According to established practice, there was always an unwavering banquet after each incident.
Tonight was no different.
To express gratitude to Naruto and the others for driving off the invading Ninja, Shibuki, despite his injuries, directed the other residents of Takigakure to host a thank-you banquet.
This was also to temporarily stabilize the unsettled hearts and minds.
After all, if not for the luck of having run into Naruto and the others, Takigakure would likely have been wiped out today.
Along with the Seven-Tails' Jinchuriki, Fu.
At the banquet, Jiraiya and Shibuki exchanged toasts and engaged in the customary pleasantries of adult diplomacy.
In fact, ever since Onoki was severely beaten, Jiraiya had stripped Naruto of his diplomatic authority.
However, tonight, Naruto didn't have much mind to focus on the banquet anyway.
"So, the Akatsuki have already attacked Sunagakure, and you were captured by Orochimaru midway, then controlled by that thing and managed to escape."
Naruto nodded at Gaara, raising his cup to his lips but hesitating to drink.
His gaze had long since shifted to the young girl, Kousei.
For some reason, Naruto felt a natural sense of closeness to this little girl, as if there was some kind of blood connection between them.
'Could it be that she was also from the Uzumaki Clan?'
'But her hair was black.'
No matter how wild Naruto's imagination was, he didn't consider the 'time travel' direction.
Gaara, breaking his usual mold, explained everything that had happened to him in detail, then looked somewhat embarrassed as he took a bowl from Haku's hand.
"Give it to me, I can eat by myself."
Haku smiled and let Gaara, enduring the pain from his injuries, use his bandaged hands to hold the bowl and eat by himself.
During the earlier treatment, they had already confirmed that Naruto had been quite measured in his attack… at least Gaara didn't have any too serious injuries.
What really made it difficult for him to move were the aftereffects of the Nature Will 'taking over' and forcibly extracted this body's potential to 'grow' into a Sage Body.
His muscles and tendons had sustained many internal injuries from the excessive strain, requiring at least ten days to half a month of rest.
Compared to his previous wooden demeanor, Haku and Zabuza found the current, prickly-cat-like Gaara much easier to accept.
Of course, in Kousei's eyes, there wasn't much difference between the two.
Because when it came to treating her, Gaara was still the same as always.
"Orochimaru…"
Naruto chewed on the name, suddenly remembering that he seemed to have arranged a marriage for the other party, 'I wonder if Big Mom was pregnant with a child by now.'
Then, he looked towards Zabuza.
Now, there was completely no trace of the former [Demon] aura left on the other party.
If not for the highly recognizable Kubikiribocho, even Naruto wouldn't have recognized him.
"It seems you didn't listen to me and find a place to live quietly after all."
"Jumping back into troubled waters, aren't you afraid of running into me again and getting finished off?"
As he said this, Naruto even put on a meaningful, mischievous expression.
It was completely wasted effort.
Zabuza seemed to have long understood Naruto's character. He indifferently took a sip from his cup, then glanced towards Kousei.
"It's all because of this kid."
Seeing the topic steered to his most concerned target, Naruto logically asked his question.
"So where did you pick her up? Oh... little one, I haven't asked your name yet."
When he said the latter part, Naruto very naturally looked at Kousei, waiting for her answer.
Suddenly called upon, Kousei reflexively stood up from beside Haku, then, with her eyes fixed on Naruto, her mouth opened and closed hesitantly.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she stepped her right foot back half a step, assuming a 'T-stance', with one hand on her knee, the other palm facing up and extending forward.
"My name is Kousei! Known as the [Ninja World's Chivalrous Hero], the [Ninja Hero]! I have embarked on an unknown journey to find my father. Pleased to meet you!"
This time, along with Gaara, the other three all looked at Kousei with strange expressions.
They had never heard of this kind of 'etiquette' before, and it was the first time they had seen the usually fearless little girl adopt such a serious and earnest manner.
Even Karin and Sasuke not far away turned their attention over.
They weren't blind, so they could easily see that since meeting that little girl, Naruto had been visibly unsettled, so they had been paying attention to the situation over there.
This [Benevolence and Righteousness Salute] did not exist in the Ninja World.
Because this [Benevolence and Righteousness Salute] was a gesture used by the Chivalrous of the Sea when meeting each other.
It was an extremely formal self-introduction ritual that shouldn't be known by anyone in the current Ninja World.
When Naruto saw Kousei, this little adult, solemnly performing this salute, he was first stunned, then subconsciously became serious and solemn.
He patted his clothes to ensure they were neat, then similarly stepped his right foot back, assuming the posture of the Benevolence and Righteousness Salute.
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto! I am a wanderer, once called the [Great Hero]! I am currently walking the path of revenge for my kin. Pleased to meet you!"
If Kousei's actions only made the others find it somewhat amusing, then Naruto's earnest reply left the others somewhat bewildered.
While the Tailed Beast team was still in the dark, Zabuza and Haku's expressions had already changed.
They heard clearly the title [Great Hero] coming from Naruto's mouth.
Coupled with the indescribable tacit movement between the two at this moment, the facts weren't hard to infer.
'So, the 'Dad' Kousei kept talking about was Uzumaki Naruto? Could such a coincidence really happen?'
The two exchanged a glance, then shook their heads.
'No, that's not right.'
'Although Uzumaki Naruto now looked like a giant, when we first fought him, he was just a fresh graduate from the Ninja Academy, right?'
'How could he possibly have a daughter as big as Kousei?'
Ignoring the others' strange looks, the father and daughter, Kousei and Naruto, gazed at each other in a wordless silence.
Although nothing was said, it seemed as if everything had been said.
This was also the best method Kousei could think of in such a short time.
To be honest, her understanding of Naruto mostly came from others' retellings.
How great her father was, how many chivalrous deeds he had done…
Before leaving Amazon Lily, her heart was full of admiration for her father, but she had never really thought about what would happen when she actually met him.
Naruto, on the other hand, looked at Kousei with a very complex expression.
After the little girl performed this salute, her origin became clear at a glance.
Clearly, she was like him, someone who had 'crossed over' from the One Piece World.
After the salutes, Naruto and Kousei looked at each other.
Many conjectures swirled in Naruto's mind, but he didn't know where to start.
Fortunately, the clueless Fu intervened at this moment, placing grilled food in front of the two.
"Quick! Quick! Eat up! You all worked really hard today!"
This young Jinchuriki and Gaara were complete opposites, very enthusiastic towards Naruto, Kousei, and the others.
It was precisely because of her interruption that the father and daughter ended their silent standoff.
Aside from the Tailed Beast Protection Group's members, even Gaara wasn't quite clear about the situation, as after he joined the team, Kousei hadn't explained her purpose to this amnesiac guy.
But currently, it seemed no one was in the mood to explain the whole story to him.
Because Takigakure was located in the center of a forest, hunting resources were quite abundant.
Fu and the others just went out for a few rounds and brought back plenty of game and fruit.
At least in terms of food, it was much better here than in the Land of Earth.
When the father and daughter saw the steaming hot roast meat, their eyes focused on it simultaneously.
They almost simultaneously picked up the piece of meat closest to them, then chewed and swallowed it in two or three bites.
Watching the two, whose actions and demeanor were carved from the same mold, the informed Haku and Zabuza fell into confusion once again.
'This... no matter how you look at it, they seem like father and daughter.'