Though Naruto spoke as if the payment pained him, his face actually showed genuine happiness.
He looked at Terumi Mei, who sat straightening her messy bangs. "Sister Terumi Mei, how long do you plan to stay in Konoha this time?"
Hearing Naruto's question, Terumi Mei finished tidying her hair before speaking in a slightly hoarse voice. "I'll leave before sunset. As you know, current Kirigakure is a complete mess. There are still many matters waiting for me to handle."
"This time, I came specifically for you. You contributed the most in overthrowing Yagura. Everyone agreed that I had to deliver the spoils personally to demonstrate Kirigakure's sincerity."
"Well, I certainly saw Kirigakure's sincerity. Please convey my thanks to everyone there, Sister Terumi Mei." Naruto's smile widened with genuine appreciation.
"I brought a team with me this time, including Ao and Chojuro." Terumi Mei's tone carried satisfaction.
"Ao and Chojuro are here too?" Naruto felt genuinely surprised. After thinking about it, though, he realized Ao and Chojuro served as Terumi Mei's guards. Wherever she traveled, the two would naturally follow.
"Then I'll see them later." After all, both were Naruto's friends.
"By the way, I saw Tsunade just now." Terumi Mei's voice carried a note of admiration. "I didn't expect that after so many years, she's still so young."
Konoha's legendary Sannin and Terumi Mei's generation had all dealt with each other in the past.
"Sister Terumi Mei is also very young." Naruto offered the compliment smoothly. Then he continued, "Sister Tsunade—I found her and brought her back. I'll be leaving Konoha in a few days. While I'm away, Sister Tsunade will temporarily handle Konoha's affairs as acting Hokage."
"Leaving Konoha?" Terumi Mei ignored Naruto's sweet words. Instead, she grasped the more important point. "What does Naruto plan to do outside Konoha?"
Naruto smiled easily. "Konoha is too small. Besides, I've grown up now. I can't always stay in Konoha. It's time to go outside for some experience."
Experience equals making friends!
Hearing Naruto's explanation, Terumi Mei nodded with understanding. "You're right. This is generally a peaceful age. Your generation really lacks battlefield experience. Our generation—when you were still studying at the ninja academy, we were already fighting in wars."
Terumi Mei's words weren't suggesting that Naruto's strength was insufficient and needed enhancement through training. Rather, she meant that other life experiences also needed to be gained through travel and exposure to the wider world.
"Well, when the time comes, if Sister Terumi Mei needs anything, we can discuss it after I return from my journey." Naruto's tone remained relaxed and confident.
Terumi Mei nodded in agreement. "That's fine. Kirigakure's mess alone is enough to keep me occupied. Perhaps by the time I get Kirigakure back on the right track, your long journey will be finished."
"By the way, let's go meet Ao and Chojuro." Naruto stood up decisively.
Terumi Mei nodded and rose as well. She followed behind Naruto initially, then walked shoulder to shoulder with him after they exited the Hokage's office.
The visiting ninja from Kirigakure had all been arranged by staff in a specialized reception room for foreign dignitaries, with full standard service provided.
As soon as Naruto and Terumi Mei entered the reception room, the Kirigakure ninja stood from their chairs in unison. They saluted Naruto respectfully. "Lord Naruto!"
Seeing Naruto, these Kirigakure ninja felt genuinely excited. They'd witnessed Naruto's strength firsthand—like a god, like a demon, like a natural disaster. With his power alone, he'd completely wiped out over three thousand ninja, including the Fourth Mizukage Yagura himself.
Because of Naruto's intervention, they'd achieved zero casualties in the coup.
Therefore, these Kirigakure ninja worshiped Naruto fanatically in private. When the opportunity to come to Konoha arose, the ninja had competed fiercely for the chance to see Naruto in person.
"Hello, everyone!" Naruto greeted the Kirigakure ninja without any airs of superiority.
"Chojuro, Ao — long time no see." Naturally, Naruto focused particular attention on Chojuro and Ao, who'd already become his friends.
He welcomed everyone from Kirigakure on behalf of Konoha. Afterward, Naruto addressed Terumi Mei. "Sister Terumi Mei, please take a break first. I'll arrange for Konoha's people to entertain you properly. I still have some matters to handle. We can eat dinner together later."
Terumi Mei naturally indicated that as a guest, she would defer to the host's arrangements. After all, this was Konoha's territory.
