Here's @riojiyo131, your trusted writer.

You can now get early access up to Chapter 162 of Re: Naruto Uzumaki on my Patreon.

Up to Chapter 11 of Marvel: Star Wars System is also available on my Patreon. Each chapter averages 5,000 words.

patreon.com/riojiyo131

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Later that same day, Naruto was lying on the grass in the front yard of his house, with his arms behind his neck as a pillow, staring at the stars.

Karin was also with him, lying beside him.

[Sakon and Ukon have transferred all their power to the group leader, Naruto Uzumaki!]

[Jirōbō has transferred all his power to the group leader, Naruto Uzumaki!]

[Kidōmaru has transferred all his power to the group leader, Naruto Uzumaki!]

[Kimimaro has transferred all his power to the group leader, Naruto Uzumaki, including the Kekkei Genkai: Shikotsumyaku!]

Naruto blinked as he read the system messages.

He had not forgotten the system's warning that he had to expel four members within 24 hours; it was just that he had forgotten about the deal he had made with the Sound Five...

All their strength in exchange for bringing them back to life.

He had so many things on his mind and so many worries that he had almost forgotten about this matter.

[Naruto Uzumaki: So... I guess a deal is a deal.]

[Tobirama Senju: Are you really going to bring them back to life? They work for Orochimaru, brat, don't forget that. Their goal is to recover Kabuto and bring Orochimaru back to life.]

[Naruto Uzumaki: Relax, I sent a Shadow Clone to inform Tsunade. She has already sent someone to protect their cell...]

[Tobirama Senju: Exactly who have they... ?]

[Naruto Uzumaki: Heh. That's a secret.]

In the Konoha jail, where those who have committed serious crimes pay their debts to society, inhabited only by Ninjas who have broken the law, Duy and Guy sneezed at the same time.

"Sneezing is a sign of youth, Guy! That means someone is talking about us!"

"You're right, Father, we're famous! Let's celebrate with a thousand push-ups, a thousand squats, and a thousand laps around the village running!"

"We can't, Guy! We have to stay here; those are orders from the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade-sama! Therefore...!"

"LET'S DO TEN THOUSAND PUSH-UPS AND TEN THOUSAND SQUATS INSTEAD! LET'S START!"

Back with Naruto, he got up from the grass, shook his knees, sighed, feeling mentally exhausted.

He wanted to go to sleep, but if he did, when he woke up, the 24 hours granted by the system would have already passed.

"Where are you going, Naruto? You promised to stay with me all night watching the stars..." Karin half got up and looked at him, puffing her cheeks in protest.

"That..." Naruto looked at her for a second, uncomfortable.

After learning about Reika and Hinata's pregnancies, and that he would have to marry them now that Fugaku and Hiashi had decided for them, she had been somewhat sad.

Naruto had decided to indulge all her whims until she got over it to make her feel better.

Seeing her look at him like that, Naruto almost forgot about the system and just lay down again.

"I just need... to go to the bathroom," he told her. "You know... I can't hold it."

Karin smiled amused as she saw him clutch his stomach and threw a handful of grass at him, laughing.

"Alright, but don't take long," she said.

Naruto nodded and started walking inside the house.

Once inside, out of Karin's sight, he disappeared in a yellow flash, reappearing far from the village.

Specifically, he was now near the Land of Demons.

During his journey, he had left several marks to facilitate his future movements.

And this time, they would be very helpful to get rid of the trash.

Naruto didn't even bother to joke as usual, making that silly little song he usually did when reviving a chat group member.

[The group leader, Naruto Uzumaki, has decided to revive Tayuya.]

[The group leader, Naruto Uzumaki, has decided to revive Sakon and Ukon.]

[The group leader, Naruto Uzumaki, has decided to revive Kimimaro.]

[The group leader, Naruto Uzumaki, has decided to revive Jirōbō.]

[The group leader, Naruto Uzumaki, has decided to revive Kidōmaru.]

[Tayuya has been automatically expelled from the chat group.]

[Sakon and Ukon have been automatically expelled from the chat group.]

[Kimimaro has been automatically expelled from the chat group.]

[Jirōbō has been automatically expelled from the chat group.]

[Kidōmaru has been automatically expelled from the chat group.]

Five figures began to materialize in front of him, the same ones who had surrounded Reika just a few hours earlier when she was ambushed.

Kimimaro was the first to move, staring at him intently, tearing a short sword-shaped bone from his elbow.

"If you move, you're gay!" Naruto suddenly exclaimed.

Kimimaro stopped dead in his tracks, almost stumbling, visibly surprised by the unexpected interruption.

Clearly, he had not expected to hear something like that.

"You couldn't even handle my daughter, what makes you think you can handle me?" Naruto continued disdainfully. "Don't waste your second chance at life."

