The sudden voice drew everyone's attention.
Sakiya turned toward the source—and an orange blur came into view.
It was Naruto.
He stood still, his forehead protector's ribbon fluttering in the wind. His blue eyes locked onto Muraji, serious and unwavering.
Muraji straightened, eyeing the newcomer with a slight frown.
"No matter who you are… don't bother trying to talk me out of this."
Naruto didn't flinch.
"If you want to die that badly," he said, "then fight me for it."
Muraji narrowed his eyes.
"Are you serious?"
Naruto nodded, then turned toward Sakiya. His voice softened slightly.
"Have you even considered what it would mean if she killed you?"
Muraji blinked, taken aback. He glanced at the girl in front of him—at her clear, innocent eyes.
And in that moment, he felt the weight of what he had almost done.
He had nearly forced someone so pure to stain her hands with his blood.
His lips pressed together.
"So," Naruto continued, stepping forward, "fight me instead."
A small chuckle escaped Muraji.
"Hah… Are you even strong enough?"
Naruto smirked.
"Don't worry. You won't be disappointed."
Muraji didn't hesitate. He raised his sword, pointing it at Naruto.
"Fine. If I have to go out, at least it'll be in a real fight."
Sakiya tilted her head slightly, watching them in confusion.
Things had escalated so fast…
Muraji's followers remained silent, unsure of what to do. They could feel his resolve—but deep down, they weren't as willing to throw their lives away.
So they simply watched.
Naruto and Muraji faced off, standing on opposite sides of the clearing.
Muraji gripped his sword with both hands, taking a deep breath to steady himself.
"I'm coming!"
Naruto nodded.
Muraji launched forward in an instant, closing the distance in just a few strides.
Naruto didn't move.
Muraji didn't hold back—he swung his blade in a powerful horizontal strike.
But just as the sword neared Naruto, ten centimeters from cutting into him—
Naruto vanished.
In a blur, he dodged, tilting back just enough for the blade to slice the air in front of his nose.
Then, with fluid precision, he flipped backward twice, putting distance between them. In midair, he drew two kunai and flung them toward Muraji.
Muraji raised his sword.
Clang! Clang!
The kunai deflected off the blade.
Without hesitation, Muraji charged again.
Naruto used the moment Muraji was distracted to form a hand seal.
"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In an instant, six shadow clones appeared—three on the left, three on the right—surrounding Muraji.
Muraji reacted quickly. He raised his sword and struck down the first clone with a precise, straight stab. Then, with a swift horizontal slash, he forced another clone back.
At that moment, a clone from the left lunged forward with a punch.
Seeing an opening, Muraji ducked and rolled away just in time.
As he regained his footing, he turned sharply and hurled two kunai. One clone couldn't dodge in time and was instantly dispelled.
Muraji exhaled slowly, shifting his stance. He slid his sword onto his back as chakra began to gather in his hands.
The remaining four clones closed in from all sides.
Muraji gripped his sword hilt with one hand and formed a hand seal with the other.
"Konoha-ryu..."
The moment Naruto's clones stepped within striking range—
Muraji moved.
"Instant Slash!"
A sharp glint of steel flashed.
In the next second, Muraji appeared behind the clones, his sword now sheathed.
"Fourfold Strike."
Poof!
The four clones vanished instantly.
Naruto's grin widened.
"You're good, old man. That swordplay's no joke."
Muraji narrowed his eyes.
"You're holding back, aren't you?"
Naruto didn't respond. Instead, he tightened his grip on his kunai and charged.
Muraji reacted instantly, unsheathing his sword in one fluid motion.
Clang!
Kunai and blade clashed, sending sparks flying.
Naruto pressed his kunai forward with both hands, while Muraji braced his sword with both of his.
The force between them trembled in their arms.
They were locked in a deadlock.
Naruto took the chance to speak, his voice steady and firm.
"You're strong, old man. You shouldn't throw your life away like this."
Muraji's frown deepened. He gritted his teeth and pushed harder, forcing Naruto back a step before swinging his sword in a downward arc.
Naruto quickly raised his kunai to block.
Clang!
Steel scraped against steel, sending another shower of sparks into the air.
Naruto's gaze didn't waver.
"I bet your friends wouldn't want to see you like this," he said. "They wouldn't want you to die here."
Muraji froze for a split second.
A memory surfaced.
He heard a familiar voice—soft yet strong.
Fuji…
Back then, she had been by his side.
His lover.
His training partner.
He remembered the day they practiced together…
Muraji had always pushed himself to the limit, never holding back, even when his body screamed in pain. Even when his arms felt like they would break, he gritted his teeth and swung his sword again and again.
And just when he was about to collapse from exhaustion, Fuzi appeared behind him.
She caught him before he could fall.
He would never forget how beautiful she looked at that moment.
