Naruto : Gamer System-Chapter 68 : Angry Haruto

"Where are you going, Haruto?" Hiruzen suddenly stopped Haruto.

"I'm going to rescue Hinata," Haruto said without hesitation.

"Let's take a long-term view on this matter. If I'm not wrong, even if you can catch up with them, they will have left the Land of Fire's borders. Although your technique just now is very powerful, you have to remember, Konoha has tools and support you can rely on. Without them, you may struggle to deal with even a few ordinary jonin, not to mention the Kumo border troops. Their delegation alone may be difficult to face. Don't be impulsive, Haruto." Hiruzen placed his hand on Haruto's shoulder, trying to calm him.

Haruto grew excited: "Can I just ignore it? She is Hinata."

The Third Hokage did not let go: "Calm down. Are you planning to die with your current chakra state? This time our diplomacy is strong—I believe Hinata can be rescued through negotiation."

"If they don't return her, will you go to war with Kumogakure?" Haruto asked, looking straight into the Hokage's eyes.

"This... yes." After pondering for a moment, Hiruzen looked at Haruto firmly and responded.

Haruto looked at him in disbelief. Knowing the Third well, Haruto didn't believe he would be so decisive.

Hiruzen smiled. "If it were just Hinata, maybe I wouldn't go that far. But—" he raised his voice suddenly,"I know even if I don't act, you will. Konoha can't afford to lose you. So—if they don't give her back, we'll hit them back."

Haruto lowered his head slowly. After a moment of silence, he said in a low voice, "Although I know this is the most reasonable result... it's impossible for Hinata to be captured without being subjected to experiments and torture. I don't have time for that."

"Flying Thunder God Technique!" Haruto instantly vanished, reappearing not far away. "I'm sorry, Lord Third. This time, I'm going to disobey you."

"Haruto, you—!" Hiruzen shouted anxiously. "Don't do anything foolish!"

"Don't worry, Hokage-sama, I haven't lost my mind. If I can't save Hinata, I'll return. Don't forget—I have the Flying Thunder God."

"Rise!" Haruto commanded the Thunder Giant to ascend.

"Tenten, come with me—show me the direction."

Soon, Haruto and Tenten stood atop the Thunder Giant and flew swiftly into the distance.

Hiruzen watched Haruto's back and sighed silently.

At that moment, Jiraiya stepped forward.

"Don't worry, Lord Third, I'll follow. If Haruto gets into danger, I'll bring him back."

The Hokage nodded. "It's all up to you, Jiraiya. By the way—take this."He handed Jiraiya a crystal ball and a secret order. "Stay in contact. I grant you permission to mobilize border troops."

Jiraiya nodded and turned to leave.

"Naruto, Sasuke, what are you doing?!" Hiruzen saw them rushing out and quickly stopped them.

"We're going to help too! How can we just watch Haruto fight alone?" Naruto shouted.

Sasuke nodded in agreement.

"Nonsense. With your current strength, you can't keep up with Haruto's battle. What use would you be?"

Sasuke's expression darkened, but he had no reply.

Naruto shouted stubbornly, "Maybe I'm weak—but that's not a reason not to go. I can't let Haruto fight alone. I won't let him show off by himself!"

Sasuke, hearing Naruto's words, woke up. "I'm not as weak as Naruto. I have to go—so I won't hold him back like Naruto."

"What did you say?! Sasuke, you—!"

The Third looked at the two helplessly. "Who said Haruto will fight alone?"

"You mean—?" they asked.

The Third turned to Shikaku: "Order all combat-capable shinobi to assemble immediately."

Then he looked at Naruto and Sasuke again: "Restore your chakra first—don't be late for battle later."

Elsewhere, Neji and Kiba were locked in fierce combat.

"You overestimate yourselves. We spared you once, but you don't know when to retreat. Looks like I'll have to teach you a lesson."

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Prison." The Kumo ninja trapped Neji to the ground.

"Damn, my chakra's low, and my body's slow too..."

