novelraw Chapter 68 Dark Clouds
Chapter 68 Dark Clouds
The moonlight outside the tent gradually dimmed.
Kakashi sat at the table, the tea in front of him long since cold, reflecting his tired and bewildered face.
After Obito left, only silence remained in the tent.
Kakashi sighed softly and turned to look at Naruto, who was sleeping peacefully in the next tent.
He certainly knows what he is doing.
Despite being a Konoha ninja, he was actually assisting his former best friend Obito, pushing the ninja world step by step toward the abyss of destruction.
This contradictory behavior tormented Kakashi's heart constantly, making it difficult for him to bear the pain of being devoured by a thousand ants whenever he recalled it.
He didn't really want the ninja world to be destroyed.
But he also knew that what he cared about most wasn't the abstract question of the ninja world's survival, but rather the comrades he valued...
Obito and himself are, in essence, the loneliest people in the world.
They should understand and support each other, and even help each other unconditionally, even if it leads to self-destruction.
This extreme and twisted obsession may stem from the curse of Uchiha Abyss's eerie Sharingan.
Even so, Kakashi did not feel any real rejection or resistance deep down. Instead, he gradually accepted this state and even integrated it into his heart.
However, this contradictory state is not simply one of comfort and ease.
Another intense sense of guilt was also constantly tormenting Kakashi.
As the Hokage's most trusted subordinate, he betrayed the Third Hokage and Konoha deep down.
He could clearly feel the sting of this betrayal, and this guilt tormented his heart, making it difficult for him to sleep at night.
They could have been completely brainwashed and manipulated, forced to forget their past, and even carried out their plan to destroy the ninja world without any guilt...
Why do I have to keep myself in this abnormally clear-headed state?
Why must he be made to clearly understand what he is doing and clearly feel the torment of this betrayal and guilt?
Kakashi sometimes really wants to question the power behind all of this...
If you're going to control me, why not do it more thoroughly?
Why force me to carry out all this while I'm still conscious, under such torment?
But whenever this thought arose, Obito's face would appear in his mind...
"To create an ideal world where only Rin exists..."
Just as he was caught in deep turmoil and self-blame, Naruto's groggy voice suddenly came from the other side of the tent:
"Kakashi-nii-san..."
Kakashi snapped out of his daze, quickly got up, and went to Naruto's tent.
He knelt down and gently covered Naruto, who was still asleep, with the blanket...
Looking at the child's innocent yet stubborn face, my heart softened instantly.
The tenderness and concern in his eyes were perhaps only revealed without reservation when he was facing Naruto.
Naruto, the child burdened with the identity of a Jinchūriki and ostracized by the village...
Kakashi was both gratified and heartbroken by Kakashi's unwavering commitment to his dreams and future.
Perhaps besides Obito, Naruto is Kakashi's deepest concern.
In this cold and cruel ninja world, what Kakashi cherishes and protects are always his comrades.
Obito, Rin... and the teacher... and the teacher's child...
His own father, Hatake Sakumo, was forced to end his life by the village's higher-ups because he chose to protect his comrades over his mission.
But Kakashi doesn't resent anyone.
Whether it was the Third Hokage or the village's higher-ups, it was because he understood...
Such a tragedy is not the fault of any one person, but rather the result of the deeply ingrained laws and rules that have been formed in this ninja world over thousands of years.
The only way to change the cruel rules of this cannibalistic ninja world is to become Hokage.
It was this simple and pure idea that was the true source of Kakashi's desire to become Hokage, born from the depths of his heart.
He longed to stand at the very top of the ninja world and use his status and authority as Hokage to truly change this twisted world.
Protect your companions and cherish life, so that everyone can live for those they cherish, instead of being forced to make the cruelest choices by ruthless rules.
In essence, how is this any different from Obito's desire to create a world where Rin is still alive?
Although the two chose different paths, in Kakashi's eyes, the essence they were pursuing was the same.
Therefore, he was able to navigate through such intense contradictions and struggles...
