Chapter 140: Wake Up, My FriendAt the same moment that the Third Hokage and his student Jiraiya were discussing Naruto in the Hokage Office...The subject of that conversation had already crossed the quiet afternoon streets and arrived at the Konoha Hospital.Pushing open the door to the hospital room, the smell of disinfectant mixed with the faint fragrance of flowers wafted toward him.Naruto looked up and saw a familiar, slender silhouette sitting quietly in front of the hospital bed.That long pink hair fell softly over her shoulders, though it seemed to have grown a bit longer and gained a more serene quality compared to during the Chunin Exams."Sigh, Sasuke, when are you finally going to wake up?"Sakura sat by Sasuke's bed, one hand propping up her chin on the nightstand, while the other idly toyed with a few fresh flowers in a glass vase.Ever since the official matches of the Chunin Examsended and the Konoha Destruction Plan came to a hasty conclusion, Sakura had come to visit Sasukealmost every day, never forgetting to bring fresh flowers.In this day-after-day persistence, besides genuine concern for her teammate lying in the hospital bed, there was actually a young girl's private motive hidden within.Coming to the hospital to visit Sasuke was one of the few times she might see Naruto.After all, since the Chunin Exams preliminaries, Naruto had been busy with his Cultivate and hadn't shown his face for an entire month.It wasn't until the day of the official matches in the Arena that Sakura finally saw the boy she was worried about once again.But who could have guessed that they wouldn't even be together for long—she hadn't even had the chance to say a few words to him—before the Konoha Destruction Plan began.After Naruto shone brilliantly in battle, he threw himself into arduous training once more, disappearing again after the memorial service.Sasuke was heavily injured and in a coma due to Uchiha Itachi's attack, and so far, there hasn't been the slightest sign of him waking up.Kakashi-sensei was busy handling the Village's mountain of emergency missions, and his shadow hadn't been seen for days.Everyone in Team 7 had their own problems, leaving Sakura alone, not knowing what to do by herself.So, even though Naruto had already left the Village and was no longer coming to the hospital to treat Sasuke with Hamon, she still habitually brought bouquets to visit."And that idiot Naruto... I wonder where he's run off to again..."Sakura's fingertips lightly brushed against the tender petals, feeling the moist touch of cool water droplets on her skin.Those eyes were filled with the expectations and worries of a young girl, her voice as soft as a self-muttering whisper: "I really want... to see his face again..."This bouquet was given to her by Ino, and it also represented a bit of her own feelings.Unfortunately, even Ino, who came from the Yamanaka Clan, couldn't find out exactly where Naruto had gone.All she knew was that he had left the Village with a Ninja said to be very powerful, seemingly going on some kind of travel training elsewhere.Buzz~A subtle, light hum quietly rippled out from Sakura's fair fingertips.A speck of golden light followed her finger and merged into the fresh flowers; the influx of vitality caused them to instantly become even more vivid, radiating a full sense of life.In the next second, the slightly lonely expression on Sakura's face suddenly froze.She keenly perceived a life fluctuation that had appeared at the door of the hospital room at some point.Almost the very instant she sensed it, the girl's entire back involuntarily tensed up.Sakura whipped her head around, and there was the blond boy she had been dreaming of, standing casually at the door, raising a hand and flashing his pearly white teeth at her."Did I come at a bad time?"The brilliant smile was still exactly the same as before, his blond hair shimmering with a dazzling light under the sun's reflection.Sakura stood up in a panic, her chair making a sharp scraping sound against the smooth floor.Her hands twisted in front of her, ten fingers restlessly rubbing against each other; for a moment, she was actually at a loss for what to do.However, after hearing Naruto's familiar voice, she still forced the corners of her mouth to move, squeezing out a response with a hint of a tremble: "No, you came at exactly the right time!"While speaking, Sakura sniffed hard, trying to hold back those uncooperative, crystal teardrops in her eyes.But after she tried blinking her eyes, the effort failed; tears burst from her eyes, blurring her vision.Sakura's body lunged forward involuntarily, throwing her arms open and hugging him with all her might.That tear-stained face buried itself deep into the lapel of his jacket, which still carried the scent of travel, as her slender arms held him tight: "Naruto, I—I missed you so much!"Naruto was stunned for a moment, then he raised his hand and gently patted Sakura's back, which was shaking from her sobbing.The warmth of his palm passed through the thin fabric and steadily transferred to the girl's shoulder, his voice carrying a rare, reassuring quality: "Alright, alright, haven't I come back now? For the next while, I shouldn't be leaving the Villageagain."While gently patting Sakura's back, Hamon quietly seeped into the girl's body through his palm.At the same time, his Stand, [Sun Echo], also activated its ability."Mm!"Sakura let out a soft hum, feeling only a tingling, numbing warm current surging in from where Naruto's hand made contact.The emotions that had just been a jumble of tension, excitement, and wild joy calmed down in an instant.Her body, which had been tensed to the limit, also involuntarily relaxed, and even her breathing leveled out significantly.Sakura couldn't help but widen her eyes, which were still beaded with tears, and looked up in surprise at the smiling face so close to her.She had already learned Hamon from Naruto; she naturally understood all too well how Hamoncould alleviate pain and promote physical recovery.But the change in her right now was definitely not a simple ability to use Hamon to influence the body!"How is it? Pretty impressive, right?" Narutolowered his head and gave her a proud smile. "This is a brand-new ability I just mastered not long ago during this trip."During the days spent traveling, he hadn't put all his focus on idle thoughts, nor had he ever relaxed his Cultivate.Thus, after repeated pondering and attempts, Naruto finally succeeded in weakening most of the power of the Mental Shock originally used for attacking, adjusting it into a kind of 'Mental Soothing' that could calm emotions and soothe the heart.Using Sakura as a test subject now, judging by the effect, it was indeed very useful."Really?" A look of heartfelt surprise blossomed on Sakura's face.Since the Chunin Exams, she had experienced too many violent shocks that she wouldn't have even dared to imagine in the daily life of a Ninja before.Now, Sakura's greatest wish was to be able to return to the time before the Chunin Exams.To return to those lazy and reassuring days when the three members of Team 7 performed missions together every day, Sasuke and Naruto bickered, she played her role as the straight man, and Kakashi-sensei was habitually late, saying without any burden, 'Today I got lost on the path of life.'But when she raised her tearful eyes and met Naruto's eyes—which at some point were no longer so childish but had gained a bit more depth and seriousness—Sakura couldn't help but sigh in her heart.Those days might never come back.Naruto gently pulled away from Sakura's embrace, putting away the playful expression on his face, his gaze becoming more serious than ever before.Sakura subconsciously took a step back, making way for him toward the hospital bed.Naruto walked with steady steps, slowly coming to Sasuke's bedside, lowering his eyelids to look at that pale face that still had its brow tightly furrowed.Then, he reached out his right hand and pressed his palm against Sasuke's cold forehead."Wake up, my friend!"
