Chapter 146: The Fall of the Ninja Hero
Swish—
The sound tore through the air like shattering glass.
A massive force crashed down from the sky, slamming directly into the red barrier that had sealed the battlefield. The nearly invisible wall that had blocked countless Konoha shinobi from entering—was obliterated in an instant.
As the barrier shattered, Konoha's forces let out a battle cry and surged forward. The Sound Ninja scrambled to intercept them, and the battlefield erupted into chaos once more.
The clash of chakra and steel spread across what had once been the sealed Uchiha district.
But in the heart of the battlefield, that descending force didn't stop after breaking the barrier.
Bathed in blazing red chakra, a gigantic palm condensed from Tailed Beast energy crashed down from the heavens—aimed directly at Orochimaru, who had no time to dodge.
"Wha—!?"
In Orochimaru's horrified eyes, the monstrous chakra claw landed squarely atop him.
BOOM!
The shockwave echoed across the village.
The place where the chakra palm struck caved in by several meters, annihilating everything beneath it. Birds, insects, even scraps of earth—all consumed in a flash of raw power.
Dust billowed across the battlefield in an enormous wave, swallowing both Konoha and Sound ninjas in its path. And in its wake—the once-proud Uchiha district was reduced to rubble.
"…Naruto?" someone whispered in disbelief.
Though the dust cloud obscured vision, the presence of Tailed Beast chakra was unmistakable.
Everyone knew who had arrived.
Behind Sarutobi Hiruzen's large frame, Naruto stood—protected from the brunt of the blast. Just moments earlier, Hiruzen had nearly died from that very shockwave.
"…Did he escape?"
Ryosuke's voice was cold.
Beneath the giant palm's crater, everything had been wiped out.
But Ryosuke's eyes narrowed.
He spread his perception outward, scanning every trace of chakra… but there was no sign of Orochimaru.
No way. Orochimaru's escape techniques were second to none. His ability to mask his presence rivaled even Danzo's Izanagi-fueled tricks. Ryosuke couldn't believe someone like him could be killed by a single strike.
Still, the possibility lingered—maybe, just maybe, Orochimaru was now nothing more than dust, fertilizer among the insects and roots.
But…
"I don't buy it. He's too slippery."
Ryosuke let out a breath. The threat had passed. For now.
"The danger is over," he muttered, straightening from the dust. "This battle ends here. What comes next... is your decision."
In Naruto's subconscious, his voice trembled.
"…I…"
He had long insisted on facing the Third Hokage, yet now that the moment had come—he hesitated.
"I… I can't… Ryosuke, can't you go instead?"
Ryosuke cut him off with a cold tone.
"This is your burden, Naruto. Don't run away."
And with that, his control over Naruto's body vanished.
The Otsutsuki's power that had kept the Nine-Tails suppressed faded—and the Tailed Beast chakra began to stir.
But before the chakra could rampage, Ryosuke's consciousness slapped a Five Elements Seal onto the mental cage.
The blood-red Tailed Beast cloak receded instantly, vanishing like mist back into Naruto's seal. The Nine-Tails said nothing—ever since Ryosuke's arrival, he had behaved obediently, no matter how much he seethed inside.
The world regained clarity.
Control returned to Naruto.
But his heart pounded.
He had watched everything—the battles, the pain, the loss—and now, he was finally back in his own body.
"…Is that… Naruto?"
Beyond the cloud of dust, Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice cracked with concern. He hadn't moved. His injuries were too severe.
The power Naruto released just now… it scared him. He feared Naruto had lost himself—become a mindless beast like the Tailed One inside him.
"I'm here."
Naruto's voice was soft but steady as he stepped forward, emerging from the swirling dust.
Conflicted, he called out to Ryosuke—again and again—but received no reply.
Left to face this moment alone, Naruto hesitated.
What should he say to the old man who might've lied to him his whole life?
But as he looked at Hiruzen's battered figure, the anger—the blame—began to retreat.
"…Third… Grandpa…"
The haze cleared, revealing a face Naruto had never seen up close. Pale, wrinkled, drained of color… and yet, when Hiruzen saw him, his cloudy eyes softened with relief.
And then… he collapsed backward.
"Third Grandpa!!"
Naruto dashed forward, but froze just before reaching him.
At that moment, Konoha's remaining shinobi arrived.
Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai, Anko—every available Jonin surrounded the battlefield. The invading Sound Ninja had already been routed. Without Orochimaru's leadership, their retreat had been swift.
Now, all eyes turned to Naruto.
Most of them looked uneasy.
Even Kakashi's eyes were troubled—not with hatred, but uncertainty.
To them, Naruto had either been used by Orochimaru… or worse, had aided him.
The air was heavy.
"Asuma! Call the medical team!"
Kneeling beside his father, Asuma pushed aside old grudges and barked the order.
But Hiruzen weakly raised a hand.
"…No. It's… time."
He struggled to sit up with Asuma's help, voice filled with quiet regret.
"There's only one person I want to see. Bring him to me."
"But—" Asuma hesitated.
"Let Naruto come."
His tone was firm. No one dared disobey.
The Jonin parted. Chunin and Genin followed. A path opened.
Naruto stepped forward again. He was used to those wary looks. They didn't bother him anymore.
All that mattered was the man at the end of that path.
