Chapter 282 – Lair
Seeing that the topic of the green-skinned creature had successfully drawn their attention, Hyūga Castle secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly continued,
"Actually, I've already found a clue. There's a place that's very likely to be the creature's lair. I know how strong you are, and I don't dare go there alone, so I was hoping I could ask you to come with me."
"What exactly do you intend to do?"
Uchiha Itachi asked calmly.
He remained wary of this man who had suddenly approached them and claimed to be from the Hyūga Clan. However, since he sensed no hostility or danger, he wasn't overly concerned.
For now, he was willing to hear him out.
"My idea is simple," Hyūga Castle replied.
"Go straight to the lair and see what's really there."
"Itachi-aniki, should we go?"
Naruto asked eagerly.
Aside from the brief pirate encounter, this escort mission had been rather dull—endless traveling with little excitement. Now that something unexpected had come up, Naruto was brimming with enthusiasm.
Itachi glanced at Naruto and then at Sasuke, noticing the same anticipation in both of their eyes.
"Alright," Itachi said after a brief pause.
"Let's take a look. If this lair really belongs to something harmful, we'll eliminate it on the spot."
Creatures that abducted civilians—especially summoned beasts—were disasters waiting to happen. Since they had already encountered this matter, it was best to deal with it thoroughly.
Their original mission had already been completed anyway, and there was no strict deadline for returning to Konoha.
"Then… shall we head out now?"
Hyūga Castle couldn't hide his excitement.
With Uchiha Itachi and the others accompanying him, his fear vanished completely.
More than anything, he desperately wanted to confirm whether these so-called green-skinned creatures were the Goblins he knew from his previous life.
The descriptions matched far too well.
There was also one unsettling detail—
All of the dead were men.
All of the missing were women.
That meant the women had been taken alive.
Whether they were being eaten… or used for something else, he didn't yet know.
But if they were Goblins, then the reason was obvious.
If Goblins truly existed in the Naruto world, then they might have arrived through some kind of space-time distortion.
It could even be connected to another world entirely.
Perhaps something like the anime Goblin Slayer he had once watched.
The pattern—raiding villages and abducting women—was disturbingly similar.
"Alright. Let's move."
Itachi nodded.
Naruto and Sasuke were already itching to go, wishing they could reach the place immediately.
Yakushi Kabuto, as always, remained silent, simply following along and observing.
They had originally planned to relax in the hot springs, but this matter took priority.
If they dealt with it quickly, they might still have time to enjoy the baths afterward.
From Itachi's perspective, as long as there was a confirmed lair, there was no need to waste time searching.
They would strike straight at the source.
…
A dark, damp cave.
Drip… drip…
Water fell rhythmically from the rocky ceiling.
Ichikawa Ao slowly opened his eyes.
"…What did I reincarnate into?"
He murmured as he raised his hand—only to freeze.
What he saw was a pair of short, thin arms, covered in green skin.
"…G-green?"
A terrible premonition surged through his chest.
He struggled upright, bracing himself against the ground.
This wasn't a house.
It was clearly a cave.
All around him, dozens of small green figures lay curled up, sleeping.
Ichikawa Ao's eyes widened violently, his pupils trembling.
At that moment, he understood.
"…Damn it."
That idiot goddess had turned him into a Goblin.
Ichikawa Ao had been an otaku in his previous life.
After graduating, he remained unemployed—but his parents had left him enough money to live comfortably without ever working, as long as he didn't do anything reckless.
Anime, games, and novels didn't cost much.
After another sleepless night, he skipped rest entirely, changed his clothes, and went out early in the morning.
The sequel to a game he loved was releasing that day.
At 5:30 a.m., he bought the game successfully.
On his way home, he saw a little girl about to be hit by a speeding car.
Without thinking, he rushed forward and pushed her away.
The next instant—
He was struck.
His soul floated out of his body, watching the mangled remains below.
The game he had just bought—never even opened—was buried with him.
Fortunately, the little girl survived.
Her parents arrived, crying in relief.
He… was forgotten.
Before he could regret anything, a radiant light appeared.
A gate opened and pulled him into an endless void.
There, upon a magnificent throne, sat a breathtakingly beautiful goddess.
She told him that he had died unjustly while saving someone and would be granted another life.
He couldn't return to his original world—but he could reincarnate in another.
Naturally, he accepted without hesitation.
Just like in countless isekai stories, the goddess allowed him to choose a skill.
After careful consideration, he chose one that granted exceptional learning ability.
No matter what he studied, he would master it quickly.
A perfect all-round talent.
Yet—
He never imagined the goddess would reincarnate him as a Goblin.
If this were a typical fantasy world, there would at least be magic and humans.
But as a Goblin, he couldn't even approach human society—only hide from it.
Without access to learning or cultivation, his ability was practically useless.
A talent with nowhere to shine.
A tragic joke.
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