Chapter 204: A Man's Romance
Mei Terumī was dazed for a moment, her body seemingly losing its strength as she sat back down.
She propped her forehead with one hand and remained silent, lost in thought.
After a while, she spoke up, "How do I find you for the next trade? Will you still be here?"
"I'll still be here."
Naruto looked at her and asked, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
Mei Terumī forced a small smile. "I'm actually quite happy. I didn't expect to hear news of him after all these years."
I can see you're practically on the verge of tears, hey.
Naruto hadn't expected her to have such deep feelings for Gen Shisei.
"Let me send you back."
He stood up, drew the enma sword, and directly slashed open a space tunnel.
"Space-Time Ninjutsu?"
Mei Terumī's voice carried a hint of surprise.
Moreover, the Space-Time Ninjutsu Naruto used was exceptionally fast.
It reminded her of Minato Namikaze.
His Flying Thunder God Technique also required no hand signs.
"Thank you."
Mei Terumī stood up and stepped into the tunnel.
If she hadn't believed Naruto before, her attitude shifted slightly upon hearing that Gen Shisei also came from the Tianming Organization.
After she arrived at the Hidden Mist Village, the space tunnel vanished.
Naruto sheathed the Enma. The reason he mentioned Gen Shisei was to gain Mei Terumī's trust and make the trade go more smoothly.
As he said, the Hidden Mist Village wasn't losing out, but their Tianming Organization was making a massive profit.
Leaving sea exploration rights aside, they could pull off all sorts of tricks with just aquatic products alone.
The reason the same materials could be sold at different prices was because of branding and packaging.
Furthermore, the variety of fish in the sea was rich, allowing for even more room to maneuver.
For instance, they could market things like abalone.
Let the people of the Ninja World realize that fish prices could actually be that high.
Naruto put away the table and stools.
Sasuke, who had been standing on the gate, glanced at him and said, "You wait here. If any enemies come, call me."
The implication was that he was heading back to Otogakure.
Naruto curled his lip and asked, "Is there no other meaning to your life besides fighting?"
Sasuke's tone turned slightly cold as he said, "Reclaiming my brother's body."
"..."
Naruto felt a headache coming on.
With the bodies of two beautiful girls dangling right in front of you, you're not even tempted?
"There's one more thing,"
Naruto added, "Expanding the Uchiha Clan."
Sasuke's expression froze as he recalled the issue of increasing the population that Naruto had mentioned earlier.
Images of Sakura and Karin flashed through his mind for an instant.
He immediately shook his head and said, "We will discuss this matter later."
"Hmph, go back and play with your sister-in-law then."
Naruto couldn't be bothered with this dense fellow and directly used Enma to slash out a space tunnel.
With the Flying Thunder God Technique, he'd have to make the trip himself.
But with Enma, he didn't have to.
The only trouble was that it made too much of a commotion.
His main body couldn't use it; otherwise, the secret would be out.
Sasuke hesitated for a long time before saying, "Orochimaru is not my sister-in-law."
Naruto suddenly felt that Orochimaru was a bit pitiful.
To not even be recognized by her brother-in-law.
"What about those two kids?"
"..."
Sasuke walked into the tunnel in silence, not looking back as he said, "I don't care whose children they are, but they are of the Uchiha Clan. I will save them."
Naruto felt like he had seen this kind of plot somewhere before.
He rubbed his chin.
Forget it, he couldn't remember.
Naruto turned and entered the Artisan Village.
It was now occupied by the White Lotus Sect, so he faced no resistance.
The next day.
Naruto received the memories of his Shadow Clone.
The one following Jiraiya.
"Going for 'research' again?"
Naruto's brow twitched as a plan formed in his mind.
He appeared in the Hokage Office, giving Tsunadea start.
"Can you knock next time?"
Tsunade shot him a glare and said, "Do you have any idea how much of a strain this is on the heart?"
"It's urgent."
Naruto stepped forward, grabbed her wrist, and used the Flying Thunder God Technique.
"Where is this?"
Tsunade surveyed the Izakaya before her and immediately said with displeasure, "It's full of cheap perfume. Why did you bring me here?"
"Jiraiya-sensei is inside."
Naruto pointed at the door and said, "Feel free to let loose. I'll pay for anything you break."
"I haven't stretched my muscles in a while."
Tsunade cracked her knuckles with a loud pop.
She pushed aside the door curtain and walked in.
Naruto silently offered a prayer for Jiraiya-sensei.
Immediately after, a blood-curdling scream echoed from inside.
He waited for a moment before entering the Izakaya to discuss compensation with the owner.
Jiraiya's face was swollen like a pig's head.
He kept muttering about his 'wicked disciple' under his breath.
Even thinking with his third leg, he knew only Naruto could have pulled such a stunt.
Tsunade stood with her hands on her hips, looking at him coldly. "You couldn't even last a day after leaving?"
Jiraiya gave a forced laugh and said, "It's a misunderstanding! I was just having a drink."
"Is that so?"
Tsunade said with a sweet smile, "How about I ask those two young ladies next to you? If it really is a misunderstanding, I'll apologize. If not, how about I tear off one of your legs?"
Jiraiya suddenly felt a draft in his lower half.
He immediately held up a finger and said, "At most, this counts as 'attempted'."
Tsunade was so angry she felt like spitting blood.
She grabbed Jiraiya by the collar and landed several punches, saying, "Then I'll call this 'attempted murder'!"
Naruto couldn't help but shake his head at the sight.
Never try to reason with a woman.
After a thorough beating, Tsunade's anger subsided, and Jiraiya sobered up.
Everyone had a bright future ahead.
After signing who knows how many unequal treaties, Tsunade left.
