"That's what happened... that's it... I'm really sorry! I didn't expect them to take it seriously! They still remembered it for so many years!"
At the dining table, Jiraiya, who had been beaten all over by Kushina, hit his forehead heavily on the table with a swollen and bluish pig-headed face, and his tone was filled with unbelievable grievances.
Naruto rubbed his forehead, he almost forgot about it.
The incident dates back to when Jiraiya was traveling to Ninja World when he was young. He heard that there was a place called Nadeshiko Village. The entire village, from the village chief to Ninja, from civilians to traders, were all women, without exception.
This "daughter country"-like setting was simply a paradise for Jiraiya at that time to collect information (peeping). He touched it excitedly, and the result was--
Found naked.
What's even more outrageous is that after he escaped, he fell in love with Ninja, the daughter of Nadeshiko Village at the time.
So the question is, how can a village without men reproduce?
The answer is simple and crude: defeat the man you like and force him to marry you by force.
Jiraiya and the kunoichi fought for several days and nights, but there was no winner. In the end, both sides took a step back and reached an agreement.
This unfinished victory or defeat is left to each other's disciples to complete.
Satsuki After listening, his whole body froze.
Her black eyes were completely devoid of light at the moment, like two bottomless cold pools. The way she looked at Jiraiya was no different from looking at a corpse.
"By defeating Naruto... can he be forced into marriage?"
"That's great... I want this right too." She slowly raised her head, and the corners of her mouth even raised a slight arc.
"But before that - we have to clean up all the rubbish that is in the way. As long as we kill them, the agreement will no longer count."
Jiraiya froze, "Wha, what?! Wait, kill, wouldn't it be too much to kill them..."
"Shut up!!!"
Kushina's roar and fist arrived at the same time. With one punch, Jiraiya was knocked back to the table with a muffled thud. There was only one thing on her mind now - her son's feelings!
Satsuki and Naruto are already married! The wedding is just around the corner! At this juncture, the peach blossom debt that this old pervert incurred decades ago actually pops up to disrupt the situation?!
Of course, there is another reason why Kushina is angry. The agreement and engagement will be inherited by the disciples? Another disciple of Jiraiya is her husband!
"That... can you push it away?"
Naruto spoke in a calm tone, "Have a good talk with them. If you have to fight, I will accompany them, but don't make the matter a big deal."
He doesn't want to make Satsuki sad, let alone cause trouble. The easiest way is to win and use his strength to make Nadeshiko Village give up.
Jiraiya's voice became increasingly weak, "Uh... I'm sorry Naruto... They seem... afraid that I will regret it..."
"... No way."
The aura emanating from Satsuki caused the temperature of the entire room to drop a few degrees.
"No! This is it!"
Kushina was so angry that he took out a crumpled flyer from his arms and slapped it on the table, "They even chose the venue! Bastard... It would be great if I could play, I have to teach them a lesson! If you win, you can be forced to marry? How come I haven't encountered such a good thing?!"
Jiraiya muttered in a low voice. "Well... if you don't use Kurama's power, you can't beat Minato..."
"If you don't speak, no one will treat you as a mute!!!" Another heavy punch fell.
Everyone's eyes were focused on that flyer. It was not an ordinary notice at all, but a carefully designed promotional poster--
[Ninja World attention! Inheritance Battle!]
[Fifth Hokage disciple·Uzumaki Naruto VS contemporary Nadeshiko Village princess·Nadeshiko Shizuka!]
[The winner writes the future, the loser fulfills the oath!]
[Location: Konoha Village Martial Arts Arena | Time: Today | "The result of this battle will determine the candidate for Nadeshiko Village's next 'father'."]
"Finally see you, Lord Jiraiya."
In the room, a kunoichi with a capable temperament, similar age to Kushina but with an older face, bowed slightly. She is Nadeshiko Shizuka's attendant.
Beside her, sat a young woman wearing a plain white robe with a cold face - the contemporary Nadeshiko Village heir, Nadeshiko Shizuka. Her eyes were slightly lowered, and she did not react to the arrival of others.
But for some unknown reason, the attendant and Shizuka felt a chill down their spines almost at the same time - the temperature in the room seemed to have dropped suddenly.
