Chapter 3: The Bet (Revised)

  Thank you for the support from some of you, I absolutely won't abandon this, whether it's for Luo Yu or for myself, and also for all of you who will put my future works on your bookshelves.

  After revising the second chapter, the total number of words in this article is 371245. The increased number of words from revision alone has already exceeded the updates. For me, the effort put into revision and updating is the same, but usually, there are people supporting updates, while revisions often get criticized. However, I still decide to continue revising for a better presentation, at least until chapter 3x. As for whether there will be updates in between, it depends on my inspiration (PS: I'm also waiting for the conclusion of AB's brotherly war). After all, what comes next is the extinction chapter.

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  The Third Hokage didn't know how long he had been lost in thought.

  "Kurenai, Aoba, you two go down first!" The Third Hokage dismissed the two Anbu members and turned his head towards Naruto on the sofa.

  Fourth Hokage, you left too early, too soon, leaving behind such a big mess... whether it's Konoha... or Naruto, I never thought you'd be with her so quickly...... at the scene of the sealing back then, why was only Naruto left, what about the others? What about their corpses?

  You only told me that you can seal the nine-tailed demon fox, but I didn't know the price you paid was so great. What's going on...

  They didn't know that Naruto was your child, they only understood one thing: that Naruto's body contained the Nine-Tails Fox that destroyed half of Konoha and caused more than half of the villagers to lose loved ones.

  That person, they think is the murderer who killed you, an arrogant and ignorant one, still wants to fight against the Nine-Tails and drag you down with them!

  That child is not a ninja born in our village of Konoha, and you haven't had time to settle down yet, that child has such a personality, often getting lost, even if on the surface, she gets along well with everyone, but...

  Alas! I don't know if it's fortunate that there aren't many people left who knew about you, and those who were clear about the details mostly died in those riots!

  But why did this child let Naruto inherit his mother's surname!

  Everyone, your child, the indifference that flashed in his eyes just now makes me very worried!

  He's only a little over two years old, if I hadn't devoted too much energy to the work of the Fire Shadow, neglecting Naruto, he wouldn't be like this! Naruto, I owe you an apology!

  But there are some things! I'm really powerless too, after all, I'm a Fire Shadow...

  "Huh?" The Third Hokage let out a low cry.

  The Third Hokage noticed Naruto's strange sleeping posture.

  Only the body kept moving, as if struggling, but the limbs hardly moved randomly, as if tied up by something, and with that expressionless sleeping face, it looked even more bizarre.

  The Third Hokage put down the official document in his hand and walked over, "Naruto! Naruto! Wake up!"

  In a state of half-drowsiness, I sensed the approach of another life form. As I struggled to regain my consciousness, I was shocked to discover that my physical exhaustion had accumulated to such an extent without me realizing it. Was my body's instinct craving rest so desperately?

  I finally managed to suppress my physical reaction, and when I opened my eyes, I saw a wrinkled old face appear in front of me within five centimeters... Is this some kind of special surprise?

  I wore a puzzled expression, staring at the three generations of Fire Shadow who came out of nowhere to scare me.

  The Third Hokage saw Naruto's frightened state and instinctively felt that something was off.

  When ordinary people are frightened, the body's reflex action is to move the entire upper body backward, but my movement was as if it were fixed in place, with only my head moving slightly in the opposite direction.

  It's as if a reflex action has been forcibly changed, compulsorily...

  The Third Hokage's face was deep in thought as he suddenly grabbed my wrist, the wound that had not fully recovered yet, felt a strong impact from his touch, and I couldn't help but blink.

  The Third Hokage silently rolled up the sleeves of the long-sleeved clothes that Obasan had originally prepared for me, revealing those scars.

  Speaking of these wounds, I also find it strange. The body of Uzumaki Naruto is not sealed with the Nine-Tails Fox Spirit, and I remember that this body has a strong recovery ability, so why are there no signs of healing from these injuries?

  It wasn't until much later, when I asked the lodger inside me, that I learned about these scars. The wounds weren't just on my body, my heart was also hurt. At the time, I didn't have any good thoughts, so these wounds wouldn't heal.

  I calmly watched as the Third Hokage's expression gradually filled with indignation and helplessness, his face seeming to want to say something but unable to quite put it into words.

