Chapter 198: Naruto’s Decision

"What about Sasuke?" Naruto's voice trembled slightly, and Kakashi's serious expression only deepened the sinking feeling in his chest.

Kakashi exhaled softly, his gaze steady. "Because Sasuke killed Danzo, the village has decided to officially list him as a traitor. A wanted order will be issued tomorrow."

"A traitor…" Naruto froze. He knew exactly what that meant.

He remembered their encounter with Zabuza from the Hidden Mist and how Kakashi had described the brutal fate of nukenin—rogue ninjas hunted relentlessly. Whether by village hunter squads, bounty hunters, or even other rogues seeking to cash in, a nukenin lived a life of constant danger.

Naruto clenched his fists. Sasuke might be strong, but during their last fight, Naruto had seen it—something wasn't right with Sasuke. His chakra, his body—he was weakened. If others targeted him, his safety couldn't be guaranteed.

Kakashi's words replayed in Naruto's mind as he sat motionless. He didn't even touch his ramen, which lay cooling in front of him. Confusion and helplessness overwhelmed him.

"What should I do?" Naruto murmured to himself.

Kakashi watched Naruto closely, expecting an emotional outburst. He'd come prepared to calm Naruto down if necessary. However, Naruto's silence was unexpected, and it worried Kakashi even more.

He shot a glance at Kirito, who sat beside Naruto, quietly eating his ramen without concern. Kakashi hoped for some help, but Kirito simply stirred his bowl and said casually, "The soup's a little bland today. Are you cutting back on salt, Uncle Ichiraku?"

Kakashi sighed internally. I guess I'll have to do this myself…

"Listen, Naruto," Kakashi began carefully, "this isn't your fault. Sasuke made his choice when he attacked the village. These consequences are inevitable."

Kakashi paused. The words "Sasuke is no longer part of Team Seven" lingered on his tongue, but he couldn't say it—not in front of Naruto. The memory of Team Seven laughing and training together was still fresh in his mind.

"I know, Kakashi-sensei." Naruto finally broke the silence. His voice was calm but filled with conviction. "When Sasuke and I fought, I felt it—his hatred and his pain. But he wouldn't tell me why… he wouldn't let me help him."

Naruto looked up, his blue eyes burning with determination. "But I won't give up! I'll bring Sasuke back, no matter what! If I can't save my comrade, I don't deserve to be Hokage!"

Kakashi stared at Naruto, surprised by his unwavering resolve.

Naruto continued, "If I can bring Sasuke back before someone else takes his life, everything can still be fixed. I won't let anyone kill him!"

"That's a big goal," Kakashi said with a small smile, finally relaxing. Naruto's determination gave him hope.

Kirito, who had finished his ramen, placed the empty bowl on the table. "Naruto, that's all well and good, but let's face reality—you're still not strong enough to bring Sasuke back."

Naruto flinched, but he didn't argue.

Kirito added bluntly, "You saw it yourself. If Sasuke hadn't been weakened from his fight with Danzo, you wouldn't have stood a chance against him. He'll only get stronger, and you need to keep up. If you want to achieve your goal, you'll need more power."

"You're right." Naruto's fists tightened as he nodded, absorbing Kirito's words. "I have to get stronger. I need to train harder!"

His energy returned in full force as he attacked his cold ramen with renewed determination. "I'll eat up fast, then go find Ero-Sennin and start training right away! Kakashi-sensei, you'll help me too, won't you?"

Kakashi smiled softly. "Of course. I'll help you."

Kakashi shot Kirito a discreet thumbs-up, silently thanking him for refocusing Naruto's resolve.

Don't celebrate just yet, Kirito thought to himself with a smirk. You still have to deal with Sakura next. I'm staying out of that one.

After paying for their meal, Kirito left Ichiraku Ramen, heading back to his dorm for some much-needed rest.

A Few Days Later

As Konoha began to recover, the village welcomed the arrival of the joint investigation team sent by other villages. Their presence injected new life into the battered village.

Surprisingly, the delegations were far larger than initially agreed upon. Cloud Village sent not only Darui and C, but also Samui's team. Stone Village sent Kurotsuchi, Akatsuchi, and even Kitsuchi—Onoki's son and Kurotsuchi's father.

The reason for this sudden show of force became clear: after the Akatsuki's attack on Konoha, every village was determined to "keep the enemy out" of their own lands. By supporting Konoha, they ensured the fighting remained confined to the Land of Fire. Sacrificing some manpower to protect their own villages was seen as a worthwhile trade.

Tsunade, needing additional manpower to handle the Akatsuki's ongoing threat, readily welcomed their support. For now, at least, the interests of all parties aligned.

End of Chapter

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