Gate of Life Unleashed, Whoever Stands in My Way Dies!

"Pretend you didn't see anything and get lost. Got it?" The three Root agents threatened Naruto, who stood in front of the ANBU.

Naruto glanced at Uzuki Yugao's conspicuous purple hair and put on a righteous expression.

"That won't do. You're trying to kill a comrade. I have to ask why first—how can I just turn around and leave?"

The male Root agent beside them seemed to relent and lowered his voice. "That makes sense. We're pursuing a traitor to the village."

Naruto refused to give an inch, blocking them firmly. "Where's the evidence? What makes you say she's a traitor?"

The last Root agent finally lost patience, drawing a strange, grotesque longsword from behind his back. "What a pain. Kill them both."

Hana Inuzuka and Izumi Uchiha, hiding behind a rock, hurriedly covered their mouths in fright.

"Wait!" The leading Root agent's expression darkened as he stared at Naruto. "This guy is a Jinchuriki!"

The Root agent who had been about to attack immediately froze in place.

Damn it, what rotten luck. Why did we run into something like this?

Rumors of Naruto going berserk and wiping out a batch of Root agents had long spread through Root. The Root agents killed by Naruto already accounted for nearly a fifth of their ranks. It was fucking bizarre.

The higher-ups had now issued a strict order: stay far away whenever they saw Naruto. Everyone knew the kid was like a powder keg—one spark and he would explode.

The leading Root agent hurriedly explained, "We aren't saying she is definitely a traitor, but the scroll in her hand can prove who the traitor is. Hand over the scroll, and we'll leave immediately."

Uzuki Yugao forced herself to hold on and demanded with difficulty, "What do you intend to do after obtaining the intelligence?"

The Root agent sneered, raising the broadsword in his hand. "Is there even a need to ask? Enemies of the village must naturally be punished by heaven! We will continue to uphold Konoha's order through the laws of darkness."

Uzuki Yugao was so angered that even her voice changed. "You have no authority to act on your own! This secret letter must be handed over to Lord Hokage! Only Lord Hokage can deliver a fair judgment!"

The female Root agent laughed. "A fair judgment? How naive. There is only one path for those who betray the village: death."

Uzuki Yugao argued loudly, "Even the betraying side may have its reasons! Lord Hokage's intention is to thoroughly investigate the truth and handle the matter fairly!"

As he listened to both sides trade barbs, Naruto found it increasingly off. The scene before him gave him an indescribable sense of familiarity.

Naruto calmed his mind and spoke to the Nine-Tails inside him. "Kurama?"

The Nine-Tails answered in a tone of delighted amusement. "Now you think to ask?"

Naruto's expression turned grim as he asked heavily, "How many people are watching this place?"

Kurama chuckled inside Naruto. "Five. Four are in one group, and there's also your Captain Yamato."

Naruto cursed inwardly. This damn third test really had been tailor-made for him.

No wonder the ANBU had run into him of all places.

This was plainly a remake of the test Hiruzen Sarutobi had used on Itachi Uchiha and Shisui back then!

On one side, Root would directly erase traitors for the sake of the village. On the other, the ANBU would submit the intelligence and let Hiruzen Sarutobi handle it with his whole love-and-redemption routine.

Put simply, they wanted to see which side Naruto leaned toward so they could decide how to deal with him in the future.

Once he understood that, Naruto was speechless. Is that old Hiruzen Sarutobi senile or something? I'm only seven years old.

Then he remembered that Itachi Uchiha had apparently been tested at this age too. Naruto was completely relieved now. As long as he made his stance clear, he did not need to worry about his life being in danger at all.

At first, he had considered revealing his Sharingan to save Uzuki Yugao and play the hero rescuing a beauty. Now it seemed there was no such thing as a hero rescuing a beauty. Sure enough, grown women were all liars.

And if the secret of his Sharingan was exposed, neither Hiruzen Sarutobi nor Danzo would likely spare him.

At that thought, Naruto could not help cursing at the Nine-Tails. "Fuck you, Kurama. You almost got me killed."

The Nine-Tails mocked him sarcastically in his mind. "Who told you to use me to pick up girls? As you would say, don't mistake a bun for nothing. I'm the mighty Nine-Tails, yet all I do for you is this kind of degrading work. Besides, wouldn't exposure be even better? Weren't you planning to subdue the Akatsuki and become a rogue ninja anyway?"

Naruto rolled his eyes furiously. "I need equal strength to subdue the Akatsuki! If I went at my current level, I'd just be serving myself up on a platter!"

Well, what luck. He had been worrying that the Nine-Tails would be the hardest to capture, yet it had delivered itself right to his doorstep.

But now that he knew this whole scene had been staged specifically for him by Hiruzen Sarutobi, Naruto was no longer worried in the slightest.

He suddenly shouted at the three Root agents, "Shut up! I live and die with Lord Hokage! If you want to kill her, you'll have to get past me first! Gate of Life, open!"

Naruto roared, his entire body flushing red as green chakra steamed from him. Before the three Root agents could react, he charged straight at them to kill.

The three Root agents: "???"

"What the fuck!"