"Um... excuse me."
Just as Kushina was about to make a move, a girl appeared at the doorway.
Kushina tilted her head, glancing at her precious son.
Another one?
Naruto looked at the girl. She seemed familiar, but he couldn't quite place her.
"Excuse me, is this the Godaime Hokage of Konoha... and Lord Naruto of Konoha?"
Tsunade glanced at Naruto, then looked back at the nervous girl and gave a slight nod. "What's the matter?"
Whew—
The girl exhaled deeply, as though her nerves had been wound tight for hours.
Then, without warning, she stepped forward and dropped to her knees in front of Naruto.
Kushina's eyes widened in shock.
In her head, she'd already imagined at least six dramatic scenarios—none of them good.
Standing beside her, Uchiha Mikoto sighed. Her best friend was doing it again. Still, she wisely decided to keep quiet and let Naruto handle things.
"Stand up and speak," Naruto said calmly.
But the girl didn't move. Instead, she bowed low and slammed her forehead against the floor.
Bang!
Her head turned red from the impact.
Kushina's heart ached just watching it. She rushed over to lift the girl up.
"Really now, Naruto—what did you do this time?!"
She shot her son a look full of exasperation.
???
Naruto blinked, utterly confused. "What did I do? Seriously, if you've got something to say, just say it. People are gonna get the wrong idea."
Kushina still looked upset. "Careful with your words—and your actions. She's pregnant, isn't she?"
"…Huh?"
Even the girl froze.
Pregnant? Who? Me?
Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose and stepped forward, pulling Kushina back by the arm.
"She just woke up, Kushina. You're overthinking it."
The girl finally found her voice and looked up nervously. "Naruto-sama… I heard that Orochimaru of the Hidden Sound was in Konoha… So I came here, but I couldn't find him."
Naruto squinted at her. Her hair, her eyes—he remembered now.
"Sorry," she said, bowing again. "My name is Fūma Tsumugi."
It was her.
Naruto nodded in recognition.
Tsumugi continued, "I came to ask for a favor… After my cousin Fūma Arashi was tricked by Orochimaru into joining the Hidden Sound Village, he… never came back."
Tsunade's brow furrowed. "That snake again…"
She stepped forward, gently placing a hand on Tsumugi's shoulder. "Come with me. We'll talk more inside."
As they left, Kushina watched her retreating figure with a thoughtful frown.
"What's up?" Mikoto asked.
Kushina bit her finger, thinking. Then suddenly, her expression turned serious.
"Mikoto, you know how Kurama and I have been saving all that money… The Uzumaki Clan exists in name only now, but I have an idea."
She didn't explain further, just grabbed Mikoto and Izumi and pulled them along.
Meanwhile, Naruto walked out of Konoha Hospital.
"Thank you, Naruto-sama."
Before leaving, Tsumugi gave him a deep bow.
"It's no big deal," Naruto replied.
He paused, then added playfully, "Oh yeah, if you see Orochimaru, tell him to keep an eye on his tails. Auntie Snake is still kinda charming."
He laughed and walked away.
Soon after, he arrived at the village gates—just in time to run into the group escorting the re-captured undead duo.
"Darling~!"
Ino was the first to spot him. She ran up and threw her arms around him.
"You've grown taller," Naruto said with a smirk.
"That's right~ I'll catch up to you soon!"
Tenten and the others approached as well, smiles on their faces.
But before anyone could say anything—
"MAJOR EVIL GOD~!!"
Hidan had a full-on breakdown.
Just like White Zetsu, he dropped to his knees at lightning speed and clung to Naruto's leg.
"I finally found you!"
"I am your most devoted servant~!"
Naruto raised an eyebrow, remembering the strange, sacrificial energy he'd sensed when Konan had come to him.
"Good work. Go with Shikamaru—he'll give you your next orders."
"Yes, my lord!"
Hidan leapt up with the air of someone who'd just been knighted and followed Shikamaru like an eager puppy.
After that, Naruto chatted briefly with the girls before turning toward the gates.
"I'll be back in a few days. There's trouble in the Land of Demons that can't wait."
He waved his hand and disappeared in an instant.
Nadeshiko Village – The Legendary Land of Women
"You're just as stunning as ever, babe~!"
"Let's get married, right now!"
A sleazy four-eyed man hit the launch button on his strange chariot, aiming a missile straight at the girl in front of him.
"Nadeshiko-ryū: Todoroki Spin Kick!"
Boom!
With one swift motion, the girl kicked the chariot into scrap metal.
Whoosh—
"To cut the grass, you have to pull the roots."
A blond-haired figure landed silently.
One look was all it took—the four-eyed creep dropped into the world of Tsukuyomi.
There, a thousand phantom blades impaled his body again and again.
Kurama's chakra + genjutsu = nightmares come to life.
Plop—
A second later, the four-eyed pervert collapsed, dead on the spot.
"Who are you?"
Shizuka of Nadeshiko Village narrowed her eyes, her guard instantly raised.
Naruto dusted himself off casually.
"Uzumaki Naruto."
The entire street went silent.
So... his name really has spread this far.
"You're… Uzumaki Naruto?!"
"Do you know the legendary Sannin—Jiraiya of Konoha?"
Shizuka's expression sharpened, eyes narrowing further as she studied Naruto's face.
Naruto scratched his nose and glanced at the gathering crowd.
"This isn't the best place to talk. Also… is your master still alive?"
