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Chapter 199: The Future Konoha
Konoha Village.
Morning.
On the tracks circling the entire village, the Thunder Train ran steadily. It was the weekend, and the village was bustling with noise and excitement.
"Another harmonious and peaceful day..."
Naruto, in his thirties, stood at the intersection, looking at the villagers coming and going with satisfaction. This was the meaning of his struggle as Hokage. As long as he saw the smiling faces of the villagers every day, he was very satisfied.
His childhood dream of becoming Hokage had long been realized. Under his leadership, the entire Konoha was thriving. Getting along harmoniously with the other Four Great Ninja Villages, the Ninja World was generally peaceful. Along the way, too many people entrusted their dreams and wills to him. Now, all this finally lived up to their expectations.
"Oh oh, Dattebayo!"
"Eh eh eh, Oba-chan..." Seeing a white-haired old granny about to cross the road, Naruto appeared beside her instantly. "Oba-chan, let me help you cross the road."
Helping old grannies cross the road counted as his daily work as Hokage.
"Oh oh, what a good child. You're the Hokage, yet you always help this old woman cross the road."
Naruto helped her walk forward carefully. "Haha, this is the responsibility of the Hokage."
He said firmly, "Only by gaining everyone's approval can one become Hokage. Oba-chan is also a part of Konoha; I, the Hokage, must also gain Oba-chan's approval."
"Good, good, good, I approved of you long ago. You're doing a good job as Hokage, keep it up."
"Osu!" Naruto waved with a smile, watching the old granny go away.
Then with a poof, he turned into smoke and disappeared. This was just one of many Shadow Clones. Every day, a large number of Shadow Clones were active everywhere in the village. Helping villagers solve various troubles. This was something only he, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, could do. Chakra was abundant, able to be squandered like this.
"Phew..." In the Hokage office, Naruto's main body, wearing the Hokage robe, finished approving the last document. He let out a long breath. "Finally done... saved..."
He stretched fiercely, his face full of fatigue, dark circles under his eyes. Even with endless Chakra, his spirit was still within the human scope and would feel tired. Not to mention since becoming Hokage, for over a decade, he had sent out hundreds or thousands of Shadow Clones to help Konoha villagers every day. Even if a person was made of iron, they couldn't stand it. He often felt tired, looking kidney-deficient.
But he still persisted. Since becoming Hokage, he must solve more problems for the villagers.
Knock, knock! A knock on the door sounded.
"Come in." Naruto forced himself to cheer up, watching Shikamaru with a pineapple head walk closer. He looked exactly like Uncle Shikaku, as if carved from the same mold. As the Hokage's assistant, he was his right-hand man, very important.
Shikamaru walked up with documents, looking at the messy desk, several finished instant noodle cups, and the folding cot beside it.
He said speechlessly, "Naruto, you didn't go home last night again? You haven't been home for a week; Hinata will have complaints."
"Don't worry." Naruto didn't care at all. "Hinata understands me very well and won't complain."
He took the documents. "Besides, the Hokage's work concerns the entire Konoha citizenry. I can't slack off; I must handle various affairs immediately."
"Naruto... you..." Shikamaru stared at Naruto, who was looking down at the documents. He opened his mouth but didn't speak in the end.
Naruto was just this single-minded, very obtuse about some things. Hinata wouldn't have complaints?? Do you know how thirsty a woman in her thirties is... He was entangled by the enthusiastic Temari until midnight every day, his legs trembling...
You haven't gone home for over a week continuously. Even when Shadow Clones passed by the door, they didn't go in to take a look... You're really a good husband...
"Naruto." Shikamaru advised, "You can't go on like this. If you don't take care of your family well, problems will arise."
Naruto didn't even lift his head. "No, I believe Hinata will handle the family and children well."
"Hmm, let's arrange this work like this." Naruto finished approving the document and breathed a sigh of relief again. "Lucky to have Shikamaru assisting, otherwise I really wouldn't know how to be a good Hokage..."
Shikamaru laughed. "Can't believe the brat who always talked about becoming Hokage when we were young has really become a Hokage trusted by the whole village now."
"Naruto, you really work hard."
"The Hokage job is done excellently, but you also have to cherish your body. Don't send out so many Shadow Clones every day anymore."
"That won't do." Naruto shook his head. "Konoha villagers still need the Hokage's help..."
Shikamaru hesitated for a moment, but still spoke up. "Naruto, admittedly, your thousands of Shadow Clones have solved many troubles for Konoha villagers; but it has also caused trouble for some people."
"Trouble?" Naruto was startled. "Haven't heard of it before? I'm just trying to help the villagers."
"Because of the help." Shikamaru sighed. "Unclogging toilets, carrying goods, repairing roofs and furniture, etc. By doing this, although you helped the villagers, you also caused some villagers who make a living from this to lose a large number of orders..."
"And many villagers know there is help from you, the Hokage's Shadow Clone, and it's free of charge. Naturally, they won't spend money to find businesses to do things anymore..."
Since he started, Shikamaru simply explained everything clearly. "Those Shadow Clones of yours snatched many people's livelihoods; and fueled the psychology of laziness and not wanting to pay among many villagers. Many small things and troubles that they could solve themselves, they insist on waiting for your Hokage Shadow Clone to do."
"Since they can use a powerful laborer for free, who would still do things bitterly themselves?"
"It absolutely won't work if this continues."
"It's actually like this..." Naruto's face became serious.
Recalling a bit, much of the help provided by Shadow Clones to the villagers could indeed be solved by themselves. His Shadow Clone was busy on the side, while they were entertaining themselves with peace of mind...
Reminded by Shikamaru, he realized he had unknowingly become a free laborer for many villagers...
"This..." Naruto smiled bitterly. "This is hard to solve too... If I cancel the Shadow Clones..."
A favor of a drop of water, an enmity of a bucket of rice. For villagers accustomed to freeloading, if help was no longer provided one day, they would probably jump up and point at his nose, cursing the Hokage...
"Sigh." Shikamaru sighed. "It's not too late to understand now. Although difficult, as long as we correct it bit by bit and limit the scope of help, spending more time should be able to turn it around."
"That's the only way..." Naruto nodded dejectedly. "Why didn't I think of or discover it earlier..."
"Don't blame yourself. You just wanted to help the villagers wholeheartedly..."
"Eh..." Naruto stood up. "It's almost noon, time to go back and eat lunch."
...
Konoha High Altitude.
Konan looked down expressionlessly. "Naruto, how will you give me an answer?"
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