Blackmailing? Nah! I'd do the same.

A cold voice echoed in everyone's minds. A tall figure wearing sunglasses slowly appeared in their sight. It was Kirito.

He stepped out of the office, walking toward Naruto. Gently, he placed a hand on Naruto's head.

A beam of sunlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow over Kirito's body. The light illuminated him like a beacon, almost blinding. As Naruto slowly lifted his head to look at his teacher, he felt a tremor run through him. The haze that had clouded his heart dissipated in that moment, and Kirito became the only source of warmth in the darkness.

The light surrounding Kirito seemed to penetrate Naruto's soul, bringing comfort to his aching heart. Without warning, tears surged from Naruto's eyes. He couldn't hold back any longer.

Seeing his teacher speak up for him, Naruto's emotions overwhelmed him, and he rushed to hug Kirito, tears and snot streaking down his face. Kirito, unfazed by Naruto's messy outburst, allowed him to cling to him.

In that moment, Kirito felt helpless for the first time. He had never expected Naruto to go this far for him—to shoulder all the blame just to protect his new teacher. Kirito's heart ached as he realized Naruto, despite his troubles and the loneliness he had faced, was willing to bear this burden.

Kirito looked down at Naruto, whose face was buried in his abdomen, and his mind wandered back to the young boy's past. Naruto, the son of a hero, had been labeled a "fox demon" by the very village his father had died to protect. Since childhood, he had been isolated, with no friends or family to turn to. In a desperate attempt for attention, Naruto had done foolish things, but even that failed to earn him the affection he craved. Instead, the few people who noticed him did so only to insult him.

Kirito's anger flared. How could the villagers treat Naruto this way, despite everything he had endured?

Back in the office, the ninjas, still in shock from Kirito's words, finally processed the full meaning of his statement. It was a clear admission of guilt.

Sarutobi Asuma, seeing Kirito standing there so calmly, seethed with anger. This man had just confessed to a heinous crime and yet stood there unafraid. Asuma's pride, as well as his sense of justice, flared.

"Spy, admit it!" Asuma shouted, his voice cutting through the tense silence. "What are we waiting for? Catch him!"

Asuma's command was clear, and the surrounding ninjas immediately fell into battle stances.

Yuhi Kurenai's face twisted with helplessness. She had believed Iruka's analysis that Kirito wasn't a spy, but now, with Kirito's own confession, everything had changed. It seemed there was no turning back.

"Kirito, this can't be true, right?" Kurenai's voice trembled. "Tell everyone you were just joking!"

Might Guy and Kakashi exchanged a glance. Both had doubts about Kirito being a spy, but now that he had admitted it, they were unsure how to proceed.

Iruka, standing nearby, could only watch in helplessness. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat. He knew now that nothing could change the truth. Kirito's identity as a spy was confirmed, and Iruka's shoulders slumped.

Sarutobi Asuma's fury grew as he witnessed his comrades falter. He could feel the injustice rising in him, especially after seeing the woman he loved tormented by Kirito's actions.

"Die for me!" Asuma roared. "Punish the fox demon and kill the spy!"

With that, Asuma led the charge, his team of ninjas rushing toward Kirito.

But Kirito's calm eyes suddenly turned sharp. He scanned everyone in front of him, and an invisible aura surged from him. It wasn't the domineering presence of a king, but the undeniable force of a man who had seen the worst and risen above it.

In an instant, the room grew cold. A chilling pressure swept through the room, freezing everyone in their tracks.

The ninjas paused, shivering involuntarily. The more experienced Jounin, Kakashi and Might Guy, felt their muscles tense. They recognized the seriousness of the situation.

Asuma, standing at the front, was the first to feel it—a sense of fear that he couldn't shake. He looked at Kirito, his mind racing. He had heard of Kirito's past exploits, how he had defeated a Sharingan user with just physical prowess, earning his status as a special Jounin. But Asuma never imagined the man before him would carry such an oppressive aura.

He had only ever felt that kind of presence from his father, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage of Konoha.

Asuma's pride took a blow. How could Kirito, a mere special Jounin, exude such power? It was a harsh reminder that strength didn't always come from rank or ability with ninjutsu. Kirito's strength lay in his sheer presence.

Asuma's frustration grew as he turned to see that the other ninjas, too, were hesitant. No one dared to take action.

Kakashi and Might Guy exchanged a look, knowing that it was time for them to step in and subdue Kirito. But before they could make a move, Kirito's voice cut through the tension.

"Kakashi," Kirito said quietly, his eyes locking onto the masked ninja. "Naruto's full name is Uzumaki Naruto, right?"

Kirito's gaze briefly flicked toward Sarutobi Hiruzen, who stood in the background, watching closely.

The Hokage's eyes narrowed in surprise. Did Kirito know Naruto's true identity?

Kakashi's heart skipped a beat. "Uzumaki…" he murmured, his mind racing to connect the dots.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, realizing that Kirito knew the truth about Naruto's parentage, felt a wave of panic. If Kirito revealed Naruto's identity, the consequences would be immense. The Hokage's reputation, built over decades, could be shattered.

Hiruzen quickly realized he couldn't let that happen. He had to find a way to silence Kirito before the truth came out.