After the grand welcoming ceremony ended.
Naruto prepared to personally take Snake Aunt and the others to Juxia Tower.
Only a select few were qualified to accompany them.
They included Sasuke, Haku, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Kakashi, Guy, and one final person Naruto had specifically chosen.
That person was Shikamaru, the current representative of the Konoha 10.
With the Spore Clone's three years of memories merged into his original body, Naruto's relationship with Shikamaru was rather unusual.
In any case, he was a friend Naruto could trust absolutely.
Naruto generally entrusted companions like him with important responsibilities.
Haku and Snake Aunt were prime examples.
Everyone watched Naruto, Sasuke, and Haku head toward Juxia Tower ahead of them, hand in hand, but did not immediately follow.
They all knew that after this meal, they would organize their forces and head to the Land of Fire, the heart of the turmoil.
"Those two little fellows are still so endearing."
Snake Aunt smiled as he watched Naruto and Sasuke.
"Heh, Orochimaru, I never imagined you had this side to you. It's truly unbelievable."
Seeing how well Naruto treated Orochimaru, Tsunade immediately felt disgruntled.
Clearly, news of Orochimaru's attack on Konoha had reached Tsunade and Jiraiya long ago.
"Did you know in advance that the village would be destroyed?"
Compared to Tsunade, Jiraiya was much quieter. Over the past few days, he seemed to have come to a realization: perhaps the Naruto from his novel really was this world's savior.
Hearing Jiraiya's slightly pompous question, Snake Aunt looked at him with a faint smile.
"What if I did? Did you want Konoha to be destroyed even more thoroughly?"
Snake Aunt's words were rather telling.
He clearly meant that if he had been there, he would certainly have joined the side destroying Konoha.
"Wasn't it just that