Chapter 9 Choice To Make

With a "ding" sound, the voice that made Naruto pause finally echoed in his mind.

"Standing at the crossroads of life, the system will issue a second life choice for the host. Your choice will determine your future destiny."

"Facing the villagers full of malice, ignorance, and stupidity, your choice is:"

"Option one: As the reincarnation of Ashura Chakra, you love everything in the village, you kneel down to admit your mistakes, beg for their forgiveness, and hope to get their approval."

"Reward: Wood Release."

"Option two: As a born evil demon fox, you can do whatever you want. Let these stupid fools understand what they've provoked and make the villagers of Konoha fear you more than ever."

"Reward: Sharingan."

"Please make your choice carefully."

The voice of the system cut off, leaving Naruto in stunned silence. His growing hatred and resentment melted into the shock that gripped him. He stood frozen, his head lowered to hide the turmoil in his eyes.

So this was the system's true nature.

While the first option seemed repulsive to him, it was undeniable that it was the path of Ashura's reincarnation. Both the original Uzumaki Naruto and the previous Senju Hashirama had embodied that self-sacrificial love for peace. No wonder that path was tied to Wood Release.

Hashirama: *I'll kneel to everyone for the peace of the ninja world!*

Madara: *Everyone kneels to me for the peace of the ninja world!*

The thought made him shudder. Wood Release was a powerful tool to bring peace and prosperity to the world, but that path felt too… submissive, too close to the ideals of the Hokage, the very ideals that had made his life a struggle.

And then there was the second option.

The words "demon fox" stung his heart. But… wasn't that exactly what they had all made him? The hatred, the isolation, the unspoken cruelty they subjected him to for years—it was all coming back now. *Let them feel fear. Let them regret what they did to me.*

Naruto's eyes narrowed. His decision was clear.

"Kurama, lend me your chakra," he muttered under his breath.

"Ha! Go ahead, my Jinchūriki. Show them what they've earned."

Malice, anger, and all the negative emotions that filled his chakra surged through him, flowing into Naruto's body. The blood-red tailed beast chakra wrapped around him like a cloak, and a tail formed, swaying ominously behind him.

"What? What is that?"

"That's a tail!"

"This guy's the demon fox!"

The terrified villagers screamed, dropping their stones as they ran in every direction. They had only meant to vent their anger on the boy, not realizing the beast they had tormented would rise again.

The fear was palpable. Those who remained in place—some frightened villagers and a few root ninjas—watched in shock.

The Root ninjas, trained to suppress their fear, still couldn't help but sweat at the sight of Naruto's transformation. This wasn't just a brat; this was a real threat.

Naruto's eyes were no longer the bright blue they once were. They had turned an unsettling shade of red, with black vertical slits in the center, mirroring the gaze of the beast within him. He crouched, hunching his body like an animal preparing to strike, releasing a chakra so malevolent it sent a chill through even the most hardened ninja.

"That... that's the demon fox!" One ninja gasped, stepping back instinctively.

"Get back!" Another ordered, as the situation grew more dangerous.

But just as the tension escalated, a sudden explosion of white smoke filled the air, and two figures appeared, accompanied by several ANBU operatives.

Shimura Danzo's face was grim as he surveyed the scene. This wasn't what he had planned. His objective had been simple: get the villagers to see Naruto's potential danger, push him to the edge, and control the Jinchūriki. But now, things had spiraled out of control.

He couldn't afford to let this spiral further—especially not in the heart of Konoha.

"Hiruzen," Danzo began, his voice low and steady, "it seems that Jinchūriki should be trained as weapons of war."

"Shut up, Danzo," Sarutobi Hiruzen snapped, his eyes cold. "This isn't the time for your schemes. You've crossed the line."

Ignoring Danzo's silent fury, Hiruzen turned to face Naruto, who had lost all control. His body was now fully enveloped in the nine-tailed chakra. Hiruzen moved quickly, forming a hand seal and summoning his trusted partner.

"Summoning: Monkey Demon!"

In a cloud of smoke, a large monkey wearing a tiger-striped vest appeared, looking both confused and alarmed as he surveyed the scene.

"Sarutobi! Who are we fighting now?" the monkey exclaimed, but his words faltered when he saw the monstrous form of Naruto, now crawling on all fours, his chakra tail flicking like a weapon.

"This... this isn't good," Hiruzen muttered, realizing the gravity of the situation.

"Naruto, calm down!" Hiruzen shouted, trying to reason with the Jinchūriki.

But Naruto, now filled with the chaotic power of the Nine-Tails, wasn't in any mood for talking. He moved with astonishing speed, like a red streak, darting towards a nearby building.

"Boom!"

A massive crash echoed as Naruto slammed into the building, his body colliding with an invisible barrier. He groaned in pain but didn't stop. *Damn it, there's a barrier!*

Suddenly, the pain was too much. His vision blurred. He felt his mind slip, as exhaustion overcame him, and the rage that had been burning so intensely began to dissipate.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, watching the situation carefully, rushed forward as Naruto fell to the ground, visibly injured. His concern shifted to worry.

"Naruto! What happened?" Hiruzen asked, his voice laden with worry.

Naruto's blue eyes flickered up, and tears began to flow down his face as he lay in the dirt, battered and bruised. "I… I'm sorry, Hokage-sama… I didn't mean to hurt anyone... Wuwuwu... please forgive me…"

Hiruzen's heart ached as he bent down to pick up Naruto. His voice softened. "Tell me what happened. Can you explain?"

Naruto whimpered, barely able to form words as his body trembled. "I… I just wanted to be recognized… but they all called me a monster... They don't understand… I just want to be loved, not feared…"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression softened, and he nodded, understanding. Despite the tears, the will of fire still burned bright within Naruto.

Danzo, however, was less than pleased. "If he's so easily swayed, this will happen again."

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned sharply, eyes narrowing. "That's enough, Danzo. If anyone is responsible for this, it's you."

Turning back to Naruto, Hiruzen smiled gently. "Naruto, what would you do next time?"

Naruto's face contorted in pain as he struggled to answer. The wounds on his body were too much, and with a final groan, his consciousness faded. His body relaxed, and he slipped into unconsciousness.

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched as Naruto passed out, then called for his ANBU operatives to take him to the hospital.

As the ANBU disappeared with Naruto, Hiruzen turned to Danzo, his voice cold but firm. "You'll take full responsibility for the consequences. Root will clean up the mess."

Danzo clenched his fist but said nothing. He knew better than to argue now.

As the commotion died down, the villagers who had once feared Naruto would now know, for better or worse, that he was no longer just a boy—they had awakened the demon inside him.