Naruto: In the future world

Meanwhile, somewhere else.

Sakura sat on one of the garden benches, looking a bit uneasy.

Next to her was Kiba, fidgeting with boredom.

(I ended up not telling Naruto that I didn't need protection, so he asked Kiba to stay with me in case Jin tried anything.)

She sighed, placing her hand over her face with mild frustration.

(Ino told me to stop doing things like this... but it's hard to let go of a habit I'm so used to.)

Beneath her hand, which showed her disappointment, a small smile curved her lips with joy.

She smiled with her eyes closed, her thoughts drifting again. (I just couldn't resist the worried look on his face back then!)

"Damn that idiot Naruto, why didn't he take me along this time too?" Kiba grumbled, turning his head away in annoyance.

"I'm sorry, Kiba. Thank you for staying with me while the others are fighting."

Sakura didn't speak in her usual sweet tone. Her words felt more honest, more real—at least that's how Kiba perceived them.

"It's fine, don't worry about it. Naruto entrusted you to me, so it's the least I could do."

As the two sat together, two people walked past them.

Sakura stared at them with her green eyes, but didn't show any particular reaction. Her emotions were remarkably calm.

Kiba, however, was slightly surprised before quickly speaking up. "Oh, Sasuke, Ino! How are you guys?"

The two turned to face Kiba.

"Hey, Sakura, Kiba. We're good. What about you two?"

"We're doing fine too," Kiba replied before narrowing his gaze at Sasuke. "But something's been on my mind... didn't Naruto invite you to fight in the battle?"

"I don't recall him doing that," Sasuke said coldly, looking away.

"I see..."

Kiba continued to eye Sasuke with suspicion.

Feeling the tension, Ino quickly spoke up with a smile, "Heh, why don't the three of us go for a walk?"

"Good idea, Ino. Let's go," Sakura agreed.

She took the lead while Ino followed behind.

Sasuke coldly stared at the backs of the two girls as they walked. He then closed his eyes, suppressing the malicious emotions that tried to creep up.

He began walking slowly after them, Kiba walking beside him in silence, seemingly unfazed by Sasuke's demeanor.

---

Scene Twenty-Six

Murder

Tiger barely dodged Naruto's powerful grip, which felt like it could crush him, and began retreating quickly.

He looked into Naruto's face, which was shrouded in darkness, and his smile widened.

"Heh heh... now you're back to being strong."

Naruto lunged forward, launching a brutal attack. Tiger backed away with lightning speed—any blow from Naruto now could be fatal.

Tiger's eyes burned with excitement, but they also scanned every movement Naruto made, absorbing all of his techniques.

He spotted a gap in Naruto's fierce assault and struck his chest with a punch aimed at the heart. Naruto didn't even try to defend himself—he punched back at the same time.

Naruto was hit in the chest, while Tiger took a punch straight to the jaw.

Naruto gasped, his breath cut off, and began coughing violently, clutching his chest.

Tiger staggered, feeling dizzy.

Naruto looked at the disoriented Tiger and thought, (I have to defeat him... no, I have to destroy him.)

He moved slowly, his chest still burning with pain. He had to act—if someone like Tiger ruled Japan, a dark age would descend upon the world.

Tiger sensed the murderous intent in the air and turned toward Naruto, who now looked like a zombie, devoid of reason or logic, moving purely by animal instinct.

"Hahaha! This is fun. Let's fight to the death! There's no room in this world for two monsters!"

Tiger laughed maniacally, throwing another punch at Naruto. As he did, memories of his past began flashing through his mind.

---

He was born into a normal, unremarkable family and lived a childhood no different from others—for the first ten years, at least.

Then one day, while watching a boxing match, he discovered his talent. He could replicate any combat skill after seeing it just once.

Fighting others, defeating them, learning from them, and devouring their abilities—it was fun.

But only for a short while.

Eventually, no one could match him.

---

Tiger's punch was blocked by Naruto's palm. Naruto's eyes looked dead.

Breathing heavily, Naruto raised his other fist and punched Tiger in the face, sending him stumbling back and spitting blood.

But Tiger didn't go down alone—he landed a powerful kick to Naruto's side, sending him flying and crashing to the ground.

Naruto's clothes were torn, blood streaming from countless wounds. But he didn't feel pain. The adrenaline pumping through him blocked out any fear or sensation.

He stood, rushed toward Tiger, grabbed his left arm, and—using all his strength—snapped it.

"AAAAAARRRGGHHH!"

Tiger screamed in pain, kicking Naruto away. He clutched his shattered arm, grinning through the agony.

"This pain... this sense of danger... this thrill of competition... it's unparalleled!"

---

Memories returned to Tiger—the man who would be known as the Yellow Demon, the unbeatable force.

It was the beginning of the legend of the Four Demons, a tale that started with him alone.

By the third year of middle school, there was no one left who could challenge Tiger—not in his generation, nor the one before or after.

He ruled over three generations.

Boredom consumed him. His emotions died. That was the price of being the strongest.

---

Tiger glared at Naruto approaching, then clenched his right fist and landed a punch on Naruto's face, breaking his nose and sending him flying.

"Haah... haah..."

Tiger looked at Naruto, who didn't move. His face was covered in blood, his nose completely shattered.

"Hey... Naruto! Don't tell me that's all you've got," he muttered, walking toward him. "You can't die just yet!"

As Tiger approached, Naruto suddenly lunged up, grabbing him by the waist.

Tiger was caught off guard. Naruto, with incredible speed, carried him toward a heap of metal and slammed him into it, the debris collapsing over them both.

The surrounding gang members watched in shock. Just breathing felt difficult—let alone stepping in.

