CHAPTER 177

Jiraiya had an acute sense of perception, and he quickly noticed the mysterious figure standing on the second floor of the izakaya.

The familiar orange and black cloak, along with the distinct chakra signature, made him recognize Naruto immediately. But doubt crept into his mind—wasn't Naruto supposed to be the leader of Uzushio Village? How could he be in Kusagakure?

Could the rampaging monster that devastated the village have been released by Naruto?

Tsunade halted, following Jiraiya's gaze. She frowned and asked, "Jiraiya, is that the one responsible for what's happening in Kusagakure?"

Jiraiya shook his head slightly before vanishing with the Body Flicker Technique.

Tsunade hesitated for a moment but followed. Her instincts warned her that the masked figure wearing the black fox mask possessed formidable strength and vital information.

Moments later, they reached the second floor of the izakaya.

Naruto, upon seeing them, smiled nonchalantly and said, "What luck! Two of the Legendary Sannin in Kusagakure. Have you had lunch yet? I can ask the owner to prepare more."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Naruto's every move.

Knowing Tsunade's temperament, Jiraiya cut straight to the point. "We've eaten. Let's talk. Why are you here?"

His tone was serious, and the air around him grew heavy with unspoken tension. The sheer killing intent exuding from the Sannin would be enough to paralyze any Chūnin or Genin.

Naruto, however, remained unfazed. He had no desire for unnecessary conflict and replied with an easygoing smile, "Tourism, of course. I got tired of island landscapes, so I thought I'd check out the forests and grasslands."

The timing was too convenient. The leader of Uzushio Village had arrived in Kusagakure, and the monster had appeared shortly after. It was difficult to accept as mere coincidence.

Then, Tsunade noticed the red-haired girl eating dessert behind Naruto—her striking hair color unmistakable.

"Little girl, you're an Uzumaki, aren't you?"

The girl glanced between Tsunade and Naruto before nodding. "I'm Uzumaki Karin. What do you want?"

At the mention of her surname, Jiraiya and Tsunade suddenly understood.

Perhaps they had misjudged Naruto—his goal was not Kusagakure but Karin, a fellow Uzumaki.

Jiraiya exhaled deeply, grabbed a stool, and sat down. "Nar—Mienma, how much do you know about that monster outside?"

Naruto took a sip of his drink and replied, "Ever heard of the Box of Ultimate Bliss? That thing came from it. The monster's name is Satori. It was originally the son of a Kusagakure Jōnin named Mui. Besides its tailed beast-level chakra, Satori can read people's malice. The moment someone attacks with ill intent, it reacts instantly."

"I see…"

Jiraiya processed this information before hesitating mid-sentence. "Then why don't you—" He abruptly stopped himself.

Naruto met his gaze and smirked. "Kusagakure never requested Uzushio's help, so why should I intervene? Besides, Kusagakure released Satori themselves. That village never treated the Uzumaki clan kindly. I haven't even settled that score yet."

Jiraiya fell silent.

Tsunade turned to Karin and asked seriously, "Karin, can you tell me what happened to you here in Kusagakure?"

Karin hesitated but ultimately shared her experiences—how Kusagakure exploited her healing abilities and mistreated her mother.

After listening, Tsunade's expression darkened. Kusagakure's treatment of Karin and her mother was nothing short of inhumane. Now, she understood why Naruto refused to help.

Sighing, Tsunade turned to Jiraiya. "Let's go. We should handle Satori."

Jiraiya nodded and vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.

Naruto had his reasons not to act, and they had theirs.

They had inherited the Will of Fire, and they could not stand by while innocent lives were at risk. That was their way of the ninja.

As Jiraiya and Tsunade departed, Karin asked, "Mienma-sama, you've saved so many people. Why didn't you tell them?"

Naruto watched the two Sannin disappear and murmured, "Some things are better left unsaid. Don't give them too many fantasies. I'm not the person I used to be."

Karin didn't fully understand, but she knew better than to pry.

Some memories were best left untouched, no matter how painful they were.

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