Naruto : Gamer System-Chapter 72 : Trap

Standing on the hill, Haruto silently looked at the destruction he had caused below. The entire forest had been torn apart, replaced by a vast expanse of shattered earth and craters.

At least 300 ninja from the Hidden Cloud Village had been killed directly by him, and most of the rest were seriously injured. Many more would die indirectly because of his actions.

Haruto slowly closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

A moment later, when Haruto opened his eyes, his Sharingan had evolved into a blood-red, more powerful form—Mangekyō Sharingan.

After undergoing many transformations recently, Haruto felt he was on the verge of breaking through. After the fierce killing today and the intense emotional surge, his eyes finally evolved into this terrifying form.

"Heh, these really are ominous eyes... they evolve through battle," he muttered.

Looking up at the sun, Haruto recalled a phrase from a past life: "I bloom in the midst of killing, like a flower at dawn."

He suddenly wondered if this new cruelty was growth.

Raikage stood alone amid the battlefield, expressionless as he faced the Hidden Leaf Ninja surrounding him.

Am I going to follow my father's path?

Raikage glanced back at the remnants of his retreating forces and felt a pang of regret.

Maybe I should have accepted that kid's demands at the start... but even if I had the chance again, I wouldn't change anything. He's just too dangerous.

Suddenly, the Leaf shinobi surged forward after a moment of silence. Some tried to bypass Raikage to attack his retreating Cloud forces behind him.

"Hah?" Raikage's eyes sharpened as he caught sight of the advancing Leaf ninjas. "You're asking for death."

With a crackling sound, Raikage appeared before the closest attacker.

"Lightning Release: Lariat!"

Boom! The ninja was instantly pulverized.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Chop!"

Another was sliced clean in two.

"Lightning Release: Thunderclap Arrow!"

Anyone who got close to Raikage was swiftly eliminated.

Leaf ninjas who tried to flank him were also struck down by his ranged lightning techniques.

Minutes passed and no one could break Raikage's defense. His chakra and stamina were drained from maintaining his speed and jutsu, but the Leaf forces could not breach the thunder barrier.

"Hmm," Raikage muttered, realizing the Leaf forces were trying to exhaust him.

Nearby, Shukaku commanded quietly, "Keep sending ninjas to harass and wear him down. Don't waste elite units just yet."

"So what if we charge in?" another asked. "Even if Haruto kills many, it barely evens the odds. The enemy will just regroup. Are we seeking death?"

Shukaku's gaze hardened. "Killing Raikage is the key. He's our greatest prize today. If we succeed, even if the Cloud Village fights on, the Leaf and Mist won't dare start open war."

Killer Bee glanced at Raikage with resignation. Though he wanted to fight alongside the Raikage, he understood his duty to the village prevented it.

Suddenly, Killer Bee halted.

Looking at Jiraiya, he knew danger lurked. Though lightly injured himself, Hachibi was gravely wounded—useless in this fight.

"Crack!" "Ping!"

Killer Bee saw his jonin held back by Leaf jonin.

I can only push forward alone now.

After fierce fighting, Killer Bee's strength waned.

Jiraiya noticed and prepared a plan.

"If we kill him and Raikage, this war ends," Jiraiya whispered.

"Huh?" a shout rose from behind.

"Master Killer Bee, how's the battle?"

Killer Bee's heart leapt—it was Darui's voice.

At that moment, reinforcements from the Cloud Village arrived, led by Darui with hundreds of ninja.

"AHH .....A perfect chance," Jiraiya said, reluctantly ordering a retreat.

"Darui, I'll explain later. First, come with me—we need to rescue eldest brother."

"Teacher, what happened to him?" Darui asked, alarmed.

"No time, Let's go."

Soon Killer Bee led the Cloud reinforcements to the front.

Shukaku sighed, "Looks like Raikage can't be killed today. Our efforts fell short."

"Too bad the timing's off. If reinforcements came earlier, we might have taken him. Later, it's too late."

"Forget it. Order everyone to kill as many Kumo ninjas as possible."

At night, in the Cloud Village camp, Raikage listened quietly to reports.

"We lost 782 today, not counting the severely injured."

Raikage was silent for a long moment. "I understand. You're dismissed." His eyes shone with pain. Nearly 800 dead—mostly Chunin and many Jonin. The loss cut deeply.

"Are you alright, brother?"

"I'm fine," Raikage said, lifting his head with fierce resolve. "I will avenge this."

"Are you sure you want to continue fighting?" Killer Bee asked. "Maybe it's better to negotiate."

"No," Raikage replied. "Even if it costs us everything, we fight on. We must find a way to kill that brat. If I had known today's outcome in advance, I would still have gone to war."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want him unleashing that technique on our village someday. Do you understand? I'm not someone who throws away my comrades or villagers for war's sake—but that kid is too dangerous. I've thought it through. It's not that we can't fight. If we prepare in advance, we can detonate his technique early and block the blast. Without enough space or time, his jutsu won't travel far. We just suffer because we don't understand his ability."

"Even so, he's skilled with space ninjutsu. Killing him is no easy task."

