Choice

The panel popped up, presenting the classic dilemma of choosing between two scenarios.

[Option 1: Kill Zabuza Momochi. Reward: Ice Release (Incomplete)]

[Option 2: Kill Haku. Reward: All assets related to Gato. (Real estate and company assets will be liquidated and stored in the new system's warehouse)]

Seeing this, Naruto swallowed almost simultaneously. He felt no guilt about killing either of them. Both Zabuza Momochi and Haku were enemies locked in a fight to the death.

But what truly gave Naruto a headache was why it had to be a choice between the two. Why did this world have such a cruel dilemma!

Couldn't he just kill both?

The system offered no response. Naruto didn't dare to act rashly; the previous turn of events had made him wary. If he exploited a bug and lost the system, it would be a loss outweighing the gain.

Without the system, Naruto would never escape his predetermined fate. Whether he liked it or not, the Akatsuki Organization would find him and kill him. Unless he trained desperately, but that would mean he couldn't escape the cycle of fighting for Konoha.

He had to forge those bonds, get entangled in troublesome matters like being the Child of Prophecy. He'd be beaten to within an inch of his life again and again, living on the edge.

"Naruto? Why did you suddenly stop? Is… is something wrong?"

Sensing Naruto's sudden pause, Sakura became alert, nervously scanning their surroundings, fearing another ninja might suddenly appear from a corner.

Fortunately, what she feared didn't happen. Kakashi and the others walking ahead heard the commotion and turned back to look at the stopped Naruto.

"It's nothing, just feeling a bit unwell," Naruto said.

Hearing this, Kakashi and the others turned back and continued forward.

Naruto kept pace with the group, staring at the panel that had appeared before him, his brow furrowed, his mind in a state of internal conflict.

Zabuza was a ninja with Water Release. He could counter with the Nine-Tails' chakra. Combined with Lava Style, he should be able to fight him.

But with Kakashi there, even facing Zabuza wouldn't put him under much pressure. He could even use Zabuza's underestimation of Genin to seize an opportunity for a surprise attack.

Haku's Kekkei Genkai was Ice Release, which countered Lava Style.

No matter what, killing Zabuza meant dealing with Haku. As long as Haku was alive, he would fight to the death to protect Zabuza.

Therefore, killing Zabuza outright wasn't that easy. Instead of that, it would be better to set his target directly on Haku.

Killing Zabuza would grant him the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai. This would be an invaluable asset for Naruto at this moment.

Even an incomplete Ice Release could elevate Naruto's strength to the level of a Special Jonin.

However, Gato's entire fortune was equally appealing to Naruto.

In this world, the Akatsuki Organization also took on missions for money. The assumption that being strong guarantees wealth was invalid; forceful acquisition also carried risks like being pursued and investigated by ninja.

The amount of wealth one person could seize at once was extremely limited. Wealth primarily existed in the form of fixed assets and companies. Money and jewels seized might not even be spendable, and one had to consider the security risks they might bring.

The system's operation, however, was to directly extract Gato's wealth. All the company's fixed assets, along with jewels and ships on the books, would be converted into cash and deposited into the system's warehouse. This meant all the money would be clean.

"With this money, I'll truly be free," Naruto murmured in a voice only he could hear. "I want to get stronger too, maybe next time."

Ahead, Kakashi was conversing with the old bridge builder, Tazuna. Their voices inevitably reached Naruto's ears.

"Gato has accumulated a lot of wealth using ninja over the years. Now his wealth is enough to make him a nation, and he has countless rogue samurai and ninja under him, with a very powerful force."

"Well, I've heard about that too. I occasionally hear intel about it on missions," Kakashi's lazy voice replied.

"That man is a terrifying fellow. If you weren't escorting me, I might have died on the way."

"Since we in Konoha have accepted the mission, there's no reason to abandon it midway. Don't worry, we'll ensure you get home safely."

The conversation gradually became more boisterous, and Naruto stopped listening to the subsequent details. His gaze gradually became firm. Enough to make him a nation?

Indeed, his choice was the correct one. The system had resolved his worries, and this wealth would be directly stored in the system's warehouse.

This meant Naruto only needed to complete the mission options, and the money would appear in the system's warehouse without a trace.

Even if someone discovered Gato's wealth had vanished, they wouldn't suspect Naruto.

Since he no longer intended to associate with the Third Hokage and avoid being brainwashed with the idea that the village's interests were paramount, he had to seize economic initiative.

He remembered that in the original story, Naruto ran around on missions for the village, and after completing one task after another, he was still a Genin.

Although there was the reason that he was too busy with missions to take the exams, according to the rules, Naruto, as a Genin, received a very low share of the mission rewards.

In the end, even working desperately as a Genin, he couldn't save much money. After becoming Hokage, he lived entirely for the village.

In contrast, members of Konoha's major clans were never short of money. Even Tsunade, who was addicted to gambling, couldn't lose all her money no matter how much she gambled.

Moreover, the dowry provided by the Hyuga Clan would be enough for Naruto to live on for a lifetime. His financial situation before and after marriage was incomparable.

Ultimately, being a kept man was appealing. Although Naruto didn't mind being supported by Hinata, as a man, he needed to have some exceptional qualities.

After much consideration, Naruto still chose Gato's treasure as his first step to amassing wealth.

It wouldn't be long before Team Seven was short a member.

Naruto had to make plans in advance and couldn't fall back into the cycle of working himself to death. Everyone around him had plenty of money; he couldn't live like the Crown Prince of Konoha and still have to work for a living.

As he was thinking, the way ahead was suddenly blocked by a violently spinning Executioner's Blade.

"Danger!" Sakura immediately pushed Tazuna down.

The Executioner's Blade flew over everyone and embedded itself firmly in a tree. A figure appeared above the Executioner's Blade, staring at them with cold eyes.

"Zabuza Momochi?" Kakashi recognized the bandaged man standing on the great sword almost instantly.

He then quietly warned the disciples of Team Seven behind him, "Proceed with caution. This person is a Rogue Ninja from the Hidden Mist Village, possessing strength comparable to an Elite Jonin like myself."

"Kakashi," Zabuza Momochi leaped down from the grassy ground, a giant Executioner's Blade slung over his shoulder as he grinned ferociously and shouted arrogantly.

"The life of the person in front of you, I've claimed it!"

Almost as soon as he spoke, Zabuza's figure vanished abruptly, and with a bang, he suddenly lunged in front of Tazuna.

"This is my employer. If the mission fails, I'll have a lot of trouble. You should pick a different target," Kakashi's voice was lazy yet very firm, as he used a Kunai to directly block the Executioner's Blade.