Chapter 197 Convincing Lao Zi

After eating and drinking, Wukong was also taken back to the spirit beast space. Naruto patted his stomach with satisfaction and looked at Lao Zi who was a little drunk beside him.

"Old Zi, you really had a great time today." Naruto said with a smile.

Lao Zi burped and nodded: "Yeah, I haven't eaten and drunk so happily for a long time. But, Naruto, what are your plans next?"

Naruto knew in his heart that it was time to get down to business. After all, after coming to the Land of Earth, his first goal had been achieved, and the next key thing was naturally to find the location of the Five-Tails. Thinking of this, Naruto took a deep breath, and then with a hint of tentativeness, he slowly asked: "Old Zi, do you know where Han is?" As Naruto spoke, he quietly observed Old Zi's expression, secretly hoping to get useful information from him.

Lao Zi was slightly startled. He really didn't expect Naruto to change the topic to the Five-Tails Jinchuriki Han so quickly. His brows frowned involuntarily, and a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes. After thinking for a while, Lao Zi asked, "Naruto, what do you want to do with Han?"

Naruto scratched his head and replied with a smile: "Old Purple, you also know my current situation. I need to find all the tailed beasts. I want to have a good talk with Han. I hope he can understand my thoughts like you do."

Lao Zi looked at Naruto with drunken eyes and sighed slightly: "Do you know why I had to face that old guy Ohnoki when I returned to the village this time?" There was a hint of complex emotions in Lao Zi's eyes, including helplessness about the past and unspeakable bitterness.

Naruto shook his head, his eyes full of curiosity and confusion: "Old Purple, I'm not sure. Did something happen between you?"

Lao Zi took another sip of wine, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and said slowly: "That guy Ohnoki has been blinded by power and the pursuit of strength. He thinks the power of the tailed beasts should be completely controlled by the village, but he doesn't understand that the tailed beasts are also lives with their own will."

Lao Zi smiled bitterly and said: "In his opinion, I left the village without permission, and took the power of the Four-Tails with me. This is a betrayal of the village. He is afraid that the power of the tailed beast will be out of his control, so he wanted to force me to stay when I came back this time. I will definitely not agree to restrict my freedom."

Naruto frowned. As a Jinchūriki, he naturally understood Lao Zi, who was also a Jinchūriki, very well.

"Old Zi, I can understand how you feel. The power of the tailed beasts should be the power to protect the village and everyone, but it is treated as an object of competition. This is really unfair." Naruto's tone was filled with sympathy and indignation.

"Naruto, you really understand me. But Han's situation is different from mine. He has been instilled with the idea of ​​absolute loyalty to the village since he was a child. Ohnoki's words are like orders to him. It may not be easy for you to convince him." There was worry in Lao Zi's eyes. He knew how stubborn Han was. It was a loyalty to the village that was deep in his bones. This kind of loyalty might make Han reject Naruto without hesitation.

Looking back to the past, when Lao Zi decided to travel and become a wandering monk, he also tried to persuade Yue Han. At that time, Lao Zi had already had deep doubts about the way the village treated the tailed beasts. He felt that the tailed beasts should not be treated as just tools, but as individuals who should be respected.

He found Han, and the two stood on the barren land of the Land of Earth, which was full of rocks and dust. Lao Zi looked at Han and said seriously: "Han, as Jinchūriki, we are accompanied by the tailed beasts, but don't you think that the village is too greedy for the tailed beasts? They also have their own thoughts and emotions."

Han frowned, his eyes firm and cold: "Old Zi, what you said is not right. The power of the tailed beasts is a strong guarantee for the village. As Jinchūriki, we have the responsibility to contribute this power to the village. Lord Ohnoki's decisions are all for the prosperity and safety of the village."

Lao Zi shook his head helplessly: "Han, you are too blind. Ohnoki has been blinded by power. He only sees the power of the tailed beasts, but ignores the significance of the existence of the tailed beasts themselves. We should find a way to coexist harmoniously with the tailed beasts instead of blindly exploiting their power."

Han's expression turned serious. "Lao Zi, your idea is dangerous. You are questioning the traditions of the village and the leadership of Lord Ōnoki. I will not betray the village, nor will I go against Lord Ōnoki's wishes."

The persuasion failed. Lao Zi clearly remembered Han's resolute back. He knew that Han had been too deeply imprisoned by the village's ideology and it was difficult for him to change his mind easily. Now Naruto wanted to persuade Han, and Lao Zi couldn't help but worry. He looked at Naruto and said slowly: "Naruto, I tried to persuade him back then, but he didn't listen at all. You can imagine how difficult it will be for you to go now."

Naruto did not back down after hearing what Lao Zi said. He slowly said, "Lao Zi, you should know the role of the tailed beasts in my life. Now I have a mission and need the power of the tailed beasts. Moreover, I just want to obtain a part of the tailed beasts' chakra, which will not cause any harm to the tailed beasts themselves. So, you take me to find Han. I will take care of the rest."

Lao Zi looked at Naruto's determined eyes and felt a little shaken. Lao Zi was silent for a while, then sighed: "Okay, Naruto. Since you insist so much, I can take you to the place where I know Han may appear. But the rest depends on you, you must be careful."

The next day, Lao Zi took Naruto on a journey to find Han. The two traveled all the way through the land of the Land of Earth, which was full of rocks and sand.

Lao Zi led the way, his ragged monk robes fluttering in the wind. Naruto followed closely behind, his eyes revealing determination and expectation. The surrounding scenery was a bit desolate, with huge rocks like silent beasts and scattered cacti growing tenaciously on the sand.

"Naruto, we have to be careful. Although Han usually moves around near the Iwagakure Village, Ohnoki must have deployed a lot of spies around it." Lao Zi whispered to Naruto while observing the surroundings vigilantly.

They walked along a dry riverbed with steep rock walls on both sides. At this moment, Naruto noticed a green place not far away, which seemed quite abrupt in this land of rocks and sand.

Lao Zi suddenly stopped, he squatted down, hid behind a rock, pointed at the green forest in front and whispered to Naruto: "Naruto, Han should be inside."