For Your Own Good

I Am Doing This For Your Own Good

Echoes of Naruto's shouts rang in his ears. Malice surged continuously in Sasuke's heart, but on the surface, he still looked compassionate. "Naruto, you really might die after becoming a ninja!"

"In all these years at the Ninja Academy, you couldn't even memorize the most basic Ninja Code. You were always at the bottom of the class every year, and you didn't even pass the graduation exam. I don't know how you pulled strings to get a ninja headband, or how you learned the Advanced Clone Technique. I don't think you possess the basic qualifications to become a ninja."

"Someone like you! It's really easy for you to lose your life in future missions. I can't just stand by and watch you march to your death. It's still a bit too early for you to become a ninja. Don't get me wrong, I'm not targeting you. I'm doing this all for your own good!"

"Even if I have to go back to the Ninja Academy with you to retake the courses, and even if you resent or hate me, it doesn't matter. I will definitely stop you from becoming a ninja! This is taking responsibility for your life, and also taking responsibility for my own life. Naruto, I'm really doing this for your own good. Do you understand my good intentions?"

Naruto had a complete mental breakdown from Sasuke's words. "I'm the man who's going to be Hokage! Giving up my life for my ideal is nothing at all. I've had that resolve for a long time. What right do you have to stop me?!"

A cold sneer flashed in the depths of Sasuke's eyes. In his mental space, black Qi swirled, twisting to a degree that was too grotesque to look at. What he had just said was simply replacing the words that [Naruto] had said to [Sasuke] at the Valley of the End in the manga.

Everyone had different ideals and purposes, and the actions they took for those reasons varied as well. [Sasuke]'s purpose had always been very clear: get stronger -> take out Itachi -> destroy Konoha. He had sufficient reasons for doing these things, and he could accept the price he had to pay.

Back in Orochimaru's underground lair, [Sasuke] had asked [Naruto]: "Isn't your dream to become a ninja? Why are you so obsessed with me?"

[Naruto] had said: "If you can't even save a comrade, you have no qualifications to become Hokage!"

Moved?

Heh.

Sasuke's heart was filled with nothing but resentment. His ideals and beliefs were different from Naruto's, and both of them had the resolve to give their lives. Why should [Naruto] point fingers at [Sasuke]'s choice? Why must [Sasuke] obey [Naruto]'s thoughts and return to Konoha? Did [Sasuke] have to let go of his clan-annihilation hatred and happily act like a dog for Konoha to make everyone satisfied?

Moral kidnapping was truly disgusting, but if you were the one kidnapping others, that was a different story. Sasuke's emotions at this moment were very pleasant. Doing whatever he wanted under the banner of "I'm doing this for your own good"—it felt great!

Sasuke ignored Naruto, turned his head to look at Kakashi, and said, "Kakashi-sensei, I think you need to consider my viewpoint. I'm really doing this for Naruto's good. Given his condition, he shouldn't have graduated from the academy in the first place."

Kakashi lowered his head and pondered for a moment. "I'll report the situation to Lord Hokage and let the Hokage decide personally."

He kept his words ambiguous. After all, Naruto's identity was unusual, and retaking the academy was out of the question, but Kakashi didn't want to face Sasuke head-on either, so he passed the buck to the Third.

"Alright, that's it for today. Dismissed!" With a poof, Kakashi released his Shadow Clone and vanished.

Seeing this, Sasuke also released his Shadow Clone, too lazy to even keep up appearances. Only Sakura and Naruto were left staring at each other in place. Were they seriously the only two in the entire Team 7 attending class properly?

Receiving the memories of the Shadow Clone, the real Sasuke's face wore a mysterious smile. "I really am malicious and petty."

"These are all fine virtues. Happiness built on the misfortune of others is true happiness. Please keep up the hard work!" Black Shadow offered a wave of blessings.

"Tch. To be honest, I'm a bit jealous of Naruto. Not only was I surpassed and defeated by him, but even Itachi acknowledged him. No matter how I think about it, I'm filled with unwillingness! That's why every time I see Naruto, I always can't quite help myself." Sasuke's tone was flat, as if Itachi could no longer make his emotions fluctuate.

"Alright, little Sasuke, actually you don't need to struggle with this. When Naruto chose not to listen to the lecture seriously and graduated through unconventional means, he should have prepared himself to bear the consequences. Graduated by pulling strings—does he really not allow others to speak out?" Black Shadow laughed as he spoke. He suddenly recalled his experiences in a certain entertainment plane. Those top-tier celebrities frequently suffered scandals, and fans would desperately try to muzzle people and suppress the news, calling the truth mere slander!

The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous it was.

Human nature was neither rational nor objective, much like fans' blind favoritism toward idols. What seemed like logical analysis was actually just subjective assertion. To those who liked Naruto, everything he did was right; yet in the eyes of a little hater like Sasuke, even breathing was wrong.

"Kakashi has become a double agent, hasn't he?" Sasuke suddenly changed the subject.

Black Shadow nodded. "Ninjas are thoroughly domesticated, with an extreme degree of subservience. There is a cheapness etched into their very bones. The Daimyo personally summoned Kakashi, and he switched sides without much hesitation."

"No, no, no. This doesn't have much to do with subservience. Is there any possibility that Kakashi himself is deeply dissatisfied with Konoha?" Sasuke put forward this perspective.

"Perhaps." Black Shadow didn't care about Kakashi's mindset. Anyway, he had left a backup plan; from start to finish, Kakashi had only one choice.

In the Hokage's Office, Kakashi was reporting to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Team 7 is not very harmonious?"

"That's right, Third Lord. The other two members of Team 7 have some communication barriers with Naruto."

"I know. Thank you for your hard work, Kakashi."

"Third Lord."

"Hmm? Is there something else?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, puzzled.

"Sasuke said some things yesterday, and I think they make a lot of sense. Naruto's personality really doesn't resemble that of a ninja. Given his identity, why not wait a little longer? We have plenty of time." Kakashi tried hard to find reasonable excuses. He was also doing this to protect Naruto; Konoha was about to face turmoil, and it would be best for Naruto to keep a low profile rather than standing out, which would be more favorable for him to integrate into a new collective in the future.

Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep puff from his pipe. "A new storm has already appeared, Kakashi. The Shinobi World is currently in chaos—not the chaos brought by war, but rather, due to some incomprehensible reasons, the new generation of every village is stepping onto the stage one after another.

"Under the tide of the era, if you fall behind by even a single step, you will fall behind in every step. Kumogakure's Eight-Tails is already a perfect Jinchuriki, and the Two-Tails is approaching that level as well. For Konoha's Will of Fire, and also to deal with the impending crisis, Naruto needs to grow up."

Kakashi opened his mouth to speak, but stopped. In the end, he said nothing, turned around, and left the Hokage's Office.

A new storm? Heh, this wasn't an ordinary crisis, but rather... an extinction-level disaster!