Kakashi sighed, shaking his head. "Naruto, next time be a little more careful. If this goes wrong, it could cause a diplomatic incident."
But Naruto pointed at the image of Shion on the sky screen, fuming. "But, Kakashi-sensei, look! Everyone's fighting for that priestess, and just listen to what she says!"
Though it seemed rude to criticize a client, the others silently gave Naruto a thumbs-up in their hearts.
As for Shion herself, she wasn't too happy. "Hmph! That Naruto is so annoying too!"
[Staring at Naruto's face, Shion's pupils suddenly constricted as she remembered the vision she'd had of Naruto being impaled.]
["Naruto, stop it!" "Sit down!" The rest of Team 7 scrambled to pull Naruto back and pinned him to the floor.]
[Shion stood, prying Sakura's hand from Naruto's mouth, then fixed her gaze on him.]
["What? Is there something on my face?" Naruto asked, baffled.]
["You… are going to die," she said quietly.]
["Hah? What did you say? I can't hear you—speak louder!" Naruto, still oblivious to the seriousness, leaned in aggressively.]
["You… you… you'll be impaled through the chest and die very soon!" Shion's voice grew louder and angrier as Naruto urged her.]
["...What?"]
["It's like Naruto's been cursed by the priestess for grabbing her earlier."]
["It's just a coincidence—the priestess had already foreseen Naruto's death."]
["This guy talks the same way to everyone! No sense of rank—he even talks to the Hokage and a national leader like they're just anyone. Way too blunt."]
[Cut to a meeting room in the shrine. Naruto scowled. "Why do we have to protect someone like her?"]
[Ashihoko, standing nearby, bowed apologetically. "Please understand, Lady Shion sometimes sees people's deaths in her visions."]
["Visions?" All four ninja perked up at the unfamiliar term.]
[Ashihoko straightened and looked at Naruto. "But don't let it worry you…"]
["What, she's usually wrong?" Naruto looked smug—until Ashihoko clarified. "No, she's always right."]
["Wait, you mean—absolutely?" Naruto's smile vanished, and he rushed to Ashihoko.]
["Yes," Ashihoko confirmed gravely.]
["So that means Naruto's definitely gonna die, huh?"]
["Not necessarily—no one knows how absolute her predictions really are."]
["I bet Naruto won't die. You can tell this is like a movie, and he's obviously the main character. No way the hero dies!"]
["What a dumb guess. Like Konoha would show a movie that detailed and unchangeable. Get real!"]
["Still feels more like a future recording. If you're curious, just go to Konoha and meet the people from the footage. See if they match."]
["Damn, now that you mention it, it's like Konoha's ad campaign! Everyone in the shinobi world knows these people now."]
["I can't believe it! Why aren't they showing footage from our village instead?!"]
["Careful what you wish for. With all this info leaking out, Konoha's got plenty of headaches now. I'm sure they'd love to trade places."]
["Uh… never mind. Sounds like more trouble than it's worth."]
Naruto, Sakura, Neji, and Lee exchanged glances, realizing they'd become famous across the entire shinobi world.
Sasuke and Tenten felt a bit left out but didn't say anything.
Only Kakashi, the master of slacking, looked truly worried. Endless mission requests might flood in, and his single Sharingan eye seemed to dull just thinking about it.
[Staring at Ashihoko's calm expression, Naruto fumed. "Didn't you say not to worry?!"]
["I meant that even if you worry, it's useless," Ashihoko answered bluntly, as if unaware of the tension.]
[Lee couldn't bear it anymore. "You're not comforting him at all."]
[Sakura smirked, teasing. "It's fine, Naruto. Just die once—maybe it'll knock some sense into you."]
["Sakura!!" Even easygoing Naruto couldn't let that slide. He barked at her, then turned to the others. "Listen up! I don't believe in this premonition stuff! I'm gonna be Hokage! No way I'm dying before that!"]
["Naruto's friends don't seem too fazed about his death. Maybe their bond isn't that strong?"]
["Nah, even I'd doubt a sudden claim like that. It sounds too crazy to take seriously."]
"Premonitions are fake! That priestess is cursing me, I swear!" Naruto muttered, glaring at the sky screen. The others exchanged weary looks.
Thanks to the third-person view, they all knew that while Naruto was making a big deal out of it, he was also the one least likely to be truly afraid.
(To be continued)