The Five Directions Summit

Inviting him to join the Snow Ninja Village.

This was the outcome Utakata had anticipated the moment Hoshichi mentioned that his village leader wished to meet him. He had to admit that he agreed to come here to meet Naruto, the leader of the Snow Ninja Village, precisely because he harbored such thoughts. Utakata had grown weary of the days spent being hunted; he was sick of a life where he had to live in constant fear, a life that had caused him to wake up in a cold sweat countless times during the night.

Utakata desperately wanted a place where he could settle down and find a moment of respite.

But this option certainly did not include returning to Kirigakure.

After all, from Utakata's perspective.

The reason he had chosen to defect in the first place was because he felt deceived and threatened by death.

That was what had led to his decision.

And now.

He viewed Kirigakure as his greatest enemy.

As for the other Four Great Shinobi Villages.

Utakata's thoughts were much the same as Naruto's previous speculations.

He found it truly difficult to trust the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

All crows under heaven are black.

Utakata knew at least a little about the treatment of Tailed Beasts and Jinchuriki within the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

Furthermore, he was a rogue ninja who had defected.

They would surely be suspicious of him.

An accident.

Konoha, Cloud Ninja, Sand Ninja, and Rock Ninja were also off the table for Utakata.

However, whether he would choose to join the Snow Ninja Village or not.

Depended entirely on the outcome of today's meeting.

First impression.

Not bad...

Looking at the blond youth before him.

Utakata's expression remained unchanged, but he nodded silently to himself.

Sometimes, humans are such complex and