After Sailing with the Pirate King, I Returned to Konoha - 199

Chapter 199: I Don't Have Any, So Nobody Else Should Either!

In the end, Raikage A could only sit back down sheepishly.

He had no choice—he was outmatched. In terms of pure combat strength, even the two brothers combined weren't enough for Naruto to fight. Not to mention this Killer Bee kid had now gotten chummy with the other side. Even when being reprimanded by him, Bee was still secretly twitching his eyebrows, exchanging glances with his opponent.

Really, were these two jinchūriki acting like academy students who hadn't even graduated yet?

Actually, Raikage A's thoughts had some basis in fact. After all, technically speaking, at the beginning of this year, Naruto indeed hadn't graduated from the ninja academy.

"Here, eat something. Stop keeping such a stern face."

Fortunately, Jiraiya was a veteran of the ninja world and quickly smoothed things over, handing food to the Raikage. Looking at the food in his hands, the Raikage didn't overthink it and started eating right away. He wasn't worried about poisoning.

Just as Naruto said, with his strength, such tricks were completely unnecessary. If there were any ill intentions, he'd already be dead. Besides, he was genuinely hungry. Lightning Release Chakra Mode could dramatically boost the body's performance in a short time, but the cost was considerable consumption—not just chakra, but the physical boost consumed stamina even more.

"By the way, didn't I have my sensei pass along intelligence to you? Didn't you receive that message?"

Jiraiya seemed to be starting a conversation, or perhaps simply wanting to obtain information. After glancing at the Eight-Tails jinchūriki Killer Bee, who'd run back to chat with Naruto, he turned and inquired.

"He followed on his own."

A took a bite of food, then answered in a low voice. Even without Konoha Village saying so, he wouldn't have let his brother leave Hidden Cloud Village. Even when battles required Killer Bee's involvement, Raikage A would deliberately pull the battlefield near Hidden Cloud Village, preventing Bee from leaving the village.

When his father, the Third Raikage, died, he'd already determined to protect Killer Bee, the only "family" he recognized. Though they had no blood relation, he truly treated Killer Bee as his own younger brother.

Another point—he didn't really trust Konoha. Of course, he wouldn't say this here.

Whether Naruto coincidentally heard the Raikage's answer or not, he suddenly turned to look over.

"By the way, since Killer Bee's already here, that saves you a trip." Naruto stood up, walking to face Raikage A. "From now on, let Killer Bee stay by my side."

"Huh?"

Killer Bee was somewhat surprised—Naruto hadn't mentioned this before.

"Uzumaki Naruto! What are you trying to do?!"

Raikage A's hair and beard bristled as he stood up, shouting at Naruto. Though previously dealt with so easily, he still didn't lack the courage to continue fighting. The reason he hadn't attacked upon first waking was because Killer Bee was in the opponent's hands.

"Ah, there you go getting worked up again."

Naruto felt somewhat helpless about this brother's explosive temper, extending his hand to "gently" press the opponent's shoulder, pushing him back down while A grimaced.

"According to reliable intelligence sources—namely, this lady."

Speaking, Naruto moved aside half a position, revealing the somewhat awkward and uncertain Konan behind him. Honestly, she wasn't clear why things had turned out like this. Even if not killing her, shouldn't she be imprisoned? How could this he completely disregard the previous battle?

This wasn't her fault. After all, in this ninja world filled with "destiny," "hatred," and various twisted emotions, everyone seemed like philosophers, everyone had their own stance for action. Once stances opposed, peaceful coexistence was absolutely impossible.

But it wasn't like that on the sea. Whether fighting over prey or in pirate-navy conflicts, many times after fighting, they'd sit down together drinking and holding banquets. Except for certain truly disgusting scum, many sailors didn't hesitate to drink with a worthy opponent.

Hey, though we were fighting to the death yesterday, I think you're a good person—we're buddies!

Roughly that feeling.

