Chapter 55: The Truth Behind the Nine-Tails Incident – Severing All Bonds

From his perch atop the cliff, Hyuga Gakuya watched the giant toad leaping off in the distance, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Naruto had finally gained some control over the Nine-Tails' power. That meant Gakuya's plans could move forward. For that, he had Jiraiya to thank.

Corrupting Naruto wasn't something that could be done with words alone. He needed the Nine-Tails' help—its dark chakra would make Naruto more susceptible to manipulation.

...

Time passed quickly. Over the next few days, Gakuya spent nearly every moment with Hinata, taking her out around the village and growing closer to her.

It was all part of the plan. Of course, it didn't hurt that Gakuya found a twisted satisfaction in making the daughter of his enemy fall hopelessly for him. Just thinking about it gave him a thrill.

That peaceful rhythm lasted—right up until the night before the third exam.

Just as Naruto was getting ready for bed, a sharp knock rattled the door.

Knock knock knock!

"I'm coming!" Naruto called, rushing to open it.

Standing outside was a Konoha shinobi in full ANBU gear. He clutched his abdomen tightly, blood seeping through the bandages around a deep, untreated wound.

"Whoa, what happened? Let me take you to the hospital!" Naruto stepped forward, alarmed.

"Lord Naruto," the man rasped, pushing Naruto back and shoving a stack of documents into his hands. "You're just like your father—kindhearted. But I don't have time. Listen. Don't interrupt me."

His voice was full of pain and bitterness. Every word seemed to tear at his injury.

"I'm just a regular shinobi who your father once saved on the battlefield in Iwagakure. After I joined the ANBU, I uncovered the filth that festers in Konoha's shadows."

Naruto's eyes widened.

"You probably won't believe me, but your father—he was the Fourth Hokage. And you… you're his son. The truth is, it was Hiruzen Sarutobi who orchestrated the deaths of both your parents. He also covered up your identity. All so he could reclaim power... and control the Nine-Tails again."

His tone grew harsher, more desperate.

"These documents are years of evidence I've gathered. Once I'm gone, you must keep them safe. Don't let that old Sarutobi find them, or you'll be in danger too."

The man gripped Naruto's hand tightly.

"You must endure, train hard, and wait until you're strong enough. Then, take revenge."

"Pretend I was never here. Soon, Sarutobi's lackeys will come looking for you. Say nothing. Trust no one."

"Take care, Naruto-sama…"

And with that, he vanished into the night.

Naruto stood frozen, his mind racing. The man's words had poured too much into his brain all at once. It was overwhelming.

Still, he carefully hid the stack of documents, then acted like nothing had happened as he started to make himself some instant ramen.

As the noodles sat cooking, Naruto sat there blankly, his mind a chaotic storm of questions.

If ANBU came by to interrogate him next—wouldn't that mean the man had been telling the truth?

At the very least, one thing he said was true: Naruto was the son of the Fourth Hokage. But then… why had the old man—why had Grandpa Hokage hidden that from him?

So many questions he'd never thought to ask before now came flooding to the surface.

A few minutes later, another knock sounded at the door.

Naruto's heart nearly jumped out of his chest.

Just like that man had said… Could it really be true? No—part of him still didn't want to believe that the kind old Hokage was the one who had murdered his parents.

Putting on his best poker face, he opened the door.

Just as expected, a group of ANBU stood waiting.

"Did you see anyone come by this way?" one of them asked coldly.

Naruto quickly shook his head and pointed to the cup of ramen inside.

"I've just been eating a late-night snack. Didn't see anyone."

"Fine. If anything comes up, report it immediately."

With that, the group disappeared.

As soon as they were gone, Naruto slammed the door shut and collapsed to the ground, his legs giving out beneath him.

"No way… It can't be…"

Everything the man had said—it was happening, just as he warned. Could it really be true? Could Grandpa Hokage have been the one behind his parents' deaths?

"Wait—the documents!" Naruto scrambled to his bed and reached underneath, pulling out the stack with trembling hands.

He flipped open the first page. It was a confidential agreement—one that ordered Naruto's true identity to be kept secret. Dozens of signatures lined the bottom. Chūnin. Jōnin. Elite shinobi.

And among them—a name Naruto knew all too well: Kakashi Hatake.

Attached was a personal analysis, written in the first person by the dying ANBU.

"After the Nine-Tails Incident, the Fourth Hokage and his wife were killed. Countless civilians died. Konoha needed a scapegoat, someone to direct the villagers' grief and hatred toward. So the village guided the people to see Naruto as the Nine-Tails itself—to ease internal unrest."

"When the world turned its back on Naruto, Hiruzen Sarutobi played the role of the benevolent elder, gaining the boy's trust."

So that's why… Even as the Hokage's son, Naruto had lived a life of loneliness and abuse.

And the one who'd pulled the strings all along... was none other than the man he once called "Grandpa."

His hands shaking, Naruto gritted his teeth and turned to the next page.

It was an official Hokage office document, supposedly signed during the Fourth's time in office.

But the signature at the bottom read: Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Sarutobi refused to relinquish power to the Fourth. Pretending to mentor him in handling state affairs, he actually clung to control, acting as a shadow ruler."

Naruto's fury surged as memories of his parents—so vivid in his dreams—came rushing back.

Was the Hokage title really so important that it was worth killing my parents for?

He had once believed the Hokage was a symbol of honor and justice.

Now, it felt like a throne soaked in blood.

The third page was written in bold red ink, each word more chilling than the last.

"Kushina's location during childbirth was top secret. So how did the enemy know exactly where to strike?"

"Sarutobi leaked the intel to eliminate the Fourth, then secured control over the next Jinchūriki—his child."

No… No way…

Naruto's vision blurred. His hands trembled violently.

So it really was him…

Sarutobi had orchestrated it all—leaked classified intel, let the Nine-Tails loose, and set his sights on Naruto as the next tool.

He had almost been fooled for life.

Dark chakra began to ripple around Naruto's body, fury oozing from every pore.

He flipped to the fourth page.

"The true mastermind behind the Nine-Tails Incident—was Uchiha… Obito."

"Obito, a former student of the Fourth, faked his death during the battle at Kannabi Bridge. Before disappearing, he gave his Sharingan to his comrade Kakashi."

The report continued, listing the investigator's speculations:

The masked man who released the Nine-Tails had a right-eye Sharingan, matching the side Obito had kept.

Kakashi's eye had evolved from two tomoe to three tomoe shortly after Rin's death—likely triggered by Obito's rage over her loss.

Obito blamed the Fourth for failing to save Rin, and joined forces with Sarutobi to kill him in a plot for revenge.

Naruto stared down at the pages, each line clearer than the last. The real culprits: Uchiha Obito and Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Everything he'd suffered—every moment of pain—was part of their scheme.

His face twisted in anguish, tears pouring down like rain.

"Dad… Mom… I swear, I'll avenge you!"

Sarutobi wanted control over everything in Konoha?

Then Naruto would burn it all to the ground.

His eyes glinted with a chilling, newfound resolve.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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