"I've thought it over. I won't hide anything from you anymore." Sakura bowed her head and admitted her mistake.
She was indeed a little depressed just now. If Naruto had come in guns blazing with harsh words, she might have either fallen silent or snapped back at him.
But Naruto had made her pour a glass of water, which is a small obedience test. That small task of getting water had already distracted most of Sakura's attention.
Most importantly, when Dark Sakura came back to her sense, she wasn't throwing a tantrum anymore. She was naturally obedient, accepting the order to fetch water, and when Naruto didn't take the cup, she simply held it quietly.
It was based on these small details that Naruto felt confident enough to ask his question directly. If she had been cold or kept playing hard to get, Naruto would have turned and left without hesitation.
If you can't speak properly, wait until you've calmed down. Time forces people to compromise. She would eventually realize that she needed Naruto, not the other way around.
Reality can be harsh, but this isn't a fairy tale. Redemption and being redeemed are mutual, and running after someone like a fool makes you dumber than Kurama.
"Good that you've figured it out. It wasn't a waste for me to run around for half a month and give up twenty years of my lifespan." Naruto slapped a file onto the table with a loud smack.
It was a top-secret file he had obtained from Kakashi, the experimental record left by Orochimaru.
"Twenty years?" Sakura was so shocked that she almost dropped the cup in her hand. "What did you do? You..."
"I couldn't just watch you disappear. Konoha couldn't help, but the world is vast… there's always someone who has a way out there." Naruto leaned back in his chair, speaking slowly with half-closed eyes.
"Just traded a bit of Chakra with someone, a little give and take."
"It wasn't much. I just asked Orochimaru a few questions, then followed up with someone from the Land of Rain... Anyway, we've got some clues now."
Naruto said it all without blushing, but it was kind of true, and he didn't lie. He had just rearranged the order of things, and those twenty years of lifespan were actually given to Nagato in the form of Chakra, not his real lifespan.
Moreover, he didn't need such a thing as a lifespan, as his own upper limit was unknown. As long as he didn't die, he'd be back on his feet in a few days, once again a healthy menace to the Shinobi World.
Naruto had figured it out… The more chaotic the Shinobi World was, the safer he was. As long as the world didn't blow up, everything would stay relatively calm.
"Then, will your body be able to..." Sakura was anxious for a moment. The word 'stand' was already on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed it after thinking it over.
"… Will your body wear out?"
"It should be fine. If you stop stressing me out, maybe I'll live past forty."
Naruto was decisive in handling things. He thought Sakura had some redeeming qualities, so he was willing to give her a hand. He had no intention of playing a sadomasochistic plot.
After all, making your assistant suffer might feel good in the moment, but chasing after her later would be a nightmare.
"I won't do it again." Sakura leaned in and glanced at him, pondering how she could repay him.
"You're not thinking about how to make it up to me right now, are you?" Naruto asked.
"How did you know?" Sakura was startled but quickly realized that this was her usual pattern, so it's no wonder he had guessed so easily.
But it was only limited to him. In the eyes of others, Sakura was still the flower of the Medical Department. She was gentle, poised, and patient. She had inherited Tsunade's true teachings and was very capable.
"This time, I'll let it slide. Next time, you can repay me by wearing your uniform." He waved his hand. "No need to thank me with words. Show it with your actions."
"Right here? Fine, I suppose it's not impossible." Sakura pursed her lips, "Do you like the door to be open or just leave a gap?"
"????" Naruto was floored by the question, wondering if she was possessed by some spirit.
"Next time, next time." Naruto coughed and suppressed his restless mind. At his age, he had to try his best to avoid temptation.
After drinking a bit too much at a gathering that evening, he was still a little tipsy.
"I've made contact with Orochimaru, but I don't trust him. It is better to rely on yourself than on others, so I want you to continue down the path of research he's started."
"Tsunade-sama definitely wouldn't approve of this, so we'll have to do it in secret. But don't worry, the test subjects for the experiment are a highly intelligent alien species."
"You can call them the Otsutsuki Clan."
"… So, can studying aliens cure illnesses?" Sakura was a little confused, but that was normal. What Tsunade had taught her couldn't compare to Orochimaru's vast, otherworldly knowledge.
Orochimaru might not have been the strongest in the Shinobi World, but his enormous knowledge base and obsessive scientific spirit were unmatched in the entire Shinobi World.
The difference was, Orochimaru had taken many detours, dabbling in all sorts of chaotic experiments, primarily focused on achieving immortality.
But Naruto didn't need such complications. He could clearly see the right path.
"Of course, it can help, but let me correct you… it's not really an illness." He explained, "You might not fully understand now, but remember what I'm telling you."
"Personality and soul are different, but both can be converted into the same kind of Spiritual Energy. This energy acts as the unique identifier of an individual, so even if you change bodies, you'll still be you."
"As long as we find a way to digitize the personalities and then separate them, then theoretically, both of them can be free."
"Besides! Even if separation isn't possible, we can at least find a way to share the body. As long as you don't disappear, there's room for negotiation."
"Alright, I'll listen to you." Sakura said with a smile.
In the time it took to eat a meal, he had dragged the Hokage's female disciple onto his pirate ship.
Late at night, Naruto was walking on his way home, and suddenly, he felt that his life was somewhat empty. If he hadn't been so resolute about leaving just now, Sakura's sweet words might've weakened his resolve.
Taking advantage of Sakura's emotional state to do that kind of thing would've ruined the atmosphere. Emotional moments for girls had peaks and lingering effects, and when he'd mentioned sacrificing 'twenty years of lifespan', that had been the peak.
It would be fine if he took advantage of the opportunity, but afterward, someone as clever as Sakura would think back on everything and figure things out
The biggest mistake of people without principles is that they take off their pants when they should be pure, but instead talk about lofty ideals when they should be taking off their pants.
When he got home, the silly dog rushed over to him.
"How did it go?"
"Oh, she said she doesn't have time and asked you to wait a bit longer." Naruto replied casually.
"She!!! How could she do this!" Kurama's eyes widened in disbelief, looking as heartbroken as a lovesick fool played by his goddess.
"Quit whining and go to sleep." Naruto yawned and headed into the bathroom.
…
The next day.
Naruto woke up early. He planned to meet Tsunade. He didn't know what Tsunade was hiding for recently, so he wanted to make sure they were on the same page to avoid any mishaps.
At a small bar.
"How did you find me?" Tsunade, slightly tipsy, held a small cup of sake. The clear liquid reflected her smooth, pale skin.
"I searched every place." Naruto snatched the sake cup from her hand and drank it all in one gulp.
Tsunade glanced at the sweat on Naruto's temples and her eyelids twitched slightly. She thought to herself, 'This kid really is determined, going from place to place without giving up.'
"Drink slower, or you'll choke." She said.
"Pour me another one, I'm dying of thirst." Naruto demanded eagerly. The truth was, the water on his temples was not sweat, but just some clean water that he had splashed on himself earlier.
He hadn't searched everywhere, but he was too embarrassed to admit he had paid for the information.
Konoha wasn't that big, but it wasn't small either.
It was not easy to find out Tsunade's whereabouts. After all, aside from Danzo, no one had the courage to stalk her. But there were always people who had seen her, and it was normal for people who wandered around the streets to have some information.
Once Naruto had narrowed it down, he randomly searched a few taverns and found her. It was not a difficult task. The fake sweat had done its job, as it seemed convincing enough.