Naruto: The Prince of Lust

Chapter 231

Even Karin looks at her down cousin curiously when he answers, "I told Zabuza-jiji he can work for it."

"I see," Ōyashiro nods as he responds. "Well, played, Naruto-dono. If I'm understanding you correctly, if Momochi-dono didn't mind you selling Kubikiribōchō, you wouldn't be opposed to selling it to me?"

"Nope," Naruto says.

With a confident voice, Ōyashiro then asks, "and if I offer you triple the retail amount, would your reconsider selling it to me now?"

Curious, Karin asks, "how much is-"

"Four hundred and sixty-six million ryō," Ōyashiro answers all the while staring at the listless Naruto to gauge his response.

Karin gasps, stunned with wide-eyes, but after what Ino admitted to him, Naruto is numb to expression. Ryō isn't everything and he doesn't like the idea of lying, so he answers, "sorry. I wish I could but, I gave Zabuza-jiji my word."

"No need to apologize, Naruto-dono," Ōyashiro says, shaking his head. "It's quite admirable of you. Our word is our bond, after all, and for the moment, I'm quite content with the knowledge of your position."

After they let him out, Karin gasps aloud, "four hundred and sixty-six million! That means the retail for Kubikiribōchō is a hundred and... fifty-five point three something or other! Do you know what we can do with that amount? We'd be one of the richest clans in the village!"

"It's just ryō," Naruto glumly states, before telling Karin, "I'm going for a walk. Will you be okay?"

"Yeah, sure," Karin answers before asking, "are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he responds with a weak smile, happy she didn't ask him about Ino. "I just have a lot on my mind."

Nodding, Karin tells him, "I'll be here if you need me."

"Thanks."

It wasn't long before he found himself in Kurenai's bed. Though they discussed Hinata, she could tell he was distracted. When he eventually opened up, he didn't explain more than his dashed hopes of nearly having a girlfriend, and worse than that, how he feels about the horrible mistakes of an intimately close friend. He nearly feels betrayed. The beautiful Jōnin's words were as comforting as her presence, but even as they sleep together, he doesn't feel quite right.

MABUI

"So he is the same boy," Mabui gasps after Samui gave a detailed description of the Uzumaki who fought and defeated Momochi Zabuza. It was baffling to the silver-haired stunner that a sixteen-year-old genin can be stronger than the Demon of Hidden Mist and prodigious in Fūinjutsu. She can't help but gasp to her teammates, "he didn't even look injured!"

Seated around their small dining table in the middle of their empty living quarters, Atsui seemed pensive, seemingly trying to make sense of the same thing she is. It just didn't seem believable, and if it wasn't for Samui's first-hand account, they wouldn't believe it. The symmetrically beautiful leader is stone-faced, however, and Mabui easily imagines she's reflecting on her lack of communication, as any leader might in such a situation. If Samui would've spoken more, Mabui could've made the connection earlier and they could've planned to use Mabui's connection with Uzumaki to secure his favor, if not outright steal the blade from him.

"Ōyashiro asked for more time," Samui tells her subordinates, forcing Mabui and Atsui to assume that's still the primary course of their mission. Rather than explain to her subordinates if there are any backup plans, Samui stands and retires into their shared bedroom.

Ruffled by the observation and hating herself for being unable to confidently dispute it, she instead returns, "I don't need you to present me to anybody-"

Turning again to the door to leave, Haku repeats, "I'll alert Zabuza you do not wish to cooperate-"

"Fine," Tenten yells, grabbing the sleeve of his dark green tunic. "Fine. Just- ...what do you want?"

Nodding, Haku begins walking again, heading toward the stairs as he asks, "when was the last time you murdered someone?"

Tenten is taken aback at the questions as they walk up the stairs and is slow to honestly respond, "...I've never killed anyone."

"Hmm," Haku lazily hums before abruptly deducing, "I suppose we can find a homeless man for you to kill." At Tenten's yelping cry, Haku turns to the girl as they enter the apartment and relays, "it's fine, Tenten-chan. I won't turn you in to the authorities-"

"It's not about getting caught," she boldly asserts. "I'm not killing some random person! What is wrong with you?"

"I certainly can't claim to be... normal," Haku sheepishly admits with the sweetest smile before purposely pointing out, "however, I am also not weak."

"Neither am I-"

Haku interrupts by asking, "shall we put that to the test?" Tenten stiffens as Haku continues his leisure pace around the living room. "If you beat me, you will no longer be my tool and I'll make certain your father does not die by Zabuza's hand, directly or indirectly."

"And if I lose?"

"Then the status quo remains," Haku answers.

It didn't take Tenten too long to answer with conviction, "fine! After I win, you promise no harm will come to my father?"

"You have my word," Haku asserts with a short bow.

They traveled to the roof for their match and though the space was small, it was equally so. It didn't take long for Tenten to feel that quicksand. She couldn't even manage to make Haku use his jutsu, let alone his weapons. His speed alone outmatched her, the foreign boy parried everything, and she felt the pressure like she was drowning in it. In the end, Haku didn't break a sweat, Tenten never landed a strike, and she couldn't stop disparaging thoughts repeatedly asking, 'how can I be so weak?'

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