Chapter 63: The Colossal Creature Emerging from the Dense Mist

Naruto took the opportunity to meet Karin while the group was resting at their campsite.

A squad of enormous robots emerged from the depths of the ocean and marched onto land. The commotion was impossible to hide from Kakashi and the others, so everyone rushed out to witness the spectacle.

Upon seeing the gigantic robots, Sakura Haruno and Tazuna were utterly stunned. They could hardly comprehend how such massive beings could stand upright.

Tazuna, especially, found his not-so-brilliant mind overwhelmed by the sight, unable to utter a single word.

Only Sasuke and Kakashi managed to maintain their composure.

“Hmph, these things aren’t as big as my Susano’o, and their abilities are far less versatile,” Sasuke snorted.

Over the past month, he had been developing his Mangekyō Sharingan’s abilities. He discovered that beyond its three time-based jutsu, it also concealed a ninjutsu allowing him to condense Yin Release chakra and summon a colossal spectral guardian.

Though he could currently only form a ribcage that shielded his entire body, Sasuke knew his fully realized Susano’o would be a towering god or demon of immense scale.

Steel giants dozens of meters tall? He had no reason to envy them!

Still, despite what he told himself, Sasuke couldn’t help casting a longing gaze at the massive robots. After all, what man could resist the allure of such mechanical marvels?

Kakashi had seen his own teacher summon Gamabunta, and witnessed all sorts of strange and enormous summoned beasts on the battlefield. Such grand creatures were nothing new to him.

He was only curious: when did Naruto manage to build all these machines?

And the operators, all with red hair—clearly members of the Uzumaki clan. When had Naruto connected with the Uzumaki? And how did he create such a powerful force so quietly?

Well, he couldn’t be bothered to dig into it.

He recalled the days when he and Orochimaru had trained with Naruto, researching ninjutsu and spiritual machinery.

Now Naruto and Orochimaru had their own factions, both acting as bosses. Only Kakashi remained, still a weary wage slave.

“Ahem, Naruto,” Kakashi sidled up and whispered, “If you get the chance, give me some advice, will you? I want to be my own boss, too. I’m tired of working for others. Isn’t there something better I could do with my spare time?”

“I noticed your Hatake clan’s traditional taijutsu includes traces of samurai swordplay and movement techniques,” Naruto replied quietly. “Maybe your ancestors were samurai? Why not search your family’s old relics for any property deeds? If you find some, you could retire and become a samurai lord, collecting rent with ease. You have enough power to protect your assets.”

Kakashi found the idea reasonable.

He remembered his father, Sakumo Hatake, joking once about their family’s prosperous past.

If he found a deed, he’d wash his hands of shinobi work and become a samurai lord! He’d father a hundred children to expand the clan, pass down Hatake taijutsu and spiritual machinery, and perhaps, in a century or two, the Hatake family could even become nobility!

“Well done, Lord Naruto,” Bai landed lightly, her frosty aura finally dissipating. She bowed before Naruto.

“I’ve brought over all the forces you mobilized. Captain Huo Lin is coordinating the next wave of personnel for landing. She asked me to tell you that this time, a third of Uzushio Village’s strength has been mobilized.”

“Good, I understand. You all did brilliantly!” Naruto praised.

“Naruto, what’s going on?” Sakura stepped forward, unable to hold back her curiosity after seeing Naruto chatting with a stunning girl, and another red-haired beauty standing close by, clearly intimate with Naruto.

She disliked the red-haired girl, feeling she threatened something precious to her.

Karin, too, found Sakura irritating, thinking this pink-haired ornament was nothing but a nuisance.

How could such a useless decorative piece stand beside Lord Naruto? She even seemed to monopolize Sasuke, the handsome young man who was easy on the eyes.

Naruto shrugged and nodded toward Tazuna, then smiled at Sakura.

“We’re here to complete the mission in the Land of Waves, right? The situation is complicated, and the problems are challenging. I need to take things seriously.”

Sakura’s mouth fell open.

This was “taking things seriously”?

This was taking things a little seriously?

Could this be achieved with just a little seriousness?

Sakura had thought, after six years as Naruto’s classmate and some time as his teammate, that she knew him well.

She never expected that, in truth, she knew nothing about Naruto at all!

“Enough talk. Time is precious, let’s move out!”

At Naruto’s command, the immense steel robots roared deafeningly and marched in unison toward the Land of Waves across the sea bridge.

Across the water, on the shore of the Land of Waves, Inari stood gazing toward the distant sea.

He still remembered, long ago, the morning he watched his grandfather Tazuna depart.

Watching Tazuna’s silhouette swallowed by thick fog, Inari’s heart was filled with worry and fear.

Though mature for his age, the boy still couldn’t understand why people hurt each other, nor why so many cruel people banded together as evil forces to oppress everyone.

He couldn’t comprehend why his stepfather Kaiza, neither a hero nor powerful, had the courage to stand against Gato.

Witnessing Kaiza’s death left a deep mark on his young heart, where pain and joy mingled indelibly.

Most boys idolize heroes, but Inari, small as he was, doubted heroes.

To him, heroism equaled death.

Tazuna’s departure left Inari feeling more alone than ever.

He felt abandoned, as if even his beloved grandfather had gone off to be a “hero.”

No one understood his pain or fear. He felt hopeless for the future, convinced that no one could resist Gato’s power, or protect ordinary people like himself.

Yet, despite his anxiety and despair, Inari returned to the seaside each day, peering through the fog, hoping to see his grandfather’s return.

A faint hope flickered in his heart: that Tazuna would bring good news, that the Land of Waves would find a turning point.

Today, as usual, he came to the shore to await his grandfather.

When dusk neared and Tazuna had not returned, Inari prepared to leave, disappointed.

But as he turned to go, he heard a low, rumbling sound.

“Vrrr—”

Following the direction of the noise, Inari witnessed a scene beyond his wildest imagination.

Huge, shadowy figures emerged slowly from the mist.

Massive lights pierced the fog and shone onto the shore.

Amid the howling wind, crashing waves, and earth-shaking thunder, silent giants appeared one after another, approaching the coast.

“What…what is that!”

Inari’s legs gave out and he sat down on the ground.

He didn’t even notice the patch of earth beneath him was soaked through.