章節 249: Chapter 249 Welcome Back
"So, we're no different?" Sakura asked.
"No difference." Naruto was in a good mood, continuing the conversation, "I have to go on a mission tomorrow. It's a shame you can't join, otherwise, it would be more reassuring."
Naruto was referring to the mission at the Fire Temple. Now that it was the early morning, he planned to leverage his status as a higher-up to force his way into the mission after sunrise.
"If we were partners, wouldn't it be more thrilling?" Sakura tilted her head and asked, "Secretly, behind everyone's backs…"
"No." Naruto cut off Sakura's morally ambiguous suggestion.
"Eh? Are you really not going to consider it again?" Sakura asked nonchalantly, her tone revealing no emotion, "During that time, she'd wake up too… it'd be quite thrilling, wouldn't it?"
Hearing this, Naruto glanced at her without any visible reaction. By now, he was entirely accustomed to Sakura's sudden outrageous remarks, and was already semi-immune to them.
However, he didn't mind these conversations with Dark Sakura once he understood her intentions. Dark Sakura would say anything to him, giving him a sense of freedom.
There was no need to worry about words or consequences, he could just be himself.
They continued their conversation, drifting from one topic to another, until the first light of dawn broke. Naruto, looking exhausted, got up, splashed some water on his face at the sink, yawned, and prepared to leave.
Sakura was curled up under the blanket, staring at Naruto. They had spent the entire night alone together, and even though it was just talking, it was actually quite enjoyable.
The two had never talked so much before, and in two or three hours, it felt like they had covered every topic imaginable. It was not until Sakura got tired that the ward gradually quieted down.
It had only been eight or nine days since they last saw each other, but it felt like a reunion after a lifetime apart.
Naruto was equally exhausted. After all, staying up all night talking was mentally draining.
Summer is hot, but it was full of vitality.
The cool morning breeze blew through, stirring ten thousand dreams. Konoha Hospital was slowly waking up, and the hallways were filled with noisy footsteps. Despite the noise, Naruto was in a great mood.
'After waiting for so long, there was finally a good result.' Naruto felt a wave of relief wash over him, though fatigue crept into his heart.
Just as he was about to leave, in the split second when he closed the door to the hospital room, he and Sakura locked eyes. Raising his voice, he said, "Welcome back."
Click!
The door shut, and Sakura burrowed deeper into her blanket, burying her head deeply.
Yes, everything was back to normal.
After returning home, Naruto fell into a deep sleep. When he woke up, it was already afternoon. Kurama, reeking of alcohol, was dozing on the sofa, but Naruto didn't bother with him.
After washing up, he grabbed a quick bite.
Dragging his sluggish feet, he made his way to the Hokage's Office. As soon as he stepped into the building, the sunlight abruptly disappeared. All eyes turned toward him, some filled with suspicion, others with shock.
Yesterday, Tsunade had spread the news that Uzumaki Naruto would join the Konoha's leadership as the Clan Head of the Uzumaki Clan, becoming one of the youngest higher-ups.
Naruto was dressed casually, wearing the same slippers he always wore in summer. After noticing the odd looks casted on him, he glanced around but didn't give it much thought.
Under everyone's gaze, he slowly made his way up the stairs.
"Is Hokage-sama joking? Why is that kid becoming one of Konoha's higher-ups?" Someone asked in a low voice, "He's still just a Genin, right? And claiming he's the Clan Head of the Uzumaki Clan is nonsense! Sure, Konoha has always been on good terms with the Uzumaki Clan, but they've been gone for years. You can't just call anyone their member, can you..."
"Who knows? You'd have to ask Hokage-sama. But considering he's a Jinchuriki, it could be a part of the higher-ups' plan. Anyway, that's a slippery slope you don't want to touch." An older veteran at the Hokage Tower warned sternly.
"Alright, everyone, disperse! If you want to chat, you can do it in secret after get off work!" Perhaps realizing the gravity of the situation, they dispersed before the rumor mill was even built.
Naruto originally planned to intervene in a mission, but he ended up getting roped into something else by Tsunade.
"Got it. Just let Shizune handle that." She said, "Anyway, there's a high-level meeting happening now, so join me."
"Eh, Tsunade-sama, I..." Naruto wasn't too keen on going at first, but after being given a death stare by Tsunade, he became obedient.
