Kapitel 153: Mabui
Naruto POV
"Naruto, where have you been until now?" Tsuna asked me, her frustration clear as she glared at me with her arms crossed.
"I was just discussing future plans with Onoki," I replied casually, trying to keep my tone light despite her piercing gaze.
"Were you only talking with Onoki, or were you flirting with his granddaughter?" Tsunade asked, her tone sharp, as if I had committed some sort of crime.
"Why are women always so sharp about this kind of thing?" I thought, scratching the back of my head awkwardly.
I sighed, scratching my head nervously. "Come on, Tsuna, you're making it sound like I did something wrong. I was just... being friendly. You know, with Kuratsuchi. She's strong and smart, and—"
Tsuna raised an eyebrow, her arms crossed tightly. "Friendly, huh? You know, you're really good at making everything sound innocent, but I've seen how you interact with women. Don't think I haven't noticed."
I groaned internally. "Alright, alright. Maybe I was... being a little charming. But it's not like I was flirting with any bad intentions! Kuratsuchi's tough, but she knows how to take a compliment."
Shizune couldn't hold back a smile. "Honestly, Naruto, sometimes I wonder if you ever stop trying to charm everyone you meet."
I flashed a grin. "Hey, I can't help it if people like me, right? Especially when I'm just being myself." I winked at Tsuna, knowing it would only make her more frustrated.
Tsuna raised an eyebrow, her expression softening a little but still firm. "Just be careful. I'm the Hokage, and I have a lot of responsibility on my shoulders. The last thing I need is to be worried about you stirring up trouble, especially with the Kage's family."
I gave her a mock salute. "You got it, Tsuna. No more stirring up trouble. I'll leave the flirting for later. But seriously, I'll make sure I don't do anything to mess up Konoha's reputation."
Tsuna sighed, clearly trying to keep her composure. "I swear, you're impossible sometimes, Naruto."
I grinned. "Well, if I'm impossible, at least I keep life interesting!"
As we walked back to rest and call it a day, I noticed Mabui standing at the end of the hall, looking deep in thought, as if contemplating something serious.
"She should be with A, but why is she here?" I thought, unable to figure out the reason for her presence.
I glanced over at Tsunade, who seemed to be lost in thought as well, likely still reflecting on everything that had just transpired. "Tsuna, I'll be back in a sec. Just need to check something," I said, not waiting for her response.
I walked over to Mabui, who didn't seem to notice me approach at first. When I was just a few steps away, I cleared my throat to get her attention.
She turned to face me, her expression unreadable but her eyes betraying a hint of concern. "Naruto," she said softly, as if she hadn't expected me to be the one approaching.
"Everything okay, Mabui?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "You look like you're thinking about something serious. Need help with something?"
As if snapping out of her thoughts, Mabui suddenly spoke quickly, "Naruto, that..."
I caught her gently by the arm. "Please, calm down. I can't understand what you're saying."
"Naruto, it's about the three shinobi from our village who went to the Land of Fire. You also mentioned them in the summit," she said, her voice still a little rushed.
"Yes, what about it?" I replied, trying to make sense of the situation.
"Are they okay?" she asked, her concern evident.
"Mmm, they're doing fine," I said, nodding. "Want to check on them?"
"But how can I check on them, if they're in the Land of Fire?" she asked, looking confused.
"I'm asking, do you want to check on them? Just say yes or no," I said, trying to make it clear.
"Yes," she replied, almost simultaneously.
"Then, wait here. I'll be back," I said, turning to head towards Tsunade.
"Tsuna, I'll be back in a few hours. I'm going on a date with a beauty," I said with a grin, already running off. I knew if I turned back now, I'd be getting a beating—not just from Tsuna, but probably from Shizune as well.
"Naruto, wait!" Tsuna shouted angrily, but I didn't stop.
I could hear Tsuna's voice growing distant as I sped away, but I knew if I hesitated for even a second, I'd be in for an earful—or worse. I grinned to myself as I felt the rush of wind against my face, the thrill of getting one over on Tsuna and the excitement of my impromptu "date" with Mabui.
"She'll get over it," I muttered under my breath, though I was already anticipating the storm that would come once I returned. But for now, I had a task to complete, and Mabui needed me to handle it.
