Looking at Naruto's emotional message, Hattori couldn't help but sigh.
Naruto's feelings for his parents, Minato's care for Naruto...
These were one of the few warm colors in Naruto.
It's just a pity.
Konoha trampled on these beautiful emotions.
They treated the child of a hero like dust, coldly neglecting him, wantonly wearing down his goodwill.
To end up with such a result...
Hattori felt they brought it upon themselves.
[Dark Group Owner: Since you already have plans, I won't say much more. Just one question: have you found any leads?]
[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki: Mm.]
Naruto nodded, looking towards the White Snake Sage not far away with awe in his eyes.
[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki: I asked the White Snake Sage. It told me that the bodies of many powerful individuals, including the Shodaime and Nidaime Hokage, are all in Orochimaru's experimental hideout.]
[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki: Fortunately, although Orochimaru's hiding place is rarely known, the White Snake Sage happens to be one of those who knows.]
[Dark Group Owner: You plan to break into Orochimaru's hideout to retrieve your parents' remains?]
Hattori asked in surprise.
At this stage, Orochimaru's strength could be called the strongest before the Shippuden Era.
Not to mention the Impure World Reincarnation Technique, just his main body's recovery power, Taijutsu, and Ninjutsu were enough to crush Naruto.
[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki: I won't be that reckless. The White Snake Sage wouldn't allow me to do that either.]
[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki: This trip is mainly to gather intelligence, to find out about the test subjects and bodies collected in Orochimaru's hideout. Once the intelligence is complete, and after I master the Snake Sage Mode, Ryuchi Cave will act collectively to plunder Orochimaru's experimental results.]
'So that's how it is.'
Hattori felt a moment of clarity.
At the same time, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
'As expected, no one in the Naruto World had simple thoughts.'
Orochimaru's achievements in human experimentation were the greatest in Naruto World.
Hashirama's cells, Cursed Seals, Living Corpse Reincarnation, Impure World Reincarnation...
All sorts of forbidden and mysterious existences were like cabbages in his hands.
As one of the characters in Naruto who knew Orochimaru best, how could the White Snake Sage not covet these results?
As everyone knew, there were three Great Sage Regions in the Naruto World, standing firm for a thousand years.
Among them, Mount Myoboku and Ryuchi Cave were equally famous, attracting countless people.
Shikkotsu Forest, because of the Shodaime Hokage, subtly pressed down on the other two Great Sage Regions.
Some busybodies called it the 'Number One Sage Region in the World'.
The White Snake Sage didn't say it out loud, but it was somewhat displeased deep down.
If they could plunder Orochimaru's experimental results and greatly enhance Ryuchi Cave's strength, the title of the Number One Sage Region in the World would be theirs.
[Dark Group Owner: A good plan, Naruto. You've learned to plan before acting now. You've grown.]
[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki: …]
It was true. He had grown a lot these days.
Naruto looked at his palm, at the pale mark there.
He couldn't help but feel emotional.
'So much had happened in the blink of an eye.'
'Meeting the Mister, defecting from Konoha, training in the White Snake Sage Mode...'
'My fate seemed guided by a dark thread, pointing towards a distant, uncertain future.'
'However…'
"I don't regret it." Naruto clenched his fist, saying firmly.
'If it weren't for the Mister…'
'He would still be alone now, swinging all by lonely self on the swing in the shade.'
'Even if deceived by everyone, I'd still be foolishly striving to become a Shinobi.'
'I also wouldn't have been able to learn the Senjutsu that could resurrect my parents.'
'Everything I had now was given to me by the Group Owner Mister.'
Naruto was very satisfied with his life now.
The White Snake Sage, although a cold-blooded creature, cared for Naruto far more than those self-proclaimed gentle adults in Konoha.
If everything went smoothly, if he could really resurrect his parents, Naruto had even thought about it.
Maybe he could just stay in Ryuchi Cave.
Inherit the White Snake Sage's legacy, become the master of Ryuchi Cave.
That wouldn't be a bad choice either.
[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki: Alright, that's enough for now, Group Owner Mister. Wait for my good news.]
Naruto pulled up his hood, the air around him warped slightly as he slowly stepped forward.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side, Mount Myoboku.
Sasuke sat cross-legged, quietly positioned on a lotus leaf, merging with nature.
Man, lotus leaf, water.
It appeared exceptionally harmonious.
"Hmm, not bad. He has already comprehended three parts of the Toad Sage Mode's essence. Continuing to train like this, he will succeed in condensing it soon."
Not far away, the Great Toad Sage, with his aged face, spoke through his few remaining teeth, his voice whistling.
"His talent is high, and his training is diligent. It's just..." Next to the Great Toad Sage, an elderly dark green toad, Fukasaku, said with a worried expression, "It seems there are many things hidden in his heart."
"If these emotional knots aren't untied, I'm afraid he might not be able to shoulder the responsibility of saving the world."
Hearing Fukasaku's words, the Great Toad Sage slowly opened his slightly squinted eyes. His wrinkled mouth lifted into a slight curve.
"Let it be."
"Whether he is the Child of Prophecy, whether he can save the world, he is a member of our Mount Myoboku. If the world falls into chaos in the future, he won't stand by and do nothing while Mount Myoboku is in danger."
The Great Toad spoke in a world-weary voice, quietly and deeply.
It seemed that, mysteriously, he had already seen through certain aspects of the future.
But, see through, don't speak.
For Mount Myoboku, for this thousand-year-old sage region, that was the best answer.