"Earth Style: Bedrock Needle!" A sharp rocky cone shot toward Neji.

"Am I going to die here?"

Suddenly, the elder's voice echoed in Neji's mind:

"Neji, the Byakugan is a precious secret your father gave his life to protect. It mustn't be stolen. You may resent the clan, but if they take your Byakugan, your father's sacrifice will mean nothing."

"Aaahhh—Rotation!" A sudden surge of chakra burst forth, and Neji spun, forming a blue-white barrier that blocked the blow.

Seizing the moment, Neji struck the enemy with his palm.

Just as he was about to unleash a combo, another figure appeared behind him and knocked him down.

Only then did the Kumo ninja react.

"Almost lost to a brat. I'll kill him."

A black-cloaked ninja stopped him: "Lady Samui said we haven't officially turned against Konoha. Don't kill anyone yet."

Reluctantly, the others backed down.

"Fang Over Fang!" Kiba charged furiously.

But even with his spirit, Kiba was facing multiple jonin and chunin. As a genin, he was no match. Within ten seconds, he was knocked to the ground, unable to move.

One thin Kumo ninja stomped Kiba's face: "Annoying brat. I let you go earlier, and you still came back. If it weren't for Lady Samui's orders, you'd be dead ten times over."

"Ah—!" Kiba howled in pain. Blood ran from his nose and ears. His blurred vision barely made out Hinata being carried off in the distance—but he was completely powerless.

A memory surfaced—

"Kiba, Shino... we've been friends for years, so I won't mince words. I may not always be around Hinata. Please take care of her. You know how she is."

"Tch—what're you saying? You don't have to ask. Hinata's my teammate. I'll protect her. That's a man's promise."

The promise echoed in his mind. I swore to Haruto I'd protect Hinata. I'm not just a talker like Naruto.Kiba suddenly lunged and bit the man's leg. "Give... Hinata... back!" he shouted through clenched teeth.

"Ah—damn brat!" The ninja kicked Kiba repeatedly. Blood splattered as each kick landed. Still, Kiba refused to let go.

"Let go!" the Kumo ninja screamed, continuing to kick. "LET GO!"

Boom! Boom! The beating continued. Kiba's vision went dark, his consciousness fading—but he still mumbled: "Don't... take her... Bring... back... Hinata..."

"Boom!" "Boom!" Again and again. Finally, another Kumo ninja ran up to stop him.

"Enough—he's lost consciousness. You'll kill him."

The angry one spat on Kiba and walked away.

Voices echoed faintly in the distance—

"I'm a little impressed, but that was too stupid. They were useless."

"Yeah, rushing forward knowing they'll lose... Why are Konoha shinobi such fools? So stupid."

"Eight Trigrams Air Palm!"

Just as the Cloud Ninja was retreating with Hinata, a sudden strike burst out from behind a nearby tree. The attack hit the Cloud Ninja carrying her, sending him crashing to the ground.

The other Cloud Ninjas didn't even realize that Hinata had already been taken away—by Hiashi Hyuga.

"How could this happen? Ikki, you didn't notice anyone nearby?"

"I... don't know either," Ikki responded, just as bewildered.

"No need to wonder."

A composed voice rang out—Samui, issuing calm orders. "If I'm not mistaken, that man is Hiashi Hyuga, head of the Hyuga Clan. He's a sensory-type far superior to you. Missing his presence isn't unusual. What's important now is to retrieve Hinata. Team 33—surround them."

Hiashi moved quickly, but carrying someone inevitably slowed him down. It wasn't long before the Cloud Ninjas overtook him. Worse yet, the scattered units left behind earlier had completed their encirclement—there was no escape.

Sweat beaded on Hiashi's forehead. He knew... this was going to be a tough fight.

"Honestly, I know the logical move would be to kill Hinata right here and escape. I might make it out alive that way. But... I just can't. No matter what, she's still my daughter."

"Father..." Hinata had woken up. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she whispered, "I'm sorry."