I reappeared at the location I'd designated earlier, making sure no one was watching. Mabui was standing just as I left her, her eyes scanning the area as if waiting for me.
"Ready?" I asked, giving her a confident smile.
She nodded, the slightest hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "I didn't think you'd be this fast," she remarked.
"Well, I do have a reputation to maintain," I joked, but quickly grew more serious. "Let's get to it."
I gestured for her to follow me, knowing time was of the essence. Tsuna and the others were bound to catch up eventually, but for now, I had to take care of what I'd promised Mabui.
With that, I returned to the Land of Fire, where Samui and her teammates were staying for now. As we entered their room, both Samui and Karui immediately caught sight of me.
"Naruto, how many times have we told you? Knock and come inside! Why don't you ever listen, teleporting into the room like that?" Samui shouted, clearly irritated. But her expression quickly shifted to shock as she noticed Mabui standing next to me, and Karui seemed equally surprised.
"Reward, ah?" they both said, approaching me with angry expressions, but then, to my surprise, they both hugged me.
"Thank you, Naruto," they both said in unison, their voices softer now.
"It's okay, we're friends, right?" I said, smiling as I returned the hug.
After a moment, they released me and turned to embrace Mabui instead.
"Do you know we were caught by the villages because we were from another village?" Samui began. "They started attacking us, and we thought we were going to be killed for intruding on their territory."
Karui continued, "It was terrifying, but we managed to escape before things got worse."
A week ago, while my clone was stationed in the village to guard it, I was able to gather information from all my clones, processing their memories without having to dismiss them. Even if they were still out in the field, I could analyze everything they experienced, thanks to the advanced techniques I had created.
Samui, Karui, and Oroi had entered the Land of Fire capital to gather information on the deceased Daimyo and the reasons behind his fall. The village had been stabilized, but the villagers were still wary of newcomers. The Uchiha clan elites had been stationed around the area to ensure the village's security, adding to the tension.
Disguised, the three of them entered the village, but the villagers were quick to notice their unfamiliar faces.
"Are you guys new here?" an old lady asked, her voice filled with curiosity as she eyed them cautiously.
The old lady's voice was kind but cautious as she eyed the three newcomers. Samui, Karui, and Oroi were well aware of how risky it was to enter the village under disguise, but they had no choice. With the recent upheaval and Konoha's heightened security, they couldn't afford to stand out.
Samui quickly adjusted her posture and smiled warmly, trying to appear as non-threatening as possible. "Yes, we're new. We're traveling merchants, just passing through," she said smoothly, her tone calm and friendly.
Karui, always a bit more blunt, kept her eyes sharp, watching for any signs of suspicion. "We've been on the road for a while. Just wanted to see how things are here," she added, attempting to sound casual.
Oroi, the more quiet and reserved of the three, simply nodded in agreement, giving a friendly but nonchalant wave to the old lady. He hoped that his calm demeanor would help distract her from any lingering doubts.
The old lady looked them over, her eyes squinting as if trying to discern their true intentions. She nodded slowly, but there was a hint of wariness in her gaze. "I see... it's been quite strange around here lately, what with the new leadership and all. But I suppose you'll be safe, as long as you don't cause trouble."
The tension was palpable as the trio exchanged glances. They couldn't afford to make any mistakes, especially with the Uchiha clan elites watching closely.
"We have no intention of causing trouble," Samui replied, keeping her voice steady and reassuring. "Just here to rest and gather some supplies."
The old lady seemed satisfied with the explanation, nodding again. "Alright then, but don't stay too long. Not everyone here is as friendly as me, especially with all that's been happening lately."
With that, she slowly shuffled away, leaving the trio standing there. As soon as she was out of earshot, Karui let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
"That was too close," Karui muttered, glancing around nervously. "We can't afford to attract any attention."
Samui nodded, her expression serious now. "We need to be even more careful. The Uchiha clan is everywhere, and if they notice us acting suspicious... it could mean big trouble."
Oroi's calm voice broke the silence. "We have to stick to the plan. Keep a low profile, gather the intel, and leave quietly. No heroics."
The three of them continued moving, blending into the bustling streets of the village as best as they could. The weight of the mission ahead weighed heavily on them, but they knew they had no choice but to push forward. The information they needed about the fall of the daimyo was crucial, and it was up to them to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein