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

Chapter 444 Sasuke: Do you want to become that kind of 'god'?
"Keep up with them! Don't let them escape!"

Might Guy's shouts echoed through the woods as he led the remaining troops on the eastern front in pursuit of Konan and her air force.

However, just as they were about to seize the Akatsuki's tail.

Rumble…

Just like the Fourth Raikage and others, a large number of ninjas disguised as White Zetsu surged in, their sheer numbers instantly blocking their path.

"It's the White Zetsu mentioned in the intelligence!" Might Guy stopped abruptly, his thick brows furrowed, and shouted, "Fire Release ninjas, move forward! Don't let them get close!"

But just as the allied ninjas were forming hand seals to prepare for battle, a frenzied, chaotic yet fanatical roar suddenly came from the depths of the dense forest on their flank.

"For my lord!"

A large number of evil god cultists rushed out with howls, and without saying a word, they pounced on the white Zetsu!

"Then, who are those people?" Locke Lee stared at the scene in shock.

“It’s the cult of evil mentioned in the intelligence.” Matt Kai breathed a sigh of relief. “I didn’t expect that even we would have the assistance of the cult of evil. This is great.”

With the sudden appearance of this group of evil god cultists causing trouble, the White Zetsu's encirclement was instantly broken up.

"Don't linger in the fight, bypass them, and continue the pursuit of Akatsuki!" Might Guy ordered.

The allied forces immediately changed formation, attempting to slip through gaps in the battlefield to continue their pursuit of Xiao Nan and the others.

But the next moment, Might Guy suddenly stopped and stared intently at the figures blocking the distance.

Chukichi, the Hidden Mist Ninja; Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage; Shin, the Konoha Ninja; and Teacher Chen; and...

"Is this the Impure World Reincarnation?"

Matt Kee took a deep breath, as if to fill his lungs, to suppress the surge of anger that had risen within him.

Looking at the figure in the distance wearing a green bodysuit, whose face was half covered with pale bones, he uttered the name he hadn't used in a long time.

“Father…” Matt Kai said in a deep voice.

Behind him, Locke Lee stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the figure that Teacher Kai had mentioned countless times in the past.

—Matt Day.

"Damn it!" Locke Lee was unusually furious. "Kai's father had already burned out his life, how dare that damned Danzo..."

"Li, calm down." Might Guy raised his hand, interrupting his disciple's anger. His voice was unusually calm, even a little too calm.

Might Day also saw Might Guy and Rock Lee at the head, and then grinned.

"Kai! Tell me!"

He suddenly spread his arms wide and shouted in a voice so loud it seemed to dispel all gloom, "Have you been slacking off since I left?"

"Has your youth been tarnished? Have you persevered day after day, year after year, striving to keep running towards the sunset and letting yourself shine?"

This shout instantly shattered the calm that Matt Kai had been forcibly maintaining.

"Father."

Might Guy's tears streamed down his face, but his expression wasn't one of sadness or anger, but a smile. He shouted, "I haven't let my guard down for even a moment!"

"My youth is burning brightly every day, and I'm pushing my limits every single day!"

He suddenly grabbed Locke Lee's shoulder, and grinned at Matt Day with a smug look, revealing a bright smile just like his father's: "Look, Father."

“I also found a very, very, very wonderful child named Rock Lee, who is my disciple. He is more pure and more passionate than I am.”

"When we first met, he was utterly useless, utterly talentless, and knew no ninjutsu or genjutsu whatsoever. That's precisely why he won!"

"He earned my approval and will earn everyone's respect through a thousand times more effort than anyone else. He is a genius, a hardworking genius!"

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Matt Day's eyes lit up, and he looked Locke Lee up and down, especially noticing his signature thick eyebrows, green bodysuit, and bowl cut.

"Is this child your son?" he asked curiously.

"No, no, my name is Locke Lee."

Locke Lee wiped his nose and bowed deeply, saying, "I am Teacher Kai's disciple. Your teachings to Teacher Kai have been passed down to me, and I will always remember them!"

"Disciple?" Might Day showed no disappointment. Instead, he grinned and gave a thumbs up, his white teeth seemingly gleaming in the dim light.

"Well done, Li! To be recognized by Kai like this, you must have put in unimaginable effort!"

