How Hard Can One Person's Persistence Be!!

These kids... do they have any idea how serious this is?

Kakashi took a deep breath. "Have you considered that if you give up now, you'll never have another chance to become ninja?"

Naruto shrugged. "I know. But I'm giving up for my teammates. No big deal."

Sasuke gritted his teeth. "They don't understand anything! Let me just—"

Sakura: "Why don't you two just fight it out?"

Naruto & Sasuke: "..."

The phantom of Obito beside Kakashi watched with interest. "These kids stumble and trip over each other, yet they're willing to sacrifice themselves for one another. Truly baffling."

Kakashi sighed inwardly. "But Naruto got one thing right. If I had the chance, I'd trade my life for yours without hesitation."

"Obito, you're my precious comrade."

The figure of Obito beside him slowly faded, leaving only a wisp of smoke.

Kakashi looked sternly at the three. "You have the right to give up. But if all of you quit, it defeats the purpose."

"Choose. Who's dropping out?"

Sakura held her tongue. She knew the next answer would be critical.

But for some reason, she wanted to see what Naruto would pull.

Sasuke immediately tried to speak, but his mouth opened and closed, words stuck in his throat.

Naruto glanced at Sasuke, then at Sakura.

What, if I say something wrong, I take the fall?

Fine, I'll go for it.

"I suggest all three of us quit." Naruto grinned.

Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi were all stunned.

Naruto paused, then said slowly, "Don't you guys think being a ninja isn't all that great?"

Kakashi looked at him. "Why do you say that?"

"To complete missions efficiently, we have to suppress emotions, go against human nature, even fight our own comrades. A ninja like that—I'd rather not be one."

Naruto's voice suddenly rose. "Sasuke, yesterday you said your dream was to restore your clan and complete your revenge. But if you die on some mission, what's the point of revenge then?!"

"Sakura, I've met your parents. They're not great heroes or descendants of legends, yet they're expected to send their daughter to the front lines like one. For what? For good luck?!"

"As for me, I just want to live like an ordinary person. But the village despises me, everyone looks down on me, and I'm supposed to bust my ass, kiss up to them, and strive to surpass the Hokage just to earn their approval? What kind of bullshit logic is that?!"

Come to think of it, in his past life, Naruto had been labeled a "basement dweller" by coworkers just for pulling Firefly in Honkai: Star Rail.

Not to mention—playing Genshin made you a "Genshin loser," watching anime meant you were obsessed with 2D characters, using JoJo references made you a "brainrot fan," buying merch meant you had more money than sense, and discussing manga plots was "wasting time"...

These hostile comments kept fermenting, eventually devolving into crude labels like "goblin" or "rat."

Later, as a corporate wage slave, he'd had enough. He raged for an entire afternoon.

"I want people to acknowledge me. But if the price is abandoning my teammates or losing my humanity, then I'd rather not!"

"You don't have to be a ninja to earn recognition. You can do other things!"

"Sasuke, do you really have to be a ninja to get revenge? I'll train with you starting today. We'll study jutsu at the library, spar at the training grounds, and challenge strong fighters to duels."

"Sakura, I'll do whatever you want. First, we drive off every creepy guy and show-off in the village. Then we castrate every man who toys with women—so they can never stand upright again... except me."

Sakura burst out laughing.

Unfazed, Naruto turned to Kakashi, whose expression was slowly going blank. "Boss, I'll run errands for you anytime. I'll buy the latest Icha Icha Paradise, even the movie version!"

Sakura deadpanned: "Want me to report you to Konoha's higher-ups for underage exposure to adult content?"

"Sorry, slip of the tongue."

Sasuke's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Naruto, what are you really trying to say?"

"What I'm saying is~" Naruto grinned, "if the concept of 'ninja' is tainted, then don't become one. If this world is twisted, then change it."

"Following this world's twisted rules will never lead anywhere. Better to change it and carve out a new path."

"But," Kakashi interrupted, "wouldn't that path be far too difficult?"

Naruto smiled faintly.

Beside him, a figure in white robes with black hair stood silently—sword-like brows slanting into his temples, narrow, deep-set eyes, long black hair flowing wildly in the wind. Every gesture radiated danger and power.

If this were Douyin, a pounding soundtrack would probably be kicking in right now.

That man who lived in the Net Purification Era chuckled softly. "How hard can one person's persistence be?"

Naruto roared at the sky: "How hard can one person's persistence be?!"

Granaries full, chest full of fire!

As the saying goes:

Cicadas sing against the current of time, Ambition for supremacy refuses to yield.

The wise strategist, a sage among bugs, laughs at the world—who dares defy?

Silence fell all around, leaving only a few heavy breaths drumming rhythmically in the air.

Sasuke's heart surged, the youthful pride in his chest brimming over, as if he might dash right up to Itachi and throw down a "don't bully the young" fistfight.

Sakura couldn't hide her smile, only lamenting that the Hokage World had no phones—otherwise, she'd definitely record this and post it on Hupu, letting Naruto and netizens warmly debate his family tree.

Kakashi, shocked at first, then smiled, sighed, and felt a trace of relief in his heart.

"And you two?" He looked at Sasuke and Sakura.

Sakura spread her hands: "I'm afraid Naruto might actually go spar with that creepy guy, so I have to stop him."

Sasuke paused for a moment, then let out a cold snort: "I don't need the title of ninja, and I can't betray my comrades."

Kakashi nodded, his heart swirling with countless emotions.

Nothing more needed to be said.

"Then, for this mission..." Kakashi looked at the three:

"...you all pass!"

Sasuke's eyes went wide.

"Pass?" Sasuke couldn't help blurting out: "Why? Didn't we fail this mission?"

"You didn't fail," Kakashi shook his head. "True, a ninja's duty is to set aside their emotions and complete the mission efficiently."

He paused for a moment, then added: "But as Naruto said, abandoning comrades to finish a mission—that kind of person is worse than trash."

Kakashi looked seriously at Naruto: "I really like your ideals, but I still hope you'll operate as a ninja from now on."

"Naruto, this world has many injustices. But as long as people exist, there's a chance to make up for them."

Kakashi took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing into crescent moons:

"Until you change the world, I'll protect you."

Sasuke listened, understanding dawning in his heart.

Naruto was momentarily stunned, his gaze softening.

Kakashi was still Kakashi.

He wouldn't change because the plot shifted; he was forever that gentle teacher who cared only for his comrades.

Too bad, the Obito you hold dear is responsible for your master's death.

Kakashi's promise wouldn't be made solid by his kindness.

Kakashi: "From now on, as Team 7, we'll officially accept commissions from the Land of Fire. Dismissed!"

The bell mission came to an end.

Sakura and Naruto hit up Ichiraku Ramen for a meal, then found a secluded spot.

"Spill it," Sakura said, her back against the wall, staring intently at Naruto.

"What were you really thinking? Why did you go off-script and force a talk-no-jutsu on Kakashi?"