The only one thinking clearly was Jin, who sat watching the clash of monsters.

"These two... if no one stops them, they'll kill each other."

He knew this was inevitable.

From the rubble, Naruto slowly stood up, blood covering his entire body. A large gash in his chest exposed his bones. He looked terrifying—like a reaper.

Then Tiger stood as well. His broken arm looked even worse now—crushed and bleeding. A gaping wound on his right side looked fatal.

Raising his arm, Tiger punched Naruto's face.

Naruto didn't flinch. Instead, he kicked Tiger, sending him crashing back into the metal pile.

Naruto sat on Tiger's lap, his gaze cold and indifferent. He wouldn't hesitate to crush Tiger's skull.

He raised his fist and unleashed a relentless barrage of punches.

Naruto's hands were soaked in blood, his fingers likely broken as well.

But he didn't stop.

Until a hand finally grabbed his wrist.

Naruto didn't look up—he didn't even feel it. His mind was lost, his body still responding with violent instinct.

He had lost consciousness long ago.

On the other side, Tiger was gasping his final breaths, staring at Naruto's face, unable to do anything else.

Naruto had won.

Jin stood there, holding Naruto's hand back, then kicked him hard, knocking him unconscious for real—his instinct finally extinguished.

"I guess I can say I beat him now, right?" Jin muttered, tilting his head as he looked at the unconscious Naruto.

Then he turned toward Tiger.

"You've been completely crushed, 'strongest man.'"

"It's funny to hear that from someone so weak," Tiger muttered, looking at Jin. But upon seeing his expression, he closed his eyes and added, "Are you... really weak?"

"I don't know. Honestly, I'm acting on a feeling I don't quite understand."

Jin held a large knife, raising it high and staring down at Tiger.

"This feeling tells me not to let him become a killer—not today, at least."

"What a foolish feeling."

Jin's hand shot downward.

"Yes... so foolish I can't even understand it. Goodbye, Yellow Demon."

Blood sprayed across Jin's face.

And with that, the Yellow Demon breathed his last.

---

Scene Twenty-Six

Murder (End)

---

"Haah... haah... what happened?"

Someone opened his eyes and saw a white ceiling.

"A white room."

He immediately understood—he was in a hospital.

"That means... I didn't die."

He tried to get up, wincing at the pain, then leaned back against the bed.

His body was wrapped in bandages, but he could feel every part of it.

He turned his head and saw someone else beside him—also in rough shape—but he recognized the long blue hair.

"Lily..."

Then he looked at the next bed and saw black hair and thick eyebrows.

"Rock Lee."

He sighed in relief—they were alive too.

(Didn't he say he'd kill us? What changed? Who saved us from him?)

A feminine voice answered, tinged with sorrow.

"It seems the Breakers gang fought hard to save you from him."

Shino looked up to see the speaker—her distinct pink hair made it clear.

"Oh... Sakura."

He spoke softly and let her continue.

"Hasuno's gang defeated Shinshoku High's gang. Now, the four schools belong to the alliance between the Hasuno gang and the Breakers. That's the situation."

"How? Who was able to defeat Tiger?"

"Tiger is dead."

The words struck Shino like lightning. He stared in stunned silence, his mouth agape.

"Dead??"

"Yes. Tiger has been killed."

"Who did it?? Who killed him?"

Shino was shocked as he looked at Sakura's sorrowful expression.

"Jin did."

"Jin?? Why would he do that?"

"No one knows. According to Carol, Jin stabbed him with a knife he had hidden."

"What happened to him?"

"He turned himself in. He's in juvenile detention now. Since he's a minor, his sentence will be lighter—but he'll still be imprisoned for a long time."

"Damn it... so Jin was waiting all this time to kill Tiger and take his place? Then why turn himself in?"

"I honestly don't know. I wasn't there for all of it. This is just what the witnesses said."

"Who called the ambulance?" Shino asked flatly.

"I did, when I got there."

"I see..."

He looked over at Lily and Rock Lee.

"What about them? Will they be okay?"

"Yes. They're not in critical condition. Rock Lee has a broken leg, while Lily has multiple fractures in her ribs and light fractures in her arms and legs. She won't be able to move for a while. As for you, you have a few fractures in your chest, but you'll be fine if you rest."

"Tiger... he really intended to kill us that day."

Shino let out a cold sigh, placing his hand over his face.

"I can't believe we were so weak against him. Three of us against one—and he used our own techniques the moment he saw them. We never had a chance. He was a real monster, not a human being."

"It's a good thing you survived—so his sacrifice wouldn't be in vain."

There was something strange in Sakura's tone. Shino looked up and saw her smiling sadly, her hand clenched.

(What's wrong with her?)

"Sacrifice?" he whispered, too low for her to hear.

He glanced around. It seemed only he, Lily, and Rock Lee were in this room.

"By the way, what happened to Naruto? Didn't he get hit in the head and lose consciousness?"

Sakura's body trembled slightly. She stayed silent for a few seconds.

"According to rumors... Naruto woke up later and fought Tiger to the death. He barely won—and that's when Jin took the opportunity to finish Tiger."

"A fight to the death... and Naruto won? Isn't that a good thing?"

Shino was confused by Sakura's strange behavior.

"Yes, Naruto won, but..."

"Stop stalling! What happened to Naruto?!"

"I don't know."

Shino's confusion deepened.

"What do you mean? Didn't Naruto win the fight?"

"That's true... but he disappeared!"

"What??"

"Just as I said. After the fight ended, Naruto vanished completely. It's already been a week—and no one knows where he is!"

---

To Be Continued.