Did these kids really not realize how serious this was at all?
Kakashi took a deep breath. "Have you ever considered that if you give up this time, you'll never have another chance to become shinobi?"
Naruto shrugged. "I know, but I'm giving up voluntarily for my comrades. It's no big deal."
Sasuke gritted his teeth. "They don't understand anything! Why don't you just let me..."
Sakura: "Why don't you two just fight it out?"
Naruto and Sasuke: "..."
The apparition of Obito beside Kakashi said with great interest, "These kids clearly stumble over one another, yet they're willing to sacrifice themselves for each other. They're truly impossible to understand."
Kakashi couldn't help sighing inwardly. "But Naruto was right about one thing. If I had the chance, I'd definitely trade my life for yours."
"Obito, you're a comrade I treasure."
The image of Obito beside him slowly faded away, leaving behind only a wisp of smoke.
Kakashi looked seriously at the three of them. "You can give up. That's your right. But if all of you give up, then it'll be meaningless."
"Choose. Who are you planning to have withdraw?"
Sakura, standing to the side, did not speak rashly. She understood that the answer they gave next would be extremely important.
But for some reason, she wanted to see what kind of stunt Naruto would pull.
Sasuke immediately wanted to speak, but his mouth opened and closed repeatedly, the words stuck in his throat.
Naruto glanced at Sasuke, then at Sakura.
What the heck? If I say the wrong thing later, am I supposed to take responsibility?
Well, then I won't hold back.
"I suggest that all three of us give up." Naruto smiled.
Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi all froze.
Naruto paused, then slowly said, "Don't you guys think being a shinobi is kind of pointless?"
Kakashi looked at him. "Why do you say that?"
"To complete missions efficiently, we have to suppress our emotions, go against human nature, and even turn on our own teammates. If that's what being a shinobi means, then we might as well not become shinobi at all."
Naruto's voice suddenly rose. "Sasuke, you said yesterday that your dream was to revive your clan and complete your revenge. But if you sacrifice yourself for some commissioned mission, then how the hell are you supposed to get your revenge?!"
"Sakura, I've met your parents. They aren't great people, nor are they descendants of heroes, yet they still want to send their daughter to the front lines like some great hero. What for? To bring good luck?"
"As for me, I just want to live like an ordinary person. But the villagers despise me, everyone around me looks down on me, and then I still have to foolishly chase after people who don't want me, working my butt off to surpass the Hokage so everyone will acknowledge me. What kind of bullshit logic is that?!"
Speaking of which, in his previous life, Naruto had once been seen by a coworker playing Firefly's banner in Honkai: Star Rail, and everyone around him had labeled him a "private weirdo."
That wasn't all. In their eyes, playing Genshin Impact made you a "Genshin addict," watching anime meant you were obsessed with fictional characters, using JOJO memes meant you were deranged, buying merchandise meant you were an idiot with too much money, and discussing manga plots meant you weren't taking your work seriously...
Those unfriendly remarks would continue to ferment, eventually becoming crude labels. Thus, titles like "goblin" and "rat" came into being.
Later, as an overworked employee, he finally couldn't stand it anymore and angrily raged for an entire afternoon.
"I want everyone to acknowledge me, but if the price is abandoning my teammates and extinguishing my humanity, then forget it!"
"You don't have to become a shinobi to earn recognition. You can earn it by doing other things too!"
"Sasuke, do you really have to become a shinobi to take revenge? Starting today, I can train with you. We can study ninjutsu in the library, practice against each other at the training grounds, and find strong people to spar with."
"Sakura, I'm willing to do anything you want with you. First, we'll beat up all the creeps and show-offs in the village, then castrate every man who toys with women so they'll never be able to stand upright again... except me."
Sakura burst out laughing.
Unaffected, Naruto turned toward Kakashi, whose expression had gradually gone blank. "Boss, I'll run errands for you whenever I have time. I can even buy the newest Icha Icha Paradise. The movie version works too!"
