Chapter 160: True Peace
Naruto counted to three in his heart.
Hinata, who was trying her best to stay calm, soon had a face that was completely flushed.
He took out a key, handed it to her, and said, "There's only one. If you lose it, you won't be able to go home."
"I won't lose it!"
Hinata gripped the key tightly and spoke seriously.
Though her face was still as red as an apple.
To her, those words just now had required a lifetime's worth of courage.
Before this, she hadn't known she could be so bold.
"Let me take those."
Naruto reached out and took the bags from her hands.
"No need, I..."
Hinata suddenly froze.
She had intended to say that she could carry them herself.
But her cheek was lightly bitten.
By the time she realized what had happened, her eyes darted away and she turned tail to run.
Naruto shrugged, having snatched the plastic bags from her hands just in time.
This was to avoid a headline appearing in Konohathe next day.
The eldest daughter of the Hyuga Clan leaves the supermarket without paying, engaging in a 'zero-dollar shopping' spree.
He licked the corner of his mouth.
Mmm, there was a faint fragrance.
Naruto took the items to the counter, paid, and leisurely headed home.
He opened the door and said, "I'm home."
Hinata peeked her head out from the kitchen, glanced at him, and said, "Put the groceries in the fridge. I'm making lunch. You don't need to help; I can do it alone."
"Alright."
Naruto changed his shoes, placed the new clothes on the sofa first, and then put the milk, bread, and other items into the refrigerator.
He went to the dining table and took out the flowers he had bought while out that morning.
Since he had preserved them with Chakra, they looked just as fresh as when he bought them.
The flowers were white bellflowers.
Although roses are usually used in romance, they were too obvious.
Besides, bright red didn't quite suit Hinata.
So Naruto chose bellflowers.
He then went to the guest room.
Though he didn't know if Hinata would stay overnight, he still needed to prepare.
His house was actually quite large.
In addition to the living room, there were three bedrooms.
He lived in one, and the others were vacant.
Naruto found a broom and began cleaning one of them.
"Eh?"
Hinata brought out the first dish.
Tempura.
It was almost a staple dish in this land.
Egg-battered fried shrimp sat on top, emitting an enticing aroma.
Beneath them were eggplant, broccoli, and more.
She froze for a moment when she saw the bellflowers, then heard a noise.
She activated her Byakugan.
Cleaning a room?
She was puzzled for a second, then realization hit her, and her hand almost slipped.
Hinata quickly set the tempura on the table and scurried back into the kitchen.
Naruto spent about ten minutes finishing the cleaning.
Leaving the room, he saw the dining table laden with a sumptuous lunch.
He found it somewhat incredible.
Hinata set down the final dish and then sat down opposite him.
She glanced at the bellflowers, handed him a pair of chopsticks, and said, "Naruto-kun, please try my cooking."
"Alright," Naruto snapped out of it and smiled. "I suspect I'm dreaming."
"Eh?" Hinata was confused.
"Because I'm actually getting to eat a meal personally cooked by Lady Hinata."
Naruto picked up his chopsticks and said, "I must have saved the galaxy in my past life."
Hinata lowered her head and smiled.
Words that would be considered cliché in his previous world sounded novel to her.
Well, people in the Ninja World did know about the galaxy, and even things like Earth and aliens.
"Let's eat!"
Naruto shouted the customary phrase and then ate what was the best lunch of his life so far.
"How can you exaggerate so much?"
Hinata couldn't help but say as she heard one compliment after another tumble from his mouth.
But the smile in her eyes could no longer be hidden.
If not for her girlish reserve, she might have already burst into happy laughter.
"It's absolutely true!"
Naruto said with a serious face, "I feel like we could open a restaurant together in the future... on second thought, never mind. We shouldn't let others have it so easy."
Hinata was momentarily stunned.
Naruto-kun seemed very different today.
But there was a sweetness to it.
She liked it very much.
After lunch, the two of them washed the dishes together.
Although there were many dishes, they were no problem given Hinata's appetite.
"Let's go buy some bedsheets and quilts this afternoon."
Naruto said casually, "I've cleared out a room for you."
Hinata's eyes widened.
She had guessed as much earlier, but she hadn't expected it to be true.
Her face turned completely red as she stammered, "Father... he... he won't let... me stay out overnight... and... I... that..."
Hinata's head was almost buried in her chest.
She couldn't go on.
"..."
Naruto fell silent. "I meant so you can rest if you're tired sometimes."
Hinata felt like she had been turned to stone.
