Naruto Uzumaki Is a Rogue Ninja

Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine. A pale-skinned man with long hair, wearing a yellow robe, walked over from a distance. Notably, he had a pair of snake-like golden eyes.

"Orochimaru of the Sannin... what is your purpose here?" The moment he saw Orochimaru, Shisui Uchiha activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, staring intently at him.

"Don't misunderstand, I mean no harm."

Orochimaru tried to force a kind smile, but his effeminate appearance and snake-like eyes made it impossible to feel any kindness from him. Instead, it gave people a chilling sensation.

"I received word that your Uchiha clan has seceded from Konoha. How about it, want to join my Otogakure?"

"Sorry, our Uchiha clan has no intention of joining any ninja village."

Fugaku Uchiha, leaning against a tree trunk to rest, opened his eyes and looked at Orochimaru, rejecting his invitation.

"Is that so... then don't blame me!"

"Many Hidden Serpents Technique!"

Orochimaru's kind smile turned into a ferocious grin. Just as he was about to unleash his ninjutsu to attack the Uchiha clan, Orochimaru found himself unable to move. The world turned black and white.

"This is Genjutsu!"

"That's right! Orochimaru, you've fallen for my Genjutsu!" Shisui Uchiha slowly walked towards Orochimaru and stabbed him through the chest with a short sword.

"In the world of Genjutsu, you have no room to resist. Try to break my Genjutsu, Orochimaru!"

Shisui Uchiha's figure turned into a flock of crows, flying in the sky under a blood-red full moon. They relentlessly pecked and tore at Orochimaru's flesh, devouring him alive!

Freed from the Genjutsu, Orochimaru stood his ground, relying on his immense willpower. His body swayed slightly. Seeing Shisui Uchiha's red Sharingan, Orochimaru's body turned into a pile of mud and he disappeared.

Several miles away, a disheveled Orochimaru leaned against a tree trunk, sweat pouring down his face like rain.

As one of the Sannin, Orochimaru had never imagined he would be made so miserable by Genjutsu. Wiping the sweat from his face, Orochimaru's golden snake eyes were filled with greed.

"The Uchiha clan's Sharingan is truly legendary. I must obtain it!"

Danzō's subordinates returned to Konoha with the news of Danzō's death at Naruto's hands. Too many things had happened in the past two days: the Uchiha clan seceding from Konoha, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki defecting, Asuma Sarutobi's severe injuries, and Danzō's death.

"Hiruzen!"

Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu pushed open the door to the Hokage's office, their demeanor aggressive. Hiruzen knew they were here about Naruto's defection.

"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki must be brought back!"

Homura Mitokado slammed his hands heavily on the desk. "The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is an important war resource and cannot be allowed to leave Konoha's control. She must be brought back as soon as possible!"

"Even if we have to replace the Jinchuriki, we must bring back the Nine-Tails! Hiruzen! You must understand the significance of the Nine-Tails to Konoha!"

"I understand. Please, give me some time to think."

Faced with the pressure from the two advisors, the Third Hokage felt overwhelmed. He thought once again, should he abdicate? He felt he had been a very failed Hokage.

At this moment, those who could become the Fifth Hokage were not in Konoha. Jiraiya was wandering somewhere writing adult novels, Tsunade was somewhere indulging in gambling, and only Orochimaru, who had once aspired to be Hokage, was secretly conducting inhumane experiments and eventually became a rogue ninja...

Thinking of this, the Third Hokage felt utterly exhausted.

"Hiruzen, you must understand that Naruto has betrayed Konoha! She also severely injured your son, Asuma! And killed Danzō! Don't show her any mercy just because she's a child!" Utatane Koharu said emotionally. Her old face was flushed red with anger, and despite her age, she still had such a fiery temper.

"I know."

The Third Hokage nodded, his expression under his hat looking grim.

After the two advisors left the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage clenched his fists. After a moment of hesitation, he closed his eyes and said painfully, "Minato, forgive me... I've failed you. I'll apologize properly when I see you in the next world..."

"By my command! Summon all Jonin!"

"Yes!"

(This chapter has been revised many times, but I still can't achieve the effect I want... sigh...)

Chapter Twenty-Three: The Legendary Fat Sheep (1/2)

♂ In the Hokage's office, the Jonin were divided into two teams behind Kakashi and Haruki Hyuga of the Hyuga clan. The Third Hokage looked at them, took a deep breath, and issued his orders.

"This mission is to capture Naruto Uzumaki, who has defected from Konoha. Kakashi and Haruki Hyuga will lead the team. You must bring Naruto Uzumaki back! Even if you cannot capture her alive, you must bring back the Nine-Tails sealed within her!"

"Yes!"

Kakashi pulled down his mask. Although he was deeply shocked by the Third Hokage's orders, his expression remained unchanged. After years in the Anbu, learning to hide his emotions was the most basic of skills.

"Hey, Kakashi, I heard you had a good relationship with that Nine-Tails brat. Why do you think she defected?" a Jonin from Kakashi's team asked curiously, approaching him quietly.

"I'm also wondering why she defected."

Kakashi narrowed his eyes and fell into thought.

"Senpai, it's time to depart!"

"Yamato, stop patting my shoulder."

"Yes, Senpai!"

Yamato was temporarily transferred from the Anbu to Kakashi's team as a secret weapon prepared to capture Naruto. Having had Hashirama Senju's cells implanted, Yamato could use Wood Release ninjutsu. Although its power was not even a fraction of the First Hokage's, it could still suppress Tailed Beasts.

This was precisely why the Third Hokage had transferred Yamato from the Anbu to participate in the mission to retrieve Naruto.

Yamato had no given name; "Yamato" was merely his codename in the Anbu. He was nameless.

Unaware that Konoha had dispatched ninja to capture her, Naruto, draped in a bear hide, her slender shoulders supporting two unconscious women, walked through the village. Enduring the shocked gazes of everyone in the village, Naruto nonchalantly entered the village's general store.

After all, in Konoha, she constantly endured looks of disgust and hatred, seeing her as the Nine-Tails' embodiment. The killings committed by the controlled Nine-Tails were naturally attributed to her.

"I'm selling this bear hide."

Naruto gently set the two women down, removed the bear hide draped over her, and shook her messy golden hair.

"Ah! This is!" The general store owner, upon seeing the bear hide Naruto was selling, excitedly stroked it. His eyes gazed at it as if it were his lover, making Naruto tremble with goosebumps.

"Hey! Are you done touching it yet!"