Chapter 141: Wanting to Tell You Personally"Nn..."A faint groan escaped from the depths of Sasuke's dry throat.Under that slight but continuous Mental Dampening, the black-haired boy, who had been unconscious for a long time, finally trembled slightly.First, his eyeballs rolled gently under his eyelids, and then his tightly knit brows struggled a few times."It's working!"Sakura covered her mouth, her eyes instantly filling with pleasant surprise.Naruto, however, was in no hurry to celebrate. His expression remained solemn as he stared unblinkingly at Sasuke's pale face.His palm was pressed firmly against the other's cold forehead, slowly increasing the intensity of the Mental Shock from his palm.One second, two seconds, three seconds...Time trickled away bit by bit in the quiet air of the hospital room.Finally, Uchiha Sasuke suddenly opened his eyes.His eyes first squinted painfully from the sudden influx of bright light, his eyelids fluttering violently in the glare.After a brief adaptation, his blurred vision slowly focused, reflecting the unfamiliar white ceiling above and two all-too-familiar figures by the bedside."Yo, you're awake, Sasuke."Naruto withdrew his palm, a bright smile hanging on his face as always.Sakura also hurried forward, blinking away the remaining tears in her eyes, waving vigorously at the dazed boy on the bed, her voice still trembling with residual sobs: "You're finally awake, Sasuke!""Naruto, Sakura?"Sasuke turned his neck with difficulty, his gaze scanning back and forth between the two faces, his eyes clouded with a lingering confusion and daze: "Where... am I?"His last memory was still frozen at the moment he fought Uchiha Itachi.As for what happened afterward, or how long he had been lying on this bed, he had no idea."How should I put it..." Naruto was in a great mood. He pulled over a chair, straddled it backwards carelessly, and patted the edge of the bed to signal Sakura to sit down as well. "This is quite a long story."...About half an hour later.Sasuke leaned against the pillow that Sakura had thoughtfully propped up, silently listening to Naruto's vivid narration, gaining a general understanding of the Konoha Crush Plan and Naruto's subsequent experiences.Even Sakura, sitting nearby, listened with rapt attention, especially when she heard about the battle between Naruto and Uchiha Itachi, her face filled with unconcealable worry.Her hands on her knees were tightly intertwined, her knuckles turning white from the force.Only now did Sakura realize that during the days Naruto had left the Village, he had actually encountered so many dangers.Of course, Naruto didn't reveal everything.Regarding the matters between the Pervy Sageand Uchiha Itachi, as well as the unconfirmed suspicion in his heart, he didn't mention a single word.After all, these were still just at the level of reasoning, without any substantial evidence to support them.Rather than rashly involving Sasuke in this muddy water before everything was clear, it would be better for him to investigate secretly first.Moreover, even Naruto, who was currently talking incessantly, keenly sensed that Sasuke's mood was not good.If it were in the past, Naruto would have been able to read Sasuke effortlessly, seeing what emotions were hidden behind his silence.But after more than two months of solitary cultivation, Naruto's extremely keen insight into people's hearts had inevitably become dull and rusty due to long-term isolation.Thus, he simply attributed the lingering gloom in Sasuke's eyes to the frustration and helplessness of being defeated by Uchiha Itachi.He reached out and patted Sasuke heavily on the shoulder: "Don't worry, we'll work hard to Cultivate together next, and we'll definitely be able to take down that bastard Uchiha Itachi.""...Nn."Sasuke responded dully.Now, even Sakura, who was nearby, noticed his extremely low mood.She quietly turned her gaze to Naruto and exchanged a look with him.After exchanging a tacit look, both realized that Sasuke had just woken up from a long coma and was still in a state of extreme physical and mental exhaustion and vulnerability, so it was best not to disturb him too much.So, after a few more brief words, the two of them got up to leave.The ward door was gently closed, and the sound of footsteps gradually faded away in the corridor.Sasuke turned his head and watched Naruto's back disappear behind the door, and only then did he suddenly clench his fist tightly under the covers.His nails dug deep into his palm, almost drawing blood, but he seemed unaware, only deepening this real pain.Because only in this way could he barely suppress the tide of disappointment surging in his chest.He couldn't help but recall his powerlessness when fighting Uchiha Itachi, and the pain of repeatedly experiencing the Night of the Clans Massacre in the Tsukuyomi Space.There was also the information he learned from Naruto that Uchiha Itachi had joined a certain organization and that his goal in coming to Konohathis time was actually Naruto.And even more importantly, the fact that Narutohad fought Uchiha Itachi and found that his body was very weak.All of this made Sasuke feel deeply that there was a huge gap between himself, Naruto, and Uchiha Itachi.This gave him a sense of pain as if he were being excluded from the center of the world, and the goal of avenging his parents and clansmen suddenly seemed a hundred thousand miles away.The flames of resentment burned in Sasuke's eyes, as if they were about to ignite everything before him.Knock, knock, knock...After an unknown amount of time, a knock at the door startled Sasuke.He leaned back against the pillow and said, "Come in."The ward door opened, and a nurse entered, holding a tray with a pile of medical supplies."I heard you've woken up, but we can't skip the necessary check-ups."The nurse's voice was crisp and pleasant, but Sasuke was in no mood to appreciate it. He gave a soft grunt and let her approach.After the tedious examination, the nurse held the medical record book in her hand and smiled: "As expected of the survivor of the Uchiha Clan, the Legacy of your bloodline is truly powerful; there are no sequelae after lying in a hospital bed for more than twenty days.""!"Hearing the term 'Uchiha survivor,' Sasuke's mind stirred, and the crimson Sharingan lit up in his eyes as he looked coldly at the nurse in front of him.He was already in a bad mood, and being touched on the sore spot of the clan's massacre, he subconsciously prepared to use SharinganGenjutsu to drive her away.But in the next second, Sasuke couldn't help but freeze.Because what appeared in his Sharingan was actually a familiar fellow—"It's you?"Sasuke immediately tensed up, his gaze filled with nervousness."Hi, it's really been a long time, Sasuke-kun."Seeing that he had recognized her, the nurse stopped pretending and gently took off her mask, revealing that refined face, and greeted him with a smile."Yakushi Kabuto!"Killing Intent emanated from Sasuke's body, his Sharingan spinning rapidly: "What are you doing sneaking into Konoha?""Nothing," Yakushi Kabuto took off the nurse's cap and smoothed his hair, "I just have some things I want to talk to you about."
Chapter 142: What is Missing?"I just have some things I wanted to tell you personally."Yakushi Kabuto took off his nurse's cap, straightened his hair, and revealed a gentle, harmless smile. Like an old friend visiting someone recently recovered from a long illness, he sat down on the chair by the hospital bed.No one knew what Yakushi Kabuto said to Sasuke; their conversation lasted less than ten minutes.Afterward, Yakushi Kabuto put his nurse's cap and mask back on, concealing that inscrutable face before standing up and leaving, as if he had never appeared.The hospital room returned to silence.Sasuke lay alone on the bed, his head turned toward the tightly closed door, his expression flickering between light and shadow.Regarding Yakushi Kabuto's arrival, he didn't have the slightest intention of reporting or capturing him.After all, based on Naruto's earlier account, even the densest person could understand that Konohawas currently in a state of chaos.The Konoha Crush Plan, masterminded by Orochimaru, though failing to achieve its ultimate goal, still caused massive losses for Konoha.Just the loss of combat power alone had reached a terrifying one-quarter.Furthermore, to maintain the dignity and prestige of the 'Strongest Hidden Village' brand, Konohacould not reduce the number of commissions it accepted; instead, it accepted every single mission that flew in like snowflakes.In today's Konoha, everyone from top to bottom was busy spinning in circles. Even a lazy guy like Kakashi, who would never sit if he could lie down, had to live a life of high-intensity, back-to-back rotations.At a time when they could barely look after themselves, Konoha's defense system was full of holes.Moreover, Yakushi Kabuto was a spy who had been lurking in Konoha for years; he knew everything like the back of his hand, and his entry and exit channels were as numerous as ox hairs.To him, entering Konoha was simpler than going back to his own home.Under these circumstances, even if they knew of Yakushi Kabuto's arrival, Konoha would find it difficult to stop his infiltration....On the other side, after saying goodbye to Sakura, Naruto went straight back to his long-absent little apartment.Using his key to twist open the slightly peeling painted door, a familiar scent rushed toward him.He kicked off his shoes and collapsed headfirst onto the hard single bed, stretching his body with limbs spread wide.His nerves, which had been stretched to the breaking point for half a month, finally relaxed on this familiar bed, and he gradually drifted into a dreamland.By the time Naruto woke up, he found it was already afternoon.Yawning, he boiled a pot of hot water, skillfully poured the scalding stream into the instant noodle cup, pinned the lid down with a fork, sat at the table, and looked down at his open palm.With only a low hum, a Rasengan no larger than a glass marble emerged out of thin air in his palm.Although its size was smaller than a normal Rasengan, the power contained within was not lacking in the slightest.However, this did not satisfy Naruto.So, after observing it for a moment, he lightly clenched his five fingers, actively dispersing the Rasengan in his palm.The spiraling airflow turned into a small breeze, blowing his blonde hair into a wild sway.Beneath the swaying strands of hair, those azure eyes revealed a lingering confusion.Within the Tsukuyomi illusion, he had personally experienced and understood all the elements—time, space, will, and even physical properties—that Uchiha Itachi mobilized when constructing the mental space.It was precisely by relying on this profound insight that his Stand [Sun Echo] was able to break through its limits, gaining extended abilities that were no longer restricted to converting Hamon into simple physical vibrations.However, as for the subsequent Stand abilities, even Naruto, the Stand User himself, was completely baffled.He could feel that he could do much more.But after several days of exploration, he still remained at the level of Mental Shock, unable to take that crucial step forward."What exactly is missing? Or is there something I've been overlooking all along?"Naruto tilted his head, talking to himself with a face full of distress.From the corner of his eye, he noticed the instant noodles were perfectly soaked, so he simply set his questions aside for the moment, lifted the lid, picked up his fork, and began to feast.Ttap, tap, tap—A few crisp and urgent knocks came from the window frame."Hey, kid!"Anko's somewhat lazy and spicy voice rang out from outside the window.Seeing her, Naruto picked up the newly emptied instant noodle cup and, with a tricky angle, accurately flicked it into the trash can in the corner.Then he lightly leapt onto the windowsill, pushed open the wooden window that had been warmed by the sun, and asked, "Why are you here?"Anko Mitarashi stood casually in the street-facing corridor outside the window with her arms crossed, a skewer of dango in her mouth, her cheeks bulging as she said, "You're a famous Genius in the Village now, so as soon as you got back, the news spread immediately."She swallowed the dango in a few bites, her round eyes scanning Naruto up and down with a teasing look: "I heard you, kid, have become Lord Jiraiya's official Disciple?"Naruto made a move to close the window, retorting without hesitation: "You didn't come all this way just to discuss your thoughts and experiences on being a Disciple of the Sannin with me, did you?""Tch, you think I wanted to come?" Anko gave the ungrateful brat a sidelong glance, reaching out to firmly hold the window, preventing the creaking wooden frame from separating them. "Hokage-sama sent me. He wants you to go to the Konoha Archives.""Third Old Grandpa?" Naruto paused, a flash of curiosity in his eyes. "What does he want with me?""It's about your promotion to Chunin." Anko flicked the empty bamboo skewer, and it nailed precisely into the wooden railing of the corridor. "He needs you, the person involved, to go over for registration and, while you're at it, issue you a set of Chuningear. Hurry up, don't dawdle.""Eh? I've been promoted to Chunin?" Naruto's eyes lit up, then as if suddenly thinking of something, he leaned half his body out of the window frame and asked, "Then besides me, are there others being promoted as well?""There's also Hyuga Neji." Anko tilted her head to recall for a moment and then gave the answer straightforwardly."Only Neji and me? What about Shino? Didn't he get promoted?" Naruto pressed. "Didn't he also defeat his opponent?""You think just defeating an opponent is enough to be evaluated as a Chunin?" Anko rolled her eyes at him. "Even though Shino won, that match wasn't exciting enough. His demonstrated comprehensive strength and potential assessment were clearly a level below yours and Neji's.""Tsk tsk..." Naruto clicked his tongue, shaking his head in disappointment. "Hyuga Neji, huh... Speaking of which, it's really a pity. I was planning to personally give him a beating before. In the end, I didn't even get the chance to fight him.""Stop your rambling and nonsense, get dressed and get out here!" Anko raised her hand and gave Naruto's head a light knock. "If the news of your return spreads any further, those little girls who heard about it will be swarming all over you."
