I am the most popular character in Naruto!

"No, no!"

Wearing a mask, Yamato suddenly stepped forward. According to the logic of horror movies, those who act alone in this situation are often doomed.

To ensure no one gets separated and dies, Yamato decides to go down with Sai.

dong dong dong.

The knocking on the downstairs door continued, and a woman's voice rang out, muffled, "Excuse me, is anyone home?"

Her voice, barely audible amidst the sandstorm, drifted into the ears of the group, sending chills down their spines.

"I don't quite understand what you're afraid of."

Sai tilted his head and glanced at Yamato, who was standing behind him, his legs trembling but trying to remain calm. It was puzzling that Captain Yamato was afraid of ghosts, even though he was much stronger than him.

Naruto and Sakura were in an even worse state; they were practically hugging each other, their little faces filled with terror.

"Go down and open the door. Once you open the door, be sure to tell everyone who it is immediately."

Yamato swallowed hard and pushed Sai downstairs.

You must come back alive!

Naruto yelled at the top of his lungs, and Sakura chimed in, "You have to tell us who's outside after you open the door!"

"I understand, I will complete this task well."

Sai smiled slightly at Naruto and Sakura. His fearless expression gave them immense courage, as if Sai's presence would lessen their fear of ghosts and monsters, and make the unknown dangers in the darkness disappear.

Da da da

Sai and Yamato came downstairs at the same time. Naruto and Sakura hugged each other, trembling as they looked into the dimly lit stairwell.

One second, two seconds...

One minute, two minutes...

Sai and Yamato, who had already gone downstairs, made no sound at all, as if they had disappeared into the boundless darkness.

"Naruto... Naruto..."

Sakura turned her head tremblingly to look at Naruto, her eyes filled with pleading and hope.

At a time like this, how could Naruto back down?

He gritted his teeth, steeled his resolve, and stood up despite his fear.

At this moment! He! Is a hero!

"I'm going, Sakura-chan!"

Naruto said to Sakura with deep affection that after "losing" Sai and Yamato, Sakura only had herself left.

If she performs well enough, she will be able to give up her pursuit of that damned Sasuke and turn to him!

"Go for it, Naruto!"

Sakura encouraged Naruto, and Naruto strode confidently toward the stairwell, with an attitude of "a hero going forth never to return."

"Don't worry, Sakura! Even if I encounter danger down there, I'll shout for you to escape immediately!"

Naruto's words remained in Sakura's mind, but after Naruto disappeared into the stairwell, there was a deathly silence again.

What exactly was it that could suppress the lineup of three tough guys—Sai, Yamato, and Naruto—in an instant, leaving them speechless?

Sakura felt her scalp tingling and her heart pounding.

As time ticked by, Sakura gritted her teeth and stood up.

It doesn't matter whether you die sooner or later. Since everyone has already embarked on the road of no return, there's no point in me sitting here alone.

Master, please grant me strength so that I may overcome this boundless fear!

A surge of passion ignited within Sakura. Her face hardened, she tightened her grip on her gloves, and strode down the stairs.

She had already made up her mind that as soon as she went downstairs, no matter what kind of monsters or demons were on the other side, she would go up and unleash a cherry blossom attack.

The best way to eliminate fear is to face it!

Persistence is the key to victory!

Come on!

Awesome!

While giving herself a pep talk, Sakura, head down the stairs, raised her fist, yelled "Bastard!" and swung it.

As a result, a large, blood-red net formed in front of her, gently stopping her.

After Sakura clearly saw the person standing at the door, she immediately knelt down on the ground.

She was a pink-haired little girl with a bright smile. Her long pink hair was tied into two pigtails, and she looked lively and cute.

But it wasn't just Sakura who was kneeling on the ground; the three who hadn't made a sound were also kneeling.

Yamato and Sai knelt on one knee and bowed their heads in a very standard manner, not daring to utter a sound, while Naruto was pressed to the ground by Otohime, who had a bitter face.

If it were this person, then it would be perfectly understandable that the three strong men were subdued in an instant.

"Master...Master!"

Sakura's eyes filled with tears. She hadn't seen her master for three years, and she never expected to meet him like this again.

Although I don't know why Chiaki has reverted to her childhood state, being able to see Chiaki is better than anything else.

