Naruto Kirigakure System - Chapter 47
After some thought, Naoki casually put the scroll away, not making any further guesses.
Orochimaru has complex methods and formidable strength, but he needs the means to take down Naoki.
When the enemy comes, I’ll fight back. If the water rises, I’ll use the earth to stop it. It’s that simple.
In time, everything will become clear.
With that mindset, Naoki continued his performance, waving, cheering, and celebrating.
After responding to the enthusiastic Kirigakure ninjas, he went straight to his command tent and looked at the red-haired girl at the desk.
“Mei!”
Naoki closed the door, calling out excitedly to Mei, who was buried in documents.
It had only been three days, but compared to the battlefield’s bloodshed, he preferred this gentle retreat.
“Alright, Naoki.”
“I know you dealt with Sunagakure.”
Mei shook her head with a helpless smile, hiding her joy. She quickly frowned again, holding a yellow page covered in black tadpole-like symbols.
“Take a look at this.”
Naoki’s smile faded as he moved closer, taking the paper.
After a few glances, his expression turned serious, and he began to read it carefully.
Kushina Uzumaki, Orochimaru, Ino-Shika-Cho, and the Uchiha clan.
Few but elite, and not just any elite.
Naoki murmured, his face becoming grim.
The high-level combat power is significantly unequal.
This is the foundation of the number one ninja village, Konoha, utterly different from Sunagakure.
Naoki couldn’t help but sigh.
He could hunt freely outside Sunagakure, provoke the Kazekage, and force them to surrender in three days.
But against Konoha, all he could do was defend.
Even defense might be complex now.
With Kushina Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails Jinch?riki, the coordinated Ino-Shika-Cho trio, many elite Uchiha Jonin, and the legendary Sannin, Orochimaru.
Adding in Minato, who could return from the Land of Lightning at any moment, this war seems more likely to end in defeat than victory!
Remember, Naoki can only hold off one Kage-level fighter at most!
“What’s wrong, Naoki?”
Mei originally wanted to use her serious expression to caution Naoki, who had been smooth sailing, to avoid complacency and prevent a careless defeat.
But now…
Her eyes, honed by years of knowing him, sensed that Naoki was genuinely pessimistic.
“Nothing.”
Naoki sighed.
“Prepare to retreat. This war should stop here if we want to end with a victory.
“Why?”
Mei sprang up, incredulous.
“Even if the high-level combat power is somewhat unequal, we have sufficient troops. We shouldn’t retreat now.”
Thinking of the Nine-Tails’ flying tails, Orochimaru’s Eight-Headed Serpent, the Uchiha clan’s Sharingan, and Minato’s record of forty kills in a second, Naoki bitterly shook his head.
“Sometimes, quality really does far outweigh quantity.”
“How could that be?”
Mei wanted to argue more.
“Naoki, you handle Orochimaru. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen defend against Kushina and Ino-Shika-Cho. The Uchiha clan and other forces, we’ll handle with our large army.”
Mei rambled, trying to convince Naoki to abandon the idea of retreating.
After all, this was the most significant, most fruitful, and most glorious victory since the founding of Kirigakure.
From top to bottom, the genuine admiration for Naoki from all Kirigakure ninjas was a clear indicator.
Ending it abruptly like this would be unacceptable to her and all the Kirigakure ninjas.
“Impossible.”
Naoki smiled, looking at Mei’s earnest eyes, and suddenly asked with a hint of realization.
“What do you think of Kushina?”
“Hmm?”
Mei asked, puzzled. She then reached onto the desk and quickly found Kushina Uzumaki’s file among the pile of documents.
“Minato’s wife, elite Jonin, rarely takes action, few battle records.”
Mei read carefully, finding nothing unusual.
Hearing her muttering, Naoki sighed.
“Mei.”
“Read her surname.”
“Surname?”
Mei, still puzzled, read aloud.
“Uzumaki.”
“Hmm?”
Mei first seemed to realize something, then asked incredulously.
“Jinch?riki?”
“Most likely, yes. Ninety-nine percent sure. After all, the previous Jinch?riki, Mito Uzumaki, was from the Uzumaki clan.”
“In that case…”
Mei’s face darkened, unconsciously fiddling with the sweaty documents.
“Facing the Nine-Tails, even thousands of troops would be ineffective.”
“Though it’s frustrating.”
Mei sighed.
“Let’s do as you say, Naoki.”
“I’ll handle the other matters.”
“Alright.”
Naoki nodded calmly.
“But don’t tell anyone yet.”
“Before retreating, I must at least confront Orochimaru alone to boost my reputation one last time.”
“Orochimaru?”
Mei came to her senses, sighing.
“A ninja as terrifyingly strong and cautious as Orochimaru…”
Halfway through her sentence, seeing Naoki’s confident look, she gave up trying to caution him.
After all, she no longer knew Naoki’s limits. He was likely one of the strongest among Kage-level ninjas.
Hidden under her red hair, Mei glanced at him and pushed him away.
“Go ahead, then.”
“I have things to do.”
“Alright.”
Naoki’s eyes sparkled as he casually grabbed a cup of water, frozen it with chakra, and placed it in front of Mei.
“Mei, drink more hot water.”
With that, Naoki swiftly left the tent.
It’s still early. I could visit Orochimaru.
An hour later, in a dense forest in the Land of Fire, a figure dressed in white strolled through the forest.
“Naoki-kun, have you been waiting long?”
“Perhaps, Orochimaru-kun.”
“My time is precious now. Orochimaru-kun, let’s get straight to the point.”
“Heh heh.”
The rustling leaves announced the arrival of a silent figure from the shadows.
Naturally, Naoki noticed, turning to look.
“Naoki-kun.”
In his sight, Orochimaru wore his trademark eerie smile.
“I want to offer you the position of Mizukage.”
“In exchange, I need some experimental materials.”
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