Chapter 11 — An Accident Is Coming!
As for Naruto Uzumaki's explanation, Sakura chose to ignore it entirely. Instead, her gaze drifted toward the distant God Tree. Without the Sharingan, she had no way of sensing anything unusual from it, no matter how hard she tried.
And yet… an inexplicable pressure began to settle in her chest, faint at first, but steadily growing heavier.
"All right. There will be a grand banquet tonight. I wonder if you would honor me with your presence? I invite you all to attend this friendship banquet between our two nations," the Emperor said slowly, his tone measured and composed.
"A banquet? Wouldn't that disturb Your Majesty?" Sakura asked hesitantly, unable to hold back her concern.
After all, this was a diplomatic matter between nations. Were outsiders like them really qualified to take part?
"It's no matter. It won't affect anything. Besides, I trust you," the Emperor replied with a gentle smile. However, despite his words, his gaze remained fixed squarely on Kaguya.
Kaguya looked puzzled, her brows faintly knitting together. What was wrong with this man? Why did he keep staring at her like that? Still, maintaining her composure, she gave a polite nod.
She nodded at me… does that mean she likes me?
The Emperor's heart began to pound uncontrollably, his excitement surging.
This… this must be what happiness feels like!
After offering a few final instructions, the Emperor took his leave.
.....
"That guy is definitely not a good person!" Naruto Uzumaki declared with absolute certainty, his expression unusually serious.
"Naruto, honestly… you're still suspicious of him even now? Seriously…" Sakura said, utterly speechless as she smacked him on the head without restraint.
"Sakura-chan, you've got to believe me! That guy definitely has bad intentions!" Naruto insisted loudly.
"Yes, yes, whatever you say," Sakura replied flatly, clearly unconvinced.
"Anyway, I just feel like something's going to happen later. I'm telling you, I've got a really bad feeling about this!" Naruto said, raising his voice as if trying to convince everyone—and himself.
Meanwhile, Kaguya stood silently, her eyes fixed on the God Tree, lost in thought.
....
Night fell.
Naruto and the others arrived at the banquet as invited. The moment they stepped into the grand hall, it felt as though countless eyes turned toward them all at once.
And when those gazes landed on Kaguya, the entire atmosphere seemed to freeze.
Every single person present stared, stunned.
She's… unreal…
She looked like a celestial maiden descended from the heavens, her presence completely out of place in the mortal world.
"What a beautiful woman… even her aura is extraordinary…"
"Who is she? I've never seen anyone like her before. Could she be the Emperor's woman?"
"They really match… the Emperor and that fairy…"
"Even the people with her look impressive. That black-haired boy is handsome—I like him!"
"Who's the blond one? He looks like an ugly idiot, grinning like that!"
Naruto's forehead veins bulged instantly, his face twisting with anger. Being compared to Sasuke was one thing—but being called ugly?
That crossed the line.
He rolled up his sleeves, ready to charge forward and pick a fight on the spot, but Kakashi grabbed him before he could move, forcing him to stand there and fume in silence.
Meanwhile, as the Emperor listened to the murmurs, the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably, his satisfaction barely concealed.
This was exactly the effect he wanted.
Yes… keep praising me.
That way, Miss Kaguya will definitely notice…
"Kaguya, please sit here," the Emperor said softly, gesturing toward the carefully arranged seats nearby.
Following his lead, they took their seats.
And just like that, the banquet began.
Naruto barely paid attention. By the time he finished nodding off…
the banquet was already over.
.....
After the banquet ended, they returned to their residence. None of them had any real interest in the event from the beginning.
After all, this was a matter between the Ancestor Nation and the Other Nation. It had nothing to do with them.
"It seems the relationship between these two nations isn't as friendly as it appears on the surface," Kakashi said thoughtfully.
"What do you mean, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto and Sakura asked at the same time, confused.
"It's just a dispute over a truce. The Other Nation is demanding that the Ancestor Nation return a key lake region, or the war will continue," Sasuke explained calmly from the side.
"But why? Isn't it just a lake?" Naruto asked, still not understanding.
"Could it be because the area is rich in resources?" Sakura guessed, her eyes widening slightly.
"Exactly," Kakashi said with a nod, a hint of approval in his tone.
After all, what nation wouldn't fight over valuable resources?
Even the Five Great Nations had gone to war over less.
"What? I still don't get it at all!" Naruto complained, completely lost.
Kaguya, for her part, didn't seem to understand either.
Bang!!
Suddenly, the gate to the residence was kicked open with violent force. A group of unfamiliar figures stormed into the courtyard without hesitation.
In an instant, they surrounded Naruto and the others.
Looking closely, they were unmistakably—
the people of the Other Nation they had seen at the banquet.
And at their head stood a man who appeared to be their leader… the Other Nation's minister, Suzaku.
They closed in aggressively, forming a tight encirclement around all five of them.
"What do you want?" Kakashi and the others reacted instantly, shifting into position and protecting Kaguya—the most vulnerable among them—at the center.
The moment Suzaku laid eyes on Kaguya, greed flared in his eyes. His gaze lingered shamelessly, as if he could devour her with it.
So this is… the heavenly maiden?
"Hand her over. Don't make this harder than it needs to be," Suzaku sneered.
How could that weak Emperor possibly deserve a woman like her?
"Hurry up. End this quickly—don't draw attention," Kakashi said in a low voice.
Hearing that, Team Seven exchanged a glance… and moved.
Moments later, Suzaku and his men were sprawled across the ground, bruised and battered beyond recognition.
It wasn't even a fight.
They were nothing more than ordinary men—how could they possibly stand against shinobi who wielded chakra?
They were defeated in a matter of seconds.
"So what do we do now, Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked, glancing at the unconscious group.
Kakashi fell into brief contemplation.
Killing them would solve the problem cleanly—but this was the Ancestor Nation, and these men belonged to the Other Nation. If word got out, it could easily escalate into something troublesome.
But leaving them alive… carried its own risks.
"Hand them over to the Emperor. Let him deal with it," Kakashi decided.
That was the safest option. Whether they killed them or not, it would only create complications. Better to push the responsibility onto the Emperor.
But if nothing unexpected happened… then it wouldn't be called an accident.
........
The next night…
When the forces of the Ancestor Nation and the Other Nation surrounded the entire residence, Naruto and the others realized something.
They had been wrong.
Completely wrong.
This Emperor… was nothing but a scheming bastard.
"It was that brat who hit me! Just look at my face! Emperor, you have to give me justice!" Suzaku shouted indignantly, pointing straight at Naruto.
Naruto was rendered speechless.
"Don't worry. I will give all of you an explanation," the Emperor said calmly. Then his gaze turned cold as it fell upon Naruto's group.
"You injured allied envoys within my territory. What exactly are you trying to do?" he demanded icily.
Hearing those words, Kakashi and the others nearly laughed in disbelief.
"Emperor, I already explained—they were the ones who broke into our residence and attacked us first," Kakashi said, his patience wearing thin.
"How dare you! You address His Majesty so casually? You've got guts!" Suzaku roared.
"…Idiot."
Even Sasuke, who rarely wasted words on others, couldn't help but mutter under his breath this time.
Then again, between allied nations and outsiders, the former carries more importance. Unfortunately, the Emperor isn't aware that they're no ordinary humans...
But shinobis.