Returning to the Village, News Choji Quietly Dug Up

What era are we living in? Still playing traditional fighting games?

The outcome of a battle can be decided in an instant, so the best strategy is to unleash your ultimate move after only three seconds of combat!

Therefore, the Reaper Death Seal!

Muku had just crawled out of the Box of Paradise, killed her own father with a single blow, and was about to indulge in a life of debauchery. Suddenly, she turned around and realized that Death Reaper had arrived!

"Are you crazy?" Jue or Muku stared at Naruto, their massive bodies trembling slightly.

"You're already dead, never come out again." Naruto's words were light and casual, but they felt like a knife to Muku's ears, making the hairs on her body stand on end.

"Seal up!"

The enormous phantom of the Death Reaper moved, pulling Satoru towards it. To outsiders, it appeared as if Satoru was bound by something out of thin air.

Then, a terrifying scene unfolded.

The giant creature, several meters tall, let out a scream as its massive body was compressed and collapsed violently downwards. Blood poured down like a torrential rain, stunning everyone present.

The phantom of the Grim Death Reaper with a blue face and fangs opened its mouth, gripped the white dagger in its hand, and chopped it off piece by piece, swallowing the pieces whole.

Muku was already dead; his body and soul had merged into one within the Box of Paradise. The phantom of Death Reaper simply flattened, chopped up, and swallowed him whole. To the outside world, it appeared as if Jue had been flattened and then vanished.

The scene fell silent; Naruto had swiftly quelled the disaster. What might have seemed insurmountable to the people of the Land of Grass couldn't even last three seconds.

Naruto didn't even glance at the high-ranking officials of the Land of Grass, ignored the long-dead Mui, or care about the chaotic prison. His gaze shifted slightly, landing on Ryūzetsu.

Ryūzetsu, losing all other thoughts and unable to utter a single question.

That's human nature. If it's within their own understanding, they'll be dissatisfied and raise objections. But when faced with absolute power, they'll look for the cause within themselves.

Even though Naruto's actions differed slightly from his account in some details, there is no doubt that Mui revived Muku as he claimed.

From this perspective, he has fulfilled his promise to Ryūzetsu.

In the end, however, Muku was not truly resurrected; only her lingering resentment remained in the Box of Paradise. After being resurrected, this resentment lost its true nature and transformed into terror.

The terrifying creature didn't last long before Naruto personally suppressed and killed it.

So Naruto glanced at her, and Ryūzetsu could no longer harbor any other thoughts. This was all due to Muwei; no matter Mui, Ryūzetsu dared not have a problem with Naruto.

He ignored the mess and left after storing the Box of Paradise in his Sealing Space.

Night falls.

Having changed his clothes, Ryūzetsu found him through his senses. Naruto sat by a campfire in the forest, where the ashes, now burned out, carried a fragrance that mosquitoes disliked.

"Sit down." Naruto seemed to be waiting for her.

"Hmm." Ryūzetsu sat down opposite Naruto across the fire.

She didn't dare say anything to Naruto, but her attitude clearly didn't show any happiness. Her childhood friend had died again, so it was inevitable that she felt some melancholy or couldn't let go of her worries.

Across the fire, Naruto glanced up at her, then leisurely tossed a dry piece of firewood into the flames. As sparks flew, he asked a question.

What are your thoughts on what happened today?

She had initially intended to say she had no opinion, but she still harbored some resentment, and seeing that Naruto's expression didn't seem accusatory, she gritted her teeth and spoke.

"Muku is still dead."

She didn't mention that Muku died at Naruto's hands, partly out of guilt and partly because that wasn't part of their agreement. But what's done is done, and there's no point in saying anything more.

"Are you unwilling?" He glanced at Ryūzetsu. "Or are you blaming me for not waking up your childhood sweetheart and giving him a new body?"

"Hmm, let's just find a human sacrifice. How about giving your childhood friend your body? Orochimaru does have that kind of ability, but there aren't enough vessels. We'll have to find a few more."

Ryūzetsu's face turned pale instantly. He swallowed hard and said in a low voice.

That's not what I meant.

"What does that mean?" Naruto stared at her, returning to the initial question: what did she think?

"I"

"You're overthinking it, and your strength is too weak." Naruto stood up. "Ten years ago, before your childhood friend was sent to the altar, why didn't you stop her?"

