, unwilling to meet his eyes.

Yugao's shadow clones moved in perfect unison, pointing their swords at Jiraiya standing at the center.

As for Yugao's real body, she had also drawn her long sword, ready to attack Hiruzen and Naruto at any moment.

Hiruzen sighed inwardly.

I clearly know what the right choice is, so why won't you make it?

Jiraiya, since you're unwilling, then I have no choice but to do it myself.

He said to Naruto, "Naruto, do you have any ninja tools in your pouch? Take them out?"

Hiroki arched an eyebrow, not understanding what Hiruzen was planning.

At this stage, Naruto was his top priority—he carries the Nine-Tails within him and might break through the point-striking seal at any moment.

As for Hiruzen, unable to channel chakra or form hand seals, he could at best charge forward bodily.

Even explosive tags could be instantly kicked away.

He crossed his arms and calmly watched this old man and the child.

Without a word, Jiraiya began fighting against Yugao's shadow clones.

[Rasengan.]

The blue chakra sphere was slammed onto one clone, turning it into smoke.

Yugao narrowed her brow slightly.

"I'll watch those two," Hiroki said.

Without hesitation, Yugao charged toward Jiraiya with her sword.

Hearing the sounds of battle resume, Naruto suddenly understood.

Right, the Third Grandpa definitely isn't someone who just waits around helplessly.

He must be preparing to fight back, just like Jiraiya did.

Thinking that, Naruto quickly took out a kunai.

Hiruzen picked up the kunai with his mouth and staggered to his feet.

Then, he charged forward...

Pfhh—blood spurted forth...

"Grandpa Third!" Naruto's eyes widened as he clutched his bleeding right shoulder and took several steps back.

Hiroki suddenly smiled. That's it then. He planned something like this.

Hiruzen charged toward Naruto once more.

"Why?"

Naruto dodged frantically and couldn't help asking.

Hiruzen sneered, his face twisted with cruelty. Even with a kunai between his teeth, he still managed to speak, "Why? Because only one of us can survive. Of course, that means you die and I live."

In the dark night, Jiraiya gave them a quick glance before shifting his focus elsewhere.

This silent understanding between teacher and student helped him figure out Hiruzen's plan, making his expression even gloomier.

Naruto couldn't believe that Hiruzen Sarutobi truly wanted to harm him, so he kept dodging continuously.

Yet, the kunai kept slicing into his bare skin.

Hiss...

Another sound of blood splattering.

This time, a wound appeared on Naruto's neck.

Just a little deeper, and the main artery would've been severed.

He would've died.

Shock filled Naruto's face. He reached out, touching the wound—sticky and wet.

He lifted his head slightly, locking eyes with Hiruzen Sarutobi's cold gaze.

"Grandpa Third, you..."

Biting his lip tightly, Naruto once again pulled out a kunai from his ninja tool pouch.

Cold steel gleamed before his eyes...

[Clang...]

He blocked Hiruzen Sarutobi's attack this time.

And began counterattacking...

For some reason, Sasuke felt something stir inside—he felt an unexpected lump in his chest.

"Weren't they showing so much care for each other just moments ago?"

Kabuto Yakushi's smile had completely disappeared, his voice calm. "Sasuke, you're still too naive. Naruto... is truly ruthless."

The scene before him—the fight between Naruto and Hiruzen Sarutobi—stirred certain childhood memories in Kabuto's mind, ones he tried to bury.

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