In Konoha, This Naruto Has Decided To Take It Easy

Chapter 291 I’ll Be Waiting For You Here

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After saying that, Naruto suddenly took off the Shinigami Mask and hesitated for a second as he stared at the mask in his hand.

What he did just now was totally not his style, he just wanted to do that in his heart, it could be said that it was a whim.

This wasn’t in line with his usual approach. Normally, by now, Kazahana Doto should have already been a corpse, not still standing there trembling.

Not doing meaningless things is Naruto’s usual style.

But under the mask's influence, he acted in a way contrary to his usual style, much like what happened in Kumogakure, when he impulsively fired off a small Bijudama.

He hadn't known how to use it before, but due to the frustration boiling inside him, he somehow managed to pull it off. It felt good at the time, but now, it sent a chill down his spine.

‘What kind of sinister force was this?’

‘Ever since the bizarre ‘Jashin’s Dog’ option with Temari, things had been going wrong. The rewards kept getting stranger, first the Jashin’s Blessing, then Shinigami’s Gaze.’

‘Damn it, could it be that I had attracted some kind of malevolent presence?’

Kazahana Doto remained motionless, glued to the throne, watching Naruto remove the mask and stand there in a daze. For a moment, Kazahana Doto had no idea what Naruto was up to.

Just as he was about to move, he saw Naruto suddenly jolted, as if snapping out of a trance, and fixed his gaze on him again.

"You really deserve to die!"

"What?"

"Ahhh!!!"

With a swift and clean motion, Naruto thrust the Kusanagi Sword through Kazahana Doto’s chest, and pierced his Chakra Armor effortlessly, ending the evil Daimyo’s rule hastily and simply.

Koyuki stood in place, and couldn't help but sigh when she realized that everything was over.

The palace of the Land of Snow had been cleansed and Koyuki has become the new Daimyo.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

At the coronation ceremony, the old minister trembled as he put the crown on Koyuki. It is unknown whether if it was because he was old or too scared, but he almost stumbled as he stepped down from the platform.

Naruto stood by the side, watching Koyuki complete all the ceremonies throughout the day. The citizens below didn’t seem particularly happy, and even looked worried.

In their mind, they all thought of the same thing: Could a princess who had been missing for over a decade truly lead?

The next day, Koyuki used the Hexagonal Crystal Necklace to activate the geothermal generator within the Rainbow Glaciers. The ice and snow in the Land of Snow began to melt, ushering in spring as the land blossomed with new life.

The people were overjoyed and quickly changed their tune, shouting: ‘Long live Koyuki-sama.’

In the royal chamber, Koyuki lay exhausted on the grand bed, turning her head to look at the tall boy leaning against the wall.

"The Land of Snow needs to find a new way out. The tax rate will be temporarily set at zero and collection will start in three years. The starting rate has not yet been determined. But you can give your opinion in three years."

"Sure." Naruto replied.

[Ding! Reward: Wind Release: Rasenshuriken is successfully deployed!]

[Ding! Reward: Max-level Flying Thunder God Technique (Bonus: x6 Flying Thunder God Kunai that only the host can see) successfully deployed]

Naruto had accomplished his goal and received two rewards from the system, and yet, he couldn't be happy at all. The two masks still felt like burning hot potatoes in his hand, and he knew he’d have to visit the Land of Whirlpools to investigate them at some point.

‘This damned, lazy system wasn’t as simple as it appeared. But what is its true purpose? Was it because of my vitality or my handsome appearance?’

"Are you leaving?"

"I’ve got some things to take care of." Naruto replied absentmindedly, as his thoughts were still completely on the system. After all, this crappy system was getting increasingly treacherous. One day, it might trap him, and he wouldn’t even see it coming.

"You should be able to handle things here on your own, right? Well, even if you can’t, it doesn’t really matter." Naruto almost added harshly, ‘It doesn't matter if you can't handle it, my mission is already completed.’

"I can manage. But when will you be back?" Koyuki looked at him expectantly.

"Back?" Naruto was taken aback.

‘Going back to the Snow Country? I hadn't even considered it. This place was too far from Konoha. If I went back this time, I probably wouldn't think of this place for a long time.’

Naruto didn't think there was anything wrong with it. The two of them only had a mission-based relationship. While they were somewhat acquainted, it wasn’t as deep as a true friendship. At best, they were friends, but not particularly close ones.

The main reason was Koyuki’s aloof, world-weary expression, too detached to be involved with anyone. It was as if everything was indifferent to her, and her face might as well have had ‘I’ll never love anyone’ written on it.

"I'm not sure." Naruto said after a moment's silence. He moved away from the wall and walked towards her, "Why? Is something wrong?"

"It's nothing serious, I just wanted to ask when you’ll be old enough to come of age?" Koyuki sat up from the huge bed without even putting on her socks.

Her delicate, lotus-white feet sank softly into the mattress. Her toes were long, slender, and immaculately clean, exuding the soft elegance of a woman just reaching maturity.

