Within the borders of the Land of Earth.
In a leeward spot near a rocky cliff, a small campfire burned, dispelling some of the cold.
Uchiha Hikari sat on a flat, large stone, her posture elegant.
She lowered her head slightly, holding a thick flatbread with a scorched yellow color and irregular grill marks in both hands.
This was the specialty food of the Land of Earth, Rock Skin Cake.
This bread was traditionally baked directly on a heated flat rock slab, making it thicker, harder, and chewier than ordinary biscuits or flatbreads.
That's why it's called Rock Skin Cake.
It was Hikari's first time eating it.
In front of her sat a small jar, which was the sauce Naruto had just made.
She nibbled on the hard Rock Skin Cake, taking small bites and occasionally dipping it into the sauce. Her eyes were downcast, and her long eyelashes cast fine shadows under the campfire's glow, creating a strange contrast with the rugged surroundings.
She looked less like someone eating during a break in a dangerous infiltration or raid mission and more like she was performing a delicate tasting.
Not far from her, Naruto sat opposite a burly middle-aged man with a steady temperament.
The man had flaming red short hair and a thick, curly beard of the same color on his chin. Dressed in simple clothes, he was the Four-Tails Jinchuriki of the Land of Earth, as well as the Wandering Monk, Roshi.
On the ground between them sat two coarse ceramic bowls and a nearly empty wine bottle.
Although they were "drinking together," Naruto hadn't touched a drop; what was in front of him was just water. In contrast, wine stains remained on the rim of the bowl in Roshi's hand, and his bronzed face had a slight flush from the alcohol.
Clearly, almost the entire bottle had gone into Roshi's stomach.
Roshi let out a loud alcoholic burp.
He placed the wine bowl gently on the ground, then pressed his palms together, bowing slightly toward Naruto. His voice was loud and full of post-drinking satisfaction, yet it also held a hint of sincerity:
"Thank you for the hospitality, little brother. It's been a long time since I've had such a satisfying drink."
Naruto smiled, casually pressed his palms together in return, and waved his hand. "You're too polite, Uncle. Meeting on the road is a matter of fate. This Rock Skin Cake isn't bad either; it's quite filling."
As he spoke, he picked up his own piece of Rock Skin Cake and took a large bite without effort, chewing with a crunching sound that showed off his excellent teeth and adaptability to such tough food.
Watching Naruto's unpretentious way of eating, the corners of Roshi's mouth beneath his red beard seemed to curl up slightly.
Although dressed as a monk, his behavior had a heroic air, and he appreciated Naruto's straightforward attitude.
However, Naruto's next words made Roshi's joined hands pause slightly.
"But, thanks aside."
Naruto swallowed the bread in his mouth, brushed the crumbs off his hands, and while he still had a smile on his face, his azure eyes turned to Roshi and became serious.
"I don't need you to be so polite. Actually, I have something I'd like to ask you to... help me with, Uncle."
The campfire crackled. Hikari continued to nibble on her bread, seemingly oblivious to the conversation, but she had already quietly locked onto Roshi.
The tipsiness on Roshi's face seemed to clear a bit. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, which were also red, as he slowly lowered his joined hands.
The flickering shadows of the flames danced across Roshi's rugged and serious face, adding an unfathomable depth to his already profound expression.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stared at Naruto with those sharp, red-tinted eyes, unblinkingly and with extreme seriousness, as if trying to see through the young Konoha Hokage completely.
After a few seconds of breath-holding silence, Roshi spoke slowly, his voice low and direct:
"Speak, Hokage of Konoha.
Are you here to kill Ōnoki?"
Naruto: "...?"
He opened his mouth slightly, seemingly failing to react to the other's leap in logic for a moment, appearing completely stunned.
Seeing Naruto's completely unexpected "what on earth are you talking about" expression, Roshi—who had been so serious just a moment ago that he looked ready to strike—suddenly let out a "pfft" like a child whose prank had succeeded, followed by a burst of loud and hearty laughter:
"Hahahaha!"
Roshi laughed until his beard shook. The steady temperament of a high monk from before vanished, replaced by the air of a boisterous mountain rogue.
"The Land of Grass and the Land of Earth share a border.
I only heard yesterday that the Grass Ninja Village was'swallowed' by Konoha's newly appointed Sixth Hokage and his people, and it caused quite a stir.
And then today, I run into you two in these desolate mountains..."
He stopped laughing, but his eyes still held a playful glint. He pointed a thick finger at Naruto and the quietly nibbling Hikari:
"You, the Hokage, bringing such a beautiful girl deep into the heart of my Land of Earth... if you're not here to kill that stubborn Old Man Ōnoki..."
He intentionally drew out his words, then winked mischievously:
"Could it be that you're here for sightseeing? Or perhaps..."
Roshi stroked his fiery red beard, sporting an "I understand" expression as he made a joke he thought was quite amusing:
"Have you taken a liking to that girl Kurotsuchi from our Iwagakure? Did you run all this way just to find her?"
He said this in a completely joking tone. After all, Kurotsuchi was the granddaughter of the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki and one of the leaders of Iwagakure's younger generation; her status was sensitive.
Roshi had been wandering for years and didn't care much for village affairs or the younger generation; he was just making a casual joke using a junior he knew.
However, what he didn't expect was—
Naruto, sitting opposite him, didn't laugh.
Not only did he not laugh, but when he heard the name "Kurotsuchi," his eyes seemed to flicker slightly. He didn't immediately deny it, nor did he play along with the joke. Instead, it was as if... some thought of his had been hit upon?
The playful smile on Roshi's face froze instantly, replaced by disbelief and a touch of absurdity.
No way?
He's really here for Kurotsuchi?
Roshi's gaze changed immediately, from joking to a shock and condemnation that was almost like looking at a "beast"!
His voice rose a bit:
"Hey, hey, that girl Kurotsuchi is only thirteen this year!"
He simply couldn't believe that the Hokage of Konoha would come to the Land of Earth with the primary goal of abducting someone's underage granddaughter.
How would that look if word got out!
But in the next second, before Roshi's anger could fully flare up, he suddenly realized another problem.
He carefully examined Naruto's face—though it appeared mature due to his experiences and temperament, there was still a youthful sharpness in his features.
Wait... this Sixth Hokage of Konoha looks... quite young himself?
Roshi's anger deflated like a punctured balloon with a "pssh."
Oh... He stroked his chin, his gaze becoming a bit strange.
They're around the same age... then... it seems... not entirely unreasonable?
Although he still thought it was ridiculous, at least age-wise, it wasn't so "beastly."
He coughed twice, trying to ease the awkwardness of his overreaction.
Naruto finally snapped out of Roshi's overly imaginative and misunderstanding-filled mental theater.
He sighed and rubbed his forehead, knowing he couldn't let this hearty but somewhat scatterbrained Jinchuriki uncle continue his "fantasies."
"Stop, stop, stop, Uncle. Where are your thoughts going?"
Naruto quickly waved his hands, interrupting whatever shocking words Roshi might come up with next, his tone returning to serious.
"I came to the Land of Earth for the Dust Release and Iwagakure."
Then, seeing Roshi's still somewhat skeptical expression, he added:
"Of course, if the opportunity is right..."
Naruto looked at Roshi—or rather, through Roshi at the scorching and massive Chakra within him. "I'd quite like to ask 'Son Goku' for some advice regarding the mysteries of Lava Release."
The Four-Tails inside Roshi suddenly snapped its eyes open.
This kid knows its name?
"Dust Release... Lava Release... and the entire Iwagakure..."
Roshi repeated in a low voice, slowly sitting up straight.
"Kid, your appetite is truly not small."