AI Model: kimi-k2-instruct-0905Chapter 100 – Second in the World
This is really absurd.
As expected, a causality weapon.
Naruto's brow twitched.
Kagura Minds Eye activated.
He sensed several familiar Chakra signatures.
Danzo's Root.
You've got guts.
Attacking the legendary Sannin all at once.
But when Naruto saw Orochimaru hiding behind Tsunade, he couldn't help but complain.
Stop pretending to be delicate.
"Jiraiya, you go."
Tsunade looked around.
Shizune isn't strong enough, Orochimaru's a patient, and Naruto's only a Genin.
And she herself suffers from haemophobia.
Jiraiya instinctively glanced at Naruto.
He was happily drinking and didn't feel like fighting.
"Jiraiya?"
Tsunade noticed his hesitation and frowned. "He's just a child."
It appeared!
A classic kill-shot phrase.
No less lethal than 'since we're here', 'it's the holidays', or 'you'll get used to it'—'he's just a child'.
Naruto shrugged, indicating he was powerless to help.
Danzo had clearly underestimated the Sannin's strength.
Did he really think a few extra Jonin would make a difference?
The gap between Jonin can be wider than the gap between man and dog.
Back then Danzo sent Yamato to assassinate Hiruzen.
Naruto had pondered for three days and nights in his past life and still couldn't figure out what made Danzo think Yamato could beat Hiruzen.
"..."
Jiraiya set down his cup and vented his fury on the incoming Root agents.
Moments later he returned and said grimly, "They're Danzo's men."
Tsunade slammed the wall, splitting it.
"Hmph! If he doesn't want me to be Hokage, then I'll do it anyway. I, Tsunade, love telling self-righteous people no!"
Jiraiya smiled.
Danzo had unwittingly done him a favour, sparing him a pep-talk.
Only Tsunade's haemophobia remained a ticking bomb.
As Hokage and the strongest medical Ninja, she would have to face blood.
"Sis, don't be angry—let's keep drinking and eating."
Orochimaru clapped; attendants rushed in to tidy up and reset the table.
Naruto felt one Oscar wasn't enough for Orochimaru—he needed a lifetime-achievement award.
So shameless—leave Pinru at least one outfit.
Yet Orochimaru behaved like an obedient kitten.
Naruto guessed it was because of his injuries—and because Jiraiya was present.
If he made a move, he'd probably lose.
The next day.
The four of them set off.
With their goal achieved, Jiraiya and Tsunadewouldn't linger.
Konoha's situation was hardly rosy.
As for Orochimaru, he planned to recuperate and raise his 'kid'; no mischief for now.
"According to Anbu's follow-up, besides Orochimaru, Uchiha Itachi and another masked Ninja appeared during the Chunin Exams."
Jiraiya and Tsunade sat by a campfire.
Naruto had been sent to catch rabbits.
Shizune kept watch nearby.
"Uchiha Itachi?"
Tsunade started and asked, "Why is he back?"
"I don't know his goal."
Jiraiya shook his head. "But they wore identical robes—must be some extremely secretive organisation."
Thanks to The Fool's meddling, Itachi and Kisame never reached Naruto.
So he still didn't know they were after the Nine-Tailed.
"Any group that can recruit Uchiha Itachi can't be simple."
Tsunade knew Itachi's talent, strength—and danger.
These Ninja hadn't gathered to do charity, after all.
"Mm." Jiraiya sighed. "Troubled times."
Tsunade glanced at him. "That's not like you. Besides Itachi, what else is bothering you? Out with it."
"As you wish, Fifth Hokage-sama."
Jiraiya grinned. "About a month ago, a White Lotus Sect rose in the Land of Fire's east, revolted, and seized Wudi City."
"Wudi City? Does the Land of Fire even have such a place?"
Tsunade asked after thinking.
She'd practically toured every city—big and small—while dodging debts.
"It wasn't called that; the White Lotus renamed it."
Jiraiya stared into the blazing fire. "They love to call it East-Sea Wudi City."
"Wudi? Warriors are long gone."
Tsunade snorted. "So what does this have to do with Konoha?"
"The Land of Fire's lord, En Shū, mounted two campaigns—both failed, losing nearly twenty thousand elite troops."
"No wonder."
Tsunade pondered.
Twenty thousand elite cost a fortune; add pensions and the lord must be frantic.
Worst of all, no victory.
"The White Lotus Sect has Left and Right Protectors, Four Great Kings, and a White Lotus Saintess—should be fairly strong."
Jiraiya relayed Homura Mitokado's intel. "The lord tailored a stack of missions for Konoha—originally good news..."
"But we happened to run into Orochimaru, leaving Konoha stretched thin."
Tsunade finished, sighing. "Seems being Fifth Hokage won't be easy."
"The able ones always get more work."
Jiraiya called, "Hey, Naruto, I want the rabbit hind-leg—well done, eighty percent."
Nutcase.
Think you're eating steak?
And steak doesn't even have an "eighty percent".
Naruto couldn't help retorting.
But in the end he grilled it to eighty percent.
After all, Ninja control is superb.
After eating, the four continued on.
By nightfall they reached a small town.
Then the debt-collector arrived.
Naruto glanced at the suitcase in Shizune's hand.
If he remembered right, it was stuffed full of IOUs.
Jiraiya begrudgingly paid off Tsunade's debts.
Why? One sentence explains it:
Me, Tsunade, Fifth Hokage of Konoha—send money!
"What's with that face?"
Tsunade sneered. "It's only money. Lend me a few million; I'll double it tonight."
"..."
Jiraiya twitched.
So carefree.
Lose—my money. Win—disaster.
"No, you'd better rest early."
"Hmph, thought the Fifth Hokage could clear my debts."
Tsunade pouted.
"Dream on. Konoha is rebuilding; the Land of Fire is tight—no spare coin."
Jiraiya quickly crushed the idea. "And it's forbidden—even for the Hokage."
"Sigh, what's a fast way to earn money?"
Tsunade sighed.
Naruto's first thought was: enter the entertainment business.
But Tsunade probably lacked business sense.
Might as well debut as an idol.
Former school idols saved their school; now Princess Tsunade could save Konoha's economy.
Wouldn't that be wonderful?
[Congratulations, host, for achieving "Second in the World"—one common gacha pull awarded.]
When Naruto returned to Konoha and saw the two gate guardians, a bizarre achievement popped up.
Second in the World?
Is there a First in the World too?
But the Ninja World has no rankings.
Where did "Second in the World" come from, and who ranked it?
If it were just Shadow Clones amusing themselves, it shouldn't trigger an achievement.
Unable to work it out, Naruto simply dragged Hinata shopping.