Chapter 100: Hyuga Hinata Still Chose Naruto
Otogakure.
Orochimaru's secret research base.
"Pfft...! Hahaha..."
The sudden laughter from Naruto's Shadow Clonemade Hyuga Hinata and Orochimaru turn their heads, and after exchanging a glance, both were left confused.
"Naruto-kun..." This was Hyuga Hinata.
"Naruto-kun, did you encounter something very interesting?!"
"No... nothing... it's just... pfft! Hahaha..."
Naruto's main body had used the Secret Techniqueprovided by the Little Nine-Tails in combination with the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu to improve the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu. The Shadow Clone currently in Orochimaru's secret research base was very different.
It possessed all the advantages of the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, but because some of the Yin-Yang Release Chakra that Naruto had sealed away was added to it, this Shadow Clone not only possessed half of Naruto's strength, but its consciousness was also connected to the main body. It was no longer the case that the main bodycould only obtain the Clone's memories after the Clone dissipated.
This not only avoided the flaws of the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, where it would dissipate upon being attacked and had less than one-tenth of the main body's strength, but it was also more convenient for control and communication.
"Then let's continue, Orochimaru-sensei!"
Hyuga Hinata's temperament had undergone quite a change over these past few days; this was partly due to Orochimaru's influence, but even more so due to factors involving Naruto.
Upon learning that Naruto possessed the Sharingan, and witnessing the entire process of Naruto bargaining with Orochimaru, Hyuga Hinata's world had initially collapsed, because the current Naruto was like a completely different person from before.
"You've already boarded the pirate ship; you can't get off even if you want to..." This was what Naruto's Shadow Clone said when accepting Hyuga Hinata's questioning. "I definitely had selfish motives before, but ever since I kidnapped you from the Hyuga Clan to here, you have been branded with my mark for the rest of your life!"
Hyuga Hinata hated herself very much. She should have used a set of Hyuga Gentle Fist on Naruto's Shadow Clone, then righteously rejected him, and finally...
But how she thought in her heart was one thing, and how Hyuga Hinata's body reacted was another. She was helplessly swayed by Naruto's overbearing declaration... Anyway, for some reason, Hyuga Hinata fainted, with a blush still showing on her face.
"I remember you said you wouldn't run away anymore and would protect me." This was the second sentence Naruto's Shadow Clone said after Hyuga Hinata regained consciousness. "So now that the opportunity has come, are you still going to run away, still going to flee?"
"I won't run... nor will I flee..." Hyuga Hinata's tone was still soft and weak, but not knowing where she found the strength, she got up and slapped Narutohard on the cheek.
"But... that is Konoha! It is our home!"
"I think you should calm down and listen to my story, as well as my parents' story, and some stories about Konoha's higher-ups." Naruto's Shadow Clone smiled bitterly. "And even the stories surrounding me..."
Listening to Naruto's narration, Hyuga Hinata went from having a wooden expression to a cold one, and from a cold expression, it evolved into heartache; finally, the heartache turned into determination, which ended with her throwing herself into the arms of Naruto's Shadow Cloneand sobbing in a low voice.
"The villagers of Konoha are innocent... they... they are just..."
"They were bewitched, and Hiruzen Sarutobi is just an old fool; I understand many such things." Naruto's Shadow Clone gently stroked Hyuga Hinata's back. "But no amount of excuses can absolve them of the crimes they committed, and one thing is one thing; they will have to face a reckoning sooner or later."
"Rather than having others do it, it is better for me to do it myself; this will always be much lighter than if others were to do it. Besides, it is time for Konoha to change; decay is not the destiny it should have."
"You promise me..."
"I promise you!" Before Hyuga Hinata could finish, Naruto's Shadow Clone nodded heavily, the sunny smile on his face blooming again. "Except for my parents, you are my only light in this world; whatever you say, I will do."
"Leave them some dignity..." Hyuga Hinata was still that gentle girl, only she had finally chosen to stand on Naruto's side. "And don't hurt Konoha too much..."
