Starting with rogue ninjas, building the insect kingdom.

Chapter 616 Naruto is a responsible man

The woman looked at him and finally nodded: "Okay, but you must tell me the truth."

"What exactly happened with Kawaki? Why did the Hokage bring him into the village? What's going on outside?"

Iruka shook his head: "I don't know. I only know that the Hokage brought it back from outside, and as for the rest... I really don't know."

Yumi had already anticipated this and didn't press the matter further; she knew this man was unreliable.

But then she changed the subject: "So, do you have any connection with Uchiha Sasuke?"

Iruka was taken aback: "Sasuke-kun?"

"Yes, Uchiha Sasuke." The woman's tone became urgent. "He is one of the strongest ninjas in Konoha and once ran a genjutsu hut. Could you please beg him to cast a genjutsu on my child just once? Just once, so he can see what the outside world is like, see the ocean, see the sky, see things he may never see again in his life."

"I know this is absurd, I know the illusion is fake." The woman's tears finally broke free and rolled down her cheeks in large drops. "But Teacher Iruka, so what if it's fake? He may never be able to leave this village in his entire life. If he can't even see what's fake, then his world is only this big."

She stretched out her hand and made a very small circle.

Iruka stared at the circle, his heart feeling as if it were being squeezed.

That was his son, whom he had never met.

"I'll give it a try," he said.

-

Meanwhile, at the supply depot north of Konoha Village.

Uchiha Sasuke squatted on the ground, counting the supplies that had just been brought back from outside.

He worked quickly, neatly arranging the sealed boxes of nutrient solution according to their categories, and then using a sealing technique to engrave date marks on the surface of the boxes.

"How many are in this batch?" Naruto's voice came from behind.

Sasuke didn't even look up: "Three hundred boxes of nutrient solution, two hundred boxes of medical supplies, and fifty more boxes..."

"That's not what I'm asking." Naruto walked over and squatted down beside him, lowering his voice. "I mean, how many of these goods were targeted by insects?"

Sasuke stopped what he was doing. "We encountered three on the way and eliminated them all. But they sent a signal before they died, so I reckon those guys will be swarming over soon."

"That's why Kakashi-sensei said to change the transport time to the evening. After all, everyone needs to rest."

"That's just treating the symptoms, not the root cause," Sasuke said coldly, continuing to organize the supplies. "Soon, they'll start constructing a large barrier to seal off the space. At that point, not only will we be unable to get out, but most of the alternate dimensions will be captured by them, and Konoha's current coordinates will likely be exposed."

Naruto sighed silently, "Let's get some seeds and equipment, hopefully so we can be self-sufficient in the future."

"Self-sufficient," Sasuke repeated, his tone laced with undisguised sarcasm. "How can corrupt land bear fruit?"

Naruto didn't answer. He knew very well that Sasuke was telling the truth; it seemed like everyone had become lazy because of them.

"Don't think about it too much." Naruto patted Sasuke on the shoulder, stood up and stretched his stiff neck. "Let's finish moving this batch of goods first. I have things to do tonight."

Sasuke glanced at him but didn't ask any further questions. The two continued working diligently, their efficiency increasing considerably. By the time the last box of supplies was sealed away deep within the storage facility using a sealing technique, it was already past nine o'clock at night.

Naruto took off his dusty coat, draped it over his shoulder, greeted Sasuke, and headed towards the village hospital.

Sasuke's smile vanished; he knew it would happen again.

Konoha Village Hospital.

The white corridor was filled with the faint smell of disinfectant, and the light bulbs emitted a dim yellow light, making everything appear hazy.

Naruto walked down the empty corridor, his footsteps absorbed by the walls, the silence almost oppressive.

He walked to the ward at the end of the corridor, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door.

The ward was small, containing only a bed. The window next to the bed was half-open, and the cool night breeze gently stirred the curtains.

Yamanaka Ino sat on the bed, leaning against the pillow, holding a small flower she had picked from somewhere, and was plucking the petals one by one.

"Ino." Naruto walked to the bedside, but Ino, as usual, did not respond, not even raising her head, and continued to play with the flower petals.

She was muttering to herself, but what she was saying was indistinct, like some kind of babbling that only she could understand.

Naruto walked to the bedside, squatted down, took out a small paper packet from his pocket, opened it, and inside were several colorful candies, which he had brought back from outside; there were no such things in the village.

"Look what I brought!" Naruto placed the candy in Ino's hand. "This is candy from outside, strawberry flavored. Isn't strawberry your favorite flavor?"

Ino looked down at the candy in her hand, tilted her head and thought for a long time before slowly putting a piece of candy into her mouth.

Her expression remained unchanged, still wooden and blank. Naruto looked at her, and his throat tightened.

five years.

It has been five years since that accident.

It's unclear what trajectory the Shell Organization used, or what Ino actually saw.

From that day on, Yamanaka Ino became like this, in a dazed and foolish state. They tried everything, but to no avail, and could not wake her up.

It was as if an insurmountable wall had been built deep within her heart, keeping all external stimuli out.

Sakura Haruno took over her follow-up treatment, day after day, year after year, without interruption. Naruto also visited her every day, even if it was just to sit for a while and say a few words.

"Ino, I have something to tell you." Naruto held her hand, and the warmth from her palm reassured him a little, but the deep-seated fatigue and helplessness still lingered.

"Kakashi-sensei scolded me again today, saying that when Sasuke and I were moving supplies, we shouldn't do useless selection anymore, because it's too slow and we'll be easily spotted."

Actually, I just wanted everyone to use something different to improve their mood. And in less than a year, the outside world will be sealed off, making it difficult for us to go out. Maybe I was wrong; I shouldn't have wasted time on this kind of thing.

As Naruto spoke, Ino listened quietly, not understanding what he was saying.

Naruto didn't seem to mind. He watched her eat the candy, and as she chewed the hair in her mouth, he smiled and gently brushed the hair aside. "It's all in your mouth."

After a long silence, he suddenly said, "Actually, there's something else I've wanted to tell you for a long time. Five years ago, I made a promise with Sasuke. If I could grow strong enough to deal with the demons outside, or solve the problems in the village, I wouldn't have to use the Infinite Tsukuyomi technique. But right now, it seems like I can't do anything."