Chapter 206: Aura
"What's wrong, Naruto? You seem out of sorts these past two days. Are you nervous about the Chunin Exam?"
On Konoha's bustling streets, Satsuki tilted her head slightly, her black eyes carrying undisguised concern as she looked at the somewhat silent Naruto beside her.
Naturally, she didn't know that Naruto's mind was circling with complex thoughts about Orochimaru and Gaara. She simply assumed he felt pressure from the approaching major exam.
Hearing this warmly intentioned inquiry, Naruto snapped out of his contemplation. Meeting Satsuki's focused gaze, his tone unconsciously became even gentler. "Sorry for making you worry. I'm fine, just have a few more things to think about lately."
"I see..."
Satsuki responded softly without pressing further, though the concern in her eyes didn't fade. "Alright. But if you feel physically unwell at all, or encounter any trouble, you must tell me immediately."
Satsuki thought strangely to herself—Naruto was usually so adept at handling various situations, whether combat or interpersonal relations, always appearing effortlessly composed. Why specifically at times like these...
However, for her, investigating reasons wasn't the priority. Placing Naruto's feelings and safety at highest priority had long been an instinct carved into her bones. Since Naruto seemed to have encountered problems requiring thought, then she would become his most solid support.
Actually... sometimes, Satsuki would secretly hope that Naruto wouldn't always be so capable, so independent.
If he felt troubled by more things, if he weren't so powerful... wouldn't he rely on her more, cling to her more tightly, become even more... unable to leave her? That way, his gaze, his world, might belong more completely to her alone.
At this moment, Naruto, after briefly responding to Satsuki's concern, sank back into assessing the situation. He repeatedly simulated and analyzed the power comparison between both sides, ultimately reaching a clear conclusion—even without mobilizing the Ember organization's forces, relying solely on his own strength seemed sufficient to suppress whatever storm Orochimaru might stir up.
As long as he ensured the Impure World Reincarnated First Hokage couldn't display his living power, with just Orochimaru and his Sound Village forces, Naruto handling it alone had considerable chance of victory.
It was just that this guy's survival ability and resurrection contingencies were far too numerous, practically the shinobi world's survival king. Truly fighting him to mutual destruction would probably entangle him in endless troubles.
Moreover, honestly speaking, deep in Naruto's heart existed a trace of "appreciation for talent" toward Orochimaru's brilliantly gifted research abilities.
If Orochimaru's genius-level scientific mind could be guided toward proper paths, it would undoubtedly be tremendous assistance in advancing the entire shinobi world's knowledge progress and technological development. Simply destroying that would be too wasteful.
Of course, all this "persuasive cooperation" was premised on an absolutely unshakeable bottom line—Orochimaru absolutely could not show even the slightest hint of covetousness toward Satsuki, toward Uchiha power.
Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand probability Orochimaru dared set his sights on Satsuki... for Satsuki's absolute safety, Naruto would spare no cost to completely eliminate him.
Hopefully this Orochimaru who hadn't been crushed and defeated by Uchiha Itachi, hopefully that supremely clever yet life-cherishing fellow would make sufficiently wise choices this time...
"Hey! Naruto!"
Just as Naruto immersed himself in his thoughts, a low voice rang out deep in his heart.
It was the Nine-Tails.
Naruto froze slightly. The Nine-Tails proactively striking up conversation wasn't exactly common.
"What is it, Kurama?"
Naruto immediately responded internally, his voice directly transmitted before that massive figure behind the seal gate. This dialogue existed only between him and the fox, imperceptible to the outside world.
The massive Nine-Tailed Fox lazily sprawled across the sealed water surface, vertical pupils slightly narrowed, mouth splitting into a grin with obvious disdain.
His tone sounded somewhat troubled yet couldn't conceal that innate arrogance and contempt toward a specific target.
"There's a familiar annoying bastard who snuck into Konoha."
The Nine-Tails' voice carried undisguised disgust. "It's that idiot Shukaku! Its aura is right in this vicinity. Its jinchuriki."
"Go, Naruto! Go meet it! Don't let it think it can act arrogant on someone else's territory!"