Only then did she realize she had misunderstood.
Oh no, oh no!
Were the things she just said too... would Naruto-kun think I'm very... for a moment, she felt like she was dying of embarrassment.
"How about I do the washing?"
Naruto had a rough idea of what she was thinking.
Hinata set down the bowl, turned around, walked blankly out the door, then found a room, dove onto the bed, and covered her head.
Naruto couldn't help but laugh.
So silly.
He finished washing the remaining dishes and cleaned the kitchen.
"Where is she?"
Naruto eventually found Hinata in his own room.
She was completely covered.
Only a pair of small feet were left outside, wiggling from time to time.
Actually, she had already gotten over the initial shyness, but then she suddenly realized that in her panic she had run into Naruto's room and was on his bed, so she fainted again.
Naruto raised an eyebrow.
What was this supposed to be?
Fortunately, his father-in-law didn't see this; otherwise, he might need some emergency heart medicine.
And even that might not save him.
Naruto didn't wake Hinata.
It was two hours later before she came out of the room.
"Naruto-kun, let's go shopping."
A lingering blush remained on her face.
Naruto looked up at her; she was originally a pure young girl, but at this moment, she had an indescribable charm.
It was a bit like a popular term from his past life: 'pure desire'.
But Hinata wasn't faking it; it was genuine.
He nodded and said, "Yeah, let's go."
After the two finished shopping, they ran outside Konoha and wandered along the Forest of Death.
There were too many onlookers on the streets.
The forest was much more relaxed.
Naruto and Hinata held hands, neither speaking.
Autumn in Konoha was very cool and pleasant.
Until they heard the sound of fighting.
Hinata activated her Byakugan, took a look, and said, "It's Sakura and Karin. Want to go see?"
Naruto nodded.
The sounds were quite intense.
When he saw the scene, Naruto felt he had still underestimated the war between women.
The entire ground was shattered.
A crater here, a crater there.
It was like having two Tsunades.
Karin and Sakura noticed the two of them and immediately stopped.
"Naruto, when did you get back?"
Sakura shook out her hands and asked nonchalantly.
"I got back yesterday. Are you two sparring?"
Naruto asked with a look of hesitation.
"Yeah."
Sakura nodded, glanced at Karin, and said, "Our teacher doesn't have time to practice Taijutsu with us, so we're sparring on our own."
"..."
Good grief.
Give the Forest of Death a break.
Naruto suddenly noticed the diamond-shaped mark on Karin's forehead.
The Strength of a Hundred Seal?
But Sakura didn't have one on her head.
Naruto remembered that it was supposed to take three years of accumulating Chakra to form the Strength of a Hundred Seal.
He had to admit the Uzumaki Clan bloodline was powerful.
It felt like Karin could finish her apprenticeship early.
Sakura looked Naruto and Hinata over, thought of Sasuke, and her eyes were full of envy.
Dammit!
After the two left, she and Karin resumed their 'friendly' sparring.
Happy times always pass quickly.
But Naruto and Hinata felt no sadness at parting.
The Flying Thunder God Technique—you deserve to have it.
In the future, when fighting Uchiha Madara and the others, if he got tired, he could just find a place to go 'offline' for a halftime break.
He could go straight home, have a glass of milk and a snack with Hinata, and then return to continue the fight.
"Be careful with everything."
Hinata straightened the hem of his clothes and instructed.
"Yeah, I know."
Naruto rubbed her head and smiled. "If I can't win, can't I at least run?"
"Alright then."
Hinata took half a step back and said, "You can go now."
"Yeah, see you."
Naruto looked at his overly neat clothes and sighed inwardly.
A virtuous wife and mother indeed.
He raised his hand, sensing the Flying Thunder God Mark in Wudi City.
Without warning, Hinata stood on her tiptoes and pressed her warm little mouth against the corner of his lips.
The next moment.
Naruto appeared in Wudi City.
"I was careless, I didn't dodge!"
He looked at the sky with a face full of regret.
Dammit!
But Naruto had no time for regret; he had to go see Jiraiya.
Not as himself, of course, but as Merlin.
According to the agreement between the Lord of Heavenless and Jiraiya, they were to meet at the east gate of Wudi City at nine in the morning.
Naruto used the Merlin Transformation Jutsu and walked slowly along the city wall.
He used Wind Release to manifest the Barrier of the Wind King, concealing his presence.
He soon saw a silent Jiraiya.
"You're here."
Jiraiya sensed his presence and spoke.
Naruto dispelled the Barrier of the Wind King.