"Stop with the nonsense. I swear, there must be something wrong with you." Tsunade dragged his hand forward and said in an exasperated tone, "After being away for so long because of their meddling, it's time you showed up. How can I give up this opportunity to dampen their spirits? It's giving me a headache."
"Okay." Naruto said helplessly.
The higher-ups are also helpless as it was the first time they had to attend a meeting alongside a kid.
With a loud bang, Tsunade pushed open the heavy wooden doors single-handedly and took her seat at the Hokage's seat with a big, enthusiastic grin. Naruto stumbled in and found a spot to sit down.
He was there in name only, without any real authority, but he did have voting rights.
The Konoha's higher-ups gradually filed in, each casting different looks at Naruto. Some were all smiles, some wore long faces, and others seemed mildly amused by the situation.
Naruto sat there quietly, occasionally glancing in Tsunade's direction.
The meeting began, and Danzo and the two old Advisors wore displeased expressions. The two old Advisors glanced at Naruto with a slightly dissatisfied look, feeling that the Godaime Hokage's behavior was far too unorthodox and completely misaligned with the Sandaime Hokage's philosophy.
After discussing some minor, inconsequential matters, the meeting moved on to more serious topics.
Danzo was the first to voice his discontent, "Godaime, the Jinchuriki is just a figurehead, there is no need for him to attend the routine meetings."
Tsunade wasn't fazed. She tapped her fingers on the table and said, "Since he's part of the higher-ups, he can attend if he wants to. Being a figurehead is just a title. If you hadn't clung so stubbornly to the past, we could have let him take on some actual responsibilities."
As she said this, she smirked and said, "I think the Root would be a good fit."
"Godaime!" Utatane Koharu interrupted Tsunade. She also understood that the conflict between Tsunade and Danzo had deepened further due to Naruto's entry into the higher-ups' rank.
But as one of the Advisors, in order to avoid the meeting from stalling, Koharu felt it was her duty to mediate the tension between her old friend and Tsunade.
"We've already made the biggest concessions. Please stop talking about things that are not negotiable." Koharu said in a hoarse voice.
Tsunade didn't say anything. She knew pushing for that would be extremely difficult. After all, it had already taken her considerable effort just to get Naruto the empty title of Uzumaki Clan's Clan Head.
"As for the Jinchuriki," Danzo continued in a dismissive tone.
"What Jinchuriki are you talking about?" Naruto suddenly interjected, cutting off Danzo's words, "Anyway, I'm not one."
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章節 250: Chapter 250 What Do You Think You Are?
"You're not..." Advisor Mitokado Homura began, but he immediately realized something was wrong.
"This isn't a place for you to talk nonsense." Although Homura's tone wasn't aggressive, Tsunade had almost torn apart her relationship with them just to secure a higher-up's position.
Even a seasoned Advisor like Homura couldn't help but feel a surge of anger seeing a young boy sitting among the village's top leaders.
'Is this a place for playing around? This is pure nonsense!'
Tsunade was also taken aback and turned to look at Naruto, wondering what kind of stunt he was pulling. She just wanted to have Naruto show up at the meeting and secure his position.
After Naruto said that, he sat there calmly, showing plenty of patience.
It wasn't until Homura couldn't hold back and was about to scold him again that Naruto spoke softly. As if doing it on purpose, he interrupted the old Advisor again.
"I'm not kidding, Kyubi ran away."
"What ran away?" One of the higher-ups asked.
"Kyubi." Naruto repeated, "Kyubi, the Biju, is gone now. Don't ask me where it went, it's simply not inside me anymore."
The conference room fell silent for a moment before erupting into noise.
"Didn't the Academy teach you about honesty? Everyone here is a member of the village's leadership, so stop fooling around with the jokes." A higher-up Naruto had never seen before said.
He sat near the back, so he's probably a department head of some kind.
This meeting wasn't the highest level, so some of those present weren't big shots but still held significant power. They either sided with Danzo or tried to remain neutral like the Advisors.
Naruto suddenly realized that his status as a higher-up didn't matter to them because, in their eyes, he was still just a Jinchuriki. To them, a Jinchuriki dressed in the robes of a leader is still a Jinchuriki.
