Cherreads

Chapter 144 - Regret, Betrayal, and the Path to Sacrifice

Broadcast Continues

"After the Nine-Tails' attack, aside from rebuilding the village, the top priority was selecting a new Hokage."

"At the time, Jiraiya was traveling the world, and Tsunade had left the village."

"Kakashi and his generation were still too young. Konoha was in a transition period, lacking suitable candidates."

"During the emergency meeting, Danzo tried to seize the opportunity to claim the position for himself."

"But Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke first:

'I'm willing to carry this burden again—until the next Hokage matures. Consider me a temporary measure.'"

"Danzo exploded.

He had already been passed over once by the Second Hokage.

Now that Sarutobi had retired, he thought his chance had come—only for Hiruzen to retake the mantle."

"What had started as a difference in ideology now turned into hatred.

Danzo even plotted an assassination attempt against Sarutobi."

"But when the plot was discovered, and Danzo faced a death sentence for attempted assassination of the Hokage…"

"Sarutobi let him go.

'I won't pursue this,' he said.

'I hope you'll serve the village faithfully in the future.'"

"Danzo only sneered:

'You're still so soft. That naive kindness of yours will destroy you someday.'"

"Sarutobi replied:

'Where there is light, there must be shadow. Without both, the world cannot function.'"

Chat Group

Tobirama Senju:

@Danzo – I honestly don't even know what to say to you anymore.

Hashirama Senju:

I never imagined someone could do so much harm without doing even one good thing.

Raikage A:

As a Hokage, why keep someone around who's such a constant threat to the village?

Ōnoki (Third Tsuchikage):

Exactly. Even if he's your old friend, what about the rest of the village?

Shouldn't a Kage put the village first?

And you dare say all this was "for the good of the village"?

TontonFanboy69 (aka "That brat who idolizes Lady Tsunade"):

Let's think—

If Sarutobi hadn't spared Danzo, then during Pain's attack, the messenger toad from Mount Myōboku wouldn't have been killed.

Naruto would've arrived in the village sooner, and countless people wouldn't have had to die.

Raikage A:

Exactly!

That wasn't "protecting" the village—it was damning it!

Ōnoki:

Hiruzen… maybe it's time for you to do the right thing and end it.

You've lost your honor—what face do you have left to show the world?

Sarutobi Hiruzen:

You outsiders don't get to judge me!

Tobirama Senju:

Enough. Everyone shut up.

Though Tobirama was furious with Sarutobi,

he refused to let other villages insult his student.

His voice carried weight, and the group immediately fell silent.

Broadcast Continues

"Sarutobi's words sounded wise…

But in truth, Danzo went on to commit far more atrocities."

"He colluded with Sarutobi's own student—Orochimaru—to conduct forbidden human experiments."

"When Orochimaru's lab was exposed, Sarutobi led the team to capture him personally.

But when the moment came, faced with his beloved pupil—he hesitated."

"That one second of mercy let Orochimaru escape."

"Danzo's warning… ultimately came true between them."

"Meanwhile, the village gradually returned to peace."

"But when it came to the orphaned Naruto, Sarutobi was torn."

"As the child of two heroes, Naruto should've grown up loved and celebrated."

"But he was also the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki.

If his identity was leaked, he would become a constant target."

"Sarutobi decided that the best way to protect Naruto… was to hide the truth."

"Let him grow like any ordinary child—

While offering him protection and aid from the shadows."

"That might've worked—if it was executed properly."

"But what happened instead?"

"The village didn't know he was the Fourth's son."

"But they did know he was the jinchūriki."

"The information that should've been public was buried.

What should've been hidden was revealed."

"The villagers' hatred of the Nine-Tails was all poured onto Naruto."

"Even the Uchiha Clan, during their coup preparations, had plans to kidnap Naruto."

Chat Group

Sarutobi Hiruzen:

@Minato @Kushina @Hashirama @Tobirama

You don't need to say anything.

I already know I was wrong.

Hashirama:

Good.

Knowing you were wrong shows there's still some hope for you.

Unlike a certain other old man, who's still playing dead and won't admit a thing.

Tobirama:

It's one thing to admit fault—

But the deeper your guilt, the more pain Naruto must've gone through because of you.

