Chapter 164:
"Young Master Naruto, this is the eleventh one."
At the Namikaze Estate.
A week had passed since the incident at the Clown's banquet. And during that week, someone was killed by the Clown every single day.
"Who died this time?"
"A journalist. The one who interviewed you recently. You even had dinner with her afterward."
"It's clear now—the Clown knows who I am. He's trying to force me into surrender. Sooner or later, he'll hurt the people close to me... I can't bear the pain of losing another family member." Naruto turned to Kakashi. "Kakashi, prepare a press conference. I've made my decision."
"Being considered family by you, sir, is my greatest honor." Kakashi's face lit up with a smile. "And besides, it's about time you enjoyed a normal life, sir. The Namikaze Group could use an heir... How about the Hyūga heiress? She's dignified and composed. Or perhaps the Hokage's apprentice? She may be a commoner, but I doubt you'd mind that."
"Enough, Kakashi. Let's talk about that later..."
Naruto forced a strained smile. Letting go of his identity as the Fox Spirit Hero left him with a feeling of loss and unease. Unknowingly, being the Fox Spirit Hero had already become a part of his life.
Jar Gang.
"So, the Fox Spirit Hero is planning to reveal his identity..." Sarada glanced at today's newspaper, then looked over at the Jar Merchant lazily sprawled on the couch. "What exactly are you planning?"
"Why, to help you get stronger, of course, Sarada... Unlike Boruto, who needs the power of the Nine Tails to grow stronger, you, as a member of the Uchiha clan, already have the potential within you."
"The Uchiha clan... You mean the Sharingan?"
The Jar Merchant nodded. "Exactly. The Sharingan is the Uchiha clan's greatest cheat code. But unlocking that power requires a specific condition—Sharingan from your own kin..."
"So your real target is... the Clown's Sharingan!" Sarada immediately pieced it together. "But the Clown won't just hand over his Sharingan willingly."
After all, in a certain sense, this Clown of the ninja world could be considered one of Sarada's blood relatives.
"That's right." The Jar Merchant nodded. "The evil Clown won't give it to us. But the righteous Clown Hero just might."
"Clown... Hero? But didn't Naruto already decide—"
"Wait and see, Sarada. The Clown, who just started having fun, won't allow the Fox Spirit Hero to retire so easily."
---
Though Naruto had already resolved to retire from his role as the Fox Spirit Hero, he decided to do one last thing for the village before stepping down.
Danzō.
Underground base of Konoha's Root Division.
If the Anbu were Konoha's official special ops, then Root was its covert counterpart. Danzō's Root had always taken on the village's dirty work—that was why the Third Hokage allowed him to lead it in the first place.
After all, a tainted leader could never become Hokage. Unfortunately, Danzō realized that too late.
Very few people knew the location of Root's underground base. But Orochimaru, who had once worked with Danzō and now sided with Naruto, just happened to know where it was.
After easily knocking out two Root guards, the Fox Spirit Hero slipped inside.
"A lab... Danzō's been conducting human experiments!"
Through the glass, the Fox Spirit Hero looked at the deformed humanoid creatures inside and spoke in shocked anger.
"Sir, don't forget the reason you're here."
"Yeah... I know, Kakashi."
Naruto took a moment to calm himself.
Originally, his goal was to investigate whether Danzō was the mastermind behind Konoha's criminal underworld. Now, his objective had shifted to finding concrete evidence to prove it.
In Danzō's office, he gently pushed the door open, which creaked with a soft groan.
A sofa, a desk, a bookshelf, an office chair...
All very ordinary.
The Fox Spirit Hero glanced at the screen on his right wrist and pressed a button to activate the Fox Sense function.
This feature was specifically designed to detect hidden compartments.
He clenched his right fist and walked around the office. Only when he reached the bookshelf did the device react.
"This should be it..."
He placed his palm on the bookshelf and wrapped it with his chakra. The structure of the bookshelf was mapped onto the screen on his wrist and transmitted to Kakashi.
"This is..." Kakashi, once a member of the Anbu, was highly skilled at deciphering mechanisms. "Sir, pull out the fifth book from the second row... then the first book from the fourth row..."
Following Kakashi's instructions, the fourth book triggered a mechanism. The bookshelf slowly slid open, revealing a hidden chamber.
Neatly arranged jars lined the room. Each jar contained a cultivated Sharingan.
"What the hell!!"
Staring at the horrifying scene, Naruto recalled the Uchiha Clan Massacre.
"Fox Spirit Hero, I knew you'd come."
"Danzō!"
Naruto turned around to see the frail, elderly man standing behind him with a cane.
"But it's good that you came..." Danzō said slowly. "It's only a theory, but... Fox Spirit Hero, your power likely comes from the Nine Tails, which vanished from Konoha long ago, doesn't it?"
Naruto didn't answer. He eyed Danzō cautiously.
Even though Danzō had no public record of recent combat and his prime years had long passed, Naruto's instincts screamed that this man was dangerous.
"Rasengan!"
"Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere!"
Danzō took a deep breath and blew it out, sending the Fox Spirit Hero flying with a powerful blast.
"So this is the extent of your power, Fox Spirit Hero? Even with the Nine Tails, I expected more."
"Dammit..." the Fox Spirit Hero gritted his teeth as he struggled to his feet. "Fox Armor, upgrade!"
A hand of the Nine Tails extended from his back.
"This ominous chakra... So it really is the Nine Tails," Danzō said greedily. "Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"
The Nine Tails' hand moved to shield the Fox Spirit Hero, but Danzō's vacuum wave sliced through it with ease.
Wind chakra's sharpness was wielded to perfection in Danzō's hands.
"This is the end, Fox Spirit Hero. Hand over your Nine Tails power."
"Never!"
"What a hassle... I didn't want to use this, but to obtain the Nine Tails, it won't be a waste..."
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