The streets of Kirigakure still carried the lingering stench of blood and scorched smoke, but the suffocating oppression was gone.
Naruto Uzumaki walked alone. Mū's countless pairs of eyes peered through gaps in the windows of the houses lining both sides of the street. Those gazes were complex and difficult to decipher—lingering fear, relief at having survived the disaster, and above all, reverence.
The name "Chainsaw Demon" had been branded into the hearts of everyone in the Land of Water through the actions of those crimson Shadow Clones.
Naruto Uzumaki paid no attention to those stares. He needed to personally confirm the progress of Order's reconstruction. Fear was an efficient adhesive, but lasting rule required clear rules as well.
He stopped in front of a small shop selling local specialties from the Land of Water. Colorful coral and shell crafts were displayed in the window.
He walked inside. The shopkeeper was a skinny old man. When he saw Naruto Uzumaki's ninja tools and that overly young yet icy face, his entire body trembled, and he nearly dropped to his knees.
Naruto Uzumaki ignored him and walked straight toward a shelf.
He picked up an exquisite shell wind chime and lightly brushed it with his fingertips. It gave off a crisp, pleasant sound.
Hinata would like this.
The moment that thought surfaced, Naruto Uzumaki frowned.
Why was he wasting effort on such trivial matters? This instinctive "consideration" was classified as "unnecessary weakness" in the political commissar's training manual. His time and energy should be spent on more valuable things.
He put down the wind chime and turned to leave.
But from the corner of his eye, he spotted a small cat carved from rare pink coral.
He stopped. The little cat was finely crafted, with an adorably clumsy appearance. He remembered