Chapter 91: What Crime Is Defection, Exactly?
Evening.
Jiraiya stood at the entrance of the barbecue restaurant, staring mournfully at his wallet.
For Naruto's so-called "plan," Jiraiya had completely emptied this month's manuscript fees, treating everyone except Ino and Sakura to barbecue.
Not inviting just those two was honestly way too obvious, but Naruto had "cleverly" told Shikamaru and Choji that he "didn't want to disturb their precious training time."
Through the mouths of those two, Ino was informed of the news while she was in the medical department, courtesy of Choji and Shikamaru who happened to be heading to the barbecue place. She didn't feel anything in particular about it.
Barbecue isn't a big deal. As the young lady of the Yamanaka clan, she wasn't exactly short on meals like that.
Their team leader, Asuma, treated them to barbecue all the time anyway.
Ino didn't think there was any issue. She continued practicing medical ninjutsu in the medical department, using raw fish.
There was no way they'd let them practice on injured people right from the start. If something went wrong, lives would be lost.
Take Yagura's descendant, Karatachi Kagura, for example. During the Boruto era, he got stabbed with a single blade.
Logically speaking, injuries like that were nothing in the world of Naruto.
Even a Flying Thunder God slash aimed straight at a vital point hadn't instantly killed Izuna. It even forced Senju Tobirama to ask, "How's Izuna?" just to confirm the result.
Sarada used medical ninjutsu to treat Kagura, but she didn't manage to save him. Kagura, who had basically been designated as the next Mizukage, just straight-up died.
That, by itself, wouldn't have been a problem.
But the truth was, when Sakura taught Sarada medical ninjutsu, she used fish as practice targets. Sarada treated that fish for ages… and ended up cooking it.
Case closed.
Her talent for medical ninjutsu was probably overwritten by the Uchiha clan's natural affinity for Fire Style.
"Something's not right."
Sakura stopped the medical ninjutsu in her hands and looked at Ino with suspicion. "What they said earlier was seriously off."
"What's off about it?"
Ino took a bento out of the cabinet, planning to eat a bit before continuing her training.
"How could Naruto treat everyone to a meal and not invite me?"
"…Sakura, you might be a bit narcissistic. But what you're saying does make some sense."
After taking a bite of her bento, Ino nodded.
"If he didn't invite you, it's definitely because he knows you've been training with me under Tsunade-sama lately, and he's afraid you'd tell me."
Sakura rubbed her chin and began reasoning things out.
"Tell you what?"
Ino asked casually, continuing to eat.
"I don't know either, but it has to be something shady. He's pulled plenty of stuff like that before… Ino, help me investigate it!"
As she said that, Sakura clasped her hands together and begged Ino.
"Alright. I'm a bit curious too, anyway."
Ino handed the bento, still half untouched, to Sakura. After standing up and patting her legs, she jumped straight out the window.
Inside the barbecue restaurant.
After everyone had eaten for a while, Naruto finally revealed his purpose.
"What?! Naruto, you idiot, what are you telling us to do? Defect? I didn't hear wrong, did I?"
Kiba was the first to lose his cool, slamming the table as he stood up, his face full of disbelief.
"Naruto, if you think a single barbecue meal is enough to make us risk our lives for you, that's way too cheap."
Shino pushed up his glasses and spoke calmly.
"It's over. You eat someone's food, your mouth goes soft; you take their stuff, your hands go short. I knew I shouldn't have come. It's not like I needed this meal anyway~"
Tenten clutched her head and wailed.
She'd thought this was just a rare chance for everyone to hang out together and build some camaraderie.
Who knew they were walking straight into a trap?
"Your mouth goes soft… Shikamaru, can I still eat?"
Choji, who was devouring barbecue like crazy, froze mid-bite, a piece of meat still hanging from his mouth, and asked Shikamaru beside him.
"Keep eating."
After answering Choji helplessly, Shikamaru looked at Naruto. "Naruto, explain clearly first. What exactly are you trying to do, and why do you want us to defect?"
"Oh. Okay."
So Naruto laid out the plan he'd come up with using what he believed was earth-shattering intelligence.
In simple terms, Naruto wanted one of them to pretend to defect. Then Naruto, as that person's beloved friend, sworn brother, and family-like companion, would chase after them in anguish.
That way, he'd have a legitimate reason to leave the village. And Jiraiya, to protect Naruto, would have no choice but to "reluctantly" follow along.
Then Naruto and Jiraiya could go and mess around outside.... 'Train', of course.
As for the person pretending to defect, there was no need to worry. Once everything was explained later, they could all beg for leniency together, and it would be over.
"Um, Naruto… are you sure you know what level of crime defection actually is?"
Shikamaru asked tentatively.
"I don't know. How does it compare to stealing the Scroll of Seals?"
Naruto scratched his head.
"Same level."
"Then that's no problem."
"?"
Shikamaru was instantly rendered speechless by that answer.
Do you hear what you're saying right now?
But then Shikamaru thought about it again.
Oh right. Naruto had actually done that before.
Never mind, then.
Shikamaru had originally wondered if someone else had talked Naruto into this plan. Thinking about it now, it fits Naruto's personality perfectly.
"I'm not doing it. If I dared to defect, even if you guys managed to get me cleared in the end, my mom, my sister, and our ninja dogs would beat me half to death together."
Kiba immediately refused.
Hearing that, Naruto felt a bit envious.
If he could, he'd like to be beaten half to death by his dad and mom too.
"Um, actually, we only need one person."
Naruto snapped back to his senses and hurriedly added.
After he said that, everyone had different thoughts.
Some people wondered whether they should take this chance to leave Konoha and break the Birdcage Seal, but in the end, they gave up, deciding to think about it again once they hit a training bottleneck.
Others considered whether they could help Naruto under the pretense of going to look for a younger sibling.
"For a friend, I'd take a blade for him without hesitation. In that case, let me…."
"This matter can be left to me."
Shino stood up, murmuring to himself. But before he could finish, someone else cut him off. Everyone turned to look at the other person who had stood up.
"S-Sasuke? You?"
Naruto stared at Sasuke in shock, not expecting him to help.
"Don't get the wrong idea, Naruto. I'm doing this for myself too."
Sasuke snorted coldly and turned his head away.
Lately, Sasuke had been feeling incredibly frustrated.
Naruto was training under Jiraiya, one of the Three Sannin. Sakura was training under Tsunade, another of the Three Sannin.
And him? He was with Kakashi. After learning Chidori, he didn't even know what else there was to learn. What next, summoning a pug?
At this rate, it felt like his seniority would end up two generations below Naruto's.
Even though that place had 'that man' in it, Sasuke believed it wasn't completely airtight. Otherwise, that man wouldn't have told him about the next stage of the Sharingan.
The idea of leaving had existed in Sasuke's mind for a long time already. He'd just never had a good opportunity.
Now that Naruto had proposed this plan, he could use the excuse of a fake defection to truly leave.
Thanks, you idiot Naruto.
The corner of Sasuke's mouth lifted slightly.
"Sasuke… you're not actually planning to defect for real, are you?"
Naruto asked cautiously.
Sasuke's smile instantly froze.
(End of this chapter)