Konoha: Naruto's abnormal life choices

Chapter 22: Chapter 22



The bright green leaves swayed gently in the wind, rustling throughout the forest.

Naruto chased after Haku, pursuing him all the way to an open clearing by the seashore. This spot was far from the battlefield where Kakashi and Zabuza were fighting. There was no fog here—only the warm sun shining down brightly from above.

At that moment, the masked Haku finally stopped running and turned to face Naruto.

"You're unlucky. But... maybe also lucky," Haku said coldly.

Naruto furrowed his brow, unsure what Haku meant. Why is it that everyone in this world insists on making a speech before a fight?

Haku continued calmly, ignoring the fact that Naruto was his enemy. "You're unlucky because I hadn't planned to act. But since you found me, I have no choice. Still, you're lucky—you'll just sleep for a while. When you wake up, you'll be back in Konoha. Alone."

Now Naruto understood. He doesn't want to kill me, but I forced his hand.

"Oh? So you don't want to kill me? I should thank you, huh?" Naruto replied with a sarcastic tone, already reaching into his ninja tool pouch.

Haku nodded, unfazed. "I'm sorry, but as long as Mr. Zabuza is fighting, I can't allow your comrades to interfere. Sleep here—for just one day."

Naruto tilted his head slightly, smiling as if having a revelation.

"You're too soft-hearted. But it seems like you're underestimating me."

In the blink of an eye, his expression turned fierce. He whipped out three shuriken and hurled them at Haku.

"Too cocky!"

Without hesitation, Naruto formed a Rasengan in his hand with lightning speed and, just like he had done during his sneak attack on Zabuza, used the Flicker Technique to rush forward at high speed toward Haku.

A true ninja valued speed, precision, and ruthlessness—and Naruto's speed was incredible. But Haku, after years of fighting beside Zabuza, was no slouch either.

"Ice Release: Ice Crystal Wall!"

Haku quickly formed a hand seal and raised a thick, meter-wide wall of solid ice in front of him. The Rasengan slammed into it—but to his surprise, the Rasengan still punched a hole straight through it.

Haku's eyes widened. That jutsu... I thought it wasn't that strong. Not even Zabuza's blade could stop it before.

"What kind of jutsu is this?" he asked, shocked.

"You talk too much," Naruto snapped.

In the next second, he reappeared behind Haku and launched another Rasengan with a backhand swing.

"Hmph, you're not the only one who can move fast!"

Haku quickly formed a hand seal and leaped backward several steps. Then he reached behind with both hands, and—out of nowhere—six thousand fine senbon needles shimmered into view. In a blur, he hurled them at Naruto.

The needles shot forward at an incredible speed. Naruto tried to dodge sideways, but a few still grazed his clothing and pierced his sleeve.

"Secret Technique: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!"

Naruto rolled to the side to dodge, but Haku wasn't done. He formed another one-handed seal, pulling in the moisture from the air. The water vapor condensed into thousands of razor-thin senbon, enough to make anyone with trypophobia squirm in horror.

It was like a blizzard of steel.

"You'd better not move," Haku warned. "I can't guarantee your vitals won't be hit if you do."

With that, he unleashed the technique—countless needles raining toward Naruto like a swarm of tadpoles heading for a blazing sun.

It was terrifying. It looked terrifying.

But Naruto wasn't afraid.

He was waiting for this.

"Scorch Release: Blazing Arm!"

Suddenly, Naruto's right arm burst into flames—a deep, hellish red. The heat was so intense that it incinerated his sleeve instantly. If fabric couldn't endure the temperature, what chance did needles made from water vapor stand?

Every single senbon needle evaporated before they could even get close.

Scorch Release, a fusion of Fire Release and Wind Release, was a bloodline limit more intense than even Lava Release or Boil Release.

"Your little needles aren't bad, but this blazing arm of mine? Way more terrifying."

As he said it, Naruto lunged forward, closing the distance in a flash. His right hand, formed into a three-clawed dragon shape, reached for Haku's face.

"I misjudged him... he has a bloodline limit!"

Haku panicked. The boy was too close. There wasn't enough time to use the Body Flicker Technique.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Zabuza. I won't be able to help you after all."

Bracing himself, Haku closed his eyes—ready to die.

But what hit her wasn't searing heat.

It was just a regular fist. A hard punch, yes—but not lethal.

"Ahh!!" Haku screamed in pain as she hit the ground hard. Her mask cracked, revealing her face beneath.

She looked to be around fifteen or sixteen years old. Pale skin like porcelain, full pink lips, a delicate nose, and a sorrowful elegance in her eyes and eyebrows.

She stared up at Naruto, confused.

Why didn't he kill me? I thought he liked fighting?

Maybe he's actually... kind-hearted.

Then Naruto stomped on her head.

"Tsk, tsk... this is what I expected. So high and mighty earlier—didn't want to kill me, huh?"

Haku's face was shoved into the dirt, her mind spinning in disbelief.

But Naruto wasn't done.

He kept the pressure on—literally.

"What? Cat got your tongue? After all that tough talk, now you can't even speak?"

Haku struggled under his foot, gagging slightly. The mud reeked, and her mouth was full of dirt. Of course I can't talk—how could I, with a foot on my face?!

Let me breathe first!

What a scumbag! And... wait... why do I feel—

Suddenly, Haku's body twitched. A strange warmth spread across her cheeks.

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You've completed Option 3. Reward granted: Haku's Corruption Value +25%.]

Naruto raised an eyebrow at the system notification. He didn't fully understand what the "Corruption Value" was—but it sounded useful.

Out of caution, he opened the info screen:

Corruption Value: A unique bond affecting how the target views the host.At 100%, the target will see the host as the center of their world.

Note: This reward has less than a 1% drop rate. Effectiveness increases when used with other special rewards.

"...???"

Naruto squinted at the screen.

The more he read, the more perverse it sounded.

Used with other rewards? This system's got some serious hidden potential.

Originally, Naruto had planned to use the Devil's Contract on Sasuke—but it was too risky to activate it inside Konoha. And even after leaving, he was constantly under Kakashi's watchful eye.

But now—he had found Haku. Ice Release. Talent. Potential. And currently stronger than Sasuke.

Perfect.

"Devil's Contract—activate!"

[Devil's Contract activated.][Contract space established.][Binding creature defeated by the host… Target confirmed: Female… "Haku" has been successfully bound.]


Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.