What was mentioned before were the things Naruto cared about.
The compensation offered by the Hidden Cloud Village (Kumogakure) wasn't limited to just those.
Money and resources were, of course, abundant.
In addition, they had their own little schemes—though not malicious or designed to trap Naruto.
Among the many forms of compensation, there were things Naruto hadn't even brought up—like a few properties within the Land of Lightning. In particular, two homes had been prepared within the Hidden Cloud Village itself, fully exposing their intentions.
If they couldn't treat him as an enemy, then they would try to win him over.
Who knows, maybe someday Naruto would remember he had a few houses in the Land of Lightning. Even if he came just for vacation, over time he might form bonds with others. Maybe, just maybe, he'd be willing to stay longer.
Of course, the chances were slim—so slim they only existed in wishful thinking.
But if it only took a few houses to attempt such a small chance, why not give it a try?
This kind of idea didn't come from the Raikage, A.
To him, ninjas were just tools.
Even as a Kage, his thoughts revolved around how to manage and allocate those tools.
It was the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning, upon learning of the situation, who offered this advice.
If the enemy is someone you can't afford to offend, then compensate generously and cleanly.
If that leads to a chance of repairing the relationship, all the better.
Naruto wasn't too concerned about those things.
Karin, however, was grinning from ear to ear as she tallied everything.
One week later—
A ship set sail from the Hidden Cloud.
Led by the Raikage's secretary, Mabui, Naruto was on his way to the Falls of Truth.
The location of the island was unstable, and the Hidden Cloud had no way to control it.
After multiple course corrections and two full days of sailing, they finally found the island.
It was massive, shrouded in thick mist.
It looked nothing like the other islands they had passed.
The outer edge of the island wasn't composed of soft beaches or towering palm trees—nor were there any gulls or crabs in sight. Instead, a ring of jagged, protruding giant stone spires encircled it. Despite constant wind and waves, they showed no signs of erosion. Instead, they were covered in dense moss and barnacles, appearing all the more grotesque and sharp.
Between the stone spires, one could vaguely see the remains of beasts and human corpses. Reptiles slithered quietly among them.
It gave off an ominous, menacing feeling.
Naruto gazed into the distance.
Beneath the island, he could sense a tremendous life force.
Was that the "turtle" the Hidden Cloud had mentioned?
But—
Though it was massive in size, it wasn't strong.
Within its body, he could hardly detect any chakra—only faint traces of natural energy. But even that natural energy was scarce, both in quantity and quality. Even young toads from Mount Myoboku contained more.
The ship didn't dock. It stopped at a distance of three to four hundred meters from the island.
"No dock?" Karin asked as she noticed the Cloud ninja starting to pack up as if preparing to disembark.
Mabui shook her head and explained, "This island moves. Any dock built would be swallowed by the sea eventually."
"And also—"
"The more difficult it is to land, the more advantageous it is for us."
As she spoke—
A male ninja with black paint smeared on his nose appeared from within the island, landing atop one of the stone spires and waving.
"I've already received orders from Lord Raikage," he announced.
"I'll be in charge of welcoming you."
He formed a hand seal.
A barrier was lifted.
The mist surrounding the island seemed to lighten slightly.
"Please, follow me," the man said, beckoning.
The Cloud ninja aboard the ship grabbed their gear and jumped into the water one after another.
Naruto carried Karin and walked through the air.
Looking down, the entire island was visible.
Inside the ring of stone spires was a dense forest and a small hill at the center.
The Cloud ninja who had just climbed up looked up in awe at the golden-haired figure gracefully bypassing the natural barrier and entering the island ahead of them.
The welcoming ninja exclaimed in amazement, "That's Uzumaki Naruto?"
His voice was filled with reverence for the strong.
A ninja who could fly—
As far as he knew, only the Tsuchikage possessed that ability.
He had seen the Tsuchikage fly when he was younger.
But perhaps due to the Tsuchikage's appearance or the nature of his technique, his flying looked more like being suspended—nothing like Naruto's elegant, relaxed, and effortless flight.
The other Cloud ninja didn't say anything, merely casting complicated glances at him.
Yes.
That was Uzumaki Naruto.
When the Cloud ninja finished climbing ashore, Naruto was waiting at the entrance.
The welcoming ninja was about to lead them to their accommodations.
"Let's head to the Falls of Truth first," Naruto said with a smile, gently rejecting the suggestion.
The ninja froze, then nodded and led the way.
