Naruto: Passerby and Returnee

Chapter 185 Two Meals

The atmosphere upon entering Savile Row was just as pleasant as at the border. The desert people had spent their entire lives battling the yellow sand, and now that they finally had a viable solution, they were naturally eager to honor the person who developed it. Bai Shan, whose name had been mentioned several times, appeared and personally greeted the group, enthusiastically introducing every corner they passed. They were then led into a rather large restaurant, its glittering gold decorations dazzling. They went up to the top floor, where a handsome young man with black hair and eyes greeted them at the entrance. A welcoming feast had already been laid out, the dishes still steaming hot, served at the perfect time.

It was too late to refuse now. Kakashi instinctively felt that what was about to happen would be quite difficult to handle, but he couldn't stop the children's eager eyes as they gazed at the food. He could only sit down after the host repeatedly emphasized that this was a thank-you feast. The table of dishes included both local specialties and dishes from the Land of Fire. The children couldn't resist the temptation, devouring everything in a whirlwind, engaging in a silent battle over a few skewers of meat. After enduring so much hardship and sleeping outdoors, how could the children resist the taste of their hometown food?

Kakashi sighed inwardly, answering questions about his journey in an official tone while carefully observing the three people from the Land of Owls sitting with him. The one in the lead, named Bai Shan, was the current leader of the Land of Owls. He had very common black hair and brown eyes, and his appearance was completely different from the locals of the Land of Owls, looking more like someone from the central continent. The black-haired, black-eyed man next to him was the same; that man was named Yi, with a cold face, but was exceptionally eloquent, having already coaxed Ayihan into revealing most of the details of the journey. The third one was the real local; he had light blond hair, gray eyes, and a deep, weathered face, yet he tried to ingratiate himself with the other two blond men at the table, using some advantage he had.

Ino politely declined, while Naruto took on all of Ino's firepower, quickly turning the tide and inquiring about the current situation in the Land of Owls. Kashiwagi, sitting in the middle, glanced casually at Naruto but made no attempt to stop him, continuing to focus his attention on Kakashi.

Wow, so he's even good at "gathering intelligence"? He can't fall behind.

The dinner table is like a battlefield; verbal battles are always more complex than physical fights. Shikamaru, who hasn't yet mastered this skill, is observing from both sides, secretly resolving to read more books on the subject when he gets back. Naruto's practiced manner makes Shikamaru, who swore to help him achieve his Hokage dream, feel quite embarrassed. It seems like Naruto will be the Hokage in a few years, and Shikamaru won't need him at all!

As for the others: Ayihan was the target of their intelligence gathering; Choji was, of course, engrossed in his food; Ino sensed something was amiss and, adhering to the principle of "the less said, the better," remained silent; Sakura, having accompanied Tsunade for so long, also sensed the unusual atmosphere and chose to chat with her best friend while eating, trying to appear busy and unresponsive. The atmosphere at the meal was barely maintained until Naruto asked the name of the bustling shopping street.

"Oh, that road is called Jiefang Road? Why is that?"

The only local man was so excited that his eyes reddened. He said, "Because Hui led us down that road and stormed into the King's Palace. Since then, there has been no king. The people of the Owl Kingdom have finally been liberated from the long darkness."

These words drew the attention of everyone at the table, because until now, those who controlled a country had either called themselves kings or daimyo, and there had never been a third option... Oh, the Land of Waves should be an exception, but that country was too small, not even as big as the Savile Oasis.

"Liberation... What is liberation?" Naruto seemed genuinely confused.

"From now on, we are no longer the king's property, and all the land in the country is no longer the king's private property, but belongs to every single person in this country!" The people of the Owl Kingdom laughed heartily. "Most importantly, we no longer have to worry about our family fortunes suddenly falling into the hands of corrupt officials, nor do we have to worry about suddenly losing our lives on the street, nor do we have to worry about paying one tax after another. Our country is equal; there are no commoners and nobles, and there never will be again!"

The younger ninjas under Konoha's protection might not feel it as acutely, but Kakashi had traveled to countless places and witnessed far too much darkness. He himself carried the burden of countless blood debts; how many of these were innocent souls who died simply because they offended the wrong people? He didn't know. He only knew that this world was never fair, even ninjas were divided into ranks based on strength and clan. Was there truly a place in this world where complete equality existed?

"You mean to say that even if you intentionally kill someone, you'll still be punished?" The usually mild-mannered Naruto surprisingly posed such a pointed question. Realizing his slip of the tongue, he quickly added, "Of course, it was just an example. I didn't mean to offend you..."

However, the other party did not feel offended, but smiled firmly and said, "Yes, a life for a life, it is a matter of course. No one can take another's life without cause."

The room fell silent. Both the ninja and Ayihan, who had just broken free from the old system, were utterly shocked by the answer. Hui had certainly promoted the concept of "equality," but people's minds cannot be changed in a short time. Ayihan had never felt the power of "equality" so profoundly.

“Mr. Timur, you are truly… admirable,” Naruto remarked.

Timur shook his head and said, "No, it was Hui who brought 'equality,' but to achieve it, we still need the efforts of all the people of the Owl Kingdom. I firmly believe that the era of 'equality for all' will eventually come."

Will it really come?

Naruto smiled broadly and gave Kakashi a rather obvious look, meaning he was about to lay his cards on the table. Even Sakura and Ino sensed that the other wanted something, so how could Kakashi not see it?

Kakashi sighed inwardly. Naruto's personality remained as stubborn as ever. As long as the opponent had a redeeming quality, he would unhesitatingly offer his full strength. Kakashi could only silently pray that Naruto's request wouldn't be to start a war with the Land of Wind. As long as there was no fighting, everything was negotiable.

"Mr. Bai Shan, thank you for your painstaking efforts to prove yourself. This meal wasn't a waste of money, was it?"

Bai Shan maintained his smile and said, "This meal is our sincere way of thanking you for bringing Mr. Ayihan back. I know you also came at a risk, and I don't want to put you in a difficult position."

"Do you want us to find the Sand Village ninja?" Kakashi started the conversation, and Naruto smoothly took over, being so direct that he didn't mince words at all.

"I have this idea. I've heard that Konoha's only Flying Thunder God ninja is a powerful sensory ninja. I wonder if Mr. Uzumaki would be willing to lend us a hand?"

"You want to expel them?"

"No, I would prefer that both sides sit down and talk."