Chapter 143: The Next Mission"We... have nowhere left to run. For us, this is a dead end...""This journey... I'm afraid it cannot be completed...""This is the end... just give up...""No!" On the silver screen, a stunningly beautiful woman in elegant palace attire spun around abruptly, her skirts billowing like clouds.An unyielding fire burned in her eyes, and her voice echoed through the dim theater: "I have always believed that we still have hope!""But, Princess...""I will never give up!" The woman held her longsword high. "As long as there is a single glimmer of life, I will pursue it with all my might—to carve out a brand-new path with my own hands!"In the cinema, the giant screen emitted a soft and brilliant light, reflecting on every upturned face.Princess Fengyun's inspiring lines, bolstered by the surround sound, beat against the hearts of every audience member like war drums."Princess Fengyun..."Hinata sat upright in her chair, leaning forward, her flawless white eyes wide open. Her gaze was full of anticipation and anxiety, fixed intently on the valiant figure on the screen.Unknowingly, her hands had already tightly gripped the hem of her clothes, her fingers clenching and loosening with the plot's ups and downs, as if the person refusing to yield in despair wasn't Princess Fengyun, but herself.Naruto sat in the seat next to her, wearing the green Chunin vest issued just yesterday. The stiff fabric made him feel a bit uncomfortable.He turned his head slightly, moving his gaze from the screen to Hinata's profile, which was written all over with empathy.Seeing how her eyes followed Princess Fengyun, Naruto's mouth couldn't help but twitch.Anko was absolutely right the day before yesterday; after the news of his return to the Village spread, Naruto had fallen into a level of busyness he found mind-boggling.Tenten, Ino, Anko, Karin...One girl after another had come knocking as if by appointment, giving Naruto a deep understanding of what it felt like for Jotaro to have an exploding popularity with women.Unlike Jotaro, however, although Naruto did not have the Joestar Bloodline, he had inherited the Joestar Family's traditional spirit of being a gentleman for generations, and he didn't refuse any of the girls.In short, Naruto was now watching the super-popular movie currently taking the Ninja World by storm, "Princess Fuun's Great Adventure," for the fifth time.However, with Hinata's personality, it was absolutely impossible for her to take the initiative to ask Naruto out.It was only after Kurenai Yuhi heard about Naruto's situation from Anko and personally came to find him that Naruto took the initiative to find Hinataand propose today's date.When she heard Naruto say the words "Do you want to go on a date with me?" with his own mouth, Hinata was as shy as a startled little rabbit. Her entire face flushed an apple-red instantly, and her swaying appearance gave Naruto a fright.Fortunately, his Mental Dampening technique was now quite refined, allowing him to finally steady Hinata's mind and prevent the date from turning into an accident.To help Hinata become a bit more brave and proactive today, Naruto had deliberately given her the right to choose how they spent their date.And then...Naruto walked into this cinema for the fifth time.Since he had seen it so many times already, he knew every line of the movie by heart. Even with his eyes closed, he could recite the upcoming plot backwards; there was simply no sense of novelty left.He simply propped his chin on his palm and turned his body slightly, using the light cast from the screen to quietly gaze at the focused young girl beside him.To be honest, looking at her features and profile alone, Hinata was actually very good-looking—fair and delicate, with features like a painting. She had the kind of beauty that was so proper one couldn't find a single flaw.It was just that her posture wasn't great; she was used to hunching her back and lowering her head, curling her body up small. She also always wore heavy jackets and spoke timidly, hiding her outstanding looks under a cowardly demeanor for no reason.Come to think of it... isn't Hinata the eldest daughter of the prestigious Hyuga Main House? Why did she develop such a low-self-esteem personality?Naruto pondered in his heart, his memory flashing back to the contempt and ferocity Hyuga Neji had shown toward Hinata during the Chunin Examspreliminaries.Perhaps the pressure in a Konoha noble family was too great, and Hinata's life wasn't all that good.It was no wonder that when she saw Princess Fengyun on the screen, who refused to bow to fate even in a desperate situation and shouted about carving out her own path, Hinata's eyes would reveal such undisguised and deep longing.I really should give that Neji a good beating. It's a real shame I missed that match in the official tournament.Naruto's thoughts wandered aimlessly, his finger unconsciously tapping his chin as the light and shadows of the cinema danced across his face.Soon, the story on the screen slowly reached its end accompanied by rousing background music.The movie ended. Seeing Princess Fengyun finally reach the legendary far side of the rainbow and embrace her companions tightly, Hinata let out a long breath, as if she had also completed that long and perilous journey.With a satisfied smile, she turned her head and bumped into Naruto's azure eyes, which were gazing at her intently and had been for who knows how long."Na-Naruto-kun—!"Hinata's small face flushed red in an instant, her voice full of caught-off-guard trembling.Her breathing became visibly erratic, her chest heaving faster and faster, looking as if she were about to faint again from excessive nervousness.Naruto reacted extremely quickly, immediately reaching out to gently pat Hinata's shoulder, sending Hamon and Mental Waves into her body.Feeling the dual stimulation of both body and mind, Hinata finally recovered, apologizing repeatedly in embarrassment: "I-I've been rude, Naruto-kun."Feeling that warm tingle and stability flooding into her body, Hinata took several deep breaths before finally managing to pull herself back from the edge of fainting.She lowered her head, her fair fingers tightly interlaced, so embarrassed her voice was almost inaudible: "I... I've been rude, Naruto-kun...""It's fine." Naruto gave her a wide grin. "I quite like you like this."This completely thoughtless sentence almost caused a new round of fainting accidents.After leaving the cinema, Naruto took Hinata to eat his favorite Ichiraku Ramen and then walked her all the way back to the Hyuga Compound.Standing on the outskirts of the compound, watching Hinata repeatedly turn back to bow and say goodbye before finally disappearing around a corner of the layered buildings, Naruto slowly turned around.Through his keen perception of life energy, he could clearly sense that in a hidden corner in the distance, a gaze was silently watching him.Of course, even without relying on Hamonperception, Naruto could discover that gaze filled with cold malice based solely on his combat instincts honed over many years.He didn't need to think twice to know the identity of the other party—Hyuga Neji.Speaking of which, just the afternoon before yesterday, when Naruto went to the archives to register his Chunin promotion, he happened to run into Neji in the hallway, who was also there to register.Neither side spoke, passing each other in silence, but the sparks of battle in their eyes hadn't disappeared at all just because the Chunin Examshad ended.Naruto withdrew his gaze, crossed his hands behind his head, and as he turned to leave, his mind already began plotting something else.Is there some legitimate way to give that kid a good thrashing?Naruto tilted his head in thought, a faint smirk playing on his lips."Yo, Naruto!"Before he had gone far, a highly recognizable lazy voice suddenly drifted down from a nearby tree, interrupting Naruto's thoughts.A lazy voice suddenly sounded, calling back Naruto's attention."Kakashi-sensei? You're back!" Naruto immediately recognized the owner of the voice.He looked up toward the sound, his face full of pleasant surprise.The silver-haired Jonin was standing steadily on a tree branch, one hand in his pocket and the other holding that never-ending copy of icha icha paradise.His tilted headband covered one eye, but the one that was visible was crinkled in a smile."Kurenai was right!"Kakashi jumped lazily down from the tree, landing steadily in front of Naruto.He first glanced with interest toward the gate of the Hyuga Compound, then let out a meaningful chuckle: "You brat, you really are here.""Kakashi-sensei suddenly ran over to corner me; it shouldn't be specifically to gossip, right?" Narutoraised a hand to rub his nose, slightly embarrassed.However, his reaction speed was fast. His lips curled into a mischievous arc, his eyes flashed with cunning, and he diverted the topic without changing his expression: "By the way, I mentioned before that I have a secret recipe for treating physical weakness, right?""Cough, cough, cough, cough—"Faced with Naruto's teasing smirk, it was Kakashi's turn to cough violently.He awkwardly pressed down his headband and quickly set aside his casual, spectator-like attitude: "I came to find you for serious business! The Village has arranged a new mission for me. Since you're back and Sasuke has also woken up, so..."As he spoke, Kakashi pulled three slips of paper with colored patterns from his vest, holding them between his slender fingertips and waving them in front of Naruto: "Let's have a long-awaited Team 7group mission!""Group mission? What Rank?" Naruto asked as he curiously leaned in closer, squinting at the three familiar-looking pieces of paper. "And what are these?"After seeing the patterns on the slips clearly, an extremely ominous premonition rose from the base of his spine."Movie tickets for the hit film currently taking the whole Ninja World by storm, 'Princess Fuun's Great Adventure.'" Kakashi smilingly pressed the three tickets into Naruto's palm. "Our next mission is...""To go watch a movie!"
