117: Chapter 117 The Talks EndThe roundtable discussion ended in an atmosphere where a consensus was seemingly reached, but in reality, everyone had their own ulterior motives.
With Jiraiya's strong encouragement and Naruto's shock at "expelling Obito," the four villages of Konoha, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure finally managed to reach a preliminary agreement to "jointly deal with the threat of Akatsuki."
As for the details?Command authority?Resource allocation?
That's something that will require countless rounds of wrangling and negotiations to finalize.
As soon as the meeting ended, Snake Nine Water Shadow, along with his silent bodyguard Mizuno White Wolf, hurriedly left, citing "busy village affairs and the need to stabilize the internal situation as soon as possible."
Jiraiya then took his leave.Konoha was in a mess; the heavily injured Raikage was still lying there, and Kakashi had just been attacked.A huge mess awaited his return to deal with.
He walked up to Naruto, gently patted him on the shoulder, and said with a sigh, "You brat, you always manage to come up with these new tricks."
Naruto's slightly affectionate gesture was a bit unexpected.
Anko, now dressed in her ninja outfit, came over and stood next to Jiraiya.
She glanced at Naruto with a complicated expression, her eyes filled with gratitude but also a hint of awkwardness.The scene of Naruto carrying her back to the Land of Waves was still vivid in her mind, making her ears burn.
Immediately, her gaze locked onto Sakura, who was about to come closer.
Thinking back to when I was recovering from my injury, this pink-haired girl took great care of me, washing and cleaning me in all sorts of ways.
She glared at Sakura, let out a disgruntled snort, and said to Naruto, "Let's go."
After saying that, he hurriedly pulled Jiraiya away, afraid that staying any longer would make things even more awkward.
Gaara and Temari decided to stay overnight in the Land of Waves.
Firstly, the Akatsuki's target was clearly him, the One-Tailed Jinchuriki, and he wasn't in any danger while he was away from the village.
Secondly, Temari's inexplicable little thoughts also made her want to stay a little longer.
Onoki floated to Naruto's side, smiling warmly, "President Naruto, you are young and promising, and your strength is unfathomable.You are truly a force to be reckoned with."
"Lord Tsuchikage is too kind."
Naruto smiled and said, "You are the evergreen of the ninja world.You have experienced far more storms than we juniors have seen.Under your leadership, Iwagakure is as stable as a rock.I still have a lot to learn from you."
Onoki's wrinkled face deepened with a smile, and his eyes softened considerably.
This kid is not only incredibly strong, but he also speaks so eloquently; he's definitely someone to be reckoned with.
"Hehe, President Naruto is too modest." Onoki stroked his beard."The future belongs to you young people."
He changed the subject and looked at Heitu, who was curiously examining the interior decorations of the Chamber of Commerce not far away: "My granddaughter grew up in the pile of stones in Yanyin and has never seen the world."
"Since she's come all this way to the Land of Waves, let her stay a few more days to experience the prosperity of the merchant guild and relax a bit.I'll trouble Guild Master Naruto to look after her."
Heitu was taken aback at first, then a blush of unease flashed across his face.
Naruto's gaze swept over the youthful Kurotsuchi, and he humbly nodded to Onoki, saying, "Rest assured, Tsuchikage, Miss Kurotsuchi is a distinguished guest of the merchant guild, and we will certainly treat her with the utmost hospitality."
Upon hearing this, Onoki's smile widened, and he drifted away contentedly.
Finally, there's Samui.
This survivor from Kumogakure shoulders the dual mission of saving Killer Bee and rebuilding the village.
Without the slightest hesitation, she walked straight up to Naruto and bowed deeply: "President Naruto, the Cloud Village.begs for your help."
"There are some things I'd like to discuss with you privately."
Her eyes were firm, but her tense body and slight tremors betrayed her inner anxiety and unease.
Naruto glanced down at her, his gaze lingering briefly on her proud heart."Tonight, the Chamber of Commerce will host a banquet; we'll talk while we eat."
That night, in the banquet hall.
The lights were on full display, and toasts were exchanged.
The huge round table was filled with delicacies, many of which were dishes never heard of in the ninja world.They were all beautifully presented and delicious, clearly a fusion of Naruto's memories from his previous life and innovative use of ingredients from the ninja world.
Naruto naturally sat in the main seat, with Mei Terumi sitting to his left.
The former Mizukage had changed into a more alluring, form-fitting long dress.She was smiling and naturally serving him food and wine, occasionally leaning closer to whisper, her breath as sweet as orchids.
Naruto accepted it without hesitation, occasionally placing his palm on the smooth back of her hand, which made Mei Terumi's eyes sparkle with allure.
Sitting to Naruto's right is Samui.
She also seemed to have dressed up carefully, her well-tailored Cloud Shadow style clothing highlighting her already stunning allure even more vividly.
Unlike Mei Terumi, who was subtle and tactful, she possessed the straightforwardness characteristic of women from Kumogakure, frequently offering Naruto drinks.
"President Naruto, I respect you and thank you for providing this opportunity for talks."
Samui picked up her wine glass, leaned to the side, and her voluptuous figure formed a dangerous arc with her movement, almost breaking free of restraint.
Naruto looked at her approvingly, clinked glasses with her, and drank it all in one gulp.
"Miss Samui, you have a good capacity for alcohol."
Samui filled Naruto's cup again and raised it once more, "This toast is a wish for our successful cooperation and for us to wipe out the Akatsuki organization as soon as possible!"
Another glass went down.
Samui's cheeks flushed, but his eyes shone even brighter, or rather, they were filled with a desperate determination.
She seemed determined to use this most direct method to get closer to Naruto.