The Raikage's orders had been clear—Naruto's every request was to be fulfilled unconditionally.
The Falls of Truth lay in the mountainous center of the "Turtle Island."
It appeared small—nothing like the grand waterfalls elsewhere in the Land of Lightning. A narrow stream, only wide enough for four to five people, fell from a cliff about ten meters tall, crashing into a pool barely wider than the stream.
At the end of the waterfall, in the center of the pool, was a platform shaped into a circle.
"This is the place known as the Falls of Truth," the ninja explained. "Sit on the platform in the middle of the pool and meditate with your eyes closed—you'll be able to see your true self."
Naruto stepped forward.
Mabui asked, "Lord Uzumaki, shall we give you some privacy?"
Naruto smiled and shook his head.
He sat down on the platform and closed his eyes.
The two Nine-Tails followed suit, sitting beside him like people and entering meditation.
A surge of natural energy gathered. Naruto didn't resist, allowing it to envelop him.
The sound of rushing water suddenly disappeared from his ears.
The darkness behind his eyelids faded. The scene of the waterfall returned once more.
Naruto looked up.
From behind the waterfall emerged a figure.
It was another version of himself.
Completely identical—
Wearing a captain's haori, two blades at his waist.
Only the eyes were different. The Naruto emerging from the falls had blood-red eyes, full of hatred and anger.
"Why didn't you destroy the Hidden Cloud?" he said as he walked forward. "You clearly gave them a chance."
"But they didn't cherish it."
"Especially that guy A—"
"Even while making reparations, he still harbored twisted thoughts."
"Ninja are such dull creatures. Why not destroy them completely?"
Naruto looked to both sides.
The Nine-Tails were gone.
Was this something only he could face?
He spoke, "Destroying the Hidden Cloud would only trigger meaningless war."
"If the current Five Great Ninja Villages fall, new ones will rise."
"What does that have to do with you?" the red-eyed Naruto raised his voice slightly and spread his hands. "You said it yourself—death is just the beginning of another journey."
"Do you really care about their lives?"
Naruto remained calm. "It's not about caring. It's about respect."
"You're me. So you should know everything about us."
"You're talking about the Soul Society, right?" Red-Eyed Naruto chuckled grimly. "Don't test me."
"I am you."
"I have all your memories—whether in the Shinobi World or the Soul Society."
Naruto nodded, dismissing the idea that this was merely an illusion cast by the Falls of Truth. An illusion couldn't possibly know about the other world.
The red-eyed version truly came from within.
He continued, "If you know all that, then you understand—we're Shinigami."
"As a Shinigami, our duty is to respect life."
"Those people indeed have nothing to do with me."
"I have no reason to love them—but neither do I have reason to hate them."
"If they provoke me, I will take away their few decades of mortal life as punishment. I think that's fair."
"But those ordinary people—"
"They haven't done evil or wronged me. Why should they suffer?"
Red-Eyed Naruto pressed harder, "Then kill all the ninjas."
"Whoever starts a war—kill them!"
"That way, innocent people won't have to suffer."
Naruto remained unmoved. "Killing all ninja won't solve the problem."
"When tools are abused, is it the tool's fault?"
"Destroying every tool—can you guarantee no new tools will be created?"
Red-Eyed Naruto stared at him and lowered his voice, "But this is what lies deepest in your heart. Why do you try so hard to deny it?"
"You don't represent me," Naruto shook his head.
He slowly stood and rested his hand on the hilt of "Ashura."
"I admit I've had those thoughts you mentioned."
"But they're not my final will."
"You only represent the part of me filled with hatred and malice."
Red-Eyed Naruto also grabbed the hilt of "Ashura." "So, you can't help but attack me?"
Naruto used Shunpo and slashed.
Red-Eyed Naruto parried with ease.
Equal chakra and soul power collided, stirring massive waves and pressure.
In the real world—
By the poolside—
"What exactly does the Falls of Truth do?" Karin looked at Naruto, sensing the chakra surging in his body.
"The Falls of Truth reveals another self within the inner world," Mabui explained. "Like a mirror, it reflects your complete opposite."
"Usually, only Jinchuriki train here in the Hidden Cloud."
"This is also my first time seeing it…"
She didn't finish her sentence.
Suddenly, a vast and powerful aura surged from the golden-haired boy.
Several of the ninja on the shore groaned, struggling under the overwhelming pressure.
(End of Chapter)