Translator-Sama - Chapter 369: The Temptation of Absolute Power

“Amazing… t-this is unbelievable!”

Shikamaru, Kiba, and Shino—still suspended in midair by Goku’s power—were completely stunned.

They had heard countless rumors about Goku’s terrifying strength, but seeing it with their own eyes was something else entirely.

This was not merely powerful.

This was overwhelming.

Absolute.

Their gazes were filled with awe and respect.

---

Kimimaro lay on the ground, every bone spike shattered. He looked at Goku with fear—and deep worry.

“Orochimaru-sama… making an enemy… of someone like you… was truly… an unwise decision…”

His breathing grew faint.

“To die… at the hands of someone like you… I have no regrets…”

His life quietly faded.

A brilliant flower that had bloomed in the wrong place—had fallen.

Goku sighed softly.

“Such a pity.”

Kimimaro had chosen his path. To him, Orochimaru was everything. Right or wrong did not matter. He died for what he believed in—and for that, he had no regrets.

Goku gave him a proper rest. With a thought, Kimimaro’s body sank gently into the earth.

“Rest well.”

---

Goku then turned toward Tayuya.

Shikamaru and the others slowly descended from the air, wiping sweat from their foreheads.

“Uh… Goku-nii… you didn’t forget about us, right?” Kiba muttered awkwardly.

“Oh? Almost did,” Goku replied casually.

They all stared at him speechlessly.

---

Tayuya struggled weakly on the ground. Goku stroked his chin thoughtfully.

He didn’t particularly enjoy killing women—and truthfully, she hadn’t even had the chance to fight before being impaled by Kimimaro’s technique.

After a moment, he sighed.

A soft glow entered her body.

Her pale complexion regained color. Her wound sealed instantly. Even the blood she had lost was restored.

Tayuya stood up in shock.

Fear.

Wariness.

Gratitude.

And beneath it all—

Fervent obsession.

She had followed Orochimaru for one reason only: power.

But the power she had just witnessed from Goku—

was on a completely different level.

“Leave,” Goku said lightly. “I don’t kill women who can’t fight back.”

“You… you’re letting me go?” she asked in disbelief.

“Stop wasting time. I’ve got better things to do.”

He turned to Shikamaru and the others.

“Let’s check on Naruto and Sasuke.”

But before they could move—

Tayuya suddenly stepped forward and knelt.

“Please… allow me to follow you.”

The three boys froze.

“What?!”

“You want to follow me?” Goku studied her calmly.

“Very well. I only require one thing—loyalty. Can you die for me?”

“Die?”

Tayuya hesitated.

But she quickly understood.

Without offering something equal, how could she expect to stand beside such power?

If she refused… she might not survive anyway.

She gritted her teeth.

“Yes. If you grant me true power… my life will belong to you.”

“Power?” Goku smiled faintly. “That’s easy.”

He placed a hand on her head.

A divine light flowed into her body.

Her latent potential erupted.

Chakra surged violently around her, rising rapidly—far beyond her previous limits.

She pulled out her flute and blew a note experimentally.

The sound alone sliced a massive rock clean in half.

Shikamaru and the others shuddered.

“That’s… terrifying.”

Tayuya trembled—not in fear, but in exhilaration.

“This… this is the power I’ve always wanted!”

She knelt deeply.

“From this moment on, my life belongs to you.”

Goku smiled faintly.

“Good. Now prove your loyalty. Kill yourself.”

“What?!”

Her face paled.

“Can’t do it?” Goku’s tone was indifferent.

She understood immediately.

He could grant power.

He could take it away just as easily.

Her only path forward—

was absolute devotion.

With trembling hands, she drew a kunai.

After a moment of fierce inner struggle—

she drove it into her chest.

Blood stained her clothes.

Shikamaru and the others stared in horror.

“She actually did it…”

Her breathing weakened rapidly.

“Do you regret it?” Goku asked calmly.

“No… Even for a moment… having that power… was worth it…”

Her eyes remained firm.

Goku smiled.

“You truly are insane. A fanatic for power. I like that.”

He pulled the blade free.

No blood flowed.

With another flash of light, her wound healed instantly.

Tayuya exhaled in relief.

She had gambled—

and won.

---

Shikamaru shook his head in disbelief.

“Tsunade-sama is called a master of medical ninjutsu… but compared to Goku-nii....”

Kiba muttered, “I’m starting to think he could even revive the dead.”

Shino quietly added, “It wouldn’t surprise me.”

---

“Congratulations,” Goku said lightly to Tayuya. “You passed. From now on, you’re in charge of laundry, cooking, cleaning—and warming the bed.”

“…Yes, Goku-sama.”

Her cheeks flushed faintly.

The three boys stared in shock.

“Warming the bed?!”

Goku glared at them.

“You brats don’t understand grown-up matters.”

---

“Let’s go,” Goku said calmly. “Naruto and Sasuke should be done by now.”

They moved quickly toward the Valley of the End.

As expected—

The battle had ended.

Naruto lay unconscious among the rocks.

Sasuke was gone.

“We’re late…” Shikamaru muttered.

“Check on Naruto,” Goku said casually.

His expression showed little concern.

Truthfully, he had allowed this to happen.

If he had truly wanted to stop Sasuke, he could have done so effortlessly.

But perhaps—

letting him go was better.

After all—

If Sasuke ever returned as an enemy,

Goku could simply deal with him then.