Chapter 82 The Monster Under The Tower

[Progress with Hinata, Kyubi's approval 19.8%]

"Want me to take you in?"

Naruto asked, pointing towards the inside of the Hyuga Clan's compound. The clean, orderly streets and neatly arranged houses and courtyards gave off an air of dignity and solemnity.

"I can manage."

Hinata replied timidly, though a fleeting shadow passed through her eyes.

"Then goodbye, Hinata. Take care."

With that, Hinata balanced on one leg and bowed, her movements looked a little clumsy but very sincere.

It didn't take too much time to send Hinata back to Hyuga Clan's compound. After returning to the main street of Konoha, Naruto found a place to fill his stomach and then began a large-scale shopping spree.

The new, large household appliances would be delivered by the afternoon. With the payment settled, the service was prompt and courteous, all smiles from start to finish.

After running around all afternoon, Naruto took a nap just before sunset. By the time he woke up, it was already dark.

He took a shower, changed his clothes, and headed out. Walking from Konoha's main street towards the old district, he bought some food and various other items along the way.

Some of these were for himself, while others were for Tayuya. He planned to check if she was still alive. He didn't plan to help Tayuya, just feed her.

Afterward, he bought kunai, Explosive Tags, and ninja swords, all the essentials.

Using his usual method, Naruto entered the abandoned building. After searching through the dark floors, he finally found Tayuya huddled in a corner.

She had hidden herself quite carefully, and there was no strange smell around, indicating that she had been eating and relieving herself elsewhere. The high vantage point allowed her to observe her surroundings better and prevent anyone from sneaking up on her.

With Sandaime's death, Konoha had been on lockdown recently.

The Anbu were stretched thin, so Root had stepped in to cover some positions, giving the village a rather somber atmosphere.

Konoha's higher-ups are quite busy, and Danzo has been keeping a low profile. Konoha was focused on rebuilding and repairing, with vacant positions needing to be filled. The Land of Fire also needed to allocate funds to assist Konoha.

There are only two major issues that have been put on hold for the time being.

The first was the selection of the Godaime Hokage. The two advisors wanted to delay the decision, but if Tsunade could be brought back, they would strongly support her candidacy.

The second issue is about how to deal with the Kyubi's Jinchuriki. The higher-ups have different opinions, so a decision would have to wait until the Godaime Hokage took office.

Naruto now stood as the lonely monster beneath the towering structure, covered in scales, awaiting judgment.

The higher-ups, like gods, forced him into the sunlight, watching as the noble figures around the round table raised their hands to vote. What made him feel the most humiliated was their expectation that Naruto should love them like a loyal dog.

As long as the Kyubi remained within Naruto, he would be seen as the Kyubi himself.

However, the progress on the system's mission was nearly one-fifth complete, which means that one day, even if Kyubi is separated from Naruto, he can still use Kyubi's power.

He waited for the day to come when Kyubi would be free, as so would he.

As for how the higher-ups would react to losing a Biju, that would no longer be his concern.

One day, the gods would fall from their tower and become monsters themselves.

Until then, he would continue to watch them, observe them, and one day drag them into the sunlight like dead rats.

"How many days have you been starving?"

"Not lo-."

"Speak properly."

"One day." Tayuya raised her head and smiled with a hint of contempt.

"Really?" Naruto glanced at her and pointed out, "Your Transformation Technique is so weak from hunger that it's wearing off."

"Huh?"

Tayuya was stunned for a second, then quickly raised her hand to touch her face. Her pupils dilated in shock.

"You've seen my true face, so I can only ask you to die now."

Hearing this, Naruto yawned and took out enough food from the seal space without paying any attention to what Tayuya said.

"What good would killing me do you?"

"Are you scared?"

" ou can't beat me, so don't bother. If you keep this up, I'll flatten the whole building, and then you'll have nowhere to hide."

"Then for the sake of these foods, I'll spare you until next time." Tayuya muttered.

"I'm leaving now. Next time we meet, don't die at my hands."

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Tayuya took a bite of bread and glared at Naruto, "You're the one who should be worried! Next time, I'll definitely kill you!"

Naruto didn't say anything and left directly using Flying Thunder God Technique.

"What a weirdo. Rich and dumb…"

Tayuya grumbled in the darkness, tearing open another packet of bread, "I've never tried this before, it's a new taste."

Returning to his somewhat unfamiliar new home, Naruto collapsed on the spacious living room sofa and fell asleep, probably due to running around so much during the day.

When he opened his eyes again, it was already the next day.

He hastily grabbed a bag and headed out. There wasn't much he needed to prepare, as everything he might need was stored in his seal space. The bag contained only some money and clothes, nothing more.

Jiraiya, too, had a sealing scroll that allowed him to store items by summoning toads, so he doesn't need to carry too many things.

It's been three days since the start of their journey.

While taking a break in a tea shop, Naruto suddenly heard a familiar ding in his mind. The mechanical, synthesized voice that he hadn't heard in a while spoke up again.

The panel pops up before him.

[Option 1: Find Tsunade and convince her to return to the village to assume the position of Godaime Hokage. Reward: Tail Releasing Method (Harmless Version) Note: The Jinchuriki will not die due to the deprivation of the Biju.]

[Option 2: Find Tsunade and stop her from returning to the village to assume the position of Godaime Hokage. Reward: Wind Release: Rasenshuriken (Max Level)]

Naruto silently sipped his tea, looking across at the drinking Jiraiya, and asked, "If Princess Tsunade doesn't return to assume the position of Godaime Hokage, will you be summoned back by the village's higher-ups, Pervy Sage?"

"That's right." Jiraiya, already tipsy, reluctantly tore his eyes away from the waitress, "But there's no way I'm becoming the Hokage. Who would do such a boring job?"

"Then, Pervy Sage, you should work hard, and find Princess Tsunade as soon as possible."

"Huh?" Jiraiya stood up and looked at Naruto drunkenly, "You should be more concerned about your own situation. If Tsunade acknowledges you…"

"Oh, so you like Princess Tsunade?"

"W-What? You... what nonsense are you talking about, brat!" Jiraiya deflected and scratched his head.

"So you don't like her?"

"That's not true." Jiraiya mumbled to himself, clearly drunk, "Tsunade has always been beautiful."

"Then, Pervy Sage, you must convince Princess Tsunade to return to the village and become the Godaime Hokage."

"Why do I have to be the one to convince her?"

"Because I'm afraid of getting beaten up."

Jiraiya sighed, "You brat…"

"Since you both are Sannin, you've known each other since you were kids, right." Naruto continued seriously, "No one understands Princess Tsunade better than you, right, Pervy Sage?"

"You brat, you're not wrong." Jiraiya grinned, pouring himself another drink, "If we find Tsunade, I won't be dragged back to become the Hokage."

Naruto's words were like a devil's whisper, luring Jiraiya into the abyss.

Without the Talk-no-Jutsu, he had to resort to deception.