"Alright, Kirito. If you keep going, it'll make it hard for us to leave the village."
Jiraiya understood Kirito's temperament all too well. Reasoning with him was pointless, so he used the only thing that would work.
Sure enough, Namikaze Kirito slowly loosened his clenched fist.
With a casual kick, he sent the maid flying toward the nearby ANBU.
"You ANBU like cleaning up the Hokage's trash, right?" Kirito said coldly.
"Then take this piece of garbage with you. Don't forget to throw it where it belongs."
The ANBU said nothing.
They silently lifted the maid and disappeared.
What none of them realized was that the vibration that had invaded her body hadn't faded.
At this very moment, her internal organs were collapsing one by one.
Even if she were rushed to the Konoha Hospital immediately, there would be no saving her.
…
"Hm…"
Kirito gently lifted Uzumaki Naruto into his arms.
The baby was small and warm, his chubby, lotus-root-like arms waving clumsily, brushing Kirito's cheek again and again.
So this is what it feels like…
To be connected by blood.
Back then, Naruto had only been a character on a screen—someone Kirito pitied, someone whose suffering made him angry.
But now, standing here as his older brother…
This warmth was something no words could fully describe.
"You're not alone," Kirito whispered softly.
"I'm sorry, Naruto… there are things I have to do, so big brother has to leave first."
"We'll meet again."
"It might be hard for you for a while… but it's okay. Everything will be alright."
"One day, our family will be together again."
Jiraiya didn't interrupt.
He watched quietly.
This was the first time he had ever seen Kirito look this gentle.
Just as Kushina once said—Kirito had always seemed distant, not because he lacked feelings, but because he carried too much.
A silent child in his previous life.
A child reborn with memories he shouldn't have.
That cold exterior was only armor.
Inside, his tenderness rivaled anyone's.
"Goodbye, Naruto… and I'm sorry."
Kirito carefully placed Naruto back into the crib.
His eyes were filled with guilt.
"Waaah—!"
The moment Kirito stepped away, Naruto began to cry.
Kirito immediately turned his head aside.
He didn't dare look back.
Because he knew—
if he did, he might take Naruto and leave with him right now.
And then everything would fall apart.
The future.
The plan.
Even their safety.
No matter how strong Jiraiya and Tsunade were, the two brothers wouldn't survive being hunted by the entire world.
Konoha would never allow the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki to leave.
Right now, Kirito didn't have the strength to fight the world.
Jiraiya walked over, lifted Naruto, and gently rocked him.
"Alright, alright… little Naruto. Your cruel big brother is leaving."
"We won't cry for him. From now on, you'll stick close to Jiraiya, okay?"
After soothing him until he calmed down, Jiraiya placed Naruto back in the crib.
"Goodbye, little Naruto," he said with a wave.
"Next time we meet, I hope you've become a fine ninja."
"…Sorry, Naruto."
The door closed softly.
The two of them walked toward the gates of Konoha.
At the same time—
inside the Hokage's office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat behind his desk, pipe in hand, staring into the crystal ball.
Across from him stood Shimura Danzō.
Neither spoke.
Only smoke filled the room.
"Hiruzen," Danzō finally said,
"you're really letting them go?"
"Haa…"
Hiruzen exhaled slowly.
"This is the best choice," he replied calmly.
"It won't interfere with the Jinchūriki plan."
"Hmph!"
Danzō snorted coldly.
"Do you realize how abnormal that brat's power is?"
"The report just came in—Yamakawa Yoshino is dead. Her internal organs were completely destroyed."
"It's the same power he used against the Nine-Tails. That black mist… that force!"
"Don't you understand how valuable this is? If we uncover its secret, Konoha could mass-produce elites!"
"The Uzumaki clan has no kekkei genkai. The Namikaze clan doesn't either."
"That means this power can be controlled!"
"I—"
"Danzō!"
Hiruzen interrupted sharply.
He choked on his pipe smoke and coughed.
"How long have you been researching bloodlines?" Hiruzen said coldly.
"What have you accomplished?"
"Nothing."
"And now Kirito has awakened."
"Are you planning to become a traitor? Publicly abducting the Fourth Hokage's son?"
"…Hm?"
Danzō's eyes suddenly gleamed.
Ah.
So that's it.
Sarutobi Hiruzen… you really are something.
Let them leave the village.
Whatever happens outside—
the villagers can't blame the Hokage.
After all, the dangers beyond Konoha are endless.
And Jiraiya was the one who took him away.
What does that have to do with Shimura Danzō?
After staring at Hiruzen for a long moment, Danzō turned and left.
Only Hiruzen remained, his face completely hidden behind thick smoke.
No one could tell what expression he wore.
Jiraiya and Namikaze Kirito passed through Konoha's gates.
No one stopped them.
Not even the gate guards.
Someone had clearly arranged everything in advance.
Outside the village, towering trees and endless green stretched before them.
For the first time since that night, Kirito felt something loosen in his chest.
The pain of leaving Naruto dulled—just a little.
"Well?" Jiraiya said brightly.
"First time leaving the village? Excited?"
"…It's fine."
Jiraiya instantly deflated.
"You really aren't cute, you know that?"
"When I left the village for the first time, my heart nearly leapt out of my chest."
"And you? Calm as a rock."
"You don't look like a three-year-old at all."
Kirito paused for a fraction of a second.
…Careful.
"But Jiraiya-sensei," Kirito asked,
"where are we going to find Tsunade-neechan?"
"Oh, her?" Jiraiya laughed.
"I've heard rumors already."
"Relax. I won't drag you around aimlessly."
"First, I'll take you to build a boat."
"You're gonna see the ocean!"
"Hahaha!"
Jiraiya laughed loudly as they moved forward.
Behind them, the wind swept fallen leaves over their footprints.
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