Chapter 144: You'll Know Once You Catch Up"What we're going to do next is...""Go watch a movie!"Kakashi said in a lazy tone, delivering news that was nothing short of a bolt from the blue for Naruto at this moment.After all, in the relatively short time from yesterday until now, he had already watched this movie a full five times."Huh? Do we really have to go?" Naruto's face elongated at a visible speed, his eyebrows drooping into a frown as he wore an expression of deep resentment."Yeah, yeah, because it's related to this mission, so you must go." Kakashi's exposed dead-fish eye was half-lidded, showing no sympathy. "You should have already seen it with Hinata, right? But well, for a movie this popular, seeing it one more time shouldn't be a big deal, right?""The problem is—I've already seen it five times!"Naruto held up five fingers, almost poking them into Kakashi's chest as he shouted irritably."Five times?" Kakashi's dead-fish eyes actually widened for once.He propped up his chin thoughtfully, musing for a moment before guessing with a tone of natural certainty, "I assume you went with Kiba, Choji, Shikamaru, and the others? After all, the kids in your year get along quite well.""No, it was with Tenten, Ino, Karin, Anko, and Hinata." Naruto counted them off one by one on his fingers, then remembered something and added, "Oh right, Ayame-neesan from Ichiraku Ramenalso said she'd treat me to it once she's done with this busy period.""Nani?!"Kakashi suffered an unprecedentedly massive shock to his inner core.He subconsciously took half a step back, feeling as though he had suddenly shrunk in front of Naruto. He re-examined the innocent-looking blonde youth before him with a gaze that was almost one of looking up in awe.Kakashi, a lifelong bachelor, now looked at Narutowith a gaze mixed with a hint of unbelievable reverence and involuntary admiration."As expected of Naruto, he easily does the things I cannot.""Cough, cough, cough!"Kakashi immediately realized that as a teacher, showing such a pathetic side in front of his student was truly unseemly.So he quickly cleared his throat forcefully, pulling the topic back on track. "Alright, alright, the movie starts in half an hour. I've already had Sakura and Sasuke wait for you at the cinema entrance, so hurry over. Oh, and take their tickets with you while you're at it.""Eh? Sasuke is coming too?" Naruto took the tickets, a look of surprise appearing on his face.He had thought that of these three tickets, one would be Kakashi's; he never expected it to be Sasuke's.After all, that guy had been unconscious for over twenty days and had only been woken up by him two days ago.By all rights, he should still be lying obediently in a hospital bed recuperating."The day Sasuke woke up, the hospital already performed a comprehensive physical examination on him. All indicators were fine, so he will also be participating in this mission."Kakashi paused for a moment and added in a flat tone, "Besides, since that guy woke up, his mood hasn't been very good. This mission is a good chance for him to get out, watch a movie, get some fresh air, and change his mood. It'll be good for him.""That's very thoughtful, Kakashi-sensei." Narutonodded heavily, his eyes showing unmasked appreciation."Of course." Kakashi stuffed his hands back into his pockets, turned around, and gave a casual wave of his hand with his back to Naruto as he walked off toward the other end of the street with lazy strides."Bye-bye!" Naruto waved vigorously at his back, then suddenly seemed to remember something important.He cupped his hands around his mouth like a megaphone and yelled at the top of his lungs, "By the way—Kakashi-sensei! The secret to treating physical weakness is actually not to be a picky eater! Especially when eating oranges, don't always peel off all the white pith one by one; that stuff is very good for your body!"The lazy figure in the distance suddenly shuddered, as if struck in the back by an invisible bolt of lightning, and froze on the spot.A second later, Kakashi whipped around, his eyes filled with annoyance and indignation. "Hey! That 'not being a picky eater' thing is just too ridiculous, isn't it?""And anyone else aside, how do you have the nerve to lecture me?! Normally, you eat basically nothing except milk and cup noodles, right? The vegetables in your fridge were put there by my own hands; you have no right to... Eh?"Mid-sentence, Kakashi suddenly froze; the street ahead was empty.The boy who had been standing there waving and shouting just a moment ago had already vanished without a trace, leaving only a few leaves blown by the wind swirling on the ground."He ran off..." Kakashi grumbled gloomily, pulling his headband down a bit and scratching his messy silver hair. "This kid is getting less and less cute."..."It's all over!""This is the end of the dream—""Rainbow's End!"Accompanying Princess Fengyun's voice at the finale, the stirring and passionate ending theme song played."Naruto, this movie was really good!" Walking out of the cinema, Sakura's eyes were glistening, her pink fists held to her chest, her tone full of lingering excitement."Yeah, that movie just now was really spectacular, very moving indeed." Naruto let out a yawn; though his words were nice, his tone was extremely perfunctory, showing not a shred of sincere emotion.Sakura was still immersed in the movie's atmosphere and nodded vigorously in agreement. "Yes! Whether it was Fuji Kazeyukie-san's portrayal of Princess Fengyun or Mr. Sandachi's portrayal of Sukeakuro, they both acted with such feeling!"After saying that, she suddenly turned around and looked at Naruto with large eyes full of expectation and longing. "Shall we... watch it again in a bit?""Uh... well..." A few drops of cold sweat broke out on Naruto's forehead.Just as he was thinking about how to tactfully refuse, Sasuke suddenly spoke up: "Kakashi is so slow..."Sasuke had his hands in his pockets, his back slightly arched as he leaned against the wooden fence by the open space in front of the theater. His shirt collar was slightly open, and his hair swayed gently in the wind, giving him a somewhat nonchalant and dashing appearance."Didn't he say to wait for him outside the theater after we finished the movie?""You actually still believe Kakashi-sensei will show up on time?" Naruto walked onto the grass of the open area and lay straight down, looking up at the clear blue sky overhead. "Did sleeping for over twenty days make your brain go fuzzy?""Tch." Sasuke curled his lip.Sakura, meanwhile, turned around, her gaze firmly drawn to the massive movie poster on the theater's outer wall.On the poster, Princess Fengyun, dressed in palace robes and holding a long sword, looked into the distance with a determined gaze.She clasped her hands together, stars practically shining in her eyes. "If only... I could become a princess like Princess Fengyun..."As she spoke, Sakura used the corner of her eye to steal a glance at Naruto lying on the grass, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. "If I could also have a samurai like Sukeakuro who is willing to go through fire and water for me... that would be even better...""Now is not the time for wishing." Naruto rested his head on his hands, his gaze vacant as he watched the clouds slowly drifting across the sky. "Besides, that's just a boring fictional setting for a movie."Sakura pouted and was about to turn her head to retort to this insensitive idiot when she suddenly heard a series of rapid and crisp sounds coming from behind the blocked fence next to the open space.The sound drew closer; it was the sound of horseshoes striking the stone pavement."Eh?"The Three Little Ones looked toward the sound, and even Naruto, who was relaxing on the grass, flipped over and sat up straight.Whoosh—A gust of wind rose, mixed with the heavy breathing of a stallion.A tall, snow-white horse without a single stray hair leapt out from behind the wooden fence.Sitting atop the horse was an exquisite and beautiful woman.She was wearing the iconic, magnificent palace robes of Princess Fengyun from the movie. Her skirts fluttered loudly in the rapid airflow as she stared straight ahead with determination, whipping the horse and galloping away, disappearing around the street corner in the blink of an eye.Naruto was far too familiar with that person's face.After all, in less than a day and a half, he had watched her repeatedly on that giant movie screen for six full times."Princess Fengyun? For real?"Sakura covered her slightly open mouth with both hands, her eyes filled with disbelief."Her real name is Fuji Kazeyukie, right?" Narutostood up from the grass and brushed off the grass clippings stuck to his green Chunin Flak Jacket, his expression remaining fairly calm. "Movie stars are people too; they ride horses on the street just like anyone else. Don't make such a fuss.""That... that's true..." Sakura scratched her cheek sheepishly, her fingertips lightly rubbing her reddening earlobe. "I guess I was just a bit too excited."But to be fair, it really wasn't her fault for not immediately remembering Fuji Kazeyukie's name.After all, the figure that had just leapt over the fence was not only riding the iconic white horse from the movie but was also wearing a set of princess robes identical to those in the film.That moment's image was too shocking, too surreal; anyone would have subconsciously identified her as Princess Fengyun herself from the movie.However, a second later, an even more chaotic and heavy sound of hooves rang out.The Three Little Ones realized the danger almost simultaneously, springing back to the edge of the grass and putting distance between themselves and the fence.With a thunderous crash, the gate in the fence that had been firmly secured with chains was smashed open from the outside by brute force.A group of large men clad in heavy armor and closed iron helmets charged out aggressively on tall horses.The armor they wore, reflecting a cold metallic luster, was exactly the same as that of the villainous knights chasing Princess Fengyun in the movie.The troop did not stop for a moment, trampling heavy hoofprints into the grass as they followed the direction where the white horse had disappeared."Princess Fengyun? For real?"This time, even the usually cold and taciturn Sasuke couldn't help but say the exact same thing Sakura had just said.The corners of Naruto's mouth curled up as he reached out to tighten the strap of his forehead protector. The sleepiness and boredom from before were swept away, replaced by a surging eagerness and uncontrollable curiosity."We'll know once we catch up and see, won't we?"Before his voice even faded, Naruto took the lead, turning into an afterimage and chasing after them without hesitation.
