Naruto Uzumaki is a Rogue Ninja

Naruto looked at the Anbu surrounding her, or more accurately, the members of Root, and a smile curved her lips. A sinister grin.

If she did nothing, she'd be taken to Danzō again. Enough! She was truly fed up! She was sick of Konoha Village! Sick of Danzō! Sick of Konoha. Tch!

"Oh? What does he want with me now?"

Sensing the strange aura emanating from Naruto, someone spoke up to stop her, "Naruto Uzumaki, you'd best not resist, or we will apprehend you under the charge of betraying Konoha."

"Betraying Konoha? Ha? Then I'll betray Konoha just like you say!" Naruto covered her face and laughed maniacally. Ferocious red chakra erupted from her body, enveloping her like an outer garment.

A chilling wind blew across the Anbu's faces. Their expressions beneath their masks were grim. They never expected that a casual remark would become the key to triggering Naruto's rampage, and make her decisively decide to leave Konoha, and to cause a scene!

"Nine-Tails, let's make a scene!"

"Roar! I've been waiting!"

The Nine-Tails bared its fangs in a ferocious grin, continuously pouring red chakra into Naruto's body.

The Nine-Tails' hatred for Konoha had always been strong. Coupled with how badly Danzō had harmed Naruto last time, its hatred for Konoha could be said to be ingrained in its very bones. It had been waiting for Naruto's words for a long time!

The blood that had been dormant within her suddenly became hot, excited! Like a steam engine that hadn't been fueled in a long time suddenly starting up! That long-lost feeling!

This was the feeling of being fired up!

The Nine-Tails' chakra enveloped Naruto, forming a fox-shaped chakra cloak. A tail swished behind Naruto's butt.

"Nine-Tails, you're too excited!"

Naruto could feel the Nine-Tails' boiling emotions.

"But... this feeling isn't bad."

Naruto grinned sinisterly.

Her lips turned black, her teeth became sharper, the whisker-like markings on her face slightly burst, and her cute face gained a wild edge.

"Because I've waited a long time."

"Sorry, for making you wait."

"Naruto, with your current body, the limit is three tails. You can't use my chakra for long periods, or it will put too much of a burden on your body, understand?"

The Nine-Tails grinned, nagging Naruto like an old mother.

Naruto casually agreed. How could Naruto, who was already enraged by Root, care about such trivial matters! What she needed to do now was to vent the anger and hatred that had been suppressed within her for so long!

Her blood-red eyes, with their slitted pupils, stared at them with intense killing intent. The chilling killing aura formed a palpable cold wind that blew on their faces.

"What is this red chakra?!"

"The chakra has actually formed a cloak outside her body!"

Naruto dropped to all fours, her face contorted in a ferocious grimace. Her fangs became even sharper under the influence of the Nine-Tails' chakra. With a roar, chakra-formed projectiles flew out, hitting the Anbu who couldn't dodge in time.

Naruto charged at them. The cloak formed by the Nine-Tails' chakra seemed to have a will of its own. It grabbed two Anbu, slammed them together heavily, and its tail swept the remaining Anbu to the ground.

Naruto walked forward, removed one Anbu's mask, and the hand formed by the Nine-Tails' chakra opened his mouth. After seeing the mark on his tongue, Naruto looked at the fallen Anbu with a somber expression.

"There's... no turning back now."

The blood-red chakra tail elongated, like a candied haw on a skewer, piercing through the bodies of the unconscious Anbu, leaving no survivors.

"Nice mask. It's mine now."

The chakra covering her body returned to her internal reserves. Naruto put on the mask of a Root member, and her blood-stained hands smeared it, leaving five bloody streaks.

"It smells… foul…"

Naruto frowned in disgust. Just as she was about to take off the mask, she sensed someone approaching.

"Naruto…?"

Seeing the mask with the blood streaks on Naruto's face and the corpses of Root Anbu on the ground, Kakashi's eyes widened in shock. What could have happened to make Naruto kill them and become so frenzied?

"What is it! It's Kakashi! You're late~!" Naruto laughed maniacally, spreading her arms wide as if surprised. She took off the mask and threw it on the ground, then stomped on it, crushing it.

"Naruto, what exactly happened?"

Why would Root members come to capture Naruto? What unknown events had transpired? Or was Danzō still plotting something against Naruto?

Kakashi looked at Naruto seriously, hoping to get an answer from her. However, Naruto, who had already decided to leave Konoha immediately, had no intention of talking with Kakashi at length.

"They wanted to take me away, and I killed them because I didn't want to go~!"

Naruto casually kicked a corpse on the ground.

"Kakashi, I'm leaving Konoha next. If you want to stop me, then try!"

Thick blood-red chakra enveloped Naruto's body, transforming into a flying bird that broke through the roof, leaving Kakashi stunned in place.

Chapter 17: Don't Stop Me (1/2)

"Naruto—!!!"

Kakashi, who had snapped back to attention, shouted Naruto's name, pushed up the forehead protector covering his left eye, and chased after the red bird flying in the sky.

Why? Why would the teacher's child ultimately choose this path! What had happened! What could have possibly happened to force that child to choose to leave Konoha?

"Naruto, he's catching up!" The Nine-Tails, through its chakra eyes acting like a mini-wingman, assisted Naruto and spotted Kakashi pursuing them.

"As expected... but what can Kakashi do even if he catches up? I won't change my mind about what I've decided. Besides, I killed so many of Danzō's subordinates. Even if the Third Hokage wanted to protect me, I doubt he'd have the power to do so. And besides, the Third Hokage might not even protect me..."

"That old man, to put it bluntly, is a failed Hokage. So many dark and inhumane things happened under Konoha's shadow, and he knew nothing? Really..."

"Raikiri!"

Before Naruto could finish speaking, she was startled by Kakashi, who suddenly charged over. Kakashi's hand flashed with dazzling lightning as he moved at incredible speed, severing the wings of the red bird.

"Kakashi, I told you, don't stop me!"

Naruto, who had landed on the ground, glared fiercely at Kakashi, who stood blocking her path, her eyes blood red.

"Naruto, please tell me what happened, okay?"