From Naruto onwards, I've become a dreamer.

Chapter 453 Naruto's Retrieval Battle

After leaving the memorial, Naruto returned home.

He understood the whole truth, but his anger did not diminish in the slightest; on the contrary, it grew even stronger.

Everything in the room was destroyed, and Naruto sat blankly on the floor as if he had lost his soul.

"As you wished, I have seen the truth."

Naruto looked towards the empty space and whispered, "Are you satisfied now?"

A shadowy figure emerged from there—Orochimaru. He stared at Naruto's vacant eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Tell me, Naruto-kun, do you want revenge?"

The word "revenge" seemed to ignite Naruto's anger.

He slowly raised his head: "Yes!"

"Very good, you've piqued my interest even more now."

Orochimaru saw the boy's eyes, those eyes shining like pure gold: "Then, come with me. Naruto-kun, I will tell you the whole truth and make you even stronger!"

Naruto remained silent for a long time.

At that moment, many people appeared in his mind.

There are parents whose memories have become blurred, or three generations of kind grandfathers, and so many friends.

"Naruto-kun, this world holds too many secrets that you don't know."

Orochimaru spoke softly, as if bewitching, "I'm very curious about the power within you, but I won't kill you. In exchange, I'll give you power, and you'll be my research partner. That's it. If you're willing, then give me your answer."

After a long silence, Naruto said in a hoarse voice, "Okay, I promise you."

"What?!"

Sakura and Sasuke, who were in the hospital room, learned a shocking truth from Kakashi.

Naruto Uzumaki defected from the village half an hour ago!

"This is impossible!"

Sasuke, his face filled with disbelief, bit his pink lips tightly: "I don't believe it. Naruto would betray the village!"

"Yeah, isn't there some mistake?" Sakura couldn't believe it either. That enthusiastic and cheerful fool who always talked about Hokage would betray the village!

"I hope it's false, but according to the Anbu's report, it's true." Kakashi's eyes were filled with dejection as he sighed and said, "Naruto knocked out the gatekeeper and then left the village with the people from Otogakure."

"Sound Ninja."

Upon hearing this, Sakura and Sasuke suddenly recalled the mysterious man wearing the Sound Ninja headband during the Chunin Exams.

And that mysterious man was none other than Orochimaru, the murderer who killed the Third Hokage!

"It's him! It must be him!"

Sasuke's pupils constricted sharply, and ignoring his injuries, he rolled off the hospital bed: "I'm going to bring Naruto back!"

"Wait, Sasuke!" Kakashi raised his hand and grabbed the impulsive Sasuke, saying in a deep voice, "Even if you catch up with him in your current body, can you bring Naruto back?"

"Even so, I'm going to bring Naruto back!"

Sasuke's eyes were unusually determined: "Even if it means breaking Naruto's legs, I will bring him back!"

Kakashi was silent for a moment, then slowly released his grip and sighed, "Konoha has already sent out a pursuit team. Go and bring Naruto back."

"Thank you."

This was the only time Sasuke thanked the man in front of him.

"Wait, although I approved your actions..."

Kakashi's eyes were serious, and his tone was solemn as he said, "The two Hokage advisors have given the order to bring Naruto back at all costs. If they find it impossible, they are to destroy him immediately."

Sasuke's movements froze instantly.

"What?!" Sakura covered her mouth, her eyes filled with terror. "Naruto, isn't he our comrade? Why...why would you give such an order?"

"Is it because of what's inside him?" Sasuke bit his lip, a hint of sadness in his eyes.

"You actually knew that?"

Kakashi was somewhat surprised, but quickly accepted it, nodding and saying, "That's right. Naruto has the Nine-Tails sealed inside him, which almost destroyed Konoha, so Konoha must take it back."

"So you mean I have to find Naruto before those people do, right?" Sasuke said.

"That's right, that's exactly what I mean."

Kakashi looked at Sasuke and said, "I will buy you time, but... you can only rely on yourself."

"Sasuke."

Sakura looked at the girl with concern.

Sasuke opened the window of the hospital room, and without turning around, said calmly, "Don't worry, Sakura, I will definitely bring Naruto back."

In the vast forest, Naruto stepped on tree trunks and ran wildly towards the Sound Village.

He knew very well that there were pursuers behind him, but according to Orochimaru, this was a test.

If he doesn't even have the ability to escape Konoha's pursuit, then there's no need or meaning in pursuing the truth of the world or the truth about his parents' disappearance.

Swish~ Swish~~~

The sound of something rushing through the forest brushed past Naruto's ears.

But at that moment, a figure suddenly appeared with lightning speed, blocking their path.

"I knew you'd come."

Naruto stopped and looked at the man with a complicated expression: "Sasuke."

"Now, you have two choices."

Sasuke raised his hand, flicked his ponytail, and stared coldly at Naruto: "Either you obediently come back with me, or I'll break your legs and then carry you back."

"I'm sorry, Sasuke."

Naruto took a deep breath, his eyes equally resolute: "I won't go back with you."

Why?

Sasuke's eyes were filled with complex emotions as he bit his lip lightly: "Why, do you have to leave?"

"Every single time...every single time, from childhood to adulthood, I've always been the worst student, but now...all I want is power!" Naruto stared at Sasuke, then said in a deep voice, "I'm going to find Orochimaru. He's right. I can't stay here!"

"Is that so?"

Sasuke stared at the still stubborn Naruto, his eyelids slightly lowered, and lightning crackled in his palm: "Since that's how it is... then I'll break your legs and take you back!"

Lightning Release: Chidori!

A piercing, noisy cry ripped through the forest, flashing like lightning.

Naruto had no chance to react before he felt a heavy blow to his abdomen, and he was sent flying like a cannonball, snapping a tree in half.

Amidst a cloud of dust, Naruto coughed up blood: "Damn it, he's really strong."

If Sasuke hadn't deliberately dispelled Chidori at the last moment, he probably would have been pierced through!

"Wow~ That's terrible, you got beaten up by your girlfriend."

Lu Mingze sat beside him, a sly smile on his face as if he were watching a grand spectacle.

"Did you have to bring this up now?" Naruto braced himself with one hand on the ground, the sharp pain in his abdomen making it difficult to concentrate, cold sweat dripping down his cheeks. "If you don't have anything important to say, don't bother me. Besides, Sasuke isn't my girlfriend!"

"No, no, no, I'm the kindest devil~"

Lu Mingze swung his legs with a playful smile: "I really couldn't stand it anymore, so I prepared two reminders for you."

"remind?"

Naruto clutched his stomach, staggered to his feet, and gasped for breath: "What warning?"

Lu Mingze held up two fingers and smiled, "First, as a bonus during our last transaction, I gifted you two Words of Power; second, at the moment of the transaction, you possessed the bloodline of the 'Dragon Clan.' To be precise, you, Uzumaki Naruto, are now a hybrid!"

"A hybrid? A word of power?"

Naruto was stunned, not quite understanding what he meant.

"It means..."

Lu Mingze's golden eyes flowed like lava: "You have long possessed the power of the dragon race, but you just couldn't use it. Now, release the power hidden in your bloodline."

(End of this chapter)