Chapter 2. Foolish Leaders
The grand council office loomed overhead, a monumental structure of polished stone and intricately carved wood, casting a long shadow that echoed the gravity of the discussions held within its walls. As Naruto crossed the threshold into the chamber, he was met with the apprehensive gazes of the council members. Their faces, etched with worry lines and tinged with skepticism, reflected a blend of anxiety and fear, creating a palpable tension that made the air feel thick and suffocating. The flickering torches along the walls seemed to dim in response to their unease.
"What do you want from me now?" Naruto snapped, irritation boiling just beneath the surface. His voice sliced through the heavy atmosphere like a blade, defiance evident in every syllable. The air crackled with anticipation as he stood there, a rebellious figure against the backdrop of authority.
The audacity of his tone sparked a stark reaction in one of the council's elders—a weathered man with deep lines etched into his face, representing the civilian faction. His bushy eyebrows drew together in anger, and he glared at Naruto with eyes that seemed to smolder like coals. "You will not address us in that manner, you little demon," he hissed, each word dripping with venomous disdain, as if even mentioning Naruto's name left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Yet, instead of wilting under the elder's disapproving gaze, Naruto's spirit thrived. A mischievous glint flickered in his blue eyes as he noticed an absurd sight: a plush red movie chair had inexplicably materialized beside him. Its inviting texture looked almost out of place in the stern atmosphere of the council room. With reckless abandon, he plopped himself down, the soft fabric cradling him as if welcoming him into a fantastical realm. He nonchalantly grabbed a handful of buttery popcorn that seemed to appear from thin air and settled a pair of oversized, comical movie glasses askew on his nose. The contrast between his flamboyant antics and the gravity of the gathering sparked muted chuckles from the shadowy corners of the room, where the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi—a venerable figure with a tranquil presence—exchanged bemused glances with several clan leaders. They were caught between exasperation and amusement, struggling to comprehend Naruto's audacity.
However, not everyone shared in the mirth. Fugaku Uchiha, with his stoic demeanor, wore an expression of deep concern and palpable disapproval. His brow was deeply furrowed, and his dark eyes locked onto Naruto with a piercing intensity that seemed to challenge him directly. "Why did you hurt that twelve-year-old boy?" he inquired, incredulity woven tightly into his voice. Each word dripped with an unspoken challenge, an expectation for Naruto to offer some explanation or justification for his violent actions.
"Simple. Have you ever heard of self-defense?" Naruto replied, his tone casual and almost flippant, as if they were discussing the mundane details of the weather instead of the gravity of what he had done. This seemingly reckless response ignited the indignation of an elder on the council, who stood abruptly, her frail frame trembling with a mix of anger and shock. Her eyes, wide with disbelief, scanned the room as her voice rang out with desperate urgency through the silence.
"Do you not care about the harm you've caused?" she cried, desperation overtaking her as her frail hand grasped the edge of the table. She looked deeply into Naruto's eyes, searching for any hint of remorse, her wrinkled face revealing the weight of her concern.
"You don't understand," she continued, her voice quavering with raw emotion as if she were fighting against a tide of despair. "Don't you feel guilty or—"
"No, I can't even feel emotions, so how am I supposed to care?" Naruto interrupted sharply, irritation lacing his words like a bitter aftertaste. He leaned back in his plush chair, arms crossed defiantly over his chest, as if the weight of his statement hung heavily in the air, stifling any response.
"This is all boring, so I'm leaving," he concluded bluntly, arrogance dripping from his words like water pouring from a tilted vessel. In the next moment, a dazzling flash of light enveloped him, and with a crackling sound, he teleported out of view, leaving the council members in stunned silence. They were left grappling with the remnants of disbelief and the bitter aftertaste of his audacity, fully aware of the ominous implications of the dark path Naruto seemed determined to tread.The grand council office loomed overhead, a monumental structure of polished stone and intricately carved wood, casting a long shadow that echoed the gravity of the discussions held within its walls. As Naruto crossed the threshold into the chamber, he was met with the apprehensive gazes of the council members. Their faces, etched with worry lines and tinged with skepticism, reflected a blend of anxiety and fear, creating a palpable tension that made the air feel thick and suffocating. The flickering torches along the walls seemed to dim in response to their unease.
"What do you want from me now?" Naruto snapped, irritation boiling just beneath the surface. His voice sliced through the heavy atmosphere like a blade, defiance evident in every syllable. The air crackled with anticipation as he stood there, a rebellious figure against the backdrop of authority.
The audacity of his tone sparked a stark reaction in one of the council's elders—a weathered man with deep lines etched into his face, representing the civilian faction. His bushy eyebrows drew together in anger, and he glared at Naruto with eyes that seemed to smolder like coals. "You will not address us in that manner, you little demon," he hissed, each word dripping with venomous disdain, as if even mentioning Naruto's name left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Yet, instead of wilting under the elder's disapproving gaze, Naruto's spirit thrived. A mischievous glint flickered in his blue eyes as he noticed an absurd sight: a plush red movie chair had inexplicably materialized beside him. Its inviting texture looked almost out of place in the stern atmosphere of the council room. With reckless abandon, he plopped himself down, the soft fabric cradling him as if welcoming him into a fantastical realm. He nonchalantly grabbed a handful of buttery popcorn that seemed to appear from thin air and settled a pair of oversized, comical movie glasses askew on his nose. The contrast between his flamboyant antics and the gravity of the gathering sparked muted chuckles from the shadowy corners of the room, where the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi—a venerable figure with a tranquil presence—exchanged bemused glances with several clan leaders. They were caught between exasperation and amusement, struggling to comprehend Naruto's audacity.
However, not everyone shared in the mirth. Fugaku Uchiha, with his stoic demeanor, wore an expression of deep concern and palpable disapproval. His brow was deeply furrowed, and his dark eyes locked onto Naruto with a piercing intensity that seemed to challenge him directly. "Why did you hurt that twelve-year-old boy?" he inquired, incredulity woven tightly into his voice. Each word dripped with an unspoken challenge, an expectation for Naruto to offer some explanation or justification for his violent actions.
"Simple. Have you ever heard of self-defense?" Naruto replied, his tone casual and almost flippant, as if they were discussing the mundane details of the weather instead of the gravity of what he had done. This seemingly reckless response ignited the indignation of an elder on the council, who stood abruptly, her frail frame trembling with a mix of anger and shock. Her eyes, wide with disbelief, scanned the room as her voice rang out with desperate urgency through the silence.
"Do you not care about the harm you've caused?" she cried, desperation overtaking her as her frail hand grasped the edge of the table. She looked deeply into Naruto's eyes, searching for any hint of remorse, her wrinkled face revealing the weight of her concern.
"You don't understand," she continued, her voice quavering with raw emotion as if she were fighting against a tide of despair. "Don't you feel guilty or—"
"No, I can't even feel emotions, so how am I supposed to care?" Naruto interrupted sharply, irritation lacing his words like a bitter aftertaste. He leaned back in his plush chair, arms crossed defiantly over his chest, as if the weight of his statement hung heavily in the air, stifling any response.
"This is all boring, so I'm leaving," he concluded bluntly, arrogance dripping from his words like water pouring from a tilted vessel. In the next moment, a dazzling flash of light enveloped him, and with a crackling sound, he teleported out of view, leaving the council members in stunned silence. They were left grappling with the remnants of disbelief and the bitter aftertaste of his audacity, fully aware of the ominous implications of the dark path Naruto seemed determined to tread.