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"The truth of the world?"
Naruto's heart stirred slightly upon hearing Erwin Smith's words, surprised that he harbored such thoughts.
However, the information Erwin Smith shared did indeed give Naruto some new ideas. For instance, memory alteration was something he hadn't considered. And if he expanded on that thought, did it mean that those so-called Intelligent Titans might possess even more incredible abilities?
In fact, after hearing Erwin Smith's conjecture, Naruto already had a guess about the identity of the Intelligent Titans within the walls, and he could even confirm it.
They were the 'Fritz' identity they had chosen for themselves—the Reiss Family that Kenny Ackerman currently served.
Naruto wondered if he should be more direct and go straight to the Reiss Family to "ask" for the answers he sought.
"Naruto!"
At this moment, Erwin Smith suddenly spoke, saying, "Although I don't know what your true purpose is, and I don't know what you ultimately want to do, I can guess that what you want to do is related to those Intelligent Titans. Currently, our goals do not conflict; in fact, they may be moving in the same direction."
"To avoid our goals diverging in the future, there's one question I must ask you here." Erwin Smith suddenly looked at Naruto with a serious gaze and asked in a deep voice, "If one day you must choose between humanity and Titans, will you choose humanity or Titans?"
"Of course, humanity."
Naruto heard Erwin Smith's question and answered without hesitation. Then he asked curiously, "Why do you ask?"
The relationship between humans and Titans was an absolute opposition that could not coexist; there was no doubt about that. So Naruto was a little confused about the meaning of Erwin Smith asking him such a question. Did he think that he, a human, could stand on the opposite side of humanity? No… this guy was suspecting that he wasn't human?!
Naruto suddenly realized Erwin Smith's thoughts.
But thinking about it, his currently displayed strength was indeed a bit "inhuman," so it was normal to be suspected.
Still, it was a bit annoying.
"Very good!"
Erwin Smith did not know Naruto's thoughts. After hearing his unhesitating answer, he nodded seriously and then said, "No matter what your purpose is, or what you want to do, as long as your final choice is humanity, then in the future, when you need the Survey Corps, I will choose to help you unconditionally once, as repayment for your help in reclaiming humanity's living space."
Erwin Smith believed that Naruto joining the Survey Corps must have been to utilize its power or authority to achieve a certain goal. In his opinion, as long as Naruto could use his strength to help humanity gain more benefits—and his goal would not endanger humanity's survival—then it didn't matter.
Because in his view, Naruto's strength might be the greatest opportunity, perhaps even the only opportunity, for the humans trapped within the walls to break out of their cage.
As for why Erwin Smith would make such an important decision based solely on Naruto's answer—
Of course, it was not that simple.
In fact, Erwin Smith had been observing and studying Naruto's every move since he joined the Survey Corps, and his decision was made after careful consideration, based on his three months of observation.
Erwin Smith would not easily trust anyone's promise, but he was willing to trust the answer of a soldier who was willing to protect his comrades.
Since the Reclamation Operation began, and for the past three months, no soldier who had followed Naruto had died, and his performance in action consistently showed his care for and protection of his comrades.
In Erwin Smith's opinion, this was the best proof of Naruto's "humanity."
And his question just now was merely to make his stance clear to Naruto.
He was almost explicitly telling Naruto that as long as he remained on humanity's side, no matter what Naruto wanted to do, he and the Survey Corps would unconditionally support him once.
Even if Naruto's ultimate goal was to become the king of the world within the walls, he would choose to help Naruto seize power.
After listening to Erwin Smith's words, Naruto felt a bit strange.
When he initially chose to join the Survey Corps, it was merely to directly interact with the Titans and gather information about them. His goal had already been achieved. The reason he hadn't left was because he felt that the Maria Wall Reclamation Operation was very significant for the humans within the walls, so he chose to stay and help Erwin Smith win this war.
Now that the Reclamation Operation was completely victorious, Naruto was already preparing to "retire gracefully," but he didn't expect Erwin Smith to suddenly say such things, which made him feel a bit awkward.