Chapter 145: The Client and the Big Star"We'll know if we just chase after them, won't we?"The corners of Naruto's mouth curled upward. At this moment, the boredom accumulated from watching the movie six times in a row was swept away from his deep blue eyes.Before his voice even hit the ground, he had already transformed into a golden afterimage, chasing after the billowing dust without hesitation."Oh, Naruto, you're too impulsive!"Sakura shouted this, but her feet were already infused with Chakra, and she followed at a speed that was not slow at all.Inner Personality (clinching fists, eyes shining): This is great! It's the real Princess Fengyun! Wait for me, I will definitely protect you!Watching the two figures that were about to leave his field of vision in the blink of an eye, Sasukestood in place and exhaled a sigh of helplessness from his chest.Immediately after, he exerted force with his feet and chased after them like a flash of lightning.Because they were sprinting through the streets of Konoha Village, the momentum of those tall horses was greatly restricted. Furthermore, the leg strength of a Ninja far exceeded that of ordinary people.Therefore, in just over ten seconds, The Three Little Ones caught up with the group of people and horses that had just roared past them.Among them, the tall, pure white horse that Princess Fengyun rode was exceptionally majestic. Between the flying of its four hooves, it still maintained a significant lead.However, when a stone staircase several meters high appeared ahead, the white horse leaped, tracing a graceful arc in the air before landing steadily.But it was this very step—insignificant to a Ninjabut requiring a horse to slow down—that allowed the gray-horse riders chasing closely behind to quickly close the distance by a few points.The two leading riders did not hesitate. Using the forward momentum of their horses, they forcefully threw several spherical glass jars.Those jars tumbled through the air in a parabolic arc, smashing onto the bluestone slabs below the stone steps before the white horse could land.With several crisp cracking sounds, the glass shattered upon impact.Under the immense force, the thick brown liquid contained inside splashed in all directions, covering the ground beneath the stone steps almost instantly.Just then, the white horse landed. As soon as its front hooves stepped on the layer of oily liquid, its iron shoes slipped violently as if stepping on ice.Accompanied by a panicked neigh, the entire horse lost its balance and skidded sideways with great force.Princess Fengyun, riding the white horse, suddenly turned pale, and her pupils contracted sharply: "Oil?"However, even though she reacted at this critical moment, it was already too late to save the situation.She was flung outward with force by her out-of-control mount, tumbling and slamming heavily onto the hard ground with a dull thud.Seeing this, the gray-horse riders following closely behind leaped from their saddles one after another.They didn't care at all that their own mounts were also stepping onto the slippery oil, letting the horses crash to the ground.Instead, they used their forward momentum to kick off the horses' backs and pounced toward the fallen Princess Fengyun like hungry tigers.In that lightning-fast moment, a cherry-pink figure descended from the sky and landed steadily in front of Princess Fengyun.Bang! Bang! Bang!A series of dull strikes exploded in the air, and Sakura's pink hair blew back in the wind from her punches.Those ten-odd gray-horse riders didn't even have time to see their opponent's face before she neatly knocked them to the ground.At the same time, above the stone steps, Sasuke's figure appeared silently, blocking the path of the dozens of other gray-horse riders who had arrived.Neigh—!Seeing a child suddenly pop up in front of them, those riders quickly yanked their reins. The horses' front hooves reared high, barely stopping just a step away from trampling him."Hey, you—"Looking at this meddling brat who had appeared out of nowhere, the lead rider was about to shout a rebuke when Sasuke passed through them like a breeze brushing past their faces.His movements were so fast they were almost invisible; only one muffled groan after another could be heard rising and falling within the group.Soon, the riders who had just been sitting upright on their horses slumped from their saddles and fell to the ground.After seeing two helpers drop from the sky, Princess Fengyun, who had just fallen, didn't show the slightest intention of giving thanks. Instead, she struggled to climb up from the ground.Taking a quick breath, she immediately turned around and fled toward the depths of the alley without hesitation.However, she never expected that at some point, a blond youth had silently appeared behind her.She turned and ran so hurriedly and frantically that she couldn't stop her steps in time. With a muffled thud, she crashed solidly into him.The force was so great that her entire body lost balance, and she began to fall backward.She subconsciously closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, waiting for the pain of her back hitting the ground to arrive.However, the expected pain did not occur.Halfway through her fall, a gentle but irresistible pull suddenly came from her wrist.Princess Fengyun snapped her eyes open to see the blond youth who had suddenly appeared reaching out, his fingers firmly gripping her arm.With just a light tug from him, she was involuntarily pulled forward again. Losing her center of gravity, she stumbled into his arms."Princess Fengyun, you..."On the other side, Sakura was turning her head with a smile, wanting to ask if she was alright.As a result, as soon as her gaze shifted over, she happened to see that scene, and her smile froze on her face instantly.Inner Personality: What is going on! Sasuke and I clearly took care of all the enemies! How did Naruto, who didn't even lift a finger from start to finish, end up hugging Princess Fengyun?Meeting Sakura's Soul-interrogating gaze, Narutoresponded with a harmless, bright smile.At the same time, he gently patted Princess Fengyun's back.Hamon flowed from his palm into her body. The sharp pain from her fall off the horse vanished without a trace instantly.However, along with this comfortable warm current came a strange numbness that instantly spread through her entire body.This tremor, like an electric current passing through her, left her feeling stiff and unable to move.After finishing this, Naruto gave Princess Fengyuna gentle push forward from his embrace.Seeing this, Sakura quickly reached out and steadily supported her.Upon contact with her body, Sakura immediately noticed something was wrong.She instantly realized that Naruto had used Hamonto restrict Princess Fengyun's movements.So Sakura subconsciously began to circulate the Hamon in her own body, wanting to release the restriction for her."Wait!" Naruto suddenly spoke, stopping her actions."What's wrong?" Sakura looked at Naruto in confusion."You didn't actually get completely immersed in the movie, did you?" Naruto stepped forward and stood side-by-side with Sakura, who was supporting Princess Fengyun, keeping his voice very low. "This woman has no Chakra; she's just an ordinary person."As he spoke, he pointed to the gray-horse riders: "Those riders were also easily defeated by you and Sasuke. They are likely just a group of ordinary people as well. There must be another reason for this chase. Let's ask for the facts first before deciding on the next move."Sakura was stunned for a moment, then snapped out of her hot-blooded fan state and nodded heavily."Hey! Who are you people? What do you want? Let me go!" Princess Fengyun's mouth was not restricted, and at this moment, she was desperately twisting her stiff neck, pouring out her frantic anger without reservation.Naruto, however, acted as if he hadn't heard her shouting at all. He walked forward a few steps and looked at the gray-horse riders who had been knocked down, saying, "Who are you? Don't you know it's dangerous to gallop through the streets? Even if you don't hit pedestrians, hitting the flowers and grass is bad!"The riders easily taken down by The Three Little Ones naturally wouldn't show these culprits any kindness.They all glared at Naruto, gritting their teeth and hissing in pain. Not a single person spoke."That..." Just as the atmosphere was at a stalemate, among the dozens of riders defeated by Sasuke, a middle-aged man climbed up from the ground.He wore round-framed sunglasses and had a greying braid down his back. His voice was unexpectedly gentle: "Judging by the pattern on your forehead protectors, you must be Ninjas from Konoha, right?""That's right." Sasuke brushed off non-existent dust from his palms, his tone carrying a hint of pride. "Since your attire is clearly different from these underlings around you, you must be a leader. That's why I went easy on you just now. Speak, who exactly are you?"The middle-aged man adjusted his crooked round-framed sunglasses, brushed the dust off his clothes, and gave a slight bow to The Three Little Ones. His voice remained gentle and polite: "My name is Sandayu Asama. I am Ms. Fuji Kazeyukie's... manager."Manager?This word was like a bombshell, nearly making The Three Little Ones' jaws drop.Sakura snapped her head around, looking at Fuji Kazeyukie beside her, who still had a sour face full of annoyance, then back at the polite Sandayu Asama above the steps. Her eyes were filled with disbelief: "Then... then what are you, what are you all doing?""It's like this. The new 'Princess Fengyun' movie is about to head to the Land of Snow for filming."As he spoke, Sandayu Asama walked down the steps, revealing an embarrassed and helpless smile: "But Ms. Kazeyukie is unwilling to go, so she's always trying every possible way to run away. We really had no choice but to resort to this to chase the lead actress back.""What have you guys... done to the client of this mission?"Before The Three Little Ones could digest this shocking information, Kakashi's familiar voice with its drawn-out ending rang out.Turning to look, they saw him crouching on top of a wall, looking down at the messy scene below from his high vantage point."Cli-Client?!"The heads of The Three Little Ones seemed to be pulled by the same string as they snapped toward Kakashi on the wall, then snapped back, their gazes darting between the apologetic Sandayu Asama, the impatient Fuji Kazeyukie, and the smiling Kakashi.Now they finally understood why that guy had made everyone go watch the movie.