After Naruto departed, the Kirigakure ninja immediately surrounded Chojuro and Ao with eager curiosity. "Lord Ao, Lord Chojuro, why is Lord Naruto so friendly toward you two specifically?"
"Yes! I also want Lord Naruto to greet me individually like that. If that happened, when I go back, I could brag to those brats for three days straight!"
"Three days? That's enough to brag about for three years!"
Hearing the words and questions from these Kirigakure ninja, Chojuro and Ao exchanged glances. The corners of their mouths twitched simultaneously. After their silent eye contact, Chojuro simply closed his mouth. Ao took responsibility for explaining to everyone.
Ao looked at the gathered Kirigakure ninja seriously. "Do you really want to know why Lord Naruto treats the two of us differently?"
"We do! Lord Ao, don't be mysterious. Just tell us quickly!"
"Because Chojuro and I are friends of Lord Naruto." Ao's words immediately stirred up waves like a stone thrown into still water.
"So Lord Ao and Lord Chojuro are friends of Lord Naruto! That's amazing! To actually become Lord Naruto's friends..."
"I want to be Lord Naruto's friend too!"
"Keep dreaming. How could someone like Lord Naruto become friends with us? No—we don't deserve to be Lord Naruto's friends at all."
Yes, you're all worthy. As long as you get beaten up by Naruto, you can become his friends easily enough. Ao and Chojuro looked at each other again. Of course, the two would never reveal Naruto's actual friendship method.
If they explained it, they'd feel too ashamed.
Exiting the reception room, Naruto walked toward the lounge. He hadn't forgotten that Choji was still waiting for him there.
Naruto never ignored his friends.
Pushing open the lounge door, he saw Choji sitting on the sofa, eating snacks with a blissful expression.
Hearing the door open, Choji continued eating. He turned his nearly nonexistent neck and spoke. "Naruto, have you finished your business?"
"It's settled. Tell me, Choji—what can I do for you?" Naruto came to Choji's side and sat down.
"Well, it's like this, Naruto. Let me tell you—I spent several days persuading my father. Finally, today he agreed to become friends with you! I'm taking you to my house so you can become friends with my dad."
Choji spoke to Naruto as if asking for credit, his voice full of pride.
Naruto's interest immediately piqued.
He remembered that after becoming friends with Choji, the boy had mentioned several times wanting his father, Choza, to become friends with Naruto too. But Choji had never successfully persuaded his father. Naruto had patiently waited, not wanting to pressure his friend.
Today, Choji was actually saying his father was willing to be friends with him. This made Naruto very curious.
How had Choji convinced his father?
"Choji, I remember you tried persuading your father many times before, and he never agreed to become friends with me. How did you succeed this time?" Naruto's curiosity was genuine.
"Uh, well... I won't tell you the specific process." Choji stopped eating snacks. His face flushed visibly. "Anyway, my father said he's willing to be friends with you."
Since Choji was unwilling to discuss the process, Naruto wouldn't force him. After all, he didn't care about the process—only the result. As long as the outcome was good, that's what mattered.
In truth, even if Choji hadn't persuaded his father, Naruto would have eventually found an opportunity to become friends with Choza anyway.
You could never have too many good friends.
Besides, this was still part of his dream.
By the way, Jiraiya-sensei's body has also healed. Sensei said that after he recovers, he's willing to be friends with me. I need to find an opportunity to become friends with Jiraiya-sensei too. I should accept Sensei Jiraiya's kindness properly.
"Since that's the case, Choji, let's go. We'll head to your house and I'll become friends with your father." Naruto stood up with determination.
"Yes! Let's become friends with my father!" Choji stood up as well, his voice carrying excitement.
Immediately, Naruto followed Choji to his family home. Entering through the gate, Choji explained, "At this time, Dad should be in the backyard."
He led Naruto through the front yard to reach the back. Sure enough, they saw Choza in the yard, apparently tending to flowers with pruning scissors.
"Dad!" Choji's voice rang out loudly.
Hearing his son's shout, Choza stopped the scissors in his hand. He turned his head and saw Naruto standing next to his son. He immediately trotted over. "I didn't know Hokage-sama would be visiting my home. I failed to greet you at the gate. Please don't take offense, Hokage-sama."
Choza wasn't exactly Naruto's junior in terms of generation, but he respected Naruto's position as Hokage. So in private settings, he still acknowledged Naruto's official identity.
