Will You Kill Me?

Jiraiya's heart felt as if it had been torn apart. Naruto—his Naruto—was planning to defect from Konoha. His mind spun as he grappled with the enormity of it all. Why? Why? Wasn't Naruto supposed to be the destined child of prophecy? The one who would bring peace to the world? How could it have come to this? How could he have become something so opposite to what Jiraiya believed in?

Across the room, Tsunade's voice erupted in fury. "Naruto, do you have any idea what you're saying?!"

Kakashi's voice, though softer, carried the same edge of desperation. "Naruto, what happened to you? What's changed? It's only been a few days, and yet you've become someone I barely recognize."

Naruto stood silently, his gaze heavy with emotion. He looked at the faces of the people he held dear—the people who had shaped him into who he was. Tsunade, Jiraiya, Kakashi… they were family. But this time, there was nothing he could do to ease their pain.

"I'm sorry," Naruto said finally, his voice steady but laced with sorrow. "I know how this must look to you. And I know that if I told you everything, you wouldn't believe me. What I'm doing… it must sound unbelievable." His gaze swept across the room. "But even if some of you did trust me, it wouldn't matter. The truth I'm dealing with… the burden I've chosen to bear… it's not something ordinary people can endure."

Jiraiya's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

Naruto clenched his fists. "Rather than wasting time fighting against those who don't understand, it's better for me to carry this burden alone. If I do, the chances of success are greater."

Jiraiya studied him intently, his eyes searching for answers in Naruto's expression. He thought back to everything that had happened in the past few days—the way Naruto had looked at him in Amegakure, the moments of affection, the way he had asked for the Nine-Tails key. Now, standing here, after witnessing Naruto take Danzo's Sharingan and sever his arm, Jiraiya began to piece it together.

The Nine-Tails' power. The Flying Thunder God technique. The strongest genjutsu, Shisui's eye. The Sharingan embedded in Danzo's arm.

It was clear now: Naruto was deliberately gathering power.

Jiraiya's voice was sharp as he asked, "Naruto! What kind of enemy are you preparing to fight? Why are you collecting so much power so quickly?"

Naruto turned to face his teacher, his expression softening. He smiled faintly, though there was a bittersweet edge to it. "You really are my teacher. I should've known you'd figure it out." His gaze became distant. "You're right. I'm gathering strength. Because if I don't, there's no hope. But I can't tell you why, Sensei. Not yet. Please… trust me."

Jiraiya's fists clenched. "Naruto…"

Naruto continued, his voice steady. "My original goal hasn't changed. I'm still Uzumaki Naruto. I still want to protect this village. But if I don't do what needs to be done, tragedies like the Uchiha massacre will happen again."

Tsunade's frustration boiled over. "The Uchiha massacre was the result of decades of conflict. There was no way to avoid it!"

Naruto shook his head. "No, it was a failure of leadership." His gaze darkened as he looked at Tsunade. "The Third Hokage… he allowed Danzo to run unchecked. He let those two corrupt advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, manipulate everything behind the scenes. And he didn't take any substantial measures to address the growing divide. The Uchiha clan was betrayed by the very system they were supposed to trust."

Danzo, his body battered and broken, spat angrily, "What do you know, you brat?! Do you even understand what it means to protect a village? What it means to be Hokage?"

Naruto's expression turned cold, and his voice was like ice. "It's not like I haven't done that before, Hokage."

The air in the room seemed to shift. Everyone present felt a chill as Naruto's demeanor transformed, becoming someone unrecognizable.

Naruto's voice cut through the silence. "The Uchiha were one of Konoha's most powerful clans. They were feared for their Sharingan, respected for their strength. But instead of treating them as allies, they were distrusted, pushed to the outskirts of the village, and monitored at every turn. Even the clan leader's own family wasn't spared. Uchiha Itachi… he was a victim of this broken system."

Naruto's gaze swept across the room. "And Orochimaru? Another victim of leadership failures. These aren't isolated incidents. They're the result of systemic flaws."

"Enough!" Tsunade and Jiraiya shouted in unison, their voices ringing out in anger.

Jiraiya stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "Naruto, let me ask you one thing. If you continue down this path, and I stand in your way, will you do to me what Nagato did to his teacher? Will you kill me too?"

Naruto's eyes widened, and for a moment, they glimmered with pain. "Sensei… I could never. You're the most important person in my life."

"Then why are you rejecting the Will of Fire? Isn't that the same as turning your back on me?"

Naruto sighed deeply, the weight of his decisions pressing down on him. "I haven't rejected the Will of Fire. I've just realized that there's something even greater."

Jiraiya's voice was sharp. "What could possibly be greater than the Will of Fire?"

Naruto's gaze was distant as he answered. "The will of God."

The room fell silent.

Jiraiya's voice rose in anger. "Naruto, you've lost your way!"

Naruto held up a hand, his expression calm. "You misunderstand me, Sensei. I'm not talking about Nagato's false vision of divinity. What I'm talking about… is a true god. One who exists beyond mortal comprehension. One who transcends life, death, and the cycle of reincarnation."

Naruto's voice lowered. "This god… doesn't care about us. If we're not strong enough, we'll be crushed like insects. Not out of malice, but because we're insignificant."

Tsunade shook her head. "Naruto, what you're saying is ridiculous. Just stop this nonsense and surrender. If you do, I'll make sure your punishment is light."

Naruto looked at her, his eyes filled with determination. "It's too soon for you to understand."

And with a flash of chakra, Naruto vanished.

Danzo, left behind in a broken heap, stared at the empty space where his right arm and eye had once been. His years of planning had crumbled in an instant. A strangled cry escaped his lips before he collapsed, unconscious.

Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Tsunade stood in silence, the weight of Naruto's words pressing down on them like a storm.