Naruto: Uchiha Youngjo's Konoha Spring

Chapter 229 Valley of the End

"Kid, aren't you afraid someone will catch up with you if you travel at such a leisurely pace?" Kurama couldn't help but remind Naruto as he leisurely strolled along the road after leaving the village.

“Brother Kurama, now that we’re out, let’s enjoy the scenery along the way.” Naruto said, whistling as he put his hands behind his head. “Besides, my escape plan is flawless, and they won’t find out we’re gone anytime soon.”

"What's so interesting about the scenery here?" Kurama pouted, but then, thinking that this kid had grown up in Konoha since he was a child and had never had the chance to see the outside world properly, he simply stopped talking. Before lying down to sleep, he said, "If you get caught, don't blame me for not warning you."

"It's alright, I can just run away when the time comes. With Kurama's power, as long as Master doesn't personally intervene, no one else can catch me," Naruto laughed.

……

Sasuke hurriedly arrived at the western gate of Konoha and did not linger. He simply told the guards at the gate about an urgent mission, that he would complete the exit procedures later, and then left the village and headed west along the main road.

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Uchiha Touko also received news that Naruto was suspected of being missing—or rather, not suspected of being missing.

Uchiha Touko looked at the limited-edition ramen he had taken out of the scroll on his desk and the note inside, and felt a terrible headache coming on.

Teacher, the world is so big, I want to go see it.

Looking at the scribbled note and the report of the attack on the genin on the other side, Uchiha Touko couldn't help but sigh.

This silly kid, if he wants to go out and have some fun, can't he just come and ask for permission? Does he really think he can lock this silly kid up in the village? If it were two years ago, Uchiha Touko might not have agreed to the kid's request, but now that the kid is capable of protecting himself in the ninja world, if he wants to go out and see the world, Uchiha Touko has no reason to object. Uchiha Touko understands the saying that "reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles," and besides, isn't it already a Konoha tradition for Hokage's disciples to travel the world instead of staying in the village? But now this kid is doing this, is he tired of having a good life and wants to become a rogue ninja?
“Teacher, Naruto…” At this moment, Neji hurriedly pushed open the door and entered, but he was also stunned when he saw what was on Uchiha Touko’s desk.

"You can go back now. I already know what happened." Uchiha Touko nodded. "I'll send someone to find that kid."

"Teacher, Sasuke has already gone after them," Neji said at this moment.

“Is that so?” Uchiha Touko nodded. “I understand. Remember to tell those who know about this to keep quiet.”

"Understood." Neji nodded.

After Neji left, Uchiha Touko shook his head helplessly and looked towards the west of the village.

"So, even in their current state, these two brothers still can't escape the fate of the final battle at the Valley of the End?" Uchiha Touko shook his head.

……

"Kid, someone's catching up from behind." The Nine-Tails' voice rang in Naruto's mind.

Naruto turned around abruptly and saw a figure riding on lightning rushing towards him.

"So fast?" Naruto was stunned when he saw Sasuke's figure, and then said in disbelief.

"It would be strange if someone didn't discover your skills," Nine-Tails said. "What are you standing there for? Are you planning to fight him?"

"Alright." Naruto nodded, a golden light emanating from his body. Then, he took off running like the wind. "Naruto! Where do you think you're going?!" Sasuke's angry shout rang out behind Naruto.

Naruto remained silent, only focusing on increasing his speed.

"Stop right there!" Sasuke gritted his teeth and threw a series of shuriken and wires at Naruto as he saw Naruto getting faster and faster.

A barrage of shuriken rained down on Naruto. Naruto glanced back and quickly adjusted his direction, trying to escape through the gaps in the shuriken rain. However, Sasuke was even faster. He gently twisted the steel wire in his hands, causing the shuriken to collide in mid-air and change their flight paths.

Seeing this, Naruto prepared to take several shuriken head-on with his body.

However, just as he accelerated, his legs were suddenly entangled in the steel wire, causing him to lose his balance and fall to the ground.

Sasuke seized the opportunity to stand in front of Naruto, looking down at him and coldly asking, "Fool, where are you planning to go?"

"You still caught up with me, Sasuke. I don't want to fight you." Naruto sighed and used his chakra to break the steel wire wrapped around his leg.

"Answer my question first, where are you planning to go?" Sasuke said coldly. "Do you know how worried everyone is about you?"

"I want to travel around the ninja world," Naruto said, "and then find my own ninja way."

"Just for that reason?" Sasuke frowned, looking at Naruto and said, "I believe you can understand the current situation in the ninja world. The village is about to face war, and it is precisely at this time that your strength is needed. Yet you want to leave the village for such a reason?"

“That’s why I left,” Naruto said. “The ninja way I pursue doesn’t allow me to use my power for the killing in war.”

"You are also a disciple of the master. Have you forgotten what the master said? Our war to unify the ninja world in the future is to end the years of conflict in the ninja world and bring about final peace?" Sasuke felt that Naruto was being unreasonable.

“I know,” Naruto nodded. “I also know that the teacher and everyone else are working hard towards this goal, but what I saw on the battlefield that day made me realize that no matter what the purpose is, killing only brings the purest pain. So, I want to try to reduce this pain as much as possible, at least to prevent this pain from falling on civilians.”

"Is this what you were thinking about on the battlefield that day?" Sasuke took a deep breath and asked Naruto, who seemed quite different from before.

“Yes, so please let me through. I don’t want to fight you,” Naruto said.

"Judging from your tone, you seem to think you've got me cornered, right?" Sasuke took a deep breath. "As for stepping aside, I'm sorry, I can't. I can't just watch my friend become a rogue ninja. So, even if I break your legs, I'll bring you back to the village."

A silence fell between them, broken only by the gentle murmur of flowing water.

The two looked in the direction from which the sound of flowing water came almost simultaneously.

"Is that place... the Valley of the End?" Naruto muttered to himself.

(End of this chapter)