Konoha: Naruto's abnormal life choices

When he saw the third reward, the previously calm Naruto suddenly trembled, his breathing quickened.

His heart began murmuring uncontrollably.

"Perfect Version of the Eight Gates Technique... Trait: Immortality!"

The Eight Gates Technique was known as a terrifying suicide move — a one-for-one, or even one-for-many, attack capable of killing nearly anyone in the world. But the price for using it had always been death.

Now, that fatal drawback was gone. He wouldn't die anymore. The only cost? Temporary chakra depletion, which would recover over time.

Looking more carefully at the completion conditions, Naruto's breathing grew heavier.

It matched perfectly with what he was already planning to do.

It was as if the system feared he wouldn't act unless offered a reward for something he already wanted to do!

In that case — he'd give it his all.

After standing there stunned for a moment, Naruto snapped out of it and shifted his gaze to the fourth and final option. But once he saw the condition for completion, he dismissed it immediately.

Naruto wasn't a good person — you could even say he leaned toward being a bad one. But he had his limits.

A massacre? No. Even when he had ordered the annihilation of the Fire Nation's leadership, he hadn't felt any guilt — but the wholesale slaughter of civilians? That crossed the line.

Even if the final reward was a legendary "blood-drinking sword."

Once calm again, Naruto closed the system panel.

The setting sun was like a blazing fire about to dip below the horizon. The sky and earth turned red, and the sunlight poured into the forest. The bare branches of the trees looked like the flushed cheeks of a woman, the red glow reflecting in Naruto's eyes.

Suddenly, his hand grew hot.

The character "肆" appeared across the back of his hand.

He raised it — and heard the faint voices of two people coming through the mark. Yukito and another ninja were quietly speaking as they walked.

"Sir, I'm heading toward the Konoha headquarters with two elite Jonin. I have four hundred Chunin under my command," Yukito reported softly.

"They're all strong — but not stronger than me."

Naruto's eyes glinted red, overlapping with the dying sunlight. His pupils turned into crimson beast-like slits.

If he was going to seize control of the Land of Lightning, he needed someone obedient in power.

And Yugito — she was the perfect candidate.

Naruto chuckled coldly. "Alright, keep going with them. I'll wait for you to arrive. When the time comes… we'll put on a good show together."

Elsewhere…

A team of over four hundred Cloud ninjas rushed toward Konoha's camp, sprinting over the treetops with practiced ease. Their movement through the forest was swift and efficient, the branches barely reacting to their passage.

Among them, a beautiful woman with long golden hair leapt gracefully between the trees.

Yugito looked dazed for a moment after breaking her connection with Naruto.

"Why do I have to act out this ridiculous play?" she muttered under her breath. She didn't understand Naruto's purpose.

But then again — the thoughts of geniuses were always strange and unpredictable.

At the head of the group, Darui and Samui moved while chatting, occasionally turning back to ask Yugito for her input.

At first, she didn't respond, and they assumed she just didn't feel like talking. But after several attempts, they noticed her falling behind.

Panic flickered in their eyes.

They were afraid she might suddenly leave.

They quickly pulled her back into formation, reaffirming their support for her. It wasn't about friendship or some romantic notion of sisterhood.

Just like when Darui had offered to help Samui earlier — it had nothing to do with deep feelings.

It was simple: Samui had an incredible body and dressed with enough confidence to draw Darui's interest, despite his usual laziness.

He wanted to pursue her.

In the dead of night, lying awake, he would sometimes imagine what their child might look like — half-black, half-white.

Probably black, he figured. Like all the other mixed-race kids in the village.

Darui grinned at the thought. He was willing to help Samui avenge her brother out of admiration for her.

Similarly, Yugito was powerful — powerful enough to increase their chances of success.

That alone was enough reason for them to share responsibility for her earlier mission failure.

Although they hadn't fought life-or-death battles together, both Darui and Samui were confident they couldn't beat Yugito one-on-one.

She was among the top-tier combatants in the village. No matter what happened, her punishment wouldn't be severe.

"Samui, wait up for Yugito!" Darui called out.

His gaze swept over Samui's curvaceous figure and he swallowed hard. "We should ask her for information about the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."

Samui felt his gaze, bold and undisguised. She frowned, but said nothing.

For the sake of revenge, she would endure it.

"…Fine."

As she spoke, she glanced sideways, eyes filled with disdain.

Samui didn't hate Darui — he was a fellow citizen of the Land of Lightning. But that didn't mean she wanted to be with him.

In fact, that kind of interracial union was rare in their country unless the couple was madly in love.

Trust? Sure.

Marriage? Not even close.

