The Sunagakure shinobi limped away.
Three of them had collapsed unconscious and likely would not wake up for three days. The remaining two could only carry all three away on their shoulders and backs.
Watching their retreating figures, Naruto chuckled freely.
The pieces had been placed. All that remained was to wait for them to bear fruit.
Soon. War was coming.
That day was not far off.
Only after they had gone far away did Naruto slowly turn around, his gaze falling on a figure hidden beyond the corner.
"Come out! Stop hiding!" he called.
"Did you notice me?"
Tsunade emerged from behind the wall, rubbing her wrist as if she had wanted to make a move but never got the chance.
Naruto stood still and watched this young yet not-young big sister—no, granny.
She had not been doing this before, but ever since this morning, she had been following him. Naruto could not figure out why.
If it was only about becoming Hokage, then negotiations and conditions should have been discussed with Jiraiya. Why follow him?
Tsunade walked over and crossed her arms, making her most eye-catching assets stand out even more and drawing repeated looks from the upright Naruto.
Yet she seemed completely unaware of it. Still watching the group leave, she asked,
"They're from Sunagakure, right?"
"That's right."
Only then did Tsunade turn her head and look at Naruto, who had grown to be as tall as her.
"What did they want with you?"
Tsunade had seen everything that had just happened.
She did not understand.
Naruto had barely made a move, yet that group had all dropped to their knees.
How had this brat done it?
Genjutsu?
Or something else?
"I don't know!"
Naruto smiled brightly, as if the incident had nothing to do with him.