"I didn't know it would kill me. By then it was too late." Ryūzetsu suddenly became dejected. "Our whole village took pride in opening the Box of Paradise, but we didn't know what it was."

"Is that so?" Naruto uttered two words.

Those two seemingly casual words made Ryūzetsu instantly, as if they had struck a nerve. She didn't need to explain anything further; the more she said, the more guilty she would feel.

This is nothing more than shirking responsibility. No matter how many excuses are made, the situation back then was better than it is now. She couldn't do it, and even before Muku died, she realized it was a trap.

It's utterly unreasonable for her to blame others for Muku to save Wugou. She realized this, and felt ashamed and remorseful.

"The dead cannot be brought back to life, and even if they could, it would come at a great cost." Naruto never holds back when he's in the right; his words are sharp as knives.

"Why didn't you do anything back then? What made you expect a miracle? The Box of Paradise was opened, you saw the person, why keep them around to kill?"

"Or do you think Muku died too quickly, letting him kill thousands or tens of thousands of people before dying himself? Are you thinking that at worst you can be buried with him in the end, so that your guilt will be lessened?"

Each word struck Ryūzetsu's heart, making her lower her head repeatedly, feeling breathless.

Perhaps Naruto didn't feel such pressure before he displayed his overwhelming power, but now that Ryūzetsu has signed the Evil God Contract, he naturally understands Naruto's status.

Furthermore, Naruto's decisive three-second crushing of his opponent today ruthlessly shattered the last shred of stubbornness in Ryūzetsu's heart. Reason is for the weak; the strong only speak of the rules.

"I'm not saying anything more!" Ryūzetsu was on the verge of collapse.

Naruto's words were like a thin knife, peeling away the scabbed wound in her heart and revealing a piece of almost transparent flesh.

After doing all this, you should hand it to her and tell her.

See how stupid you were back then!

"This is his fate. Muku is long dead. What you saw today was just a puppet." Naruto was unwilling to let her go; he had no sympathy whatsoever.

Now that he has signed Evil God Contract with Ryūzetsu, he can't keep someone around who might cause him trouble at any time. He has to learn to accept reality.

"Stop talking!! Waaah." Ryūzetsu and cried. So much had happened that day, none of it was within her comprehension.

Mui resurrected Muku, but it was not Muku; it was merely a monster that had crawled out of the Box of Paradise. In the end, it was killed by that person, its flesh and blood torn apart, and it vanished without a trace.

Naruto fell silent, giving Ryūzetsu some time to catch his breath. He watched the crackling campfire and listened to Ryūzetsu's low sobs, his expression serious.

Actually, he was already thinking about what to eat when he got back to Konohagakure; he was so hungry. Things here weren't troublesome at all; he completed all the tasks without missing a single one.

Now only one item remains, to guide Ryūzetsu on her path. Actually, it doesn't have to be this complicated, since Muku was crushed by him as soon as he appeared.

Many things remain unseen, and Ryūzetsu is still unaware that Mui actually revived Muku on his own initiative. Naruto only needs to appease Ryūzetsu, or even take her as his own, and she will most likely follow him wholeheartedly.

After all, he was no longer the Naruto he used to be. He had been navigating the Shinobi World for six years and had seen it all. Those who had offended him were long gone, and there was no tactic he couldn't use.

But he didn't want to feign sincerity. In the past, when he hadn't gained power, he might have used some tricks and charm. Now, he had become accustomed to using power and influence to achieve his goals.

Simply put, use your brain before you have the strength, and use your hands directly once you have the muscles.

He didn't bother with any schemes or tricks to outmaneuver Ryūzetsu. Although he was reluctant to give up this hard-won consumable, he didn't value it that much. He simply asked her the fundamental question, letting her choose for herself.

Of course, whether she's chosen or not, she's already signed the Evil God Contract. The difference is, if she can't figure it out herself, then Naruto will never bother with her again.

Gradually, the Ryūzetsu's sobbing became barely audible.

"Actually, it's not your fault." Naruto suddenly said this, and Ryūzetsu raised his misty, tearful eyes from across the fire.

"Muku died for Kusagakure, so in the end, he died in vain."

Upon hearing this, Ryūzetsu was even more heartbroken.

"This is your village, so I can't say anything. I just want you to understand one thing," Naruto continued. "The world will change. Kusagakure will still exist, but everything will be swept away by time."

"Whether you like it or not, it's over. Muku is dead, Mui is dead too. It's over here. So what are your thoughts?"

