chapter 65
Chapter 65~Fate
It was noon.
The wind gently swept from left to right, carrying a soothing breeze that enveloped the surroundings in a comfortable atmosphere.
Birds filled the air with their cheerful melodies.
The distant murmur of flowing water added a serene undertone to the natural orchestra, creating a tranquil backdrop for the scene.
Deep within the forest, situated about 50 kilometers away from Konoha, a solitary boulder served as an unlikely resting place. Upon it lay a teenager, his breathing steady and measured.
In the heart of the forest, none other than Naruto himself lay, having recently extracted Kurama. His body and mind bore the weight of exhaustion, evident in his worn expression.
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A distance away from that spot, a group of individuals was making their way in Naruto's direction.
Their appearance was rugged and tough, exuding an air of wildness and lack of refinement.
Each member carried an array of weapons strapped to their bodies.
At the forefront of the group strode a tall and muscular man, his commanding presence making him the leader.
A lengthy axe rested on his back, a testament to his strength and prowess. His features boasted a mane of black hair and eyes that mirrored the same shade.
His gait exuded confidence as he walked with a deliberate pace, his followers trailing behind him in a respectful formation.
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"Hey, boss... when are we gonna go after some rogue ninjas? It's been a while since we collected a bounty," one of the men spoke up, addressing their leader.
They comprised a band of mercenaries, a faction of ninja unaligned with any specific village.
Their source of income stemmed from pursuing bounties detailed within the bingo books, enabling them to accumulate earnings through their endeavors.
"Don't be impatient," the leader responded firmly. "I have a gut feeling that today, we will indeed cross paths with someone worth our attention."
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All the men behind him nodded in agreement, a testament to the trust they placed in their boss's instincts.
Their reliance on his gut feelings had proven profitable over time, resulting in a substantial accumulation of funds that afforded them a comfortable lifestyle.
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The group consisted of ten individuals, a tightly knit team whose synergy had propelled them to a record of flawless assassinations.
Whether the target was an A-rank or an S-rank ninja, their exponential teamwork ensured their success remained unwavering.
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As they pressed forward, the landscape around them underwent a dramatic transformation. Trees lay shattered and uprooted, while the earth itself bore signs of rampant destruction.
"What's going on, boss?" one of the men asked in disbelief. "How can the land be laid to waste to such an extent?"
The boss surveyed the surroundings, his gaze sharp and analytical.
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Soon, all of them followed suit, leaping into the one-meter-deep trench in the ground and proceeding on foot.
As they ventured forward, they observed the ground dividing into five distinct paths, each leading in a different direction.
An unsettling unease began to creep over them inexplicably.
Hastily, they clambered out of the pit and resumed their journey on foot.
Before long, their eyes fell upon a boy soundly asleep against a boulder, nestled within the heart of the forest.
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If one were to observe from above, the pit from which they had emerged was none other than a colossal paw print left behind by Kurama.
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"Hehe... how reckless," one of the men chuckled upon spotting the boy before them.
"What's the plan, boss? Should we kill this brat?" another man inquired with a nonchalant tone.
The boss narrowed his eyes, a furrow forming on his forehead as he scrutinized the boy.
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"Wait a minute," he said, his voice tinged with recognition. "His face feels familiar."
With that, he retrieved the bingo book from his pocket, flipping through its pages in search of a matching visage.
Flipping through several pages, he eventually stopped at a specific entry.
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His gaze shifted back and forth between the book and the boy before him. A widening grin crept across his face.
"We've hit the jackpot, boys," the boss proclaimed with a mix of excitement and satisfaction.
"What's the jackpot, boss?" one of the men queried.
"Naruto Uzumaki," the boss answered, his grin growing wider as he spoke the name.
"Wanted by Iwa and Kiri. Total bounty of... ????" He let the words hang, his expression resembling that of a delighted trickster.
Excitement painted their faces as they envisioned themselves reaping the rewards of the bounty.
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"Surround him," the boss commanded, a determined edge to his voice.
His orders were met with unanimous nods of agreement.
Positioning themselves strategically around Naruto, they brandished their weapons, their goal clear – they only needed his head to collect the prized bounty.
Naruto, who had been peacefully sleeping for over twelve hours, suddenly sensed a foreign presence nearby.
Reacting instinctively, he activated his Byakugan, his vision piercing through the surroundings. He saw that ten men had encircled him, their awareness of his vigilance nonexistent – to them, his eyes remained closed.
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"What should I do with these lowlifes? Should I toy with them or let them leave?" Naruto contemplated silently within his thoughts.
