Naruto : Gamer System-Chapter 54 : I am an Avenger

"Ha~" Haruto yawned loudly, rubbing his eyes as he sat down at the breakfast table. He glanced helplessly at the scene before him. Really, is there no peace even during breakfast?

Naruto and Sasuke were glaring at each other, locked in a fierce standoff—for the last piece of bread.

"Alright, alright," Haruto said. "If it's not enough, I'll make more."

But the two ignored him, both shouting in unison, "I want this piece!"

Haruto shook his head with a sigh. "You're both too old to still be acting like this."

Still, Haruto understood. This childish bickering was just their way of expressing closeness. It might seem immature to others, but he knew it was a form of friendship.

Watching them with a smile, Haruto's thoughts turned inward. Sasuke... I won't let you walk that lonely, painful road. And Naruto... I'll make sure you never have to feel the pain of losing a comrade again. Just keep fighting over dumb things like this. Let me handle the rest.

Suddenly, Haruto asked, "By the way, what's the final match-up list from the preliminaries?"

"Oh, right," Naruto replied. "There are ten of us. You're up against Neji in the first match, Sasuke fights Haku in the second, I go against Gaara for the third, Ino fights Temari in the fourth, and Shikamaru's up against Kankuro in the fifth."

"I see..." Haruto muttered. The butterfly effect is growing stronger. Other than forcing the matchup with Neji, everything else has changed. The variables are harder to predict now.

After breakfast, Sasuke left abruptly, saying little.

As Sasuke's silhouette faded into the distance, Naruto leaned toward Haruto, grinning mischievously. "Boss, Sasuke's been acting weird lately. He's always with Haku now. Hehehe. What do you think that means?" He gave Haruto a knowing thumbs-up.

Haruto stared at Naruto blankly. Why are you so sharp about other people's relationships but completely dense about your own?

Smack! Haruto slapped Naruto's head. "Don't talk nonsense. I heard Haku's actually a guy."

Naruto's jaw dropped. "No way! Boss, you're kidding, right? Haku's so pretty... there's no way he's a guy!"

Haruto got serious. "That's what I heard. We'll need to investigate."

Without Sasuke knowing, two stealthy figures began tailing him.

After training with Haku, Sasuke sat down to rest. Haku joined him shortly afterward, sitting not far away. There was a moment of silence before Haku finally spoke.

"I don't know why," Haku said quietly, "but I feel like you and I are really similar."

Sasuke looked at him, startled. "...Yeah. I've felt that too."

Haku gazed at the sky. "Want to hear my story?"

Sasuke didn't answer right away. After a long pause, he spoke. "There's not much to say. My brother killed our parents and the entire Uchiha clan in his pursuit of power. He wanted to kill me too. I barely survived. That's why I call myself... an avenger."

Though his face was emotionless, his trembling hands gave him away.

"...It really is similar," Haku said after a long pause. "I was born in a small snowy village. My parents loved me... I was happy." He paused, voice lowering. "Then everything changed. My father killed my mother... and tried to kill me."

Sasuke clenched his fists, his teeth grinding audibly. The memory of that man burned into his thoughts.

"Because of the bloodline... The Mist Village had suffered from years of war, and they came to hate those with kekkei genkai. My mother had it. My father found out, killed her, and tried to kill me too. I... I killed him first."

There was silence between them.

"...I hated him so much," Haku continued. "But when I realized I'd killed my own father, I learned what real pain is."

Sasuke sat in silence. He understood now why Haku felt so familiar—both of them had lost everything at the hands of family.

"Sasuke," Haku said gently, "I understand your pain. But even if you get revenge one day, that won't bring you happiness."

Sasuke suddenly smirked, cold and sharp. "Are you telling me to give up? Maybe I'll feel even worse after killing him. I don't care. He doesn't get to live peacefully in this world after what he did. I'll make him suffer. I'll drag his corpse to our parents' grave and make him confess. As for what happens to me after... I don't care."

Haku looked at Sasuke, heart heavy. "Sasuke..."

But Sasuke waved him off. "Come on, let's fight again. I don't want to talk anymore. I told you—I'm an avenger."

The two of them began sparring again.

Up in a nearby tree, Naruto and Haruto were watching the whole thing unfold.

"...What? They're really just training?" Naruto pouted. "Boss, can you hear what they're saying?"

Haruto closed his eyes in thought. "...Too far away. I can't hear anything."

But Haruto was silent because his thoughts were elsewhere. Avenger... So Sasuke's hatred is still this deep. I thought time might have dulled it, but I was wrong.

If things keep going like this, Sasuke might still end up joining Orochimaru.

Sorry, Itachi. You had your own way of protecting Sasuke as an older brother, but I don't agree with it. As Sasuke's friend, I'll protect him my own way.

Still... If I tell Sasuke the truth about Itachi now, will he turn his hatred toward Konoha instead?

Haruto thought for a moment, then came to a decision.

I'll pin it all on Danzo. The truth, said the right way, might just save Sasuke from losing himself. If it helps protect him... then so be it.

In the Tenth Training Ground, Naruto stared nervously at his hands. freewёbnoνel.com

"Ha~! Sexy Jutsu—!" he suddenly shouted.

Boom!

Naruto turned into a naked beauty.