Chapter 146: Kidnapping"So our mission this time is to escort Ms. Fuji Kazeyukie and ensure her safe arrival in the Land of Snow, staying until the entire movie is finished filming?"Naruto sprawled across the wide leather sofa in the reception room, legs stretched out straight. He let out a long, lazy yawn before opening his mouth to confirm the mission."That's right."Kakashi leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and nodded.Glancing over at Naruto and seeing him looking like he'd had his bones removed, Kakashi couldn't help but raise an eyebrow curiously. "It's rare to be in a place like this, aren't you going to look around?"At this moment, The Three Little Ones and Kakashihad followed Sandayu Asama, bringing along the captured Fuji Kazeyukie, to the company run by the director of the "Princess Fengyun" movie series.Calling it a company was an understatement; it was more like an impressively scaled film and television base.The photography studios, prop warehouses, dressing rooms, and the constructed indoor sets were enough to make one's head spin.In the spacious corridors, staff members were trotting back and forth everywhere, carrying props or files, creating a scene of busy excitement.Sakura's young heart, already filled with romantic fantasies, practically sprouted wings and soared the moment she stepped through the door.After speaking with the director and the manager, she couldn't resist wandering around.Whether it was the exquisite jewelry props in the display cases or the scale-model castle sets on the lot, Sakura couldn't help but let out excited screams, as if she had already stepped into the adventure world of the movie.Even Sasuke, who usually maintained a cool and aloof image, ultimately couldn't resist a young man's instinctive curiosity.His hands remained coolly in his pockets, but his gaze involuntarily drifted between the behind-the-scenes photos on the walls, the props displayed in windows, and the green screens hanging in mid-air, observing everything with great care.Only Naruto, who was usually the most curious and lively, was abnormally silent at this moment.He just lay quietly on that chair, seemingly unable to muster even a shred of interest in the things that dazzled everyone else."Ah, I'm just simply not curious."Naruto rested his hands behind his head and replied in a lazy tone."Alright then."Kakashi shrugged and didn't press further. He put his hands back in his pockets and wandered off to look around with a casual stride.Naruto remained alone, his gaze slowly scanning the noisy, bustling film set, his eyes reflecting a level of indifference that didn't match his age.Unlike Sasuke and Sakura, who had never set foot on such a film set, Naruto, having lived for decades on Earth, was not unfamiliar with the production process and operating rules of movies, nor did he have much of a liking for them.To explain the reason, one would have to go back to after the defeat of the ultimate lifeform, Kars.At that time, his adoptive mother, Lisa Lisa, had recognized her relationship as mother and son with her friend Joseph.Although Lisa Lisa did not move to America with her biological son, she chose to follow Naruto to Tibet to live a secluded life of bitter cultivation, passing down the Hamon Breathing Techniquethrough the generations.However, she would occasionally leave to visit Erina and Joseph in America.But once, a certain Hollywood playwright happened to meet Lisa Lisa and was instantly struck by her beauty, launching an extremely fierce pursuit from then on.Even after being ruthlessly rejected many times, that fanatical Gaul did not give up, even going so far as to quit all his work and follow her all the way to Tibet.What annoyed Naruto, however, was not his persistence, but that the bastard would take any opportunity to spout his fallacious theories about how "life is worse than death if one doesn't pursue romance grandly."A large group of young Disciples who originally had firm hearts were actually fooled by him until they didn't know which way was up, giving up their day-to-day boring cultivation and no longer practicing Hamon.That guy's goal was simple: by cutting the ground from under her feet and gradually reducing the number of Disciples, he hoped Lisa Lisa would give up teaching and passing on Hamon in her discouragement.What was even worse was that when the playwright later found he couldn't move Lisa Lisa, he turned his spearhead toward Naruto, her adopted son.He stubbornly believed that the only reason Lisa Lisa lived in seclusion here and refused to accept his feelings was entirely because of Naruto's existence, and he even maliciously speculated about the relationship between the two.Naturally, Naruto would not allow him to insult his feelings for his adoptive mother.So, together with Joseph who had arrived, the two gave that playwright a severe lesson, and they never saw him again.The existence of this experience caused Naruto to hold a certain prejudice against all Gauls for a long time afterward.It wasn't until he later met Polnareff and became close friends with him that this prejudice was overturned.Thinking of those past events on Earth, especially Lisa Lisa, the adoptive mother who raised him, the corners of Naruto's lips involuntarily curled upward.His fingers unconsciously tapped the armrest of the chair, producing a series of soft, rhythmic clicks.However, Naruto soon stopped his movements, and the smile that had just surfaced on his face gradually faded, replaced by a trace of sadness.Lisa Lisa was not like Joseph; she had long since integrated Hamon cultivation into her life and had never slackened for a single day.When he and Joseph set out on the journey to Egypt to crusade against Dio, Lisa Lisa, although already a hundred years old, was still hale and hearty.He hadn't expected fate to be so fickle—he, the son, had actually passed away before Lisa Lisa.If she knew, she would be heartbroken, wouldn't she?Thinking of this, Naruto let out a barely audible sigh.But immediately, a flurry of hurried footsteps arrived, dragging him from his sentimentality back to reality."Di... Director, this is bad!"A young staff member with yellow hair, his voice panicked, stumbled over to the movie director.Without waiting to catch his breath, he leaned into the other's ear and whispered a long string of words at a rapid pace.The moment he heard the report, the director's face changed drastically. His body jolted, and he couldn't help but cry out, "What?!"But he immediately realized his loss of composure and quickly glanced out of the corner of his eye at Naruto, the only Konoha Ninja remaining in the meeting room.The director's mouth twitched dryly, and he managed to force a smile at Naruto that looked worse than crying.Immediately afterward, he grabbed the staff member's shoulder, pulled him to a further corner, and turned to whisper in his ear.The director's voice was kept extremely low, as if he were trying his best to hide something.However, although the conversation between the two was intentionally lowered, it ultimately couldn't be hidden from Naruto's honed senses.His brow furrowed slightly as he heard every single word clearly.Fuji Kazeyukie...Had been kidnapped?!According to the personal bodyguard, the woman had once again escaped from the film crew and gone alone to a remote bar to drink away her sorrows.As a result, a middle-aged man with a large beard had attacked from behind and snatched her away.Furthermore, during the kidnapping, Fuji Kazeyukiehad struggled extremely violently until the bearded man lost his patience and knocked her unconscious with a palm strike.This situation didn't seem like a trick Fuji Kazeyukiehad staged herself in order to escape.The kidnappers had also left a note on the bar table, demanding the movie company prepare four hundred million Ryo in ransom.It also specifically emphasized that they were absolutely not allowed to find Ninjas to rescue her, or they would kill the hostage immediately.No wonder the director had intentionally lowered his voice after turning his back and remained tight-lipped toward him, a Konoha Ninja."Naruto, you must be tired too, right?" The director finally stabilized his emotions and turned around, choosing his words carefully. "According to the crew's filming schedule, we won't officially set off for a few days. Why don't you go back and have a good rest? I'll coordinate other matters directly with Mr. Kakashi."Doesn't trust me because I'm a kid?Naruto saw through his thoughts in an instant.However, he didn't show any indignation at being underestimated. He just slightly curled his lips, stood up lightly from the chair, politely thanked the director, and then walked out of the reception room with his hands in his pockets without looking back."What? Ms. Kazeyuki has been kidnapped?!"After hearing the complete recount from Naruto, Kakashi first let out a low cry of surprise, his dead-fish eye suddenly narrowing.But being a man who had seen great storms, he suppressed his surging emotions in a very short time and regained his calm.Kakashi lowered his head slightly and looked seriously at the subordinate before him: "Naruto, what do you think?"Naruto knew the other was testing him, so he didn't decline and began to analyze with his chin in his hand: "The person was snatched by kidnappers within Konoha Village, and since the one kidnapped is a big star, it will definitely attract an investigation from the Konoha Police Force.""Furthermore, the movie company has already commissioned Konoha and hired us as Fuji Kazeyukie's guards. With these two factors combined, it's impossible for this matter to bypass Konoha."At this point, Naruto made a fist and tapped it into his palm: "So I can conclude that the kidnappers' demand is nothing more than a deliberate misdirection to delay our reaction time."In his eyes was a level of experience that even Kakashi couldn't help but admire. "Therefore, we must act immediately, lock onto their location with the fastest speed, and rescue Ms. Kazeyuki. Otherwise, if we delay any longer, who knows what might happen.""Very good! Your analysis is completely correct." Kakashi patted Naruto heavily on the shoulder, his eyes showing undisguised appreciation. "I'll handle the director. You head to the bar where it happened immediately. Pakkun will help you find Ms. Kazeyuki."As soon as he finished speaking, Kakashi bit his finger, and with blood on his palm, he slapped it onto the ground.Summoning Jutsu!There was a low, muffled 'poof' as a cloud of white smoke exploded at their feet and then quickly dissipated.On the ground, a pug with a Konoha forehead protector tied to its head was sitting steadily, observing the surroundings with its small, dark eyes."This is my summoned beast, his name is Pakkun," Kakashi introduced briefly.Pakkun had quite a familiar air about him. He calmly raised a front paw and greeted Naruto, "You're Kakashi's Disciple, Naruto, right? You're quite famous!""My honor," Naruto responded with a smile.Immediately, he crouched down, reached out to pick up Pakkun, and said as he leaped away, "Time waits for no one. We'll talk about the details as we go!"