"About three years, why do you ask?" Naruto lazily found a sofa to sit on, looked up and asked back.

Koyuki smiled and simply said, "I should be free by then."

Naruto lowered his eyes, as if he were deep in thought. Time passed, and after an uncertain amount of silence, he finally raised his head and spoke, “It’s hard for me to stay in one place. I don’t know where I’ll end up in the future.”

"That’s fine." Koyuki replied, having understood. She smiled and continued, "I won’t stay here as the Daimyo forever. My father has passed, and I have no family left in this place."

Just as Naruto was preparing to stand up, he rubbed his hand against his pant leg and looked up, meeting Koyuki’s eyes. Somewhat unexpectedly, he saw Koyuki’s eyes glistening in the dark.

She stared at him brightly, with a strong feeling of passion and dependence, but she quickly suppressed it.

"I just want to spend some time taking care of what my father left behind. I don't plan to stay like this forever." She added, "Once things are stable here, I’ll step down and do what I really want."

"Is that all?" Naruto asked.

"And to meet the person I love." She said half-jokingly, "You’d better wait for me."

"Okay." Naruto agreed with a smile. He walked up to her and returned the Hexagonal Crystal to her, "Since it was a keepsake from your father, it’s better that you keep it."

Their shadows fell upon the wall, and Koyuki’s heart suddenly raced as Naruto’s masculine presence overwhelmed her. She quickly shook her head, snapping herself back to reality.

"You don't want it?"

"No!" Koyuki hastily snatched the crystal back.

"Anyway, I’m leaving now. Ruling a small country in three years isn’t going to be easy." Naruto chuckled, "I wish you success."

His smile was like a ray of light piercing into Koyuki’s heart. She believed he understood her. Even though he hadn’t directly responded, his gaze sent a shiver down her spine, from the nape of her neck all the way to her toes.

It was the gaze of an adult, one filled with admiration for her body and a fleeting trace of desire.

Koyuki felt her mouth go dry as her heart pounded. In the dim royal chamber, she slowly climbed off the bed, her graceful toes touching the ground.

The air felt slightly humid, the moisture rising after the snow had melted. She walked over to Naruto, realizing with surprise that she was shorter than him.

‘How did he grow so fast?’ She was slightly surprised, and didn't know what to say when she stood in front of him. With a delicate and world-weary face, she looked up at him slightly, and the black hair on her forehead lightly brushed over her temple.

"Is something wrong?" Naruto asked, his gaze unwavering as he stared back at her.

Koyuki’s soft lips parted slightly and she murmured softly, "I’ve lived in a palace since birth, but I’ve also slept on the streets. I have suffered countless setbacks and hardships. I have seen the highest mountains and the cheering crowds. I have struggled, doubted, and given up. I thought that my life would amount to nothing as I wasted away in taverns."

"I kept acting, living as another person in front of the cameras. I thought I could escape, but I failed. Luckily, you pulled me out of that darkness. I’ve never truly lived for myself, but now I think I can."

"I have someone I like, at just the right age."

Naruto’s gaze followed the curve of her collarbone, drifting downward, and it became difficult to tear his eyes away. Koyuki squinted her eyes, as if the light bothered her, looking at him with a blushing face.

"I like you." She whispered as she stood on her toes and embraced him gently.

"You probably already know, but I’m about to leave." Naruto coughed and said, standing there without moving, "I'm still a Shinobi of Konoha, and I have to return and report."

"I wish you could stay. I’ll give you everything I have." She let Naruto go, but her hands were still hooked around his neck, and she laughed dryly.

"Though I know that saying this won’t change anything. You don’t need anything from me. You have so many better options."

"Yeah." Naruto admitted, not hiding anything, "I have to go back to Konoha. I’ll probably stay there until I come of age, so I won’t be back to the Land of Snow anytime soon."

These words were like a stone dropping into Koyuki’s heart. Her body stiffened slightly, and a hint of fear flashed across her face.

"Will you come back? It's okay, I can come find you, but I can’t bear…" She said almost begging, the numbness in her heart spreading little by little.

She realized that in front of him, her pride was slipping away, whether as an actress or the Daimyo of the Land of Snow. As long as he was there, she would unconsciously gravitate toward him.

"I will." Naruto said, his voice a little hoarse. He coughed and added, "Don’t hold on so tightly. I’m just going back to the village, not going to hell…"

Before he could finish speaking, Koyuki hugged him again, her thin and fragile body pressing tightly against his as if trying to melt into him.

Without warning, she kissed his neck softly and repeatedly, her breath hot against his skin. Her voice, cool and delicate, echoed as she bit down hard on his shoulder.

"If you forget, you're done for." She said fiercely.

‘Farewell.’

She wanted to say more, but Naruto had already waved his hand and left. Before long, his figure disappeared completely, just like the snow that had evaporated from the heat, leaving no trace behind.