"You've grown, Naruto," Hiruzen said, his voice faint but kind. "You look strong. Hardened. Like someone who's been through a lot."
The warmth in those words struck Naruto harder than any jutsu ever could.
For a moment… Naruto felt like he was back on Hokage Rock, eating grilled fish beneath the stars.
He had imagined this moment countless times—reuniting with the Third Hokage. Sometimes, he saw himself lashing out in rage, demanding answers. Other times, he imagined being too overwhelmed to speak.
But not like this.
Never like this.
The night-long battle had finally begun to fade. The sky was brightening—still gray, but no longer empty. The first signs of dawn were rising over a broken village.
Naruto looked at the old man before him—no longer the proud Hokage, but a frail figure clinging to life.
"You've gotten old," Naruto said softly, eyes conflicted. "Older than the last time I saw you."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded slowly. "Yes… I have."
He stepped closer.
The Kusanagi sword was still buried in his body. The organs it had pierced had long since failed. Only sheer willpower kept him standing.
Naruto instinctively flinched as the old man approached—but stopped when he saw Hiruzen's eyes.
Without a word, Hiruzen placed his hand on Naruto's shoulder.
Then, summoning what remained of his strength, he raised his voice.
"Everyone!"
His voice rang out across the battlefield.
As it did, blood poured from his wound, soaking into his robes.
"Third Hokage—!" Naruto moved to stop him, but Hiruzen raised a weak hand and silenced him.
"There's no time," he said. "Let me finish."
"This is… my final command as Hokage."
He turned, voice strong despite the weakness of his body.
"Protect Uzumaki Naruto. Until Jiraiya returns with the Fifth Hokage, I order all of you to guard this boy."
"Do not let anyone—inside or outside the village—harm him."
His tone hardened.
"Most importantly, do not… under any circumstances… allow Shimura Danzo to approach him."
"This is my final order."
"From this moment forward, all matters related to Naruto will be entrusted to the Fifth Hokage."
His words echoed through the gathering crowd of Konoha shinobi. Many looked stunned. Some confused. A few exchanged glances, processing what they'd just heard.
Then Hiruzen took another ragged breath.
"There's something else I must say."
He wavered slightly, but his voice did not falter.
"I don't know if I'll make it to the end of these words, so please—don't interrupt."
Each breath came with pain. His lungs struggled. His heart pounded.
And yet… he felt light.
Like he had in his youth.
"Uzumaki Naruto…" he said, voice clear, "is the son of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze."
"He is not a demon. He is the child of a hero."
Gasps rippled through the shinobi.
Many had never known.
Even those who suspected… had never heard it said aloud.
"I was wrong to conceal it," Hiruzen continued. "It was a decision I made in my later years… and I will pay for that mistake with my name."
Far beyond the village walls, Ryosuke—still running—smiled faintly.
"In order to protect the village, the Fourth Hokage… entrusted the Nine-Tails to his newborn son," Hiruzen said. "That was his choice—and my greatest regret."
"Perhaps if I had taken his place… perhaps the village would have turned out differently. But…"
He paused.
"…Minato always walked one step ahead of me. He carried the Will of Fire better than I ever did."
The Third Hokage's words rang deep and clear.
"Where the leaves dance… there, the fire will burn."
"And from that fire… new leaves shall grow."
"No matter what choices you make in the future—no matter which path you take—do not forget the name Konoha."
"That was what the Second Hokage gave to me."
"What I passed to the Fourth…"
"And now… I entrust it… to all of you."
Farther and farther from the village, Ryosuke could no longer hear the old man's voice.
The link had ended.
But he didn't need to hear the rest.
The moment Naruto's heritage was made public—and with Hiruzen's final order—he knew the tide would shift.
The villagers, once suspicious, once cruel, would hesitate now.
The same people who hated Naruto… would begin to feel guilt.
They would remember the Fourth Hokage—the hero.
They would remember the boy as his legacy.
Sometimes, public opinion was just that fragile.
They don't think for themselves, Ryosuke mused. They follow the wind.
And tonight, I made sure the wind blew in Naruto's favor.
His body moved swiftly, leaping from tree to tree. In the dense forest outside the village, a new consciousness had awakened in a different vessel.
Ryosuke's presence had entered another body.
It moved like a shadow—swift, silent. Its eyes glowed with Ryosuke's own intensity.
This was a form Ryosuke knew well.
The third mecha he had prepared long ago: Chiba.
Compared to Naruto's body or his main vessel, this one was average—low chakra reserves, ordinary strength, just a Chūnin in rank.
Back when he infiltrated the Land of Waves, Ryosuke hadn't dared use this body. Its limitations might have jeopardized the mission.
But now… the game had changed.
He could transfer his abilities into his vessel.
The strength of the body no longer mattered.
Only how well it harmonized with his mind.
"Found you."
Chiba's voice was cold and emotionless.
Without hesitation, he shot forward—toward his next target.
During the brief lull, Ryosuke had tracked the chakra trails of fleeing Root operatives.
He knew what they meant.
If they were on the move now—Danzo was involved.
You left the shadows, Danzo. After all this time… you came out for Naruto. That was your mistake.
I'm not letting you escape.
And as for why he hadn't acted sooner, back when he controlled Naruto's body?
That, too, had a reason.
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