Naruto: I, who fooled the ninja world, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 386 Perhaps, we can give it a try?
The morning sunlight streamed softly into the room through the windowpanes.

Naruto Uzumaki opened his eyes, his gaze devoid of any sleepiness, only filled with tranquility.

He got up briskly, washed up quickly, and pushed open the door.

Squeak.

The door had barely opened a crack when a lithe black figure darted in, lightly leaping onto his shoulder before settling comfortably on his blond hair, curling up into a ball.

It was that black cat that had followed me here from Konoha.

Naruto was already used to this, and his expression didn't even change. He just walked with a more steady gait and figure toward Sasuke Uchiha's residence.

However, when he saw Sasuke...

"what?"

Looking at Sasuke and Yamato in front of him, his brows furrowed involuntarily, and he said in a deep voice, "What's going on? What happened to the village again?"

Sasuke gripped the crumpled letter tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He raised his eyes, which were still red-rimmed, and his dark eyes were filled with rage. His voice was hoarse as he said, "Shimura Danzo's forbidden human experiments have been completely exposed."

"He transplanted Hashirama cells, the Byakugan, and the Sharingan, and even possessed the power of a Hollow. The Fifth Hokage ordered his execution."

“However, at the crucial moment, he was stopped by the Third Hokage.” Sasuke’s tone was filled with even deeper anger and hatred, “allowing that old scoundrel Danzo to escape.”

"Before escaping, Danzo attacked the Uchiha clan's territory and stole one of Shisui's Mangekyou Sharingan eyes. Shisui..."

At this point, he choked up and whispered, "He died in battle protecting his people."

Naruto's pupils contracted slightly as he looked at the almost overflowing pain in Sasuke's eyes. He wanted to say something, but couldn't utter a word.

"I'm sorry, Naruto." Sasuke took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging emotions, and looked up at Naruto. "I have to go back. I can't stay here any longer..."

Before he could finish speaking, Naruto shook his head and said, "You don't need to apologize to me. You made the right choice. Shisui is your brother. How could you not go back?"

He stepped forward, patted Sasuke on the shoulder, and smiled slightly, "Don't worry, I'm not some little kid who needs company, and besides, I have Karin and the others."

Feeling the strength coming from his shoulder, Sasuke's tense body relaxed, and the panic and violence in his heart caused by the sudden change also calmed down a little.

“But…” Sasuke said in a low voice, “How will you manage to cooperate with the Daimyo's request to eliminate the Hollows all by yourself?”

Previously, it was always the two of them working together.

First, Naruto temporarily controlled the Hollow with the "Diamond Sealing Technique," then Sasuke used his Sharingan to render the Hollow unable to resist, and finally Naruto completed the sealing and absorption.

If Sasuke isn't there, it means Naruto will have to bear the intense mental backlash and resistance from the Hollow during the sealing process all by himself.

"That commission..."

Upon hearing this, Naruto simply smiled nonchalantly and said in a relaxed tone, "It's fine to postpone it for now. Anyway, it's not a mandatory task. We'll talk about it when you get back."

Once again, he told a lie without batting an eye.

In fact, even if Sasuke leaves, he will never stop eliminating Hollows.

Or rather, the absorption of "emptiness".

Because he needed the spiritual energy of "emptiness," which was one of the keys to forging his Zanpakuto. Seeing Naruto's relaxed and composed demeanor, Sasuke didn't notice anything amiss. He chose to trust Naruto's words, and the last trace of concern in his heart dissipated.

After exchanging a few more words about the details of the itinerary and subsequent correspondence, Naruto turned and left, heading towards the villa where Karin and Chiba Ryosuke lived.

He told the two of them about Sasuke's ordeal and his impending departure.

"what?"

After hearing Naruto's account, Chiba Ryosuke immediately jumped up from his chair, angrily exclaiming, "Danzo? Who is that? How dare he... how dare he..."

He was so angry that he was incoherent, clearly knowing very little about the secrets of Konoha's higher-ups, but that did not stop him from being furious about his friend's fate.

"Damn it, there are still three generations of masters, why..."

He even subconsciously wanted to curse the Third Hokage for stopping the Fifth Hokage.

But the words stuck in his throat and he couldn't bring himself to say them. Instead, he slammed his fist on the table with a loud thud, his chest heaving violently.

Immediately afterwards, he turned his head sharply, and the angry expression on his face instantly turned into a forced, relaxed smile.

"Oh, it's alright, it's alright, Sasuke's gone, so be it!"

He strode forward, reached out and familiarly put his arm around Naruto's neck, and said with a grin, "Isn't Karin and I still here?"

"Don't worry! We'll definitely be with you until the very end! If you still want to get rid of those 'empty' things, we can help you with that too! Right, Karin-nee?"

He shook Naruto vigorously while glancing at Karin beside him.

Karin pushed up her glasses and smiled, "Yes, we'll do our best to help you, Naruto."

"It's nothing, it's not like it's a mission I have to carry out." Naruto felt the warmth on his neck and a slightly helpless smile appeared on his face.

Chiba Ryosuke, standing beside him, had a flicker in his eyes, clearly sensing that Naruto was not being sincere.

Based on his understanding of Naruto, he knew that Naruto would definitely continue to secretly carry out the mission of eliminating the Hollows alone, because the two of them were too weak and would most likely only be a hindrance.

Karin's medical ninjutsu might be able to help Naruto, but it certainly won't be of much help...

Thinking of this, Chiba Ryosuke recalled what Kazuma-sama had said to him after he was kept behind after school yesterday.

Perhaps, we could give it a try?
------

Inside the Hokage Building in Konoha.

In contrast to the bright sunshine outside, the spacious conference room was shrouded in a suffocating atmosphere of low pressure.

Beside the oval-shaped long table, all of Konoha's current high-ranking officials were present, each with an inescapable shadow over their face.

Their eyes were either lowered or they remained silent; the heavy atmosphere in the air was almost tangible.

"Speak up, everyone."

Hinata Kumokawa sat upright in the main seat, his fingers interlaced and gently resting on his chin. His eyes calmly swept across the room: "You've all read the scroll's preface, haven't you?"

What are your thoughts?

(End of this chapter)