Leaving Konoha

"This Cursed Seal was developed a long time ago, though of course, it wasn't as effective as it is now..."

"Do you remember when Danzo to assassinate you? I was the one who didn't use the Cursed Seal at the last moment, allowing you to live until now."

Kato Osamu spoke quietly, without any intention of taking credit, but Minato Namikaze's gaze sharpened. He recalled the scene back then; if he hadn't used the Flying Thunder God, he would most likely have died.

"Danzo may hate me to the core, but his primary target has always been you. Konoha may seem peaceful and tranquil, but it actually hides many unknown secrets."

"I think you understand that I'm no longer fit to stay in Konoha. If I hadn't fought with all my might to achieve my current strength, I would have been reduced to ashes long ago. Minato Namikaze, you can't save anyone now."

Even if you become Hokage, there will still be many things you can't do.

"Don't even think about refuting anything. Obito Uchiha is dead, Rin is dead. If you can't even protect your own disciple, then stop spouting nonsense about protecting everyone in Konoha. I'm afraid you'll die in Konoha without even knowing who did it."

"And another, and most importantly..."

Gone was the casualness of before; Kato Osamu's gaze now held a hint of seriousness. He gave a cold snort, slowly pulled a scroll from his robes, gently stroked it in his hand, and placed it beside Minato Namikaze.

"I am now entrusting Rin's remains to you. Although I am reluctant to do this, I know this is what she would have wanted. She is a hero of Konoha and should be buried in the Martyrs' Cemetery."

Minato Namikaze took the scroll and stared at it blankly for a long time without saying a word. He already knew about Rin's death, but at this moment the scroll in his hand felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. Rin's smile seemed to appear before his eyes, and his eyes involuntarily reddened.

"You can't protect anyone around you. If I continue to follow you, I'll inevitably end up like Lin, dead..."

Kato Osamu stared into Minato Namikaze's eyes. Sometimes he really didn't understand what Minato Namikaze was thinking.

War inevitably results in death, Kato Osamu understands this. But for him, others can die, but his loved ones cannot. This is probably the biggest difference between him and Minato Namikaze. Given the opportunity, he would rather overturn the table, while Minato Namikaze would not.

"Xu, you're always so calm... so calm, as if you've never left the Root..."

"Rin, she's a good girl. She and Obito Uchiha are both inheritors of the Will of Fire..."

Hearing Kato Osamu's almost emotionless voice, a struggle flashed across Minato Namikaze's face, which was tinged with grief. He had detailed information about the mission; he knew that Rin had been killed by Kato Osamu. Although there were reasons for it, it still made him feel a chill.

"The Consciousness of Fire... a brilliant tactic. The Third is a competent politician."

Kato Osamu chuckled softly, a hint of mockery in his eyes as he Minato Namikaze, his voice drifting eerily through the forest, causing Minato Namikaze's eyes to widen in disbelief.

"The Will of Fire always selects those who do not believe in the Will of Fire."

"This is a selection process based on intelligence. Only those who don't believe it have the slightest qualification to peek into the true veil of power."

"True elites not only don't believe it, but they also pretend to believe it wholeheartedly, and even use such methods to deceive others, just like our most 'dear' Third Hiruzen Sarutobi..."

"Those with a bit of cleverness won't believe it; instead, they'll criticize it. But without real strength, it's utterly suicidal. I believe there aren't many people like that left in Konoha..."

"Most of the people of Konoha genuinely believe in this narrative and even strive to put it into practice."

But perhaps it's not so bad; ignorance is bliss. The smarter people are, the less happy they are...

Kato Osamu's words seemed to have touched a Minato Namikaze, and his eyes sharpened. To say that he had never thought about it might be a slight to Minato Namikaze, but he would control himself and not think about these things any deeper.

Minato Namikaze watched Kato Osamu silently, his voice growing increasingly low.

"Osamu, have you never loved the village? Konoha is our home..."

Minato Namikaze understood what he meant, and he realized that Kato Osamu was preparing to leave Konoha, but he still couldn't help but ask, because he didn't want Kato Osamu to leave Konoha like this and become a missing-nin.

