The others all removed their conical hats. The tall one was Kakashi, Yamashita was Neji, and Sasuke, Sakura, and Tenten were fishing at the other positions.
After confirming Gato's whereabouts, all that remained was to capture him without harming any innocent people.
If we could win without bloodshed and subdue him without a fight, that would be for the best.
Throughout the process, we kept having Gato speak and converse with different "local big shots." This kept his attention focused on the conversations themselves, causing him to overlook the details that might give him away. That was why Naruto and the others had deliberately added plenty of twists and turns while polishing the "script."
Gato watched the group with an icy expression, and a sudden urge to sacrifice himself for his carelessness rose within him.
He quietly moved his hand toward his waist.
"I saw that," Sakura said calmly from the side. "Don't even think about trying anything funny, or you're going to suffer a little."
Naruto piled on, saying, "After all that fuss, this is all our king of the yakuza is capable of?"
Kakashi also stepped forward. "Anyway, surrender."
Gato looked around at everyone. The resentment in his heart erupted like a geyser. He had only just made his debut, and now they wanted to throw him in prison?
Shiba, do they really think I'm some kind of chaebol?
Even a chaebol wouldn't get this treatment, right!?
Gato glared viciously at them and roared: ",!"
[You damn mongrels, all of you can go to hell!]
With that, he pulled a dagger from his waist and charged at them... only to be subdued by Naruto in one second.
But as soon as those words came out, several people wore confused expressions.
Tenten muttered, "What was he saying...?"
Kakashi, Sasuke, and Neji also showed a trace of confusion.
Naruto expressionlessly pulled out a towel and gagged Gato tightly. "That's a secret code used among yakuza."
"Huh?" Everyone looked at Naruto.
"While I was undercover at the gathering place, I learned a few phrases. For example, 'Shiba' means 'salute,' and 'Kae-ssi-ae-ge-i' means 'loyalty,' and so on."
"I see." Tenten's eyes sparkled. "Amazing, Naruto. You even managed to infiltrate the gathering place."
"Do you know what a gathering place is?" Neji asked from the side.
"No."
"..."
Sakura shot Naruto a sharp look, then smoothed things over. "In any case, this person is extremely good at inciting others. I suggest we don't let him say a single word before we escort him back to Konoha."
To be safe, they couldn't let Gato talk too much.
"Mm. That's what we'll do." Kakashi nodded.
[Naruto's Diary]
In the 64th year of Konoha, the first Land of Waves dungeon came to an end. Haku, Zabuza, and Gato were to be escorted to Konoha to await trial. I also found time to sort out my thoughts and review all my actions in the form of a diary, making preparations for the suspicions the higher-ups in Konoha might have later.
Of course, I recorded the diary in Chinese. After reading it over a few times, I would destroy it.
After all, there were several places where I had behaved strangely. To sum it up in one sentence—I had been overly clever in certain places, not "Naruto" enough.
I planned to find an opportunity to pin everything on the Nine-Tails. The evil tailed beast came up with those ideas, so what did that have to do with me, Naruto Uzumaki?
Also, Gato's Korean before he was captured reminded me that when I crossed into this world, I seemed to have naturally learned Japanese. I spoke with my companions without thinking, yet when talking with Sakura, I occasionally switched back to Chinese.
I might as well use Chinese for important private conversations from now on.
That's enough for today. Tenten came to find me to play. Hehe.
June 19. The bridge was nearly complete. Gato used a stone to cut through his ropes, but I caught him while he was escaping.
He shouted and made a scene, saying things like "I'm the protagonist" and "You insects don't deserve to breathe the same air as me." I treated him to some dragon fruit, and he said he felt much more clear-headed afterward.
Then I started fishing for information. This bastard began complaining about society and fate, but when he started cursing his own mother, I punched him straight in the mouth and knocked out his front teeth. What a damn nuisance! How could such a useless piece of trash exist!?
But I also began thinking about a problem: What should I do if Gato returned to Konoha later and someone like Ibiki tortured the truth about transmigration out of him??
This man absolutely could not be allowed to live!
June 21. The bridge was completed. Sakura and I arranged for Gato to escape again and guided him toward the depths of the woods.
I had already prepared all kinds of traps there. Originally, I had planned to let Gato fend for himself, but one of the traps injured a wild boar in the woods. The boar exploded with rage, broke free of the trap, and happened to ram straight into Gato's abdomen while charging down the road!
He soon collapsed. By the time Kakashi and the others arrived, he had lost too much blood and was beyond saving.
Late that night, Sakura came to me with red-rimmed eyes and asked whether what we had done counted as murder.
Like me, Sakura had experienced many battles, but she had never truly killed anyone. Watching a person slowly lose the signs of life from a hidden spot was simply too cruel for a girl born in the modern era.
I told her what Gato had said and explained that, as we put it in my hometown, this wasn't creating sinful karma. It was accumulating merit.
She finally stopped crying, then asked whether she could lie beside me and sleep for one night. I agreed.
Tsk, Sakura-chan kept edging her waist toward me. I was really in a difficult position!
Was this a test for a cadre or something?!
June 23. Returning to Konoha really felt like coming home.
Unexpectedly, Hiruzen personally came to visit me at home. He even brought me some fresh fruits and vegetables, then said he had someone clear out all the expired food in the refrigerator.
Heh. Why not just say that you have a spare key to my house!?
Following the speech I had prepared on the way back, I began vividly explaining how the Nine-Tails had influenced me. I emphasized the Nine-Tails' resourcefulness, hinting that many of the ideas during our time in the Land of Waves had actually come from it.
Hiruzen showed appropriate concern and asked whether I had experienced any adverse reactions. I said I hadn't.
He fell silent for a moment, then exchanged a few more pleasantries with me before leaving. Before he went, he reminded me not to do anything strange with Konohamaru.
Hehe. Old man, you wouldn't want Konohamaru corrupted by me, would you?
In any case, I had to build a closer relationship with Konohamaru. Being alone was carefree, but establishing a network of connections was clearly more reliable.
June 24. Sakura found time to visit Haku and said she wanted to see whether they could exchange insights on Ice Release. I was skeptical. The situation was too sensitive at the moment. Konoha would probably have to spend time handling its relationship with Kirigakure first and wouldn't let anyone visit prisoners.
However, Sakura reminded me of this, so I began making time to continue practicing my control over the Nine-Tails Chakra.
To my surprise, I could actually complete Water Walking on my own despite never having trained for it!
This showed that controlling the Nine-Tails Chakra during this period had brought me enormous gains.
Mm, further training could begin as well, including but not limited to: flying with the Nine-Tails Chakra, fighting, running, writing calligraphy, drawing, building with blocks, threading needles...
What do you mean by fine control over Chakra?! (Tactical backward lean.jpg)
June 25. Shocking!
Before you continue