Chapter 198

Tsunade gripped her collar tightly, her expression furious as she glared at Carnes.

"You really are something else, just like that pervert Jiraiya."

Carnes had no choice but to remain silent.

He coughed loudly, to try and mask his embarrassment he felt within.

Carnes acknowledged his mistake, a feeling that somewhat weighed on him.

It was a futile attempt, for Carnes was aware that the truth was evident.

Yet, one couldn't blame him entirely.

Though he still tried to remain composed and not appear lecherous.

But the challenge Tsunade presented was of an entirely different magnitude.

Her big presence was simply overwhelming.

How many people in Carnes' shoes could assert full control over their own body in such a demanding situation?

He had managed to control his emotions, preventing himself from making a public spectacle of his inner turmoil.

In that, he had already achieved something remarkable, so it was already an impressive feat.

However, Tsunade was no ordinary, shy girl.

She wasn't the type to be bashful or hesitant, and her demeanor quickly shifted as she became intensely serious.

And her ability to swiftly adjust her mood was something to be admired.

With a stern expression, Tsunade questioned.

"Carnes, have you been observing the situation on the battlefield?"

"Hmm... yes, I've been watching."

Carnes locked eyes with her and nodded solemnly.

Tsunade continued, her voice carrying a sense of purpose.

"So...," Tsunade hesitated, searching for the right words.

Carnes inquired, "Yes?"

"I need to ask a favor of you. I need you to help us," Tsunade requested.

Carnes shook his head, offering a straightforward refusal as he replied.

"I'm sorry, but I have no intention of getting involved.

Furthermore, the Pain on the battlefield is nothing more than a mere puppet. The true puppeteer is someone else entirely.

I'll deal with this puppet for now if Naruto fails, but it won't be long before its true manipulator resurfaces."

If it wasn't absolutely necessary, Carnes, under most circumstances, tried to avoid interfering with the events of the original story.

He pondered whether his involvement might have unintended consequences, a significant butterfly effect of sorts.

Moreover, he considered the natural progression of the story.

Naruto was meant to not only confront the Pain incident but also successfully help Nagato and use 'talk no jutsu' on him, leading Nagato to willingly sacrifice his own life to resurrect all those who had died in the battle.

This conclusion was nothing short of perfect, something even Carnes could not replicate.

Fighting and killing were his forte, but when it came to delivering words of hope and resolutions, Naruto excelled far beyond his reach.

Naruto clearly had the upper hand as his 'talk no jutsu' was the most powerful in the entire story.

He had no desire to do the work of the protagonist, he was just here to chill.

Carnes would only try to fulfill Nagato's wish here if and only if Naruto fails.

Tsunade, however, failed to grasp Carnes' reasoning and understand his perspective.

She appeared visibly distraught, slightly perplexed and agitated as she requested him, her voice filled with frustration.

"Why, Carnes...?

I believe you're not that kind of person, the type to just stand by and do nothing.

You would step in and help us, wouldn't you?"

"We're ready to provide anything that's under our reach in exchange for your help."

Tsunade spoke to Carnes, her eyes carrying a hint of desperation and plea.

It was rare to see Tsunade like this, she seldom showed her vulnerable side, especially not in front of others.

It was for the first when she unwittingly revealed a softer, more fragile side of herself, which even she wasn't aware of.

The current situation left Tsunade feeling utterly powerless and at a loss for words.

The Deva Path's formidable combat abilities left them with a grim reality – that without the combined strength of Konoha Village's elite ninja, protecting their village was nearly impossible.

Even with their forces united, the outcome of a battle against this powerful enemy remained uncertain.

For them it wasn't a matter of whether they could defeat the Deva Path or not.

The real concern was the potential loss of countless citizens and powerful ninjas.

Additionally, the village might fail to protect its promising young talents, making it impossible to recover from the setbacks brought about by Pain's assault.

Their entire futures were at stake right now.

Tsunade could not bear the thought of accepting this grim fate for Konoha.

This was something she simply couldn't let happen.

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