"This... must be the rumored disciple of Lord Jiraiya, Uzumaki Naruto." The attendant's eyes fell on Naruto, "I think you have learned the purpose of our trip from Lord Jiraiya - to have a serious duel with Lord Shizuka on the bet of marriage..."
"Stop!"
Naruto raised Teuchi to break the other party, frowning,
"Well... since you know that Teacher Jiraiya is my master, you should also know about my situation, right? I can never admit this kind of thing!"
"Of course we know!" The attendant's voice suddenly rose, with an offended sullenness, "That's why I came to Konoha! You are our important groom candidate - this was decided decades ago! Much earlier than your so-called engagement!"
"The so-called engagement?!"
Kushina slammed the table and stood up, his flaming red hair almost exploding.
"That's what we as parents have decided! Guys like you who go around publicizing it just to tie people up have no right to say that!"
"Promote? I'm afraid you misunderstood - promoting the duel and selling tickets are what 'Ten Thousand Something Trading Company' does to make money. We are just following the trend."
The atmosphere was tense, but the instigator Jiraiya only dared to huddle in the corner and did not dare to breathe.
"The so-called engagement... the groom..."
Satsuki repeated these two words in a low voice, his teeth chattering slightly uncontrollably.
Why can't you just kill them? If it's Naruto... you will definitely understand me.
"But! In my current situation, it is absolutely impossible for me to agree to you!"
Naruto finally couldn't help but raise his voice and became completely serious. "If the duel is for other reasons - I will accompany you to the end! But such a thing as an engagement... I will never accept it! This is a betrayal to the people around me!"
"... Wha, what?!"
The attendant's face darkened, "Do you think Mr. Shizuka is voluntary?!"
"That's enough."
Nadeshiko Shizuka, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke, "No need to say more. This is my destiny - the outcome will be decided in the duel."
"Sir Shizuka, please allow me to finish." The attendant sighed and turned to Naruto and the others, "Perhaps... after listening to the reasons, you will understand why this duel must be carried out."
She slowly told a story from the past.
Shizuka used to be unwilling to abide by any ancestral marriage contract - because she already had someone in her heart.
The other party was not Ninja, but a businessman named Sagiri. After being admitted to Nadeshiko Village for doing business, he met Shizuka, got to know each other, and fell in love.
But he has no power. This love affair is destined not to be recognized by the village.
So Sagiri made up his mind to change this rule in his own way - to marry Shizuka in an upright manner - but he failed.
He was suddenly attacked and died. No one knew who the attacker was, but many senior officials in the village could never tolerate the idea of an heir falling in love with a powerless man.
"Since then, Master Shizuka has closed her heart..." The attendant's voice deepened, "She will no longer let anyone get close to her, just to fulfill her mission - to find strong men, complete the duel, and continue the village..."
"Wait a minute."
A cold voice suddenly interrupted.
Satsuki raised his head, an almost deathly chill surging in the depths of his black eyes. "You mean..."
Every word she spoke seemed to be confirming something extremely ridiculous. "This woman has another man in her heart, and just because he is dead - you are looking for Naruto?"
"Even if she doesn't like Naruto at all... she still has to tie him up with 'promise' and 'tradition'?"
"... The way you gave examples is really mean." The attendant frowned, "But the situation... is roughly the same."
What a joke.
Satsuki's fingers pinched deeply into the palm of his hand, the stinging pain could not suppress the rage boiling in his heart.
Satsuki dedicated everything she had to Naruto - her body, her feelings, her future. In order to prove this love, she could even crush her family, hatred, and even herself to reshape her.
Why... why could this woman act like she's taking it for granted and want to take him away with just "tradition"?!
Why does she pretend to be a dead person in her heart, but she wants to taint my sun?!
Why?!
The killing intent was like lava, overwhelming the dam of reason. In Satsuki's eyes, the edges of the dark pupils began to glow with scarlet - Mangekyō Sharingan was about to appear!
At this moment--
"Boom--!!!!!!"
A deafening explosion suddenly exploded from the outside world! Even the ground shook violently!
Jiraiya jumped up instantly, his face suddenly changed. "What's going on?! Someone attacked Konoha?!"