World's Second Most Beautiful Person
A starless night.
Wudi City remained as bustling as it was during the day.
It was a rare city in the Land of Fire without a curfew.
This was mainly because its operational model was different.
The Shadow Clone had referenced urban planning from his past life to specifically create a night market.
Naruto had transformed into Merlin.
Along the way, he drew the gaze of many people.
That's just how it is when you're handsome.
Regardless of gender, people would subconsciously look over.
After all, appreciating beauty is a human instinct.
Aside from a few people whose eyes were shaped like lemons out of envy, the rest were relatively friendly.
In just a few short minutes, Naruto could already see a spirit and energy here that was different from other places.
There was an extra sense of confidence and a hopeful anticipation.
Logically speaking, in a city that had been forcibly occupied and was surrounded by enemies, the people here should have been living in constant fear.
Instead, they were this calm.
The only explanation was their unwavering belief in the White Lotus Sect.
Naruto thought about it; one reason was that the White Lotus Sect's handling of the previous two encirclement campaigns was quite outrageous.
The first time, the Sect Leader faced the enemy alone, and even after being killed, he could be reborn to drive the enemy forces away.
The second time, the White Lotus Saintess directly seduced and abducted an army of ten thousand.
If he were the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, he would probably find it hard to deal with too.
It was like trying to talk science with someone while they talk theology with you.
This is where he should tag Brother Baiyue.
Though that guy was more ruthless—if you don't believe in me, I'll just kill you all.
Naruto soon arrived at the White Lotus SectManor.
It was originally the City Lord's Mansion of Wudi City, but after being occupied by the White Lotus Sect, it became their office.
"Stop, the White Lotus Sect is ahead."
A guard stopped Naruto, but his attitude was quite amicable. "May I ask what Your Excellency is here for? If you wish to do business, please go to the Commercial Department; if you wish to mediate a complaint, please go to the Legal Department; if you wish to join the Talent Program or the White Lotus Sect, please go to the Human Resources Department."
The guard was clearly very familiar with this script, reciting it all in one breath without a single pause, very smoothly.
"I am here to see the White Lotus Sect Leader."
"To see the Sect Leader?"
The guard's expression immediately became alert.
In any other place, he would probably have cursed and asked who you thought you were—is the Sect Leader someone you can just see whenever you want?
"Do you have an appointment? Do you have an invitation?"
The guard asked in a deep voice, "If not, do you know the passphrase?"
"I know the passphrase."
Naruto had learned it from Fuka Koyuki. "The mortal world is like a prison, all living beings suffer, reincarnation is endless, worries never cease, pity my fellow man, a god descends from heaven, the Unborn Mother, the Vacuum Home!"
The guard's expression shifted slightly, becoming more respectful.
The White Lotus Sect had ten passphrases in total, encrypted in layers, representing different levels of authority.
The passphrase the young man spoke was ranked second, proving that the level of secrets he was involved in was not low.
"The passphrase is correct, but this is only the second one. You cannot meet the Sect Leader, but you can meet the Left and Right Guardians, the four great dharma kings, or the White Lotus Saintess. Is Your Excellency willing? If not, please turn back."
Good grief, so many passphrases?
You guys are really putting on quite a show here.
But meeting these few shouldn't be a problem.
Naruto thought for a moment and said, "Then please introduce me."
"Very well. Currently, only the White Lotus Saintess is in the manor. Follow me to see the Lady Saintess."
The guard led the way ahead.
Naruto was quite curious about who this White Lotus Saintess actually was.
A moment later, they arrived at a room.
The guard knocked on the door and said, "Lady Saintess, a guest seeks an audience. He knows the second passphrase."
The door opened.
A young girl wearing a white maid's dress came out.
She had a petite figure, long red hair, and a cute face, but it was filled with deep disdain.
"So annoying! It's night, why aren't you sleeping? What's there to see?"
The guard stood there awkwardly without speaking, gave Naruto a 'good luck' look, and turned to run.
He hadn't expected the maid on duty tonight to be the most difficult one to talk to.
He could only pray that this guest would actually get to see the Lady Saintess.
Naruto's brow furrowed.
It wasn't because of her attitude, but because she looked so familiar.
He felt like he should know her.
"Can't you understand human speech?"
Seeing that he wasn't speaking, the maid added venomously, "Why aren't you leaving yet?"
"Oh."
Naruto finally remembered who this person was. "You're Tayuya, right?"
Tayuya froze for a few seconds, then her face turned bright red as she flatly denied it: "I am not! You've got the wrong person!"
"No, you are Tayuya." Naruto shook his head.
"So annoying! I said I'm not! Can you not understand human speech?!"
Tayuya covered both ears and shouted in a rage.
She looked very much like she was saying 'I'm not listening, I'm not listening'.
"If you're so resistant to being a maid, why are you doing it?"
"Do you think I want to?" Tayuya said with a face full of displeasure. "It's all because of Bi... wait, are you tricking me?"
"No, I already know your identity. There's no question of tricking you."
"Idiot! Idiot! Shut up! Shut up!"
Tayuya cursed several times, her chest heaving with anger.
Though for a flat board, there wasn't much to heave.
"Tayuya, do not be rude."
A cold voice came from behind her.
Tayuya's expression looked a bit ugly, but she still turned around, lifted the corners of her skirt, bowed, and said: "Lady Saintess."
Naruto couldn't help but shake his head.
A classic tsundere.
He followed the voice and looked at the White Lotus Saintess.
She wore a white dress and a light veil over her face, her eyes filled with a touch of indifference.
She gave off the vibe of an ice beauty.
Naruto found it hard to imagine her saying that famous line like Qingcheng from the movie 'The Promise'.
But the problem was, no matter how beautiful she was, it shouldn't be possible to make an army of ten thousand drop their armor all at once.
He suspected it was genjutsu.
Otherwise, there was no other explanation.
"Tayuya, apologize to the guest," the White Lotus Saintess said again.
"..."
Tayuya turned around with a face full of disdain, held her skirt, and said: "I was rude just now, I hope the guest can be magnanimous."
"It's fine."
Naruto couldn't help but smile.
This reminded him of an anime.
'I Want You To Make a Disgusted Face and Show Me Your Underwear'.
"Please come in, guest."
The White Lotus Saintess made a gesture of invitation.
Naruto nodded.
At the table.
Tayuya brought over a cup of black tea and set it down heavily in front of Naruto.
But she controlled it well; not a drop of water spilled out.
The White Lotus Saintess glanced at her.
Tayuya then obediently handed the black tea to her.
"Apologies, Tayuya is actually a good person; she's just a bit stubborn."
The White Lotus Saintess took off her veil, revealing a rather cold smile.
Naruto almost spat out his tea.
Damn it, Shadow Clone, you're freaking toxic!
The world's second most beautiful person?
A single sentence that makes ten thousand men disarm?
The rumors were blown way out of proportion.
It turns out it's freaking Haku!
Damn!
A male.
You really know how to save on costs.
"Guest, do you know me?"
Seeing his reaction, Haku couldn't help but be curious.
There weren't many people who could recognize his true face.
Unless they were from Destiny.
"..."
Naruto felt he needed a moment to calm his mood.
A waste of expectation.
But Zabuza really is a 'real' man.
Naruto didn't reveal his identity and said, "I want to see your Sect Leader."
This is an extra chapter for the cumulative reward of 10,000 Qidian coins in October. Thank you, bosses. Wow, counting this, I've updated 10,000 words again today.