Just as Naruto was estimating how many days he had left before his original world pulled him back, four distinct chakra signatures suddenly entered the sensing range of his Mind's Eye of Kagura.
He recognized two of them.
"Never thought Seramu's mentioned intruders would be them…"
Thinking this, Naruto's figure instantly vanished from his spot.
"Kakashi, you're in charge of scouting the source of the Dragon Vein energy; Shibi, you and Choza are responsible for dealing with those Sand ninjas manipulating the puppets, and I…"
Before Minato Namikaze could finish speaking, a figure suddenly appeared in their line of sight.
"Long time no see, Lord Namikaze and Kakashi," Naruto greeted.
Perhaps because he had seen his actual biological parents, he felt a strange sense of estrangement from this alternate world's 'father.'
"Naruto?" Minato Namikaze was taken aback. "Why are you here?"
Hearing that it was someone they knew, Shibi Aburame and Choza Akimichi temporarily halted their movements.
"At the request of the Queen of Rouran, to expel the intruders who have broken into Rouran," Naruto stated.
Hearing his words, the three apart from Minato Namikaze immediately surrounded him.
Since their interests had collided, they had to be prepared for battle.
Situations where mission objectives of different ninja villages conflicted were not uncommon.
For example, Konoha might accept a mission request from A to assassinate B. After learning of A's mission, B would then issue a protection mission to Sunagakure.
When Konoha and Sunagakure ninja fought because of their respective missions, would anyone yield? No.
To obtain the employer's reward and ensure their village's mission completion rate, a life-and-death struggle was inevitable.
The current situation was similar.
Even though Naruto and Minato Namikaze knew each other, as long as their interests clashed, a battle between them was unavoidable.
"We are not intruders." Minato Namikaze held up a hand, stopping his companions' movements. He knew that their fundamental interests did not conflict.
Moreover, the person in front of them was his future son.
"The mission we received is to destroy the arsenal that Sunagakure has set up in Rouran."
"Sunagakure's arsenal?" Hearing this, Naruto's expression shifted slightly. "Because of those puppets?"
"That's right," Minato Namikaze nodded.
"You should know that Sunagakure wouldn't be able to build an arsenal in Rouran without the Queen of Rouran's agreement," Naruto stated.
The Queen of Rouran, who controlled the Dragon Vein energy, was not fundamentally different from the Jinchuriki of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Without the incentive of enormous benefits, Sunagakure wouldn't even bother with Rouran, a country of little strategic value.
Not to mention, Rouran relied on trade for its relevant resources.
For Sunagakure to build an arsenal here would be rather foolish.
Minato Namikaze nodded slightly. "I understand your meaning, but it is an undeniable fact that Rouran possesses a large number of puppets."
"You should be aware of the current situation. Konoha will not allow such a potentially explosive danger to exist unchecked."
"…I understand," Naruto said.
From Konoha's perspective, whether Rouran's existing puppets originated from Sunagakure was irrelevant.
What mattered was that these puppets had the potential to be converted into Sunagakure's war potential.
Even if Rouran only used these puppets for civilian purposes and had no intention of using them in the upcoming Third Great Shinobi World War.
"We are willing to resolve this peacefully," Minato Namikaze said.
"I will take you to see the Queen of Rouran." After a moment's thought, Naruto nodded slightly.
With Minato Namikaze here, to be honest, Rouran was bound to lose this round.
If it could be resolved peacefully, it would benefit both sides.
His current mastery of the Flying Thunder God Technique was only at the beginner level and couldn't compare to Minato Namikaze's at all.
"…and that's the situation." Naruto fully informed Seramu of Rouran's current predicament.
Seramu's expression was rather unpleasant. She had never imagined that Rouran, wholeheartedly focused on building its own nation, would be drawn into the Third Great Shinobi World War.
What was even worse was that Rouran would most likely be targeted by both Sunagakure and Konoha.
Of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, they were directly involved with two, and one of them was Konoha…
"Lord Naruto, do you have any suggestions?" Seramu asked. At this moment, she was like a drowning person grasping at the last straw.
She clearly understood that even she, who controlled the Dragon Vein energy, could not simultaneously withstand the invasion of two major shinobi villages.
"Temporarily conceal the currently manufactured puppets. After the Third Great Shinobi World War ends, then bring them out into the open," Naruto suggested.
He didn't have a better solution for Rouran's current situation.
The disparity in their strength was too great.
"This is just a suggestion."
"For further decisions, you might as well negotiate with those Konoha ninja before making a final decision."
"…I understand." Seramu sighed softly. This was the helplessness of a small nation.
Even building their own country required them to beg for the mercy of the great powers.
Seeing this, Naruto walked out of the hall and said to Minato Namikaze and his team, "She has agreed."
Minato Namikaze nodded slightly and led his companions into the hall.
Naruto stood outside the door, watching the busy people of Rouran below, and clenched his fist.
"Still too weak…"
So what if he had mastered the Nine-Tails' full power? So what if he had learned the Flying Thunder God Technique? Compared to the strength of the shinobi villages, his individual power was still too insignificant.
"Kurama, do you have a way for me to become stronger?" Naruto asked.
"Become stronger? You, who possess all of my power, still need to become stronger?" Kurama seemed to have heard of a new continent, looking at him in disbelief.
"…" Naruto was speechless. This fox was probably useless.
"This old man is only half of his original self right now," Kurama said reluctantly, burying his head in his front paws.
"How much stronger are you in your complete form compared to now?" Naruto was taken aback, only then remembering that the Nine-Tails had been split in two by his father, and what was sealed within him now was only the Yang half.
"Chakra doubles, recovery speed doubles, maybe?" Kurama said uncertainly.
"What's with that uncertain tone of yours?" Naruto was exasperated.
"Let me put it this way. Before encountering Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, I stayed in my own lair. After meeting those two, I've been stuck in Jinchuriki bodies," Kurama said helplessly.
"In other words, you who haven't experienced true battles don't have an accurate assessment of your own strength either," Naruto's lips twitched slightly.
"I have experienced real battles! Once, Shukaku pissed me off, so I ran to his lair and beat him up, and beat up Gyuki along the way!" Kurama retorted, displeased. What did he mean he hadn't experienced real battles?
When the Sage of Six Paths was still alive, he, a single fox, would beat up Shukaku and the other eight.
He had no shortage of battles.
"…When was that battle?" Naruto sensed something was off.
"Two hundred, no, three hundred years ago? Or was it four hundred years ago?"
Watching Kurama fall into deep thought, Naruto helplessly shook his head. It seemed he still had to rely on himself to increase his strength.
"I remembered! That battle was three hundred and fifty years ago!" Kurama exclaimed loudly.
"Alright, alright, I got it."
"What's with that tone? You don't believe me? Let's go ask Shukaku and the others!"
"I believe you, I believe you, I completely believe you."
"…Really?"
"Really."