The Value of a Life Under Control (Bonus Chapter for Alliance Leader Jackie 210)
"What is that?"
"The church in the Land of Hot Water worships a god who lures unsuspecting living people into sacrifices in search of immortality," Tayuya explained.
"If you say so, then so be it." Naruto stood up. "I don't mind."
"However, I am not interested in other people's souls. You are the first borrower, and you will be the only one."
"You"
"Who wants to form a debt relationship with you!" Tayuya turned her head away.
Naruto was very patient, keeping his hand outstretched in mid-air.
She gritted her teeth, glanced at Naruto, pondered her words for a moment, and finally suppressed her anger.
She figured she just needed to take the money and run within the debt limit. She could simply refuse any unreasonable demands and take the last bit of money before disappearing.
That guy's furious. Anyway, the world is so big, he can't possibly catch me.
Naruto was certain that Tayuya would not reject his proposal, as it was the best solution from both of their perspectives.
Orochimaru no longer needs her, nor will he remember her.
Anyway, Sasuke successfully defected, Orochimaru wouldn't care whether four or five of the Sound Ninja Five, the experimental subjects Teuchi, died.
Even if Tayuya didn't go back, Orochimaru wouldn't waste time looking for her; Sasuke was the one he truly loved.
For Naruto, buying her soul and faith for 100,000 taels was just a copper coin. Money had lost all meaning for him.
He could raise the price if needed, but it's clear that Tayuya doesn't seem to have Tayuya of a concept of money.
"Then let's get to know each other again." Naruto extended his hand expressionlessly. "I am the owner of your soul, your only creditor, Naruto Uzumaki."
A small, fair hand cautiously, as if tentatively, was placed into Naruto's palm, and was eventually grasped tightly.
Naruto didn't seem surprised. He calmly grabbed Tayuya's hand and pulled her up.
"Did you find it?"
"Who told you to throw them so haphazardly? You bastard."
"Show some respect. I'm your debtor now." Naruto straightened up from the pile of fallen leaves, somewhat annoyed, and stopped picking up the money.
The act of scattering coins was stylish, but bending down to pick them up is incredibly painful.
"No! My soul has already been sold to you, I don't owe you any money now," Tayuya said righteously.
"You have far more than 100,000 taels of silver." Naruto glanced at her.
The Nikko hung low, filtering through the sparse, withered leaves in the forest and refracting shapes in the drifting dust. The two were not far apart, their calves completely submerged in the half-meter-high pile of dead leaves.
The banknotes were scattered on the withered leaves, and the two of them had to work hard to pick them up.
"Consider it a loan if it exceeds the limit!" Tayuya puffed out her slightly bulging chest and said righteously, "Anyway, we signed that debt agreement, so I'll take it!"
"If you're in debt, you should be nicer to your creditors." With that, Naruto stopped picking up the money and slowly approached Tayuya through the pile of fallen leaves.
"What are you up to?"
"Are you scared?" Naruto didn't answer directly, but instead asked in return.
"Who's afraid, you bastard!!" Tayuya clenched her fists, forcing herself to speak. "What can you do? In the end, you're just a little brat who's even smaller than me!"
Your legs seem to be shaking.
"You bastard, you're full of garbage!" Tayuya cursed.
"Oh ho?" Naruto moved in front of Tayuya. The two were in a thick pile of dead leaves, their noses almost touching, just two fingers apart.
"You" Tayuya turned her head away, her face showing only disgust.
She blushed the moment Naruto handed Tayuya the nearly 100,000 ryo banknotes he had picked up.
"Damn it, how much do you love money?" Naruto complained.
"Mind your own business!" Tayuya snatched the banknotes and stuffed them into her pocket. "I have nowhere else to go, isn't it natural for me to like money?"
"If we don't have money to buy food, we can only resort to robbing, which could easily lead to unnecessary trouble if the ninja village finds out."
"You're surprisingly smart," Naruto said, not holding back his praise.
"That's a very simple principle! How much do you underestimate me!" Tayuya said, though she was actually quite pleased. "... While that's true, I am indeed very smart."
"If you accept a debt, you have an obligation to fulfill it." Naruto stared into Tayuya's eyes. "You're actually afraid, aren't you? So what are you afraid of?"
"You have absolutely no experience in this area, right? So you're afraid I might suddenly kiss you?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Tayuya was still being stubborn. "I started fighting when I was six years old. I've killed more people than you've eaten ramen. I don't care about that kind of thing at all."
"That's terrifying," Naruto said dismissively, then changed the subject, "The debt is already two hundred thousand."
Seeing Naruto so close, Tayuya panicked and shouted with her eyes closed.
"I don't want to!"
"It's reasonable to refuse," Naruto suddenly said, and then left Tayuya.
"Huh?"
Naruto had already gone in another direction to pick up the money, saying without turning his head.
"Your value is far more than 200,000; you have the right to refuse."
Upon hearing this, Tayuya froze on the spot, her thoughts becoming as tangled as threads, her mind uncontrollably focused on one question.
How much is my entire life worth in that guy's eyes?
The day after the mission ended.
Naruto woke up in bed to an eerily quiet empty room.
The mission failed, and Sasuke still managed to escape.
Everyone was injured, except for Naruto.
Due to the sensitive nature of her identity, Tayuya did not return to the village with Naruto, but instead went to Tanzaku Town alone as promised to Naruto.
It wasn't a specific street, but a bustling town located in the Land of Land of Fire, some distance from Konohagakure. It had everything from accommodations and delicious food to beautiful scenery, rivaling even the Konohagakure Street.
Their relationship is somewhat like raising a cat, but not quite.
This decision was made after Naruto himself considered the consequences, as nothing significant was expected to happen in the three years following Sasuke's defection.
He needs to grow up gradually, Tayuya.
Even before the mission began, Naruto had already refused Jiraiya's request for training; he just wanted to lie down. He wouldn't believe a word the old Toad said, unless the sun rose in the west.
Moreover, training with Jiraiya is too troublesome, and the training won't be very effective even after it's over.
He plans to rely on the system to cultivate first and return to his daily life. He wants to finish the Nine-Tails progress bar that he's been dragging on, and try to trigger more options within three years.
I'll find a suitable time to resolve the issue of the Nine-Tails inside my body.
The Sealing Tail Jutsu has long been distributed.
I can only add two more chapters for now. I need to release thirty chapters next Friday at noon. I'm worried that I won't have enough drafts, so I'll leave the remaining eight chapters for next Saturday.
Chapter 30 will be updated next Friday.
Chapter 13 will be updated on Saturday.
The main reason is that the alliance leader came unexpectedly, and I'm releasing the drafts now because I'm afraid I won't be able to finish the thirty chapters that will be available for purchase.
As compensation, the number of updates will be increased from 10,000 to 12,000 per day.