**"How about it? It's the surprise **! When the enemy is caught off guard and I use this move—bam!—they'll be paralyzed! Then I'll—"

Naruto danced and rambled on, but—

"Idiot," Sasuke interrupted coldly. "You obviously can't learn that technique."

Naruto flared up like a cat with its tail stepped on. "Nonsense! A genius like me can learn anything!"

Kakashi sighed. "Naruto, I already told you. You're not a Lightning-type Ninja. You can't learn this jutsu."

He didn't say the rest: Even if you were, it's doubtful you could handle it.

Naruto pouted, staring bitterly at the little crackles of lightning from Kakashi's assistant.

"Tch. Fine. I'll just learn something even stronger."

Just then, a voice shouted from behind—

"Raikiri."

Crackle.

Haruto Itsuki stood with lightning surging in his palm. A fully formed Raikiri.

Kakashi's eyes widened in disbelief. How...? I just explained it briefly. Could he already...?

Though not as strong as Kakashi's, Haruto's Raikiri was already usable in combat.

Haruto observed the lightning in his hand. His mind was racing. He had long stopped depending on the system for everything. This time, he used an experience book—ten Raikiri experiences—and deeply understood the jutsu. His Raikiri mastery jumped from beginner to advanced.

So this is the essence of the system... It only gives me bloodline and knowledge. Strength—real strength—comes from how I use it.

But then... who built this system? And why bring me here?

Sasuke glanced at Haruto's Raikiri, then at the sparks flickering uselessly in his own hand.

His own palm—slightly burned.

His own pride—deeply scorched.

Why... can't I catch up?

I'm supposed to be a genius... but compared to him, I'm nothing.

How can I defeat that man like this...?

Sasuke clenched his fist and forced more chakra into his hand.

"AAAH—!"

He collapsed.

"Sasuke!"

"Are you okay?!" Naruto and Haruto rushed over.

Sasuke gritted his teeth. "I'm fine."

Kakashi checked his hand, his expression turning serious.

"Didn't I warn you, Sasuke?! This move isn't something to rush. You're lucky your chakra network didn't burn. Keep this up, and you'll destroy your hands—or worse. You may never be a ninja again."

Sasuke lowered his head, Silent.

Haruto was angry—with himself. I shouldn't have shown Raikiri in front of Sasuke... He has such a strong pride. This must have crushed him. And... his hunger for strength. I should've been more careful.

Kakashi looked between Haruto and Sasuke.

He understood it too. If Haruto stays here, Sasuke won't learn anything. He'll just burn himself out.

"Naruto, you're not suited for Raikiri. But that's fine. I'll find a better-suited teacher to help you get stronger."

"Haruto, you've already learned the technique. You and Naruto should go together."

Haruto nodded silently.

The mood turned chilly. Only Naruto remained cheerful.

"Who's our new teacher? Are they stronger than Kakashi-sensei?"

"Not sure," Kakashi shrugged. "Third Hokage arranged it. Said this new teacher is very suited to you two. Go ask him."

"Eh~ Kakashi-sensei doesn't even know? He's totally tricking us!"

As they walked off, Haruto looked back. Sasuke was staring at him.

Haruto could feel it—pain, resentment, distance.

There's already a wall between us.

He's made up his mind. But it's too early. I'll reveal the truth after the Chunin Exam, when we meet Itachi. I need to confirm Itachi's situation first.

After Haruto left—

Kakashi stood before Sasuke.

"Sasuke, are you jealous?"

"No... I just... hate myself."

"You don't need to explain. I understand. But—"

—

Elsewhere.

Naruto walked the streets of Konoha, holding a photo.

"This guy looks really cool! Super reliable ninja! But why did the old man say to look near the bathhouse...? He likes baths?"

Haruto sighed. If only you knew, Naruto...

"Not this bathhouse either—hm?"

Naruto stopped.

A suspicious figure was peeking over the women's bath wall.

Naruto's eyes widened.

"Pervert!!"

Wham!

He kicked the figure straight into the bathhouse.

Chaos erupted.

"Wait! Sisters, listen! There was someone peeking! I kicked him—he was just here!"

"Peeking at our bath at your age?! You need a spanking!"

Naruto's face was swollen as he stumbled out.

Haruto tried not to laugh.

"Seriously! There was a guy—right there!"

Haruto pointed.

"You mean him?"

Jiraiya was now chatting up a beautiful woman on the street nearby.

"YES! That's him!"

Naruto lunged.

Haruto grabbed his collar.

"Calm down. He's the teacher assigned to us by the Third Hokage."

"WHAT!? THAT PERVERT?! I KNEW IT—KAKASHI-SENSEI TOTALLY LIED TO US!!"

"Let's go, Haruto! This guy looks like trash!"

Jiraiya, while flirting, glanced sideways at the two boys.

That's the child of prophecy? Hmm... cheerful, determined... really resembles Minato. But... is he really Minato and Kushina's kid? Minato was smart. Kushina was shrewd. So how did they give birth to... this idiot?

Meanwhile, Haruto was also sizing up Jiraiya.

There aren't many characters in this world more tragic than him. Loved Tsunade his whole life... finally got her... and died.

Such a good man. I'll find a way to help you if I can.

Still... how are you this old and still a virgin...? No wonder you peek like a maniac...