Next, Naruto tried to make Hotaru stop having a crush on him.
He often deliberately acted embarrassingly in front of Hotaru with Hinata.
Hugging, kissing—those kinds of displays were completely normal for them.
At fifteen, Hotaru's body had matured, but mentally, she was still just a child. Seeing all that only made her more curious.
One day, Naruto was teaching Hinata how to train in taijutsu. Naruto often let his hands roam over Hinata while instructing.
Hotaru watched beside them. Suddenly, she jumped out and said, "Naruto, I want to train too! Can you teach me?"
"I can't teach you. You have a water-natured chakra affinity. It'd be better if Nagare taught you." Naruto continued, "I can only teach you some basics."
"Who's Nagare?"
"Someone you haven't met yet. He's also really handsome—very much the mysterious drifter type. Once you meet him, you'll definitely fall for him too."
Hotaru wasn't happy. She felt like Naruto was trying to trick her.
In Naruto's mind he thought inwardly: Nagare, where the hell are you? Get here already. Your wife might get stolen by me otherwise.
At this moment, Shukaku's voice echoed inside Naruto's mind.
"You mentioned Nagare, but about this 'Nagare' you mentioned—I actually sensed the Six-Tails' chakra earlier."
Naruto was immediately shocked.
He mentally shouted: The person I referred to as Nagare is the Six-Tailed Jinchuriki. Where exactly is he?
Shukaku replied: Is that so? I didn't know the Six-Tails jinchuriki's name was Nagare.
Naruto: When did he appear?
Shukaku: I sensed him about two days ago. But then he disappeared again, most likely left.
While communicating with Shukaku within his inner world, the information left Naruto groaning in frustration.
"Oh no, why did Nagare leave? Did he see all those Tailed Beast Ball explosions and panic, taking a different route?"
"No good, I must find Nagare."
Naruto knew waiting here any longer wouldn't bring Nagare back.
That night, Naruto bid Tonpei farewell.
Tonpei felt a deep sense of regret. The Tsuchigumo Clan was declining; nearly all their talented members had perished, leaving no one to carry on the legacy. Now only he, an old man, remained.
Once he himself passed away, there would be no one left to protect Hotaru.
Tonpei tried to keep Naruto, "Won't you stay one more night?"
"No, I have urgent matters and must leave quickly."
"But I want to take Hotaru with me."
After Naruto said this, Hinata's face showed shock, and Hotaru beside him was equally stunned.
Tonpei froze momentarily, soon revealing a smile.
"Where are you taking Hotaru?"
"Back to Konoha. You're welcome to come to Konoha as well."
"Konoha?" Tonpei's expression turned bitter. "Hotaru carries a dangerous kinjutsu. There's no way she'd be allowed near Konoha, and Konoha will never permit her entry."
"Don't worry. Konoha answers to me, Naruto Uzumaki. If I say she can enter, then she will."
Tonpei wore an astonished expression, as if the young man before him seemed to glow with newfound brilliance.
"Can even an outsider like me enter Konoha?"
"Of course. You're welcome to go. Someone will meet you when you arrive."
Naruto chuckled. "I need to take Hotaru to meet someone else first. Once we find that person, I'll head back to Konoha."
Leaving Tonpei completely baffled.
Naruto summoned the Two-Tailed, Four-Tailed, and Five-Tailed.
Hinata jumped onto Two-Tailed Matatabi's back.
Naruto jumped onto Four-Tailed Son Goku's shoulder.
Hotaru stood on the ground, terrified by the massive beast before her, eyes wide as she stared at Kokuo.
"Don't be scared," Naruto reassured. "This is the Five-Tailed, his name is Kokuo. He's our comrade and will be your mount for now."
With Naruto's words giving her courage, Hotaru climbed onto Kokuo's back, clinging tightly to it.
The three Tailed Beasts raced across the wilderness with the trio on their backs.
Tonpei, witnessing this scene, was already drenched in cold sweat.
"I finally recognize them now. No wonder they looked familiar—those are... those are the Tailed Beasts..."
The realization came too late, drenching his body in sweat as he gasped in fear.
"Tailed Beasts! They're really Tailed Beasts! How come there are so many of them!"
"I thought earlier they were just regular summoned beasts..."
"But when Naruto called out their names, I realized—they weren't summoned beasts at all. They were the Tailed Beasts!"
Still shuddering from shock, Tonpei trembled in terror.
Elsewhere.
Standing on Four-Tailed Son Goku's shoulder, Naruto searched for any trace of Nagare.
"See anything yet?" he asked.
Activating her Byakugan, Hinata scanned around, then shook her head silently in response.
"There's no sign of anyone yet."
"Damn, Nagare sure took off. He hasn't shown up in two days—he's playing it way too safe." Rubbing his chin, Naruto suddenly got an idea.
"Hinata, I'll have to leave for a while. You continue searching for Nagare; he's a man wearing sky-blue robes."
"Understood, Naruto-kun!" Hinata replied with a firm nod.
"Two-Tailed Matatabi, Four-Tailed Son Goku, Five-Tailed Kokuo—you must protect Hinata and Hotaru well. Don't let any danger near them."
Naruto issued the order with bold authority.
"Understood." All three beasts responded in unison.
After arranging everything, Naruto used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport away.
In the Land of Water, at Kirigakure.
Returning to familiar ground once again.
Naruto walked straight into the largest house in Kirigakure without hesitation, pushing the door open and walking straight in.
Inside, everyone was stunned—Mei Terumi, Ao, Kakashi, Zabuza Momochi, and Haku were all seated inside.
Kakashi: "Naruto, you finally decided to come back?"
Tears streamed down Kakashi's face. He had remained in Kirigakure for Obito's sake, only to be left behind by Naruto.
Stranded in the remote Land of Water, far from Konoha and surrounded by oceans, Kakashi found it nearly impossible to return home.
The most convenient method still relied on Naruto's Flying Thunder God teleportation technique.
Kakashi rushed over and grabbed Naruto desperately. "Get me out of here, fast!"
Naruto had left Kakashi in Kirigakure with the hope he could spend more time with Mei, though now he looked helpless.
But judging by the outcome, Kakashi was clearly uninterested in women—he seemed destined to remain alone for life.
Inside, Naruto silently cursed Kakashi for wasting such a golden opportunity.
Naruto brushed past Kakashi and approached Mei Terumi. He noticed the Mizukage's bamboo hat resting beside her.
"Congratulations on becoming the Mizukage."
Truly, no one could have been surprised that Mei had become the Mizukage.
In recent years, Kiri had been nearly decimated by Obito's interference.
Any ninja with even a shred of strength had either been killed or had defected.
Figures like Zabuza Momochi, Kisame Hoshigaki from the Seven Swords of the Bloody Mist, and Nagare were all rogue ninjas who had turned against the Mist.
Now, among the entire Mist Village, the only ninja left with any true skill was Mei Terumi.
If not her, then who else could possibly be the Mizukage?
Mei opened her eyes and locked gazes with Naruto. Then, she lightly traced her cherry lips with her fingertip.
"Naruto Uzumaki, on what terms would you allow Zabuza Momochi to return to Kirigakure?"
As soon as Mei spoke these words, everyone present was shocked.
"But isn't Zabuza already a rogue ninja of Mist?"
"I have already exercised my authority as Mizukage to pardon Zabuza for his crimes. Besides, the Third Mizukage, Yagura, was indeed controlled by outsiders. Therefore, Zabuza's attempt on the Third Mizukage's life was justified."
Naruto gave a knowing smile.
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