He glanced at Tsunade, who was also looking at him with a frown, but she did not ask any questions.
"Shut up!"
Naruto was getting a little annoyed, and without caring that there were several higher-ups and Advisors present, he slammed the table and said, "Enough with the 'Jinchuriki' this, 'Jinchuriki' that. What nonsense are you all spouting?"
"Have you said enough? Do you think I need to make up a lie?"
"I already told you, the Kyubi has broken its seal and ran off! Do you understand what I'm saying? It ran away."
Seeing Naruto getting angry, the big shots in the room showed no reaction. They looked at each other and then fixed their eyes on the four main leaders.
Danzo, Koharu, Homura, and Tsunade. These four are the main leaders of Konoha, and their status is above everyone else in Konoha.
"Uzumaki Naruto." Tsunade finally spoke. After all, as the Godaime Hokage, she had to step forward.
"Yes."
Naruto seemed to have calmed down a bit, but in reality, even when angry, his eyes didn't show any real emotion, as it was all just an act.
He had long since stopped caring about his status as a Jinchuriki. As for why so many people fixated on him, he had already figured that out.
Responsibility, destiny… all those nonsenses.
He was just unlucky. The Yondaime Hokage died, leaving him without any resources or backing. But once Tsunade and Jiraiya came along, his treatment completely changed, and now he was a higher-up, Uzumaki Naruto.
Why should he restrain himself now? With Jiraiya and Tsunade around, could Danzo make a move against him? The answer was obvious.
Tsunade stared at Naruto, her face clearly showing her displeasure. She realized that Naruto had been hiding something from her, and her first thought was, 'Did that old rascal Jiraiya know about this?'
"Is the Kyubi really no longer inside your body?" She asked.
"No, it's not." Naruto pulled back his chair and stood up, lifting his shirt to reveal his belly, "The Four Symbols Seal is gone. I can't fake that, right?"
"My teacher has also confirmed it… Kyubi is gone."
Tsunade didn't react much and leaned back into her seat. Although she still had doubts in her heart, hearing that Jiraiya had confirmed it made her feel less anxious.
However, the other Konoha's higher-ups in the conference room were far from as composed as she was. The news of a missing Biju immediately threw them into chaos.
"How is that possible? How could a Biju just disappear without reason? You must have done something!"
"Yes, it's impossible for a Jinchuriki to survive without their Biju. This situation is not that simple! I think the Anbu should investigate this thoroughly and get to the bottom of it." One person chimed in.
"That makes sense. The current situation is strange and we can't come to any conclusion for the time being. After all, the Biju and Jinchuriki rely on each other's power. They coexist symbiotically and can't exist independently."
"How could something like this happen at such a critical moment? Even if we investigate and find out, who can bring the Kyubi back? If we make a big move, the other villages will notice. I suggest sealing off all information before conducting a thorough investigation."
"Sealing off the information isn't so easy, and waiting around isn't going to solve anything either! The Biju is gone and won't be coming back. The most urgent thing is to strengthen our defenses. Sunagakure's Jinchuriki has returned."
Everyone was talking at once, their voices overlapping. Koharu and Homura sat silently, their brows tightly furrowed. Danzo, seated among them, wore a grim expression but remained still.
Finally, Danzo couldn't hold back anymore and spoke, fixing his gaze on Naruto.
"Do you know what you're saying, Uzumaki Naruto?"
As soon as Danzo spoke, the entire conference room fell silent. In Konoha, hierarchy was strictly observed, and even the higher-ups had to show respect in front of Danzo.
"I know, Kyubi ran away." Naruto replied lightly.
After receiving adequate nutrition over the past year, Naruto had grown significantly taller, almost reaching 170 cm, making him one of the taller ones among his peers.
Standing there, his demeanor didn't show the usual nervousness of an ordinary teenager.
"Enough of this nonsense! Don't think that your indifferent attitude makes you impressive." Danzo's murky eye stared at him, "This is a major matter concerning the interests of the village, and you have a responsibility here."
"If you're still a Shinobi of Konoha, drop that arrogance and clearly explain the entire situation. You might not realize the consequences of your actions, but the Biju plays a crucial role in the village's safety."
