Chapter 322

"Mr. Anli..."

"Still not satisfied? Usually, it's women who can't get enough. Are you the same even though you're a man?"

Minato: ...

Can we have a serious conversation without jokes?

"I just want to see how the villagers treat Naruto. Though I have a guess, Naruto is..."

"You're talking about his identity as a Jinchuriki?" Shinji interrupted, waving his hand dismissively. "Even if someone deliberately spread such rumors in the village, do you think anyone would believe it?"

"Uh..."

Minato was speechless, recalling the attitudes of those around Naruto at Barbecue Q. He had to admit, they were mostly friendly. It seemed everyone only knew Naruto as his son, not as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Could it be that Lady Tsunade continued the practice of concealing the Jinchuriki's identity, like with Kushina?

Shinji, seeing Minato's thoughts, shook his head but didn't reveal the truth. In reality, the villagers had heard the rumors spread by certain people that Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

But...

No one believed it!

No one could imagine that a chubby, kind-hearted boy could be the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Of course, this was also due to Tsunade's efforts to secretly raise Naruto without revealing his identity.

Though many ninjas saw Naruto as a newborn after the Fourth Hokage's sacrifice, few knew he was Minato's son or even his name. Kushina's childbirth was the village's top secret, known only to the higher-ups.

At the funeral, the ninjas only knew that the baby in front was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. After that, Hiruzen raised Naruto in secret. Once Tsunade took over, the Jinchuriki was rarely seen, with no information for years.

Even Minato, his father, barely recognized Naruto now. How could those who only saw him as a baby at the funeral?

As for the Jinchuriki rumor spread by Danzo last year after Naruto was adopted by Choza, it had little effect. Before that, Tsunade had revealed that Naruto was the Fourth Hokage's son.

Most of Konoha's civilians and ninjas found it hard to reconcile the Fourth Hokage's son with the identity of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, especially since Naruto was so endearing and unrelated to the tiny baby they remembered.

Using her Hokage authority, Tsunade suppressed (threatened Danzo about) the Jinchuriki rumors, leading to the current situation.

Danzo originally planned to spread rumors and secretly bond with the disheartened Jinchuriki... but Tsunade didn't play by the rules. She didn't let the self-sufficient Jinchuriki live alone but instead arranged for a trusted ninja to adopt him. When Danzo started spreading rumors, Tsunade led ANBU directly to the Root base!

Danzo, humiliated and unable to retaliate due to Hiruzen's intervention, wanted to eliminate Tsunade. Only with patience, he thought, could he have a chance in Konoha.

This humiliation, he swore, would be avenged by increasing his bounty and status.

...

As the sun set and the evening came, the three kids, looking dejected, returned from the town like wet cats. Kimmimaro and Haku were fine, but Karin's face was full of disappointment. She immediately ran to Shinji and cried out,

"Mr. Koro-sensei! Gaara was taken by some strange ninjas! Please save him! Kimmimaro said it was your order, but it wasn't, right?"

Seeing Karin's tearful eyes full of hope, Shinji, not wanting to ruin his image, thought quickly.

"Yes, it was indeed my order. Everything was decided by Minato."

"What?"

Minato was stunned. Although he planned to send Gaara back, today's incident wasn't his doing. It was all arranged by Shinji!

Before Minato could think further, he felt Karin's accusatory gaze.

This blame was...

Knowing there was no escaping this, Minato put on his usual gentle smile, crouched down, and spoke kindly, "Karin, Gaara is different from you. He has to go back. Those ninjas you saw weren't bad people... probably."

"I hate you..."

"What?"

"From today, you're the person I hate the most, Minato-sensei!"

Feeling hurt, Minato quickly added, "Karin, let me explain. Gaara has to go back. If he doesn't, more children like Gaara will be homeless. And don't worry, Gaara won't be..."

Before he could finish saying 'hurt', Minato remembered Gaara's identity as a Jinchuriki. Even if he didn't have to die, he would still be ostracized.

"Humph! I hate you the most!"

Minato: Inner hurt +10

...

A month later, at the Shrine of the Priestess in the Land of Demons.

In the evening.

The current Priestess, Miroku, who was not yet thirty, was naturally preparing for her bath after putting her child to sleep.

Walking towards the small waterfall and pond behind her house, Miroku shed layers of her priestess robes.

This small waterfall was a sacred place for the Priestess's purification.

Splashing in the water, Miroku sighed, "Today's water is so cold."

Scooping some water, she sighed again before stepping under the waterfall, spreading her arms and closing her eyes to feel the water cascade over her skin, adding a sacred aura to her every inch...

"It's been a while~"

A man's voice suddenly whispered in her ear, startling Miroku. She quickly covered her chest but then recognized the familiar chest pressing against her back...

That familiar feeling and voice...

"Not here, let's go... to the room..."

Seeing the matured Priestess Miroku, Shinji smiled slightly.

"Here is fine."

Tentacle Monster vs. Priestess·avi begins...

...

The next morning, after breakfast.

In the Priestess's guest room, Shinji, looking refreshed, and Miroku, with a slight blush, sat together. Minato, having changed his hair and eye color with a transformation technique, didn't need to ask where Shinji had been last night.

He couldn't believe even the Priestess had fallen...

"Alright, I understand. You can stay at the shrine for the week. I'll have the accommodations arranged."

Hearing Miroku's offer, Minato couldn't help but think of Shinji's claim that all women loved him afterward.

Is it really that magical? What's the secret?

Sitting next to Miroku, Shinji ignored Minato's curious gaze, quietly enjoying the...

Gentle mature woman, a holy priestess, otaku fantasy!

This was indeed addictive.

Especially her nurturing nature, too irresistible!

"Mr. Anli, I'll take the kids to find a place to study. You... you can continue catching up with Lady Priestess."

Watching Minato leave with the three kids and a curious Shion, Shinji praised Minato's thoughtfulness.

He really couldn't leave right now.

"Mr. Anli..."

It's time for some tender moments~