The life goddess of Konoha provides unparalleled spiritual support. During the three years she was away from Konoha, all the ninjas in Konoha were in a state of fear, feeling like a young girl whose protection had been torn off and exposed to everyone.

"What, you want to punch me?"

Chiaki stood with his hands behind his back and smiled as he spoke to Sakura.

Mirai gently released Sakura, stepped forward and took Chiaki's hand, saying helplessly, "Next time, you should investigate before you make a move. If you accidentally hurt Chiaki, you'll regret it."

"You injured your master?"

Sakura blinked and looked at Chiaki, who was being led by Mirai like a little girl. From Chiaki, she could only sense that she was a Genin-level ninja.

To be honest, if a mere genin were to take that punch from Sakura, he would be seriously injured, if not killed.

"Godmother...you've shrunk!"

Finally freed from Otohime's oppressive gaze, Naruto exclaimed in surprise, "I feel like I could easily defeat you right now!"

Chapter 681 Maps and Tablets

After Otohime smashed Naruto's head to pieces, Naruto finally understood that even though Chiaki had shrunk to the level of a genin, she could still make Otohime use her nature as a chakra manifestation and her combat experience to smash him to pieces.

After Sakura welcomed Chiaki into the cabin, Yamato and Sai finally dared to stand up, exchanged a glance, and headed upstairs.

The two of them still maintained their habits from the roots; upon seeing such an important figure, they would subconsciously hold their breath and remain respectful.

This person can be said to have suppressed the entire Root organization single-handedly. Even the leader of Root, Danzo, did not dare to breathe loudly in front of her, let alone the ninjas who had once been in Root.

Danzo had given orders that no one should provoke Chiaki unless absolutely necessary, and that everyone should be extremely respectful in front of Chiaki. This order applied to all the Root ninjas.

Well.

After all, Danzo's influence on the Root ninjas was far-reaching, and even after his death, this influence could not be eliminated.

After Sakura and Chiaki exchanged pleasantries for a while, Yamato finally mustered up the courage to respectfully ask Chiaki, "May I ask what brings the Goddess of Life here today...?"

"Haha, Captain Yamato, you're being way too reserved!"

Naruto laughed heartily, completely oblivious to Yamato's ashen face.

As the captain of the new Team 7, he could be extremely respectful to Chiaki, but it was a bit much for Naruto to mock him from below.

"Naruto, how dare you talk to the captain like that?"

Chiaki glanced at Naruto, then looked at Otohime and called out, "Otohime."

"Got it."

Otohime touched her fist and gave Naruto, whose face was already bruised and swollen, a sharp rap on the head.

"Wow...why did you hit me again!"

Naruto held his head in frustration. Even though he hadn't seen the boy for three years, he had grown quite a bit taller, but in terms of personality, he was still as impulsive and reckless as before, and hadn't changed much.

"Let me teach you what manners are!"

Otohime clenched her little fists and bared her teeth at Naruto, who muttered, "That punch wasn't very polite of you..."

"Huh? You want to get beaten up again?"

Otohime's eyes widened, and Naruto could only put on a fawning smile.

Actually, with Naruto's strength, he should be able to defeat Otohime.

After all, Otohime was just a chakra manifestation created by Chiaki. If he wanted to get rid of Otohime, he only needed to deal with Chiaki.

But since Chiaki is Naruto's godmother, he doesn't dare to lay a hand on her.

Until a way to influence chakra is found, Naruto will only be able to take beatings from Otohime, right?

"I have come here to find a small country called Loulan."

Chiaki ignored Naruto's antics and smiled at Yamato, saying, "But who would have thought that we would find a wooden house in the Gobi Desert that wasn't on the map? It makes me very curious."

"I never expected it to be your house, what a coincidence."

"Loulan!"

Naruto's eyes lit up immediately. It seemed that fate was still kind to him; his godmother was on the same destination as him. The journey ahead would be even more interesting!

Sakura's eyes lit up as well. Originally, she was going to study medical ninjutsu on her own along the way, but now that Chiaki was by her side, she could ask him for advice along the way.

In this way, she can improve rapidly during the time Qianqiu is by her side. That's great!

"Lord Qianqiu, may I speak with you in private?"

Compared to the excited Naruto and Sakura, Yamato seemed rather serious.

"Ok?"

Chiaki blinked and agreed to Yamato's request.