NOVPUB
Chapter 56 - 56 : Sacrifice
In a hidden basement beneath Konoha, Moonlight Hayate gritted his teeth, his face flushed with pain.
Across from him, Yamanaka Kaiichi and Morino Ibiki had their hands placed gently on Hayate's head, performing a mental operation.
"Be patient, Hayate. You'll be alright soon," Kaiichi reassured.
"Aaah—!"Veins bulged on Hayate's forehead as he struggled to endure the pain.
Finally, Kaiichi and Ibiki withdrew their hands. Hayate collapsed weakly onto the ground, gasping.
Behind the glass, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, watched in silence. Though his expression was calm, his eyes betrayed deep inner turmoil.
"I'm sorry, Hayate," the Third Hokage said as he stepped into the room.
Hayate struggled to sit upright and quickly responded, "Please don't apologize, Lord Third. You may have authorized the mission, but you also said I could refuse. This was my decision."
Hiruzen placed a hand on his shoulder and sighed. "You're a good man, Hayate. What a pity..."
Hayate smiled faintly. "If my sacrifice means Konoha's safety and the war's end, then even death is a small price to pay."
Suddenly, Haruto Itsuki burst in.
"Can we stop talking about death already?! Why does it have to be this way? Isn't there any other way? Life is too precious to throw away!"
Haruto turned to the Third Hokage. "You promised me you'd save Brother Hayate's life. Why won't you say anything now?"
Hayate gently held Haruto back. "Haruto, don't do this. This is my choice."
Seeing Haruto's unwavering eyes, Hayate continued, "This isn't a meaningless death. I planted false information in my mind. When the enemy kills me to extract it, they'll retrieve data about a fake stronghold. That will draw their forces away from civilians and allow us to ambush them. One life for victory—it's worth it."
"Konoha has poured time, manpower, and blood into this plan. We can't abandon it now. Only recently did I learn that Maki specializes in sealing and mind techniques. When he kills me, he'll seal my memories into a scroll and carry them off. That's our chance."
"You've heard the Third Hokage. Konoha must end this war quickly and decisively to deter other nations. If it drags on, we'll be dragged into a full-scale war and surrounded."
Silence hung in the room. Haruto lowered his head, staring at the floor.
"...I've known about this plan for a while," he murmured. Then suddenly, he looked up.
"But even if it's selfish of me to say this... why does it have to be him? Logically, the plan could work with anyone. But emotionally—Brother Hayate taught me swordsmanship. He believed in me. How am I supposed to just watch him die?"
"Haruto," Hayate said gently, "if you were asked to give your life for Konoha, would you?"
"...I think I would."
"Then you understand. I love this village too, and I'm willing to sacrifice everything for it."
"And besides..." Hayate gave a bitter smile. "I'm the most suitable. You know my condition."
Haruto fell silent.
He remembered reading about it before—AB (RH-). A rare blood type. Haruto had thought it was nothing until he learned more in this world. That blood type meant Hayate was likely born with hemolytic disease—a genetic, life-threatening condition. Few survived past 20. But Hayate, with his weak body, had become a ninja. A miracle. A tragedy.
"I was told I wouldn't live past 24. I'm 23 now. Better I die than someone else. And if the enemy is to believe the intel, it needs to come from someone of status. I'm perfect."
"It's not hopeless!" Haruto argued. "We could find Lady Tsunade. Her medical ninjutsu is the best. She might have a way!"
Hayate looked him in the eyes. "You know she can't cure this. It's genetic. Haruto, your temper's been getting worse lately. Calm down. I've made up my mind. Don't try to stop me."
He turned to the Third Hokage. "Lord Third, I'll prepare immediately."
As he walked toward the door, Haruto shouted after him: "What about Sister Yugao? Want me to tell her you died for Konoha? Have you thought about how she'll feel losing you?"
Hayate stopped. "...Tell her I'm sorry. No—don't tell her the truth. Let her hate me. It's better that way. If she hates me, maybe she'll find the strength to go on."
After Hayate left, the room fell silent. Kaiichi and Ibiki exchanged glances, then quietly departed.
"...This is too cruel," Haruto whispered. "Hayate wants to live more than anyone... Lord Third, is there truly no other way?"
Hiruzen's eyes closed for a moment. "There are other ways—but none as effective. This tactic is called dead time in warfare. It's the most efficient. I know it's hard to accept, but this is the way of the ninja. Sacrifice. Deception. Tough decisions."
"I've seen too many like Hayate—heroes whose names are never known. Some even die branded as enemies. No one sees their sacrifices. But they are Konoha's true protectors."
Haruto finally understood.
Why in the original battle, a skilled swordsman like Hayate was so easily ambushed and killed.
Why he didn't run when he could have.
Why he died with no backup—on purpose.
He wanted to die. For Konoha. For this plan.
"...Lord Third," Haruto muttered, "I'm going home."
He turned and left the room, eyes hollow.
So much for protecting everyone... I couldn't even protect the ones closest to me. In the end, it's all because my power... is still too small.
