themonasnovels Chapter 72 : Trap
Chapter 72 : Trap
Chapter 72 - 72 : TrapStanding 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 re
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."