Naruto: If I ask you to kill Sasuke, you will become a succubus?

Orochimaru ruined the atmosphere: "The torrent of fate is not so easy to control, be careful not to drown - just like Uchiha Madara in the past."

Before Chaolu could get angry, Kakashi said, "You hope Chaolu won't take it lightly, right?"

Orochimaru said calmly: "I didn't say that. But Black Zetsu, Jigen... the darkness of this ninja world is obviously deeper than we know. There is no other way except to deal with it carefully."

Chaolu looked at Orochimaru, wanting to say something but stopping herself, and finally decided that she still didn't want to talk to him.

For some reason, Orochimaru's attitude easily made her angry, and his tone made it difficult for her to tell whether he was sincere or not.

Why could Kakashi tell that he was actually doing this for her own good?

Why could she only find him annoying?

Is this also the sensitivity that comes with losing the memory of peeping after the pupil surgery?

It turns out that she can no longer read people's minds as accurately as before. How bad!

Fortunately, everyone quickly began to prepare according to their respective tasks, without giving Orochimaru more opportunities to speak.

Itachi was going to contact Kisame, and Kakashi was going to pass on a message to Konoha, reporting that he and Naruto were together, everything was fine, and they would return tomorrow, so as to prevent Konoha from worrying and becoming suspicious.

And Naruto...

Chaolu took Naruto to have a snack, and they also needed space to talk alone.

The hotel did not provide ramen, so the two went to the town to find a ramen restaurant.

Naruto looked around and sighed, "The Land of Waves has become like this now."

Zhaolu said: "After the bridge was built, transportation became more convenient and many people came to do business. We have also contributed to the prosperity of this country!"

Naruto said: "They are living well now. Even if we change our fate in the future, we must remember to help them repair the bridge."

Chaolu smiled: "Yeah."

"Morning dew..."

"Ok?"

“What if there’s no ramen shop here?”

"I think there will be some, right? Ramen is such a classic food."

"Yes, but what if it doesn't?"

Chaolu looked at his gloomy face and asked softly, "Naruto, what are you worried about?"

Naruto hesitated for a moment, then suddenly held Chaolu's hand: "Do you still remember Mizuki?"

Chaolu was surprised: "Shuimu? Of course I remember! At that time I thought you had defected and was shocked."

"At that time, I disguised myself as Sasuke to find you. You thought I had defected. I asked you what you would do if I really defected... You said you would go with me. You must stay by my side."

"……Um."

"That's because of your mission...right?"

"..."

"Also, there was one time when I became my grown-up self and you also became your grown-up self. At that time, you said that we were loving parents... Was it also because of the mission at that time?"

"No, at that time, I meant it sincerely!"

"Do you really think we are in love?" Naruto looked at her: "Do you really... love me?"

Zhaolu also looked at him steadily, without dodging at all: "Yes. Although I wanted to stay with you at all costs before, it was indeed because of the mission, but later, I really cherished you."

"Then do you still remember that time you asked me if I would go with you if you left the village one day?"

"I remember."

"At that time I said that in order to get you back, I had to become Hokage. Later you really left without telling me anything. When I heard the news, I thought they were wrong - you couldn't leave, and even if you left, you couldn't abandon me. But you never came back, and you never contacted me... At that time, my mind was filled with memories of us being together every day. I wondered, was it because you actually wanted to come back, Chaolu, that you left me in Konoha? For you, I have to become Hokage. I have to become Hokage."

"I'm sorry, Naruto..."

"This is not Chaolu's fault. At that time, Chaolu was also forced to leave because of their sudden attack. But you said at that time that if you defected and wanted to come back, it would only be because I was in Konoha. You said that as long as I was by your side, you could give up all other ties. Was this statement made because of your mission, or was it from your true heart?"

Zhaolu recalled for a moment: "All of them."

"If I want Zhaolu to abandon everyone else but me, will you agree?"

"If Naruto will be in pain if I don't do this, I will agree. Because I want Naruto to be happy, so as long as I can do it, I can do it. What's more, even if I can't contact anyone else in the future and can only be alone with Naruto forever, I don't think I will hate it."

"What about Sasuke?"

Asano was slightly stunned, "Sasuke has Itachi-sensei now. That's his real family."

Naruto was stunned for a long time, then lowered his eyes: "If... Chaolu can give up everything for me, then I can also... give up everything for Chaolu."

"However," he looked at her bitterly and said, "someone who truly loves you will not force you to give up everything - this is what Chaolu told me at that time. Although Chaolu said that she doesn't hate being with me, it must be very sad to give up other people... I won't let Chaolu do that! Because I love you very much."

Chaolu's heart softened: "Naruto, I love you too!"

Naruto leaned down and placed his cheek between her hands, letting her palms rest gently against the side of his face.

"Chaolu has finally built so many ties with you. I can't bear to see you abandon them all and become alone again. Because..."

"We are best friends." He gently closed his eyes: "Am I still your best friend?"

"Yes!"

Naruto laughed, "Great! I won't abandon you no matter what."

Zhaolu waited for a moment, but he didn't say anything. She couldn't help but ask curiously, "Why don't you ask me?"

Naruto opened his eyes and stood up straight, as if he had been completely healed by her holding his face and moving a little closer, "What did I ask you?"

"Ask me if I will abandon you."

"Of course I hope you won't abandon me, but I don't want to embarrass Chaolu. If I ask directly, Chaolu can't guarantee it, and if I don't want to make me sad, then I will have to lie against my will, right? I don't want to do that."

"Naruto..." Chaolu felt as if she was soaking in a hot spring in the middle of winter, so warm.

She couldn't help but reach out and hug him, saying excitedly: "You are the best person in the world! I will never abandon you!"

"So am I better than Sasuke?"

"Uh, okay!"

Naruto was very happy: "Humph, as long as I'm better than him!"

……

So the next day, several teams dispersed towards their respective goals.

Team Hawk stayed with Nagato and Konan, taking care of the now very weak Nagato;

Deidara and Gaara went to the Sand Village to bring back the Red Sand Scorpion;

Sasuke, Naruto, and Itachi went together to meet Kisame first, and then went to the Hidden Cloud Village to bring back the Eight-Tails;

Asaka, Kakashi, and Orochimaru set off towards Konoha.