After all, Naruto had earned that respect through his overwhelming strength.
Of course Naruto wouldn't take offense. He didn't carry such airs of superiority. For him, the position of Hokage was useful but not essential. He wouldn't be overly enthusiastic about maintaining its prestige over something else. He turned his head and glanced at Choji meaningfully, then looked at Choza directly. "Senior Choza, don't you know why I'm here?"
"Huh?" Choza looked genuinely stunned. "Should I know the purpose of Hokage-sama's visit?"
"Shouldn't Senior Choza know why I'm here?" Naruto asked again with pointed emphasis.
In truth, he already suspected that Choji might have lied. The boy probably hadn't actually persuaded Choza to be friends with him at all.
Responding to Naruto's serious question, Choza suddenly nodded with realization. "Yes! I know the purpose of Hokage-sama's visit."
After speaking, Choza looked at his son. He felt one hundred percent certain in his heart that all of this was his son's scheming. After Hokage-sama leaves, let's see how I deal with you, you little brat. Choza thought internally with building frustration.
Being stared at by Choza so intensely, Choji's body trembled immediately. But soon he spoke loudly in his own defense. "Father! Didn't you say I should invite Lord Hokage to come and become friends with you?"
Hearing Choji's words, Choza's face darkened abruptly. His heart churned with agitation. Damn it! He trapped me! This scheming little brat didn't seem to understand that becoming friends with Naruto meant going through that process. If he became friends with Naruto today, how could he hold his head up among the Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka families?
However, looking at Naruto's serious expression, Choza didn't dare say anything to contradict him. Naruto's strength was no joke. If he angered Naruto, he couldn't guarantee he wouldn't become the second Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Don't be fooled by Naruto's usual kind demeanor.
Never speculate carelessly about the mind of a truly powerful person. This was his hard-earned experience.
"Yes." Naruto looked at Choza and nodded with complete seriousness.
"This..." Meeting Naruto's unwavering eyes, Choza cursed his son again internally. Then he spoke with grim resolve. "Yes. This time I invited Hokage-sama specifically to become friends."
After saying this—even before going through the actual process—Choza already felt his face beginning to hurt in anticipation.
There was no escape. When Naruto had ascended to the position of Hokage, Choza had witnessed with his own eyes the process of Naruto becoming friends with tens of thousands of Konoha villagers simultaneously. Now, whenever those villagers saw Naruto, they all smiled relatively happily.
After hearing Choza personally confirm he was willing to be friends with him, Naruto felt instant clarity and satisfaction in his heart. A smile spread across his face. "Senior Choza, I'm sure you also know my principle for making friends. Well then, now please let me see your sincerity."
"Understood, Hokage-sama." Choza gritted his teeth with determination.
Choza engaged with Naruto instantly. In general terms, Choza was immediately overwhelmed and beaten thoroughly...
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Watching his father get crushed and beaten by Naruto—soon his face covered in punch marks—Choji hummed with satisfaction. "You want to have a little brother with Mom every day? Hmph!"
It turned out all of this stemmed from Choza wanting to have another child with his wife. Choji had discovered this and become intensely jealous. Thus, this scene had unfolded over several days of scheming.
In truth, Choji didn't understand that it was precisely because he kept persistently trying to persuade Choza to become friends with Naruto that his father had developed the idea of training a replacement son.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
After fifteen minutes, Naruto enthusiastically supported Choza upright. "Senior Choza, from now on, we're friends."
Choza's face was bruised and swollen beyond recognition. Only a narrow slit remained of each eye. But he still tried his absolute best to maintain a happy expression. "Yes. It's also my honor to be friends with Hokage-sama."
After successfully becoming friends with Choza, Naruto left Choji's house feeling genuinely happy.
As for Choji, Naruto had no idea how severely the boy would be beaten after his departure.
All he knew was that now he had one more friend. He walked down the road with genuine joy. Suddenly, Naruto stopped mid-step. He looked back at the head protruding from the ground. "Black Zetsu, can you stop appearing like this? You'll trip passersby."
On the ground, Black Zetsu showed only his black head. If it weren't for Naruto's sensitive perception, he might actually have tripped over him.
Additionally, Black Zetsu's coloring was so dark that at night, no one would see a large head on the ground.
Black Zetsu completely ignored Naruto's complaints. Instead, he looked at Naruto with visible expectation in his expression. "Lord Naruto, when are you going to save my mother?"