"I won't let you insult the Will of the Grass!"
Ryuga hadn't expected that even in this situation, with the leader already blown to bits, they still hadn't managed to hurt Naruto. Fury blazed within her.
But just as she was preparing to renew her attack, she was stopped.
"Ryuga, aren't you done yet! The leader is dead. How much more do you want Kusagakure to suffer?"
A man with a thick beard walked over and shouted at her.
"But..." Ryuga bit her lip, unwilling to give up.
"Stand down!"
That man with the stubble glared fiercely at Ryuga, who ultimately retreated, unwilling to back down further but still glaring at Naruto with hostility.
Naruto, however, seemed unconcerned, turning his head to look at the man with the stubble without speaking first.
Since the man had stepped forward, he must have something to say.
Sure enough, the man didn't beat around the bush. He bowed to Naruto and said, "I am Muchang. I have some influence in Kusagakure."
"Everything that happened before can be considered a misunderstanding. Kusagakure has indeed wronged the red-haired mother and daughter. I opposed this before, but Wada was determined. We had to compromise for the sake of the war."
"I'm not saying this to shirk responsibility, but now that the main culprit is dead, and the Kusagakure Hospital that caused so much humiliation to the mother and daughter has also disappeared, Kusagakure has already paid a huge price. Could you please be magnanimous and let this matter rest?"
"If you do, everyone in Kusagakure will be eternally grateful!"
Naruto sized him up. This man was someone. He spoke with tact and had a much better demeanor than Wada had just shown.
Thinking about it, Muchang seemed to be the next successor to Mui, the warden of Hozuki Castle, and he appeared in Boruto.
At that time, Muchang and Naruto had a pretty good relationship. He even helped take care of Boruto and Mitsuki, who were undercover at Hozuki Castle.
Perhaps it was because of the foundation laid by the Blood Prison Incident?
Whatever. Just as Muchang said, Naruto had mostly gotten his anger out. He hadn't planned to completely destroy Kusagakure anyway.
That would have caused too much of a stir, and it wasn't necessary.
But, he didn't need anyone to give him a way out.
"Two conditions!"
Naruto held up two fingers and spoke directly, "That Kusagakure ninja over there, must die! If you want to die with some dignity, kill yourself immediately, or I'll do it myself. Then, you won't even be able to die easily!"
"The second one, she's coming with me!"
The first one referred to the Kusagakure ninja who brought Karin into the hospital, who likely pressured Kana as well. The second one naturally referred to Ryuga.
In all of Kusagakure, aside from the red-haired mother and daughter who were taken, Ryuga was the only one of any value.
"What? You…"
Unexpectedly, Ryuga didn't react much. It was the Kusagakure ninja who became enraged.
Why did he have to die?
Everything he had done was for the village, and he had only followed orders.
Besides, an outsider had come to their village and demanded his suicide. Wouldn't Kusagakure be a laughingstock if word got out?
However, before he could finish speaking, Muchang slapped him across the face with a resounding "smack."
"Lord Muchang..." The Kusagakure ninja was stunned, covering his cheek with disbelief.
"I will arrange your funeral according to the highest standards for a hero, and your family will receive the highest level of compensation!" Muchang looked at him with a stern expression, his face etched with sincerity.
"But..." The Kusagakure ninja didn't want to die; with a little more effort, he would have become a high-ranking member of the village.
"Or, do you want me to do it myself? In that case, you'll be treated as a traitor to the village!" Killing intent began to emanate from Muchang.
If the other party said no, he would definitely strike without hesitation.
The Kusagakure ninja felt the resolute attitude, his face instantly turning pale. He just trembled and said, "I will listen to Lord Muchang!"
A choice between two? There was no choice at all!
With so many Anbu watching, even if he wanted to run, could he?
In the end, for the sake of his family and his own dignity, he could only commit suicide in front of everyone.
Sensing that the other person's life force had truly vanished, Naruto turned his gaze to Ryuga.
"I'll go with you!" Ryuga's eyes were filled with complex emotions.
She made her decision without anyone else needing to say a word.
"You'll have to make some sacrifices, Ryuga!" Muchang sighed softly.
He could have abandoned the previous Kusagakure ninja without hesitation.
But Ryuga was a good prospect. If she grew up, she would definitely be able to hold up a part of Kusagakure.
Giving up like this was like cutting off a piece of herself.
But the situation was beyond her control. If there had been even a sliver of hope, she would have fought Naruto.
However, she saw no hope at all, so she could only submit.
Ryuga shook her head, removing her Anbu mask and even taking off her Kusagakure Forehead Protector.
From this moment on, she would have no connection to Kusagakure.
Naruto didn't waste any time, flashing over and embracing Ryuga's waist. With another shua, they vanished before everyone's eyes.
"Body Flicker Technique? No, it's possibly a more advanced... Space-Time Ninjutsu!"
Muchang's pupils contracted violently, and he couldn't help but gasp.
That enemy can even use Space-Time Ninjutsu. He's truly terrifying; I absolutely cannot afford to offend him in the future.
Regardless of how they'll clean up the mess in Kusagakure, Naruto used the Flying Thunder God to teleport while holding Ryuga. The next moment, he appeared on the high mountain where the red-haired mother and daughter were.
Naruto's hand groped in front of Ryuga, and he confirmed it: flat!
"You..." Ryuga glared at him, a blush creeping onto her face.
"I was just confirming your gender; I didn't mean anything by it." Naruto shrugged and dispelled the Shadow Clone he had left there earlier.
But his nonchalant attitude only made Ryuga even more embarrassed and angry.
But what could she do? Even getting angry wouldn't help!
Ryuga could only sigh inwardly, lamenting her fate.
She was a rational person, and didn't like doing unnecessary things.
Perhaps she would quietly slip away if she had the chance, but she wouldn't openly go against Naruto.
Of course, that was assuming it didn't affect Kusagakure.
"Naruto-sama!" Karin ran over with a look of surprise, and grabbed his arm.
"Karin!!" Kana's expression changed.
It wasn't because of Karin's rude behavior toward Naruto, but because how could she reveal Naruto's identity so easily in front of outsiders? Didn't Naruto always wear a mask?
His name was Naruto?
Ryuga glanced over and made a mental note of the name.
"No problem!" Naruto waved his hand and even took off his mask.
So young?!
Ryuga's eyes widened instantly when she saw Naruto's face.
Although she didn't look much older than Naruto, she was actually twenty years old, with a baby face.
Moreover, in terms of strength, even if she lived another twenty years, she probably wouldn't be able to compare to Naruto.
Who exactly was this person? Such talent was truly terrifying!
....
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