The next second, Might Guy's smile slowly faded. He looked down at his hands, then slowly looked up at Kay and Lee.

"The peak of my youth came to a complete end that evening. I shouldn't have been here, and I shouldn't have become your enemy. I'm sorry."

He said earnestly, "This body, although it allows me to exert greater power than I did in life, also binds my soul, preventing me from returning to the Pure Land."

“So…” He took a deep breath, his gaze falling on Might Guy and Locke Lee, and bowed deeply, “I’m counting on you two.”

“Ah! I understand, Father!” Kai’s expression turned serious, and he nodded, saying, “I understand better than anyone else!”

Rock Lee, standing beside him, gritted his teeth, his nails digging deep into his palms until they bled, and said firmly, "I swear, I will never let that bastard Danzo get away with this!"

"So……"

Might Guy uncontrollably assumed a starting stance, grinning as he said, "Come on! Kay! Lee! Show me your honed martial arts one last time."

"Youth is endless."

"If my soul is destined not to return to dust, then let it burn out at this moment and become nourishment for new green leaves."

boom! !

A violent, scorching, blood-red steam burst forth from every pore of his body, distorting the air and completely enveloping him.

The Eight Gates Formation - Gate of Death!

"When new leaves sprout tender buds again, when a new spring descends upon this land once more..."

He gazed intently at Matt and the other man, his eyes burning with passion, and laughed, "That will also be the echo of the highest point of my youth!"

At the same moment, Matt and Kai suddenly crossed their arms in front of them and lowered their center of gravity slightly.

"Jing Gate!" the two shouted in unison, "Open!"

boom! boom! !

A terrifying, tangible aura erupted from the two of them!

Intense green steam billowed from Matt Kee and Locke Lee's bodies.

Their skin instantly turned bright red due to ruptured capillaries, their muscles bulged, and veins spread across their bodies. Their once clear black and white eyes were now reduced to terrifying whites.

"Go! Li!"

"Yes! Teacher Kai!"

The ground beneath the feet of the master and apprentice suddenly shattered, transforming into two streaks of green flames that rushed toward Might Guy from the left and right without hesitation.

Two whip-like legs, wreathed in green steam, tore through the air with a piercing whistling sound, sweeping fiercely toward Might Guy.

"Well done!" Mighty roared from within the crimson steam, neither dodging nor avoiding, his fists, enveloped in crimson steam, slammed out fiercely.

The speed of the punches was so fast that it exceeded the limits of visual perception; all that could be seen were two solid, crimson air cannons tearing through the steam and slamming into the legs that Kai and Li were kicking at.

In life, his physique was significantly weaker than Might Guy's; even after opening the Gate of Death, he only managed to kill four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

However, this specially made body, which incorporates the power of the void, allows him to keep the "Gate of Death" open for a long time, which is something that Might Guy and Might Guy cannot defeat with just the "Gate of View".

boom! !

The violent impact exploded in a ring, uprooting trees within a radius of tens of meters and scraping away a layer of ground.

None of the reanimated ninjas around could get close, not even Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage.

boom!boom!
Kai and Li were sent flying backward, but they forcibly twisted their bodies in mid-air, their feet carving two furrows in the ground to stabilize themselves.

Their clothes were torn at the calves, their skin was bright red, they trembled slightly, but the fighting spirit in their eyes burned even more fiercely.

Regardless, Might Guy's body ultimately could not withstand the "Gate of Death," and his fists exploded from the previous blow, but they have now been repaired by the dust of the Impure World Reincarnation.

"Well done, but not enough, Kai, Lee!"

He looked at his hands and shouted to the two people in the distance, "Are you stopping after only opening the sixth gate?"

"My body can't even feel pain, and even the blood that flows from it is fake. I mustn't lose to a dead person whose youth has long since faded!"

------

The Land of Iron, inhabited by samurai, is a truly frigid land in the far north. According to legends passed down among the samurai, this land is the origin of all nations.

The veracity of this claim is uncertain, but if it is said that samurai originated here, then it certainly has some credibility.

According to some ancient records of the Land of Iron, this place was once the site of the palace of the Land of Ancestors.

The biting wind, sharp as a knife, howled across the endless snowfields and majestic glaciers, whipping up a sky full of pale white snowflakes, painting the world into a monotonous and harsh landscape.