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Facing Jugo who was charging violently, Haruto Itsuki took the lead—without dodging, without evading—trying out a new trick he learned from studying Sasuke's combat data.
BOOM—! Moments later, Haruto was smashed deep into the ground by Jugo.
"Agh—!" Haruto climbed out of the rubble, coughing, and quickly leapt to the side.
BOOM—! Another deafening crash. A three-meter-deep crater exploded where Haruto had just stood.
"Jugo in his berserk state is terrifying. I can't handle him at my current strength. Worse yet, I can't use Murasame right now. Time for a trump card. I wonder if acquiring his bloodline will help..."
"Eight Gates—Second Gate: Gate of Healing... open!"
A violent surge of air exploded from Haruto. Abandoning weapons and ninjutsu, he stood his ground, fists clenched. At the same time, the Curse Mark activated. Black lines crept over his body.
Jugo charged again.
Haruto met his punch with his own hand—calmly catching it.
"Had fun tossing me around just now? Good. Now it's my turn."
Haruto grabbed Jugo and swung him like a ragdoll.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Jugo smashed into the ground repeatedly, craters forming wherever he landed.
But then Jugo roared, his form mutating—entering Curse Mark Level 2. Haruto was forced back into a stalemate, even after opening the Sixth Gate: Gate of View.
"With the Curse Mark and Six Gates, I should be near the strength of someone using Seven Gates. That would usually be Kage-level, but... my base stats are still only Jōnin level. Opening Eight Gates scales off your foundation. I'm not Guy-sensei... not yet."
Having analyzed the effects of Jugo's second state, Haruto made his move.
"Reaper Death Seal!"
A massive grim reaper loomed behind Haruto. Jugo's soul was torn from his body, screaming, dragged into the Shinigami's gaping mouth. Just as the reaper turned to devour Haruto—
He exited the dungeon.
"Phew... that thing is terrifying. Not doing that again."
Haruto checked the spoils of battle.
He'd farmed Jugo's instance several times—mostly trash skills—but finally, Jugo's bloodline dropped.
Haruto closed his eyes to sense the change.
Suddenly, a sharp wave of killing intent welled up inside him. The Curse Mark patterns reemerged—more intricate than before—before slowly fading as Haruto fought down the madness.
Far away, Orochimaru opened his eyes.
"Interesting... he actually unraveled my Curse Seal. What a prodigy. I look forward to meeting him myself."
Haruto exhaled slowly, suppressing the killing urge.
Opening his eyes, he felt the Curse Seal was gone—completely. His chakra flowed freely again, no longer obscured or unstable.
He drew Murasame. Channeling a surge of chakra into the blade, the signature light blade shimmered to life—slender and deadly. Not only had its power returned—it felt stronger than ever.
He gently stroked the blade.
"Heh... I'm glad too, Murasame."
Immersing his mind back into the system's dungeon, Haruto noticed something incredible.
Jugo's bloodline, originally at 0.5%, had now skyrocketed after absorbing Orochimaru's Curse Mark. His Primary Bloodline progress bar—and even the Intermediate tier—was now more than half full.
The bloodline's perks were many:
Enhanced agility
Boosted physical chakra and durability
Improved battle instincts
Passive +10 to chakra affinity across all elements
But the side effects were just as real: prolonged use caused erosion by natural energy and waves of murderous madness. Control would be key.
"I don't know how that guy Jugo keeps himself stable. No wonder he's such a gentle soul... this'll save me three months of training though. Orochimaru's kind of a good guy, huh?""This power'll still be useful in late-game fights..."
Next, Haruto entered Sasuke's dungeon again. But this wasn't kid Sasuke—it was the cold, emotionless 16-year-old version.
The simulated Sasuke was near perfect. His lifeless eyes flickered only with hate—hate toward the world.
"Tch... this is the Sasuke who drowned his heart in vengeance. I liked you better when you could still smile."
Sasuke didn't respond. He attacked.
"Chidori!"
Electric crackling filled the air. Sasuke and Haruto clashed violently.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball engulfed the space between them.
Haruto could have countered with stronger fire-style ninjutsu. But instead, he stuck to using weapons and water-style, keeping it fair.
Then Sasuke's final technique came.
The sky darkened.
"Lightning Style: Kirin."
A giant thunderbeast—vast, roaring, and blazing with light—plummeted toward Haruto like a divine punishment.
Haruto smiled.
"Finally..."
"Flying Thunder God Technique!"
He vanished.
Sasuke's ultimate move hit nothing.
Seconds later, Haruto reappeared behind him, opened the Eight Gates, and used Reaper Death Seal once more—killing Sasuke instantly and exiting the dungeon.
After the trial ended, Haruto carefully dissected the Kirin technique's principles.
The system had awarded him intermediate mastery of the move—already nearing advanced level.
Even with just 1% skill proficiency, the system still uploaded all foundational knowledge. Haruto's intellect and theory crafting filled in the rest.
He stood up, conviction in his eyes.
"If this works... I can rewrite everything. The Third won't have to die. Hayate won't have to die. Konoha... can be saved."
He walked toward his lab, ready to reshape fate.
