Naruto: With Favorabiltity System

Chapter 165: Firelight and the New Leaves

Haneda ignored Sasori's voice, his Three Tomoe Sharingan scanning the area.

The cage was thicker, sturdier, and gleamed even brighter than before.

This time, it carried twice as much chakra, and it was a double-layered cage!

Even if Haneda gave it his all, it would take several seconds to break the cage.

In that time, Kakuzu and Onoki could easily kill him!

"What do I do?"

"Wood Style? Lightning Style?"

Haneda gritted his teeth, strategizing.

Wood Style was powerful, but it consumed too much chakra to maintain for long.

Plus, Haneda's goal was to break out, not to engage in a fight that he couldn't win, so using Wood Style would only drag out his defeat.

As for Lightning Style, it was fast and powerful but lacked the area of effect needed to fend off Onoki and the others while escaping.

"What should I do?"

In his mind, the smiles of Obito and Kakashi appeared.

They believed in him, in his talent and strength, in the name of Uchiha Haneda…

They believed he was someone capable of creating miracles.

"As a Uchiha, I can't lose!"

Haneda gripped his sword, Dawn.

The name symbolized breaking through darkness to bring light!

Suddenly, the cage began to move, contracting rapidly!

Haneda's Three Tomoe Sharingan could clearly see the Magnet Style chakra intensifying around the cage.

The iron sand of the cage was growing thicker and stronger.

Without thinking, Haneda drew Dawn.

Lightning and Wind chakra, combined with an indomitable will, condensed on the blade.

Dawn absorbed this combined power, its silver-white glow deepening, shining brighter than the sun!

Onoki's years of intuition told him that this attack from Haneda was incredibly dangerous!

He rose into the air, forming a cube of white light in his hands, Dust Release ready to counter Haneda's move.

Having been tricked twice before by Haneda, Onoki couldn't risk guessing wrong again; he was prepared to strike at any moment.

Sasori and Kakuzu, seeing this, looked equally tense.

Even they, as formidable as they were, couldn't deny the overwhelming force behind Haneda's strike.

In that moment, Kakuzu even thought he saw the shadow of the famous White Fang of Konoha.

"Stop him!" shouted Onoki, pretending to attack with Dust Release, trying to provoke Sasori and Kakuzu into making the first move.

Sasori hesitated for a moment, then sent his hundred puppets rushing toward Haneda.

Each of those hundred puppets was crafted from the bodies of ninja with at least chunin-level skill, some even possessing Kekkei Genkai.

Sasori was ready to prove that his art was eternal and unparalleled, willing to sacrifice all his puppets if necessary!

Meanwhile, Kakuzu moved to shield himself behind Sasori's puppets, prioritizing his own survival.

Only by staying alive could he continue to make money.

Haneda's blade sliced forward.

The chakra radiating from the blade stirred up a storm, roaring like a typhoon, streaked with flashes of lightning.

No matter what, Uchiha Haneda would bring Obito back!

Seeing this, Onoki and Kakuzu relaxed slightly.

Sasori, however, watched tensely, with his Third Kazekage puppet positioned directly in front of Haneda.

The instant Sasori's puppets made contact, they shattered to pieces, swept away by the raging storm and thunderous lightning.

The double-layered cage stood in Haneda's way. In an instant, the first cage shattered!

Then the second!

At that moment, Onoki activated his Dust Release!

Kakuzu launched his five-element ninjutsu!

Their combined attacks tried to stop Haneda from advancing!

Boom!

The double-layered cage collapsed, but Uchiha Haneda hadn't moved forward.

He remained there.

Peering through the dust at Haneda, Onoki said, "His chakra is exhausted, and he's nearly out of stamina."

"Let's finish him off."

Kakuzu hesitated; he wasn't sure if Haneda's condition was as Onoki claimed.

He knew Onoki was cunning and didn't fully trust him.

Unlike Onoki and Kakuzu's hesitation, Sasori fearlessly sent the Third Kazekage puppet forward.

With the cage shattered, the Kazekage puppet was free.

It was Sasori's final and strongest puppet.

Rustle, rustle...

Footsteps approached.

Haneda lay on the ground, his vision blurry, seeing only a puppet-like figure advancing toward him.

"Is this the end?"

"Obito, Kakashi..."

Scenes flashed through Haneda's mind.

Kakashi standing in front of him, Obito stopping enemies at all costs…

*Clink*

Four glasses clinked together, and dreams of the past echoed in his mind.

"Haneda, I hate to admit it, but with your talent and strength, your dreams must be something amazing, right?"

"Dreams?"

"To see everyone safe and sound... that's my dream."

...

'Is this really the end?'

'Unable to change anything.'

Haneda watched the Third Kazekage puppet draw closer.

He tried to lift his sword from the ground, to fight back.

But the utter exhaustion from chakra depletion reminded him he couldn't.

A faint despair arose within him, but above all, he felt regret.

Regret that ten years of hard work still couldn't save his friends.

Regret that after seven years of running, he had never admitted to Kakashi that he was his guiding light.

...

'Is it truly over?'

Haneda had imagined Madara and Black Zetsu saving him, had thought of Obito unlocking his Mangekyo Sharingan at the sight of his death…

He'd even thought of Kakashi's sorrow at losing a friend…

"I'm sorry, Haneda, I'm late."

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed beside him.

Silver hair, a short sword – standing before him was his teacher, Sakumo.

"Three enemies... one of us must make a sacrifice."

A warm chakra flowed into him, restoring a bit of Haneda's strength.

"Sensei…"

Haneda understood what was happening, his voice hoarse.

A soft voice responded.

"Do you remember the Will of Fire?"

"Where the leaves of Konoha dance, fire is never far behind."

"The flames will continue to illuminate the village, giving rise to new leaves."

"I'm just an old leaf."

"It's time for me to become the fire that brings forth new leaves."

Sakumo paused, turned to Haneda, and spoke softly:

"Go back and tell Kakashi that he is the son of a hero."

"A hero who died protecting his comrades and his village."

"That's a man's promise, and an order."

After saying this, Sakumo smiled, holding his silver-white short sword as he stepped toward Onoki, Sasori, and Kakuzu.

...