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

"I'll return to this world soon," Naruto said.

"And when I do, I'll bring liberation."

"The Celestial Dragons won't exist anymore."

"I'm not from this world. I don't care about heroes or what's right or wrong—not here, not now."

With those words, Naruto lowered his long legs from the bed.

He took another glance at the woman beside him and sighed softly.

Then, he shrugged off his coat and gently laid it over her slender frame.

"She's beautiful... and she looks a lot like Hinata."

"There's a land of kunoichi in my world too. Full of snake-users. You'd probably get along."

"But that'll be next time—when this world calls me again."

He gave the woman a pat on the shoulder. She was taller than him, yet didn't resist.

"Your power can't hurt me. I only came here to test a certain ability."

"I can erase the so-called 'indelible' slave mark on your back."

"Believe it or not."

With that, Naruto casually walked toward the exit. "Stay here for another thirty minutes at most."

At that moment, the door burst open. Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold, Hancock's younger sisters, charged in after hearing the commotion.

"Big sister?!"

"A man?!"

The two women—each massive and serpent-like—stared wide-eyed.

As Naruto passed by, neither moved to stop him.

They didn't need to. The situation was clear.

Their sister—Hancock—hadn't attacked him.

Or... perhaps it was that this strange man had no romantic reaction to her at all?

"Big sister!" they called as they rushed to her side.

Hancock clutched the coat around her tightly and lowered her head.

"Wait!" she called out as Naruto reached the threshold. "If you truly can erase the mark on our backs... I'll overlook your rudeness."

Naruto paused and turned to look at her.

Not bad. A little wild, but beautiful.

"No clothes?"

Hancock didn't answer. Instead, she walked toward the bed with a composed expression.

Sandersonia and Marigold were dumbfounded, but wisely stayed silent.

Naruto clearly already knew about the slave marks burned onto their backs by the Celestial Dragons.

Salome, Hancock's giant snake companion, slithered over with a hiss and coiled protectively near her.

As Hancock sat on the bed, Marigold stole glances at Naruto.

Then the pink curtain fell.

"If the mark is ever discovered... we won't be able to stay in this country," she murmured.

"Please... sir," Sandersonia added quietly.

Naruto raised an eyebrow. That title... weird.

But he shrugged it off. He'd heard worse back in Fushiko Village.

"My name is Uzumaki Naruto."

Just as the words left his mouth, Hancock's voice came through the curtain.

"Come in, Uzumaki Naruto."

He pulled it open.

Hancock sat leaning against Salome, now dry, holding his coat.

Their eyes met—six in total.

"Your coat," she said.

Naruto waved it off. "Nah. My mom would sniff it and ask questions again."

With a flick of his hand, the coat reappeared on his shoulders.

Hancock raised an eyebrow.

"Still so crude."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Where exactly should I be looking, then?"

She didn't answer. She only stared deeper into his blue eyes.

A minute passed.

Then she turned away with flushed cheeks.

"Excuse me!" she snapped, but straightened her posture, chin lifted.

What's with this guy...? she wondered. He doesn't get lovestruck like the others.

"Never mind... forget it," she muttered.

Hancock avoided eye contact and raised her hand slowly.

She could feel Naruto's gaze heating up again.

Still, she reached behind her head and lifted the long hair hiding the mark on her back.

Her eyes fluttered closed, heart thudding.

Childhood memories surged back in a flood.

Stay calm. This is your chance—your revenge.

"Of course," Naruto added, voice teasing, "if you'd rather I just keep admiring you, that's fine too."

Exhale—

Hancock took a deep breath.

At her command, Salome turned around obediently, revealing her back.

Pale. Bare.

And marred by the cruel claw-shaped slave tattoo that had haunted her since childhood.

"Do you understand what this mark means?" Hancock's voice trembled as she spoke.

Naruto blinked, then stepped forward and sat on the edge of the bed.

Silently, he reached out and pressed his hand against the slave tattoo on Hancock's back.

Her heart immediately began to race.

"Hurry... answer me!" she demanded, her voice trembling.

Outside, the Snake Princess' younger sisters—Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold—wore pained expressions.

"Hurry up... If this mark is exposed, it's unbearable..." Marigold muttered through clenched teeth.

Naruto withdrew his hand.

The mark was gone.

"Just a special ability," he said plainly.

Then he tilted his head slightly. "By the way, I'm curious... If I caught a Celestial Dragon and brought him to you—would you dare strike him down?"

Behind him, Hancock felt her body go still.

She turned sharply, her voice flaring with anger. "Are you joking?!"

"Damn man!"

She made to strike, but Naruto disappeared in an instant, leaving only a swirl of air in his place.

Outside the door, Sandersonia and Marigold were trembling.

They had seen it clearly—Hancock's slave mark had vanished.

More than that, this stranger—this man—had just declared he wanted to capture the Celestial Dragons.

"W-Who the hell are you?!" Marigold gasped, her voice shaken.

"Do you even understand what you're saying?! If the World Government hears this—" Sandersonia choked on her words.