Chapter 147: Explain It to Me ClearlyBy the time Naruto arrived, the bar where the news of Fuji Kazeyukie's kidnapping had originated was already tightly cordoned off.Several Konoha Ninjas wearing green vests stood in the night air, their backs straight, though their gazes seemed somewhat uncertain.Naruto walked up in a few steps and took the initiative to negotiate, only then realizing the other party was from the Konoha Police Force.Speaking of which, cases occurring within Konoha Village were originally supposed to be handled solely by the Konoha Police Force.However, after the Uchiha Clan faced extermination five years ago, both the strength and the influence of the Konoha Police Force were drastically weakened, and many matters gradually slipped from their jurisdiction.Under normal circumstances, handling ordinary public security cases was fine, but once they encountered an incident like this involving the kidnapping of a foreigner, regulations dictated they must report it to the Anbu and let the Anbu take over."You're that Genius boy, Uzumaki Naruto, aren't you?"After a few pleasantries, one of the Ninjas recognized him, his eyes lighting up with obvious admiration and longing.On Earth, as a Great Grandmaster of Hamon Qi, he had cultivated countless Disciples and was long accustomed to facing such gazes.So, without the slightest embarrassment, he nodded and admitted, "That's right."Naruto didn't beat around the bush and stated his purpose directly: "Our team's Kakashi Jonin took on the mission to guard Ms. Fuji Kazeyukie today. After hearing she was kidnapped, he had me follow with a Ninja Dog first."Hearing him say this, the two members of the Military Police Force immediately stepped aside and let him into the bar.The entire process was very straightforward, without any redundant questioning or hesitant movements.A moment later, Naruto emerged from inside following Pakkun.He hurriedly bid the two of them goodbye, and then the boy and the dog made several leaps in succession, quickly disappearing into the night."Was he that Nine-Tails Brat, Uzumaki Naruto?"One of the Ninjas remaining on the spot blinked, as if he hadn't fully processed it, his tone carrying a hint of inquiry."What Nine-Tails Brat? That's our Konoha's number one Genius right now!"The Chunin beside him, who had shown a look of admiration from the start, retorted almost without thinking, his tone carrying obvious dissatisfaction."But isn't he the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?""Can he be the same as an ordinary Jinchuriki? Haven't you heard? The Jinchuriki from other Villages, and even the previous Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, would go berserk from time to time, leaving the Village in a state of panic."The man spoke with increasing enthusiasm, raising his voice slightly: "For example, that Gaara from before, how terrifying was it when he went berserk outside the Village! But has Uzumaki Naruto ever gone berserk in the Village? Not once!""That's true." The other Chunin recalled and nodded.Then he remembered the earth-shattering battle of monsters outside the Village that day; thinking that such a terrifying aura was under Naruto's control and had never erupted inside the Village, his eyes couldn't help but shine: "Looking at it this way, Naruto really is an impressive fellow!""Of course he is!"Ever since Naruto's performance in the Chunin Exams spread throughout the Village, the villagers had begun to actively inquire about his background, and in passing, they also learned many things related to Jinchuriki.In this process, there was naturally the secret push from the Third Hokage, as well as other Ninjas who had come into contact with Naruto, speaking up for him intentionally or unintentionally.In short, by now, Naruto's talent and strength were well known to everyone in the Village.Gradually, he also gained a group of sincere supporters who were willing to argue loudly for him in the streets and alleys.On the other side, Naruto himself had no idea that someone was just then spitting as they recounted his deeds to defend him.He followed behind Pakkun all the way, his pace almost never stopping as they quickly crossed more than half the Village.The surrounding houses became sparser, streetlights gradually disappeared, and the scent of earth and plants in the air grew stronger.When they reached a remote corner on the edge of the Village, the scenery around them had completely changed, so quiet that only the faint chirping of insects in the grass could be heard."I feel the scent getting stronger; we should be very close to that woman. Be careful."Pakkun stopped and reminded him in a low voice."Don't worry," Naruto replied while adjusting his breathing, his tone radiating a natural confidence. "Since that kidnapper didn't leave Konoha with Fuji Kazeyukie, it means he can't get past the Village's outer defenses. His strength shouldn't be too great; I'll end the battle immediately."Just as he finished speaking, before he could take another step, Pakkun suddenly stopped in his tracks, the entire dog standing still.Before them was a dark, heavy lake; the water surface showed almost no ripples, only glinting with a bit of fragmented silver light under the moon."What's wrong?"Naruto frowned, his gaze quickly scanning the surroundings."The scent disappears here."Pakkun's voice carried a hint of helplessness.He was indeed a Ninja Dog, with a tracking ability based on smell that far exceeded ordinary canines, but in the end, he couldn't transcend basic biological common sense.Once someone used lake water to wash away their scent, he was somewhat powerless.Pakkun lowered his head to sniff around the shore, and when he looked up, his eyes held a bit of frustration.Naruto wasn't in a hurry to speak; instead, his expression softened.He crouched down, his gaze sweeping from the lake surface all the way to the opposite shore, his voice low and calm: "It's okay. That guy ran this far with Fuji Kazeyukie and only chose to wash off the scent here; nine times out of ten, he's hiding nearby.""What are you going to do?"Pakkun turned his head, staring at him curiously.Naruto didn't answer; his palm suddenly slammed heavily onto the ground.With a muffled thud, a large cloud of dust was violently kicked up by this palm strike, churning in the night wind.Pakkun was a bit strange at first and was about to lean in for a closer look, but then he froze.He widened his eyes, looking in disbelief as the dust Naruto had kicked up actually began to slowly change its flow direction in the air, gradually condensing into some irregular shapes.If one looked closer, they would find that what the dust was outlining was actually a miniature map of the nearby area.Every tree, every clump of grass, and every rise and fall of the ground here was mapped out one by one by the dust, like a miniature 3D landscape laid out before their eyes.Seeing Pakkun's shocked expression, Narutosmiled: "It's very simple. You just need to strike Vibration Waves into the ground and then inject the Vibration Waves fed back from underground into the raised dust; it will naturally follow those vibration ripples to reconstruct the appearance of the surrounding terrain."Pakkun was silent for a few seconds, his dog face written with complex emotions, finally squeezing out a single sentence: "What's the use of explaining these principles to me?""Alright, found them. They're here."Naruto's gaze swept over the dust terrain map, and he quickly reached out a finger to point at a small dot on the map.That point fell exactly on the other side of the lake, about three hundred meters away from them.Pakkun nodded and said no more, lightly jumping onto Naruto's shoulder.Naruto lightly tapped his toes on the ground, and his whole body leapt a great distance with Pakkun, producing almost no extra sound.Only the grey dust map remained behind, slowly dispersing in the night wind and vanishing without a trace...."Ugh..."When awakened by the chill, Fuji Kazeyukie first let out a muffled groan.She slowly opened her eyes, and air mixed with the smell of earth and grass immediately flooded into her nasal cavity.The back of her neck throbbed with pain, as if it had been struck hard; that aching pain climbed all the way to the back of her head, making her unable to help but knit her brows tightly.Memories from before she lost consciousness surfaced bit by bit.She had been drinking alone in the bar; the lights were dim, and the surrounding noise was chaotic.A man had approached her; she tried to break away but was struck hard from behind, after which everything became blurry.The memory cut off there, but the reality was clear enough: she had been abducted to this strange place.Fuji Kazeyukie's brain began to spin rapidly, one thought after another popping up—Who exactly was this person? Was it a simple kidnapping for money, or did they have other designs?If they just wanted to kidnap her, why choose to act in Konoha Village? What was his purpose?"Yo, you're awake?"A man's voice suddenly rang out, interrupting her thoughts.Fuji Kazeyukie instinctively wanted to close her eyes and continue pretending to be unconscious, but her eyelids trembled uncontrollably, already exposing the tension in her heart."Heh, you don't need to bother with these little tricks." The man's voice drifted down from above her head, every sentence dragged out in a loathsome drawl. "I've already gotten what I wanted."Fuji Kazeyukie felt a bad premonition surge from her chest, and she instinctively reached her hand into her collar, her fingertips only touching empty skin.That necklace, which she never let leave her person, was now nowhere to be found.She sat up abruptly, her face slightly twisted, her voice even changing pitch: "What did you do? Where is my necklace?""The Hexagonal Crystal left by the previous Daimyo of the Land of Snow, rumored to be able to open the treasure vault he left behind. So such an important thing has been on you all along, Princess Koyuki Kazahana."The man didn't answer the question directly but looked at Fuji Kazeyukie with a half-smile, slowly speaking the name she had buried.Every word he spoke was like a sledgehammer, smashing heavily against her heart.Fuji Kazeyukie couldn't help but shudder, her eyes wide with fear as she stared fixedly at the other party: "Are you someone sent by Dotō Kazahana?""My, my, Doto-sama is your uncle after all. Isn't it a bit impolite to call him by his name like that?"The man spread his hands, a smile hanging on the corners of his mouth, as if lecturing an ignorant little girl.He paused, stuck out his tongue to lick his lips, and the warmth in his smile plummeted, becoming sinister and dangerous: "However, although Doto-sama instructed to send you to reunite with your father, wouldn't it be a waste not to enjoy yourself properly before sending you on your way? I haven't tasted the flavor of a big star yet.""What are you going to do?"Fuji Kazeyukie was completely panicked.She instinctively blocked her front with both hands, her elbows propping her up on the ground as she moved backward in a disheveled manner, the dry grass beneath her making a faint rustling sound.Seeing her like this, the man became even more excited.He slowly rubbed his hands together, approaching her with unhurried steps: "Heehee, what I'm going to do—don't you already know in your heart?"At that moment, a voice suddenly drifted down from the treetops above, unhurried yet crystal clear."I'm really not too sure. Can you explain it to me clearly?"The voice paused, and then a figure dropped down lightly."Explain it word by word so I can understand even without a translation. If you don't explain it well, I'll send you flying!"