"Merlin Genjutsu!"
"What?!"
Jiraiya couldn't help but widen his eyes.
The world before him changed drastically.
A dazzling city that never sleeps.
He looked at the unfamiliar skyscrapers and the metal boxes racing everywhere, falling into a state of shock.
When he snapped out of it, he realized he was under a Genjutsu.
He formed hand seals and said, "Genjutsu: Release!"
But it was useless.
"How is this possible?"
Jiraiya had never encountered a Genjutsu he couldn't break.
Well, under Naruto's influence, he hadn't come face-to-face with the Mangekyo Sharingan in this life, and Kakashi hadn't experienced Tsukuyomi, so he didn't know.
"This should be our first time meeting."
Naruto spoke, reminding him of his presence.
Jiraiya looked at him and couldn't help asking, "What kind of Genjutsu is this?"
"A Genjutsu from the future."
Naruto explained with a smile, "Everything you see is the future."
Although Jiraiya didn't believe this was the future, his expression was one of unprecedented solemnity.
In just a few seconds, he already understood that Merlin was not a simple fellow—perhaps even more troublesome than the eerie Lord of Heavenless.
"The Lord of Heavenless told me to come see you."
Jiraiya looked him over and said, "Now I'm here. What do you have to say?"
"No, you have the order reversed."
Naruto sat down cross-legged and snapped his fingers. Suddenly, the city that never sleeps transformed into Konoha.
"I'll change it to a familiar scene for you."
The two of them were sitting atop the Hokage Rock.
Naruto said, "My name is Merlin, as you already know. But what you don't know is that I have never liked taking the initiative. So you shouldn't ask me what I want to say, but rather what you can know and what you want to know."
Jiraiya frowned.
Why was this guy talking in riddles?
Didn't your Sect Leader tell me to come see you?
Naruto glanced at him and said, "What drove you here was not the Sect Leader, but yourself."
Besides granting him three passive skills and four active skills, the merlin character card also had a hidden skill.
Clairvoyance.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't a skill.
It was more like a symbol of Merlin.
An innate ability.
Specifically, the sight of the present.
To see through everything happening in the present.
Of course, Naruto couldn't do it perfectly.
He could currently only vaguely sense fragments related to himself.
For example, he could guess Jiraiya's thoughts.
Jiraiya's heart jolted at those words.
He indeed could have chosen not to come.
But he had come here after all.
Ultimately, the reason wasn't the Lord of Heavenless, but the doubts in his own heart driving him.
"Do you really know everything?"
Jiraiya asked after a moment of silence.
"I know a thing or two,"
Naruto replied modestly. "That's not actually important. What's important is what you want to know?"
Jiraiya nodded slightly.
In an instant, many questions came to mind.
But in the end, only one question remained.
The thing he had pursued his entire life: peace.
As the teacher of the child of prophecy, he had always tried to guide his students to find the path to peace.
But so far, there was nothing.
He wanted to see if this fellow, who claimed to be all-knowing, actually knew.
"What is true peace?" Jiraiya asked.
As expected, it was this question.
Naruto actually found it quite interesting.
In the Ninja World, ordinary Ninjas were busy with missions, while geniuses with power were pursuing so-called peace.
Like Senju Hashirama, Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Itachi, Nagato, and even the Naruto from the original work.
They were also practicing their own ideals.
But not one of them had truly achieved it.
Even Naruto, who won a great victory through 'Talk-no-Jutsu', still saw wars breaking out everywhere in boruto.
"Peace is a very complex issue."
Naruto looked at him with a calm face and said, "Anyone who claims they can explain it in a sentence or two is most likely lying to you."
"So you don't know?" Jiraiya frowned.
"No need to be impatient."
Naruto took out a scroll. "Remaking the world is a very troublesome task."
Jiraiya instinctively looked at the scroll and then opened it.
It was a table of contents.
His expression shifted.
It wasn't a sudden realization, but rather even more confusion.
Are these things really related to peace?
'On the Origin, Analysis, Growth, and Decline of the Noble Class in the Ninja World', 'Principles of Dialectical Materialism', 'Ideology in the Land of Fire', 'Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts', 'From Utopia to Science', 'The Power of the Common People', and so on.
"..."
Jiraiya looked up at Naruto, hoping for an explanation.
"Finish reading these books first."
Naruto stood up and said with a voice as calm as still water, "Then come find me again."
"How should I find you?"
"The White Lotus Sect has disbanded, and I am no longer its Protector. Soon, you will hear of a power called the Langya Pavilion."