Chapter 545: Naruto’s True Kekkei Genkai

Chapter 545: Chapter 545: Naruto’s True Kekkei Genkai

Inside the gloomy depths of Garaga’s mental world.

Naruto was still sprawled on the ground in the same awkward position as he was outside, staring blankly up at a scene unfolding in the air.

The scene was so lifelike that Naruto felt as though he were witnessing it firsthand.

In the vision, Garaga was fighting side by side with a powerful shinobi who had dark blue hair and wore the robes of the Land of Wind. Together, they battled in the desert, fending off enemies who kept emerging from all directions.

Although the two made an incredibly formidable combination and defeated numerous enemies, their opponents continued to multiply. With the situation rapidly deteriorating, the shinobi fighting alongside Garaga immediately ordered a retreat.

However, Garaga was still caught up in the heat of battle and had no intention of withdrawing.

Disobeying the shinobi’s order to retreat, he charged into the enemy ranks once more.

But just then, an attack from behind struck Garaga’s right eye!

Garaga turned around in shock, only to discover that the one who had ambushed him was none other than the partner who had been fighting alongside him.

"Why?!"

Overwhelmed by shock and fury, Garaga slowly collapsed to the ground.

The final image reflected in the vertical pupil of his left eye was the shinobi’s cold, distant gaze.

A gaze that pierced straight through his heart and chilled him to the very bone!

After watching the scene unfold, Naruto slowly stood up.

"Garaga, is that what happened to you? So that’s how you lost sight in that eye!"

"Brat! Who gave you permission to enter my mind without asking?!"

Garaga’s furious voice surged from every direction, carrying such overwhelming hostility that it seemed as though he wanted to swallow Naruto whole in a single bite.

Naruto looked straight into Garaga’s enormous orange vertical pupil and said, "I’ve never been betrayed by a companion before, but I know what loneliness feels like. Garaga, you must be lonely too, right?"

For some reason, after witnessing Garaga’s past, all the fear Naruto had felt toward him vanished in an instant, replaced by a deep sense of sympathy!

Meeting Naruto’s sincere gaze, Garaga froze for a moment before roaring in embarrassment and anger, "Brat! What’s with that look?! I happen to enjoy being alone!"

Naruto continued as though he hadn’t heard him. "I’m the child of the Demon Fox. I grew up without parents, so I know better than anyone what loneliness feels like. It really is the worst feeling in the world."

"Hmph!"

Garaga snorted heavily. Although his expression remained ferocious, he involuntarily quieted down and began listening to Naruto’s story.

Naruto continued, "But later, I made friends! I met Sasuke, Hinata, and Neji, and I realized that only by being together with your companions can you escape loneliness!"

"Companions!?" Garaga said coldly. "Brat, you’re too naive! The only purpose companions serve is to betray you! They’ll betray you when you trust them the most!"

Naruto shouted, "I don’t know why your companion did what he did, but I would never betray my companions! Never!"

Garaga brought his enormous snake head right up to Naruto, his forked tongue extending so close that it nearly touched Naruto’s face.

In a deep, rumbling voice, he said, "You’re just a brat who doesn’t understand anything! Those two outside are your companions, aren’t they? Then I’ll give you a choice right now. Either let me eat you and spare them, or let me eat them and spare you. Which will you choose?"

Staring at his own reflection in Garaga’s lone vertical pupil, Naruto took a deep breath and said, "Big Brother Kabuto and Little Sister Hinata only ended up in danger because of me. It’s my fault. I didn’t know you were such a huge snake, so please let them go. If you have to eat someone, then eat me!"

Garaga said coldly, "You’d better think this through carefully. I really do eat people!"

Summoning all his courage, Naruto shouted, "Then eat me!"

As Naruto’s shout rang out, the surrounding mist rapidly dispersed. In an instant, Naruto and Garaga left the mental world and returned to the rocky cavern.

Garaga raised his head high. "Have you really made up your mind?"

Naruto climbed to his feet and walked toward Garaga step by step, saying, "Yes, Garaga! I’m going to show you that even if it costs me my life, I’ll never betray my companions!"

Kabuto, who was standing nearby, had no idea what the two had experienced in the mental world.

Seeing Naruto casually walking toward the menacing giant snake, he immediately cried out in alarm, "Naruto, come back!"

Naruto turned around and said, "Big Brother Kabuto, I’m going to convince him!"

Kabuto rebuked him sternly, "Idiot! How could a monster like that possibly be convinced with just a few words?! Get back here! Don’t throw your life away for nothing!"

At this point, Kabuto was completely speechless at Naruto’s behavior.

Previously, he had always thought Naruto was merely somewhat careless and simple-minded. By Orochimaru’s standards, he might qualify as an idiot, but by ordinary standards, Naruto wasn’t nearly that hopeless.

On the contrary, Naruto was actually quite talented in certain areas.

But today, Kabuto finally realized that he had been wrong.

Naruto really was a complete and utter idiot!

To actually entertain the ridiculous idea of persuading a monster like Garaga with words alone was practically no different from throwing his life away!

"Forget it. Let him do as he pleases. Once he’s in danger, the Nine-Tails inside him will probably go berserk immediately. When that happens, I’ll take advantage of the two monsters fighting each other and escape with the Hyuga clan’s young lady..."

Kabuto adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose, quietly making his own calculations.

In Kabuto’s eyes, Naruto was as good as dead this time. Rather than worrying about whether Naruto lived or died and missing his chance to escape, he might as well make use of Naruto’s death.

With that thought, Kabuto picked up Hinata, who was standing beside him, and waited for Garaga to swallow Naruto whole.

Meanwhile, Garaga stared at the utterly fearless Naruto. Although he felt somewhat moved, he was also irritated at being underestimated.

And so, he opened his enormous, blood-filled maw and roared, "You think I don’t dare eat you?! Fine! Since you have a death wish, I’ll grant it!"

Just then, Naruto extended his right hand toward Garaga and said, "Garaga, I want to be your friend!"

Hearing Naruto’s words, Kabuto, who was watching from a distance, was utterly speechless.

"This idiot! I never should have brought him into Ryuchi Cave. Sigh, how am I supposed to explain this to Lord Orochimaru?!"

Hinata, whom Kabuto was holding in his arms, gazed at Naruto with stars practically sparkling in her eyes.

Looking at Naruto, who dared to face the giant snake all by himself, her face was filled with admiration.

Just as Kabuto was certain that Garaga, whose enormous maw was already wide open, would seize the opportunity to swallow Naruto whole, Garaga unexpectedly closed his mouth and snorted heavily.

"Hmph! If you want to be friends with me, it won’t be that easy!"

Kabuto, who had already prepared himself to make a break for the cavern entrance, stumbled upon hearing those words and nearly fell to the ground.

Then, with a completely dumbfounded expression, he stared at Garaga...