Sakura said expressionlessly, "Do you believe I'll report you to Konoha's higher-ups for watching porn while underage?"
"Sorry, I misspoke."
The corners of Sasuke's lips lifted slightly despite himself. "Naruto, what exactly are you trying to say?"
"What I'm trying to say is..." Naruto smiled. "If the concept of shinobi is filthy, then there's no need to become shinobi. If this world is twisted, then we should change it."
"If we keep following this world's twisted rules, there will never be a way out. We might as well change them and carve out an entirely new path."
"But..." Kakashi couldn't help interrupting. "Won't that path be too difficult?"
Naruto smiled faintly.
Beside him stood a silent figure in white robes with black hair. His sharp brows slanted into his temples, his long, narrow eyes were deep and piercing, and his jet-black hair fluttered wildly in the wind. Every movement radiated danger and power.
If this had been Douyin, some powerful music would probably have started playing at that moment.
The person who had lived through the Net Purification Era chuckled. "How hard can one person's resolve be?"
Naruto threw his head back and shouted at the sky, "One person's resolve... how hard can it be?!"
The granary still held rice, and his chest still burned with sharp spirit!
As the saying went:
Cicadas sang through spring and autumn against the world's path, Yet the heart of a would-be conqueror refused to bow.
With countless schemes and the wisdom of a Gu Saint, He smiled upon all living things—who would dare refuse to submit?
The surroundings fell utterly silent. Only the few people's heavy breathing beat rhythmically through the air like drums.
Sasuke's heart surged with excitement, youthful spirit overflowing from his chest. He seemed ready to run straight to Itachi and unleash a full set of "Don't Bully the Young" punches on him.
Sakura could barely hide her amusement. She could only lament that the Hokage World had no cell phones. Otherwise, she would absolutely record this and post it on Hupu, letting Naruto and the netizens have a friendly discussion about their family tree.
After his shock, Kakashi laughed, then sighed, and a trace of comfort appeared in his heart.
"What about you two?" He looked at Sasuke and Sakura.
Sakura spread her hands. "I'm worried Naruto will really go spar with those creeps, so I have to stop him."
Sasuke froze at first, then gave a cold snort. "I don't need the title of shinobi. And I could never betray my comrades."
Kakashi nodded, his heart filled with countless emotions.
There was nothing more to say.
"Then, regarding this mission..." Kakashi looked at the three of them.
"...you're all qualified!"
Sasuke's eyes widened immediately.
"Qualified?" Sasuke couldn't help asking, "Why? Didn't we fail this mission?"
"You didn't fail." Kakashi shook his head. "It's true that a shinobi's duty is to set aside personal feelings and complete missions efficiently."
He paused, then continued, "But as Naruto said, anyone who abandons their teammates to complete a mission is worse than garbage."
Kakashi looked seriously at Naruto. "I really like your ideals, but I still hope you'll continue acting as a shinobi from now on."
"Naruto, there's a lot of injustice in this world. But as long as there are people here, there's always a chance to make up for that injustice."
Kakashi took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes into curving crescents.
"Before you change the world, I'll protect you."
After hearing that, Sasuke understood.
Naruto was slightly stunned, and his gaze softened along with his expression.
Kakashi was still Kakashi.
He wouldn't change just because the plot had taken a different turn. He would always be that kind-hearted teacher who devoted himself wholeheartedly to his comrades.
Too bad the Obito you care about so deeply will be held responsible for your teacher's death.
Kakashi's promise would not become any more unbreakable simply because of his kindness.
Kakashi: "After this, we'll officially accept commissions from the Land of Fire as Team 7. Now, dismissed!"
The bell mission had come to an end.
Sakura and Naruto went to Ichiraku Ramen to get something to eat, then found a deserted place.
"Tell me," Sakura said, leaning her back against the wall and looking seriously at Naruto.
"What exactly were you thinking? Why did you insist on ignoring the plot and forcing Kakashi to accept your verbal barrage?"
Before you continue