On the Journey

The sea surface rippled with blue waves.

A faint white mist permeated the air.

It had been five days since they departed from Lin City and left the Land of Snow. Aside from a necessary stop for rest and supplies at a pre-planned island along the route, Naruto and his party had spent the entire time aboard the ship. During this period, the Third Prince, Asada Kei, had used various methods to show off the might of the Land of Water and his own excellence to Naruto every few days. He frequently hinted at the rewards those who followed him would receive, and sometimes even explicitly stated how wealthy he was as the Third Prince of the Land of Water. His confident, sworn demeanor—as if the position of the next Daimyo of the Land of Water was already in his pocket—left Naruto feeling both amused and speechless.

Let alone you.

Even if your old man came to recruit me.

Naruto wouldn't necessarily give him the time of day.

One could only say that this Third Prince's self-perception was truly far too inflated.

However.

From a general perspective.

It could be considered a normal development.

The Land of Water versus the Land of Snow.

Following a prince of a great nation who had the highest probability of inheriting the position of Daimyo.

Or remaining in a small, weak nation that others viewed as destined to be destroyed at any moment, serving as the leader of a small Ninja Village and taking orders from a minor Daimyo—which path held more of a future?

Most people would choose the former.

Only a small minority would choose the latter.

Although there is a saying: better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of an ox.

But to the people of this