Nawaki was filled with guilt.
Back when Carl had suddenly grabbed him, he had actually tried to fight back.
"Mm. He's a friend of mine," Tsunade nodded calmly.
Among everyone in the room, she remained the most composed.
After all, she was the one who had called Carl here.
And she knew, Carl didn't belong to this world.
More importantly, if not for Carl, Nawaki would have surely died.
It was precisely because of his death that she had posted that urgent request in the [Chat Group].
Carl had arrived in response to her call.
"Yeah," Orochimaru glanced at Tsunade, pausing for a moment before saying, "He told me he came here at your request, to save Nawaki."
After a moment of silence, he couldn't help but ask, "Tsunade, just who is this friend of yours? How did you even meet him?"
Orochimaru and Tsunade had grown up together in the Hidden Leaf Village.
Their bond was long-standing, comrades through youth and war alike. They were practically family.
But in all those years, Orochimaru had never seen someone like Carl.
He truly had no idea where she could've met such a man.
Tsunade thought for a moment, then replied with practiced calm, "I ran into him by chance outside the village."
Naturally, she couldn't reveal the truth, about Carl's origins, or the existence of the multiversal [Chat Group].
Even if she did, it wouldn't bring any benefits.
And most likely, they wouldn't believe her anyway.
So she offered a simple cover story.
"But he's trustworthy. You don't need to worry."
Orochimaru gave her a long, probing look, then said, "I actually fought him."
"No, calling it a 'fight' would be too generous. It was more like…"
"I got completely steamrolled."
"I didn't even see how he moved. I was already on the ground before I could react."
"If he'd wanted me dead… I'd be dead."
He paused briefly, a trace of unease flickering in his voice.
"Honestly, even Lord Hiruzen might not be able to defeat him."
In truth, Orochimaru was certain, Carl's strength far surpassed that of their teacher, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
After all, he hadn't even had time to react before being knocked down.
Not even Hiruzen could do that to him.
Of course, he couldn't say it so directly.
So he chose his words carefully.
"You're exaggerating," Jiraiya cut in, clearly annoyed.
Off to the side, Nawaki stood there frozen in awe.
Orochimaru didn't argue. He had seen the truth with his own eyes.
Tsunade nodded lightly. "Carl's strength really does exceed even Lord Hiruzen's."
"I don't buy it," Jiraiya muttered, still unconvinced.
Tsunade gave him a strange look.
Even if you don't believe it now, someday you will…
After all, in the future Carl came from, he had punched you square in the face.
But she didn't say that out loud.
Because even if she did, Jiraiya would never believe it.
After some more idle chat, Jiraiya and Orochimaru left.
Nawaki looked down, then quietly asked Tsunade, "So… the person who saved me, his name is Carl?"
"Where is Big Brother Carl now?"
"He's gone somewhere far away. Why do you ask?"
"Then… when he comes back to Konoha, can you tell me?"
"I haven't had a chance to thank him yet…"
Tsunade smiled softly. "Of course."
His mood was light, calmer and more at ease than he had felt in decades.
It was as if all those years, he'd been shackled by invisible chains.
Now, at last, they'd broken.
Suddenly, a long-forgotten sound echoed in his mind.
It was the [System], specifically, the long-awaited 25-year sign-in reward.
Carl had set the [System] to issue a special bonus every 25 years.
And now, finally, that moment had come.
It had been so long since he'd heard that familiar tone.
He nodded slightly. "Sign in."
[Ding! Sign-in successful. Congratulations. You have received: Superman's Black Suit.]
A black outfit shimmered into existence in front of him.
Carl reached out and caught it.
Unfolding the cloth, he saw a flowing cape and the unmistakable 'S' logo on the chest.
It was the Superman suit.
But unlike the classic red-and-blue version, this one was entirely black.
Carl raised an eyebrow and walked into his closet.
There, he pulled out the suit he had just purchased last night from the [Chat Group] store, red and blue, just like in the movies.
He laid the two outfits side by side.
Identical design, only the color differed.
So… I wasted some points, huh?
It wasn't much, just a few hundred, but it still felt a little ridiculous.
Still, maybe it wasn't a waste.
He liked the black one better.
But who knows? Maybe someday he'd be in the mood for the blue-and-red look.
Shrugging, he hung them both up and made himself a simple breakfast.
After washing up, Carl leaned back in his chair to rest.
That's when his phone rang.
He picked up. "Hello?"
"Hey," came her voice, bright and familiar. "Weren't we going shopping today? What time are we heading out?"
Carl blinked, then smiled. "How about now?"
"Okay then. Come pick me up at my place."
The caller was Skye, whom fans of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. would one day know as Daisy Johnson, codename Quake.
But for now, she wasn't part of S.H.I.E.L.D.
She hadn't awakened her powers.
Right now, she was just… Carl's girlfriend.
Even before unlocking his true potential, Carl had already been tall, handsome, and wealthy.
Naturally, he had no shortage of admirers.
There was one from high school. Official source is novel·fiɾe·net
And even a rising Asian actress.
Carl figured… that's not so many, right?
He still saw himself as relatively wholesome.
I mean, come on, look at Tony Stark. That guy was a walking headline.
Carl changed into casual wear, tidied his hair, and with a shimmer of light, vanished.
The next second, he reappeared inside a small apartment.
Compared to his own luxurious suite, this place was tiny.
But Carl didn't mind.
He moved through the space naturally, like it was his second home.
When he reached the bathroom door, he finally saw her.
A stunning young woman was standing in front of the mirror, applying makeup.
Carl smiled. "Hey, Skye."
She turned around in shock.
"You… how did you get here so fast?"
She had only just started getting ready when she called him.
She hadn't expected him to arrive instantly, especially since their apartments weren't exactly close.
Carl stepped into the bathroom, grinning. "I'll explain later."
He gently brushed her hair aside. "But right now… it's still kind of early."
"How about we head back to bed for a while?"
From his tone alone, Skye knew exactly what he meant.
She glanced at the lipstick in her hand, hesitating. "But I just finished my makeup…"
"Even better," Carl whispered.
He leaned in and kissed her,
Then lifted her into his arms, walking with her toward the bedroom.