Chapter 96: A Diplomatic Incident?
Sunlight pierced through the dark clouds, shining upon the post-battle ruins.
Medical Ninja were busy working nervously, and outside the temporary tent, a conversation concerning the future of two Villages was taking place.
"Many thanks to everyone from Konoha for your assistance. If you hadn't arrived in time, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki would likely have been in grave danger."
Samui bowed slightly toward Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi.
She still wore an indifferent expression, her pale gold short hair fluttering in the wind, while the tight-fitting Kumogakure combat uniform she wore perfectly outlined her astonishing figure.
She turned around and looked at Nii Yugito, who was being bandaged by Shizune: "Lady Yugito, the crisis has been resolved. Let us return to the Village immediately; the Raikage is very worried about your safety."
This was a natural and logical proposal.
A Jinchuriki should always return to the protection of their own Village as soon as possible.
"Wait a moment! *Cough, cough, cough!*"
Suddenly, a fit of violent coughing came from the stretcher nearby.
Uzumaki Naruto, who had been lying there like a corpse, suddenly sat up. The movement tugged at the wounds on his arm, causing him to grimace in pain, yet he still raised his left hand with a righteous expression.
"I object! I firmly object!"
Naruto looked righteous, staring at Samui with clear eyes, "Do you know what state Big Sister is in right now? She just experienced mental torture of life and death! Her heart is very fragile right now, just like a newborn kitten!"
"If you force her to go back now, what if you run into monsters from the Akatsuki Organization on the way? What if she develops psychological trauma, leading to the Tailed Beast rampaging?"
Naruto spoke with great passion, spittle flying everywhere.
Asuma held an unlit cigarette in his mouth, looking at the sky awkwardly; Kurenai Yuhi crossed her arms with a knowing smile, ready to watch the show.
Because the next second, the real inner thoughts arrived as expected.
[Are you kidding me! Once she's in my bowl... *pfft*, once a cat-eared girl has entered my line of sight, how could I let you take her away?]
[What kind of place is the Hidden Cloud Village? It's full of hard-headed muscle men and rocks; there's no atmosphere at all! Letting such a top-tier big cat go back to suffer? That's a waste of resources!]
[The point is... she hasn't meowed for me yet! I haven't even tried the feeling of a cat hugging from behind, with its tail gently brushing against my neck! Let her go now? Then wouldn't I have suffered these injuries for nothing?]
Nii Yugito, who was having her wounds tended to by a Medical Ninja, stiffened abruptly, and her cheeks, which had just stopped bleeding, flushed with an abnormal crimson again.
This bastard...
Although it was to keep her here, the imagery in his head was just too vivid! What did he mean by a tail brushing against his neck? That's flirtation!
"But..." Samui frowned, not buying into Naruto's sophistry, "We in Kumogakure have the best protection mechanisms, and this is our priority."
"No! As a hero of this rescue operation, I must be responsible for the victim to the end!"
Naruto interrupted her directly. Afterward, his blue eyes didn't restrain themselves; instead, they locked onto the button on Samui's chest that was about to pop open, even more unscrupulously.
[Not only can this cat not leave, but you aren't running away either!]
Naruto's inner voice suddenly rose an octave, filled with the ecstasy of discovering a new continent.
[Look at these specifications! Look at this chest! Is this a local specialty of Kumogakure? Big Sister Samui!]
[Since you've come to Konoha's territory, you want to leave without leaving anything behind? Even if I can't conquer her immediately, as long as I can trick her into staying in Konoha permanently... whether it's morning jogs or hot springs, just being able to bump into this white figure on a street corner would make anyone want to eat three extra bowls of ramen!]
[How is this a diplomat? This is clearly a walking piece of Konoha scenery! She must stay! Even if I have to use love to reform her, she must stay!]
Samui felt a chill run down her spine.
That naked gaze seemed to have penetrating power, making her feel, for the first time, a sense of crisis that her proud figure was about to be plundered.
However, just as she was preparing to draw her blade to teach this brat a lesson, the cold and suggestive narration of the heavenly curtainechoed in her mind.
[*Ding!*]
[System Prompt: Detected that key character "Uzumaki Naruto" has generated a strong desire for a "captivity plan."]
[Situation Analysis: Although this person's words are frivolous, he holds a forbidden jutsu capable of destroying an S-Rank Rogue Ninja. Refusing his request is highly likely to lead to a breakdown in relations, or even trigger him to use force to keep guests against their will. Considering his unknown prophetic abilities and potential...]
