Chapter 89: Kakashi Hints at Jiraiya
After Jiraiya left the Hokage Office, he sat on the Hokage Rock, gazing at the entire Konoha Village.
Jiraiya now had some doubts about whether his persistence was right, and if he shouldn't have gone to find the child of prophecy back then. If he had stayed in Konoha, perhaps Minato and Kushinawouldn't have died.
From the moment Jiraiya heard that Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others had divided Minato and Kushina's inheritance, he felt disheartened. The Hokage, who had sacrificed his life, in the end, had all his inheritance divided by others. If it had been left to the Village, that would have been one thing, but...!
Jiraiya truly felt a chill in his heart and became even more disappointed with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Jiraiya felt incredibly oppressed after returning to Konoha Village. He wanted to leave the Villageright away, but then he thought of the grievances Naruto had suffered. If he didn't help Naruto get his inheritance back, he would truly have no face to meet Minato and Kushina after death.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Homura Mitokado, Utatane Koharu, and Danzo Shimura, who still held some prestige in the Village, borrowed some funds from various Great Clans, and within half a day, they had raised all the money.
Especially Danzo Shimura, who went directly to the Ino-Shika-Cho clans, Hyuga, and Aburameclans to borrow money. The negotiation terms were also simple: no new recruits from their clans into Root for five years.
Although the Great Clans sensed Danzo's veiled threat, they had no better option. Moreover, Danzoheld an IOU from Root when asking them for money. With such an IOU and Danzo's promise, they lent the money.
The moment Danzo took the money, the younger generation of the Great Clans immediately came to inform Naruto.
In fact, the Great Clans had also guessed that Danzo and the others were borrowing money to gather Naruto's inheritance, as some debts simply couldn't be denied.
When Naruto saw Shikamaru and Hinata arrive, he immediately closed the Genjutsu Barrier.
Shikamaru said to Naruto, "Don't open your Genjutsu Barrier for the next few days."
Shino and Hinata also nodded at Naruto.
"Did something happen?"
Shikamaru's lips moved slightly, and he used Secret Telepathic Communication to tell Narutoabout Danzo and the others borrowing money.
Naruto understood what was happening when he heard about the borrowing. He smiled and nodded, saying, "So that's it! In that case, I'll just wait for them to deliver the money!"
After the serious matters were discussed, Inowanted Naruto to make them a grand meal.
Hinata also looked at Naruto with sparkling eyes.
Naruto rubbed Hinata's hair and said, "Okay, I'll make it for you!"
Naruto's sudden pampering of Hinata made her face turn red like a tomato again, and steam started rising from her head.
Naruto, exasperated, slapped his forehead and said to Hinata, "If you faint like this often, I don't think we're a good match!"
Upon hearing Naruto's words, Hinata's face flushed, and she immediately stood at attention, looking at Naruto and saying, "I... I... I'm fine!"
Ino found Hinata's reaction amusing. She put her arm around Hinata's neck and said, "Hinata, you're so funny! Why don't you faint again? I also think you and Naruto are not quite right for each other. Why don't you let Naruto-kun be mine, okay?"
Hinata looked at Ino nervously and stammered, "I... I... I can't! I won't give up Naruto-kun."
Perhaps Hinata was genuinely anxious just now, which made her say something almost like a confession. But after saying it, her face turned even redder, and more steam rose from her head, yet she still stubbornly refused to faint.
Naruto playfully tapped Ino's head.
"Bullying Hinata again!"
Ino rubbed the spot where she was tapped and said, "Who's bullying her? I'm just telling the truth, aren't I?"
"You're still talking! No more fooling around. I'm going to send out some Shadow Clones to catch wild game. You guys help me buy some seasonings and such."
Ino, Shikamaru, and the others all nodded, listening to Naruto's arrangements.
Jiraiya, sitting on a nearby tree, watched Narutocommand the second-generation members of the noble clans without any sense of awkwardness. This showed that Naruto, through his own efforts, had earned their approval. As long as Naruto didn't betray the Village, his chances of becoming Hokage in the future were quite high.
Kakashi, standing nearby, watched Naruto and the others busy themselves and said to Jiraiya, "Lord Jiraiya, are you still leaving?"
Jiraiya was silent for a while before saying, "I still have to go!"
"But the current Village needs Lord Jiraiya to be in charge. Otherwise, there will definitely be trouble."
"Don't underestimate the Old Man. With the Old Man around, it won't get chaotic."
Kakashi glanced at Jiraiya, wondering if Jiraiyagenuinely didn't understand or was pretending not to. They needed Jiraiya to be in charge, not to side with Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others, but rather to suppress Hiruzen Sarutobi and them.
However, Jiraiya's words clearly indicated he was siding with Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others, which made Kakashi swallow the rest of what he wanted to say.
After they stayed for a while longer, Jiraiya said to Kakashi, "I'm leaving! To help Naruto get his inheritance back."
"Get it back? Can you get all of it back?"
Jiraiya was silent for a while before saying, "Even getting back half is good; it's enough for Naruto."
After speaking, Jiraiya left, and Kakashi sighed.
Kakashi had hinted at Jiraiya two or three times, both openly and subtly, but Jiraiya kept playing dumb.
When Jiraiya met Hiruzen Sarutobi, Hiruzen Sarutobi's back was even more hunched.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the scrolls on his desk, his entire face hidden beneath the Hokage's hat, and said, "Inside here is one billion five hundred and fifty million ryo, and the other scroll contains the deeds to properties on two streets."
Jiraiya looked at the two scrolls on the table and said, "What about Minato's house? Don't tell me Minato's house was also destroyed during the Nine-Tails Rampage. Even if it was, rebuilding it would still be Naruto's."
"Minato's house wasn't destroyed, but people are living in it now. I will have them move out as soon as possible."
"The Sarutobi Clan moved in, didn't they?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent, saying nothing.
Jiraiya clenched his fists and said angrily, "Minato's house has a lot of medicinal herbs and training resources that Minato and Kushina prepared for Naruto, and many clothes, shoes, and socks that Kushina made for Naruto. Old Man! Does your heart truly not ache?"
After Jiraiya finished speaking, he took the two sealing scrolls and left.
Hiruzen Sarutobi smoked his pipe, head bowed, lost in thought.
Jiraiya took the two scrolls and arrived at the Wooden Hut, just in time to see Naruto and the others shouting with their chopsticks, "Time to eat!"
Naruto saw Jiraiya arrive but didn't even lift his head, saying, "Honestly, I don't really like you. But since you helped me get my inheritance back, sit down and eat with us!"