Several Anbu ninjas erupted with killing intent, chakra flaring as they prepared to attack.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his hand slightly, halting them. His voice was cold and heavy. "Let him speak."
Naruto didn't hesitate. He stepped forward, armor glinting in the light, his voice distorted and grim under the filter of the battle suit.
"Seek peace through struggle, and peace will survive. Seek peace through compromise, and peace will perish," Naruto said, every word landing like a hammer blow in the silent street. "If you don't even understand this... how are you fit to be Hokage?"
Sarutobi's expression faltered for a moment. The quote pierced through him, shaking the beliefs he had held onto for decades.
Naruto didn't care about fancy speeches or complicated political reasoning. He only knew what he saw—how Hiruzen, someone he once looked up to, was willing to hand over Hyuga Hiashi like a pawn. That wasn't leadership. That was cowardice.
"You talk about protecting peace," Naruto continued, his tone sharp, "but what kind of peace needs innocent people to be sacrificed first?"
Shimura Danzō's single eye flickered with interest. He murmured to himself, "Seek peace through struggle... Interesting." It was a philosophy that mirrored his own, though he'd never expected to hear it from someone so young.
Sarutobi clenched his fists. "Who are you?"
"Who am I?" Naruto tilted his head. "I'm the one who killed those Cloud Shinobi the other night. Didn't you already know that?"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Sarutobi's eyes narrowed.
Naruto's voice became more mocking. "Oh, so you did know. You knew everything. But instead of going after me, you wanted to hand over Hiashi. That's how you lead?"
"The large clans are getting arrogant, right? Time to beat them down a little?" Naruto sneered. "Classic Hokage move."
On the rooftops, Hyuga Hiashi stood silently, arms folded as he listened. His stern face cracked into a faint smirk.
For the first time in days, his heart felt light.
He was fully prepared to give himself up for the village—he had even steeled himself for death. But this mysterious armored stranger had turned the tables. The Hyuga clan now had a way out.
Sarutobi's face grew darker. He could feel his authority slipping.
"Take him!" he barked. "That's the murderer of the Cloud Shinobi envoy!"
A group of Anbu ninja instantly moved in. One of them stepped forward, forming seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball erupted from his mouth and roared toward Naruto like a blazing meteor.
But when the flames cleared, Naruto was gone.
He reappeared on the rooftop of a nearby building, arms crossed, eyes gleaming behind the mask.
"Let me show you," he shouted, "what a real Hokage should be like!"
Without waiting for a response, he leapt from rooftop to rooftop, heading straight for the Cloud Shinobi guest house.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart sank.
"Damn it!" he cursed. "He's targeting the Cloud Shinobi!"
He leapt into pursuit, followed by Danzō and a swarm of Konoha ninja. Dozens of shinobi darted over the rooftops, a chaotic mass of chakra signatures converging on one location.
"Brother!" Hyuga Hizashi called from the side.
Hiashi nodded. "Let's go."
With the Hyuga clan behind him, he joined the chase. But unlike the others, Hiashi's steps were light, his burden lifted.
Before, he had no choice but to accept being sacrificed. But now—thanks to this stranger—he could fight back with reason and dignity.
Whoever this armored man was, Hiashi owed him a debt.
He clenched his fists. Did he save Hinata that night, too? Is he acting to protect the Hyuga clan?
Meanwhile, Naruto danced through the streets and across rooftops with ease. Konoha ninja scrambled to intercept him, but he slipped past each one like smoke.
No one could keep up.
The whole village was in disarray. From civilians to shinobi, all turned their eyes toward the strange figure igniting chaos in their peaceful home.
Naruto smiled grimly to himself.
"This place... this version of Konoha... it's broken," he muttered. "Someone needs to set a fire under it. If I can't fix it yet, I'll at least shake it up."
He landed hard in front of the Cloud Shinobi guest house. Cracks splintered beneath his boots.
"Cloud Shinobi!" he roared. His voice, amplified by the armor, thundered through the district like an explosion. "Get out here!"
Doors burst open. A dozen Cloud Shinobi stormed out, weapons drawn and faces furious.
"Who the hell are you?! You dare threaten us?!" one of them barked.
Naruto took a step forward. "I'm the one who killed your envoy. You were looking for a murderer, right? Well, here I am."
Shock spread through the Cloud Shinobi. This wasn't part of the script. They wanted an excuse to pressure Konoha, not an open confession from a lunatic in armor.
"You... What proof do you have?!" one of them shouted, uncertain.
Naruto laughed. "Proof? You don't need proof. You weren't looking for the truth. You just wanted an excuse to steal the Hyuga clan's secrets."
The Cloud ninja's faces twisted in rage. "Our Cloud Shinobi Village would never stoop so low!"
"Oh?" Naruto stepped even closer. "So righteous, huh? But who sneaks into someone's home to kidnap a child in the dead of night? Don't act noble with me."
From the surrounding rooftops, more Konoha ninja appeared, including Sarutobi, Danzō, and the Hyuga brothers.
"Hold it right there!" a Konoha jonin shouted. "You're under arrest!"
Naruto's hand twitched, but he didn't move.
He looked back at the growing crowd of Leaf ninja and then forward at the furious Cloud delegation. He was surrounded on all sides, the air thick with killing intent.
And yet, his voice remained calm.
"I don't care what you people believe. I don't care who you support. But let me say this—Konoha isn't peaceful. It's quiet because everyone's too afraid to speak up."
He turned slightly toward Sarutobi.
"You think sacrificing the Hyuga clan is leadership? It's cowardice. You let fear guide you."
A hush fell over the crowd.
"I'm not here to be your hero. I'm not even here to save anyone. I'm here because I've had enough of this village pretending it's perfect when it's rotting from the inside."
The Konoha ninjas didn't move. Neither did the Cloud.
It was as if Naruto's words struck something deeper than any jutsu could.
And then, slowly, Naruto turned.
"You wanted a fire, Sarutobi. Well, here it is."
He vanished in a blur, leaving behind only scorched ground and stunned silence.
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