Seeing this, Sakura, sitting opposite, puffed out her cheeks as if she had stuffed two steamed buns into them.
She originally wanted to sit next to Naruto, but Mei Terumi and Samui beat her to it, sitting on either side.
Watching the two women, one alluring and the other "ambitious," fawning over Naruto, she felt a surge of anger rising within her, and she felt as if she were about to break the chopsticks in her hand.
A rich, delicate fragrance of cherry blossom jam wafted uncontrollably from her body.As soon as she posted it, Heitu, who was focused on eating next to her, couldn't help but sniff and looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Black Soil paid no heed to the turbulent undercurrents.
Her long legs stretched out comfortably under the table, completely abandoning any ladylike demeanor.Her chopsticks danced as she launched a fierce attack on all sorts of unfamiliar delicacies, her eyes sparkling with excitement."Wow!This is delicious!This is so delicious too!"
"Naruto, where did your merchant guild find a chef?He's amazing!"
Her genuine enjoyment of the food was a breath of fresh air at the banquet.
On the other side, Tsunade and Shizune sat together.
Tsunade drank her wine heartily, but her gaze would occasionally meet briefly with Samui across from her.
The two equally stunning women seemed to exchange glances that sparked an invisible electric current, carrying a sense of rivalry between equals.
Tsunade scoffed inwardly, "Tsk, he's actually not inferior to me."
Jingyin held the little pig Tun Tun, looking at her adult with a helpless expression.
Temari sat next to Gaara, unable to taste her food.
Her gaze swept over Mei Terumi and Samui beside Naruto like a searchlight, a mixture of emotions swirling within her.
Mei Terumi was troublesome enough, and now there's this foul-breaking Samui from Kumogakure, who seems even more proactive than Mei Terumi!She couldn't help but mutter a complaint to Gaara: "Little brother, look at them."
Gaara remained quiet, munching on his vegetables, and simply replied, "Temari, good luck, I believe in you."
Temari: "." She almost choked.
The dinner ended in a subtle atmosphere.
Hei Tu patted his round belly, contentedly letting the maid lead him to his room to rest.Before leaving, he even took a plate of snacks with him.
Gaara also got up to take his leave, and Temari, though unwilling, could only follow him away, turning back every few steps.
Mei Terumi gently straightened Naruto's collar and said softly, "President, I'll go and process today's intelligence summary first."
She gave Samui a meaningful look, who seemed determined not to leave, and then gracefully departed.
Sakura glared angrily at Samui, then gave Naruto a resentful look before Tsunade grabbed her and dragged her away, saying, "Let's go, Sakura, don't get in the way here."
In the blink of an eye, the lively banquet hall quieted down, leaving only Naruto and Samui, as well as the guards standing in the distance.
Samui's face was still flushed.He took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind.
"President Naruto,"
Her voice trembled, "Now, can you give me a little time to talk privately?"
Naruto leaned back in his chair, nodded, and waved to the guards in the distance.
The guard bowed and withdrew, closing the banquet hall doors behind him.
"Speak, Miss Samui, what is the reason for your persistence?"
Samui stood up, didn't go around in circles, walked directly to Naruto, and bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle when she was very close to him!
The two were very close to each other.
"President Naruto!I beg you, please save Killer Bee!"
"Kumakure is destroyed, Raikage is seriously injured, and Killer Bee is our last hope and pillar!I know how terrifying Akatsuki is, even Pain.but you are different!You possess the power to contend with them, and you could even easily drive away that masked man!"
She raised her head, her blue-green eyes brimming with tears, stubbornly refusing to let them fall.
"If you are willing to help and rescue Lord Killer Bee, I, Samui of Kumogakure, am willing to pay any price!"
"Anything you want, as long as I have it, including myself, I can give it to you!"
Her words were direct and passionate, carrying the last glimmer of hope amidst despair.
She bit her lower lip, waiting for Naruto's answer.
Naruto didn't speak, he just looked at her calmly.
His gaze slid from her cheeks, slightly flushed with excitement, down to the deep bow she was giving him, which was almost an expression of reverence.
The banquet hall was so quiet that you could hear each other's heartbeats.
After a long while, just as Samui's heart was sinking, Naruto asked leisurely.
"Any cost?"
"Yes!Any price!" Samui replied without hesitation.
"Even if I asked you to leave Cloud Village and pledge allegiance to me?"
Naruto's lips curled into a smile that was neither a smile nor a frown.
Samui's body trembled violently, and a struggle flashed in his eyes, but when he thought of Killer Bee, whose fate was unknown, the village reduced to ruins, and the Raikage's earnest gaze, that struggle quickly dissipated.
"If.if this is the only way to save Lord Killer Bee and the future of Kumogakure.I, Samui, am willing to offer you my loyalty!"
Naruto smiled, reached out, and gently lifted Samui's chin, which was tense from nervousness.
"Remember what you said today."
He stood up and looked down at Samui, who was still bowing.
"I'll consider it."
He walked past Samui and headed towards the door.
"As for your sincerity."
He paused, turned back to look at her leaning back, and said, "Stay in the Chamber of Commerce and serve as my guard.You can write to Yunyin first."
After saying that, he left the banquet hall without lingering.
In the empty hall, only Samui remained, still bowing.
After a long while, she slowly straightened up.
Meanwhile, in the shadows of the corridor outside the banquet hall, a pink figure bit her lip and clenched her fists—it was Sakura, who had returned.
Although she didn't hear the whole conversation, Samui's promise of "any price" and Naruto's meaningful last words clearly reached her ears.
"Another one."
Sakura was trembling with anger."Naruto, that bastard!That big bad wolf!"
She stomped her foot, and her figure disappeared at the end of the corridor.
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