After Sailing with the Pirate King, I Returned to Konoha - 240

Chapter 240: Father and Daughter, Cast from the Same Mold

Traditionally, every event concludes with a lavish banquet.

Tonight was no different.

To thank Naruto and his group for driving off the attacking ninja, Shibuki, still injured, directed the other villagers of Takigakure to host a gratitude feast.

It was also meant to calm the unsettled hearts of the people.

After all, if they had not been lucky enough to run into Naruto and his group, Takigakure would likely have vanished today.

Along with the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki, Fu.

At the banquet, Jiraiya and Shibuki raised their cups, exchanging the polite words of adult negotiation.

In truth, ever since Ōnoki had been soundly beaten, Jiraiya had stripped Naruto of his negotiation rights.

But tonight, Naruto had little interest in the festivities.

"So, the Akatsuki attacked Sunagakure, and you were captured by Orochimaru, then escaped after being controlled by that thing."

Naruto nodded at Gaara, lifting his cup to his lips but not drinking.

His gaze had already shifted to Kosei beside him.

For some reason, Naruto felt a natural closeness to this little girl, as if there was some blood connection between them.

Could she be from the Uzumaki clan?

But her hair was black.

Even with Naruto’s wild imagination, he never considered the idea of time travel.

Gaara, for once, explained everything that had happened to him, then awkwardly took a bowl from Haku’s hand.

"I’ll do it myself."

Haku smiled and let Gaara, still in pain, use his bandaged hands to eat on his own.

During earlier treatment, they had confirmed Naruto’s strikes were measured—Gaara had no serious injuries.

What made it hard for him to move was the aftereffect of the will of nature forcibly exhausting his body’s potential to "grow" into a sage form.

His muscles and bones had suffered internal injuries from overexertion, needing at least ten days to two weeks of rest.

Compared to his earlier wooden demeanor, Haku and Zabuza found it easier to accept this now irritable Gaara.

Of course, to Kosei, there was not much difference.

After all, he treated her the same as always.

"Orochimaru, huh..."

Naruto chewed on the name, suddenly remembering he had arranged a marriage for the man. He wondered if Big Mom had already given birth.

Then he looked at Zabuza.

Now, Zabuza no longer carried the aura of the "Demon of the Mist." If not for the recognizability of the Kubikiribōchō, even Naruto would not have recognized him.

"Looks like you two didn’t listen to me and settle down somewhere quiet after all."

"Jumping back into trouble, aren’t you afraid I’ll deal with you again?"

Naruto gave a mischievous grin as he said this.

But it was a wasted effort.

Zabuza, already familiar with Naruto’s personality, raised his cup and took a sip, then glanced at Kosei.

"It’s because of this kid."

Seeing the conversation turn to his most pressing concern, Naruto naturally asked his question.

"So, where did you find her? Oh—little one, I haven’t asked your name yet."

As he said the second half, Naruto looked at Kosei, waiting for her answer.

Suddenly called out, Kosei reflexively stood up from beside Haku, stared at Naruto, and stammered.

Then, as if remembering something, she stepped back half a pace, forming a "T-shaped stance."

One hand on her knee, the other palm up, extended forward.

"My name is Kosei! I am known as the ‘Ninja World Hero,’ a ‘Ninja Hero’! I have set out on an unknown journey to find my father. Please take care of me!"

Now, even Gaara and the other three looked at Kosei with strange expressions.

They had never heard of such a "ritual," nor seen the fearless little girl act so seriously.

Even Karin and Sasuke, not far away, turned their attention here.

They were not blind. They could clearly see Naruto had been restless since meeting the girl, so they had been watching the situation.

The ninja world did not have this "righteousness ritual."

This was a formal self-introduction used by "rōnin" on the sea when meeting each other.

It was an extremely formal ceremony. In the ninja world, no one should know it.

When Naruto saw Kosei, so small yet so serious, he first froze, then instinctively straightened up.

He brushed off his clothes, ensuring he was neat, then stepped back with his right leg, assuming the same righteous stance.

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I am a wanderer, once called the ‘Great Hero.’ I am now walking the path of revenge for my family. Please take care of me!"

If Kosei’s actions only made the others chuckle, Naruto’s solemn reply left them confused.

While the Tailed Beast Protection Squad was still puzzled, Haku and Zabuza’s expressions changed.

They had heard Naruto himself say the title "Great Hero."

Combined with the unspoken understanding between them, the truth was not hard to guess.

So, Kosei’s "father" was Naruto Uzumaki? Could it really be such a coincidence?

They exchanged glances, then shook their heads.

No, that couldn’t be right.

Even though Naruto now looked like a small giant, they remembered fighting him when he was just a fresh graduate from the Academy.

How could he have a daughter as big as Kosei?

Ignoring the others’ odd looks, Naruto and Kosei, father and daughter, silently stared at each other.

Though they said nothing, it felt like everything had been said.

This was the best way Kosei could think of in such a short time.

Honestly, her knowledge of Naruto came mostly from others’ stories.

How great her father was, how many heroic deeds he had done.

Before leaving Amazon Lily, she had been full of admiration for her father, but never thought about what would happen when she actually met him.

Naruto, on the other hand, looked at Kosei with a complicated expression.

After she performed that ritual, it was clear where she came from.

Clearly, she, too, had crossed over from the pirate world.

After the exchange, Naruto and Kosei looked at each other, their minds full of guesses, yet unsure where to begin.

Fortunately, Fu, unaware of the situation, came over and placed grilled food before them.

"Hurry up! Eat! You two have been through a lot today!"

This young Jinchūriki was the complete opposite of Gaara, warm and enthusiastic toward Naruto and Kosei.

Thanks to her interruption, the father and daughter ended their silent standoff.

Besides the Tailed Beast Protection Squad, Gaara was also a bit confused. After joining the group, Kosei had not explained her purpose to this amnesiac.

But no one seemed eager to explain the whole story.

Because Takigakure was in the forest’s center, hunting resources were plentiful.

Fu and the others only went out a few times, bringing back plenty of game and fruit.

At least in terms of food, it was much better than the Land of Earth.

Seeing the steaming grilled meat, father and daughter focused on it, almost simultaneously grabbing the nearest skewer and devouring it in a few bites.

Watching their identical movements and expressions, Haku and Zabuza, who knew the truth, were once again bewildered.

This—really looked like father and daughter.