Konoha Notes.

Chapter 501 The Avengers

Chapter 501 The Avengers

Promoting within the Joint Affairs Bureau proved far more difficult than Naruto had imagined.

He originally thought this place would be similar to school. He simply showed his name, explained his idea, chatted with everyone, and if they found it interesting, he signed the contract.

In reality, even ninjas wearing Konoha headbands weren't particularly easy to talk to when facing the village children.

"Oh, this one... It's not finalized yet, is it?"

"Yes, yes—but we are gathering feedback—"

"Let's talk about it after the final draft is completed."

Some ninjas from other villages would respond very politely.

"It looks interesting, but I can't sign it."

"If you make a decision on your own, you will be scolded by Lord Tsuchidai."

Some are more aggressive.

"Even though this project is being added, it doesn't mean we have to adopt your proposal, right?"

"The reason why Konoha made children run the race is far too obvious."

Their gazes would drift past him and land on Sasuke, who was a little further away.

"Is this the director's office's intention?"

The bureau chief's trainee can recite the standard three sentences.

"no."

"Individual action."

"Private matter."

When Naruto stood in the Secretariat Hall again, Sakura and the others had finished their apprenticeship and were led back to the village.

And the number of new names added to the collection is very small.

He slapped his face hard.

"I'll continue tomorrow too!"

Sasuke poured cold water on the idea, saying, "Tomorrow will be the same. If people here refuse the first time, they won't change their minds just because you come a few more times."

"But everyone at school—"

"The school is the school, and this is this place. Don't get confused, you idiot."

Just as Naruto was about to say something else, he caught a glimpse of a tall figure passing by him out of the corner of his eye.

His steps were stiff, his movements slow, like a puppet being forcibly dragged forward. But that wild white hair and that red jacket made him look like a familiar face.

"A lecherous immortal?"

Naruto ran up to the person, looked up to confirm, and it was indeed Jiraiya, whom he hadn't seen for a while.

"What a lecherous immortal!"

Jiraiya's gaze slowly focused. He recognized the face in front of him, but did not stop. He simply reached out and nudged Naruto to the side.

"Leave me alone, Naruto."

Before Naruto could finish his sentence, Sasuke walked past him, saying, "I'm going back."

Seeing the two about to disappear outside the door, Naruto took off after them.

Jiraiya and Sasuke didn't walk fast, and Naruto caught up with them in just a few breaths.

"You lecherous immortal, what's wrong with you? You look terrible."

Jiraiya stopped in his tracks.

He clenched his fists, his shoulders trembling slightly.

"Yes, why has Jiraiya-sama become like this? A prodigal son, burdened with a thousand pounds, bent over by paperwork, his eyes dry from reading books. His passionate blood, before it could stain the paper, has been crushed into dust by mundane affairs."

Naruto stopped too.

Sasuke could tell at a glance that he didn't understand, and kindly explained to the illiterate man, "He's saying he doesn't want to work."

Jiraiya's chanting abruptly stopped, turning into a resentful growl: "I... I've been framed."

"Who?"

Naruto asked timidly, then added a word of comfort, "But, people still need to work hard, right? You perverted sage."

Jiraiya's index finger nearly poked Naruto's nose as he roared, "What do you know? I'm a writer! Writers should be soaking in hot springs and contemplating words, not dealing with those stinky guys every day!"

He withdrew his hands and placed them in front of his chest. His hands were loosely clasped together, making lewd gestures with an arching motion.

"This is it, this is my life, do you understand?!"

Naruto stared at the action in confusion for several seconds, then a row of black lines appeared on his forehead: "As expected, he's still that perverted sage."

Having confirmed that the guy wasn't seriously injured, Naruto decided to leave him be. He needed to think about how to continue the promotion tomorrow.

Just as I was about to take a step, a harsh, vehement voice drifted into my ear.

"That damned Shuji. One day, I will take my revenge."

Sasuke, who had originally planned to leave like Naruto, immediately stopped in his tracks upon hearing this.

He backed away, stopping in front of Jiraiya: "What are you planning to do?"

Jiraiya narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the boy before him: "Sasuke—what, are you planning to tip off Shuji?"

