Chapter 44 – A Heavenly Start
Time rewound one year.
"Goodbye, Mama, tonight I sail away… ptooey, no male mamas."
Naruto slipped out of Konoha humming the tune.
He now wielded the strength of two cards—elite among Jonin.
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Ordinary Anbu couldn't track him.
Besides, he wasn't the original; being peeped at by so many every day was annoying.
"Can't go to the Land of Fire or the Land of Rain. Somewhere farther… how about the Land of Water?"
Naruto's eyes lit up.
Seeing the sea had been a lifelong dream of his past life.
Even if the sea breeze was salty and humid and the Ninja World probably had no bikini beauties, experiencing a different vibe sounded nice.
Thanks to Uchiha Obito, the Hidden Mist Villagewas in perpetual chaos.
A perfect place to rack up combat experience.
The last Shadow Clone had been too reckless, the original too cautious; he'd aim for the middle.
After all, Mr. Lu Xun said people of China love compromise.
Countless facts prove hamburgers, sandwiches, filled candies, etc.—the middle is tastiest and safest, hard to flip.
Set the final goal: have a showdown with Uchiha Obito.
This wasn't recklessness.
It was a decision Naruto made after careful thought.
As a Shadow Clone, he was doomed to end in splinters.
The so-called life brilliant as summer flowers, death quiet as autumn leaves.
His death had to be worthwhile.
The original couldn't avoid Uchiha Obito in the future.
Though he'd seen the original work and knew the man's skills, never having fought him still felt hollow.
He'd test Obito's weight on behalf of the original.
Of course Naruto wouldn't just walk up and fight.
He wasn't Big Fox.
He had to infiltrate the Hidden Mist, get close to Uchiha Obito, and strike when least expected.
After all that scheming, Naruto praised himself.
He had to be the most considerate Shadow Clonein history.
Once the memories returned, the original would surely cry.
"Then off to the Land of Water!"
Naruto took off his backpack, rummaged three times, his smile freezing, expression twisting.
"RNM, refund!"
What capitalist? They hadn't left him a single coin.
After a long while Naruto inhaled.
"The world is so beautiful, yet I'm so irritable—bad, very bad."
How to earn money?
Hit the black market again?
Waste of time.
Most bounties were rogue Ninja or bandits; they didn't wait to be killed, they ran around—finding them took weeks.
"What's the fastest way for an eight-year-old boy to make money?"
Little Naruto pondered.
He did know how an eighteen-year-old could earn fast.
A bit of wire ball, just lie there, money rolling in.
Huh.
He figured he could live off women.
And without selling his body.
All thanks to his own cuteness and good looks.
Lethal to men, women, young, old.
Thinking that, Naruto started pinching his face.
His original looks weren't bad, just ruined by hairstyle and clothes, but traveling required disguise anyway.
Two hours later he molded an extremely handsome face.
Think young Ying Zheng played by Weng Feiran—or the readers' younger selves.
Indescribably stunning.
Next, craft his persona.
Must be aloof, indifferent to women.
Keep them at arm's length; the unobtainable is best.
And a tragic backstory.
When it came to misery, Naruto had experience.
Who could be worse off?
Parents dead.
Oh, there's Sasuke, even worse.
But he'd watched the first two seasons of The Voice and knew how to tell a story.
Mulling over his fabricated life story, he reached a coastal city by nightfall.
At the port he picked a decent-looking steamer and sneaked aboard.
Not to the cabins or kitchen—straight to the cargo hold.
"Yo, Brother Tiger."
Inside he found a white tiger crammed in.
No idea whose pet it was.
Just as it opened its jaws, Naruto slid in and rapped its skull.
The tiger's vision blurred.
Naruto multiplied into four or five selves—Shadow-flow master.
Soon the beast sat docile.
First time petting a tiger, especially a white one.
Nice fur, comfy.
Like stroking a cat.
In his past life white tigers weren't for playing.
The steamer chugged toward the Land of Water.
Sometimes calm, sometimes swaying like seaweed.
Good thing his new body didn't get seasick.
"Chow time, Brother Tiger."
The keeper tossed five live chickens into the cage and left.
Naruto fished one out.
Under the tiger's resentful gaze he gutted it, skewered and roasted it.
I may not be a dog, but you're a real one.
The aroma was so good even the tiger lost interest in the live chickens.
Two days passed.
Naruto grew bored.
Ocean—nothing but water, nothing to see.
"Hm?"
He looked up: dark clouds outside.
Storm coming?
Half an hour later the ship began shaking like a giant stirred the sea.
Naruto anchored himself with Chakra and steadied the tiger too.
Should be fine.
He frowned.
His body swung like a pirate-ship ride.
But the wind grew fiercer.
Then came a cracking sound.
Sighing, Naruto let his Chakra erupt.
Letting people die wasn't his style.
Consider it the fare.
Two cards sounded little, but surpassed most Ninja.
With his help the steamer limped forward.
Night passed.
The ship reached a nearby island.
Naruto's face was pale.
Almost out of Chakra.
But it was slowly returning.
He bade farewell to Brother Tiger and disembarked.
After sharing hardship they could star in a Young Fantasy Journey.
With no Chakra left, Naruto feared danger in the Hidden Mist and decided to rest on the island.
Once recovered he could run across the waves; he'd seen the map in the captain's cabin—the village wasn't far.
The island seemed uninhabited.
Naruto hunted some game.
Two plump little white rabbits.
As he roasted them, a massive wave fell from the sky, dousing the fire and slamming him into a tree.
Water Release – Who Built the Dam?
Who the hell ambushed me?!
I'm doomed!
Naruto blacked out.
Worst luck ever—right when his Chakra hadn't recovered.
Minutes later a slim woman in a soaked blue tube-top dress appeared, carrying a head.
Her clothes were soaked, blood-spattered.
Seeing Naruto, she blinked and blurted, "Such a pretty little boy."
Thanks to Xiaoxi and the great lord Bing Lei for the tips.