You failed him.

You failed the parents who gave everything for this village.

Hiruzen:

So long as I still draw breath…

I will do everything I can to make things right.

Broadcast Resumes – A Memory

"The scene shifts to young Naruto—just a child."

"Shunned and ignored by all, he couldn't even afford ramen."

"Starving, he wandered into the forest, fishing and gathering mushrooms to survive."

Chat Group

Kushina:

I knew Naruto had it rough growing up…

But not like this!

@Hiruzen – Even if you died to protect him, I would still never forgive you!

Minato:

Hiruzen…

Naruto being shunned—I can accept that, barely.

But this?

He couldn't even eat properly?

This goes too far.

Hashirama:

I was just starting to consider forgiving you…

Then I saw this.

How could I?

Tobirama:

Damn it, monkey!

This is beyond disgraceful.

And Naruto—he's still so kind to you after all this.

What's that word again?

Izuna Uchiha:

Repaying evil with good.

Tobirama:

Exactly.

Repaying evil with good.

Izuna:

No wonder your students turned out this way—you clearly lacked proper education.

Madara Uchiha:

@Hashirama

Hashirama…

Is this really the world you dreamed of?

What you're seeing now—this future—

Is this what you wanted?

Hashirama:

Madara! What are you implying?

Madara:

What I'm saying is…

This is why I started the Fourth Great Ninja War.

To change this kind of future.

Hashirama:

No matter what you say—

I still think you're wrong.

Madara:

You'll see, Hashirama.

One day, when my dream becomes real—

Then you'll know who was right all along.

Hiruzen:

Yes, Naruto was shunned.

But I remember—I was there.

Keep watching.

You'll see that I had good intentions.

Kushina:

What, did you bring him food?

Then why wait until he was starving and struggling alone?

Broadcast Resumes

"Hiruzen appeared before Naruto—

Not as the Hokage, but disguised as a wandering old man."

"He shared food with Naruto—though Naruto had only caught three fish, Hiruzen took one for himself."

Chat Group

Kushina:

Wait, this is what you meant by 'just keep watching'?

Naruto barely catches three fish—and you take one?!

You heartless bastard!

Minato:

You didn't bring him food…

And then you took his?!

That's just cruel.

Raikage A:

LMAO!

Disguised as a "wandering old man"?

You couldn't even tell him you were the Hokage?

Ōnoki:

You said to "just wait and see"?

We waited—

Only to watch you scam a starving kid out of his fish?!

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki:

Wow wow wow~

Even my ungrateful sons weren't this bad.

@Hiruzen – You're worse than me.

Naruto:

No, no—It's not like that!

When Grandpa Hiruzen appeared that day, he—

Hiruzen:

Naruto, it's okay.

So long as you understand, I don't need them to.

Broadcast Resumes

"Then came Orochimaru's infiltration of the Chūnin Exams—disguised as the Kazekage."

"He launched the 'Konoha Crush' plan."

"Sarutobi fought Orochimaru personally."

"He used his remaining chakra to summon the Shinigami and perform the Reaper Death Seal."

"He used shadow clones to seal away the reanimated souls of the First and Second Hokage."

"Then he struck with his Adamantine Staff—knocking the Kusanagi Blade away and pinning Orochimaru."

"The Reaper's grip extended into Orochimaru's body, attempting to tear out his soul."

"For the first time, the immortal Orochimaru… showed fear."

"He stabbed the Kusanagi Blade into Sarutobi—hoping to break free."

"But Sarutobi didn't dodge."

"This was a jutsu that required one's life."

"Though mortally wounded, he gritted his teeth and continued the seal."

"But his body was too old, too weak…

He couldn't pull out the entire soul."

"Sarutobi:

'Such a pity… I can't take you with me.'"

"The Shinigami's blade fell—

Severing only Orochimaru's arms."

Author's Note : 

I've released a new fanfiction titled Naruto: The False Ōtsutsuki.Your support in reading and engaging with the story would mean a lot.You can find it in my works or by searching the title.

PS : I've been consistently releasing chapters for many days now, and If you want to support my work and read the complete fic (all chapters ), you can check out

my P@treon. -> patreon.com/Sagamaster789

◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇

◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!

◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.

◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789

More Chapters