Jiraiya's heart was bleeding.
Naruto was really planning to defect from Konoha.
Why? Why? Naruto wasn't supposed to become a destiny-warper — why has he gone to the opposite side?
Tsunade glared at Naruto and shouted angrily, "Naruto, do you know what you're saying?!"
Kakashi looked at him and asked, "Naruto, what's wrong with you? It's only been a few days and you've changed into this."
Naruto fell silent.
All these questions came from people he cherished more than anything — but he couldn't help himself.
He looked at them and said, "I'm sorry, everyone. I know if I tell you, you'll probably think it's unbelievable, so I chose secrecy, because this thing itself sounds utterly absurd. Even winning over one or two people's trust doesn't matter much, because before that day truly arrives the pressure you'll face is something ordinary people can't bear!"
"Rather than have a crowd engage in meaningless resistance, it's better I shoulder it alone — the chance of success is higher that way."
Jiraiya studied his student as if trying to see through him. From the time he'd first seen Naruto in Hidden Rain Village, to Naruto's frequent earnest looks, to him offering Jiraiya ice cream, asking for the Nine-Tails key — even to now, stealing Danzo's right eye and arm — all of this suggested a pattern.
Sage arts, Flying Thunder God, the near-appearance of Nine-Tails power, the strongest genjutsu — Shisui's eye — and possibly Sharingan implanted in Danzo's arm…
It was obvious: Naruto was deliberately gathering power.
Jiraiya quickly asked, "Naruto! What kind of enemy are you preparing to face to gather power like this?!"
Facing his teacher's eyes, Naruto felt a flicker of emotion. Truly, his master — a father figure — had seen a trace of the truth.
Naruto smiled faintly. "Teacher, I told you — there's no point telling this. Please trust me. I, Naruto Uzumaki, am still the same boy at heart. I haven't changed. But if I don't do this, another tragedy like what happened to the Uchiha might happen again."
Tsunade shouted, "The Uchiha incident is a historical, lingering problem — that's just how it is."
Naruto shook his head. "No! Although I revere the Third Hokage, I've reviewed the Uchiha tragedy. Ultimately, it's the Third's political failure!"
"If he hadn't turned a blind eye, if he'd taken concrete measures instead of letting Danzo and his Root run wild, and if that decaying council hadn't politically cornered the Uchiha — with people like Mitokado Homura and Koharu applying pressure — the Uchiha's grievances wouldn't have found fertile ground!"
Danzo spat a mouthful of blood. "What do you know, brat?! What do you know about running a village, being Hokage?!"
Naruto sneered coldly, "Hokage? It's not like I've never tried."
In that moment the atmosphere around Naruto shifted — his whole bearing had changed, making those who knew him feel a deep unfamiliarity.
Naruto continued calmly, looking at Danzo, "The Uchiha, as a major clan of Konoha and a doujutsu clan on par with the Hyūga, across generations were not trusted. They weren't even given a senior advisory seat! By the time the Third Hokage was in charge, they were placed under surveillance, ostracized to the village's periphery — their very eyes were pried into the home of the clan leader!"
"Itachi Uchiha is a product of dark politics — a proper sacrificial victim."
"Whether the Uchiha or Orochimaru, did the Third truly do anything substantive…?"
"Enough!" Tsunade and Jiraiya shouted at the same time.
Naruto's words had become bolder, more audacious. After mentioning the Third, he traced back to earlier times — effectively questioning the efforts of prior leaders.
Jiraiya fixed Naruto with a solemn look. "Naruto, I'll ask you one more time. If you insist on going this far and end up opposing your teacher, must I stop you by force? Would you, like Nagato, kill your teacher?"
Naruto looked at Jiraiya and gave a wry smile. "Teacher, sorry. Rest assured — we are never enemies. I am not Nagato. You are one of the most important people in my life…"
"Then why are you denying the Hokage, denying the Will of Fire? Isn't that opposing me?" Jiraiya barked before Naruto could answer.
Naruto's face was expressionless. He sighed. "I haven't abandoned the Will of Fire. I've realized something even more important than the Will of Fire."
Jiraiya squinted. "What is it?"
Naruto said, "The Will of God."
At that, Jiraiya flew into a rage. "Naruto, you've fallen!"
Naruto raised a hand to quiet him. "Teacher, don't misunderstand. I'm not talking about Nagato's so-called Pain — that's a false god at best."
"What I mean is a true, supreme power — a god that stands above all beings; one that can ignore the consequences of the Six Paths, sever everything. Under a god's will, if you aren't strong enough, it can wipe you out as casually as we step on an ant — with no remorse, no guilt."
"This is terrifying."
Saying that, Naruto fell silent.
Tsunade waved her hand. "Naruto, what you're saying is unrealistic. Better surrender now — I'll consider a lenient punishment."
Naruto snorted coldly.
Words are pointless now; explanation is premature.
With a faint whoosh, Naruto used Flying Thunder God and vanished.
Danzo watched his right eye and right arm disappear from his sight — years of scheming and arrangement gone in an instant. Furious, he coughed up blood and collapsed into unconsciousness.
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