Naruto Uzumaki is a Rogue Ninja

After everyone left, the spot where Pakkun had been lying became visible. A puddle of yellowish water marked where Pakkun had peed himself in fear. Right next to the puddle, a giant pitcher plant emerged from the ground.

"Ugh... what's this smell! It stinks!"

"Why did you have to pop out where the dog peed..."

"You can't blame me for this!"

"Plop—!"

A heavy object fell into the water, and the moment it made contact, it was like a red-hot iron thrown into water.

"Sizzle—!"

Fierce steam rose, and fish killed by the instantly boiling hot water floated to the surface, belly up.

"Naruto!"

"Naruto!"

Yakushi Nonō and Mikoto Uchiha anxiously watched Naruto, whose skin had been evaporated by the Nine-Tails' chakra, revealing raw flesh. A Tailed Beast Cloak formed by Nine-Tails chakra enveloped her, and her skin rapidly regenerated.

Naruto slowly opened her eyes and saw the two looking at her with concern. She glanced around.

"Hyuga... Clan member? Where are they?"

"Over there."

Mikoto Uchiha pointed at Haruki Hyuga floating on the water not far away.

"Quick... get him out of here. With Kakashi's ninja hounds, they'll catch up soon." Naruto leaned weakly into Mikoto Uchiha's embrace, her eyes filled with exhaustion.

"Naruto, you're too reckless!"

The Nine-Tails' eyes, controlling Naruto's body, stared intently at her face. A small tail behind the eyeballs twitched restlessly as the Nine-Tails glared at Naruto.

Naruto opened her mouth, wanting to cry out in pain, but she was too exhausted to do so now. She didn't even want to move, feeling like her body was falling apart.

"Sorry, Nine-Tails, for making you worry. But this was the only way to escape. I couldn't just abandon them..."

"Don't let it happen again!"

"Mhm..."

Mikoto Uchiha, holding Naruto as if she were asleep, ran towards the shore, treading on the water as if it were solid ground. "I'll leave that Hyuga Clan member to you, Nonō! I'm taking Naruto ahead."

"Ah... sigh... I wanted to hold Naruto too..."

Yakushi Nonō reached out, watching Mikoto Uchiha's retreating back, and sighed helplessly. She then grabbed Haruki Hyuga by the collar, slung him over her shoulder, and chased after them.

Led by the ninja hound Pakkun, Kakashi and his companions quickly arrived at the scene. Pakkun sniffed the air.

"That way!"

Pakkun detected a faint scent left behind by Naruto's fall into the water, which had diluted the trail.

Pakkun, landing on the shore, immediately smelled the scent of burning paper. Looking down, his dog eyes widened as if they would pop out of his sockets. Just as an explosive tag was about to detonate, a log extended from behind, forming a shield in front of Pakkun.

"Boom—!"

"I can't believe they planted explosive tags here..." Pakkun, having narrowly escaped, looked gratefully at Yamato. "As thanks, I'll let you feel my paw pads!"

"I'll pass..."

Not wanting to touch the paw pads of Pakkun, who had the face of an old man, Yamato took several steps back.

"Alright, Pakkun, keep chasing! We have to rescue Haruki Hyuga before they do anything to him!"

Miles away, Yakushi Nonō, hearing the explosion, glanced in the direction of the blast.

"The explosive tags were triggered. I think they'll catch up soon."

"Konoha ninjas are so persistent..."

Naruto opened her tired eyes, annoyance flickering in her blue irises. Seeing Haruki Hyuga on Yakushi Nonō's shoulder, she pouted. "I think they're chasing us to rescue him."

"Stop..."

Yakushi Nonō and Mikoto Uchiha stopped upon hearing Naruto's words. Naruto stood up, her small body swaying, and Mikoto Uchiha caught her just in time.

"I'm fine..."

A brilliant smile appeared on Naruto's pale face.

"I just want to give the Konoha ninjas a choice. Nonō, help me pry open his eyes..."

Haruki Hyuga, who had long since woken up and was pretending to be unconscious, immediately opened his eyes and glared at Naruto.

"What do you want to do to me!?"

"Of course... I'm going to dig out your eyes~!"

"Let go of me!"

Haruki Hyuga struggled violently, trying to release chakra from his pressure points to break free from Yakushi Nonō's restraint. However, Yakushi Nonō swiftly used a Chakra Scalpel to sever his tendons, rendering him a cripple who could only move his head.

"Naruto..."

Mikoto Uchiha closed her eyes in pain as she saw Naruto's fingers reaching for Haruki Hyuga's eyes.

"You should understand what Konoha Village did to your Uchiha clan, shouldn't you?"

"Konoha Village sent people to capture me, wasn't it just for the Nine-Tails sealed within me... They should have also considered what I would do to the people they sent..."

Naruto's finger slowly extended towards Haruki Hyuga's eyes. Watching the approaching finger, Haruki Hyuga twisted his body, trying to get away from Naruto. The grown man let out a terrified scream like a little girl.

"No! No! Ah—!!!"

Naruto's finger plunged into Haruki Hyuga's eye. Seeing Haruki Hyuga wailing in pain, Naruto knew that having one's eyes gouged out while alive must be an indescribable agony.

A chilling, brilliant smile spread across Naruto's face, her eyes filled with madness. The ferocity in her brows sent a shiver down Nonō Yakushi and Mikoto Uchiha's spines.

With a sinister grin, Naruto forcefully yanked, tearing Haruki Hyuga's eye out. The blood that spurted from the empty socket stained Naruto's pale face crimson.