Seeing Kabuto's mental defenses break down, Naruto swiftly retreated, bending his knees to jump back three times in a row.
Kabuto, successfully provoked by Naruto, was nearly driven mad. At one point, he had a gentle light in his life, someone who was more important to him than even a mother, Yakushi Nono, the Orphanage's director.
But he didn't know that Nono was the former top intelligence gathering officer of the Root, known as the 'Wandering Miko'. She had only become the Orphanage's director after withdrawing from the Root.
Because Kabuto was too outstanding, he had caught the eye of Danzo at a very young age and was dragged into the Root.
Nono could only learn about Kabuto's condition through photos as she was not allowed to see him in person.
Danzo seized this flaw and started to make trouble. By slowly replacing Kabuto's photos, he gradually erased Nono's memory of the real Kabuto's appearance.
In the end, Nono completely mistook someone else for Kabuto, forgetting what the real Kabuto looked like.
So when she received the mission to assassinate Kabuto Nono felt no emotional turmoil. She didn't know how the real Kabuto looked like, and Kabuto also didn't know that the person who assassinated him was Nono, so he killed her instead.
Kabuto was originally an orphan who had lost his memories. It was Nono who had given him a name, warmth, and a sense of self. But in the end, Nono didn't recognize him, even at the moment of her death.
The last person in the world who remembered his existence died, and he lost his true self as well.
"Nono doesn't remember you at all. Isn't that ironic? Your existence has no meaning, no one cares whether you live or die."
As Naruto dodged Kabuto's attacks, he taunted him with a mocking expression, each word cutting deeper into Kabuto's heart. He had no intention of guiding people toward the light. Instead, every word was a silent, devastating blow.
"Shut up!"
Kabuto snarled with a ferocious look on his face, and the Chakra Scalpel in his hand gathered into a short whip, and he aggressively pursued Naruto.
"You have nothing and nowhere to go."
Naruto continued his verbal assault, moving more fluidly with each step, his sword strikes becoming increasingly precise. Kabuto's attacks grew wild and uncoordinated as he desperately tried to kill Naruto, his sanity slipping away with each reckless strike.
"Shut up!"
The air rippled with warmth as Kabuto's Chakra Scalpel slashed through it. Naruto knew better than to let his guard down. After all, a single hit could sever his tendons or ligaments.
Kabuto's speed was overwhelming, forcing Naruto to abandon forming hand seals altogether.
Naruto dodged step by step, continuously provoking Kabuto's nerves. Jiraiya hadn't arrived yet, Tsunade had already lost her combat power, and Shizune couldn't handle Orochimaru on her own.
"If you can't find your own identity, then just rob it from someone else!" Kabuto rolled over and swung a Chakra chainsaw-like at Naruto.
"What a joke! Then go ahead and rob it!" Naruto slashed at the chainsaw, bringing the two of them face to face once more. Through the narrow gap, they locked eyes, both gritting their teeth with menacing smiles.
On the other side, Shizune had already started fighting with Orochimaru in order to protect Tsunade.
Naruto silently prayed in his heart that the Pervy Sage would come to the rescue quickly, all while missing the timely rescues that Sasuke used to deliver.
"People like you, who have a name and identity, will never understand the despair of someone like me, who is completely blank." Bloodshot suddenly appeared in Kabuto's eyes, and his gaze was vicious.
"Uzumaki Naruto!" He panted heavily, like a wild beast, "Do you know what it feels like to kill yourself with your own hands? I am nothing."
"Names are just marks, and glasses are tools. You're right! From the start, I was nothing, I had nothing!"
"Heh." Naruto's face was equally ferocious, "What disgusting nonsense are you spewing? If your life has no meaning, then just die already!"
"You think I'd feel sorry for you? I'd kill you right now and spit on your grave. You think you've figured something out? If you have anything to say, save it for Nono!"
But Nono was dead, so who could Kabuto possibly talk to?
Kabuto didn't know how Naruto knew all this, but at this moment, Kabuto had no time to think, as his anger had overwhelmed his reason.
Naruto was fighting like a madman, showing no regard for consequences, as if he didn't care about the consequences.
If he couldn't have it, he'd destroy it, no redemption, no mercy. In the life-and-death struggle, why should he care who was more pitiful? Only the living has the right to spit on their enemy's grave.
Kabuto's life had been completely stolen by Danzo through despicable means. And until her last breath, Nono still believed that Kabuto was still living safely in Konoha.
Death is a constant, and so is tragedy.
But the world is not fake, the warmth of a loved one is real, and all Naruto wanted was to take it easy.
So, he said the most venomous thing he could to Kabuto.
"Have you ever wondered why it wasn't you who died that day?"
With a roar, Kabuto broke down completely, screaming in agony.
"Shut up! I'm going to kill you!!"
"KILL YOU, UZUMAKI NARUTO!!!"
"Bring it on!!" Naruto's neck veins bulged as he shouted back, refusing to back down. Lava Release Chakra instantly covered his blade, "Why did Nono raise something like you?"
It was so dirty. Naruto once again demonstrated the most shining quality in Shinobi duels, his flexible moral bottom line.
A child who has been drenched by rain is the best at ruining other people's umbrellas.
He knew exactly what could instantly crush a person's spirit, what could utterly destroy their beliefs.
With his blade engulfed in flames, Naruto charged at Kabuto like a young cheetah, and the molten lava completely scorched the blade red. Kabuto's Chakra Scalpel screeched as it aimed straight for Naruto's heart.
But Naruto's combat instincts were astonishingly sharp. In an instant, it was as if the whole world slowed down. The sound of wind, the hum of Shizune's poison needles slicing through the air, the chakra scalpel, all of it seemed to be infinitely magnified in his eyes.
In that split second, Naruto's leg muscles exploded with power, making him jerk violently like a leaf caught in a hurricane. Just like a movie tape being stuck, a black and white picture flashed by with a sizzling sound.
The high-speed twitching allowed Naruto to miraculously dodge the Chakra Scalpel. He had already reached into Kabuto's side. Then, without any hesitation, he swung his molten blade.
Kabuto's pupils dilated as the molten blade sliced into his right ribs. Fortunately, he activated Yin Healing Wound Destruction just in time. Before his right side was attacked, he mobilized his cells to heal in advance.
In this way, the cells that are constantly being destroyed and the cells that are constantly healing are intertwined together crazily, making it look like he was rapidly healing from his injuries.
This Ninjutsu is similar to Tsunade's Creation Rebirth and can be considered an exquisite Ninjutsu.
At the same time, the blade in Naruto's hand could not withstand the high temperature and broke. Kabuto's eyes narrowed, and a wicked grin spread across his face as his Chakra Scalpel surged.
In that instant…
Naruto casually threw away the broken Ninja Sword in his hand. Then, while Kabuto almost doubted his own eyes, a brand new Ninja Sword suddenly appeared in his hand!!!