106: Chapter 106 Response! Strength in numbers"Ugh—!"
The excruciating pain in his wrist caused the man to scream in agony, his knees buckled, and he collapsed to his knees with a thud.
Naruto stood behind Sakura, his eyes sharp as knives, coldly staring at the lewd man kneeling on the ground: "What are you going to do to my comrade?"
"Let.let go!It hurts so much!I won't do it again!I'll never do it again!" The man cried and begged for mercy.
Sakura suddenly realized someone was behind her, and in fright, she turned around abruptly and jumped back, covering her face with her hands.Her cheeks flushed red, and she shouted in a mixture of shame and anger, "There's a pervert!"
After confirming with Tazuna that the area was completely lawless, with similar incidents rampant and even calling the police being useless, Naruto could only angrily issue a few warnings before letting go of his hand.
The man, as if granted a pardon, scrambled away and disappeared into the dimly lit end of the street.
Walking down the dull and oppressive street, you see more people squatting on both sides with empty eyes, longing to find work but having no hope.
Sakura patted her chest, still shaken, her voice filled with lingering fear and confusion: "That really scared me!What's going on with this town?It was terrifying!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a very slight touch came from behind her again!
It seemed as if another hand gently rested on her backpack!
"Will this ever end?"
Sakura's pent-up fear, anger, and resentment exploded in an instant!
She whirled around, channeling chakra into her right leg, and unleashed a fierce spinning kick that swept behind her with a whooshing sound!
"Smack!"
This kick was firmly blocked by an arm.
"Sakura!Look carefully!" Naruto's deep voice rang out.
Sakura's anger froze instantly; what she saw in front of her was hardly a lewd pervert.
Standing in front of her was a little boy who looked only five or six years old, with tattered clothes and a face covered in dirt.
The little boy was as thin as a reed that could be blown over by the wind at any moment.His big eyes held no fear, only an almost primal, extreme craving for food.
He timidly stretched out his dirty little hand, tilted his head up, and spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, yet clearly pierced Sakura and Naruto's ears: "Sister.Sister.food.give me some food."
The pleading in those eyes hurt Sakura more than any tragedy she had ever seen in novels or storybooks.Her anger instantly turned into endless sorrow and pity.
She hurriedly squatted down, suppressing the stinging sensation in her nose, and took out a few candies from her pocket, gently placing them in the little boy's hand.
"Here.here you go, take it quickly." Her voice was choked with emotion.
The little boy's eyes lit up instantly.He clutched the candy tightly, mumbled a "thank you," and then, like a startled fawn, turned and ran away quickly, disappearing into the dim alley.
Sakura slowly stood up, quickly wiping away the tears welling up in her eyes with the back of her hand, not daring to look at Naruto and Tazuna.
Looking at the silent Naruto and Sakura with reddened eyes, Tazuna sighed deeply, his voice hoarse and heavy, as if telling an ancient and sorrowful story:
"Ever since that vampire Kado arrived.this place.has become like this."
He used violence, usury, and monopolies to drain every drop of blood from this country…
He clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles turning white: "If that bridge.if that bridge can eventually be built."
Tazuna's voice was filled with hope, yet trembled slightly: "Then.this town will surely be restored to what it was before!The sunshine will return!The laughter will return!And those who left.will surely return!"
His gaze drifted into the distance, as if he could see a future where the bridge would be completed and crowds would be surging.
Upon hearing this, Sakura felt a strong sense of resonance and admiration for Tazuna.
She subconsciously looked at Naruto beside her, hoping to get the same support and strength from him.
Naruto kept his head down and listened silently to Tazuna's story.
He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms.
The little boy's pleading eyes, the atmosphere of despair permeating the streets, Tazna's heavy words and earnest expectations.were like countless needles, deeply piercing his heart.
The guilt he felt that morning for recklessly ruining the bridge construction was now mixed with intense anger and sympathy for the suffering land before him, churning within him.
He suddenly raised his head, his azure eyes no longer displaying their usual playfulness, but burning with an almost obstinate flame.
He looked at Tazuna and Sakura, his voice low but unusually firm: "I'll do it."
"Huh?" Tazuna and Sakura were both taken aback.
No!No!No!
Tazuna immediately waved his hands in alarm, thinking Naruto was about to get carried away again and "help" repair the bridge."Naruto!We appreciate your kindness!But let the professionals handle the bridge repair!You."
You just need to focus on protecting us!Really, you don't need to…
Naruto offered no explanation, and didn't even look at them again.
He turned to Sakura, his tone leaving no room for doubt: "Sakura, you escort Uncle Tazuna home safely."
Before the two could react, Naruto suddenly turned around and sped off like an arrow towards the dense forest behind the town!
The golden figure quickly disappeared into the dimly lit street corner.
"Naruto?" Sakura exclaimed.
"What.is this guy up to now?"
Tazuna stared blankly in the direction Naruto had disappeared, but once he was sure Naruto wasn't running towards the bridge, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief."Never mind, let's go back."
Sakura glanced worriedly in the direction Naruto had disappeared, then nodded, braced herself, and cautiously protected Tazuna as they headed home.
The setting sun cast long shadows on the dead.On the gloomy streets.
————————
At the forest entrance on the edge of the town, Naruto stopped and looked back at the town, which resembled a huge wound in the twilight.
He took a deep breath, his eyes becoming incredibly sharp and focused.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
Bang bang bang bang bang-!!!
Dozens of Naruto shadow clones instantly appeared around him!
"Listen!"
Naruto's voice was deep and powerful, "Target—wild beasts in the forest!Catch whatever you can!Wild boar, deer, rabbits, fish.anything edible!The more the better!Be quick!"
"oh--!"
The shadow clones responded in unison, and then, like well-trained hunting dogs, quickly dispersed and silently disappeared into the depths of the forest as dusk deepened.
He wanted to respond to the silent plea of this land in his own way.
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