"no."

Looking at his expression, the Toad Sage's haggardness faded somewhat, replaced by a smile of great interest.

"So that's how it is. You've finally seen through that kid's true colors."

Jiraiya crossed his arms and let out a low, rumbling laugh from his chest.

"Hmph, hmph hmph hmph, you actually developed the conviction to take action because of this, you've encountered something extraordinary too."

Seeing the two men's stance, Naruto stopped moving.

Sasuke awaited Jiraiya's reply. It would be difficult for him to do that on his own, but with the cooperation of one of the legendary Sannin of Konoha, who was on par with the Fifth Hokage, there was much that could be accomplished.

Jiraiya's laughter gradually subsided: "However, what use is a brat like you to deal with that person?"

"He'll most likely see through it, and then my plans will all fall apart."

The Uchiha boy's black pupils turned red, and two tomoe appeared.

This is how the Uchiha clan proves itself.

"I won't be easily seen through."

"In this village, there are far more people who revere that man than who have the courage to do anything to him."

"And now, I am one of them."

Seeing this, Jiraiya stroked his chin and said, "That's not entirely unreasonable."

Naruto felt like he had heard something incredible.

The combination of words—revenge, plan—makes it hard for him to pretend he didn't hear them.

"Perverted Sage, Sasuke, what are you planning to do to Shuuji-nii?"

Jiraiya didn't answer, but instead turned his gaze to Sasuke.

"Now, because of you, the first outsider knows about this."

"Uchiha Sasuke, what are you going to do? This brat keeps showing up at Shuji's house every few days."

Sasuke's gaze fell on Naruto.

Naruto took a step back. His hands were already quietly forming hand seals at his side.

Shadow clones. Release a few first, then take advantage of the chaos... "Don't you have any motives for revenge against that man, Naruto?"

Naruto's finger stopped.

"The root of what happened at noon was his mockery of you two years ago. You haven't forgotten, have you?"

"Um—" Naruto's eyes darted around, "Shuji-nii actually—"

He misunderstood Shuji's words and then revealed it to the whole class. He did feel a little wronged, but upon closer reflection, it didn't really seem to warrant revenge.

Sasuke noticed his hesitation.

So he changed his story.

"Have you seen that man in other ways? Don't you want to see?"

Naruto's expression changed.

Sasuke did not overlook this subtle change.

"Furthermore, regarding the exchange—I will continue to assist you in your work at the secretariat."

"Just pretend you didn't hear it."

"Sasuke just led the way," Naruto muttered. "I know those places myself, I can go by myself tomorrow."

Sasuke said, "I will tell them that I approve of these names."

To achieve something, you must make sacrifices; Sasuke Uchiha now understands this.

Naruto was a little tempted; after all, Sasuke wouldn't do anything outrageous.

"Then I—"

He was about to say that he would pretend he didn't know anything about it.

Jiraiya snorted at that moment.

"No, no. This guy can't hide any expression at all. Don't you know genjutsu, Sasuke?"

Naruto immediately exploded: "Don't look down on me, you perverted sage!"

The red in Sasuke's eyes faded: "At least this guy can keep his promises."

Naruto turned to look at Sasuke. The words were so unexpected that he froze for several seconds.

"Perverted immortal! I'll join you!"

Jiraiya then smiled and said, "In that case, this isn't the right place to continue our conversation."

He turned and walked towards the other end of the street. Sasuke followed.

"Where are we going?" Naruto asked.

"Go where no one can eavesdrop."

In the rising steam, Naruto had half his face submerged below the water's surface, gurgling out a string of bubbles.

Jiraiya leaned against the edge, holding a wine glass in his hand, his ears perked up, and a suspicious smile occasionally flashing across his face.

Sasuke closed his eyes.

Naruto's head emerged from the water: "So, why did we come to the hot springs?"

"Of course, it's for—"

"You were just planning to spy, weren't you! You were definitely after the neighbors, weren't you!"

The woman's voice that had been penetrating the wooden wall suddenly weakened, replaced by a rustling commotion.

Jiraiya cursed and shoved Naruto's head back into the water: "Idiot! Do you even know what the safest place looks like?"

