After Sailing with the Pirate King, I Returned to Konoha - 241

Chapter 241: One-Tail, Seven-Tails—Got Them!

Today, Naruto was acting unusually—he did not drink.

This was almost impossible in the past.

Everyone who knew him was aware that he liked to pull out his sake flask and take a few sips whenever he could.

Especially at a banquet like this.

Looking back, every feast had ended with him thoroughly drunk.

Sasuke could vouch for that.

After eating several large pieces of grilled meat, Naruto waited for Fu to rush back from the kitchen with more food, then turned his gaze to the little girl beside him.

"Kosei—is that right? Can I call you that?"

At the words, the girl jumped, immediately putting down her bone and sitting up straight.

"Of course!"

Seeing her so flustered, Naruto relaxed a little.

He smiled gently and placed his hand on her forehead.

Unlike the casual head rubs during battle, this time Kosei truly felt the warmth.

It was a sense of security she had never felt from anyone, not even her mother.

"Kosei, can you tell me how you came here?"

Naruto asked softly, his voice so gentle that Karin, listening intently, realized she had never heard Naruto speak like this before.

"#$% Dammit—"

Dammit, who is this girl?!

Karin mumbled under her breath, clenching her teeth in frustration.

"Quiet, listen."

Sasuke tapped her shoulder, then leaned in, ears perked.

Despite his usual aloofness, Sasuke was just as interested in gossip as anyone.

Karin glanced at Sasuke, then around the group. Killer Bee, Yugito, and even Rōshi all looked distracted, clearly eavesdropping on the conversation.

Naruto noticed their little antics, but he did not mind.

He was patiently waiting for Kosei’s answer.

Thinking for a moment, Kosei reached into her bag and pulled out the turtle-shaped device, placing it in Naruto’s palm.

"Umm—Naruto-san, I came to this world using this thing."

She almost called him "Dad," but still hesitated to reveal her identity.

"No need to be so formal—"

Naruto chuckled, ruffled her head, then examined the turtle device. He did not sense any energy from it.

"If you’re searching for your father, you’ll probably have to return to your own world to find him."

Naruto handed the device back to Kosei.

He assumed she had accidentally crossed over while searching for her father and was now also looking for a way back to the pirate world.

With his Munch-Munch Fruit, he could turn his body into a house and take the girl back with him.

For a girl who matched his "vibe" so well, Naruto would help, even if he was not a hero.

Even with hints like this, Naruto never considered that Kosei was his daughter.

He had just been with two women, and now suddenly had a daughter? That was impossible, right?

Naruto simply thought she was another cross-world traveler.

After all, with himself as an exception, another traveler was not so strange.

And on the sea, searching for one’s father was not rare.

After all, one of the most criticized traits of pirates—yet also hard to argue against—was "neglecting family."

Naruto despised this.

Among the people he knew, several fit this description, like the sniper from Shanks’ crew, and even Roger himself.

This was one of the few things Naruto disapproved of Roger for.

Choosing to surrender because time was short suited the captain’s character, but couldn’t he have arranged things for Rouge and his child before that?

Honestly, Naruto felt that without his help, Ace might not have been born at all.

Even with his intervention, Rouge had died after giving birth, forced to extend her pregnancy.

In Naruto’s mind, if you don’t want children, don’t have them. If you do, take responsibility.

After all, he had never experienced parental love and did not want his own child to suffer the same.

That was why he had never given an answer to Hancock or Stussy.

Just as Naruto did not know why he had come to the pirate world, he did not know when he would leave.

So he could not give them false hope.

But now—

Kosei’s appearance reminded Naruto.

Once this matter was settled, he should return to the pirate world.

At least he needed to check if Stussy and Hancock were pregnant.

He did not want to be a man who shirked responsibility.

Kosei did not react at once to Naruto’s offer to send her back to the pirate world. She just gripped the device tightly, head down, silent.

Naruto mistook this for homesickness.

He suddenly lifted the girl and placed her on his shoulder.

"Don’t worry, I keep my promises. That’s the word of a Great Hero."

Naruto held his fist out in front of Kosei.

“After I finish this job, I’ll take you back. In the meantime, you’re welcome to stay with me. How does that sound?”

Kosei blinked, then understood, and bumped her fist against his.

"—I guess—there’s no need to rush—"

Her voice was barely a whisper, but Naruto just smiled, saying nothing.

This little girl’s personality was really something.

If his future child were like this, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

Gaara, listening the whole time, suddenly changed expression and stared at Naruto.

"I’m going back to Sunagakure."

The cold refusal made everyone around him pause.

But Naruto’s rejection came faster.

"Don’t even think about it."

Before Gaara could get angry, Naruto’s hand pressed down on his forehead.

"Not just you, but that little girl—yes, you will stay with us."

Fu, being pointed at, blinked, then pointed at herself in confusion.

"Me?"

Shibuki, the leader of Takigakure, also heard this, and his expression changed.

Before they could speak, Naruto continued.

"You’ve seen it for yourselves. The Akatsuki’s hunt for tailed beasts is no joke. I don’t need to prove it, do I?"

"I don’t need your protection."

Smack!

The same palm slap to the forehead, but with Naruto’s strength, Gaara was knocked backward.

"Look at yourself. Even Sasuke could beat you one-on-one. Don’t talk big."

"Hey!"

Sasuke, dragged into the conversation, protested. What did "even he" mean?

"I have a grudge with that organization. Call it using you as bait, or protecting you, but until someone from that group shows up, I won’t let you leave."

Naruto turned to Zabuza and Haku.

"Remember what I said last time? Please pass it on to him."

"Only the strong can control their fate. The weak are controlled by the strong."

Zabuza said nothing, but Haku’s memory was sharp. "That’s right."

Naruto looked down at Gaara, who was clearly unwilling to accept it.

"If you want, get stronger and run away from me. Otherwise, don’t talk big."

On his shoulder, Kosei’s eyes sparkled.

This was the attitude of a Great Hero!

I’ll protect you, no matter what you want!

How reckless!

So cool!