18: Chapter 18 Assassination! The Struggle for HokageHe shouted and jumped off the windowsill, rushing towards Hiruzen Sarutobi!
However, his cool demeanor lasted only three seconds—"Oops!"
Konohamaru's long scarf dragged on the ground, and he stomped on it with his own foot!
He instantly lost his balance, like a clumsy white ball, and fell face-first into the mud with a "plop!" The shuriken clattered to the ground.
"Young Master Konohamaru!"
A man wearing round-framed glasses and sporting a bowl haircut rushed into the office in alarm, quickly helping the dazed Konohamaru to his feet."Are you alright?Are you hurt?"
He examined the body with concern, then his sharp gaze swept across the office.When he saw Naruto standing to the side, his eyes instantly turned icy cold, filled with undisguised disgust and wariness.
'Isn't that the fox demon.What's he doing here?We need to get the young master away from him!'
Konohamaru was helped up, rubbing his sore nose, and immediately saw Naruto standing next to him.
At this moment, Naruto had returned to his "original" orange jacket and messy blond hair, with a slightly bewildered look on his face as if he had just finished the formalities.He was completely different from the handsome young man in the photo who resembled the Fourth Hokage.
"snort!"
Konohamaru pointed at Naruto and yelled at the Third Hokage with a look of disgust, "Grandpa!Look at him!Is this the person you said might become Hokage?Are you kidding me!With that stupid look on his face?"
He mimicked Naruto's stunned expression, "If he could become Hokage, I would.I would."
A certain string in Naruto's mind snapped.
"Hey!You brat!"
Naruto was like a powder keg that had been ignited, instantly erupting in rage!
He lunged forward in a flash, so fast that even Ebisu couldn't react in time.He grabbed Konohamaru by the collar and lifted him up, his azure eyes burning with rage.
"What's wrong with my appearance?Why can't I be Hokage?Explain yourself!"
"How dare you!Release Konohamaru at once!He is the grandson of the Third Hokage!The future Hokage!"
Ebisu was both shocked and furious.He shouted at them and tried to step forward to rescue them.
Instead of being afraid, Konohamaru, whose collar was being grabbed, assumed that Naruto would be like everyone else and wouldn't dare to attack upon hearing his identity.He struggled and yelled at Naruto:
"Did you hear me!You bastard!Let me go!The moment you find out I'm the Hokage's grandson, you all start bowing and scraping to me like Four-Eyes Teacher, not daring to utter a single word!You…"
"Bang!"
Before he could finish speaking, a fist, though carried by the wind, but clearly controlled in its force, slammed solidly into his head!
Just the right amount of force, enough to daze you but not hurt your brain.
The blow left him momentarily stunned, seeing stars, and unable to finish his sentence.A small bump appeared on his head, but there was no actual brain damage.
Naruto was very measured in his actions, after all, he was just teaching a brat who couldn't hold his tongue a lesson.
"Ugh." Konohamaru covered his head, completely stunned, and looked at Naruto in disbelief.
"Naruto Uzumaki!How dare you."
Ebisu, his eyes blazing with fury, rushed forward and shielded the stunned Konohamaru behind him, glaring angrily at Naruto.
But since he was in the Hokage's office, he couldn't really do anything to Naruto, so he pretended that Naruto didn't exist and turned to look at Konohamaru.
Ebisu urgently whispered a warning: "Young Master!Listen to me!Even if you get hit, absolutely!Absolutely do not get involved with this dangerous fox spirit in any way!We."
His words came to an abrupt halt again.because he suddenly realized that Konohamaru, who had been sobbing behind him just moments before, was gone!
"Young Master?Young Master Konohamaru?" Ebisu looked around in alarm.
Behind his desk, Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly took a puff of his pipe, exhaled a smoke ring, and said in a calm, unassuming tone:
"Oh, him?It seems.he just ran out after Naruto."
"Wh.what?"
Ebisu was struck dumb, his glasses nearly slipping off his face."Followed.followed Naruto Uzumaki?"
The thought of the fox demon's danger sent Ebisu's soul flying out of his body!
"Young Master!Wait for me!Please don't get involved with Naruto!"
Ebisu no longer cared about etiquette, let out a shrill scream, and scrambled out of the Hokage's office, chasing wildly in the direction Naruto had left!
Inside the office, only swirling smoke and the Third Hokage deep in thought remained.
He glanced at the radiant photograph on the table, then at the doorway, a subtle, almost imperceptible curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.
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Naruto walked angrily away from the Hokage Building, his face flushed red with frustration and anger.
"Damn it!Damn it!Damn it!"
He walked along, waving his fists and venting his frustration at the air, "Why?Why is it that only when I'm dressed up like the Yellow Flash do that that old man and everyone else think I can become Hokage?"
I, Naruto Uzumaki, am Naruto Uzumaki!I'm not just someone's shadow!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, his azure eyes practically spitting fire: "If that so-called Fourth Generation dares to show up in front of me, I'll definitely shoot him to the ends of the earth with my rubber-pistol!"
Let everyone see clearly who is the strongest and most suitable person to be Hokage!That person belongs to me, Naruto Uzumaki!
Just as he was immersed in his resentment, unleashing a torrent of attacks on his imagined enemy, the Fourth Hokage—"Shh.shh."
Not far behind, a deliberately low footstep and the rustling of bushes being clumsily parted were as distinct as drumming in the quiet afternoon.
Naruto's forehead instantly creased with three black lines.He abruptly stopped and yelled irritably:
Hey!The person behind me"You little brat in the white scarf!You hid terribly!Your butt's all over the place!"
"Oh no!This is terrible!"
A child's surprised cry rang out.
Konohamaru emerged disheveled from behind a clump of low bushes, a few leaves still dangling from his long white scarf, his face filled with the regret of his "plan being exposed".
Naruto turned around, put his hands on his hips, and looked down at the Third Hokage's grandson, his brows furrowed.
"Hey!You brat, what are you doing sneaking around following me?Trying to get revenge for that punch I just got?"
He shook his fist, making a threatening gesture.
"No.no, that's not true!"
Konohamaru quickly waved his hands, his face turning bright red, but his eyes were unusually bright and determined.He took a deep breath and suddenly bowed deeply to Naruto at a ninety-degree angle:
"Brother Naruto!Please take me as your apprentice!Teach me how to become Hokage!"
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