On one hand, he was clearly aware that he was betraying the village, his teacher, and his own identity; on the other hand, he resolutely embarked on the path of cooperating with Obito and even heading towards the destruction of the ninja world.
Naruto... if this world could really start over...
I hope you can truly choose your own path, instead of being bound by so-called fate...
Kakashi murmured softly, his voice low and gentle, his eyes filled with deep sorrow and helplessness.
At this moment, he may feel conflicted and pained, but he has never regretted his choice.
A true reflection of the soul is never about constraint, but about seeing one's true nature...
Perhaps this is what you, Uchiha Gen, really wanted?
Inside the Temple of Fire, the candlelight flickered weakly, illuminating the empty hall.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke sat alone in front of the Buddha statue.
He gazed at the ancient and solemn Buddha statue before him.
Asuma and Jiraiya have already returned to Konoha Village, and now Shinnosuke is solely responsible for all affairs of the Daimyo's residence and the Fire Temple.
Although he had many tasks, he knew in his heart that these trivial matters were not the real burden on his mind.
What truly weighs heavily on his heart is the enormous upheaval the ninja world is currently facing.
The complete raid on the Daimyo's residence caused a shock that quickly swept across the entire ninja world.
This unprecedented upheaval in the Land of Fire has aroused high vigilance and unease among other countries.
Currently, the daimyo of the Land of Lightning, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Wind are strongly urging their respective ninja villages to force Konoha to stop this dangerous action by force, and even attempting to start a new round of the Shinobi World War.
As for the Land of Water...
The only water country to remain silent was actually caused by a violent upheaval within Kirigakure (Hidden Mist Village)...
The uncontrollable chaos within the Blood Mist Village began some time ago...
A group of wandering ninjas stormed into the Daimyo's residence in the Land of Water, slaughtering the Daimyo's family and a large number of high-ranking nobles.
The upper echelons of the Water Kingdom collapsed almost overnight.
With a large number of bloodline families being slaughtered during this period, the Land of Water is in extreme chaos.
In contrast, although the daimyo of the Land of Fire was in dire straits, he ultimately managed to save his life.
Therefore, the only countries truly leading the pressure on Konoha now are the Land of Lightning, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Earth.
Strangely, neither Kumogakure, Sunagakure, nor Iwagakure took any immediate and substantial action.
Despite the immense pressure from the various daimyo, the three great ninja villages all displayed extraordinary calmness and caution.
The shadows of each village are all awaiting the upcoming Five Shadows Conference...
They await a clear answer from Konoha.
In the ninja world today, everyone vaguely senses the impending cataclysmic crisis.
The oppressive fear made all the ninja villages wary, and none of them wanted to be the first to start a war, thus putting themselves in an even more passive position.
Everything before him was beyond Shinnosuke's control.
He was just an ordinary Jonin. Although he came from the Sarutobi clan, he was not his father.
I felt incredibly small and helpless.
On this silent and oppressive night, Shinnosuke sat alone in front of the Buddha statue, his heart filled with increasing struggle and confusion.
He looked up at the quietly standing Buddha statue. Though it was merely a calm, cold, and silent stone statue, it seemed to emanate some strange power and magic, stirring a subtle hope within Shinnosuke's heart...
He actually hoped to find the answer to his inner desires in the lifeless Buddha statue in front of him.
Despite the lack of any response, the Buddha statue seemed to be gazing at Shinnosuke with an invisible power, gradually instilling in him a feeling of indescribable fear and awe.
"Can you really give me an answer...?"
Shinnosuke muttered to himself, his eyes filled with deep confusion and exhaustion.
At this moment, the candlelight suddenly trembled slightly, as if a subtle current of air was slowly flowing through the hall.
Shinnosuke felt a chill on his neck, his heart suddenly raced, and his gaze returned to the Buddha statue's eyes.
In that instant, he almost felt the Buddha statue's gaze suddenly change, becoming more profound and cold, as if peering through his soul and into every secret and fear deep within his heart.