Chapter 172
Inside the house.
Sako, still with an indifferent expression, asked a question: "That night… did Itachi come looking for you?"
"He did."
Naruto walked around the room, observing the layout of Tsunami's room.
"I fought him, and it was an even match.
But Itachi said his Sharingan had only recently awakened and wasn't at its full potential yet, telling me to wait for him later…"
Naruto casually mentioned something terrifying.
Only then did Sako realize what Naruto had experienced.
Through the previous battle with Haku, she understood Naruto's true strength.
Naruto had defeated enemies of such terrifying strength.
Yet, Naruto only fought Itachi to a draw?
And Itachi even said that wasn't his full potential?
Sako immediately felt a surge of anger, hating herself for being too weak.
She couldn't help but clutch the bedding tightly.
Several years had passed.
Itachi… must have reached his full potential by now.
How strong would he be at this point?
"Don't worry, I haven't reached my full potential yet either."
Naruto reassured Sako.
Four tails were enough to deal with most enemies.
Later, bursting out five tails, it would be no problem to go 50/50 with Itachi.
Six tails, and he could directly challenge gods.
However, Sako clearly didn't know that Narutowould later unlock such an overpowered cheat.
She also didn't know that the cheat she could unlock was equally formidable.
"Don't lose heart…"
Naruto patted the bedding.
"When the time comes, I'll help you deal with him."
Hearing Naruto's gentle words, Sako shook her head: "No, that's my own business, it's Uchiha's business!"
Then Sako looked at Naruto.
"But I will also help you avenge your grudge."
"What's my grudge, your grudge.
Yours is mine, after all… we're good friends, aren't we?"
Naruto flashed a brilliant smile.
Good friends… Sako couldn't help but think of their recent experience of entrusting their backs and their lives to each other.
Friends… Sako clenched her fingers again.
She swore to kill Itachi, and then… she could take off these men's clothes and return to being a girl.
By then, Naruto would surely be very surprised.
"Hinata seems to like me a lot."
Suddenly, Naruto, who had walked to the window, gazed at the distant scenery and uttered these words.
"Sasuke, what do you think of her?
Is she suitable to be a wife?"
"How would I know?"
Sako huffed and turned her head away… Chapter 117.
Inari's Mom~
That night.
In the peaceful port town, a horrific massacre occurred.
Gato was directly beheaded by Zabuza.
His headless corpse was hung in the center of Gato's company building.
Countless thugs and workers witnessed this scene.
Their boss's… death.
The tyrannical villain who ran rampant here was finally brought to justice.
"Heh heh heh heh heh… or…"
His eyes curved into crescent moons, rolled upwards, looking at Zabuza above him, who was grinning sinisterly.
His spectacular facial expressions and abnormal aura made everyone tremble.
When he felt it was enough, Zabuza looked at the crowd.
"From today onwards, I am the boss of Gato's company!!"
…"Waa… waaa…"
At Tazuna's house.
It was late at night, and Inari was crying.
The man in the photo was his father, a fisherman from afar.
His kind father bravely fought Gato, but was killed by Gato.
Since then, the Land of Waves had lost its courage.
Today, a few idiots claiming to be Ninja came to their house.
One was even carried in on someone's back.
Inari thought, these idiots even said they solved the problem or something, which was clearly impossible.
Because Gato was not someone Ninja could afford to offend.
After all, Gato's collaborator was the Daimyo of the Land of Waves.
They colluded between officials and merchants, making the people live in dire straits.
This country… had no hope.
Inari did not know that Zabuza had already slaughtered the Gato Group at this time.
Besides killing Gato, there were also dozens of minor guards.
The remaining people all submitted to him.
From tomorrow onwards, everyone would know that this place would belong to Zabuza Momochi.
Putting away the photo, Inari got up, ready to go to bed.
However, some… unusual sounds came from next door.
"Naruto-kun?!
What are you doing here so late?!"
"Aunt Tsunami, your body seems unwell, you must work very hard normally…"
Similar dialogue, faint and intermittent.
Inari blinked, and soon heard exclamations and bumping sounds.
"Mom?"
He got out of bed, opened the door, and walked out.
His mother's room was next door.
Inari quickly stood in front of the door.
"Mom."
He called out.
"Inari?!"
Tsunami's surprised voice came from inside.
"Mom, are you talking to the Konoha guy?"
Inari asked.
"Ah… he, he has something to discuss with me.
He, he knows some medical Ninjutsu…" Tsunami's voice carried a hint of panic.
"Oh, I see."
Inari thought, Mom also has a very hard time.
"By the way, Mom, can you come out for a moment?"
Silence.
A moment later, the door opened, revealing a crack.
She leaned out her upper body.
Her lower body was in the shadow of the room.
Tsunami brushed her hair, a smile on her face.
Her eyes narrowed into crescent moons; Inaricouldn't see his mother's eyes, only this smiling face.
Then, Tsunami straightened her top.
"Mom, tomorrow I'll go to work in the fields with you."
Inari's house had many vegetable patches in the garden next to it.
"Yes, you can, good boy…"
Slam!
Tsunami held the door, her smile widening.
Her eyebrows trembled, and her cheeks occasionally twitched.
Tsunami, leaning against the doorframe, soon urged with a trembling voice: "Inari… hurry to bed, it's late…"
"Oh, okay, good night, Mom."
Inari quickly turned around and walked towards his room.
Tsunami watched him, observing her son all the way back to his room.
Her fingers gripping the doorframe tightened, and her arm trembled more and more.
At a certain moment, her body suddenly fell backward into the darkness.
Bang!
The room closed.
Soon, deeper sounds of medical Ninjutsu being performed could be heard inside… The night in the Land of Waves was peaceful yet not quiet.
In the silent town, the edges were filled with the constant sound of waves crashing against the shore.
Spring had arrived.
It was again the season of renewal for all things.