Naruto struggled to pop his head out, coughing repeatedly. Jiraiya lowered his voice.

"It's a place like this, completely exposed and without any cover. Using ninjutsu to monitor someone in a place like this would get you ribs broken by Tsunade."

"That's why this is the safest place in Konoha."

He held up one finger.

"Our target is the person currently standing at the very top of Konoha. If we're not careful, what we say today will reach his ears tomorrow."

Naruto swallowed hard.

Jiraiya moved his face closer.

"At that point, even if Minato is in the Hokage's office, he won't be able to save you."

Upon hearing his father's name, Naruto instinctively glanced at Sasuke.

He feigned ignorance and said, "I don't know what the lustful immortal is talking about."

Jiraiya said, "Sasuke is at least half in the know—that's the gist of it."

Seeing that Naruto had behaved himself, Jiraiya leaned back against the pond with satisfaction.

"To get revenge on that guy, we have to start with what he really cares about."

"Just like what he did to us. Confining naturally free people to one place."

He turned to Sasuke and casually asked, "What did he do to you again?"

Just as Naruto was about to answer for Sasuke, Sasuke opened his eyes.

"You don't need to know."

"You only need to know one thing."

"I will do my best in this matter."

Jiraiya didn't pursue the matter further, but instead brought the topic back to the present.

"So, we need to figure out what that guy's weakness is first. The first thing is information sharing. Everyone, tell us what you know about that guy."

Naruto immediately raised his hand.

"I know, I know! Brother Shuji lives in an old house in the western suburbs and is skilled in ninjutsu," Sasuke interrupted him.

"These superficial things are useless."

"I'm about to continue, Sasuke, don't interrupt!"

Naruto racked his brains trying to think of a solution.

"It seems like Shuji's family holds a big family dinner every month. Gaara and the others have participated many times, and I've been there once or twice. A lot of people from the village come at that time."

Sasuke took note of this, remembering the mission the Second Hokage had assigned to Shuji.

A large gathering? A lot of people?

"Who are these people, Naruto?"

"I don't know. But I've seen some of them in the village, and some of them are shop owners, they're very kind uncles and aunties."

Jiraiya shook his head.

"That kind of intelligence is meaningless. We need personal, more private information."

Naruto began to ponder deeply.

"And, and more..."

"Speaking of which, there were two times when I saw Shuuji and wanted to talk to him, but Iruka-sensei took me away. Iruka-sensei seemed very scared."

Sasuke frowned.

"I already said it's a private matter."

"Well—" Naruto suddenly remembered something, "Back then, Shuji was with different older sisters."

"One is Samui-sensei from a school—the other is—" Naruto couldn't remember.

Jiraiya then said, "Although I shouldn't say it, he was indeed doing things for the village's benefit."

"As a ninja, there are always various unavoidable circumstances."

"Me too. During my long years as a ninja, I had to flatter people in all sorts of places in order to gather information."

"This kind of thing about men shouldn't be used as a reason to criticize them."

Naruto expressed his disbelief: "That perverted sage is just really enjoying it!"

Sasuke said, "Don't forget, your technique was completely useless against Mr. Shuji. He's not the kind of person who would get into trouble because of a woman. That man is, after all, a top-tier ninja."

Upon hearing this, Naruto immediately pointed at Jiraiya: "Yeah, Shuji isn't a pervert. But the Perverted Sage only has one 'Seduction Technique'!"

Naruto immediately used the Transformation Jutsu. Jiraiya, who was drinking sake, stared blankly, and blood started flowing from his nose.

Naruto transformed back and cursed, "As expected, he's just a simple pervert!"

Sasuke immediately got up from the hot spring. As a ninja, he could get his hands dirty with blood, but he didn't want to get his hands dirty with this kind of blood.

Jiraiya coughed and said, "There's even such a technique—you're quite talented, Naruto."

He looked at the two of them again, his expression turning serious.

"Hmm. If you don't have any other information, that guy only has one weakness left."

"If we're going to attack from that location, we're simply not enough."

"We must unite our strength. Only by working together can we defeat the seemingly invincible. Naruto, Sasuke."

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