As far as the eye can see, there is only snow and rugged rocks, and signs of life are almost impossible to find here.

Only the occasional snow falcon soaring across the sky proves that this frozen land is not yet dead.

Deep within this frozen world, in a perilous place far from any roads or villages, backed by towering ice cliffs, stands a dilapidated yet ancient castle.

The castle had clearly been abandoned for countless years, covered in ice and snow, and cracked from repeated freezing and thawing, leaving only jagged remnants pointing towards the sky.

The castle has a rugged and imposing style, reminiscent of the early days of the Iron Kingdom, but some of the carvings seem even older, as if silently telling secrets buried by the long passage of time.

The thin, cold moonlight shone into the castle, and the empty main hall was filled with wind and snow because of the damaged dome. The ground was covered with dust that had accumulated for who knows how many years.

At the far end of the hall, an exceptionally tall statue stood silently, with two horns on its head and wearing a long robe. Its appearance was difficult to discern, but its sacredness had not faded with time.

Naruto Uzumaki stood quietly in the shadow of the nameless statue.

He was draped in a heavy cloak that almost reached his ankles, completely covering his body from the neck down.

The wind and snow poured in from the broken dome above him, whipping his robes around, but he seemed oblivious, simply gazing silently at the dilapidated statue.

Tap...tap...tap...

Undisguised footsteps came from behind, echoing clearly as they approached.

Naruto didn't turn around until the footsteps stopped not far behind him, then he slowly spoke: "Have you heard the legend of the Rabbit Goddess?"

There was silence behind him, and no response came. Naruto didn't mind. He just stared at the statue and said to himself, "There are two versions circulating in the secular world."

"The first one says that a long, long time ago, war and chaos shrouded the land."

"A goddess from outer space descended upon this planet. She met the 'Emperor', the lord of the Ancestral Kingdom at the time, fell in love, and conceived a child."

"However, the good times were short-lived. The 'Emperor' ultimately could not resist the pressure from all sides and his own inner turmoil, and betrayed the goddess who trusted him."

"In her despair and pain, the goddess lost all illusions about humanity. With her unparalleled power, she turned the tables and suppressed and ruled the entire world."

"She turned the 'emperor' who betrayed her and most of the humans who opposed her into nourishment for the 'divine tree' that descended with her."

"Perhaps out of a sliver of pity, or perhaps for other reasons, the goddess did not exterminate humanity."

"She erased the memories of some people and put them back on the ravaged land. These people only remember a powerful 'goddess' who quelled the war."

"Therefore, she was revered as the 'Goddess of the Rabbit,' and thereafter she gave birth to two children with the 'Emperor,' the eldest of whom was later known as the Sage of Six Paths."

At this point, Naruto paused, his breath condensing into a cloud of white mist before his eyes, which was quickly torn apart by the cold wind.

"However, in even older records, there is another version, which has nothing to do with betrayal, or even with humanity."

He slowly began to speak: "Indeed, a goddess from a distant land has descended upon this place. She possesses power that is unimaginable to humans, and her life form transcends the mortal realm."

"She walked the earth, and with unparalleled power, quelled the conflicts that swept the world, bringing long-awaited peace and tranquility to the warring nations."

"Her power and mercy have won the heartfelt gratitude and respect of countless beings. People sincerely worship her and place their hopes for peace and abundance in her hands."

They respectfully call her the 'Goddess of the Rabbit'.

"Thus, in this era when the world returns to peace, all things revive, and life flourishes, and with the most sincere and fervent blessings of countless living beings gathered together."

"Bearing the world's expectations and the possibilities of the future, the goddess gave birth to new life, a life born from the wishes of all beings and noble bloodlines."

"The eldest son inherited his mother's dedication to peace, her love for all living beings, and her great power to control all things in the universe."

"He was the ancestor who later traveled the world and established the Ninja Clan, the Sage of Six Paths."

Naruto's voice echoed in the empty, dilapidated hall, plunging into an even longer silence. Naruto slowly turned around, his gaze calmly falling on the person behind him.

Sasuke Uchiha also watched Naruto quietly, his dark eyes reflecting Naruto's face.

"Which version of the legend do you think is more credible..." Naruto asked, looking at him.

