Just as mountain bandits might sometimes include Rogue Ninjas, water bandits had similar situations.
Initially, scattered water bandits and pirates couldn't pose much threat to Uzushiogakure, but soon larger groups set their sights on them.
According to messages from some merchant caravans, a group of pirates who frequently plundered at sea had already targeted Uzushiogakure and were likely to cause trouble for them soon.
This was why, when Naruto and the others returned, they saw the villagers patrolling back and forth.
Because they had to allocate some manpower to patrol, the village's recent fish catch had declined significantly.
And to be honest, with just the people currently in the village, if they encountered real Ninjas, even just some Genin or Chunin, they probably couldn't resist.
"If I'd known earlier, I would have asked Zabuza and Haku to settle here with us."
Karin murmured, then looked at Naruto.
"So, Naruto-san, should we...?"
She was asking if Naruto wanted to deal with the water bandits first before heading to the other world.
She had already made up her mind to follow Naruto.
She wanted to see for herself just how beautiful the woman was who had captured Naruto's heart!
"Hmm, that's fine too."
Naruto nodded, but he didn't hold much hope in his heart.
Because these water bandits weren't like the great pirates of the One Piece World with fixed bases.
Most of them just holed up on a few uninhabited islands as temporary hideouts, occasionally mixing in with ordinary people to go ashore to gather information or buy supplies.
They knew they were no match for real Ninja forces, so they were extra cautious when choosing targets.
The ones they selected were mostly forces that couldn't afford to hire Ninjas from major countries or simply had no Ninjas at all.
Coupled with their hit-and-run guerrilla style, catching them wasn't that easy.
It was pretty much the same for small pirates in the One Piece World. Even if you asked Naruto to find them, he couldn't be completely sure of success.
They could only hope the other side made some big moves, allowing them to follow the traces.
Otherwise, it was purely down to luck.
"Naruto, I'll stay."
At this moment, Jiraiya suddenly spoke.
He looked at everyone and continued, "Coincidentally, Queen Sara and the others should be arriving soon. Me staying here can help with receiving them."
Hearing this, Naruto was first stunned, then understood.
Unlike Karin and Sasuke, who had no home to return to, and Konohamaru, who had a home but didn't want to return, Jiraiya had initially joined simply because he was worried about them going after the culprits.
After so long, they seemed to have gotten used to having this Pervy Sage in the group, forgetting that he was originally a great literary master who traveled everywhere.
Now that the matter of the enemies was resolved, Jiraiya still had his own concerns.
Perhaps it was the village, or perhaps a certain person.
But without a doubt, Jiraiya's journey was also briefly pausing here with a comma.
He didn't want to leave the Ninja World to adventure in a completely new world… at least, not yet.
Karin still wanted to say something, but Naruto interrupted her first.
"Alright, then we'll leave this place to you, Sensei."
"Ah, don't worry."
Hearing Naruto's words, Jiraiya understood that the other had grasped his meaning and showed a relieved smile.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, his expression turned lecherous as he quietly moved closer to Naruto.
"I say, kid, since you've already gotten the girl pregnant, you have to take responsibility. If you get the chance, bring her here to meet Minato."
"I think the couple would really want to meet your wife."
"This... hmm... probably will... maybe?"
Naruto's eyes darted around, but Karin, with her sharp senses, had already clearly heard Jiraiya's 'whisper'.
Her words that were originally meant to persuade Jiraiya to stay turned into a small complaint.
Sasuke remained completely detached, starting to study the soil structure by the seaside.
Only Konohamaru, who was completely out of the loop, looked around at everyone, not understanding what was happening.
…
Their stay in Uzushiogakure didn't last long. Since Jiraiya had volunteered to stay, those water bandits and the like were no longer a concern.
It wasn't like some member of the Otsutsuki Clan would suddenly jump out from the sea to attack this fishing village, right?
After helping the villagers of Uzushiogakure repair many more houses to serve as housing for the Roran's survivors later, Naruto and the others also came to the seaside.
They were about to leave.
"Naruto-san, we just need to pass through here, right?"
Karin looked at the suddenly appearing, dark, hole-like portal and subconsciously swallowed.
"Should be."
Naruto looked at the portal, which was completely different from the Yomotsu Hirasaka, and was also uncertain.
The hexagonal natural mark on his hand was currently emitting a faint light.
Just moments ago, after Naruto injected a bit of Chakra into it, an oval gate over three meters tall appeared before everyone.
Unlike the Yomotsu Hirasaka, even though Naruto now had some knowledge of space through Otsutsuki's power, he still couldn't discern the situation behind the gate.
Clearly, the distance this portal covered was much 'further' than imagined.
'The Nature Will wouldn't want to harm me, would it?'
Even Naruto couldn't help but have this thought at this moment.
The dark gate was like the mouth of some indescribable entity. Observation Haki and Chakra Perception gave no feedback when directed at it, but that in itself was a kind of feedback.
In the end, Naruto was the first to step in.
"No matter what, I have spatial teleportation abilities. If anything happens, I should be able to find a way back. You all wait here first."
Who knows if the portal had monitoring capabilities, or if the Nature Will was squatting nearby watching.
Hearing Naruto's lack of trust, it immediately reacted.
The dark portal instantly expanded in range the moment Naruto touched it, 'swallowing' Konohamaru, Karin, and Sasuke, who were standing close by.
As for Jiraiya, who had already stated he wouldn't go to the other world and was just seeing them off, the portal didn't generate even a hint of suction.
It's as if it had a will of its own.
It's now confirmed. The Nature Will was definitely peeping.
…
This was Naruto's first time experiencing world travel in a 'conscious' state.
First, his vision darkened, then the surroundings didn't remain completely dark like the portal but showed faint starlight.
It was as if they had arrived in space.
"So beautiful..."
Karin looked at the starry river and subconsciously uttered praise. Her voice reached the others' ears without obstruction.
Clearly, there was air here, and they didn't stop needing to breathe just because they were traveling through the portal.
But Karin's admiration only lasted a moment before an intense feeling of weightlessness suddenly enveloped everyone.
It was like a mischievous child putting a hamster in a sock and swinging it wildly.
At this moment, everyone was that hamster.
The scattered stars before their eyes quickly turned into streaks of light, stretching across their vision.
If not for everyone's physiques being enhanced, perhaps just this level of intense vertigo would be enough to make them vomit.
-Konohamaru didn't count, as he was already vomiting.
"Ugh... Naruto Aniki... ugh... I'm fine... ugh..."
"Hey! Brat! Don't vomit that stuff on me!"
Karin's scream and Konohamaru's retching sounded together, becoming the overture to this journey.
How to put it... it was still not bad.