Chapter 148: The Exiled Princess, Koyuki Kazahana"If you don't have anything good to say, I'll send you flying."Naruto dropped lightly from the treetop, his feet hitting the ground with almost no sound.After standing firm, he looked coldly at the man in front of him.The man wore a blue knitted hat and had a messy beard on his chin; his entire being exuded a slovenly yet dangerous Aura.Faced with such a fierce and bottomless piece of scum, the anger in Naruto's heart had long since surpassed the mission itself, and the Gentleman's Soul and Golden Spirit within him burned fiercely.From his appearance, Naruto's face indeed still carried a few traces of youthful innocence, with a bit of greenness between his brows that hadn't completely faded.But his height had now reached one hundred and seventy-five centimeters, standing before the man like a wall, and he radiated an unshakable, powerful Aura.Faced with Naruto's step-by-step approach, a hint of panic finally appeared on the man's face.He didn't dare to confront Naruto head-on and suddenly took a large stride, arriving in front of the panicked Fuji Kazeyukie.He reached out a hand, aiming directly for her neck, determined to seize her as a hostage to make Naruto hesitate and prevent him from acting rashly.Fuji Kazeyukie had never seen Naruto fight before; she had only had her movements sealed by the other party's Hamon, so she had almost no concept of this boy's strength.Therefore, she was in a state of total panic, watching helplessly as that hand drew closer and closer, the fear rising in her heart nearly freezing her blood.She stood dazed in place, her limbs stiff, unable to even make the most basic dodging movement.Crack!In the next second, the scalp-numbing sound of bone breaking rang out—it wasn't loud, but it pierced Fuji Kazeyukie's ears like a needle.Immediately following was the man's sharp, distorted scream of agony.The sound broke through the canopy and shot straight into the depths of the night sky, startling a large flock of birds resting in the forest into flight.Fuji Kazeyukie opened her eyes tremblingly, and the first thing she saw was the arm the man had extended.It was bent in a direction it shouldn't be, forming a bizarre angle.Just one look at that deformed curve made one's own arm feel numb, unable to help but feel a phantom pain on his behalf.The man who had just been aggressively closing in now had a face twisted beyond recognition.Clutching his broken arm, he curled into a ball, letting out shrill cries while lying on his side on the ground, his body twitching and trembling.Meanwhile, Naruto had somehow silently arrived in front of Fuji Kazeyukie.He looked down at her with a reassuring smile on his face, as if that decisive, clean movement just now was merely a small matter he had handled in passing.The moonlight overhead spilled through the layers of the canopy, casting Naruto's shadow directly onto her.The shadow covered her steadily, as if signifying that his protection would be just like this shadow."The danger has been eliminated, Ms. Fuji Kazeyukie."Naruto paused for a moment as he spoke.Then he tilted his head slightly and continued with interest: "Or, should I call you Koyuki Kazahana?"Naruto's hearing had always been very keen.Even though he was on a branch over ten meters away when Fuji Kazeyukie spoke with the man earlier, every single word of their conversation had entered his ears.From those few fragments of their conversation, Naruto quickly pieced together a general outline.The woman before him, using the alias Fuji Kazeyukie, was actually the daughter of the former Daimyo of the Land of Snow, now living under a different name as a movie actress.As for why she had fallen to such a state, the answer was practically self-evident.Even someone with their head up their rear could figure out that the whole thing must be related to her uncle, Dotō Kazahana.Almost instantly, Naruto's mind had already filled in an entire story of a female version of Hamlet.A fallen kingdom, being hunted, living under a false name—all these elements strung together looked like a classic tale of a prince's revenge.No wonder this woman reacted so violently when she heard they were going to the Land of Snow to film; not only did she refuse regardless of the consequences, but she even tried to escape from the crew several times.It turned out this wasn't just being a temperamental diva, but rather a hidden, unbearable past."W-what Koyuki Kazahana? I don't know!"The little bit of color that had just returned to Fuji Kazeyukie's face turned as white as paper again the moment she heard that name.Her lips trembled uncontrollably, her teeth chattered slightly, making a faint clicking sound, and her gaze suddenly went blank.The name Koyuki Kazahana seemed to have a special magic, dragging her into a distant and painful memory, leaving her frozen in place."Ah, so there's already some psychological trauma? This is going to be a hassle."Seeing her like this, Naruto sighed.He didn't say anything more; he simply raised his hand and gently pressed his palm against Fuji Kazeyukie's forehead.A warm Hamon mixed with a mental shock poured from his palm into the point between her eyebrows."Uh..."Fuji Kazeyukie let out a muffled groan, then her eyes rolled back, and her body slumped backward.Naruto caught her arm in time and steadied her, letting her soft body lean against his shoulder so she wouldn't fall to the ground.Pakkun, who had witnessed the entire process while squatting on Naruto's shoulder, leaped down nimbly at this moment."Looks like the mission is over, so I'll be heading back first."As soon as he finished speaking, with a soft 'poof', Pakkun disappeared in a sudden puff of white smoke.Naruto turned his head to look at the man still rolling and screaming on the ground.He slowly crouched down, his gaze falling on the man's face.That handsome face, which usually overflowed with friendliness, looked colder than a Shinigamifrom Hell in this man's eyes right now."Be a good boy and tell me everything you know. Otherwise, I don't mind doing some cruel things."...At the film company, the atmosphere had also reached its breaking point.The director paced back and forth in the office for an unknown number of laps, the sound of his soles rubbing against the floor ringing out over and over again.Finally, he couldn't help but stop and turn to look at Kakashi, who was sitting in the corner looking perfectly composed: "Mr. Kakashi, it's been almost an hour since Young Miss Fuji Kazeyukie was kidnapped. Maybe we should prepare the ransom!"The matter had been brought into the open half an hour ago.Kakashi had taken Sasuke and Sakura to find the director and directly stated that Fuji Kazeyukie had been kidnapped.Seeing that the matter could no longer be hidden, the director had no choice but to spill all the information he had.Sasuke and Sakura both showed surprised expressions after hearing it.They truly hadn't expected someone to be so brazen as to carry out a kidnapping right within the borders of Konoha Village.However, Kakashi appeared completely unsurprised.He had long since received relevant intelligence from Naruto and was very clear about the ins and outs of the situation.So he very calmly stopped the director's attempt to raise cash for the ransom, saying he had already arranged for Naruto to handle it.The director, of course, remembered Naruto.That blonde-haired boy seemed much more steady than others his age, but at the end of the day, he was still a kid; how could they place all their hope on him for such a life-and-death matter?Then the director had a second thought: when they went to the Land of Snow to film later, they would ultimately have to rely on Kakashi and his team of Ninjas for protection.It wouldn't be wise to have a public falling out with them over this right now.Thus, on the surface, he and the manager Sandayu Asama agreed readily, putting on a show of trust, but privately he had already begun quietly raising the money.Kakashi saw all of this, his mind as clear as a mirror.But he didn't speak up to stop them again, simply sitting back in his chair like an old monk in meditation.That leisurely and self-satisfied look made it seem as if everything happening before him was just a minor interlude proceeding according to plan.Sakura and Sasuke also had great confidence in Naruto's strength, so they didn't say much, sitting down with their teacher and waiting quietly for news.Time passed minute by minute, the night outside grew deeper, Fuji Kazeyukie had still not returned, and Naruto was still nowhere to be seen.The director finally couldn't hold back any longer: "Mr. Kakashi! Our money is ready, we must go and rescue Fuji Kazeyukie immediately!"His voice rose significantly, his tone carrying clear sparks of anger."Relax, it'll be over soon."Kakashi just waved his hand, his tone indifferent."Hey, even if you are a famous and powerful Ninjain the Ninja World, you can't brush off your employer like this, can you?"The fire suppressed in the director's heart flared up instantly, and he spoke almost through gritted teeth: "We hired you to ensure Fuji Kazeyukie's safety! If you just sit here stalling for time, we..."Before he could finish his sentence, a commotion of startled cries came from the direction of the set entrance.Then a staff member ran over, panting: "Di-Director, Miss Kazeyukie is back! She was brought back by that young man named Naruto!""What? That's wonderful!"The director practically bounced up from his spot, and Sandayu Asama beside him was so excited he jumped three feet high; the anxiety on their faces was instantly washed away by pleasant surprise."Like I said."Kakashi spread his hands.The face beneath his mask revealed a confident 'just as I thought' smile.But at this moment, the director and Sandayu didn't have time to pay him any mind; the two of them bolted toward the entrance, their minds entirely focused on welcoming Fuji Kazeyukie back.Of course, as the hero who rescued Fuji Kazeyukiefrom the kidnappers, Naruto also received a warm welcome.A group of people surrounded him, the scene as lively as a festival."Ms. Fuji Kazeyukie was a bit shaken, so I let her sleep first. Take her back to her room and don't disturb her for now."Naruto handed the person in his arms over to the staff, gave a casual instruction, and then squeezed out of the enthusiastic crowd to find Kakashi and the other two."Good job, Naruto."Kakashi spoke first, his voice full of praise.Sakura also followed close behind.Her eyes were sparkling as she asked excitedly in a low voice: "How did you rescue Miss Kazeyukie? Was the process very exciting?"Sasuke stood to the side with his arms crossed, an impatient expression on his face. He snorted and intentionally spoke in a cold tone: "To think it took you this much time to resolve it, you've gotten rusty, Naruto."Naruto didn't take their bait and instead dropped a major piece of news nonchalantly, leaving all three people in front of him stunned on the spot."The situation has changed. Fuji Kazeyukie's real name is Koyuki Kazahana, and she is the exiled princess of the Land of Snow."