Naruto: The Forest's Chosen (Mori Mori No Mi)

"You can head straight to my place from here~"

After entering the giant bubble that protected Fishman Island, Camie pointed in a specific direction.

Naruto nodded slightly. With a simple thought, the bubble vehicle adjusted its course accordingly and floated in the direction she indicated.

Before long, they arrived at a colorful, coral-built apartment nestled in the seabed of Fishman Island.

"Brother Naruto, this is my home~!" Camie beamed brightly. A few small mermaids clinging playfully to her giggled along.

"Aren't you afraid of bringing a demon back home?" Naruto asked suddenly.

Camie tilted her head, thinking for a moment, then smiled. "I don't think you're that kind of person."

No wonder she's always getting eaten by Sea Kings...

Naruto shook his head and said, "Take me up. I want to have a look."

Camie didn't hesitate. She led Naruto to a large turtle resting nearby—an organic elevator of sorts.

As they stepped onto the turtle's broad back, a bubble dome formed around them, enveloping their small group.

Then, the turtle began its slow ascent.

"This is a coral condo," Camie explained as they rose through the shimmering sea. "My home's on the lowest floor. The rent's cheaper down there."

Splash—

The moment she finished speaking, the turtle breached the surface.

Naruto's eyes widened as the dazzling, sun-dappled sea stretched out before him.

Camie jumped off the turtle with a splash, the smaller mermaids following her gleefully into the water—but Naruto remained standing atop the sea.

Camie blinked in surprise. "Is that... is that one of Naruto-sama's powers?"

Naruto looked down at her, his expression unreadable and deadly calm.

"...It's a kind of ability," he said simply.

"Kaaamiiiii~!"

A cheerful voice rang out just then.

Camie perked up and waved enthusiastically. "Everyone~!"

Without hesitation, she grabbed Naruto's hand, kicked her tail, and darted toward the source of the voice.

As they approached, Naruto saw a gathering of mermaids—beautiful and radiant, lounging on coral reefs or resting at the water's surface.

Some reclined gracefully on the rocks, others floated with their shimmering tails swaying just beneath the waves.

"No wonder people fantasize about mermaids," Naruto muttered.

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit chamber deep beneath Fishman Island...

"Hmm?"

"You're saying the man with the 4 billion bounty has arrived?"

"What should we do, Boss?"

A low chuckle echoed in the chamber.

"Bring him to me."

The fishmen exchanged uncertain looks.

"...Four billion? How do we even carry that?"

"Hmph. Don't forget where we are—this is the ocean. People with special abilities aren't as invincible down here as they think."

"Go."

"Yes, sir!"

Back at the bay, a voluptuous mermaid with flowing black hair and a black-and-white fishtail playfully yanked Naruto away from Camie.

"Camie~ Where did this handsome little human come from~? It's amazing he can walk on water!"

Other mermaid sisters swam over curiously, surrounding Naruto in giggles and teasing smiles.

Even Tsunade would've been outmatched in that moment.

Naruto squinted and looked toward the Coral Palace in the distance.

"Good timing this time…"

With practiced indifference, he gently pushed aside the overly affectionate mermaids.

Just then, a ship appeared overhead, gliding above the sea in a protective bubble.

"It's a royal tour boat!"

"Could it be someone from the royal family?"

"Why would they come to such a small, remote bay?"

The royal vessel passed overhead, drawing everyone's gaze.

Naruto followed it with his eyes for a moment, then began to levitate slowly from the water.

"Little brother~ Where are you going~?"

Naruto: "…"

Don't act like you're trying to dress me up when you're clearly framing me.

"I'm heading to the island."

Before he could rise any further, the black-haired mermaid hugged him tightly again.

Another girl from the bay.

Of course, part of the reason was that he had arrived with Camie.

Naruto gave her a helpless shove.

"Talk to me again after you grow legs."

Camie blinked her big eyes. "Brother Naruto, what are you going to do on the island?"

Naruto straightened his rumpled clothes, casting a glance back at the mermaids.

"This'll be the first recovery point."

"Huh?" The mermaids looked puzzled.

Naruto's eyes twinkled faintly as he turned toward the island.

"Three... two..."

And the moment "one" slipped from his lips, a distant commotion suddenly broke out on the island.

"What's going on over there?"

Without answering, Naruto's body slowly floated higher and then shot off toward the island like a bullet.

The mermaid girls in the bay stared at one another in stunned silence.

"Camie, where did you find that handsome human?"

"Well… we saw him outside Fishman Island. He didn't even have a boat—he just came down using a special bubble!"

"Oh, and get this—the Sea Kings ran away when they saw him!"

"..."

Camie gestured animatedly as she spoke.

All the mermaid girls in the bay widened their eyes in shock.

"Wait!"

The voluptuous black-haired mermaid suddenly froze as a realization struck her.

"He looks like… I feel like I've seen him before!"

"Where?!" the others asked urgently.

"Let me think… Oh my god!!" She clutched her cheeks in disbelief.

"I just hugged a man with a 4 billion bounty!!"

"W-What?!"

"I-I hugged him too!!"

"..."

Snap—

Naruto landed on the island.

The streets were in chaos—loud, angry voices echoed in every direction.

He heard it clearly.

"Let go of the mermaid princess!!"

Naruto raised his foot.

In the blink of an eye, he appeared within the crowd.

"Hahaha~!"

A sharp, grating laugh pierced the tension.

"The mermaid princess?" the voice sneered.

"She's still just a mermaid, isn't she?"