Jiraiya looked at Naruto, killing intent radiating from him as he roared, "You wicked disciple! I'm going to clear the sect of your presence!"
"I suggest you pick a different line next time."
Naruto picked his ear. "I've heard that one plenty of times already."
"There's going to be a next time?"
Jiraiya laughed out of sheer anger.
"I was talking about you, not me."
Naruto shrugged and said, "Better be careful the next time you go for 'research'."
"..."
Jiraiya clutched his chest.
His heart truly ached.
One day, he was going to be worked to death by this wicked disciple.
Worst of all, he couldn't even land a hit on the guy.
In the days that followed, Jiraiya behaved himself quite a bit.
But Naruto suddenly noticed that he had started practicing Sage Mode.
Ah, well.
Jiraiya's Sage Mode was imperfect.
Reasonably, since he could learn it, it was possible to keep refining it.
It just required a massive amount of time.
Half a month later, the Artisan Village welcomed Ninjas from Iwagakure.
The Tsuchikage, Ōnoki.
Initially, they hadn't cared, but after hearing that the Hidden Cloud Village had actually agreed to the terms, Iwagakure realized something was wrong.
The Raikage's explosive temper hadn't flared up; it was as if the sun had risen from the west.
There had to be a major problem.
After investigating, Ōnoki decided to personally come and meet these modern youngsters.
The Tianming Organization had appeared too suddenly.
Since they had clashed with the Hidden Cloud Village, they might also come into conflict with Iwagakure in the future.
Hearing is one thing, but seeing is believing.
Only by engaging personally could he grasp the specific situation.
Besides, they couldn't just back down the moment they heard of the Tianming Organization; wouldn't that prove Iwagakure was weaker than the Hidden Cloud?
In short, they had to have a fight first.
If he won, everyone would be happy; if he lost, he had an excuse.
After all, he was just a cranky old man.
Ōnoki looked at Naruto before him and asked, "You're The Hermit, aren't you?"
"That's me."
Naruto looked at him and said, "To have the Tsuchikage grace this small business with his presence is truly an honor."
"No need for pleasantries."
Ōnoki held up a hand to stop him. "Defeat me, and I'll agree to your demands."
"How strange,"
Naruto couldn't help but ask, "When did the Lord Tsuchikage become so young and impulsive?"
"Naturally, it's because I'm not old yet."
Ōnoki snorted coldly and said, "Are you going to fight or not?"
Naruto nodded.
Should he call Sasuke over, though?
While he was thinking, Ōnoki was already forming hand signs.
In an instant, his right fist was covered in stone.
Naruto took a look and retreated.
The fist struck the ground, instantly splitting it into a deep ravine.
"Good speed,"
Ōnoki commented as he followed up with another Ninjutsu.
His body became light and swift.
Naruto drew the enma sword and blocked his stone fist.
The sheer power surprised him slightly.
His body skidded back several meters.
Earth Release: Added-Weight Rock Technique?
It could not only petrify enemies but also increase one's own weight.
Naruto flicked the Enma, and the stone fragments at the point of contact immediately fell away.
"Young man, show me your true skill. Someone who could run wild in the Hidden Cloud shouldn't have only this much ability."
Ōnoki said, shaking his head incessantly.
"Fine then."
A moon-white glow appeared in Naruto's eyes as Sage Mode was activated.
He raised the Enma and pointed it at him.
Suddenly, waves of heat surged around them, and countless sparks flickered out of thin air, converging on him from all directions.
Ōnoki's face showed his alarm.
What a massive amount of Chakra.
In his surprise, he quickly formed hand signs.
Sage Art: Sun Breathing, Sixth Form: Burning Bones, Summer Sun!
The enma sword in Naruto's hand trembled slightly before he spun and slashed forward.
Like a tornado, the sky was filled with flames that wove through the air in an instant.
Ōnoki immediately felt the scorching heat in the air and a faint, uneasy agitation.
With a great roar, a stone golem over ten meters tall suddenly rose before him.
The flames coiled around it.
The enma sword slashed a large hole through the golem's abdomen.
Ōnoki hurriedly extracted Chakra to repair it, only to find he couldn't mend it at all.
What kind of Ninjutsu is this?
The flames continued to spread.
They bypassed the golem's body and lunged straight for Ōnoki behind it.
Seeing this, Ōnoki clapped his hands together and took to the sky.
The flight capability granted by the Earth Release: Ultralight-Weight Rock Technique.
He flew higher and higher until he finally stopped and extended both hands, a white cube appearing between them.
Ninjas with the ability to fly in the Ninja Worldwere few and far between.
With his flight and Dust Release, Ōnoki was an extremely troublesome opponent.
But Naruto thought of several solutions in an instant.
For example, 100% Unarmed Blade Catch, Flying Thunder God Technique, Mangekyo Sharingan, and so on.
He chose the simplest and most direct one.
A man's romance should be a clash of beams.
He took out the merlin character card and shouted, "kamen rider, Henshin!"
The world stood still.
Countless pieces of armor surrounded him.
In an instant, Naruto activated all of Merlin's skills. He felt as if his head were topped with a full page of buffs, and his entire body was filled with inexhaustible strength.
Sage Art: Sun Breathing, Thirteenth Form!
Flames incinerated the sky.
Ōnoki's eyes widened.
As far as he could see, there was nothing but burning fire.
Blade light followed blade light, seemingly forming a continuous cycle.
Ōnoki gritted his teeth and pushed the cube forward, making it expand instantly.
But then came the tremors.
One strike! Two strikes! Four! Nine!
Seconds later, the cube shattered.
The remaining fire swallowed him like a tsunami.