He has even mastered Haki, and you say this is Naruto?

Naruto reached out and grabbed the kunai in Sasuke's hand. Blood seeped from his fingertips, dripping onto the ground.

Slowly, Naruto stood up.

He lifted his head, his face covered in injuries, blood streaming down his cheek to the floor.

That punch had landed squarely on Naruto.

"Naruto?"

Sakura called out in concern.

"I'm fine."

"Why… didn't you dodge?"

Sasuke withdrew his kunai, angry.

"Because… I can't just keep running forever."

Naruto's words confused both Sasuke and Sakura.

"Uncle Jin… does he hate ninjas that much?"

Naruto stood back up.

Hostile eyes surrounded him.

But that hostility wasn't directed at him personally—it was aimed at them, at their identity… as ninjas.

"Ninjas?"

"You people, high and mighty, how could you ever understand us ordinary folks?"

"It's because of your wars that so many people have died. As the pillars of the great nations, how could you ninjas ever understand the pain of civilians?"

Jin roared.

He had lost his parents during the Third Great Ninja War when he was just a teenager.

So many had been displaced.

So many civilians had been caught in the crossfire of the ninja.

Kado may have been a villain, but compared to so-called ninjas, at least Kado still acted like a human.

Even with troublemakers like Dazna in the Land of Waves, Kado never indiscriminately killed.

But ninjas… were different.

"That's why, as a pirate, the ones I hate most… are you ninjas who look down on us from above."

"Pirates are the masters of the new world. Ninjas… are just a cancer from the old era."

It wasn't just Jin—many pirates nearby shared his hatred for ninjas.

Almost all of them had lived through the Third Ninja War.

And unfortunately, the Land of Waves was right next to the Land of Fire.

Ninjas often carried out missions in the Land of Waves that targeted the Land of Fire. And how did Konoha respond?

Konoha, who had betrayed its former ally—the Land of Whirlpools—wasn't going to spare a tiny place like the Land of Waves.

On Konoha's war maps, the Land of Waves didn't even exist.

"I see."

"In that case, I'll become the Hokage who protects everyone—civilians, ninjas… and even pirates."

"One day, I, Uzumaki Naruto, will become the Hokage that even pirates recognize!"

Naruto's face broke into a sincere smile.

In that moment, he found a clearer purpose in his heart.

So being Hokage… meant facing so many things?

The suffering brought by the so-called "old era's cancer"… these are burdens a leader must bear—things that can't be avoided.

He could dodge Jin's attacks, sure. But what about the hatred Jin carried?

If he wanted recognition from everyone, wanted to become a Hokage for all—those were things he couldn't avoid.

Dreams, conviction, duty…

If there really was a new era, a new world… then he, Uzumaki Naruto, was willing to become its Shadow—its Hokage!

He, Uzumaki Naruto, was no cancer of the old era.

"If I even dodge hatred like this, how can I call myself the future Hokage?"

Naruto murmured to himself, his gaze becoming resolute once again.

Then, Naruto moved.

The fight wasn't over yet.

This time, Naruto didn't dodge.

The battle between the two resumed in full force.

Jin's heavy fists repeatedly landed on Naruto's body. But Naruto didn't retreat either—his attacks landed on Jin as well.

There was no technique in their fight—just raw strength and speed, exchanging blows without dodging.

This was no longer a simple fight—it was a clash of conviction.

Though Naruto, who hadn't learned Tekkai (Iron Body), had no clear advantage, as time passed, Jin's stamina began to wane.

Bang!

This time, Naruto's strike hit Jin in the abdomen.

No metallic sound rang out.

Jin's body was covered in bruises, and Naruto was soaked in blood, barely standing, gasping for breath.

Around them, the other pirates had all been defeated.

Sasuke and Sakura had been silently watching—this was a fight they couldn't interfere with.

Until finally—

Jin's massive body collapsed to the ground, unable to rise again.

Naruto finally let out a breath of relief, but his vision darkened, and he fell backward.

Just then, two figures caught him from behind.

"What an idiot."

Sasuke looked annoyed, but his actions were careful. For the first time, he truly acknowledged this dead-last.

Though the guy had no brains and little skill…

"Let's go."

They carried Naruto and turned to leave.

But suddenly, a chill swept over them.

Not far behind stood a quiet, long-haired youth, silently watching them.

At the boy's feet, frost spread outward—ice creeping all the way to Sasuke's toes. The biting cold made Sasuke and Sakura shiver.

The boy's gaze was calm—almost gentle.

Yet this gentleness sent chills down their spines.

Vice-captain of the Blade-less Pirates, someone acknowledged by Shanks himself—the man known as Aokiji.

"My name… is Haku."

Chapter 36 – Kado?? I'm Injured Again?

"Are you guys okay?"

Haku continued softly. But seeing Naruto's condition, he looked a bit embarrassed—Naruto clearly did not look "okay."

"Sorry. The people on my ship can be a bit rude."

Haku hadn't come to fight.

Despite his gentle appearance, Haku was truly a kind and gentle soul.

But, as Zabuza once said, such kindness needs power to back it up.

If you don't want to hurt others, but also don't want your companions to be hurt—you need strength to protect that kindness.

"My captain and I were off training lately, so we didn't know all this had happened."

Haku bowed slightly to Sasuke and Sakura.

Thankfully, nothing major had happened. His side just suffered minor injuries, and the others weren't badly hurt either.

"Wait… aren't you their vice-captain?"

Sakura stammered in disbelief, confused by Haku's behavior.

"Ah, right. Sorry. Here, take these healing salves. I need to take these guys to the hospital first."

Sakura's reminder jolted Haku. Of course—he needed to get the wounded treated first!

Sakura and Sasuke were both stunned when he shoved the medicine into their hands.

Wait—shouldn't you, as vice-captain, be helping your crewmates fight?

Their logic couldn't keep up anymore. Ever since meeting these pirates, they felt like they were in a completely different world.

The only one who seemed to fit in was the unconscious Naruto.

But Haku didn't care. He couldn't understand their thoughts—and focused on lifting up Jin.

Soon, other members of the Blade-less Pirates arrived. They didn't speak to Naruto's group—just picked up their own and left.

"By the way, those two at the port are your people, right? If you're taking them to the hospital, just give them my name."

Haku called out before leaving.

"The port?"

Sasuke and Sakura were confused. They were already at the port—but not where the ships dock.

Walking 200 meters in the direction Haku had pointed, they found two more bodies by the roadside.

These two were beaten just as badly as Naruto—bruised and bloodied.

Clearly, they'd been through a rough fight too.

But they weren't from Konoha.

"Let's go, Sakura."

Sasuke said coldly. Their intelligence mission was complete—no need for complications.

"I'm bringing them."

Sakura stopped and turned, lifting the two injured men.

Seeing her like that, Sasuke didn't say anything, but didn't help either. He walked ahead with Naruto in tow while Sakura followed behind with the two others.