He didn't give her a choice, but asked her for her thoughts again. This was the third time he'd asked Ryūzetsu what she thought.

Ryūzetsu's mind was in turmoil; Naruto's words kept echoing in her head. She had to admit that, even though she was unwilling, it was all over.

From beginning to end, she felt like a small fish caught in the ocean waves, tossed about by the undercurrents in Uzumaki. Unable to see the situation clearly, she turned back and it was all over.

This sense of powerlessness left her feeling utterly defeated; life seemed to have lost its purpose. Ideas? What ideas could she possibly have now? Everything was already...

It's not over yet! Ryūzetsu's pupils dilated slightly as she recalled the scene of Naruto single-handedly defeating a hundred people in the exercise yard. The image of him shirtless, subduing everyone with his bare hands.

The scene of crushing the monster that Muku had transformed into in those three seconds was now playing in her mind, magnified repeatedly, over and over again.

Powerful? Very powerful. She longed to be that powerful. If she had even a fraction of that power back then, would Muku have survived?

I must become stronger!

People live by their obsessions, and this is especially true for the most obsessive. Ryūzetsu believed from beginning to end that she was responsible for Muku's death, and there were some things she couldn't say.

Back then, Muku had already noticed the abnormality of the Box of Paradise and had spoken to her about her concerns before the sacrifice. However, Ryūzetsu didn't take it to heart at the time, and even said it was an honor.

Although that's what everyone in the village thought at the time, Ryūzetsu couldn't forgive herself after learning the truth. She longed to see Muku again and say sorry.

Unfortunately, the dead cannot be brought back to life, and even the remnant spirit that was resurrected could not last more than a few seconds. She truly had no choice, because Muku had completely vanished.

But she wanted to become stronger, and the way to become stronger was right in front of her.

"I want to follow you." Ryūzetsu stood up, walked to Naruto, and knelt down. "I want to become stronger. Please allow me to follow you, Master."

She finished speaking haltingly, then knelt on the ground with her head down. She didn't know why she was crying; tears just wouldn't stop flowing—humiliation, regret, guilt, and remorse.

Countless emotions surged into my heart, and I was unable to control myself for a moment.

Looking at the kneeling Ryūzetsu before him, Naruto's face revealed a subtle smile, and his voice softened. He refrained from saying anything hurtful, and simply smiled.

"Good."

Naruto left Ryūzetsu in the Land of Grass and refused her offer to return to the Anbu. Now that the Kusagakure has collapsed and the village can't be rebuilt anytime soon, there's no benefit in her returning to the Anbu to work for the Grass Flower Faction gang.

Although Kusagakure has collapsed, the good thing is that the Land of Grass is a mess, and no one is willing to take over. It has too many people, too little land, a poor economy, and is a mixed bag of people.

To put it bluntly, it's a complete mess; even if it exploded, nobody would bother stepping on it. You can't make a difference with mud, and there's absolutely no profit to be made from it.

In any case, if left unattended for a while, Kusagakure will gradually regain order amidst the chaos. Therefore, Naruto only allowed Ryūzetsu to settle down and rest for a period of time.

When he returned to Konohagakure using the Gate of Hades, it was already late at night. His stomach was trembling with hunger, so he could only hurry downstairs, eat some late-night snacks to tide him over, and then wash up and go to sleep.

Nothing happened that night, and when he opened his eyes, the sun was already high in the sky.

Naruto washed up and left feeling refreshed, even indulging in a deluxe set meal at Ichiraku Ramen. Now that the mission was perfectly accomplished, it was time to report back to Kakashi.

He also wanted to see what leverage Kakashi held that gave him the confidence to solve his immediate crisis. If he truly had a way to resolve the grudges between his two fathers-in-law, what harm would it do to call him "godfather"?

Just as he was happily appearing in the courtyard of the Hokage Building, a chubby hand suddenly reached out from around the corner and pulled Naruto inside.

"It's me!" Choji stared at Naruto with his beady eyes wide open.

"Choji, stop messing around. I'll pay you back next time." Naruto gently pushed Choji away. "Don't you have some secret stash of money?"

"Damn it! You have no intention of paying me back!" Choji suddenly remembered he had something important to do and quickly said, "Never mind that, I have something important to do!"

"What important matter?" Naruto asked curiously.

"Ino," Choji said in a low voice, "I heard something happened to Ino."