A special thank you to my patrons:
—Cain, Shahzaam, Varun Madhu, Mp Gaming, kevin Williams, Jose Carrillo, Jose Sierra, Salim, Silver, ManyEB, Archer Sterling, Kyle Bates, Acedia, Zhandos Kauzhanov, Kylo Ren, Mursuland.
You can read 30 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - [email protected]/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
-------------------------------------------------------------
"Wh-what?!"
Iruka couldn't believe his eyes. From the start of the fight to its conclusion, only a few seconds had passed! A few seconds! Over a dozen Anbu members were down?
"Kagaya, you! You!"
Naruto looked at the corpses scattered around, unable to believe that the Kagaya from his past could become like this.
Unlike Iruka, who saw Kagaya and Haku's formidable strength, Naruto saw Kagaya mercilessly killing these Konoha ninja without hesitation.
Kagaya cast a cold glance at Naruto.
"Naruto, didn't I tell you before? Some things are unavoidable. Tell me, should I kill you right here and now?"
Kagaya raised a shuriken, pointing it at Naruto.
Iruka, enduring the pain in his leg, ran in front of Naruto, looking at Kagaya with a tense expression.
"Kagaya, stop this!"
Kagaya smiled disdainfully.
"Iruka, don't speak to me in that commanding tone. Do you think I'm still your student now?!"
"You!"
Whoosh!
A shuriken flew from Kagaya's hand, piercing Iruka's other, uninjured thigh, embedding itself deeply. Now, with both thighs wounded and intense pain shooting through them, Iruka fell to his knees.
Kagaya walked up to Iruka, looking down at him kneeling before him. Another shuriken appeared in his hand, pointing at Iruka's head.
"Well, what will you do now?"
In all of Konoha, Kagaya retained only a little feeling for Naruto and Sasuke. Towards others, he held no real sentiment. He wouldn't kill Naruto here, but killing Iruka was something he might actually do.
"Stop, Kagaya!"
Naruto suddenly stood up, shouting at Kagaya.
Kagaya smiled slightly.
"Do you think you can stop me, Naruto?"
"No, this isn't you, Kagaya! If it were you, you wouldn't attack Iruka-sensei!"
Naruto looked at Kagaya with a pained expression.
Kagaya looked back at Naruto, the shuriken in his hand drawing closer and closer to Iruka's forehead.
"Naruto, time changes a person. I have changed. I am no longer that academy student from back then, and he is no longer my teacher. The me now can kill him with my own hands, right before your eyes."
As he spoke, the shuriken pressed fully against Iruka's forehead, breaking the skin. Blood trickled down. It seemed in the next second, Kagaya would drive the shuriken through Iruka's skull.
However...
Kagaya looked at Naruto, who had grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"Naruto, you're still hesitating. Didn't you learn the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique? Use it! Attack me! Why won't you move?"
Tears of anguish streamed from Naruto's eyes. He didn't understand why Kagaya had become like this. He shook his head frantically.
"No! No! I won't fight Kagaya!"
A cold glint flashed in Kagaya's eyes. He released the kunai, clenched his fist, and punched Naruto hard in the face, sending him flying.
"You're still too soft-hearted, Naruto! I've decided, I'll kill you first!"
Saying this, Kagaya kicked the kneeling Iruka away. Another kunai appeared in his hand as he walked towards Naruto.
"Die for your naivety!"
Swish!
The shuriken flew out, aimed directly at Naruto's forehead! There was no hint of holding back; it seemed Kagaya truly intended to kill Naruto.
Clang!
However, a giant shuriken suddenly flew in, deflecting Kagaya's attack.
Whoosh!
The Third Hokage appeared in front of Naruto, looking at Kagaya with a complex expression.
"Kagaya, is it? It seems only hatred remains in your heart now. Can you even bring yourself to harm Naruto? What are you now? A beast that kills, or a human?!"
Kagaya scoffed.
"Third Hokage, your time won't be long either. Since you're here, I'll take my leave. Haku, let's go."
"Mm!"
In the next moment, Kagaya and Haku vanished from the spot.
The Third Hokage spoke to the Anbu behind him. "You, take care of these two. I'll pursue!"
"Yes!"
The Third gave chase. However, Kagaya's speed was formidable. Even though the Third personally pursued, he ultimately lost track of them.
******
Night.
By a riverside, under the moonlight, Kagaya and Haku walked slowly along the bank.
"Kagaya, you didn't really want to kill that blond boy, did you?" Haku inquired. He always felt that Kagaya's earlier killing intent towards the blond boy seemed somewhat fake, almost as if he was pretending.
"Mm." Kagaya didn't hide it and admitted directly. He truly hadn't considered killing Naruto. As for Iruka, he had considered it but ultimately gave up on the idea.
"Why?" Haku was somewhat puzzled. If he didn't want to kill the blond boy, why pretend to be about to kill him?
Kagaya pointed to the scroll on Haku's back. "Do you know what this is?"
"No."
"Do you know about the Scroll of Seals?"
"N-No..."
"Alright, in short, this is something extremely, extremely important to Konoha. By stealing this from Konoha, we're definitely not going to get off easy. The Third Hokage might have previously turned a blind eye to my actions because of the unfair treatment I suffered in the past, but after we stole this, we will undoubtedly be hunted by Konoha with the utmost intensity."
Haku still didn't understand and asked, frowning, "But what does that have to do with you wanting to kill that blond boy?"
Kagaya smiled slightly. "From the moment we stole this scroll, we became Konoha's number one enemies. At a time like this, the worse my relationship with Naruto is, the safer Naruto will be. It's best if Naruto hates me, just like Sasuke does. That way, he will be the safest. Otherwise, if Naruto remains attached to me, Konoha's number one enemy, his situation could become very difficult. Our relationship must become distant."
"I-Is that so? Then why did you steal this scroll?"
"This scroll records many forbidden jutsu, you know?"
"Forbidden jutsu? What are forbidden jutsu?"
Kagaya held his forehead. "Alright, your knowledge about ninja matters was, after all, taught by me. It's my fault for not explaining some terms properly. Forbidden jutsu, generally speaking, are techniques with immense power but are sealed away due to their dangerous nature or excessive side effects."
"Ah?! Excessive side effects? Then why did you still steal it?"
"Not exactly. Some side effects can be avoided."
"Is that so?"
And so, under the moonlight, Kagaya and Haku walked along the riverside, chatting casually, completely lacking the awareness of being Konoha's number one enemies, instead resembling two leisurely travelers.
******
The morning after the night passed.
Konoha was in an uproar!
"Hiruzen, what did you say? The Scroll of Seals was stolen by that rogue ninja, Uchiha Kagaya?!" Danzō spoke with a grim face.
The Third Hokage nodded. "To be honest, this is my fault."
He then explained how he had intentionally let Naruto steal the Scroll of Seals.
Danzō slammed the table violently. "Hiruzen, we will deal with your fault later! The most important thing now is to retrieve the Scroll of Seals! As for that Mizuki, leave him to me. Instigating the Jinchuriki to steal the Scroll of Seals... I'll make him wish he were dead! As for Uzumaki Naruto, since he is the Jinchuriki, we won't take action against him. Moreover, according to your account, that Uchiha Kagaya intended to harm the Jinchuriki. Hiruzen, remember to assign people to watch the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki closely. Don't let the tragedy of twelve years ago repeat itself! That Uchiha bastard possesses the Sharingan!"
The Third Hokage nodded. "I will, Danzō. I'll assign you some personnel. You are responsible for retrieving the Scroll of Seals."
Danzō nodded. "Mm!"