“The second one,” Sasuke uttered without the slightest hesitation.

Upon hearing this answer, Naruto smiled and said, "However, the first version of the legend is more widely circulated in the ninja world and is believed and sung by more people."

"why?"

Upon hearing this, Sasuke frowned and patiently replied, "For the sake of rule."

“That’s right.” Naruto nodded. “This version is the most widely circulated in the ninja world, it’s been recorded in official history, and it’s known to most people.”

"Not because it is the most 'authentic,' but because it is the most 'useful.'"

“A ‘god’ who requires human sacrifices and can arbitrarily alter memories has his authority built on fear and manipulation.”

"It's all the goddess's fault, and it can completely deny the orthodoxy and sanctity that the Sage of Six Paths and his descendants naturally possess, both morally and in terms of bloodline."

“They are portrayed as products of betrayal and curse, rather than symbols of blessing and hope, while the current rulers are the righteous side saving humanity from evil gods.”

At this point, Naruto's smile turned playful, and he tilted his head and chuckled, "However, the existence of gods is essential for them."

"From the ruler's perspective, the existence of gods makes people believe in reincarnation, karma, and rewarding good and punishing evil, thus maintaining social order to the greatest extent possible and also giving their power a sacred veil."

"From a personal perspective, humanity's fear of the unknown, dissatisfaction with reality, and yearning for the future are destined to give birth to gods."

"They must imagine an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent individual to give meaning to their birth and death, and to provide solace for their suffering and dedication."

"Therefore, the high and mighty goddess of the rabbit died, and the gods and Buddhas who existed in dependence on the rulers appeared again."

“But, unfortunately…” Naruto said calmly, “God is fake.”

"Or rather, even if an individual once possessed great power like the 'Goddess of the Rabbit,' there would be no cause and effect, no reward for good and punishment for evil."

"It will not give meaning to life and death, nor will it offer solace to suffering and dedication."

"The history of this world may ultimately reveal the same thing, and that is..."

"This world has always lacked a 'god' who is all-knowing and all-powerful, who rewards good and punishes evil, just like people imagine."

Upon hearing this, even the howling wind and snow seemed to pause.

Sasuke Uchiha's pupils contracted slightly as he stared intently at Naruto, trying to discern his true intentions from the other's face.

"Is this why you chose to leave Konoha and come here?"

"You want to find such a 'god'?" he asked, glancing at the towering statue. "Or do you want to become such a 'god'?"

“You don’t need to test me. I haven’t been brainwashed by the evil cult.”

Seeing through Sasuke's thoughts at a glance, Naruto couldn't help but smile and said, "I just think that if we want to change this world, we need to reward good and punish evil, and we need cause and effect."

"Those who do good will gain more, and those who do evil will lose more. Even if they have to wait until the next life, that will be enough."

"Whether it's God or anything else, as long as it can give meaning to everyone's birth and death, and offer solace to everyone's suffering and dedication..."

"Then he is God."

"But the five great nations won't work, and neither will the evil cult."

Naruto slowly exhaled, lifted his hood to reveal half of his pale, skeletal face, and smiled, "And now, I am walking on this path."

"If you want to stop me, the only way is to kill me."

Upon hearing those words again, Sasuke felt an intense grating on his ears, and the Mangekyou Sharingan appeared in his eyes.

“I don’t understand what you’re thinking, but I won’t kill you.” He drew a silver spear from his back and assumed a fighting stance. “Whatever you want to do, I will help you, because we are friends.”

"But before that..."

boom!
Sasuke Uchiha vanished from his spot in an instant and reappeared in front of Naruto Uzumaki, coldly saying, "I'm going to make you wake up."

As soon as he finished speaking, the silver spear in his hand flashed, and Naruto's arm, hidden in his cloak, extended out.

Clang!
The sound of metal clashing rang out, sparks flew, illuminating the eyes of the two men.

"Then let me see how much you've improved."

Naruto blocked the silver spear with his sharp claws and laughed, "Let me see if you're still the same little brat who only knew how to cry after I left."

Upon hearing this, Sasuke's face darkened instantly, and he showed no mercy whatsoever.

(I've made up for the chapter I took yesterday. The two chapters together have over 10,000 words. Please give me your monthly votes QAQ)

(End of this chapter)