"If they make the first move, there's no turning back," he reasoned further, assessing the situation.
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Impatience got the best of one of the men, prompting him to hurl a kunai with breakneck speed.
The ripples in the air caught Naruto's heightened senses, and he tracked the trajectory of the kunai with his Byakugan.
To him, the events unfolded in slow motion, allowing him to anticipate every nuance.
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When the kunai was mere inches away from his heart, a chain burst forth from Naruto's chest, coiling around the projectile and halting it in mid-air.
The men's collective actions froze in shock; their initial perception of an easy kill was shattered as they gazed upon the crimson chain Dread crept into their hearts at the unexpected turn of events.
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Naruto rose to his feet with deliberate grace, his gaze sweeping across each of them in turn.
As their eyes met his, an uncanny sensation overcame them — it was as if his stare pierced through their very souls, leaving them exposed and vulnerable in his presence.
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Observing their reactions, Naruto couldn't help but grin.
He relished in the realization that they were clearly unnerved;
this was a sensation they had never experienced before. For the first time, they were encountering someone who possessed an aura that left them feeling truly intimidated.
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Naruto's smile remained, his tone playful. "I'll offer you one chance: withdraw or Die," he cleared.
He was no irrational killer, but if someone wants to die what can he do.
"Haha..." The boss's laughter resounded, echoing through the tense air.
"Don't get too cocky, brat. Take a good look around you. You're surrounded by us," the man retorted, his tone laced with a mocking confidence.
"Hehe... don't blame your ignorance on me," Naruto responded.
Without hesitation, they lunged at him from every angle, converging on him in a coordinated assault.
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As Naruto observed their movements, their actions seemed to unfold in slow motion through his heightened perception.
He closed his eyes briefly, and in the next instant:
Puchi
Ten chains burst forth from his body with astonishing speed. They didn't even know what hit them.
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Blood spurted from their mouths as each chain found its mark, piercing through their heads swiftly and decisively.
Their deaths were swift and painless, their lifeless bodies collapsing to the ground with a resounding thud.
Naruto's gaze settled on the fallen men, he had given them a chance but they didn't appreciate it.
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"Worthless fools died without reason," he muttered in a low voice.
Naruto began to walk towards the Uzumaki shrine, his steps measured as he left behind the aftermath of the encounter.
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*booom*
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Suddenly, a powerful tremor rocked the ground beneath him, sending a surge of vibrations through Naruto.
Reacting swiftly, he activated Kagura's Mind's Eye, his consciousness reaching out to perceive his surroundings.
"What's going on? That explosion originated from Konoha," he muttered in a hushed voice.
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Activating his eyes, Naruto's vision pierced through the vast expanse of trees and distance.
With remarkable precision, he focused on a point 50 kilometers away, where the condition of Konoha came into view before him.
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" Fuck… this shit happened so soon," he muttered under his breath.
Without wasting a moment, Naruto disappeared toward the village, his movements becoming a blur as he surged forward.
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Shinra Tensei!!!
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*BOOOMMM*
A massive crater dominated the heart of the village, its diameter spanning around 1000 meters.
The ground beneath it had upheaved, the land contorted as thousands of houses were reduced to rubble.
The shockwaves emanating from the impact site rippled through the village, leaving devastation in their wake as they obliterated everything in their path.
Dust billowed into the air, creating a suffocating haze as a tsunami of debris and stones surged from the depths of the yawning crater.
The devastation was overwhelming, leading to the loss of thousands of lives in mere seconds.
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From the sky, the Deva Path of Pain gazed down upon the scene below.
A crater spanning 1000 meters in width and 15 meters in depth had emerged, leaving destruction in its wake.
The landscape lay barren and desolate, with nothing remaining but the empty expanse of the devastated ground.
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"AHH…."
"HAAAA….
"MY LEG…."
"MY BODY CAN'T MOVE"
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The village was engulfed in a chorus of mournful voices, a haunting lament echoing through the air.
The iconic faces of the Hokage statues were shrouded by the swirling dust,
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In the confines of the Hokage's office, Tsunade's gaze swept across the view before her. The sight of the expansive crater from her vantage point weighed heavily on her heart, sinking it with a sense of foreboding.
"What has happened?" she murmured, her voice edged with concern. Her eyes searched the room, seeking answers amidst the uncertainty that hung in the air.
"Summon all available ANBU and ninja," she ordered, her directive clear and urgent.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," the ANBU acknowledged with a nod before vanishing in a swirl of smoke.
