Naruto : Gamer System-Chapter 58 : Goodbye

Under the moonlight, Hayate is saying goodbye to Yugao.

"This time, my task is to follow the Sand Village's Jonin Maki, and I may not see you for a while."

Yugao always felt restless after hearing that Hayate was going to carry out this task, and couldn't help but hold Hayate back and said, "It's too dangerous, that man can even fight Kakashi-senpai to a draw."

Hayate forced a smile: "But someone has to go. In this case, I am the most suitable person who is good at tracking."

"But—"

Before Yugao could finish speaking, Hayate hugged her before turning around and leaving.

"I'm going."

Yugao didn't know the true meaning of what Hayate said, nor did she see the tears that Hayate shed when he turned around, but she suddenly felt an inexplicable distress.

Obviously, I didn't feel this way when Hayate performed more dangerous missions before. Hayate... you must come back safely.

After leaving Yugao, Hayate finally couldn't help crying. Tears fell drop by drop, but his footsteps didn't waver in the slightest.

Just as Hayate was about to go to the target, a voice rang in his ear.

"STOP! This way is dead!"

"Who?" Hayate looked fiercely at the person coming.

Seeing that it was Haruto, Hayate put down his defenses, forced a smile and said, "It's Haruto. Do you also want to say goodbye to me?"

"I—"

Before Haruto could speak, Hayate interrupted: "I really didn't expect to see you at the last moment, Haruto. Although I really want to sit down with you and talk about the past, I have to hurry and complete the mission."

"I want to say—"

Hayate interrupted again: "Help me take care of Yugao. And don't tell her the truth. Even living full of hatred is better than losing the motivation to live."

"I—"

Seeing that Hayate was going to interrupt him again, Haruto rushed up, grabbed him, and covered his mouth.

"Idiot, let me finish my sentence before you die."

"I'm here to convey the order of the Third Hokage. See for yourself. The mission has been cancelled." Haruto took out the scroll with the secret order and threw it to Hayate.

After reading the scroll, Hayate stood there in a daze. After a while, he suddenly grabbed Haruto violently.

"Why was the mission cancelled? Did you say something, Haruto? Could it be someone else went instead of me? Haruto, didn't I say that I am the most suitable candidate for this mission? Also—"

"STOP! You're thinking too much. The Third Hokage cancelled this mission for another reason. I'm most annoyed by teammates like you who don't care about killing themselves. You've already lost too much blood—why not rest in a hot spring instead of running out here?"

Seeing Hayate's bewildered expression, Haruto smiled: "Forget it. I know that people with low IQ like you won't get it. You just need to know that your mission is cancelled. You don't have to die. Go home, wash up, and sleep."

"Why—"

"Why so many whys? If you don't get it, go ask the Third. Don't bother me."

After speaking, Haruto turned and left, completely ignoring Hayate's calls.

Hayate looked down at the scroll in his hand, his face full of confusion. He had made so many preparations and steeled himself for death—yet the mission was inexplicably terminated. Hayate understood this had something to do with Haruto, but he didn't know what method Haruto had used.

Taking a deep breath, Hayate finally let go of the tension in his heart. After all, no one truly wants to die—especially someone like Hayate who cherishes life.

A moment later, Hayate met Yugao on the way back.

Yugao looked at him suspiciously.

"How come you're back, Hayate?"

Hayate smiled wryly: "I don't know why. The Third Hokage cancelled my mission."

"Great!" Yugao threw herself into Hayate's arms.

"Just now I had this terrible feeling that if you left, you'd never come back. My sixth sense is still terrible, huh? I didn't expect you to return so soon."

Hayate gently stroked Yugao's back with a complicated expression.

So, Yugao... you noticed too?

On a large tree in the distance, Haruto couldn't help but smile when he saw the two of them embracing.

"Isn't this the reason I've been working so hard? Seeing them happy makes me feel happy for no reason."

Suddenly the two kissed, and Haruto quickly stood up.

"Okay, time to go. If I stay any longer, things will get unsuitable for children."

On the way home, passing the Eighth Training Ground, Haruto suddenly turned a corner.

"It seems Sasuke is practicing here."

In the lonely training ground, Sasuke was silently gathering chakra.

"Chidori."

Bright lightning lit up as Sasuke finally managed to shape the violent lightning into form.

Surprisingly, Sasuke smiled.

"Hey! Finally succeeded."

But just as he was about to finish, the lightning scattered. Haruto immediately stepped forward to help—but stopped. Sasuke had placed steel wires at his feet. When the Chidori went berserk, he instantly grounded the current through the wires and survived.

Such a reckless method... Haruto sighed. He hadn't expected Sasuke to come up with that on his own. The physics knowledge Haruto had taught him hadn't gone to waste. Still, this method was way too dangerous—one misstep and Sasuke could've been crippled.

After the attempt, Sasuke collapsed, panting heavily while clutching his right hand.

After a while, he tried to get up again.

"Ah—"

Sasuke pushed himself desperately but couldn't rise.

After several attempts with the same result, Sasuke suddenly shouted a name:

"Itachi—"

That name gave him strength. Sasuke struggled and stood again.

"Itachi—ah—Itachi—!" he shouted frantically.

"Chidori!"

This time he succeeded. The jutsu struck forward, slicing a large tree cleanly.

After releasing the move, Sasuke gasped for breath, then finally collapsed to the ground and fell asleep.

"It's really messed up," Haruto muttered as he walked over and looked down at him with complicated eyes.

Even in sleep, Sasuke's brow was furrowed.

Haruto sighed.

"Actually, Sasuke... you used to be like us. Working hard to protect what you cherish. But after what you cherished was taken away, all that's left is revenge, isn't it? Maybe that's just the reason you found to keep on living."

Haruto gently picked Sasuke up in his arms and walked toward the house.

What if one day... the things I hold dear are taken away too?

I'm not like Naruto. I won't be able to let go of hatred. Maybe I'll destroy the world. So, to avoid becoming like Sasuke, I still have to work harder...