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Chapter 343: Fury
Chapter 343: Fury
"Mm, Hanabi will definitely keep it a secret! I won’t tell anyone! Not even big sister!"
She promised.
Naruto smiled, a truly relaxed and warm smile this time. He rubbed Hanabi’s soft hair:
"If it’s your sister, I’ll tell her personally.
Let’s go. Uncle Hiashi has to work overtime today, so let’s go pick up your sister and bring her to my house. I want to have a good taste of little Hanabi’s cooking."
"Mm!"
Hanabi nodded vigorously, took Naruto’s hand again, and a smile returned to her small face.
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In the evening, as expected, Naruto was still the head chef.
Hanabi and Hinata were the sous-chefs.
"Sorry, I’m late."
After everyone was seated, Ino also arrived at Naruto’s house.
"It’s okay, you’ve all worked hard."
Naruto responded to her with a smile.
At the dining table now, Naruto had Hikari and Hinata on either side of him. On the other sides of Hinata and Hikari were Hanabi and Karin, while Ino sat directly opposite Naruto.
"If we’re talking about hard work, Naruto is the one who’s worked the hardest! It feels like you’ve gotten so much thinner."
"The Summer Festival and Fireworks Display in two days will be held more grandly than in previous years.
Firstly, it’s to celebrate the submission of Hidden Stone Village and Hidden Sand Village and to boost public morale; secondly, it’s to give everyone a chance to relax and reunite."
"And then..."
Naruto’s tone paused slightly,
"I plan to leave the Village and return to the front lines after the Fireworks Display is over."
This news caused the atmosphere at the table to suddenly freeze.
"I want to go too!"
Almost as soon as Naruto finished speaking, Uchiha Hikari’s voice rang out immediately.
Hinata’s hand holding her chopsticks tightened slightly, and she lowered her head.
She wanted to go too, to be by Naruto’s side, but she knew very well that with her strength... on a battlefield of that level, even protecting herself might be difficult, let alone helping.
She didn’t want to become a burden to Naruto.
Ino also pursed her lips.
As a sensory and intelligence-type Ninja, she would be completely useless on a frontline battlefield where Hidden Leaf Village only had Naruto and Hikari.
Because Naruto’s sensory abilities were even stronger than hers.
But deep down, she also longed to fight side-by-side with Naruto.
They all wanted to follow Naruto to the front lines because they were also Ninjas.
Seeing the low spirits of the girls, Naruto comforted them: "We are out there fighting for the Village, and you are also fighting for the Village within its walls! The fighting should be over before the end of this year.
Once the war is over, we will welcome a long-lasting peace."
When that time comes, Naruto would go see what exactly was going on with that so-called Pure Land.
The thing about this situation was, it wasn’t about not giving; it was the fear that just as he got his hands on it, he’d have to give it back!
Who ever heard of someone being resurrected for a few days and then being ’recalled’ urgently?
If you’re going to recall them, recall them all, but you didn’t even recall everyone.
The Six Paths Sage had truly infuriated Naruto this time.
If push came to shove, Naruto would go to the moon and release Kaguya, then see if the Six Paths Sage panics.
Anyway, Kaguya just wanted to live; she backstabbed Isshiki because she didn’t want to become nutrients, and she chose to create White Zetsu because she didn’t want to be hunted by Urashiki, Momoshiki, and the others.
As long as Naruto tossed Urashiki’s corpse in front of Kaguya when the time came, he could basically win her over to his side.
While Naruto was lost in brief thought, Ino spoke.
As Naruto was immersed in this brief contemplation, Ino Yamanaka’s voice from across the dining table pulled him back into the warm atmosphere of reality.
Ino put down her chopsticks, folded her hands on her lap, and her emerald-green eyes gazed deeply at Naruto, filled with undisguised concern.
"Peace... is indeed something worth longing for."
Ino’s voice was soft yet clear, sounding particularly moving at the quiet dining table.
"Every one of us longs for the war to end, for that future without the smoke of gunpowder where everyone can live in peace."
She paused, her tone becoming more solemn, even carrying a hint of pleading:
"But Naruto, more than a grand blueprint for peace..."
"We hope even more that you can return safely."
"Ye... yes, we can take things slowly."
Hinata also couldn’t help but echo in a low voice, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.
Karin pushed up her glasses and said in a muffled voice: "Even though I’ve seen your strength, I still can’t help but worry about whether something will happen to you when there’s no news coming back."
There were too many powerful people in the Ninja World, so Karin couldn’t help but worry.
Even little Hanabi nodded vigorously, looking at Naruto expectantly.
Ino took a deep breath and continued, her gaze sweeping over Naruto, then specifically glancing at Uchiha Hikari, who was also preparing to head to the front:
"So, Naruto..."
"Please, you must promise us that no matter what, you will protect yourself."
"Don’t take too many risks for the sake of victory, and don’t push yourself too hard."
There was a faint, imperceptible tremble in her voice, the release of long-accumulated worry finally being spoken aloud:
"Because your safety is more important to us than any victory or any peace.
Hidden Leaf Village needs you, the future of the Ninja World needs you, and we... also need you."
After saying this, Ino seemed to feel that her words were a bit too forward; her cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn’t look away, still bravely gazing at Naruto.
Then, she turned her head to look at Uchiha Hikari sitting on Naruto’s left, her tone equally sincere:
"Of course, that goes for Hikari too."
"Since you’ve decided to follow Naruto to the front, then... please make sure to protect yourself as well, and at the same time..."
A flash of complexity crossed Ino’s eyes, but it quickly turned into pure blessing and entrustment,
"Please also help keep an eye on this fellow who never looks after himself, when you are able to."
"We are temporarily entrusting a part of Naruto to you."
These words were both a heartfelt entrustment and a sincere acceptance and transfer of trust.
Ino knew that Hikari’s feelings for Naruto were unusual, and she also knew that Hikari possessed extraordinary strength.
Rather than secretly competing or worrying, it was better to openly share this responsibility of care and protection.
Uchiha Hikari hadn’t expected Ino to say this to her specifically. She was stunned for a moment, and then a very faint blush appeared on her exquisite, usually expressionless face.
She nodded vigorously, and though her voice was soft, her determination was clear:
"Mm. I will. I promise on my life."
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At night, Naruto suddenly sat up from his bed.
"No, that old man Six Paths Sage is out of his mind!"
This incident had truly made Naruto furious.
If he didn’t know where the Six Paths Sage’s grave was, Naruto would have wanted to go there overnight, dig it up, and then bring the old man back with Edo Tensei.
What kind of person does this!
What I’m supposed to win, even if you use this kind of underhanded tactic, it’s useless!
I think this old man wants a step-father!
The more Naruto thought about it, the angrier he got. He wished he could go straight down to Izanami Slope and give the Six Paths Sage two big slaps, or just camp at the old man’s spawn point.
Doing this served no purpose other than making Naruto angry.
It couldn’t be that the old man is like the God of the Ōtsutsuki, able to transcend this world, and is looking for a successor before he leaves!
A thousand years ago, he only managed to Seal Kaguya by joining forces with his brother. For most of this millennium, he probably hasn’t had a Physical Body; could his strength even grow?
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