As Naruto stepped into the spacious council chamber, a palpable tension hung in the air, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to prickle. He could feel the weight of countless eyes trained on him, their gazes heavy with animosity and contempt. The leaders and elders of the village, many of whom had shaped his childhood, were arrayed before him, their expressions ranging from scornful to outright hostile. Yet, he stood firm, a sense of detachment washing over him as he attempted to discern the purpose of this gathering. "What do you want from me now?" he asked, his voice strangely flat, devoid of the usual fire that burned within him.
A rotund civilian with a crimson flush across his cheeks exploded with indignation. "That is not how you speak to us!" His voice boomed, echoing off the high walls, infused with the fervor of someone who believed they had the authority to command respect. Naruto, however, remained unruffled, defiantly munching on popcorn as if this were merely an amusing anecdote rather than a serious confrontation. A pair of ludicrous movie glasses perched precariously on his nose, the absurdity of the entire scene only serving to escalate the ire of the council members, who glared daggers at him.
Inoichi Yamanaka, the solemn head of the Yamanaka clan, leaned forward in his seat, his brow furrowed in concentration as he attempted to exert authority over the proceedings. "Why did you hurt the 12-year-old?" he demanded, his voice rising with urgency, ensuring that every syllable dripped with accusation. The atmosphere in the room crackled with tension, each member acutely aware that this inquiry was a tipping point.
A sly grin broke across Naruto's face as he met the older man's gaze with a mocking glint in his eyes. "Simple. Have you guys ever heard of self-defense?" His flippant response elicited light laughter from the Third Hokage and a few clan leaders who appreciated the humor amidst the hostility. However, for the majority present, the mirth only deepened their scowls, a testament to the deep-seated resentment they harbored towards him.
Suddenly, an elderly woman, her frail figure trembling with rage, seized the opportunity to voice her vitriol. "A demon like you should be imprisoned!" she exclaimed, each word sharp as a blade, slicing through the already tense atmosphere. Her fury was barely concealed, manifesting in the way her hands shook with indignation as she continued, "Do you feel no guilt, no sympathy, no sorrow for what you did to that poor child? A monster like you shouldn't be allowed to roam free," she spat, her venom lacing the air like a tangible poison.
In that instant, an oppressive wave of killing intent surged through the chamber, causing even the esteemed Hokage to cast wary glances around him, tension rippling through the gathered elders. Eyes darted nervously to Naruto, who stood unflinching, an eerie chill emanating from him like a dark shroud. "I do not feel sorrow, sympathy, nor guilt," he declared with chilling calmness, his voice cutting through the mounting tension with unnerving clarity. "I lost my emotions at the age of four. If I am a monster, then you were the first monsters who turned me into a person like this." His gaze was cold and unyielding, devoid of warmth or remorse, before he pivoted and strode toward the exit, leaving an engulfing silence in his wake, the stunned council left reeling from his words.
An ANBU, clad in dark garb, instinctively reached out to restrain him, a move intended to exert control over the volatile situation. But in a breathtaking display of speed, Naruto reacted, a blur of motion as he seized the man's shoulder. In less than two heartbeats, the ANBU's hand was wrenched away from him, the detached appendage falling with a sickening thud to the floor. Naruto regarded the fallen hand with a frosty stare before letting it drop and vanishing in a flash, reappearing in the dim confines of his dismal apartment, where the weight of the world felt almost bearable in solitude.