Chapter 102: Permission
"Naruto, are you really going to Amegakure?" Sakura asked, her voice filled with concern.
I gave her a reassuring smile. "Yes, Sakura. I need to know what we're dealing with, and I have ways to escape if things get too dangerous." I patted her head, and her expression softened, gaining a bit of confidence. She smiled, seemingly comforted by my words.
"Let's go meet with Rasa," I said, turning toward the door.
"Naruto, I need go somewhere",Sasuke said and ran off.
With that, we left the restaurant and made our way to Rasa's office. As we approached the entrance, I couldn't help but notice the change in the atmosphere. The shinobi stationed around us immediately stood straighter, showing us respect—almost as if we were some type of noble. Honestly, I didn't like that feeling. I wasn't one for all this formality.
With a sigh, we reached the door. I knocked.
"Who's there?" came a voice from inside.
"Your future son-in-law," I said loudly, unable to resist.
Sakura immediately whispered, "Naruto, keep your horses low."
I grinned. "Don't worry, he won't do anything." I gave her a wink, trying to ease her worry.
"Come in," came the voice again, though this time it had a slightly irritated tone.
I opened the door and walked in, with Sakura following closely behind. Rasa, who was seated behind a large wooden desk covered in paperwork, glanced up from his work. His eyes flickered with a brief annoyance at my entrance, but he quickly masked it with a stoic expression.
"You're late, Naruto," Rasa said, his gaze narrowing slightly.
I leaned casually against the doorframe. "I was just making sure I had some time to prepare myself for the meeting. You know, the usual. How's everything going on your end?"
Rasa sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "It's going… well enough. But with everything that's happened, I'm not sure what to make of the situation anymore."
I gave him a knowing look. "Yeah, it's been a bit chaotic, hasn't it?"
Sakura stood at my side, her usual sense of urgency mixed with concern. "We need to discuss the situation with Konoha and Suna, especially after everything that's been going on."
Rasa nodded solemnly. "I agree. Let's sit down and go over the details."
As we settled into the chairs across from Rasa, I leaned forward slightly. "How's the village situation?" I asked, my tone professional.
Rasa offered a slight nod before replying. "It's stable. The negotiations went well, and we've gained some benefits from your village. On behalf of Suna, I thank you." He then bowed slightly.
I quickly waved my hands dismissively. "Hey, no need for that. You're older than me; elders don't need to bow to their juniors."
At my insistence, Rasa straightened his posture. "Very well," he said, his expression softening slightly.
I cleared my throat, preparing to broach a sensitive subject. "As you know, Temari and I are together now. So, I need to discuss something important with you."
Rasa's brows furrowed slightly, but he didn't interrupt. "I already know. Temari told me last night when she returned. So, what exactly do you want to say?"
"It's not a big deal," I began, carefully choosing my words. "I've already discussed this with Temari, and she's okay with it, but as her father, I need to ask for your permission too."
Rasa's expression shifted, suspicion creeping into his gaze. "Are you trying to do something… fishy, Naruto?"
"No, no, nothing like that," I said quickly, trying to reassure him. "It's just… well, I already have several girlfriends."
The room instantly felt charged as Rasa's face darkened with anger. "Naruto…" he growled, his voice rising in volume.
I raised my hands in a calming gesture. "Hold on, hold on! There's a reason for it!"
"What reason could you possibly have?" he demanded, his tone still sharp.
"As you know, I'm Naruto Uzumaki, a member of the Uzumaki clan—a clan once as prominent as the Senju and Uchiha," I explained confidently. "After the fall of my clan, I took it upon myself to revive it, and I decided that a harem was the best way to achieve that goal."
Rasa's anger didn't dissipate entirely, but he seemed intrigued by my explanation.
To bolster my case, I added, "You can ask Sakura if you don't believe me. She's one of my girlfriends too."
Rasa's sharp gaze shifted to Sakura, who sat beside me. "Is that true, Sakura?" he asked, his tone demanding.
Sakura's cheeks turned slightly pink, but she nodded. "Yes, it's true," she confirmed, her voice steady despite the awkwardness of the situation.
Rasa looked stunned as his gaze shifted between me and Sakura, his expression a mix of disbelief and frustration. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed heavily, clearly trying to process what he had just heard.
"So, you're telling me that you're reviving your clan by... building a harem?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with irritation.
"Yes," I replied, keeping my tone steady. "It's not just about having multiple relationships; it's about bringing honor and strength back to my clan. And it's not something I decided lightly. Everyone in my life agreed to it, and I treat them all with the love and respect they deserve."
Rasa gave me a long, hard look, then turned to Sakura. "And you're okay with this arrangement?"
Sakura nodded. "I won't lie; it was a lot to accept at first. But Naruto has always been honest with us, and he treats each of us equally. He's not doing this out of selfishness—he's carrying a huge responsibility for his clan."
Rasa leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "I can't say I like the idea of my daughter being part of something like this. But if Temari has already agreed, and if she's happy with you, then I suppose I have no right to stand in her way."
I breathed a sigh of relief, but Rasa wasn't done yet.
"Naruto," he continued, his tone sharp, "you'd better understand the weight of this responsibility. You're not just dealing with individuals—you're dealing with families, clans, and their honor. If you fail to uphold that, you'll have a lot more than just angry fathers to deal with."
"I understand, Kazekage-sama," I said, bowing slightly. "I won't let anyone down, especially Temari."
Rasa stared at me for a moment longer, then nodded. "Fine. But know this: if you hurt my daughter or fail to protect her, you'll have me and my entire village to answer to."
"Deal," I said confidently, meeting his gaze.
He sighed again, looking exhausted from the conversation. "Anything else you wanted to discuss, or are we done dropping bombshells for today?"
"Nope, that's it," I said with a grin. "Thanks for understanding, Kazekage-sama."
As we left his office, I could hear him muttering under his breath, something about "That boy will be the death of me." I couldn't help but chuckle.
With that, Sakura and I got up to leave. As we walked out of the office, I glanced at her. "Well, that went better than expected."
She smirked. "Better? I think he might have been ready to kill you for a second there."
"Yeah, but we're good now," I said with a chuckle. "Besides, who could resist my charm?"
Sakura rolled her eyes, but I could tell she was relieved. "Just don't push your luck, Naruto."
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