Meanwhile, inside, Salome the serpent slithered over with a mirror.

Hancock stared at her reflection.

Her back—pure, clean, unmarred.

The mark that had tormented her for half her life had truly disappeared.

She turned slowly toward Naruto, his earlier words echoing in her ears.

Take action against the Celestial Dragons...?

Naruto nodded lightly. "By then, the world won't need pirates anymore."

He added calmly, "Your title as a Shichibukai... it's only a shield to protect Amazon Lily, isn't it?"

"In the future, even that won't be necessary."

A quiet confidence bloomed in his expression.

"This world is vast... and it's caught my interest."

He turned serious then—his eyes sharpening with steel.

"And more importantly—this place needs liberation."

"I've seen it... all along my journey here."

He paused, then shook his head.

"But... it's hard to explain now. One day, when you see it with your own eyes—you'll understand."

The two snake sisters still looked confused, but Naruto just gave a faint smile.

"Maybe... I'll overthrow the World Government."

"Maybe I'll wipe out every navy officer and pirate who's done evil."

He let that sink in before continuing:

"And as for the Celestial Dragons... most of them will be captured—and their executions will be broadcast live, to the entire world."

Naruto's voice carried with conviction now—like a promise.

In his mind's eye, he could already see it: the shinobi of the Hidden Villages, united as one army—an army of Bodhisattvas—marching across the seas of this world.

All those who had once been forced to kneel... would rise.

Hancock lowered her head, clutching the pink silk quilt in her hands.

"In this world... someone would really..."

Naruto walked to the window and pushed it open.

"What's so surprising?" he asked, not turning back.

Below, countless women of Amazon Lily looked up in awe toward the Snake Princess' palace—toward the man in the window.

"You know," he said, "maybe when my army arrives here, they'll be stunned by the vastness of this world."

"But I think this world will be just as surprised by them."

"Because they'll rise up—and shatter the chains of the Celestial Dragons."

"They'll bring liberation."

He smirked, as if sharing a secret.

"And you'll hear the news soon."

"The Sabaody Archipelago... Admiral Kizaru—one of the Navy's so-called three great Admirals?"

"He's been sealed—by the moon I created."

"It now hangs above the archipelago."

Tick—

Tock—

Tears welled up in Hancock's eyes.

Drip.

"Fools... Someone actually dared to challenge them..."

Naruto turned.

She was sobbing, face buried in her hands.

He approached quietly.

"My world... it's just like yours," he said softly.

He reached out—gently prying her hands from her tear-streaked face.

Naruto gently wiped Hancock's tears, his tone light as he chuckled.

"You're crying already? I haven't even started."

"In the near future, those tears... they'll dry up."

As he spoke, he took her small hand in his and helped her to her feet.

"There are many like you, Hancock."

"But the power that gave you this strength—there are many who wield such power unjustly."

"This time, I won't be here long. But it's enough time... enough for you to rise again."

Outside, Sandersonia and Marigold lowered their heads, silent tears slipping down their faces.

Naruto turned toward them, expression soft.

"Come. Let's take care of your marks too."

He raised his hand toward them.

"That brand... the Hoof of the Flying Dragon, wasn't it?"

With a faint smile, he activated his ability.

In an instant, the slave crests on their backs were absorbed—erased.

"The so-called 'proof' that you were a lower class of human, something meant to mark you for life..."

"Just like that—gone."

The two sisters stared, stunned beyond words.

Hancock covered her mouth, tears flowing again.

"All three of us… we were slaves to the Celestial Dragons."

"When we were twelve... we were taken by human traffickers…"

Her voice trembled.

Naruto said nothing. He simply listened—silent, unwavering.

"Uzumaki Naruto... are you really listening?"

He gave a small nod.

"So what you said before… about coming back with an army…"

"Was that true?"

"If I—just saying if—if I wanted to find you… where would you be?"

Naruto smiled.

He raised his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, a red sail appeared out of thin air.

He placed it in her hands.

"I'll always be there."

Hancock stared at the cloth, stunned, still wrapped in Naruto's coat.

She suddenly clutched the red sail to her chest and turned away, blushing furiously.

"Hehe… hahaha~"

She turned her tear-stained face toward him, her eyes bright and unguarded.

"I like you!"

Naruto returned a soft smile. "I know."

"But it's almost time. I should get going."

Hancock's fingers curled around the hem of his coat, her heart aching.

"At least... stay for the banquet," she pleaded.

"No. Maybe next time," Naruto replied gently. "I have to return to Sabaody Archipelago."

Hancock's voice quickened. "This island is so far from Sabaody... Don't worry, I'll change the sails. I'll take you there myself."

For a moment, her vision blurred. Her heart fluttered like a trapped butterfly. Her eyes shimmered like rippling water, and a strange light danced within them.

Then she stumbled backward, collapsing onto the bed like a girl stricken by fever.

Tears continued to fall, her heartbeat racing.

The aftereffect... it hit so fast. And so hard.

…

TN:

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