Chapter 173
The night when humans cease their activities is when the beasts begin theirs.
In the forest, rustling sounds constantly echoed.
It might have been a beast running.
And soon, the suppressed growl of a mother beast resounded through the jungle.
Animals, active according to the season, like a long-parched land meeting sweet rain, fully savored the fruits that winter had never brought forth in this warm season.
The animal world is violent.
Kindness, perhaps it exists, but it fundamentally doesn't exist in the relationships between animals.
And so... the struggle in the dark night began.
They... fought each other to the death.
The mother beast, not having the upper hand in physical strength, was quickly brought down.
The male beast gained the upper hand, strutting proudly.
They tore at the flesh and blood of their opponent, drinking blood and eating raw meat, fully savoring the taste of their spoils.
The wailing of the gnawed mother beast echoed across the land, bringing the most primal pain.
The cruel predator merely hunted and bit its prey, with no intention of letting up.
This was a no-man's-land.
It was also a country without Ninja, a place of freedom.
It was the peak of the predator's joy, a garden of happiness.
The predator seized its prey, wantonly toying with it, bullying its food.
And the mother beast, serving as food, no matter what wails she let out, could not soften the predator's heart in the slightest.
After all, this was the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak.
Facing such an environment, one could only endure, suffer... and then pray for tomorrow to come.
Because when the sun rises, humans will resume their activities.
The long night... a night as long as a year, finally welcomed the sunrise... The first ray of morning light, rising from the sea, shone through the window into Tsunami's house.
The shadows... were also driven away by the sun.
"..."
Tsunami lay on the bed.
A night of deep sleep, it must have been of very good quality.
Otherwise, it would be impossible for her to be so still, not even moving a finger.
Tsunami, sleeping spread-eagled, her eyes rolled up, her expression blank.
In this world, some people just like to sleep with their eyes open, which is quite special.
However, Tsunami might have forgotten to close the window in the middle of the night.
The heavy rain from last night had soaked her bed.
But the wet sheets didn't disturb Tsunami's sleep.
Only such high-quality sleep could sustain this family and raise Inari well.
Or perhaps she dreamt of something sad, and soon, two lines of clear tears flowed from the unconscious Tsunami's eyes... Chapter 118. Kurenai Yuhi proactively sends... The news of Gato's death spread like wind throughout the small town.
While people were shocked, someone immediately entered the Gato Group to investigate.
The results astonished everyone!
Gato... was really dead!
The person who killed him was called Zabuza Momochi, the Demon.
He declared himself the new boss of the Gato Group.
The entire Land of Waves was already his.
Just when everyone thought it was merely a change of boss and things would remain the same.
Zabuza's displayed benevolence once again surprised everyone.
He not only allowed Tazuna to build the bridge.
He also invested and actively sent his subordinates to supervise and assist, striving to build an even better bridge.
On the day the bridge was completed, it was named "Naruto Bridge."
At this time, Naruto, who had been playing at Tazuna's house for two weeks, was also about to return home.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Aunt Tsunami... You've worked hard these past few days..."
Naruto waved goodbye to Tsunami.
Her face suddenly stiffened, then she forced a smile.
During this time, she had suffered a lot.
She was always being healed in various ways.
Sometimes in the bedroom, sometimes in the kitchen... even directly in the vegetable garden... Healed of her pain, she now inexplicably felt a sense of emptiness.
"Come visit Konoha sometime, our scenery there is also very beautiful..."
Naruto proactively invited her.
Tsunami pressed her lips together, her breathing involuntarily quickening.
She knew there would be other opportunities later... At the end of the bridge.
Zabuza stood there with a group of his subordinates.
To repay Naruto for not killing Haku, Zabuza gave Konoha a crucial piece of information.
Yagura... was controlled by an unknown person... Although his coup failed and he was driven away by Yagura.
He also successfully caused Yagura to abdicate, and the newly appointed person was Mei Terumī.
She became the Fifth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist Village with swift and decisive methods.
If Konoha wanted to establish diplomatic relations with Hidden Mist, or make some small moves, now was the best time.
Because... Hidden Mist, having suffered from internal strife and lost a large number of personnel, was currently in a period of transition.
So... "I will report this information to Hokage-sama."
Kakashi nodded, his expression somewhat serious.
After all, what Zabuza said was truly astonishing.
Yagura was actually controlled by someone?
"His symptoms... are a bit like... Haku's."
Zabuza stared at Naruto and said this.
Naruto, of course, knew that Obito was the one causing trouble.
After Naruto left.
Haku looked at Zabuza beside him: "Zabuza-sensei, you are truly gentle..."
"Hmph, this great me wants to use them to cause some trouble for Hidden Mist..."
Zabuza snorted, but this display made Haku unable to help but cover his mouth and laugh out loud.
"What are you laughing at? Haku, you are merely my tool."
"Of course, Zabuza-sensei."
Haku, dressed in a beautiful kimono, reached out and linked his arm with Zabuza's... This time, he would never let go.
Looking back at Haku, who was tightly holding Zabuza's arm, Naruto was in a great mood.
See?
Another tragedy solved by him, how wonderful.
Naruto thought ecstatically, he was indeed the Child of Destiny, the man who would become the Seventh Hokage and the savior.
Well then, the Chunin Exams were almost here.
A few more missions, some slacking off, and it would be about time... Several days later, Narutoreturned to Konoha.
Sako walked hurriedly, bidding farewell to Naruto.
She left very quickly, this mission must have stimulated her.
For the next period, Sako would likely train extraordinarily hard.
As for himself... "Sasuke-kun~."
Sakura had originally planned to go on a date with Sako.
However, Sako would never do such a thing.
"Sakura, perhaps you should train hard so you can catch up to Sasuke."
Naruto offered her gentle and sincere advice.
"But..."
Just thinking about the terrifying power Narutounleashed, Sakura couldn't help but shiver.
That overwhelming, unimaginable strength seemed... even stronger than Kakashi-sensei.
Was that really possible?
"H-how can I become stronger?" Sakura murmured.
"Go to Konoha Hospital and see, there are many Medical Ninja there, maybe you have the aptitude to become a medical professional..."
Naruto smiled.
Sakura, half-understanding, didn't perceive the problem within his words; she nodded and walked away in a daze.
"Naruto."
Finally, only Naruto and Kakashi remained.
"Your mission report this time is really too shocking... I'm afraid I'll have to contact Yamato to interact with you..."
Yamato, who possesses Wood Release, is the only one capable of suppressing the Nine-Tailed.