Traveling through the desert was far more troublesome than under normal circumstances.
Because they had a mission, the Tailed Beast Team didn't have much time to waste on the small towns along the way.
When the sun was at its highest at noon, Naruto finally released a Jutsu to create a large awning for a brief rest.
"It's so hot..."
Kousei stuck out her tongue without any ladylike grace, her small water canteen was almost empty.
[Secret Technique: Demonic Mirror Ice Crystals (Cooling Version)]
Seeing this, Haku decisively used his Ice Release Ninjutsu, intending to create a large enough block of ice to cool Kousei.
Unfortunately, the current dry environment greatly affected his Kekkei Genkai. After much effort, he only managed to create an ice mirror half a person's height.
Feeling the cool air, the group eagerly gathered around, enjoying the makeshift 'air conditioning'.
"Hey... Naruto, don't you have any other methods?"
Jiraiya, fanning himself with a large ink-made fan, glanced sideways at his always resourceful student.
He could use the power of his Inku Inku no Mi to make everyone feel 'cool', but that sensation was ultimately just a sensory deception, not actual cooling.
Like pain, this sense always served as a warning.
If used directly on everyone, they might unknowingly collapse from heatstroke and dehydration.
When asked this, Naruto scratched his head.
He was good at fighting, but this kind of thing...
His daughter was also looking at him pitifully, which made Naruto start frantically using his super brain, which he usually didn't employ much.
Suddenly, an idea flashed, and a figure who hadn't appeared for a long time surfaced in Naruto's mind.
"I think I have a way!"
His voice attracted everyone's attention.
But Naruto didn't care about their looks and walked out from under the awning by himself.
The next moment.
"Summoning Technique!"
Naruto painstakingly bit his finger, used the Summoning Jutsu, and pressed his palm to the ground. Formation patterns and smoke appeared simultaneously.
"Naruto, what's the point of summoning a toad from Mount Myoboku at a time like this..."
Jiraiya's words were interrupted by a flapping sound.
It was the sound of a tail fin slapping against wet ground.
As the smoke cleared, what appeared before Naruto was a much larger, round-bodied giant catfish.
"Ah! It's that big catfish-"
Of everyone, only Karin knew the origin of this giant catfish.
It was the mysterious deep-sea summon, Gyumaru, making a reappearance after 193 chapters!
"By the way... how did you get so big?"
Naruto reached out and patted Gyumaru's side. When they first met, Naruto was about 180 cm tall, and this giant catfish was a bit shorter.
Now Naruto was over two meters, but Gyumaru had successfully surpassed Naruto by a head.
And that was counting its height while lying on the ground.
This big fellow didn't seem to realize it had left the ocean yet, its fins still flapping on their own, its eyes still having that vacant, 'contemplating life' look.
"Naruto, why did you summon this... fish?"
Beside him, Sasuke and the others were also puzzled. They didn't understand what use this seemingly dumb catfish had.
'Moreover, summoning a sea creature in the desert... wasn't that basically murder?'
Karin, however, understood and suddenly looked up at the sky.
"Hmm... it should be coming soon."
"What?"
Naruto's words confused everyone, but the suddenly darkening sky immediately attracted all their attention.
Somehow, a large, thick mass of dark clouds had covered the entire sky. Then, sporadic raindrops quickly began falling from the sky, dripping onto the earthen awning.
These were genuine natural raindrops, not created by Ninjutsu.
"It really works..."
Naruto looked at the sky, which had been clear just moments before, now raining down pea-sized drops, feeling somewhat incredulous himself.
He truly hadn't expected that there could be a creature in this world whose mere presence could affect the natural climate.
'This catfish... could it also be an incarnation of some nature will?'
Suspicious eyes scanned the giant catfish repeatedly.
After being hit by the rain, Gyumaru seemed to finally react. With a start, the whole fish began flapping on the sand.
Unfortunately, it had no legs, and there wasn't enough water nearby for it to move, making its struggles seem utterly futile to everyone.
[Combination Technique: Giant Fishbowl Technique]
Naruto was the first to react, clapping his hands together and creating a stone fishbowl on the spot. He guided the rainwater into it and placed Gyumaru inside.
Fortunately, it wasn't clear what species of catfish Gyumaru was, but at least it could survive in fresh water.
After flapping around in the fishbowl and resuming breathing, the big catfish once again fell into a daze, contemplating its fish life.
"Naruto, your summon... is really unique."
Someone in the team suddenly said this, and the others nodded in agreement upon hearing it.
Naruto proudly patted Gyumaru's temporary fishbowl and said proudly,
"Right! Gyumaru is really amazing. Whenever it appears, it always rains. It's such an incredible ability!"
Kousei had somehow climbed onto the edge of the fishbowl and was stretching out her small hand, trying to touch the big catfish.
Strangely enough, even though Gyumaru usually ignored even Naruto, its summoner, it reacted when Kousei approached.
The catfish gently floated up, bumped Kousei's small hand with its smooth head, and even pushed her away from the fishbowl to prevent her from falling in.
The little girl and the big catfish played happily together.
The heavy rain lasted a full half hour before Naruto sent the big catfish back to the sea.
With sufficient moisture, Haku could easily create ice blocks to cool everyone around.
The group set off again.
It was unclear how large an area the rain created by Gyumaru covered, but even as they traveled until evening, the sand beneath their feet still seemed to hold a bit of moisture.
But that was all. Unable to find a resting place at night, the group had to camp on the spot.
Fortunately, with rock walls blocking the wind and sand, the night wasn't too uncomfortable.
Late at night, as he didn't have to keep watch, Naruto went to sleep early, holding his daughter.
He entered the dreamland after a long time.
"This is..."
Before Naruto's eyes was a 'continent' floating in the sky.
No, strictly speaking, it was Naruto himself floating outside that continent at the moment.
Only by pulling the view back could one see that it wasn't a continent, but a planet so immense it surpassed Naruto's field of vision.
"This is what you call the [Ninja World], and also my 'body'."
A voice identical to Naruto's suddenly sounded.
The next moment, another 'Naruto' floated over from the side to Naruto's vicinity.
"Who are you..."
In the dream, Naruto's thoughts seemed somewhat disjointed. Seeing this bizarre scene, he surprisingly didn't feel hostile.
"Have you forgotten me so soon? Perhaps... this form is more familiar to you?"
The 'Naruto' opposite him twisted, then transformed into Gaara in Sage Mode.
"Ah! It's you-"
Naruto finally realized who the person before him was.
The Nature Will.
"So, what do you need from me?"
After the surprise, Naruto returned to his usual casual demeanor, seemingly not worried at all about falling into an enemy's trap.
The Nature Will silently watched Naruto. After about ten seconds, it slowly 'let out' a breath, much like a real person.
"You... really aren't nervous at all."
"Of course not, you have no hostile intent."
Hearing this, the Nature Will was taken aback, then actually laughed for the first time.
Frankly, seeing Gaara's face make that expression still felt a bit odd to Naruto.
Fortunately, the Nature Will didn't dwell on it for too long, as if its time to contact Naruto in this dream was very limited.
"I know you actually don't trust me, worried that I might act against other Ninja."
The Nature Will got straight to the point.
To this, Naruto's response was just a nod.
"Yes."
The Nature Will didn't mind this and silently stretched out its hand.
The next moment, a 'miniature planet' identical to the one behind it appeared in its palm.
"Uzumaki Naruto, are you interested in making a deal with me?"
"?"
The Nature Will didn't beat around the bush and directly stated the terms of the deal.
"I can grant you the ability to freely travel between the Ninja World and that other world."
Its first sentence made Naruto's eyes widen.