Chapter 229 Valley of the End
"Kid, aren't you afraid someone will catch up with you at such a leisurely pace?" Kurama couldn't help but remind Naruto, watching him leisurely enjoy the scenery after leaving the village.
"Brother Kurama, since we're out here, let's enjoy the scenery," Naruto said, whistling as he put his hands behind his head. "Besides, my escape plan is flawless; they won't find out we're gone anytime soon."
"What's so interesting about the scenery here?" Kurama scoffed, but remembering that the kid had grown up in Konoha and never had a chance to see the outside world, he didn't say anything more. Before lying down to sleep, he simply said, "If you get caught, don't blame me for not warning you."
"It's alright, I'll just run. With Brother Kurama's power, as long as Master doesn't personally intervene, no one else can catch me," Naruto laughed.
...
At the western gate of Konoha, Sasuke hurriedly arrived at the village exit checkpoint. Without lingering, he simply told the guards at the gate about an urgent mission, saying he'd complete the exit paperwork later, and then headed west along the main road.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Uchiha Touko received news that Naruto was suspected of being missing—or rather, suspected missing.
Uchiha Touko looked at the limited-edition ramen and the note inside the scroll on his desk, feeling a terrible headache coming on.
[Teacher, the world is so big, I want to see it.]
Looking at the crookedly written note and the report of the genin being attacked, Uchiha Touko couldn't help but sigh.
This silly kid, couldn't he just come and report if he wanted to go out and play? Was he really going to lock this silly kid up in the village? Two years ago, Uchiha Touko might not have agreed to this kid's request, but now that the kid is capable of protecting himself in the ninja world, Uchiha Touko has no reason to object if he wants to go out and see the world. Uchiha Touko understands the principle that "reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles," and besides, isn't it already a Konoha tradition for Hokage's disciples to travel the world instead of staying in the village? But now this kid is doing this, is he tired of having a good life and wants to become a rogue ninja?
"Teacher, Naruto…" At this moment, Neji hurriedly pushed open the door and entered, but he was also stunned when he saw what was on Uchiha Touko's desk.
"You can go back now. I already know what happened." Uchiha Touko nodded. "I'll send someone to find that kid."
"Teacher, Sasuke has already gone after him." Neji said at this moment.
"Is that so?" Uchiha Touko nodded. "I know. Remember to tell those who know about this to keep quiet."
"Understood." Neji nodded.
After Neji left, Uchiha Touko shook his head helplessly and looked towards the west of the village.
"So, even with these two brothers like this, they still can't escape the fate of the final battle at the Valley of the End?" Uchiha Touko shook his head.
…
"Kid, someone's catching up behind us." The Nine-Tails' voice rang in Naruto's mind.
Naruto turned around sharply and saw a figure riding on lightning rushing towards him.
"So fast?" After seeing Sasuke's figure, Naruto was stunned at first, and then said in disbelief.
"It would be strange if you didn't get noticed with your skills," Kurama said. "What are you standing there for? Are you planning to fight him?"
"Okay." Naruto nodded, a golden light emanating from his body, and then he turned and ran away as fast as the wind could carry him.
"Naruto! Where do you think you're going?!" Sasuke's angry shout rang out behind Naruto.
Naruto remained silent, only accelerating.
"Stop right there!" Seeing Naruto's increasing speed, Sasuke gritted his teeth and unleashed a barrage of shuriken and wire. A dense
cloud of shuriken rained down on Naruto. He glanced back, quickly adjusting his direction, trying to escape through the gaps in the shuriken rain. However, Sasuke was even faster, deftly twisting the wire between his hands, causing the shuriken to collide in mid-air and change their trajectories. Seeing this, Naruto prepared to take
the shuriken head-on with his body.
However, just as he accelerated, his legs were suddenly entangled by the wire, causing him to lose his balance and fall to the ground.
Sasuke seized the opportunity to stand before Naruto, looking down at him coldly and asking, "Fool, where are you planning to go?"
"You caught up with me again, Sasuke. I don't want to fight you," Naruto sighed, using chakra to sever the steel wire wrapped around his leg.
"Answer my question first, where are you going?" Sasuke said coldly. "Do you know how worried everyone is about you?"
"I want to travel around the ninja world," Naruto said. "And then, find my own ninja way."
"Just for that reason?" Sasuke frowned, looking at Naruto. "I believe you understand the current situation in the ninja world. The village is about to face war, and it's precisely when your strength is needed. Yet you want to leave the village for such a reason?"
"That's my reason for leaving," Naruto said. "The ninja way I pursue doesn't allow me to use my power in the killing of war."
"You're also a disciple of our teacher. Have you forgotten what he said? Our future war to unify the ninja world is to end the years of conflict and bring final peace." Sasuke found Naruto utterly unreasonable.
"I know," Naruto nodded. "I also know that Master and everyone else are working towards this goal, but what I saw on the battlefield that day made me realize that no matter the purpose, killing only brings the purest pain. So, I want to try to lessen that pain as much as possible, at least to prevent it from falling on civilians."
"Is this what you were thinking about on the battlefield that day?" Sasuke took a deep breath and asked, looking at Naruto, who seemed different from before.
"Yes, so, let me pass, okay? I don't want to fight you," Naruto said.
"Judging from your tone, you seem to think you have me cornered, right?" Sasuke took a deep breath. "As for stepping aside, I'm sorry, I can't do that. I can't watch my friend become a rogue ninja. So, even if I break your legs, I will bring you back to the village."
Silence fell between them, broken only by the sound of flowing water.
They both looked towards the direction from which the sound of the water came almost simultaneously.
"Is that place... the Valley of the End?" Naruto murmured to himself.
🚀 Can't wait for the next chapter?
100+ advanced chapters are already available on Patreon!
👉 patreon.com/Horizons685
(End of Chapter)