[Optimal Solution Recommendation: Go with the flow. Under the guise of "monitoring a dangerous source," agree to stay in Konoha permanently. Instead of worrying about Konoha's conspiracies back in Kumogakure, it is better to go deep into the enemy camp and analyze this man's secrets at close range.]
Samui's fingers gripping the hilt tightened and then relaxed.
Although the system sounded very rational, the more she listened, the more it felt like a suggestion to push her into a pit of fire.
Go deep into the enemy camp? Analyze secrets?
Just hearing those few inner thoughts from this guy earlier, she felt like she was already about to be tainted!
"Naruto-kun, do you mean..." Samui took a deep breath, suppressing the strange feeling in her heart, and asked with a cold face, "You hope for us to stay in Konoha to recuperate?"
"That's right! This is also to build a deep friendship between our two nations!"
Naruto nodded frantically, then immediately threw out the shameless terms he had thought of long ago.
"Since Kumogakure was attacked, it means information was leaked. Until the traitor is caught, letting Yugito stay in Konoha is the safest option. I can give up the apartment next to mine! I'll be living right next door, at your beck and call. Whether it's providing warmth in the middle of the night or discussing life during the day, I provide 24-hour close... I mean, attentive service!"
[*Hehehe*, when the time comes, I'll get a telescope... or even if it's just saying hello on the balcony and watching them hang out laundry, that would be a kind of enjoyment!]
The female Ninjas present collectively had black lines on their faces.
This abacus was calculated so loudly that even Asuma over there could hear it.
Although Yugito felt ashamed and indignant, a strange sense of stability inexplicably welled up in her heart.
Compared to returning to that cold, icy Village that only treated her as a weapon, staying by the side of this pervert who had truly risked his life for her seemed... not so hard to accept?
"I agree."
To everyone's surprise, the first to speak was actually Nii Yugito.
She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, looking away with slightly flushed cheeks: "I am indeed in poor condition right now and don't want to travel long distances. And... regarding that jutsu, I still have some things to ask him."
Samui was stunned for a moment. Since the person involved had agreed, coupled with the system's incitement...
"In that case, we shall impose on you for the time being." Samui restored her cold, frosty expression, staring at Naruto with sharp eyes, "But I will stay as a liaison officer. Furthermore, if you dare to make any improper moves toward Lady Yugito..."
"Rest assured! I am the most honest person!" Naruto patted his chest in guarantee.
[Awesome! Double kill!]
[From now on, not only will I have a cat to pet, but there's also an ice-cold mature older sister type to admire! This is what life is about! This is what training is called!]
Kurenai Yuhi watched this scene, shaking her head helplessly.
Since when did Konoha's diplomatic strategy become so... unique?
...
Half a day later.
Konoha Village, Hokage Building.
*Boom!*
A loud bang echoed throughout the entire building, and the poor door to the Hokage Office flew directly into the hallway.
"What did you say?!"
Tsunade stood in the center of the chaotic office, clutching the intelligence scroll just sent back from the front lines, the veins on her forehead throbbing.
Her terrifying aura scared Shizune, who had just entered the room, so much that she almost threw Tonton away.
"That brat... not only did he take it upon himself to keep people, but he kept two of them?"
Tsunade was almost roaring, "And one of them is that... Samui from Kumogakure known as the 'Big-Breasted Strategist'?"
As the holder of the heavenly curtain, the moment Tsunade heard the news, Naruto's "negotiation process" filled with lewd thoughts automatically played in her mind.
Something about Konoha scenery, something about eating three extra bowls of ramen—it was simply unbearable to listen to.
But what drove Tsunade the craziest wasn't Naruto's lechery.
It was...
She compared Samui's measurements in her mind, then looked down at her own proud assets.
A sense of crisis welled up in the heart of the Fifth Hokage.
"Damn brat! He usually drools when he looks at me, but now that he sees a young foreign babe, he can't even walk?"
Tsunade gritted her teeth and punched the remains of the already ruined desk.
"Pass my order!"
Tsunade turned around abruptly, her Hokage cloak swinging a domineering arc behind her, "Seal off the three buildings around that apartment of Naruto's! Designate it as... a Special Diplomatic Quarantine Zone!"
"And! Starting tomorrow, all female Ninjas entering that area must be personally approved by the Hokage! Even those delivering ramen aren't allowed!"
Shizune held Tonton, trembling, and wept silently in her heart.
This isn't some diplomatic quarantine, is it?
This is clearly a 'prevent-addiction system' because you, Lady Hokage, want to monopolize the resources, right?
"It seems... the days ahead in Konoha are going to be excessively lively." Shizune looked at the crow flying past the window for no apparent reason and murmured to herself.