Kato Osamu chuckled softly, then remained silent for a long while, his thoughts drifting off somewhere.

"After all, this is where I grew up, so naturally I love this land..."

"But I hate blind loyalty even more... I'm probably too smart. I can't be loyal to any regime. People like me are the most disliked because I always question everything and harbor some prejudice against those in power."

"I'm just an ordinary citizen, I'm afraid of dying..."

"The Third cannot be wrong, and the village cannot be wrong. In order to maintain the Third's authority and to further ensure the loyalty of the ninjas, if the Third admits that he is wrong, and if the village admits that it is wrong, then no one will shout 'Trust the village,' and doubts will gradually emerge from their minds."

"So the end result is that the blindly loyal don't think the village can make mistakes, and the wise dare not point out the village's mistakes. Even if the village is wrong, it will never admit it. Everyone lives in a hypocritical 'prosperity'."

"But as long as they are human, they will make mistakes. As long as they are human, they cannot be omniscient or omnipotent. In the end, they will also make mistakes."

Moreover, if the village is not mistaken, then the first nation in the history of this continent should have maintained its rule until now. After all, the people of the first nation once deeply believed in their country."

"So, Minato Namikaze..."

"Is the village really not the problem? If someone is in such a painful environment, wouldn't leaving be the best option?"

"My very existence is a mistake. I should have been weak and treated like a 'beast,' or better yet, I should have become the most obedient sword under Shimura Danzō, one of the village's wills. My only mistake was having my own ideas."

"I am no longer a worthy successor to the 'Will of Fire,' and therefore I should be eliminated..."

As he spoke, Kato Osamu couldn't help but chuckle, seemingly mocking himself for talking so much with Minato Namikaze.

"Sometimes, the biggest difference between people lies in this: we stand so close, yet we seem to be from two different worlds. This is the biggest difference between us, and the saddest thing is that you don't even understand what I'm saying."

"If one day we meet again, we may fight side by side or become enemies, but that is my own choice..."

"Perhaps, no matter how long a person lives, it is meaningful to think about the value of their existence and their life, after all, each of us can only live once."

Minato Namikaze frowned deeply as he looked at Kato Osamu and said, "Then why can't you stay in the village and use your own power to change everything there, to make it the way you want it to be..."

"Why choose to leave, if you love this land..."

"Can you protect me? Or do I need to be constantly on guard against Root's attacks, never daring to let my guard down for a moment? Or do you want to see me wreak havoc in Konoha?"

"I can even imagine that if I were to return to Konoha, countless attacks, both overt and covert, would be aimed at me. I'm not even sure if I could leave Konoha's gates. So, would you fight the Third to protect a subordinate?"

"I'm telling you, Minato Namikaze!"

"I! Kato Osamu! I don't want to kneel anymore!"

"Do you understand, Minato Namikaze?!"

"The Lord Third wouldn't..."

"Stop talking! Minato Namikaze!"

"This is the end for you and me. All ties are severed, all grudges are wiped clean, there is neither gratitude nor enmity..."

"Next time we meet, I won't hold back, and I hope you won't either..."

Kato Osamu chuckled softly, saying nothing more. Minato Namikaze looked at Kato Osamu, wanting to persuade him to stay but unable to speak. He seemed to have never truly understood the deepest thoughts in this subordinate's heart...

The night wind howled past, ruffling their hair. The moonlight, deep and still, shone on their figures as they ventured deeper into the forest. A hazy mist began to dissipate slowly, until it completely separated the two figures, leaving no trace of entanglement between them.

Sensing the Cursed Seal that had vanished without a trace within his body, Minato Namikaze did not pursue. However, the emotions in his eyes grew even more complex, and he unconsciously gripped the scroll in his hand tighter and tighter. He had failed to protect his disciple; he couldn't blame anyone else...

His face was a mask of complex emotions. He stood there, stunned, until the night was deep and all sound seemed to have vanished. Only then did he exhale a soft breath, a relieved smile slowly spreading across his face. He waved gently in the direction where no one was left...

"Let's go, Xu..."

"This is probably the path you'll have to take..."

P. S.: Bros., if you think this is okay, please help me promote it. Earning 2 yuan a day is really tough.