Chapter 66 – Naruto’s Descent into Darkness Fails, Leaves Konoha

Hyuga Gakuya stepped forward and pressed his hand to Jiraiya's chest. In an instant, the curse marks spread across Jiraiya's body were drawn back into Gakuya's palm.

Jiraiya stirred awake, shivering from a sudden chill.

"You, huh... You're here to lift the curse?"

Gakuya nodded and turned to leave, but Jiraiya grabbed his arm.

"Hey, that genjutsu of yours—can you teach it to me? I'll trade you another Sage Art for it."

Gakuya raised a brow. He was genuinely curious—what exactly had Jiraiya seen in the illusion that made him want this technique so badly?

"This jutsu plunges someone into a beautiful dream world. So... what did you see?"

Jiraiya didn't even try to hide it. He placed both hands dramatically on his chest and sighed wistfully.

"Boobs. A woman's glorious chest. I swear, that jutsu is the work of a genius."

"You're hopeless, Jiraiya. Just die already!" came Tsunade's voice from the doorway. She stormed in and punched Jiraiya so hard, the man—still bandaged in his hospital bed—went flying through the wall.

Gakuya looked at the gaping hole in the wall and couldn't help but chuckle before making his way out of the hospital.

As he stepped outside, he caught sight of Naruto dashing in through the entrance.

"Hey, Mokushū!" Naruto called out quickly before rushing past him, clearly in a hurry.

Gakuya frowned.

So Naruto wasn't swayed after all? Not even reviving his parents had done the trick. Even the Yachihoko failed to brainwash him?

Meeting up with the waiting Uchiha Hikari, Gakuya asked,

"What happened? The Yachihoko didn't work on him?"

Hikari nodded, guilt lacing his voice.

"My eye technique was blocked… by a chakra so warm it completely nullified it."

Gakuya ruffled Hikari's hair. "It's not your fault."

There was no doubt in his mind—that warm chakra had to be the residual power of Asura's reincarnation.

But if that's the case… why did it work in Boruto, yet fail now?

There was only one explanation: by the time of Boruto, the chakra of Asura's reincarnation had already left Naruto's body.

If we assume that Asura and Indra's chakra reincarnations each had a specific mission—vital to the evolution of the shinobi world—it made sense.

For Hashirama and Madara, it was ending the age of constant war and establishing the system of villages and nations.

For Naruto and Sasuke, their mission was guiding the world toward peace and stopping Kaguya's return.

Once that mission was fulfilled, their reincarnated chakra would simply... leave.

That's why the Naruto of Boruto could be influenced by the Yachihoko—his "mission" was over. But the current Naruto? His spirit was still protected, possibly even influenced, by Asura's chakra. Maybe that's why he hadn't succumbed to darkness.

But then... who decides where this chakra goes?

The answer was obvious—the Sage of Six Paths. He was the only one with the power and foresight to pull strings on such a scale.

Sasuke, however, was different. The influence of Indra's chakra made him far more susceptible to extreme paths.

If Naruto wouldn't break, then Gakuya had to pivot—bring Sasuke in instead. Preferably under Orochimaru's name.

After all, "Chiba Mokushū" was currently an ally of Konoha.

Soon after, Gakuya received a message from Kabuto. It explained a change in the plan: Orochimaru, having escaped Gakuya's Tenseigan control via the Reaper Death Seal, had been neutralized by a curse mark Kabuto had prepared in advance.

Kabuto asked if Gakuya wanted him to resurrect Orochimaru via Edo Tensei to prevent any chance of revival.

Gakuya agreed. "Trap his soul with Edo Tensei and keep him contained. That way, there's no chance of him coming back."

Orochimaru already knew too much. But maybe, in the future, he could still be useful as a pawn.

Gakuya also sent a message to Uzumaki Yukari, asking her to help look after Neji and Tenten.

He still needed to remain in Konoha for a while longer.

...

Inside Konoha's hospital, Naruto burst into Jiraiya's room, where the old sage lay fully bandaged from head to toe.

Seeing Jiraiya, Naruto couldn't hold back his tears.

"Pervy Sage… Dad told me to come find you. He said you'd uncover the truth."

Jiraiya blinked in confusion. Minato told Naruto to come find him? And said what exactly? What was he supposed to be investigating?

Naruto recounted everything he had experienced in that spiritual world—and all the information Gakuya had fabricated.

As Jiraiya and Tsunade listened, their expressions turned grim.

They knew their old teacher was manipulative... but this?

Selling out Konoha comrades? Isolating and controlling Naruto? Was there anything that man wouldn't do?

It finally made sense why Naruto had snapped... and just as quickly calmed down again. That information had shaken him to his core, and Minato's intervention had pulled him back.

Jiraiya still tried, weakly, to defend Hiruzen.

"Don't worry, Naruto. This could all be slander. I'll help you find out the truth."

But even he didn't sound convinced. The evidence was far too detailed—far too logical.

"Thanks, Pervy Sage."

Tsunade patted Naruto on the shoulder gently.

"Don't worry. You really helped us this time. If it weren't for you holding off Shukaku after going into Tailed Beast Mode, things would've gotten a lot worse."

"You're a hero, Naruto. We'll make sure everyone knows what you did. One day, the people will recognize your worth."

Naruto wiped his tears away. "Thanks!"

...

Once Tsunade became Hokage, she personally acknowledged Naruto's role in saving the village. But she kept one thing secret—his lineage.

Even if Konoha's leadership admitted Naruto was the Fourth Hokage's son, the villagers wouldn't accept it. Their hatred ran deep. To them, Naruto was still the Nine-Tails.

Still, it was a start. The villagers no longer hated him outright—now they feared him. That alone was progress.

Later, Gakuya attended Tsunade's inauguration alongside representatives from many other nations, giving Konoha the diplomatic respect it needed.

Three days later, it was time for Gakuya to leave the village.

Many came to see him off—including all of Konoha's rookie genin.

Well... except for the two he'd already dragged off to Amegakure.

To them, Chiba Mokushū might've once been an enemy, but it didn't stop them from calling him a friend now.

Gakuya said his goodbyes one by one. Naruto clung to his hand, asking,

"Mokushū, how did you end up as the leader of Otogakure?"

Gakuya gave a faint smile. Even Asura's chakra has this kind of correction effect...

"Still dreaming of becoming Hokage?"

Naruto rubbed his nose.

"Of course! I'm not gonna abandon my dream over a few dark truths. If anything, it makes me want it more. I want to fix the darkness inside Konoha."

Gakuya nodded, approvingly. But deep down, he thought: The darkness in Konoha? I already wiped that out. There might not be much left for you to fix.

"To be Hokage, it's not just about power. You need the people's trust."

For once, Gakuya wasn't manipulating. He was speaking from the heart.

He remembered what Itachi once said: "It's not that the Hokage is loved by the people... it's because someone is loved by the people that they become Hokage."

Naruto nodded firmly. "I get it now."

Beside him, Shikamaru looked thoughtful.

Gakuya smiled. "Then I'll say it now—hope you become Hokage real soon. Thanks, everyone. This is goodbye."

"Next time, Mokushū-kun, we have to spar for real!" Lee shouted, waving.

"Bye, Mokushū-kun..." Hinata said softly, looking a bit downcast. He hadn't even said goodbye to her personally.

But just as the group turned away, Gakuya called out,

"Hinata! Mind walking with me alone for a bit?"

Hinata turned back in surprise, cheeks glowing red. "O-of course!"