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Naruto tumbled several times on the ground, the contents of his backpack scattering everywhere. But he just flipped over and climbed back up, shouting again as he charged forward.
It had to be said, Naruto was indeed durable.
"Absolutely! Absolutely! Absolutely unforgivable! The relationship between Konoha and the Uzumaki clan was clearly so good! Yet you killed so many people! What kind of Uzumaki are you! You don't deserve to be called Uzumaki at all!!!!"
Having been educated² about the relationship between the Uzumaki and Konoha, when Naruto learned that the red spiral on the back of the ninja flak jacket commemorated the contributions of the Uzumaki clan, his anger became utterly uncontrollable!
Naruto clenched his teeth tightly, his eyes instantly turning into red vertical pupils, and a bright red chakra cloak also materialized on the surface of his body. Like a streak of red light, he instantly rushed before the two!
Wujie and Karin, who were already preparing to leave, stopped upon hearing these words.
Karin drew Samehada and swung it backhandedly at Naruto. Samehada instantly tore off a large part of Naruto's chakra cloak, swallowing it into its belly!
Losing the protection of the chakra cloak, Wujie sidestepped and kicked out like a long spear, hitting Naruto squarely in the lower abdomen, kicking him back again.
Samehada excitedly licked its lips, indicating that stuff tasted really good!
Little Shukaku sensed the Nine-Tails' chakra. Just as it was about to crawl out, Wujie pressed it back down.
If it ran out and taunted the Nine-Tails a few times, angering the other party, and the Nine-Tails lent all its power to Naruto out of spite, that wouldn't be fun.
Subsequently, Wujie said calmly, "Don't deserve to be called Uzumaki? Based on the things we've done, indeed many people could say that. But unfortunately, they are already no longer in this world."
"But you, Uzumaki Naruto, are not qualified to say so. And I guess you fundamentally don't know what Uzumaki represents. To you, Uzumaki should just be two simple words. So please stop coming to find trouble with me. Otherwise, I might really be unable to resist killing you."
Naruto clutched his lower abdomen and coughed. A large part of his Tailed Beast chakra had been devoured, which also caused him to exit the Tailed Beast state.
However, he ignored Wujie's threat. Instead, he extended his fist towards Wujie, a determined smile appearing on his face. "What, did I hit a sore spot? It's impossible to make me shut up! Because... I never go back on my word! That's my ninja way!!!"¹⁰
Wujie paused for a moment. This brat...
He really is inexplicably irritating. No wonder those villains seemed to lose their minds when they encountered him. Even Wujie, with his good temper, couldn't help wanting to beat him up.
Regaining his senses, Wujie sneered coldly, "I remember during the Chunin Exams, didn't you also say you wanted to defeat Hyuga Neji¹¹? Didn't you still lose in the end? What about your 'never go back on your word'?"
Speaking of which, in the original timeline, Naruto promised Neji he would help him solve the problem between the Hyuga branch and main families. But in the end, the problem wasn't solved; instead, Neji was solved.
"Uh, that was...", Naruto was immediately choked up. But he quickly clenched his fist and retorted, "I've already learned a super awesome jutsu now! Next time, I can definitely defeat Neji!"
Wujie shook his head. Next time? What familiar words. "Do you know the biggest difference between you and Shikamaru? It's that he doesn't have a 'next time', while you always do. Just like right now..."
Wujie materialized Yin Release black rods in his hand. He then tapped the ground. A runic chain appeared extremely stealthily beneath Naruto's feet, about to drill into his body!
But!
A gust of wind came!
Jiraiya, wearing his 'Oil' forehead protector, suddenly appeared before Naruto! He pulled Naruto away with one hand, then stomped his foot, shattering the runic chain into pieces!
"Pervy Sage!" Naruto immediately became excited.
Wujie chuckled lightly. "Honestly, I really don't think you have any outstanding qualities. If all the advantages you possess were given to Shikamaru, I even think he would do better than you. But unfortunately, he doesn't have a legendary ninja protecting him by his side 24/7."
Hearing Shikamaru mentioned, Naruto angrily started to rush forward, but Jiraiya stopped him, then looked gravely towards Wujie. "Why did the two of you appear here?"
Wujie's lips curved upwards slightly. "Good question. But why should I tell you?"
Jiraiya snorted, spreading his five fingers, adopting a combat stance. "Then don't blame me for using some rough methods."
Wujie also planted his tin khakkhara staff on the ground. A large magic circle instantly formed beneath his feet, ready to be activated at any moment. "Are you sure you want to fight me here?"
Jiraiya paused upon hearing this. He looked at the civilians hiding nearby and could only grit his teeth and stop his hand in the end. But he still said unwillingly, "Since you have already experienced pain, why must you inflict this pain on others!"
Wujie replied calmly, "If you can persuade all ninja to lay down their weapons and ninjutsu, make them pick up hoes and head to the fields, make it so this world no longer has ninja and shinobi villages, perhaps then I will come listen again to what you have to say to me."
Jiraiya was instantly stunned. "How could that kind of thing possibly be done!"
Wujie nodded. "Yes. How could that kind of thing possibly be done."
