Naruto's Defection

The flirtatious Fū soon became a stone statue.

Naruto licked his lips with a cold smile, then looked toward the direction Hinata had fled. Irritation rose in him again.

"Forget it. I'm going to find Hinata and get an answer, even if I have to use Genjutsu."

Once Naruto made up his mind, he raced toward Hinata.

The so-called Earth Maze could not slow him down. Whenever earth or stone blocked his path, a wave of his hand reduced it to powder, and he passed straight through.

Before long, he found Hinata again.

Hinata had joined Kurenai Yuhi, Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and Void, the young monk. Together, they were fighting Kazuma.

Kazuma was even stronger than Asuma Sarutobi, and he held his own against the four of them.

Naruto arrived just as Kazuma was about to kill Hinata with his staff.

Naruto flashed in front of her. In an instant, the Heavenly Thunder Sword pierced Kazuma's abdomen, and the lightning coursing through it left his entire body paralyzed.

Kazuma stared in disbelief at the tall, powerfully built young man before him. The numbness spreading through his body filled him with shock.

Then Naruto kicked him away. Kazuma slammed into a massive boulder, his strength rapidly draining. His vision blurred. He was at death's door.

His two subordinates, Fudō and Fuen, hurried to his side and carried him away. Kurenai Yuhi immediately gave chase.

After kicking Kazuma away, Naruto paid him no more attention. Instead, he caught Hinata before she could follow Kurenai Yuhi and looked at her earnestly.

"Hinata, can't you tell me why?"

Hinata kept her head lowered and said nothing.

Kurenai Yuhi and the others glanced back at Naruto and Hinata, then continued their pursuit.

"Then don't blame me, Hinata."

As Naruto spoke, his eyes suddenly became