As for Erwin Smith's belief that he was using the Survey Corps' authority to do something—Naruto had never had such an idea from beginning to end. To put it bluntly, the entire Survey Corps' combined combat power was not even as strong as his alone.
What the Survey Corps could do, he could do more easily.
However, Naruto never forgot his greatest goal in this world: to obtain more and richer rewards.
To achieve this goal, he had to "live longer and do more" in this world.
The former would certainly be no problem as long as he was careful, which was also why Naruto was not in a hurry to uncover the truth about the Intelligent Titans.
As for the latter, it seemed more convenient to stay in the Survey Corps. Moreover, during his three months there, Naruto could clearly feel that almost everyone in the corps had the passion and courage to "fight for humanity's future."
Naruto quite liked this atmosphere, so he decided not to rush to investigate the Intelligent Titans for now and to continue staying in the Survey Corps for a while longer.
Thinking this, Naruto suddenly asked Erwin Smith, "Commander, now that the Maria Wall Reclamation Operation has been victorious, what do you plan to do next?"
Erwin Smith heard this, glanced at Naruto, then pondered for a moment before replying, "For now, nothing. I need to use this victory to gain more and greater authority for myself."
"To facilitate the investigation of the Intelligent Titans within the walls?"
Naruto's eyes flickered slightly as he asked, "Do you believe the Intelligent Titans within the walls are hidden among the high-ranking humans?"
"Not necessarily hidden."
Erwin Smith shook his head, then said in a deep voice, "I'm more inclined to believe they've used certain abilities to manipulate the high-ranking humans within the walls."
Unlike Naruto, who had already confirmed that Intelligent Titans were humans themselves, Erwin Smith was more inclined to believe that "they" were entities from outside humanity, using some supernatural ability to control human civilization within the walls.
It was even possible that the Titans outside the walls were released by "them" to trap and raise humans within these three walls.
"To find 'them,' I need higher authority and status, as well as more time to make arrangements," Erwin Smith said, then suddenly looked at Naruto. "To achieve these goals, I need your strength."
"No problem."
Naruto thought for a moment, then nodded. "I can help you."
Over the next year:
Erwin Smith, as he said, used the merits of the Maria Wall Reclamation Operation not only to elevate his own position but also to secure greater authority for the entire Survey Corps.
With his deliberate promotion, more recruits became willing to join.
Originally, only about sixty new recruits enlisted each year—but this year, the number surged to over three hundred.
Most of them came from the residents of Maria Wall.
Everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction.
However, the two Intelligent Titans who had destroyed Maria Wall never reappeared.
Erwin Smith had even prepared several "fishing" strategies—but they remained absent.
This left them disappointed, but there was nothing they could do.
At this time, Kenny Ackerman, who had been absent for over a year, suddenly approached Naruto.
He introduced a unit called the "Anti-Personnel Suppression Squad" and asked Naruto to join.
Naruto refused immediately.
Because the squad's true purpose was to eliminate dissidents for the Reiss Family.
Naruto even joked that he himself might become one of their targets.
Kenny laughed and replied that such decisions were up to him.
Before leaving, he warned Naruto not to investigate the Reiss Family for the time being.
Naruto agreed.
Because he wasn't certain what consequences such actions might bring—and he was not confident he could protect all humanity if things went wrong.
Second year:
Erwin Smith launched new expeditions beyond the walls.
Three expeditions were carried out.
There were no casualties—but no clues either.
This only strengthened their belief:
The Intelligent Titans were within the walls.
Third year:
A new batch of cadets graduated.
Nine of the top ten chose the Survey Corps.
A rare occurrence.
Among them:
Rank 1 — Mikasa Ackerman.
Naruto found the name… interesting.
This was the second "Ackerman" he had encountered.
And she was a woman.
He was curious.
But one day before the enlistment ceremony—
A familiar roar echoed.
The sky trembled.
And once again—
The Colossal Titan appeared.
On this day—
The nightmare returned.