Chapter 209: To Look Lovely, Dress in Mourning-Hokuto Learns the Truth

Killing was easy. Saving someone was hard.

That alone showed them something...

The Konoha ninja before them was far stronger than they had ever imagined.

Even those three from Dawn were nowhere near his level.

The Star Ninja weren't the only ones stunned. Even Deidara's jaw had dropped.

He and Naruto Uzumaki had worked out this plan long ago, but seeing his explosion blocked so effortlessly still beggared belief.

Too strong.

Their new leader was simply too strong!

They had achieved the effect they wanted, and Pain and the others had completed their task.

After a few parting threats, Pain, Deidara, and Sasori fled in a hurry.

The Star Ninja burst into cheers.

Surviving a battle on that scale was already a stroke of luck.

"Lord Naruto, thank you."

"From now on, Hoshigakure will follow your lead!"

Natsuhi was the first to kneel, bowing her head to the ground.

The other Star Ninja followed suit, prostrating themselves to pledge their allegiance.

After witnessing that battle, they had no reservations left about submitting to Konoha.

"Lord Naruto, this is our village's Hoshi. Please accept it."

Natsuhi raised Hoshi above her head and offered it to Naruto Uzumaki.

Naruto Uzumaki did not take it right away. He looked at the other Hoshigakure ninja instead.

"Heh... Lord Naruto, please take it. With your protection, Hoshigakure no longer needs it."

"That's right. What is Hoshi compared to you?"

"Lord Naruto, you saved Hoshigakure. Please accept it as a token of our gratitude."

The Star Ninja spoke with ingratiating smiles.

They had valued Hoshi so highly because they believed it could help them gain great power.

They had been willing to endure even the damage it did to their bodies.

But after seeing the Shinobi World's strongest fighters in battle, they finally understood.

Before true