"What does that have to do with me?" Naruto pulled out his chair, sat down with a sullen face, and looked at Danzo from across the room, "Responsible? You want me to be responsible?"
"Why should I?"
"Because you are the Jinchuriki of the Kyubi and a Shinobi of Konoha!" Koharu couldn't bear it anymore and scolded with a little anger in her voice.
Tsunade, unable to watch any longer, tapped her fingers on the table.
"He's still a child."
"A child?" Homura joined in. When he thought about giving up one of the higher-up's seats in Konoha, he felt like an idiot who had been fooled.
Obviously, he had been forced to compromise and give up one of the higher-up's seats to supposedly gain a more legitimate claim for Jinchuriki to contribute to the village's Biju development. At first, it was understandable to disagree, but with time, they would eventually compromise.
But what about now? What compromise! The Kyubi is already gone. Development? What development is there to speak of? Not only does Konoha need to constantly be on guard for the Kyubi's attack, but they also have to go to great lengths to keep this information under wraps.
But even so, secrets are hard to keep forever, and the news will leak sooner or later. When that happens, Konoha will find itself at a disadvantage, caught between the other four Great Shinobi Villages.
If things go wrong, even Sunagakure, which just signed a peace agreement with Konoha, might start causing trouble.
The more Homura thought about it, the worse his mood became. And Tsunade's remark, 'He's just a kid', completely ignited his fury.
'You call a Jinchuriki of a Biju a child?'
"Godaime, where do you place the village's interests? There are more children in the village. If Konoha falls into war, the fate of those children will be even more tragic."
Homura said grimly, "Kumogakure has always been restless, and Iwagakure is targeting Konoha as well. War isn't just talk, it could become a reality at any moment."
The atmosphere in the conference room instantly grew tense, with Danzo maintaining a stern expression. While it seemed like they were holding Naruto accountable, in reality, they were putting pressure on Tsunade.
"Haha!"
Naruto's sudden laughter broke the oppressive mood in the room, causing Homura to frown with displeasure.
"What are you laughing at?"
"What am I laughing at?" Naruto wore an incredulous expression and asked back, "What do you think I'm laughing at? I'm laughing at how foolish and incompetent all of you here are."
"What did you say?" Homura's patience was also running thin.
"Did I not make myself clear enough?" Naruto glanced around before continuing, "Has Konoha become so rotten? Just because the Kyubi disappeared, it seems like Konoha is going to collapse completely."
"The reason Shodaime Hokage-sama capturing the Kyubi was to suppress and seal it, but what about now? The Kyubi is out of control and you can't suppress it, and in the end, you just want to put the blame on the Jinchuriki."
"Since Konoha can't handle the Kyubi, isn't it better that it's gone? What's the benefit of keeping it? You all keep talking about protecting the villagers of Konoha, but your true reasons are dubious."
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Koharu said sternly.
"I'm not talking nonsense." Naruto's attitude also became tougher, and he glanced at Tsunade, who didn't look at him, so he continued.
"I've been wanting to say this for a long time. Whoever wants to be the Jinchuriki can be the Jinchuriki. If you have the ability, catch the Kyubi and find a new Jinchuriki. Or try and see if you can make me bow down."
"If you have the guts, then kill me. Don't treat me like a child you can fool. Aren't you all so good at pushing heroes to their deaths? Try it again and tell everyone in Konoha that this is the fate of Konoha's heroes. This is the fate of the descendants of Konoha's heroes."
Naruto stared straight at Danzo and the two old Advisors, "I just don't get it. Why should I be kind? Why should I be the one to make sacrifices?"
"You're just doing what you think is right, without caring about the life or death of the Jinchuriki. You keep saying Jinchuriki, but who is the Jinchuriki?"
The more Naruto spoke, the angrier he became. A thick, fiery red Chakra appeared behind Naruto, forming the outline of a fox's shadow. Immediately, everyone in the meeting room shot to their feet with a collective gasp.
'Damn, it's the Kyubi!'
Only Naruto and the four top leaders remained seated, with serious expressions on their faces.
"Don't be surprised. Just because Kyubi ran away is gone doesn't mean I can't use its power." Naruto said in a deep voice, "You're all afraid of the Nine-Tails, but I'm not. What you can't do, I can."
"You keep saying Jinchuriki… But what do you all even count for?"
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