Chapter 41: Naruto's Inner Thoughts
"You guessed right — I do have my own purpose. So can you tell me your true thoughts?"
Naruto was a little surprised; he hadn't expected Franklin to admit it so openly. After scratching his head, he began to speak calmly, "I'm a normal person, and I have a temper.
According to the people of Konoha, I've been cared for but not properly taught since childhood, so learning to seek benefit and avoid harm is something I had to learn early on; likewise, hiding my true thoughts is even more necessary.
I'm recognized in Konoha as a menace. To survive, I must endure those pains and those hardships; otherwise the Third Hokage wouldn't be able to protect me, and might even push me out front.
Whoever treated me well, whoever treated me badly — I always remember. I understand Hinata's feelings for me, but I'm Konoha's menace; I can't drag her down, so the only thing I can do is keep my distance from her.
When you, big brother, suddenly appeared, I could feel that you indeed approached me with some purpose. After you told me the truth about things, I did hate this world for a while,
I even had thoughts of wanting to destroy Konoha, but I know I can't do that. There are many reasons. The first and most important is that I don't have that strength.
The second is that this place is the last trace of my father's existence. My dad, as the Fourth Hokage, as long as Konoha exists, my father and mother will always be the village's great heroes and will always be remembered.
The third is that I want those people all trampled under my feet. As long as I become Hokage, those people will forever respect and worship me, and all the negatives from my childhood will disappear,
Those who bullied me, and their descendants, will be trampled underfoot by me and my descendants."
[Main quest 'Alter World Line' completed 40%,the Talent-Awakened may choose to leave the Naruto world at any time,rewards will be settled uniformly after the Talent-Awakened returns to the Treeborn World.]
Franklin trembled. He hadn't expected that Naruto, only twelve or thirteen years old, would hold such thoughts and have such far-reaching plans. Indeed, the human heart is the thing least understood.
"You can tell me your honest thoughts — I'm really touched. But I actually don't have any particularly special purpose. Tomorrow I'm leaving: leaving Konoha, leaving the Land of Fire.
Before I go, I'm still a little uneasy about you. After all, your parents sacrificed so much for Konoha, and yet their son has to suffer such discrimination and humiliation in Konoha; I can't stand to watch.
Now that I know your true thoughts, I can somewhat relax. Before I leave I'll remind you of two things: Jiraiya was also your father Minato Namikaze's teacher; you can take him as your master.
As for your father's affairs, it's better not to pry before you've learned Sage Mode. And the second point: when you're bored you can chat with the Nine-Tails, Kurama; in time you two will become very good partners."
Franklin's words made Naruto even more astonished. He scratched his head in confusion, still seeming a little incredulous.
"Big brother, you really don't have any other motive? Saying those things — are you really just pitying me?"
Franklin gave him a light smack on the forehead. "What's there to overthink? If it's good, listen and do it; if it's bad, just pretend to listen for now — afterward, don't do it."
Naruto covered his head, looking aggrieved. "I'll remember. Brother Lin's advice I'll certainly keep in mind."
"Good, that's good. Oh, before I go, I can grant you one wish within my power. Think about whether there's something you want to do but can't."
"A wish?"
Watching Naruto sink into thought, Franklin also started to ponder the words that had appeared before his eyes,
[Main quest 'Alter World Line' completed 40%,the Talent-Awakened may choose to leave the Naruto world at any time,rewards will be settled uniformly after the Talent-Awakened returns to the Treeborn World.]
Although Naruto's inner state had changed, the general route he would take later should not differ much from the Naruto world's mainline — so why did it suddenly jump to 40%?
Or perhaps once it reaches 40% he can leave, and the main quest would be considered minimally complete, which is why that number shows.
Franklin, unable to figure it out, didn't dwell on it. After he saw the words Treeborn World and then recalled the collapsed giant tree from his dream,
he already thought of one possible nature of world lines: an invisible conduit that supplies nutrients to that world tree which exists somewhere unknown.
World lines are not easily broken. Although their starting point is unknown, once a world line forms its starting point has already been fixed; as for the endpoint, it is the core of that world tree.
And the middle portion of the world line is extremely resilient. Although it can be changed, however it changes will not affect the eventual outcome.
Franklin didn't know if this speculation was correct, but the general idea should be right. Before Franklin could think more, Naruto's voice spoke up,
"No need, Brother Lin. You've helped me so much and told me so many things; forget the wish. I want to accomplish things by my own strength, so I don't have any wish I want to fulfill."
Naruto returned to that innocent smile, and Franklin could only shake his head helplessly.
"Since you've given it up, I won't force you. Wait here for Mizuki and Iruka to arrive. Remember, act the part fully — I'm leaving. Take care of your own safety from now on."
Franklin left. The phantom had already slipped away from the Uchiha ruins after swapping with Franklin and roamed inside Konoha, watching countless genin in the village continuously searching for Naruto's whereabouts. Only two seemed to know where Naruto was hiding, and they all headed toward this place.
Iruka was the pawn the Third Hokage placed beside Naruto, a pawn to guide him forward; Mizuki was the same. They were each pawns guiding Naruto's growth, just as the major and minor affairs of the entire Naruto world were part of the grand chess game Black Zetsu laid to revive Princess Kaguya.
Appearing among the branches in the forest, Franklin deftly avoided Mizuki's and Iruka's sightlines. Watching them head toward Naruto's location, Franklin sighed deeply,
"Third Hokage, you've done your evil to the fullest — that old bastard really deserves a lesson."
A cold glint flashed in Franklin's eyes, and he then headed toward Konoha Village. The Dimensional Heavenly Tome manifested, and Franklin checked his own attributes again,
Name: Franklin
Age: 22/436
Race: Human (Saiyan)
Bloodline: Saiyan bloodline
Physical cultivation: Early stage of the First Origin Realm
Spiritual cultivation: Peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage
Mental cultivation: Mortal-Heart State
Swordsmanship cultivation: Human Realm — Sword-Qi Realm
Life-bound artifact (pseudo): Guardian Sword
Technique: Space Overlord Art (Incomplete)
Spells: [Eye of True Sight (Basic)][Beginner Five Element Spell][Close-Combat D-][Sage Ninjutsu (Incomplete) (Forbidden)]
Talent: [Dimensional Heavenly Tome]
Dimensional Heavenly Tome: [Dimensional Summon][Dimensional Space][Dimensional Travel][Mission Tab][Phantom]
Overall combat power: 425–650
The sudden appearance of the Sage Ninjutsu left Franklin somewhat baffled — there had been no prompt, and he couldn't figure out how it had appeared at all.
As his thoughts moved, the detailed information about that technique instantly surfaced,
Sage Ninjutsu (Incomplete) (Forbidden): (Incomplete) (Cannot be used) — requires the Talent-Awakened to deeply comprehend the essence of chakra release when performing ninjutsu.
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