Chapter 327: No Riddles
"Oh~ So you're traveling performers." Jiraiya stroked his chin, nodding thoughtfully. "Though we're both creators in the artistic field, I'd personally like to believe you... However."
His tone suddenly became serious. "Konoha's current Hokage has encountered some minor issues. As the village's temporary person-in-charge, I must ensure security. You know what's recently happened in Konoha, right?"
Sasuke couldn't help frowning slightly at these words. He naturally knew what happened at this time point—Orochimaru's launched "Konoha Crush Plan," the Third Hokage's sacrifice... But this understated description of "minor issues" felt extremely discordant.
"Sigh, honestly I really dislike this all-business attitude." Jiraiya spread his hands. "Simply put, this is an emergency period, so we must assign someone to monitor you."
"Eh? Monitor?" Boruto's eyes widened in surprise. As the Hokage's son, he'd never imagined one day being treated as a monitoring target in Konoha.
"Um... Jiraiya-sensei, since a monitoring mission needs executing, how about leaving it to me?" Naruto suddenly volunteered.
"Huh? You?" Jiraiya showed an incredulous expression. Not questioning Naruto's abilities, but feeling having the current Naruto execute such a low-level mission was complete overkill.
"It's fine—ninja missions are temporarily suspended anyway. I happen to be quite free." Naruto said easily.
"Sasuke-san! Wonderful!" Boruto lowered his voice, unable to hide his excitement. "Didn't expect we could stay beside Dad so naturally!"
However, Sasuke didn't respond to Boruto's joy. He gazed at Naruto's back, once again perceiving something wrong—this Naruto was far too polite.
In his memory, this period's Naruto should be a noisy, lively, active, even somewhat clumsy hot-blooded youth. This composed and polite Naruto before him was maturely unfamiliar.
"I see... Alright then..." Jiraiya stroked his chin contemplating a moment, suddenly his eyes lit up. "Oh! Then it's decided! Miss, want to grab some tea together?"
Before finishing, Jiraiya instantly moved beside a passing female villager with an extremely voluptuous figure, enthusiastically striking up conversation.
Smack!
The female villager was startled by this sudden advance. "SMACK!" A crisp slap mercilessly landed on Jiraiya's face, especially loud on the quiet street.
Standing aside, Boruto stared dumbfounded. He secretly glanced at Sasuke beside him, discovering the other remained expressionless. Naruto lightly sighed—long accustomed to this scene.
"Huh? Go away, old pervert..." The female villager was about to scold when her peripheral vision suddenly glimpsed Naruto standing not far away. Her expression instantly transformed from cloudy to sunny, voice becoming sweet. "Oh? Isn't this Young Master Naruto?" She slightly bowed, face full of warm smile. "Are you going to train? That's so hard-working. Would you like to come eat at big sister's house?"
Naruto politely retreated half a step, maintaining just-right distance. "Eh? That's unnecessary—I've already eaten." His voice was gentle yet carried obvious distance.
"Don't be shy~" The female villager advanced another step. "If it's Young Master Naruto, you can visit my home anytime." Her gaze carried flattery, a complete reversal from her just-now attitude toward Jiraiya.
"Ahem," Jiraiya rubbed his reddened cheek, unwilling to give up. "Miss, Naruto has important missions right now, so... if you don't mind, how about I substitute?"
"SMACK!" Another loud slap. The female villager glared at Jiraiya, then concernedly told Naruto, "Young Master Naruto, please don't associate too closely with that kind of pervert—it'll pollute your pure heart." Finishing, she adjusted her kimono collar and quickly departed with elegant steps.
"What is this person... even doing..." Boruto muttered quietly, his lofty image of the "Legendary Sannin" violently shaking.
Sasuke quietly observed everything, brow slightly furrowing. This world's villagers' attitude toward Naruto was too abnormal—that nearly obsequious respect. This made him more convinced this world's developmental trajectory indeed differed completely from his understanding.
"...Ahem," Jiraiya awkwardly cleared his throat, attempting to salvage some dignity. Pretending composure. "Alright Naruto, I still have some important matters to handle. The monitoring mission is yours. I'll come find you after I'm done."
He turned to leave, calculating that though Kushina's warning prevented peeping at women's bathhouses, visiting legal entertainment establishments to experience "public sentiment" should be fine—after all, those were mutually willing transactions.
"Um, please wait." Sasuke suddenly spoke.
Jiraiya stopped, turning back somewhat impatiently. "What else?"
Sasuke stepped forward, carefully choosing words. "Recently... in Konoha Village... has there been any situation of missing-nin leaving?"
"Missing-nin?" Jiraiya's eyes revealed confusion. "Nothing like that recently. Where did you hear such unreliable news?"
"...I see. I understand. Thank you."
---
Three shadows slowly moved along the somewhat empty street. After Jiraiya left, a subtle balance formed between Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, and Uzumaki Boruto. Logically, Naruto as monitor should follow behind the two, but the current situation was completely reversed—the monitored pair were following step-by-step behind Naruto.
Boruto's hands pillowed behind his head, curiously examining this Konoha completely different from his understanding. Buildings on both sides of the street appeared slightly aged. Some shops hadn't completely recovered from the previous attack—occasionally workers could be seen repairing damaged eaves.
Sasuke's gaze constantly vigilantly swept surroundings while allocating some attention to Naruto ahead. This blond youth formed sharp contrast with that always bouncing Naruto from memory. Sasuke's inner doubts deepened increasingly—what exactly had this world's Naruto experienced?
Finally, they arrived at a relatively cold area. Most houses here stood vacant, the street showing almost no pedestrians—only a few withered leaves spinning in the breeze. Naruto stopped, turning around.
"Hmm? What is it? Da—" Boruto instinctively started, hastily correcting himself. "Is there something?" He lowered his hands from behind his head, standing straight somewhat nervously.
Naruto's gaze flowed between the two, finally fixing on Sasuke. He revealed a slightly apologetic smile, pointing at Sasuke. "Um... I have some words I want to say to this person. Could I trouble you to step aside first?"
"Eh? Looking for Sasu—" Boruto looked at Sasuke confusedly, eyes carrying inquiry. After receiving Sasuke's imperceptible nod, he could only reluctantly agree. "Fine, then I'll wait for you ahead."
After Boruto's figure disappeared around the street corner, this area seemed even quieter.
"Alright, what's the matter?" Sasuke broke the silence first. "If it's about hidden jutsu questions... we have no intentions harmful to Konoha."
Speaking these words, Sasuke's inner feelings were wondrous. This youth standing before him, aside from being slightly taller than the same-period Naruto from memory, looked almost identical in appearance.
But that composed bearing was completely different from that lively, impulsive Naruto in his memory. This contradictory sense of familiarity and strangeness made Sasuke unconsciously tense his nerves.
Naruto raised his head, directly gazing at Sasuke's face concealed by clothing. His eyes became exceptionally serious.
"You... are Uchiha Sasuke, right?"