"What are you looking at?! What, you think you can do something to me?!"

It was a proud, arrogant tone—spoiled and venomous.

Naruto stepped forward again, pushing through the crowd to the front.

There stood an obscenely bloated man in a bubble helmet. His face was snot-covered and sneering, his hand gripping a strange pistol. The helmet fogged slightly from his heavy breathing as he laughed at the helpless fishmen and mermaids around him.

"You're all just lowly sea creatures," the man spat.

"You dare resist me?! Hahaha!"

Inside the bubble, his face twisted grotesquely. His snot wobbled dangerously with every word, threatening to fall into his open mouth at any moment.

The surrounding mermaids and fishmen kept their heads down, fists clenched in silence. Their faces were tight with frustration, grief, and humiliation—but they said nothing.

This scene… it reminded Naruto of Princess Otohime.

The pain. The helplessness.

Some of the younger mermaids quietly wept.

Naruto stepped forward, ready to act—

—but just then, a soft hand caught his wrist.

The next second, he was pulled into a warm, yielding embrace.

"Little Naruto, stop. You've got a bounty on your head," whispered the black-haired mermaid.

"Don't expose yourself carelessly… These Celestial Dragons… You can't touch them."

Camie and the others surrounded Naruto in panic, trying to shield him, trying to pull him away.

"Because to you, they're invincible," Naruto said quietly.

"Because of their status—and the protection of the World Government and Navy."

Buzz——

A strange energy rippled through the air.

The mermaids paused, sensing something shift.

Naruto's voice rose slightly—not shouting, but loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Watch closely."

"This is just the beginning."

"There will be more."

"You are all people—whether mermen, mermaids, or fishmen."

"From this day on, you no longer need to hide beneath the sea."

His words echoed like thunder in the silence.

The bay fell still.

Every mermaid, every fishman, turned to look at him.

Camie and her sisters looked alarmed, like they wanted to silence him, but they couldn't move. They stood frozen, caught between fear and awe.

Naruto smiled faintly.

"If you want to change the world, the most direct path is right in front of you."

"No more waiting."

Buzz——

A familiar surge of chakra welled up around him.

Naruto looked skyward.

"The Dragon Vein… and the Wet Bone Forest… Have the barriers finally fused?"

"Perfect."

He closed his eyes—and instantly entered the sealed space.

Inside, Kurama's giant eyes opened in surprise.

"Naruto?! What's going on?"

"Kurama, call for backup. Alert every fighting force in the ninja world."

Kurama blinked, then nodded fiercely.

"...Got it! I'll let them know right away!"

No need for further words.

Back in reality, Naruto opened his eyes.

He stared ahead at the stunned crowd of fishmen and mermaids.

"In three days… the Shinobi World will crush the so-called World Government."

Then, step by step, he walked toward the Celestial Dragon in his ridiculous outfit and bubble helmet.

No one stopped him.

The crowd parted.

The fishmen stared at him in disbelief.

"A human…?"

No. Something didn't feel right.

And then someone remembered.

They had seen the bounty poster before.

"Uzumaki Naruto… 4 billion bounty!"

"What?!"

"Four billion?!"

"Oh my god… that's Yonko-level!"

The Celestial Dragon squinted at first, then burst into manic laughter.

"What nonsense are you spewing?!"

"Hahaha~!"

"You think you can do something to me?!"

"The last guy who tried that—Straw Hat Luffy—is probably still rotting in a cell somewhere! What are you, one of his lackeys?"

Naruto said nothing.

He just looked at him—quietly, coldly.

That silence, and those eyes devoid of fear or awe, unsettled the Celestial Dragon more than any threat. His bloated frame twitched uncontrollably.

But then he remembered who he was. A World Noble. A god among men.

"I am a Celestial Dragon!!"

"You people—whether you're fishmen, mermen, or even humans like you—are nothing but filth beneath my feet!"

"I'm talking to you! Kneel!"

He raised his ornate pistol.

Naruto's gaze didn't waver.

Snap—

The next instant, the Celestial Dragon's pistol crumbled into dust and scattered into the wind.

"You—?!"

The Celestial Dragon's bravado began to crack. Rage and fear battled on his twisted face.

He wanted to retaliate, but didn't dare. He wanted to flee, but couldn't stand the shame.

Naruto turned to the growing crowd of fishmen and mermaids. Their numbers were swelling as word spread.

Then, as he faced the Celestial Dragon again, his eyes shifted.

The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan activated.

"You—You dare glare at me like that?!"

"What's with those eyes?! What are you?!" the Celestial Dragon stuttered, his confidence unraveling.

"You lowly slave! Kneel now—kneel and I might forgive you!"

But his delusions no longer mattered.

Buzz—

Tsukuyomi.

In that moment, everyone nearby—fishmen, mermaids, and the girls from the bay—fell under the genjutsu's influence.

To them, reality shifted.

In the blink of an eye, they were standing not on Fishman Island, but inside a magnificent golden palace.

Within that illusion, they saw another Celestial Dragon appear.

Identical in appearance to the bloated wretch who now knelt trembling before Naruto in the real world.

It didn't take long for them to realize…

They were witnessing his memories.

"Kneel!"

"Just a few murlocs—what's wrong with having a little fun?"

The Celestial Dragon sneered in his memory, his voice echoing through the illusionary halls. The audience of merfolk and fishmen could only watch in growing horror.

...

TN:

Sorry for missing yesterday's update — the internet wasn't working properly 🌐😓

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