Hiashi gently patted her head. "There's nothing to apologize for. This isn't your fault. The blood of the Hyuga Clan has long been coveted by the other villages."

He raised his hands into a Gentle Fist stance. Even if futile—he would fight.

"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"

But the Cloud Ninjas didn't take him head-on. They launched ninjutsu instead:

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"

"Lightning Style: Flash Burst!"

"Earth Style: Earth Fissure Piercer!"

Seeing the incoming barrage, Hiashi switched to defense.

"Rotation!"

A blue-white dome formed, deflecting everything. But the weight of protecting Hinata weakened his defense. By the second wave, Hiashi was already struck and injured.

Hiashi, breathing heavily, looked at the surrounding enemies. Then... he made a decision.

"Hinata, forgive me. To protect the Byakugan's secret... I must kill you first."

Hinata didn't protest. She smiled, softly: "It's okay... Father. I understand."

"Such a good daughter..." Just as Hiashi raised his hand—

Crack!

A bolt of lightning arced down, binding his limbs with electric chains.

"Tch!" Hiashi broke free almost instantly, but that moment's delay... was enough for the Cloud Ninjas to pin him down.

"What should we do with him, Lady Samui?"

Samui glanced between Hiashi and Hinata, calculating.

"We don't have time. Konoha's reinforcements can't be far. Take his eyes. Leave the rest. Without Raikage-sama's approval, we can't risk total war."

"AHHHH!!" Hiashi screamed in agony, clutching the bloody sockets where his eyes once were.

"No!!" Hinata collapsed to her knees. "Why... why..." Her trembling hands clenched.

"AAAAH—!" She charged toward a Cloud Ninja in rage—only to be struck down in an instant.

Unconscious, her mind drifted...

"Haruto... maybe I'll never see you again..."

High above, riding a lightning-clad giant, Haruto Itsuki soared through the sky.

The Thunder Giant was now less than half its size.

"At this speed, I'll catch them... but I won't have much chakra left."

Despite what the Third Hokage thought, Haruto's chakra was still plentiful. His unique bloodlines gave him immense reserves and rapid recovery—his lightning chakra was already at 70-80%.

"Looks like I'll have to try using Flying Thunder God to reach Hinata in time."

Suddenly—

"Haruto, that's where we lost!" TenTen pointed downward.

Haruto descended rapidly—soon spotting Neji and Kiba, being tended to by Konoha medics.

"Neji! Kiba! Are you okay?"

"Haruto!" Kiba froze. His eyes welled up—then burst into tears.

"I'm sorry, Haruto—Waaaaaaah!" He collapsed at Haruto's feet, sobbing, clutching his leg.

"I couldn't protect Hinata—I promised you!"

"It's not your fault, Kiba. Get up."

Haruto helped him up, but his voice trembled. Kiba continued bawling like a child. Haruto had never seen him like this—he was always loud, cheerful... unshakable.

But now—he was broken.

"Don't cry. I'll bring her back." Haruto embraced him briefly. Then turned, walking into the distance.

No one could see the chilling calm in his eyes.

"Forget it, Haruto!" Neji shouted behind him. "I wanted to stop you... but I couldn't even protect her. You said fate could be broken—prove it to me. Show me it can be changed!"

Haruto raised one hand, never looking back. "Then watch. I'm not one to make empty promises."

But soon after, Haruto hit a problem.

"Damn... They've cleaned up their tracks."

Then—he saw a collapsed man up ahead.

"Hiashi-sama!?"

He rushed forward—and stopped cold when he saw the two empty sockets.

His heart sank.

"Did Hinata... see your eyes being taken?"

Hiashi nodded, barely managing a whisper. "Haruto... Don't go. It's too late..."

Haruto didn't respond.

He walked past him, silently.

"Please don't say that, Hiashi-sama... I can hear her voice, even now. Calling out to me."

Riding atop the Thunder Giant, Haruto pushed it to full speed.

"Cloud Ninja... you've crossed the line."