The speed of Gale 2.0 was completely different from the small boat Naruto had previously bought in the fishing village. The difference was like heaven and earth.
Actually, strictly speaking, the ninja world's technological level wasn't particularly backward either.
Things like movie theaters, vending machines, and similar conveniences had existed for a long time. There were even icebreakers that could convert geothermal energy into propulsion power!
It could only be said that everyone had grown accustomed to flying through the sky and traversing the earth as ninjas, while the limited scientific researchers remained focused on helping shinobi better display their combat abilities. Because of this focus, such civilian technology hadn't become widespread.
Standing at the bow, Naruto had basically sorted through his thoughts when he discovered a troubling blind spot.
"Nine-Tails."
"Huh?"
Inside the sealed space, Kurama was awakened by Naruto's sudden call and irritably lifted his eyelids.
The sealed space at this time bore no resemblance to its initial appearance.
The environment here seemed closely related to Naruto's state of mind and spirit, though there appeared to be some "delay" in its response to his emotional changes.
Fortunately, after Naruto had traveled back and forth several times between worlds, this space had finally transformed.
Of course, the cage door symbolizing the seal itself remained in place, but the previously gloomy, damp environment reminiscent of underground sewers had completely changed.
No walls were visible around them anymore. Though the light source remained mysterious, everything was bathed in gentle luminescence.
Bright yet not glaring.
Correspondingly, there were no water stains on the floor either, replaced instead by cracks that faintly emitted firelight.
Below them, something seemed to be brewing with tremendous energy.
Kurama had been somewhat shocked when first witnessing this transformation, but gradually grew accustomed to it over time.
After all, he couldn't escape anyway. What else could he do but adapt?
"About what happened before..." Naruto began hesitantly.
He wanted to ask Nine-Tails if he had been aware of everything that transpired when Stussy had drugged him earlier.
But when the words reached his lips, he didn't know where to begin such an embarrassing conversation.
Kurama, being connected in body and mind with his jinchūriki, could understand what Naruto meant even through his stammering attempts at communication.
But after grasping the situation, he let out a disdainful chuckle.
"Hmph. It's just mating. What's the big deal?"
He could sense Naruto's inner turmoil clearly.
But couldn't understand the source of such distress.
After all, as tailed beasts, they didn't even possess the concept of "reproduction" and understood relationships between the sexes even less than wild animals.
"Why didn't you stop me then?" After holding it in for a long time, Naruto finally managed this single sentence.
The Munch-Munch Fruit might not automatically identify mysterious powders, but Kurama's chakra could have greatly enhanced his drug resistance if applied properly.
The response Naruto received was Kurama's even more mocking laughter.
If Naruto himself hadn't wanted to participate, could anyone have truly forced him into such activities?
As the jinchūriki, Naruto could feel his tailed beast's emotions quite clearly.
Feeling somewhat defensive, he exited the sealed space abruptly.
Yes, no one could have forced Naruto into those compromising situations.
After all, the reason he had abandoned his personal boundaries under the influence of that mysterious powder was because he'd harbored such thoughts originally.
It's just that those desires had all been blocked by certain principles of his own, or rather, his stubborn pretensions about maintaining control.
This time falling into Stussy's trap had also represented his subconscious compromise with himself and his suppressed desires.
And perhaps next time he returned to the pirate world, he'd receive the surprising news of becoming a father.
"Sigh..."
He would have to face these two complicated relationships seriously now.
The Gale raced across the ninja world's vast ocean. Naruto's melancholy sighing didn't last long before being interrupted by the wonder of seeing his "true homeland" for the first time.
In the distance, the ruins of the Land of Whirlpools had appeared within his field of vision.
Calling it "ruins" wasn't an exaggeration whatsoever. Broken buildings and scattered brick and rubble lay scattered randomly across the landscape, but from their remaining appearance and architectural form, one could still vaguely glimpse the former prosperity of the Land of Whirlpools.
As the Gale drew closer to the shoreline, more sights came into Naruto's view.
Beside those ancient ruins, a large area had already been cleared and organized.
Modest houses built of earth and stone were arranged in orderly rows across the open ground.
It was nearly dusk, and smoke was already rising from those houses, clearly indicating active habitation.
Nearby flowed a river whose fresh water traveled from the interior before emptying into the sea, providing clean drinking water for the surrounding residents.
The Gale's engine was quite loud, so it had already alerted the people in this newborn village as it approached the shore.
Two familiar figures quickly made their way to the waterline, while other villagers poked their heads out curiously from windows. It seemed that certain traumatic past experiences had made them as jumpy as startled birds.
After seeing clearly that it was Naruto's unmistakable figure aboard the Gale, one petite form quickly rushed forward.
It was Karin, whom he hadn't seen for some time.
Naruto had naturally sensed her distinctive chakra signature long before visual contact and looked somewhat surprised at this young girl skillfully running across the water's surface toward him. A genuine smile appeared on his face.
Not bad. It seems Jiraiya-sensei's child-rearing skills weren't shabby either.
After stopping the boat, Karin immediately leaped into Naruto's welcoming embrace.
"Naruto-san! I'm so glad you're safe!"
Feeling this clan member's sincere concern and relief, Naruto gently patted her head with familiar affection.
That evening, the newborn Uzushio Village held a long-awaited celebration banquet.
Among the attendees, that young man named "Konosuke," whom Naruto had rescued from Nanmiso's prison, specifically came over to pour wine for their benefactor with obvious gratitude.
The villagers gathered here were basically all former prisoners from Nanmiso.
After escaping that terrible place, these homeless people had banded together and traveled to the Land of Whirlpools ruins that their rescuer had mentioned as a potential refuge.
Life had been somewhat harsh initially, since most weren't trained ninjas and could only search for survival materials and build basic shelters with their bare hands among the ruins.
But such a life remained infinitely better than possibly losing their lives at any moment in that hellish prison.
Later, Karin and Jiraiya arrived at this location. After some careful negotiation, both sides had heard Naruto's name spoken with respect from each other's mouths.
Then they had hit it off immediately, recognizing their common connection.
With Jiraiya's experienced help, they had quickly constructed a decent small village, and daily life had gradually improved beyond mere survival.
"Naruto, you don't know how worried this little girl was about you," Jiraiya said with a warm smile, lightly clinking his sake cup against Naruto's.
"Ah, that's really quite embarrassing for me," Naruto replied, scratching his head while showing his proper respectful demeanor in front of a genuine elder.
Karin nearby no longer displayed the excited energy from when she'd first seen Naruto safe and sound earlier. Instead, she revealed a slightly embarrassed expression at having her concern so openly discussed.
She truly hadn't controlled her emotions well when he'd first arrived.
From Jiraiya-sensei's detailed description of recent events, Naruto also learned exactly how long he'd been absent from the ninja world.
One month.
A full thirty days. Ten times longer than his previous interdimensional journey.
This duration was already approaching the actual time he'd spent in the pirate world itself.
Naruto found himself growing somewhat worried about whether this temporal gap would continue widening with each transition.
He certainly hoped it wouldn't reach the point where, by the time he returned next, one or two years had already passed in either world.