"That's coming from someone who is making the most of his second chance..." Naruto decided to keep this last part to himself.

Kimimaro frowned and fell silent, turning his head toward Tayuya, directing all his frustration at her.

"The only one I want to kill right now is her, for disrespecting Lord Orochimaru."

Tayuya's eyes widened in surprise at Kimimaro's words.

"I didn't say anything that we all don't think!" she replied, looking away toward Sakon and Ukon, Jirōbō, and Kidōmaru.

The three scratched the back of their necks, avoiding Kimimaro's fixed gaze.

Their silence confirmed Tayuya's words.

"Traitors!" Kimimaro shouted. "You're a bunch of traitors! Orochimaru-sama gave you everything! You owe him everything! You owe him your lives!"

"Yes..." Kidōmaru murmured. "But now he's dead, and between living my life or living it serving someone else..."

"With Orochimaru dead, we can do whatever we want. I want to explore the world," added Jirōbō.

Naruto raised both thumbs, grinning from ear to ear, though deep down he didn't care what they did, as long as he never saw them again.

"That's the spirit, guys!" he said mockingly. "The important thing is that you don't waste your lives."

Kimimaro's gaze abruptly shifted to where Sakon and Ukon had been moments before, looking for his only ally, someone who still kept loyalty to Orochimaru, like him.

But Sakon and Ukon had already left. Barely revived, after a few seconds, Naruto saw them turn around and run away.

"Traitors!" Kimimaro roared, activating the Earth Cursed Seal at the base of his throat.

His skin took on a brown-orange hue, his white hair turned gray, and several thick, sharp bones sprouted from his back.

"There is no redemption for those who betray our master. Only a cruel and final end awaits them."

Tayuya, Kidōmaru, and Jirōbō went on guard upon seeing Kimimaro's transformation.

They also activated their Cursed Seals, the Heaven Cursed Seal, preparing for battle.

But just as Kimimaro stepped forward...

"Ah!" Naruto exclaimed, pointing at him. "You moved, Kimimaro, now you're gay!"

Everyone looked at him stunned, except Tayuya, who just frowned, thinking Naruto was an idiot with a few screws loose.

[Orochimaru: Naruto, tell Kimimaro to let them go and not to forget his mission.]

[Naruto Uzumaki: No way. I'm not passing any message of yours. Screw off.]

[Orochimaru: Do you want to waste more time waiting and watching them kill each other? Poor lonely Karin might come looking for you at any moment. She already feels very lonely now that you're getting married. How do you think she'll feel when she finds out you left and cheated on her?]

[Naruto Uzumaki: Damn sly snake...]

Reluctantly, Naruto transmitted Orochimaru's message to Kimimaro.

Upon hearing his words, Kimimaro looked at him skeptically until he remembered his mission.

His Earth Cursed Seal receded, returning him to his normal state as he forced himself to calm down.

"Leave. You're lucky, Orochimaru-sama is merciful," he said.

Naruto frowned while the others sighed in relief.

Kimimaro would never give up. He would keep trying to revive Orochimaru at any cost.

And the only way was to get Kabuto alive.

[Naruto Uzumaki: If by some miracle this idiot manages to revive you, I will hunt you down, Orochimaru.]

[Orochimaru: Kukuku. I've always liked being the center of attention, Naruto Uzumaki. I'll be waiting for your attention in the future.]

[Naruto Uzumaki: Bah, just don't be disgusting. I'm sure you just hit on me...]

[Orochimaru: I didn't...]

Naruto ignored him, deciding not to pay any more attention, and turned his gaze to Tayuya.

Not that he cared, but...

"And you? What do you plan to do now? You're the only one who hasn't said what you want or where you're going."

Tayuya didn't even look at him and turned around.

"I'm going to look for my family. I haven't seen them since I was a child when I left with Orochimaru..."

"Hm. Good luck."

Naruto didn't ask more, thinking it wasn't his business.

He stayed a few more minutes until everyone dispersed in different directions.

Then he disappeared, returning home.

With a small smile, he returned to the garden and lay down next to Karin, who was still looking at the stars.

After a few seconds of silence, Naruto turned his body and looked at her intently.

Karin caught his gaze and returned it.

"I've decided something, Karin. I've had some time to think and... let's get married too."

Karin's eyes opened wide in surprise, unable to believe Naruto was proposing marriage to her.

Without thinking, she stood up and jumped on him, covering him with kisses all over his face.

"Are you serious!?" she exclaimed, almost crying with joy.

"Um," Naruto simply nodded, stroking her head.

It would be a shame to celebrate a wedding only to have to do it again a few years later, right?

"Then let's have a child too!" Karin exclaimed, sitting on his lap and pressing her forehead against his.

Naruto instantly turned pale.

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"