"That is my plan." Naruto was very proud that Hyuga Hinata, who had received an education in the Will of Fire since childhood, could stand by his side, but he also felt even more compassion for Hyuga Hinata.
He knew that Hyuga Hinata had struggled intensely before finally choosing him, and this also reflected that saying: The wise do not fall into the river of love...
Lovingly stroking Hyuga Hinata's hair, Naruto felt very peaceful in his heart at this moment, as if he possessed the whole world. Even if he failed, when he had nothing left, there was still a shy girl accompanying him by his side.
...
"Don't you want to hear the reason?"
Seeing that neither Hyuga Hinata nor Orochimaruwere paying attention to him, Naruto's Shadow Clone, feeling depressed, asked a question that lowered his standing, which was somewhat unlike him before.
"After being nourished by love, it does indeed lower one's IQ." Orochimaru calmly stated a fact. "Naruto-kun, I am very worried about your future..."
"That is not something you need to worry about." Naruto retorted, then returned to his normal appearance. "Jiraiya has returned to the village!"
"That annoying guy was actually persuaded by my old fool of a teacher?" Orochimaru became interested. "It seems Konoha has reached the end of its rope; this is bad news, but it is also good news."
"Do you have any plans?" Naruto was a bit curious.
"I do have a plan, but I don't know if Naruto-kunwill fight me to the death after finding out?" Orochimaru had a playful look on his face, and at the same time, he was somewhat fearless.
"Edo Tensei?" Naruto's face instantly darkened. There were only two reasons that could make him fight Orochimaru to the death: one was his parents, and the second was Hyuga Hinata, who was learning by Orochimaru's side.
Orochimaru's words turned slightly in Naruto's mind, and he guessed eight or nine out of ten.
Hyuga Hinata had always been under the care of Naruto's Shadow Clone, so Orochimaru could not do anything to her. The only thing that could enrage Naruto and make him abandon his plans, regardless of the consequences, to strike at Orochimaru with lethal intent, was that dark Ninjutsu, Edo Tensei.
"Naruto-kun is indeed smart!" Orochimarucontinued to provoke Naruto's nerves. "But that was the plan from before; now, because of Naruto-kun, I have temporarily changed my original plan."
"Hand over my parents' remains!"
The Mangekyo Sharingan opened instantly, and the Aura of Naruto's Shadow Clone began to rise; he was already trying his best to suppress the anger in his heart.
"Don't be anxious; Edo Tensei has been improved by me, so it no longer needs the remains of the summoned person..." Orochimaru remained unmoved, completely unconcerned by the enraged Naruto. "I just took some of Minato's relics and obtained a small amount of his DNA."
"Whoosh!"
A mass of pitch-black flames burned wantonly wherever Naruto's gaze fell, and the primary target, Orochimaru, had long since collapsed at the first touch, turning into a charred corpse.
"As a guest, aren't you being a bit impolite!"
After the Amaterasu Black Flames dissipated, Orochimaru, who had turned into a small white-phosphorus snake, crawled out from the cracks in the floor. After a very disgusting transformation process, the slimy Orochimaru was spat out by the enlarged white-phosphorus snake.
"If you continue to court death, this place will soon have a new owner! And if it weren't for the fact that I need you, do you think you could talk to me so unscrupulously?!"
Naruto's eyes were full of dangerous light. "You don't need to test my bottom line anymore, because these are meaningless." Naruto naturally knew the reason Orochimaru kept courting death. "Also, since you know the fatal flaw of the Living Corpse Reincarnation, and I am your only straw to clutch at for survival, I don't need to say how you should choose again, right?!"
Naruto ignored Orochimaru, who had pulled a long face, took Hyuga Hinata's small hand, and pulled her toward the place where Zabuza and Haku were imprisoned.
In the end, when Naruto was about to walk out of the laboratory, he added one more sentence.
"Orochimaru, I believe you are a smart person. Smart people are often troublesome, but until the very end, smart people are unwilling to let the fish die and the net break. This is the last time I will tolerate you!"
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