Naruto: Konoha's Traitor

Deliberate

Uchiha Kazuo saw through Chi Yu's intentions—but it was already too late.

Jiraiya and a group of Konoha shinobi had arrived.

Kazuo could only argue that Chi Yu had deliberately provoked him.

But Chi Yu simply spread his hands and said coldly, "Please. You were the one who approached me first, threatening me—and now you say I insulted you? Insulted the Uchiha clan? That I provoked you into attacking me? Are all Uchiha like you? Shameless, twisting facts with a straight face?"

Uchiha Kazuo's expression darkened. "That wasn't a threat—it was a warning!"

Chi Yu turned toward Jiraiya and asked calmly, "Jiraiya-sama, do you consider the words 'Being here is only temporary—you'll eventually return to Konoha' to be a warning... or a threat?"

Jiraiya's eyes narrowed as he glanced at Kazuo.

A "warning"? It sounded far more like a thinly veiled threat to him.

Kazuo opened his mouth to justify himself, but Jiraiya cut him off with a sharp glance.

"I'll ask you one thing," Jiraiya said curtly. "Were you the one who attacked first?"

Kazuo stiffened, then admitted reluctantly, "Yes, but—"

"But nothing." Jiraiya's tone turned stern. "You approached Chi Yu on your own. You issued veiled threats. Then you struck first. What else is there to say?

At a time like this—when unity is critical—you're still hung up on clan politics? You're a Jōnin. Act like one.

Enough. Come with me. Orochimaru will decide your punishment."

Kazuo's heart sank.

Chi Yu... that conniving bastard. He'd baited him—insulted the Uchiha clan over and over until Kazuo lost control. All to engineer this exact situation.

Now, no matter what he said, it wouldn't change the facts.

He had initiated the confrontation. He had thrown the first blow.

And Orochimaru—the man infamous for his cold pragmatism—would be the one to pass judgment.

Kazuo followed behind Jiraiya in silence, his expression grim.

Behind them, Chi Yu's voice rang out again—calm, but laced with venom:

"You four! There's a squad of about ten Cloud shinobi ahead. You'll perform a preemptive strike. I'll scout the area for any potential ambushes, so don't count on my support immediately.

I didn't order a retreat—so none of you are to fall back. Even if you die, hold the line. Understood?"

Uchiha Kyosuke and the other three stared at him in disbelief.

A ten-man Cloud squad, half of them Chūnin, led by a tokubetsu jōnin. How were four Chūnin expected to ambush that?

Kazuo stopped in his tracks, eyes locking onto Chi Yu.

Those words earlier... "The more you threaten me, the more I'll pass the cost onto your subordinates."

Now it was clear: Chi Yu was retaliating—using Kyosuke and the others to punish Kazuo.

Kazuo shouted, "Chi Yu!"

Chi Yu glanced at him coolly. "What? Still not done?"

Even Jiraiya, a veteran of many wars, couldn't stomach this anymore.

He now understood exactly what Chi Yu had done: he had intentionally provoked Kazuo, then exploited the fallout to assert dominance over his team.

"Chi Yu, that's enough," Jiraiya said, frowning. "Don't make things harder for your subordinates. Kazuo will be punished."

Chi Yu responded calmly, "Jiraiya-sama, this isn't punishment. This is a mission. All missions carry risk. If they're not prepared to face death, why did they become shinobi?

Besides, I didn't send them to die—I gave them an objective. I'll join them after confirming there are no hidden threats in the area. As long as I live, they won't die. Isn't that enough assurance?"

Kyosuke and the others looked stricken. They had done nothing, yet they were the ones paying the price.

Their assignment to Chi Yu's squad was already a misfortune. Now, Kazuo's outburst had given Chi Yu the perfect justification to push them to the edge.

Jiraiya sighed heavily. "Chi Yu... in any case, don't be too extreme. Leave room to maneuver."

Chi Yu nodded with a faint smile. "Of course, Jiraiya-sama."

Jiraiya left with Kazuo in tow.

The other Konoha nin looked at Chi Yu with apprehension.

A single thought echoed in their minds:

Don't provoke this fox. He'll destroy you.

Chi Yu turned back to Kyosuke and the others with a faint, unreadable smile.

"Follow me."

The four felt a chill run down their spines. They hadn't even done anything—and yet misfortune had found them.

But disobedience was not an option. Silently, they trailed after him.

---

Uchiha Kazuo followed Jiraiya to Orochimaru's tent.

After listening to Jiraiya's report, Orochimaru stared at Kazuo with cold, sharp eyes.

"You Uchiha truly know how to create problems," he said softly, voice laced with disdain. "You dared provoke an internal conflict now?"

Kazuo lowered his head. He knew he wouldn't be shown mercy.

Especially not here—especially not by Orochimaru, who had taken Chi Yu under his wing.

Still, Kazuo was confident he wouldn't be sent back to Konoha in disgrace like Uchiha Raijin. He was a Jōnin, and the war effort needed every capable fighter.

As expected, Orochimaru didn't suggest exile.

"Uchiha Kazuo," he said, "you will participate in the upcoming assault on the Cloud stronghold—as part of the vanguard unit."

Kazuo's pupils contracted.

That was a death sentence in all but name. The vanguard bore the brunt of the enemy's defense—and often suffered the heaviest casualties.

He clenched his fists. "Yes, Orochimaru-sama."

After Kazuo left, Jiraiya crossed his arms, expression grave.

"Orochimaru... aren't you concerned? Chi Yu's just made himself a mortal enemy of the Uchiha clan. When this war ends, he may face serious consequences."

But Orochimaru's expression remained indifferent.

"Chi Yu has always been incompatible with the Uchiha," he said quietly. "And you're underestimating him, Jiraiya. He rarely acts without absolute confidence. If he dared provoke them—he's already calculated the risk.

He's not afraid of their retaliation."

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