You Shouldn't Have Existed in This World

You Shouldn't Have Existed in This World

After feeling sorry for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the Cloud ninja continued with their mission.

Before long, the Cloud ninja hiding in the shadows all became alert. A masked figure was walking toward them from not far away.

Judging by his clothes, the masked man was no different from an ordinary Konoha villager.

But at this time and in this place, how could someone appearing in a remote alley possibly be ordinary? Unless he had come specifically for them.

It seemed they had successfully drawn the attention of Konoha's Anbu.

A smile curled across the Cloud Squad Leader's lips. He had already thought of an excuse for being here.

Soon, the masked man arrived before the Cloud Squad Leader. The Squad Leader stepped forward and said with a stern face, "You're a Konoha ninja, aren't you? Our leading Jonin has gone missing. Was this Konoha's doing?"

Their dealings with the higher-ups over the past few days had taught them that while Konoha's lower-ranking ninja were tough, its leadership was generally weak.

All they needed was a little intimidation, and these people would back down for fear of disrupting the peace negotiations.

The masked man did not respond. After looking over the group of Cloud ninja, he said indifferently, "Good. Looks like everyone's here. Prepare to move. Today, we have to capture the Jinchuriki!"

The Cloud Squad Leader's expression changed slightly at those words, but the other party had already vanished from the spot.

It was unclear whether he had used the Body Flicker Technique or the Clone Technique.

A nearby Cloud ninja looked confused and asked the Squad Leader, "Captain, did the plan change at the last minute? Are we attacking the Jinchuriki?"

"Attack my ass! He's a spy who infiltrated from another village! We've been set up."

The Cloud Squad Leader gritted his teeth, but it was already too late to stop the masked man.

The Konoha Anbu watching from above had noticed the commotion on their side. They were leaping across the rooftops and rushing over.

Listening to the sounds of rushing wind around them, the Cloud ninja exchanged quiet words.

"Squad Leader, what do we do now?"

"Find a way to explain it to them. Someone from another village wants to go after the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki..."

As they spoke, Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao used the Body Flicker Technique to appear before the Cloud ninja. With grave expressions, they said, "We've been watching you for a long time. Explain why you're here."

"Konoha Anbu, if we said we were taking a walk, would you believe us?"

Before he could finish, even the Cloud Squad Leader knew that excuse was unconvincing. But he could only force himself to explain it, because it was the truth.

Gekko Hayate sneered. "Do you think we'd believe that? Come with us quietly."

Meanwhile.

Naruto yawned boredly and headed for the bathroom to wash up.

Since there was no excitement to watch, he might as well wash up and sleep early. With his current strength, he could not get involved in such a major incident at all. Acting rashly would only arouse suspicion.

Just then, Naruto suddenly had a premonition and turned his gaze toward the window.

His Malice Perception had activated. Someone carrying immense malice was heading toward his location.

The Nine-Tails in the Sealing Space also opened his eyes and warned, "Hey, Naruto brat, someone with ill intentions is approaching you. Judging by the amount of Chakra, they should be a ninja."

Of course Naruto knew it was a ninja, but the problem was that he did not know the other party's identity or exact strength.

Besides, wasn't he a Jinchuriki? Where were the Konoha Anbu assigned to watch him now?

Guessing Naruto's thoughts, the Nine-Tails reminded him, "Those lackeys sent by the Hokage have been tied up by another group. They probably won't be able to get here anytime soon. You can only face this enemy yourself."

Naruto's expression turned grave at those words.

As a Jinchuriki, he had never considered running from a fight. He just had not expected his first encounter with an enemy to come so soon.

Was this the so-called butterfly effect?

After thinking calmly for a moment, Naruto searched the room for a sharp weapon. He was more or less a ninja now. With the enemy in the open and himself in the dark, he might be able to strike first and overwhelm a master with a flurry of blows.

At that moment, the Nine-Tails said in a faint voice, "If your life is truly in danger, you can hand your body over to me. I'll control it. There's still a chance you'll wake up after being controlled by my Chakra, but if you die, you're truly dead."

Naruto did not refute the Nine-Tails. He tacitly agreed.

Below the apartment building.

The masked man climbed over the courtyard wall. After glancing at Naruto's room, he slowly removed the head covering concealing his identity, revealing an utterly ordinary face.

He was none other than the dispirited middle-aged ninja who had met Naruto once at Ichiraku Ramen.

But compared to then, the middle-aged ninja's eyes were now filled with determination. His dispirited air was gone, replaced by viciousness.

He ran up the wall and climbed upstairs. With no Anbu obstructing him, he easily entered Naruto's room.

It was his first time entering the Demon Fox's room. It looked no different from an ordinary child's room.

However, judging from the bathroom light and the sound of running water, the Demon Fox was bathing and would not come out anytime soon. He had plenty of time.

After some thought, the middle-aged ninja continued examining Naruto's room.

When he saw the single portrait Naruto had placed beside the bed, the middle-aged ninja picked it up and seemed to sink into some memory. A faint smile appeared on his face.

But soon, his expression twisted viciously, and he crushed the photograph.

His name was Tenpu, an utterly ordinary Konoha ninja. From childhood, he had neither a famous teacher nor a clan to support him. If no miracle occurred, he would spend his entire life wavering between Genin and Chunin.

But Naruto's father, the Fourth Hokage, had given him hope to strive forward.

The Fourth Hokage had been an orphan, with a status even lower than Tenpu's, yet he had relied on talent and hard work to become a Jonin, eventually becoming Konoha's Fourth Hokage.

With such a role model, Tenpu began to firmly believe that hard work would bring rewards.

What happened afterward was just as he had expected. After joining the Fourth Hokage's forces, he was quickly promoted to Chunin Squad Leader and even had the chance to become a Special Jonin.

However, everything changed on Nine-Tails Night.

With the Fourth Hokage's death in battle, they, the Hokage's former subordinates, were all suppressed. Some were sent to the front lines to carry out dangerous missions, while others were sidelined and left unused for a long time.

Through one grueling mission after another, he gradually accumulated hidden injuries and could no longer become a Special Jonin.

And the reason for all of this was the Fourth Hokage's senseless death.

Minato Namikaze, as Hokage, you could die for the village, but what about us, the subordinates who once followed you and diligently worked to help you become Hokage?

They were unwilling to accept it, but reality gave them no way to resist. They could only silently accept the arrangements of the older generation.

Only when they saw Naruto being bullied as the Demon Fox and discriminated against by the villagers did they feel a little better. In their hearts, they sneered that this was the price of the Hokage's selfishness.

Coming back to his senses, Tenpu walked to the bathroom door and slowly pushed open the glass door.

Staring at the hazy figure amid the steam, Tenpu stabbed forward without hesitation and muttered, "Uzumaki Naruto, how nice it would have been if you had never been born. You shouldn't have existed in this world, you damned Demon Fox."

Very soon, Tenpu realized something was wrong. His kunai had not pierced flesh and blood, but empty air.

But in the next instant, Tenpu felt a sharp pain. A fruit knife had been driven into the top of his foot, and blood slowly began to flow.

At the same time, a voice rang out. "The one who shouldn't have existed in this world is you!"