She had always been gentle, always patient. She had never raised her voice at him—except for that one time. That was the first time she had ever gotten angry with him.
Her eyes were filled with worry, but she tried to hide it behind a pout.
"Muraji! Are you trying to kill yourself? Why do you keep pushing so hard?" Her soft voice had turned sharp. "Promise me—you won't do this to yourself anymore! If you keep going, you'll die!"
"I won't allow you to die!"
That was the last thing he heard before everything went dark.
Even now, he could still remember the warmth of her embrace...
But in the end, Fuzi died—buried under the rubble of an Iwa ninja attack.
He could still remember the blood on her face as she looked at him in those final moments.
She had tried to say something.
But he hadn't heard it.
His mind had been clouded by pain, by disbelief.
His heart had nearly shattered that day.
Now, as the memory surfaced, it was as if he could see her face again—bruised, bloody, but smiling.
"Muraji... live."
Live...
Muraji's eyes snapped open. His grip on his sword tightened, and without thinking, he instinctively swung, knocking Naruto back a few steps.
Breathing heavily, he looked at Naruto with conflicted eyes.
Then, as if shaking off his hesitation, he steadied himself and met Naruto's gaze.
"Even so! I can't forgive them!" His voice was raw with emotion. "I will never forgive them!"
Naruto studied him for a moment, then slowly closed his eyes.
"...I see."
When he opened them again, his expression had changed—his stance firm, his resolve unshaken.
"Then let's end this in one final strike."
Muraji blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected Naruto to stop trying to talk him down.
But he didn't hesitate.
"One strike to decide the winner?" A grin tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Just what I wanted!"
Naruto gripped his kunai tightly and rushed forward, his expression serious.
Muraji did the same, sprinting ahead with his sword. Chakra surged through his body, condensing into his blade.
One final strike.
Don't die!
As Naruto closed in, Muraji felt a mix of anticipation and curiosity.
How will you counter this?
The moment they were within three steps of each other, Muraji channeled his chakra into his sword.
"Konoha-ryu: Flash Thrust!"
His blade gleamed with light, its piercing speed faster than ever—like a streak of lightning aimed straight at Naruto.
But then…
Muraji's eyes widened.
Naruto wasn't blocking.
Instead, he opened his arms, leaving himself completely exposed. A calm smile remained on his face.
Muraji's full-force attack had no way to stop.
A sharp schlk echoed through the air.
The tip of the sword plunged into Naruto's chest, piercing through and emerging from his back. Blood trickled down the blade, staining the ground.
"Naruto!"
Sakiya gasped, covering her mouth with one hand while pointing at Naruto in shock.
Hidden in the shadows, Kakashi tensed. His body instinctively moved, ready to intervene, but it was already too late.
Muraji stood frozen, eyes wide with disbelief. He quickly let go of his sword.
"You're insane!" he shouted. "Why the hell did you do that? If I hadn't shifted my aim at the last second, you'd be dead!"
But Naruto just smiled.
"I just wanted to make amends," he said.
Muraji stared. "Amends?"
Naruto kept his usual bright grin.
"Amends for the enemies you hate."
Muraji was speechless, staring at the boy who had just taken a blade through his chest without hesitation.
"Does that even make sense?"
Without flinching, Naruto gripped the sword lodged in his chest, yanked it out, and winced as pain shot through him. Blood dripped from the wound, but his smile never faded.
"It does," he said. "Because now, your hatred is on me."
Muraji was stunned.
"Let me carry that hatred," Naruto continued. "Let me be the one who takes it all."
Muraji could see the sincerity in his eyes.
"Why? Why would you willingly bear that burden?"
Naruto met his gaze.
"Because hatred is a terrible thing," he said softly. "It consumes people without them even realizing it, trapping them in a cycle of revenge."
"But when revenge is taken, it creates more hatred. And that hatred fuels another tragedy. And then another."
"If no one is willing to stop the cycle, this world will be ruled by hatred forever."
"Everyone will be swallowed by it."
"So someone has to do something."
Naruto clutched his bleeding wound and looked up at the sky above the village.
"I don't know if what I'm doing will change anything..." He let out a small laugh. "But I have to try."
Muraji fell silent.
For the first time, he truly saw Naruto—not just as a reckless boy, but as someone carrying something far greater than himself.
A force that could change the entire world.
"You're saying I should place my hatred on you?" Muraji murmured.
Then, unexpectedly, he laughed.
"You've got guts, kid!"
Naruto grinned. He could tell—Muraji had let go of his hatred. Or maybe, just as he said, he had placed it on Naruto instead.
Muraji let out a deep breath, shaking his head. Then, with a genuine smile, he asked:
"So, kid—who are you?"
Naruto lifted a hand, gave a thumbs-up, and grinned brightly.
"Naruto Uzumaki!"
________
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