Can Pokemon Into Naruto? 26 (Patreon)

Commissioned by Anthony Maxwell

Can Pokemon Into Naruto?

Chapter 26

-VB-

In the end, Kurenai ended up staying in the village for a full week. 

Why? 

First, there was no danger. Despite how dangerous all of the not-animals looked, each and every single one of them were, to a degree, almost human-like in their interaction with them, the villagers, and, of course, the village healer. Even if they took time to understand, they understood human concepts that lesser ninkens couldn’t. 

Second, Shino was insistent that they stayed to observe the giant insects, not just the giant wasps but also the smaller silverfish-like “wimpod” that scurried around the village healer. 

Third, in this peaceful village, staying a full week to perform a proper inspection and investigation ensured that neither she nor Konohagakure would be called upon again for the same problem. 

Fourth, she received orders from the Hokage himself to further her investigation, especially as to why her genjutsu did not work properly against the insects and the village healer.

And fifth, staying in this village was good for her health. 

At least one meal out of the three she had while staying (with all expenses from housing to food paid out of her own pocket) included the local “oran” delicacy. Oran berries, the village healer told her, was a general health tonic in its raw form. And having consumed one every day, she had to agree. It felt like a significantly lesser soldier pill that all ninjas knew to love to hate but it came without side effects. There was no physical and mental strain associated with oran berries like they were with soldier pills. 

They also made her skin very smooth.

Very smooth and shiny. 

But today, her investigation came to an end because there was nothing else to investigate.

It had been a very satisfying weekend. 

“Healer Karu?” she spoke up and he looked up from where he had been mashing freshly picked oran berries. 

Karu looked up at her. “Oh, what’s up, Kurenai-san? Do you have more questions?” 

“No,” she shook her head. “I would like for you to come with me to Konohagakure.”

That made him pause before he continued grinding for a few more seconds. He looked down and away from her.

And she noted that the spin-top like clay doll had stopped spinning. 

Silent.

“And why do you want me to go with you to Konohagakure?” he asked her. 

“I believe that you can flourish better in Konohagakure.”

“You mean for the sake of Konohagakure and its ninjas.”

“... That would be a side effect.”

He hummed noncommittally. “And why would Konohagakure want me? Wouldn’t it be better for me if I went to, say, the capital of the Land of Fire?”

“Only if you are competent enough to survive the viper’s nest that is the court politics. And I don’t think you are.”

“And if I don’t want to Konohagakure?”

“... That is your choice. I will not force you. Unlike the rest of the Hidden Villages across the Elemental Nations, Konohagakure understands better than most that you cannot force someone to obey the Hokage or the Fire Daimyo.”

He just hummed again. “Then I do not wish to leave.”

She didn’t say anything for a while. 

While she knew that it would not have been too hard to try to seduce him, she also knew that it was inadvisable. Aside from her own relationship back home, the healer had some kind of communication that went on with the living clay doll. Her intent could be sussed out. Or the clay doll or any of his monsters might not like her. 

And more to the point, she wasn’t sure if he liked women. On days 3, 4, and 5, she deliberately kept the cleavage open without the darkened fishnet. While many villagers looked or stole glances, he didn’t. 

“But you could certainly do more good in Konohagakure than here.”

“I’m sure I’ll be able to help more people, but I’ll also be restrained by bureaucracy, jealousy, rivalry, competition, and rogue factions, wouldn’t I?” 

She bit her lips. 

“You know more about Konohagakure than a village healer should know.”

He hummed and didn’t give any answer. 

“Others from Konohagakure might read the mission report and decide they must have you.”

Finally, that got a reaction out of him.

“They can try,” he said as he glanced over his shoulder and looked at her from the corner of his smiling eyes. 

And suddenly, she felt like a weight had settled on her. It felt like she was coming under a killing intent for the first time, but instead of a desire to kill her, she simply felt a “presence” that could not be denied. 

“... You’re not as simple as you try to portray yourself to be,” she said. 

“I am a simple man, though,” he rebuffed as he looked back down at the mortar and pestle. “I like keeping my people safe, raising my family, and making new things.”

She let out a sigh. “Very well. I will leave you be.”

She left after that. No point antagonizing him by insisting that he came with her. 

Besides, she saw half a dozen of the “beedrills” and the rest of his “family” all around the place. 

He had been ready for her if she chose to take extreme actions. 

‘Like I said, Karu-san,’ she thought. ‘Not as simple as you try to make yourself look.’