Naruto was like this, and under his example, Sasuke and Karin also had tendencies developing in this direction. Of course, the most affected was Konohamaru. Originally, he always felt the so-called "Will of Fire" taught by the Third Hokage was somewhat hollow, but now he completely dismissed it.

After Naruto indicated the reliability of the information source, he immediately explained the abilities the masked man had previously displayed.

"His ability to ignore attacks should be a power related to 'space.' Killer Bee's brother, you also experienced it when fighting him, right?"

"It's Raikage! Show some respect, brat!"

Raikage A first expressed dissatisfaction with Naruto's form of address, then followed his words in recollection. Indeed, that ability was quite troublesome for close-combat ninja like himself.

"He could infiltrate once; he can infiltrate a second time."

"Last time the target was luring you out. Next time, he might directly target Killer Bee."

Naruto's words weren't unreasonable, but this alone couldn't make Raikage A hand over his village's jinchūriki. Seeing the other party still intended to refuse, Naruto rubbed his brow, then his expression suddenly became stern.

"I think there aren't many places in this world safer than by my side now. You understand my meaning, right, Killer Bee's brother?"

Speaking, Naruto simply laid his cards on the table.

"Actually, I'm not asking your opinion."

"That person still wants to target jinchūriki."

"Jinchūriki don't get proper protection in ninja villages, and I also need to gather other jinchūriki to 'lure' this guy out."

Naruto slowly crouched down, looking directly into Raikage A's eyes, his presence continuously intensifying. Though not releasing Conqueror's Haki, the oppressive feeling was still overwhelming.

"Don't look at me like this—my fishing skills are quite excellent."

Sasuke, who had just woken up, didn't quite agree with that assessment. He'd seen how Naruto had come up empty-handed all day in the Land of Waves.

"To you, jinchūriki are the village's 'ultimate weapons,' so they can't be easily handed over."

"I understand."

"But in my view, they're also people, people just like me. Whether they stay or go should be their freedom."

"Besides, whether I have these weapons makes no difference to me."

Actually, after saying so much, strength was most crucial. If it were anyone else daring to say such things before Raikage A, he'd have already struck with a hand chop.

And Naruto also seemed unaccustomed to speaking at such length with people. After finishing, he sat back down and began drinking alone.

"Bee, what's your thinking?"

Raikage A looked at his brother, wanting to hear Killer Bee's decision. If Killer Bee decided to return, he'd bring him back even if it cost his life.

"Big brother, I—I also think this is better."

Killer Bee knew full well that if someone Naruto couldn't catch with his strength, neither he nor the Raikage could catch them either. Rather than let other villagers become battle casualties, it was better to stay by Naruto's side. He could return after dealing with that mysterious masked man—it wouldn't be too late.

He knew Naruto wouldn't restrict his freedom.

"Is that so—"

Seeing Killer Bee's resolve, Raikage A also fell silent for several seconds, then nodded and stood to leave.

"By the way, Killer Bee's brother, doesn't your village also have a Two-Tails? Called Yugito, right? Make sure she comes to me soon—don't let her get captured."

"Or I can go pick her up."

Naruto suddenly spoke, calling out to Raikage A, who was already walking into the darkness. Hearing this, the Raikage stumbled, then turned to glare at Killer Bee. He didn't need to think to know who among them, besides himself, knew the Two-Tails jinchūriki's identity.

However, the angry expression on Raikage A's face didn't last long before being replaced by another emotion. He looked at Naruto and said:

"Fine, I'll have Yugito come over."

"But if I remember correctly, Iwagakure Village also has two jinchūriki, and Kirigakure's Fourth Mizukage Yagura is also a jinchūriki."

After practically spelling it out, Raikage A truly left without looking back.

Hmph! Since we Hidden Cloud don't have jinchūriki, you shouldn't have any either.

Raikage A wouldn't concede on other things, but he had to acknowledge Naruto's combat power. He believed with the opponent's abilities, forcibly seizing jinchūriki from that old Tsuchikage wouldn't be difficult.