Jiraiya paused, finally abandoning the intention of persuasion completely. He took a deep breath, then said with a solemn expression, "You better not let me find an opportunity. Otherwise, next time, I absolutely will not show mercy!"
Hearing 'next time', Wujie almost laughed out loud. But with Jiraiya's skills, he indeed could have countless 'next times'.
So, the foundation of this world really is strength.
Just like Naruto and Hinata. Naruto can beat people until they listen to his 'ninja way', but the first time Hinata spoke her 'ninja way', she was nearly beaten to death by Neji.
Wujie shook his head. "You really are naive. If it were Orochimaru, he would definitely eliminate me before I posed a threat to him."
"Orochimaru! Could Orochimaru be here too!?" Jiraiya quickly asked.
Seeing Jiraiya's anxious face, an idea suddenly popped into Wujie's mind.
His goal was to prevent Tsunade from returning to Konoha to become Hokage.
But attacking from a martial standpoint, wanting to kill that woman who couldn't even be pierced by Susanoo was practically fantasy.
But persuading her wasn't easy either, because deep down, she had actually never let go of Konoha.
Once she met Jiraiya and Naruto, perhaps Naruto would awaken the 'Will of Fire' within her heart.
So the best method was actually to directly 'crush' Naruto and Jiraiya head-on, making them completely lose influence in Tsunade's heart. The risk was high, but if successful, the future trouble would be minimal.
Hmm... seems the plan needs some changes. Originally wanted to persuade Tsunade to accept Orochimaru's deal.
Thinking this, Wujie smiled at Jiraiya and said, "Do you want to know what exactly happened? Then come here tomorrow at this time to meet me. I will tell you what you want to know."
After speaking, Wujie tossed Jiraiya an address, then turned and left.
Not long after, a kunai with a note tied to it also pinned itself to the place where Orochimaru was staying. Kabuto cautiously retrieved the note and handed it to Orochimaru.
[Mister Orochimaru, if you still wish to heal your hands, please arrive punctually tomorrow...] The time and place were also written afterwards.
Orochimaru let out a sinister laugh. "Heheh, truly arrogant brats. Hope they don't disappoint me. Otherwise..."
The next evening, at Hyakugō Izakaya.
Inside a private booth, Orochimaru and Kabuto, Jiraiya and Naruto, Tsunade and Shizune, Wujie and Karin (holding Little Shukaku) – four groups sat separately on one side of a square table each.
The food and drinks on the table were still steaming hot, but the scene had fallen into a strange silence.
Because everyone was staring at Little Shukaku in Karin's arms!
Little Shukaku said unhappily, "It's always like this! Every time This Great One comes out, I get stared at by a bunch of people! What, is This Great One some kind of rare beast?!"
From a certain perspective, Tailed Beasts are indeed rarer than rare beasts.
Naruto just looked out of curiosity; he still knew nothing about Tailed Beasts at this point.
Jiraiya frowned and asked, "This... could it be Sunagakure's One-Tail Shukaku?"
Wujie shook his head. "This is a tanuki."
Hearing Jiraiya's words, Little Shukaku jumped onto the table. "Brat! Last time, if it wasn't for that trash fish Gaara holding me back, you think you could have beaten This Great One? Want to try again? The Jinchuriki of This Great One this time is an incredible fellow!"
Isn't this admitting it yourself!
Jiraiya didn't know what to say. Orochimaru's expression, however, turned grave. Never mind how those two Uzumaki obtained a Tailed Beast; just based on the One-Tail's attitude, it made him think of a term...
Perfect Jinchuriki!
When a Tailed Beast and its Jinchuriki can understand each other and connect their hearts, the Jinchuriki can unleash unimaginable power!
The Uzumaki brats seem about to sit on equal footing with them.
Truly annoying.
After a while, Jiraiya looked towards Wujie. "You called me here, surely not just to let me look at a Tailed Beast?"
Hearing this, Orochimaru and Tsunade, who were also invited, more or less understood who had orchestrated the current situation.
Wujie propped his hands on the tabletop, then addressed the crowd, "Why do barriers form between people? It's because we lack communication. We don't know what the other party is really thinking, which is why various misunderstandings continuously arise. The male guests present here today have actually all come for Lady Tsunade. We all want to move her to achieve our own goals. Then, showing sincerity is the best way. Therefore, I name this banquet... If You Are the One!"
"..."
Wujie's speech directly rendered everyone speechless.
After half a moment, Tsunade finally leaned back, her eyes filled with wistful reminiscence. Unknown what she recalled, she suddenly smiled. "Well, putting that brat aside for now, speaking of which, how long has it been since we gathered together like this for a drink?"
As soon as Tsunade finished speaking, Jiraiya and Orochimaru simultaneously fell into reminiscence as well.
They trained together since childhood; every time they stepped onto the battlefield, they entrusted their lives to each other. These decades of friendship permeated their entire lives. Even though they had now walked different paths, this bond was absolutely not something that could be easily severed. Even after experiencing storms, it remained hard to forget.
Orochimaru chuckled drily. "Since when did it start? Probably started when that fellow Jiraiya started yelling about finding some savior."
Even Orochimaru had never forgotten.
That friendship which spanned a lifetime.