Bab 175: Chapter 175
Carnes, too, turned his gaze towards Naruto, the figure of the destined son of this world, a face he'd seen countless times in his past life.
Yet, this time, it was different.
Before him stood the real Naruto.
The Naruto before him triggered a sense of familiarity, yet there was an underlying element of unfamiliarity that intrigued Carnes.
Naruto exchanged brief pleasantries with everyone present and began to piece together what had occurred in the village in his absence.
He was both touched and outraged to learn that many of the village's ninja had sustained injuries and even lost their lives to protect his whereabouts from Pain's grasp.
Many of them paid the ultimate price.
The emotions within Naruto stirred gratitude for their sacrifices, and anger at Pain's ruthless actions.
"Doing all this just for your selfish desires... "
Naruto seethed and paused, struggling to find the right words to express his indignation.
"Such a person... he's simply unforgivable!"
Naruto's affection for the village ran deep, despite the pain of his early years and the hurt inflicted upon him by some villagers.
He was not one to bear grudges; after all, the past was just that—a history they couldn't change.
He had matured beyond those painful experiences.
Toad Sage Shima offered a comforting pat on his shoulder and some words of solace.
"That man, Pain, got what he deserved," she reassured Naruto.
"Carnes-san's powers are beyond anything we've seen. Facing that jutsu head on, he's not going to have an easy time surviving."
But Kakashi interrupted the moment with a serious expression on his face.
"No, he's still alive."
Naruto's eyes widened with concern as he focused on Kakashi, who continued.
"Carnes-san mentioned that Pain isn't dead yet. There's a chance he might make a comeback."
Kakashi hesitated, choosing not to divulge the entire truth to Naruto.
He knew that Carnes had implied Naruto was the one who could potentially face Pain, but he also understood Naruto's fiery temperament and character.
If Naruto were to learn the whole story, he might take on Pain head-on.
There would be no stopping him until he had faced Pain, a foe he knew was no pushover.
Kakashi was acutely aware of Pain's formidable power, having battled him firsthand.
While Pain had been defeated and fled, it was only because he had faced Carnes, a figure often described as godlike.
Kakashi had faith in Naruto but was skeptical of his readiness to face off against someone of Pain's caliber.
Also, he couldn't help but feel that comparing him to someone like Carnes was premature.
If Naruto were to fight Pain right now, Kakashi was genuinely concerned for his safety.
Naruto's fearless resolve, however, was impossible to ignore.
Nonetheless, he remained undaunted and prepared.
He was more than ready to take on the challenge, and with unwavering determination, he spoke to Kakashi.
"Kakashi-sensei, if that guy dares to return to the village, I'll make sure to defeat him, no matter what!"
"He won't leave this place standing on his two legs!"
Kakashi fixed his gaze on Naruto, his expression unreadable as he absorbed the sight before him.
He remained silent, a heavy tension hanging in the air.
Naruto, though nervous, detected nothing out of the ordinary.
He pushed forward confidently, heading straight for Carnes who sat in a rocking chair, with a serious look on his face.
"You're the one everyone calls Carnes, right?"
Naruto inquired, his tone a blend of curiosity and respect.
"Hey there, Carnes-san. I'm Naruto Uzumaki."
"Thank you for everything that you did for the village. I'm truly grateful," Naruto continued, expressing his gratitude earnestly.
Carnes, however, dismissed it with a casual wave of his hand, signaling Naruto to relax, his eyes revealing a deeper motive for his actions this time.
Protecting Konoha Village from the Deva Path was just one of the many facets of his decision.
While this might hold profound significance for the people of Konoha, for Carnes, it was but a minor consideration.
Carnes knew that, and for him, it was still a small sacrifice.
Naruto's introduction came as a bit of a surprise to Carnes; he didn't tell his dream of becoming Hokage.
Like he thought Naruto would introduce himself as.
"Hey there, Carnes-san. I'm Naruto Uzumaki, and I'm going to be Hokage one day!"
"Believe it!"
He believed Naruto surely won't forget his trademark phrase while making an introduction.
Carnes wondered if it could be that Naruto felt that such a dream in front of him—was a bit hard to say?
"You're Naruto, correct? "I've heard Jiraiya speak of you."
Carnes asked, acknowledging his awareness of Jiraiya's mention of the young ninja.
"What an impressive young man you are."
Carnes complimented, though he'd never personally met Jiraiya As for Naruto, his connection to Jiraiya was limited at least for now.
Naruto scratched his head sheepishly, and feigned modesty in response.
But soon, he couldn't contain his curiosity, swiftly reverting to his usual self.
"Carnes-san, you mentioned that guy Pain... he's not really dead? Is that true?"
Naruto asked, his eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
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