"Have you forgotten our research on the Fourth Hokage? If we lure him into our trap, we might just succeed."

After a moment, Raikage ordered, "Send for Samui and the others. Ask that brat if he has anyone particularly close—friends or teammates."

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At night, the Konoha camp buzzed with laughter and cheers. Though occasional uneasy cries slipped through, most ignored them. The mood was celebratory—people gathered to revel in today's victory. Almost everyone believed Konoha had won the war. Except for a few calm voices, most hailed Haruto Itsuki as a hero, worshiping him fanatically.

"Looks like we're going to win this war. I've never seen such a joyous battle before. The Cloud ninjas are completely terrified!"

"Too soon to say we've won. Didn't Shukaku say Cloud's main forces are still intact? We can't let our guard down."

"What's there to fear? No matter how many troops they have, what can they do? If worse comes to worst, Haruto's technique today will crush them until they surrender."

"True. Haruto's strength is terrifying. That space-time jutsu nearly scared me to death. Lucky he's on our side."

Listening to the blind optimism and constant praise, Haruto shook his head wearily.

"That Raikage isn't someone who'll bow easily. And Cloud's overall strength still surpasses ours. My technique can only be used once. It's too soon to say the war's over."

Suddenly, a shout from the crowd.

"Haruto-sama!"

Everyone saluted respectfully as he passed—a salute to the strongest.

Haruto waved and headed toward Shukaku's headquarters.

"Haruto, you're here," Shukaku said, barely looking up from the map, drawing and writing rapidly.

"Reports from the Third Raikage. The Hidden Sand Village, who had considered surrender, seeing Cloud go to war with us, has now mobilized large forces to attack Konoha's border."

Haruto nodded. "That makes sense. Sand wouldn't surrender easily. They'd resist if they see an opportunity."

Shukaku sighed. "But the civil unrest after the Kazekage's death and massive loss of elite ninja weaken Sand greatly. The bigger concern is the reaction of Iwa and Mist. Both have deployed heavy forces on the borders."

Haruto frowned deeply. Whether or not Konoha was truly in danger, a full-scale conflict among the five great nations would devastate the entire ninja world—countless casualties, displacement, and chaos. Those forces would face the full might of the Allied Shinobi Forces.

"We don't know if they're preparing just in case, but we can't afford a full-scale war, Haruto. I have a plan to end this quickly."

"A plan?" Haruto was surprised.

Shukaku hesitated, then said: "I think you could use that space-time ninjutsu you developed—directly here." He pointed at two cities on the map. The most prosperous cities in the Land of Thunder and Land of Ice. Attacking the Hidden Cloud Village itself would provoke desperate retaliation. But hitting these cities targets civilians and aristocrats alike. If these two fall, most Kage-level ninja will choose to cease fighting out of fear and pressure."

Haruto lowered his head, voice trembling.

"You mean... attack civilians?"

Shukaku's eyes were cold but steady.

"Haruto, I understand the pain this causes you. But war isn't child's play. We must do everything possible. If not, when the full ninja world war erupts, the death toll will be countless times higher. You have to make the right choice."

Haruto was silent for a long moment.

"Let me think."

As he turned to leave, Shukaku called out: "Haruto, time isn't on your side. Even if I wait, Iwa and Mist won't. If they declare war, you must act on this plan immediately. This is an order."

"Understood."

Haruto walked out slowly, eyes blank.

Memories of the Third Hokage's advice echoed in his mind: "Haruto, if you want to become Hokage, you must learn to be cold-blooded. For the village's greater good, you must make painful choices and bear the consequences. It is because of my love for this village that I had to make choices I myself could not accept. You will face such choices more than once if you want to realize your ideals."

Haruto clenched his fists.

"I refuse to accept this world. I won't learn cold-bloodedness or face these choices. I'll become strong—strong enough to overthrow this world by myself."

But deep down, he knew it came down to power. Was there really no other way?

He murmured: "Third Hokage, you were right. I've come to a choice. But I'm not strong enough to challenge this world yet."

Suddenly, Jiraiya appeared beside him.

"Jiraiya-sensei."

Haruto relaxed.

"Haruto, I knew about this. I don't know how to comfort you."

They walked to a quiet corner and talked long into the night.

"Sensei, why has it come to this? Why are there so many ambitious people? Why must there be war? Why must I face such choices?"

Jiraiya paused, then said slowly: "You know, Haruto, I once felt the same confusion. I faced similar decisions."

"I've killed children younger than you. I've had to sacrifice civilians for the sake of certain goals. I always regretted it, but I had to do it. The guilt and pain never left me."

"That's why I yearn so much for peace—the kind of peace you dream about."

Jiraiya's eyes drifted into the distance, filled with memories.

"I can't give you the answers you seek. I haven't found them myself. You have to find them on your own."

"Sometimes reality forces cruel choices. I only hope you don't let it blind you. Perhaps such pain is necessary on the path to peace."

Haruto was silent, then suddenly jumped up.

"Where are you going, Haruto?"

"It's not the final moment yet. I have to find another way."