Nadeshiko Shizuka frowned. "Even my master knows… It must be true, then. You're the one—my supposed fiancé—she always spoke about!"
Whoosh—
Naruto didn't bother answering. He just walked past her.
The Daimyo of Nadeshiko Province had given his approval, but this reclusive village of kunoichi had never formally agreed to the Five Great Nations' peace accords.
"Stop right there!"
Shizuka's voice rang out.
"If you take another step, I won't hold back!"
"Nadeshiko-ryu: Todoroki Gale Fist!"
Naruto frowned as her punch whistled toward him.
Smack—
He caught her fist with one hand, unmoved.
"Calm down. I have nothing to do with any engagement," he said flatly.
"Also… that man you loved—he's dead, right?"
If he remembered correctly, this beautiful kunoichi, so reminiscent of Hina Oota, had once been in love with a wandering merchant. But the man had died young.
"You bastard!"
Shizuka growled and began weaving hand seals. "Todoroki-style—Wind Spiral Kick—!"
Before she could finish her technique, Naruto casually pushed her hand away and covered her mouth.
"With your current strength, you're better off staying in Nadeshiko Village," he said bluntly. "You might bring home a man, but you're not dragging me into it."
"—Mmmmph!—!"
"I'm not here to fight. I mean no harm. There's something your village needs to know."
"The Daimyo already sent messengers, but your villagers turned them away. That's the only reason I came in person."
He removed his hand. Shizuka coughed twice, then glared at him.
Naruto, unfazed, looked her over. "So… your lover's dead. Hm. Do you even have someone you like?"
"No!" she shouted immediately. "Only the one who defeats me—!"
"Okay, got it. Can I come in now?"
"Damn it! Don't cut people off while they're talking!"
Naruto ignored her complaints and turned toward the mountain path.
Nadeshiko—or more precisely, Nadeshiko Village, the famed Land of Women—was just up ahead.
Judging by the timeline, this was at least two and a half years before Shizuka would meet that traveling merchant. Which meant her master should still be alive.
"Wait!"
"You're strong. My master told me… Jiraiya of the Legendary Sannin and I—!"
"Stop."
Naruto's voice was calm but firm.
"I'm not here to argue over your village's traditions."
He turned around to face her properly.
"If you want to host a martial arts tournament in the future and make ninja from across the world fight to be your husband, that's your business."
"But for now? I'm not interested. I have more pressing matters to handle."
"My family is in Konoha. I'm not about to marry into some distant matriarchal clan."
Naruto smiled faintly, eyes softening.
"Besides, you'll probably meet someone who makes your heart race eventually."
"When you're the village leader, then you can decide whether or not to change Nadeshiko's traditions."
By then, they had reached the edge of Nadeshiko Village.
At first glance, Naruto chuckled.
The place left quite a visual impact.
Naruto closed his eyes, sensing chakra fluctuations—signs of age, illness, and suppressed strength.
Then his figure shimmered and vanished.
Shizuka blinked.
"…Where'd he go?"
Meanwhile, the women guarding the village gates rubbed their eyes.
A man?
Did a man just appear at their gates?
Within moments, Shizuka sprinted to her master's house.
"What an overwhelming presence…" she muttered. "Are there really that many monsters in the ninja world?"
She had traveled across Nadeshiko Province, and Uzumaki Naruto's name was already famous.
This time, she descended the mountain with a mission: to challenge Konoha's legendary ninja.
Inside a dim room, Naruto stood beside the bed of the once-great kunoichi, now old and frail.
"Multiple internal injuries, chakra pathways blocked… inadequate medical care…" he muttered. "Yeah, I can guess what's going on with this village."
Master Shizuka slowly opened her eyes.
"You are…?"
Before she could finish, her pupils dilated in shock.
Her once-clouded eyes grew clear. Her white hair shimmered back to a vibrant orange. Wrinkles faded from her face.
"What…"
Naruto chuckled and handed her a mirror.
"I cleared the blockages in your chakra network. Your body's natural healing took care of the rest."
"With your chakra reserves—and Nadeshiko's secret techniques—you shouldn't have deteriorated like this."
She stared at her reflection, speechless.
"Uzumaki Naruto?"
"You know me?"
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Then I assume you're aware of the Five Principles of Peace?"
The old master remained silent.
Just then, Shizuka burst through the door.
The master and disciple locked eyes—and then, in an instant, they attacked in tandem.
Even together, they didn't stand a chance.
Even if Master Shizuka's strength rivaled that of Jiraiya…
Naruto's body shimmered.
Elementalization.
Smack—
Their combined fists slammed into a log.
"Wood Release?!"
"What jutsu is this?!"
They reacted with shock—but the fear in their eyes was unmistakable.
Naruto sighed.
"Don't tell me the plan was to challenge me, make me marry in, and then maybe believe in peace?"
Master Shizuka smiled. "Exactly."
"Uzumaki Naruto… our Nadeshiko Village is willing to sign the accord—"
Whoosh!
He vanished in a flash of golden light.
Flying Thunder God.
Only a scroll lay on the floor.
Because let's be honest—
Death by pelvic dislocation isn't worth diplomacy.
There's no greater hell for a man than the Land of Women.
Meanwhile, in the Land of Demons…
"It's finally time."
"A forbidden medical ninjutsu… developed for this moment."
"With this power, I'll awaken the monster…"
"…and unify the world."
...
TN:
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