Naruto: With Favorabiltity System

Chapter 340: The Final Decision

"Heads for forgiveness, tails for vengeance."

"If we can't decide, then let's leave it to fate!"

Under everyone's watchful gaze, Kakashi tossed the coin high into the air.

The coin gleamed under the tunnel's dim light, drawing an elegant arc as it flipped end over end.

In its descent, it spun rapidly on the ground, making a crisp metallic sound before beginning to slow.

For a moment, it seemed fate leaned toward vengeance—the coin was about to fall on tails.

Then, a sudden gust of wind swept through the tunnel, tilting the coin back upright before it landed on heads.

"Fate has made its decision. Let's go, Haneda," Kakashi said softly, turning his back to the scene.

He didn't want to look at Scorpion again.

"Was it really fate?" Haneda smiled faintly, but didn't press further.

The wind hadn't appeared out of nowhere—someone had intervened.

And Haneda knew exactly who: Kakashi had made the final call.

But…

In a move that stunned everyone, Haneda suddenly acted!

He teleported to Scorpion using Flying Thunder God, grabbing the puppet master's true body and dragging him to Kakashi's side.

Pain and Konan stared in shock, unable to understand Haneda's intentions.

Even Deidara's joyful expression quickly fell—only to twist into a resigned smile.

He resolved to hold a grand funeral for Scorpion when he returned.

From his hidden perch, Obito furrowed his brow and prepared to leave.

He knew now, more than ever, that there was no path for him to return.

Kakashi, meanwhile, was utterly baffled.

"Haneda! What are you doing? Without Akatsuki, how will Konoha triumph in the Fourth Shinobi War?!"

Kakashi had made his choice. He had relinquished his personal desires, choosing the greater good for Haneda, Obito, and Konoha.

"It's simple—I'm annoyed," Haneda replied.

He tightened his grip on Scorpion, digging into the core at the puppet master's chest—the regenerative nucleus that housed his life force.

Disabling Scorpion entirely, Haneda turned to Pain. His Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan met Pain's Rinnegan in a tense standoff.

"I won't kill him," Haneda stated firmly, "but he must atone for his crimes against Konoha!"

Pain took a deep breath. "And how exactly do you expect him to atone?"

"You've read my book, haven't you? You should know what I intend to do," Haneda replied.

Pain hesitated before asking, "To launch the Fourth Shinobi War and unify the world?"

"Exactly." Haneda nodded. "Scorpion's atonement will be to prepare for that war. He will craft enough puppets of sufficient quality for me, and once he's completed his task, I'll release him."

Pain glanced at Scorpion, then at Hiruko. After a moment of contemplation, he agreed:

"Fine. I trust you won't go back on your word."

Konan opened her mouth to protest, but Pain sent her a silent message through their shared chakra:

"One for one—it's a fair trade. They're both working for Haneda now."

After reassuring Konan, Pain set his own condition:

"But in return, you must promise not to harm Kakuzu in the future."

Privately, both Pain and Konan knew the real arrangement. Kakuzu had already settled his debt—six trillion explosive tags.

And they had plans to eliminate Obito.

"Deal," Haneda replied without hesitation.

With that, he took Scorpion's components and the Third Kazekage puppet, leaving the tunnel with Kakashi and the others.

Unlike Scorpion, Haneda bore no deep-seated grudge against Kakuzu.

He knew Kakuzu was driven by greed and nothing else. Twice, Haneda had nearly succeeded in buying him off, only to be outbid.

But Scorpion was different.

Scorpion had been a constant thorn in his side, hounding both him and Sakumo during the Third Shinobi War.

As they departed, Haneda questioned Hiruko about his time with Akatsuki:

"Pain mentioned you were considered one of 'Madara's people,' but you didn't seem to get along with him. Why?"

Without hesitation, Hiruko replied, "A creature called Zetsu—a black, liquid-like entity—found me in my lab."

"It knew I was collecting Kekkei Genkai and provided me with intel. After a successful collaboration, it promised to deliver me a Sharingan."

"The condition for that arrangement was joining Akatsuki and spying on both the leader and Madara."

"Of course," Hiruko added, "there were likely other conditions it didn't mention outright."

Haneda didn't need to think twice to understand Zetsu's true motives.

Black Zetsu's every action was driven by one goal: reviving its mother.

No matter what it did or who it manipulated, that was always its ultimate aim.

Haneda suspected Black Zetsu and Obito were at odds.

Perhaps, because of him, Black Zetsu feared that Obito might abandon the Moon's Eye Plan before it could resurrect Kaguya.

This suspicion wasn't baseless—Haneda had seen the signs back in Kirigakure.

Obito had killed the Three-Tails' jinchuriki unnecessarily, likely against Black Zetsu's wishes.

Black Zetsu, ever the schemer, had likely foreseen this and made contingency plans.

As if reading Haneda's thoughts, Hiruko added, "Zetsu probably isn't just working with me. I'm sure it's secretly collaborating with other Akatsuki members."

"I'm its open ally, but it's likely made hidden alliances I'm unaware of."

Haneda nodded, fully aware of Black Zetsu's duplicitous nature.

The creature never relied on a single plan.

During the Fourth Shinobi War, it had ensured Madara's resurrection through Kabuto and Edo Tensei, just in case Obito failed.

"You've provided valuable intel, Hiruko," Haneda praised.

Hiruko allowed himself a faint smile. "I'm a Konoha genius now. Everything I do is for Konoha and its Hokage."

...

Watching Haneda's group disappear into the distance, Obito emerged from the shadows of the tunnel.

He intercepted Pain and Konan outside, his expression unreadable.

Moments later, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu emerged from the ground, radiating discontent.

"Where's Hiruko?" Obito demanded coldly.

Pain frowned and instinctively moved to shield Konan.

"He's gone," Pain replied. "He betrayed Akatsuki and returned to Konoha with Haneda."

"Oh?" Obito's tone turned mocking. "A Konoha defector willingly rejoining Konoha? Sounds unlikely."

Black Zetsu interjected, "Our surveillance suggests Hiruko had no intention of betraying Akatsuki."

Black Zetsu was confident in its assessment—Hiruko's "payment" hadn't been delivered yet.

Hiruko had demanded a three-tomoe Sharingan, a rare prize given the Uchiha Clan's protection under Haneda.

And Haneda had nothing to offer Hiruko that could fulfill that promise.

"Facts are facts," Pain said firmly, turning to leave with Konan.

He knew Obito wouldn't attack him—not yet.

Even Pain hadn't anticipated Hiruko's defection.

Watching Pain and Konan depart, Black Zetsu asked, "What now? Are we just going to let Hiruko go?"

Obito suppressed a laugh. "What else can we do? Start a war over this?"

"Today's events end here."

...

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