Chapter 41: Goodbye, Konoha
On the day of the Third Hokage's funeral, it rained heavily.
Ninjas, dressed in black, stood under the Hokage Rock.
Silent, solemn.
Naruto raised his head, silently looking at the four head sculptures, then lowered his head to look at the photo of Sarutobi Hiruzen on the offering table.
"The Third Hokage is dead," Naruto whispered, "I think I will leave Konoha too."
In this environment, even the smallest sound was amplified, becoming extremely piercing.
People around turned their heads, staring at him in disbelief.
Sasuke and Sakura were the most shocked, finding it hard to believe.
Karin seemed to have known Naruto's decision early on, took a step, and firmly stood behind him.
"Naruto!" Kakashi lowered his voice, reaching out to grab him.
Naruto dodged, looked at him, and smiled brightly: "I've had this thought for a long time, but it was only confirmed that day."
He seemed to see the ghostly shadow of the "Shinigami" again.
"I have more important things to do."
"Rather than staying in Konoha, continuing to be a ninja."
Someone overreacted.
"Are you going to defect from Konoha?" Yuhi Kurenai, who had just recently been promoted to Jonin, didn't know Naruto's true identity yet.
Those who knew Naruto's identity reacted even more intensely.
Several members of the Anbu instantly appeared around the rooftop, forming hand seals, chakra gathering, ready to act.
Further away, several indistinct chakras were also surging.
"Don't say that," Naruto looked at her, his gaze sweeping over those people, smiling slightly, "I was never accepted as one of you, so how can I betray?"
Kurenai was stunned.
Sakura shouted, "But everything has changed!"
"Naruto, I don't hate you at all now."
"You are a very good teammate."
"Others are also changing their views on you..."
Naruto shook his head, interrupting her: "Do you know what the Third Hokage wanted to say to me before he died?"
Sakura opened her mouth.
How could she know?
She wasn't there to see it.
"It was 'I'm sorry.'" Naruto answered his own question, then threw out another, "But do you know why he said that to me?"
He raised his head, his gaze falling on the crowd.
Some people already knew the answer.
Kakashi lowered his head, Shiranui Genma avoided eye contact, Nara Shikamaru and his father turned their heads aside, and many ninjas Naruto didn't recognize...
"Sakura, the Third Hokage is here, my father is also here."
Naruto turned around, facing the crowd, back to the Hokage Rock, and smiled slightly, raising his hand.
"I am the son of the Fourth Hokage."
The last head sculpture on the mountain bowed slightly, as if looking down at Naruto.
A statement made in the calmest tone made the eyes of those who didn't know the truth widen.
Sakura found it unbelievable.
Sasuke leaned back.
Kurenai opened her mouth wide.
How could he be the son of the Fourth Hokage?
Someone secretly glanced at the child hiding in Iruka's arms.
That was the Hokage's grandson.
Then looked at Naruto.
That was the Hokage's son.
The contrasting childhoods of the two formed opposing lines, one up and one down.
No one with a guilty conscience dared to refute.
"Naruto." Jiraiya appeared instantly, his voice low, "Konoha owes you…"
Naruto interrupted him: "The Third Hokage has already said 'I'm sorry.'"
"Any more would be tiresome."
"He sacrificed himself for the village, and he can be called a hero."
"But I do not intend to accept this apology."
He grabbed Karin's hand, chakra surging, spreading in the air.
Stepping forward, he walked on invisible steps.
The hearts of the ninjas present tightened.
To climb the sky using only chakra manipulation?
What a terrifying control.
Many ninjas, who hadn't had much time to understand Naruto, were amazed.
The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had already become so powerful?
It had only been a little over three months since he graduated from the Ninja Academy.
"Jiraiya-sensei, you are a very good person, it was quite pleasant to get along with you."
"And you too, Hatake-sensei."
Naruto turned his head, giving him a complicated look.
"Actually, when I first saw you and learned that you were my father's student, I was really happy."
"I thought I would receive your favor."
"But compared to that, you seem to like Sasuke more."
Hatake Kakashi did not speak, staring blankly at the blond boy walking towards the sky.
Naruto placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and sighed, "It seems like I suddenly received a lot of goodwill from Konoha."
"And suddenly a lot of care as well."
"But..."
"The time I needed this goodwill and care the most was before I was six."
"The next most important time was before I graduated from the Ninja Academy."
"As for now, I already have the ability to take care of myself and to take care of others."
"Jiraiya-sensei, Hatake-sensei..."
"You both are not bad."
"But you came a little late."
"Just like the Third Hokage's apology, it came too late."
Jiraiya opened his mouth, staring at the statue of the Fourth Hokage, silently saying nothing.
"As a Jinchuriki, you've received almost the best treatment," a ninja spoke. "The Third Hokage has already been very lenient with you."
Naruto looked at him.
It was an unfamiliar face.
He smiled gently, without avoiding the topic, "There are many people in this world far more unfortunate than me."
"I visited Gaara in the past two days."
"Just as a Jinchuriki, I'm indeed much better off than him. At least, apart from being ostracized, I could still study at the Ninja Academy like a normal child."
"The pain Sasuke has endured is far greater than mine."
"Iruka-sensei's misfortunes are no less than mine."
"But..."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.
"Because others have greater misfortunes, am I supposed to ignore my own?"
"Isn't that a bit unfair?"
"I just want to leave my misfortunes behind and seek my own happiness."
Jiraiya took a deep breath, moving his gaze from the statue, "Naruto, after you leave the village, what do you want to do?"
"If it's just to leave for the sake of leaving..."
"I was a bit confused before, but now I have a goal." Naruto smiled brightly and firmly, "I want to find my parents."
Jiraiya was bewildered.
Find his parents?
Two people who were already dead?
Naruto suddenly turned his head, looking at a distance.
There were some restless chakras, ready to explode.
"Don't make me take action, okay?"
"Although I don't like it here very much."
"But this is the place my father and mother defended with their lives; it's their home."
"I don't want to destroy their home."
In the silence.
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense and contradictory.
A ninja stepped forward; it was Nara Shikamaru's father. He formed a seal with one hand, speaking solemnly, "In the name of Nara Shikaku, captain of the Jonin squad, I approve of Uzumaki Naruto leaving the village."
Jiraiya jumped up, summoning a Giant Toad, blocking the restless chakras behind him, making the same gesture, "In the name of Jiraiya, the Toad Sage of the Three Sannin, I support Uzumaki Naruto."
Hatake Kakashi, after a moment of silence, also stepped forward, "In the name of Hatake Kakashi, Jonin instructor of Team 7, I support Uzumaki Naruto."
They couldn't stop Naruto.
He was a very mature and strong ninja.
Instead of letting Konoha's image deteriorate in his heart.
It was better to go along with the flow.
Support Naruto and let him travel away from Konoha.
It was far better than a battle erupting, resulting in a Jinchuriki defecting from the village.
The current Konoha...
Could not withstand a second devastation like that of Orochimaru, or even worse.
Naruto smiled, turning his head to look directly at the statue of the Fourth Hokage.
He thought of something, removing his hand from the hilt, taking off his Konoha headband from his left arm, and gently tossing it.
It floated like a leaf, falling towards Iruka.
"Iruka-sensei, I really thank you."
"Among the people in Konoha, you are my favorite."
"You are a very good teacher and an excellent person."
"If there were more people like you, it would be better."
"I'll trouble you to keep it for me."
Iruka reached out, dazedly catching the headband.
Catching Naruto's heavy past.
~~~
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