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"Kakashi, gather a team of ninjas and head to the battlefield," Tsunade commanded, her tone carrying the weight of the situation.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Kakashi acknowledged. Pulling his headband slightly to reveal his Sharingan, he vanished in a whirl of leaves, setting his course for the impending conflict.
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The land lay in ruin, marked by destruction and chaos.
Lifeless bodies were strewn amid the rubble, trapped between shattered rocks and massive boulders.
The cries of pain and grief filled the air as survivors mourned their lost loved ones.
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The Deva Path touched down at the center of the sprawling crater.
Surrounding him were the other Paths, each radiating chakra levels equivalent to or surpassing those of S-rank ninjas.
This time Nagato was not injured, he was in his prime. which in turn elevated the chakra levels of all the Paths, rendering them even more formidable than before.
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The Human Path touched down amidst a group of shinobi, his eerie power emanating from him.
He extended his hand towards one of the ninjas and with a swift motion, yanked out the unfortunate soul.
A frustrated click of his tongue followed as he spoke in a low voice, "Tch, he didn't possess the knowledge of the Jinchuriki's whereabouts."
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The Animal Path descended upon the western outskirts of the village. With a series of hand signs "Summoning Jutsu," he uttered, and a plume of smoke materialized on the horizon.
From within the smoke, various creatures began to emerge, their presence adding another layer of chaos to the village.
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*roooorrrrrr*
*kwwweeerrrrrr*
*kttccchhhheeee*
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The resonating roars of beasts reverberated through the surroundings, filling the air with a cacophony of primal sounds.
From within the summoned creatures emerged a multitude of animals, each embodying its own unique menace.
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The Three-Heads Hound, an eagle with wings spanning like buildings, crocodiles lurking, apes swinging from rooftops, serpents slithering through streets, hawks soaring overhead, and bulls charging recklessly – all of them ran amok through the village, mercilessly attacking anyone unfortunate enough to cross their paths.
The chaos and destruction escalated as the once peaceful village became a battleground of survival.
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The Petra Path unleashed mayhem as it systematically targeted and slew the unsuspecting shinobi.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu," "Water Style: Water Bullet Jutsu," "Earth Style: Earth Spikes" – a barrage of jutsus were hurled at the path in a desperate attempt to repel the threat.
However, the scene took an unexpected turn as the Path extended his left hand, effortlessly absorbing every ninjutsu directed at him.
"What?" The startled cries of the shinobi resonated in panic, but their terror was far from over.
With a swift motion, the Path lowered his left hand and raised his right, causing all the absorbed jutsus to surge back with intensified force.
The shinobi caught off guard and defenseless, met their demise in a torrent of devastating power, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
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Across the village, the Asura Path was wreaking havoc, firing off missiles that tore through the ranks of the ninjas.
Its extended arms, each adorned with spinning blades, became instruments of death as they mercilessly cut down any unfortunate soul that crossed their path.
Meanwhile, the Deva Path stood resolute in the center of the crater, his presence an ominous symbol of the destruction that had unfolded.
Before him, a group of defiant shinobi had gathered.
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"Why are you attacking our village? What do you want?" the man spoke with.
This man was none other than Iruka Umino, his voice reflecting the collective worry of the village's defenders.
"What do I want... Tell me, where is Naruto Uzumaki?" the Deva Path demanded.
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Upon hearing Naruto's name, Iruka's eyes widened in surprise. The gravity of the situation became palpable.
Deva Path, also known as Pain, extended his hand, his tone resolute.
"Bansho Tenin," he uttered, invoking a powerful attractive force that seized Iruka and lifted him from the ground.
Helpless in the grip of the force, Iruka was drawn inexorably towards Pain, his struggles proving futile against the overwhelming pull.
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As Iruka was hurtling towards Pain, his descent abruptly halted, and he was slammed to the ground mid-air.
Gasping for breath, he found himself on his knees,
"Tell me, where is Naruto Uzumaki?" his demand echoed through the tense atmosphere.
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"I won't tell you, even if I die" Iruka declared with a steely resolve.
"Then die," Pain responded coldly. Extending his hand, a black chakra rod formed in his palm. With a decisive thrust, he unleashed the power within...
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[Author's Note: Let me know your thoughts on the chapter in the comments!
What do you speculate about Iruka's fate – will he survive or not?
And Gauss who's gonna die in the next chapter.
And if you enjoyed the read, don't forget to give some powerstones, or else be prepared for the Naraka Path to make an appearance and jestingly yank out your soul! 😉 Just kidding...
...Your devoted author,
....Devils_hand