Chapter 192: Furious Departure, the Three-Year Promise
Haneda understood perfectly well why those people supported Danzo.
Ever since Minato became Hokage, the Uchiha had outcompeted other clans, taking a significant portion of resources. With the Uchiha now so powerful, giving them the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki would make them overwhelmingly dominant in the village.
But Haneda would not allow Minato's orphan to fall into Danzo's dark hands.
He stood up and activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, locking his gaze on the leader of the Shimura clan.
The genjutsu took effect, and the Shimura leader was instantly controlled.
"Tell me, why are you supporting Danzo?"
The Shimura leader replied truthfully:
"The Uchiha are too powerful. Elder Danzo promised to help us resist them, and he has allied with the Sarutobi, Hyuga, and Aburame clans."
"He also promised to divide the Uzumaki clan's and the Fourth Hokage's inheritance after it was all over."
*Bang!*
The table in front of Haneda was smashed to pieces.
He glared around the meeting room; no one spoke, and no one opposed him. Only the Uchiha were furious.
Just because the Uchiha had grown strong, these people had united against them. And because it served their interests, they abandoned morality and principles.
What kind of village was this, that Shisui and Minato had given their lives to protect?
And what was it worth, for him to keep making sacrifices?
Haneda looked at the Third Hokage, who remained silent.
Haneda was disappointed.
He raised his right hand, and in an instant, a bolt of lightning pierced Danzo's heart.
Everyone in the meeting room—except for the Uchiha—was terrified. They had witnessed Haneda's strength; they knew how fearsome he was.
If he decided to turn on them, what could they possibly do to resist him?
Haneda ignored their panic and walked step-by-step toward Danzo. Anyone who tried to block his path fell to the ground.
Danzo looked up at Haneda, both powerless and terrified.
"What could change someone like you?"
"Answer me!"
Danzo suddenly laughed:
"Everything I did was for the Leaf. I have no regrets!"
"You Uchiha brat, born evil, could never understand my greatness!"
Haneda stared coldly down at Danzo, grabbed his throat, lifted him, and slammed him against the wall.
"Only death can change you."
Suddenly, a staff attacked Haneda from behind.
He activated his Mangekyo Sharingan and caught the staff with his Susano'o.
"This village has rotted; no wonder Orochimaru and Tsunade left it in disappointment."
"It's rotten through and through."
Haneda, still holding Danzo by the neck, turned to face the Third Hokage.
At that moment, the rest of the room stood firmly behind the Third, as if he were their last line of defense.
Only the Uchiha and a few others remained seated.
"For a village like this, what's the point of staying here?"
Haneda asked himself as he felt Danzo's life slip away. He used his Susano'o to smash through the meeting room.
He thought about many things—Kakashi, Fugaku, Gai, Asuma...and Minato's trust.
Haneda warned them:
"I will be watching the Leaf from afar."
"If you dare lay a hand on the Uchiha or Naruto, I'll destroy this place myself."
Haneda left without looking back. No one dared to follow him or utter a word of protest.
Just then, Kakashi chased after him.
He watched Haneda's lonely silhouette fade into the distance, and, glancing back at the Third and the others, he couldn't help but call out:
"Haneda!"
"Are you here to stop me?"
Haneda paused and looked at Kakashi for a moment before continuing toward the village gate, moving faster and faster until he passed through the Forest of Death like lightning and reached the Valley of the End.
Kakashi followed him there.
"Why are you doing this?"
Standing across the valley, Haneda was silent for a few seconds before saying:
"I held back from killing everyone. That's already showing mercy."
Kakashi looked at Haneda in confusion. In the past, he'd always had a smile on his face, but now he looked grim and resolute.
The last time Haneda had looked like this was on the Kannabi Bridge.
Haneda continued:
"This world is dark—ninjas, villages, the whole system…"
"After everything you've been through, don't you understand?"
"Ninjas are treated as tools, and the leaders are fixated on self-interest."
"The son of a hero is seen as a weapon, and his family's legacy is divided among vultures."
"The Leaf is like this; the shinobi world, this whole world, is no different."
Kakashi had no arguments. Both his father and his teacher had suffered for this.
Deep down, he understood Haneda's words.
But this was the life of a ninja.
Haneda went on, his words filled with both reflection and determination:
"That's why this world needs a leader."
"A strong, resolute leader with vision."
"Someone who can guide humanity out of this darkness and turn this hell into a paradise."
With that, Haneda walked away without looking back.
Kakashi watched his friend's retreating figure, memories of their time together flashing through his mind.
Those memories spanned the academy training grounds, their classroom, training sessions with his father, and the place where they'd all gathered to toast their dreams.
"My dream?"
"To watch over the sun, like the moon."
Kakashi couldn't hold back any longer. He called out to Haneda, pleading:
"Don't go, please?"
"You're my only light."
Haneda stopped and looked back at Kakashi, a painful ache in his left eye that he ignored.
The moonlight illuminated the valley, the river, and cast a soft glow.
They stood across the river, gazing at each other for a long time.
"Let's make a promise here, then."
Haneda shifted his gaze toward the Land of Water.
"Three years from now, I'll return here."
"To lead this world onto a path of light."
As he left, Haneda covered his left eye, a line of blood-tears running down his cheek.
The pain in his Sharingan reminded him of a new power—Totsuka Thunder!
At the same time, Kakashi's left eye, the three-tomoe Sharingan, spun wildly as he sensed the energy of space-time.
In an instant, he grasped the secrets of the Flying Thunder God.
…
Meanwhile, a man wearing a tiger-patterned mask and black cloak watched quietly from afar.
He witnessed Haneda's farewell to the Leaf and his parting with Kakashi.
Watching Haneda leave, Obito felt a sudden sense of purpose:
"So this is hell!"
Recalling Haneda's words and what he'd once told Yahiko, Obito made a resolution.
"This world needs a savior!"
"Someone who will create a paradise out of hell!"
"Wait for me."
"Soon, I'll create a world where you, Kakashi, and everyone can watch over their own stories."
"Where everyone who died will be reunited once more."
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*(End of this Volume)*
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