  Good grief! I've been found out again. I tried my best to cover it up, but unfortunately the Third Hokage is a sly old man and I gave myself away with just one blink of an eye.

  But oh! What a face, full of age marks!

  "Hey, he's holding me like this and I couldn't sleep. His strength is also greater than mine, so I can only play a staring game with the Third Hokage."

  I opened my eyes after I don't know how long, and they were sore. Only then did I hear the Third Hokage say: "Naruto... you... do you really have nothing to say? Or is there something else you want?"

  What's the matter? I'm not particular about anything, but what I'm least used to here is...

  "Speaking of requests, I have one more small request." This is really just a tiny little request.

  "What demands you make I will grant!" The Third Hokage seemed very excited, is this how he intends to compensate me?

  Compensation... is it because I feel owed? Why does a smile appear in my heart instead of gratitude?

  Third Hokage, you should know that the phrase "I'll do anything" is a forbidden word, not anyone can say it out loud. There's nothing easier than saying "I'll do anything" to make someone fall from heaven to hell... I don't want to fall again.

  "I want to change my name." I said in a low voice, bringing up the thing that makes me most uncomfortable at the moment - my name.

  "What did you just say?" The Third Hokage's expression was unusually surprised, so much that it seemed unreal to me.

  A qualified leader should not casually express his emotions or overact his feelings.

  Although my voice was very small just now, I don't believe that a Jonin like you wouldn't be able to hear what I just said at this distance.

  And no matter how many times you ask me, my answer will always be the same.

  "I want to change my name."

  "But... your name is Lian... it was given to you by a great person, doesn't that sound bad?" The third generation tried to dispel my idea.

  Naruto, Naruto... this name makes me feel very uncomfortable. No matter what the purpose was for giving this body this name, a dark being like myself taking on such a bright and shining name is just not right. It's extremely unpleasant, especially since this body itself already makes me feel uneasy.

  This name filled with expectation, hope and blessings, only makes me feel ironic.

  That protagonist's "light" is really making me have... a "destructive" desire! It's truly too dazzling, too piercing to the eyes for "us". Ah! Brother, that name, really doesn't suit "our" kind of life, if we can even be considered a kind of "life".

  The Third Hokage noticed my silence, "Naruto, no, you want to change your name, is that all? What about your surname?" The Third Hokage didn't really want to refuse any of my requests now, but changing his name... this was really beyond his expectations.

  What a surname! Although I'm certain that this "Swirl" surname should be related to the symbol of Konoha, right?

  Fourth Hokage... Apparently, the father of this body had a different surname, I recall it wasn't "Naruto" but rather "Uzumaki", so the name of this body is "Uzumaki Naruto".

  "Vortex" should be in memory of Konoha, or to commemorate the Fourth Hokage who protected Konoha. Or is it related to the mother of this body? Is it a surname from the maternal side? But why not use the paternal surname? Does this also involve some political consideration?

  "Dattebayo" might really be the name that the Fourth Hokage gave to this body, or maybe it was the Third Hokage, or perhaps some other elder. But in any case, it's not a name that was given to me, "Dattebayo" isn't my name.

  "Whirlpool Roar Man" is a name suitable for a hero, and only suitable for a hero. I am not a hero, they don't think of me as a hero, and I don't want to be a hero either.

  The Fourth Hokage would seal the Nine-Tails into this body at the cost of his life, because he believed that its owner, his son, would be a hero who could seal the Nine-Tails.

  However, he had no way of foreseeing that the residents of Konoha would double their fear and hatred towards the Nine-Tails onto Naruto before he was twelve years old.

  Just like a year ago, if I hadn't known about "Naruto" before, I would have thought that "Monster" was the name of this body. The first time I heard the full name "Uzumaki Naruto" was when the Third Hokage had the Anbu bring me over previously, and it was the first time someone called this body by that name.

  I looked at the Third Hokage, only to see a pitiful expression on his face, as if I was bullying him. Judging from this situation, he probably also knew how that old hag had treated me, so he didn't dare say anything either.

  Forget it, let others have a chance too, and what's the difference to me anyway?

  I gently rubbed my left cheek and calmly said: "Naruto Uzumaki, at least you will live for another year."

  I made a bet with the Third Hokage and also made an oath to myself.

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  Chapter 3 is fixed for now, if needed, will be revised again at the end of Volume 3.