If asked to choose, Samui would reject Darui without hesitation.

Just imagining their child — dark-skinned, completely different from her — made her uncomfortable.

"Darui, I'm sorry."

"If we succeed in our revenge, I'll repay you in other ways. I can help you kill enemies or give you all the money I've saved over the years."

"But if you want to be with me — that's not going to happen."

Samui glanced at Darui, who was still staring at her dreamily.

If not for her desire for vengeance, she would never have asked him for help.

Looking up, she thought she saw her family smiling at her from the clouds. She smiled back.

The setting sun glowed, painting the clouds gold. The wind stirred the trees, and Samui's skirt fluttered gently. Her brows relaxed, her gaze shining like stars.

When she smiled slightly, it touched Darui's heart.

He became even more determined to win her over.

"Why did you stop?"

Yugito's pleasant voice interrupted his thoughts. Darui turned and saw her approaching.

Yugito was beautiful, too — more modestly dressed than Samui, her figure less explosive, but she radiated a dignified elegance that Samui lacked.

Darui couldn't help but imagine… what if he could have them both?

"Yugito, if we encounter the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki later, tell us everything you know," he said.

"If we work together, we can avenge our comrades."

He glanced at Samui. "Right?"

Samui immediately understood.

He was using this opportunity to try and win Yugito over too.

Fine. Let him try.

If it helped her reach her goals and removed some trouble from her path, why not?

"A dead ally is better than a poor one," she thought.

"Yes, Yugito. Let's fight side by side," Samui said with a soft smile.

The cold wind blew gently.

Yugito smiled. "Thank you. Having two friends like you… it's the greatest blessing of my life."

As the three Jonin resumed their journey, Darui asked about Naruto.

Yugito smiled faintly. "The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki… that brat's pretty strong. Not much weaker than me."

Darui and Samui frowned.

"Not much weaker?"

Sighing, Yugito added, "During our fight, Matatabi went berserk and tried to seize control. I was distracted. That's how he beat me."

"You know the rest."

"While I struggled with Matatabi, he killed the others and escaped. But he was seriously injured. I doubt they can fight properly right now."

Darui blinked. "Then why didn't you chase them?"

Sadness flickered in Yugito's eyes.

"By the time I regained control, they were long gone. And I couldn't leave our comrades' corpses in the open. I had to bury them properly."

Her long hair lifted in the wind, her expression pained.

Samui felt her heart ache.

"Yes. Our fallen comrades deserve a proper burial," she agreed.

It was rare for fallen ninja to be recovered on the battlefield.

For Yugito — a Jinchūriki despised by many — to care so much, was deeply moving.

Just as she spoke, countless red lights lit up the forest ahead.

Massive fireballs came crashing down, exploding into the advancing Cloud team with devastating force.

The center of the attack — where Darui, Samui, and Yugito stood — was engulfed in heat.

Yugito, knowing what was happening, reacted instantly.

She transformed into her tailed beast form, throwing her massive body between the flames and her comrades.

"Yugito!"

"Lady Yugito!"

More than four hundred Cloud ninja watched in shock.

Had she not shielded them, dozens of Chunin would've died instantly.

When the flames cleared, she reverted to human form, her face pale with pain.

But she stood tall.

"I'm fine," she said, voice steady.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

"Well done. As expected of the Two-Tails Jinchūriki," a clear voice rang out. "You took all those fireballs without flinching."

A blond-haired boy stepped forward, clapping slowly.

Every Cloud ninja recognized him immediately.

"Uzumaki Naruto… the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki!"

"You killed so many of our comrades — you'll die today!"

Yugito roared and lunged at him, kunai in hand.

Just when they expected a bloody showdown, Naruto turned around—

And ran.

"I'm no match for you! Bye!"

He wasn't even subtle about it.

All 400 Cloud ninja heard it.

The great "demon" of Konoha — the killer of hundreds — just surrendered in front of them.

All eyes turned to Yugito.

Naruto's war record was terrifying. He had killed over three hundred Cloud ninja and escaped a ten-man Jonin unit.

And now — he'd run from her?

Darui, who had heard Yugito's earlier explanation, completely believed it.

Naruto must be wounded!

This was his chance!

If he killed Naruto, he'd win Samui and Yugito's gratitude.

This was his moment.

"You're not escaping! Stop!" Darui shouted, chasing after Naruto.

Samui followed, gritting her teeth.

The three disappeared into the woods before anyone else could react.

The "Yugito" who had scared Naruto off did not follow.

She remained behind — taking charge of the team.

"Don't be afraid. Although your leaders are gone, I'll protect you."

"Stay in formation. Watch the surroundings. Stay alive."

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