NOVEL WEB Chapter 62: Chapter 62
The fierce battle in Konoha had begun to die down, the chaos gradually giving way to silence.
The streets were strewn with corpses, blood pooling on the ground. Some people still wailed in agony. Others would never move again.
Every side involved in the war had suffered tremendous casualties. Konoha was badly shaken, but the situation for Sunagakure and the Hidden Sound was even more dire.
Especially the Sound Ninja—at this point, they were on the verge of being wiped out.
Just thirty minutes earlier, Jiraiya, one of Konoha's legendary Sannin, had arrived. The moment he stepped onto the battlefield, he summoned an army of toads and began massacring both Sand and Sound shinobi.
The giant snake summoned by the Sand had been slain, and Shukaku—the tailed beast of Sunagakure—had been forced back into its jinchūriki form.
With the balance of high-level combat power shattered, the tide of battle was clearly turning in Konoha's favor.
Still, there were pockets where Sunagakure held the upper hand—such as on the city wall, where the battle continued.
Of the entire team led by Gekkō Hayate, only he and Uzuki Yugao remained. Everyone else had been killed in action.
Hayate himself was in critical condition. A devastating wind-style jutsu from Maki had torn open his abdomen.
They had paid such a steep price, and yet only two Sunagakure ninja had been taken down. The enemy's strongest fighter, Maki, hadn't even suffered a scratch.
Uzuki Yugao stood in front of Hayate, chest heaving, her sword raised in defense. Blood dripped from the corner of her mouth—she was clearly injured.
So this is the gap between a special jōnin and a full jōnin?
She bit her lip, frustrated and unwilling to give up. Was this really the end for her?
"Yugao… run," Hayate called out with the last of his strength, lying in a pool of blood.
Run?
They hadn't escaped before. How could she escape now?
Clenching her blade tightly, Yugao's eyes darkened with resolve. She had no illusions about surviving anymore. All she could hope for was to take one more enemy down with her.
"You've lost," Maki said, calm and collected. His words came easily even as he moved to attack—an attempt to shake her resolve.
"Cut the crap!" Yugao roared. She charged forward, body burning with desperation. Her chakra was depleted; all she had left was raw willpower and fading physical strength. She swung her blade at Maki.
But Maki could see through her state. With a smirk, he raised his hand, wind chakra gathering once again.
"Wind Style: Wind Blade!"
The air twisted into invisible razors, whistling toward her. She could feel the cold edge of death closing in on her neck—
And then, suddenly, a figure appeared in front of her.
She recognized him instantly.
Naruto Uzumaki caught her mid-charge and leapt onto a nearby rooftop, cradling her in his arms.
Seeing the blonde boy she had watched over for so many years, Yugao didn't feel relief—she felt dread.
"Naruto… don't worry about me. Run. You can still get away."
"Don't talk. Just rest."
Naruto gently laid her down on the rooftop and turned, his eyes locking onto Maki.
At that moment, Maki felt a chill run through him.
Naruto didn't know this woman well, but he'd always had a favorable impression of her. The last time she held him in her arms, he'd noticed her scent.
She smelled nice.
As Naruto appeared to recall that moment with a strange smile, Maki snorted.
Was I seriously afraid of a Genin just now?
Despite his victories over Kankuro and Temari, a Genin was still a Genin. Even with low chakra, a veteran jōnin like Maki could crush one using Taijutsu alone.
He raised his hands again, gathering wind chakra, ready to finish Naruto off with another Wind Blade—this time with backup.
"Hey, kid. Didn't your teacher ever tell you not to let your guard down in a fight?"
Another Sand ninja attacked simultaneously. He flung a kunai wrapped in an explosive tag toward Naruto. Maki tracked Naruto's potential escape path. There was no way out.
Unless Naruto had the durability of a tailed beast host—
But that was impossible.
Even Gaara might not survive Maki's Wind Blade. This kid was done for.
This was why the Genin of Konoha would never lead the Five Great Nations—they had no sense of real combat.
Yugao watched helplessly, bitterness in her heart. Not only had Naruto been dragged into this, but if he died… the Nine-Tails would go berserk and bring even more devastation to the village.
But just then, Naruto clicked his tongue, and a red light burst from his body. A chakra arm formed from the Nine-Tails flared into existence and smacked the explosive kunai toward Maki.
BOOM!
Maki leapt back instinctively to avoid the explosion—just in time to see a bloody gash open across his companion's throat.
Naruto stood with Uzuki Yugao's long sword in his hand.
The blade had drawn a thin red line across the neck of the ninja who had thrown the kunai.
A moment later—blood sprayed.
"Sand ninja are pathetic," Naruto muttered. "Not even as good as Hyuga Neji in a fight."
He felt no pride in the kill. His heart was full of frustration.
After leaving the Sarutobi estate with both the Sharingan and Byakugan, he'd wandered around, hoping to complete missions and make progress.
But nothing ever came of it.
No fights, no kills, no action.
Now, finally standing against a jōnin like Maki—he still wasn't getting a proper chance.
What a joke.
Was the Selector still holding a grudge because of earlier? Come on, he hadn't even done anything perverted… really!
If he'd known it would go like this, maybe he should have taken the job. If playing "Konohamaru's Dad" would've kept the Selector happy, then fine, whatever!
But there's no "what if."
Forget it.
If the Selector won't come through, then Naruto would stop waiting. From now on, he'd train harder. No more slacking.
He had to deal with that Uchiha bootlicker once and for all—and then maybe he could rest.
Turning back to Maki, who was barely holding onto any chakra, Naruto grinned.
"Guess what? You might be the first jōnin I've ever killed."
"Shit!" Maki didn't even hesitate. He turned and ran for his life.
He knew he didn't have the strength to fight anymore. Genin or not—Naruto Uzumaki was a Jinchūriki. And Maki wasn't foolish enough to play hero.
Naruto didn't bother chasing him down. Uzuki Yugao was still lying there—if he left, someone else might come to finish her off. That would be another Anbu member gone.
Too much trouble.
He jumped back to the roof and helped her sit up.
"Are you alright?"
Yugao collapsed into his arms, exhaling heavily. "I'm fine. Go… save Hayate."
[Active Choice Triggered!]
[Uzuki Yugao's words have stirred something in you. The Selector has sensed your perverted instincts. What will you choose?]
[Choice 1: Stay Friendly – Go check on Hayate's condition and do your best to help him. Completion Reward: 250 Ryo]
[Choice 2: Be Rational – Promise Hayate that you'll protect his fiancée. Completion Reward: Talent – "Widow"]
Talent: Widow – Women whose husbands have died are more likely to develop feelings for you.
[Choice 3: Be Shameless – Hold the weakened Uzuki Yugao in front of the dying Moonlight Hayate and "heh heh heh." Completion Reward: Byakugan (Rolling Eyes)]
The choice appeared suddenly.
Naruto sighed.
Of course.
This Selector really was a pervert.
He'd gone through a whole war, fought elite ninjas, saved lives—but the system didn't respond. Yet now that he touched a woman, it pops up immediately?
Ridiculous.