Seeing that Jiraiya really handed over the telescope, the Third Hokage raised his fist in irritation and smacked it down on Jiraiya's forehead!
"Bang!"
A huge lump swelled up on Jiraiya's head.
"Jiraiya, you're not a kid anymore. It's time you started acting your age!"
The Third Hokage scolded him sternly.
"Sensei, no matter how much you pretend, you can't cover up the fact that you used to go peeping with me back in the day. ＜(￣3￣)＞" Jiraiya grinned.
The Third Hokage: "..."
Damn it...
"Ahem. Anyway, what we're discussing right now is the matter of the next Hokage. The past... let's leave it where it is." The old man's guilty expression was almost visible to the naked eye, but he forced himself to straighten up.
"Sensei, I've said it countless times. I'm not cut out to be Hokage. ┐(´-｀)┌"
Jiraiya spread his hands.
"You know me. I'm too free-spirited. I could never sit still in that office."
The Third Hokage replied gravely, "But I'm old. After that battle with Orochimaru, I can last maybe another year at most. The successor must be chosen as soon as possible. You're one of the Sannin—powerful, respected, and experienced. You're the best choice for Hokage."
Jiraiya shook his head firmly.
"I really don't fit the role. Besides, you already have the best candidate, don't you?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, "You mean Shinju?"
"Of course I'd like him to become Hokage. He might already be the strongest in Konoha. But he's only thirteen this year... too young to take the seat. The next Hokage maybe, but not yet."
"Either way, it's not me. |_・)" Jiraiya said stubbornly.
Hiruzen sighed and compromised.
"Then recommend someone to me."
Jiraiya instantly perked up with confidence.
"The Sannin. Aside from me and Orochimaru, isn't there still one more?"
"You mean Tsunade? But that woman's even harder to pin down than you. She spends all day gambling..."
The Third Hokage puffed on his pipe and looked helpless.
His three students, not a single one of them made life easy.
Orochimaru buried in science, experimenting on human bodies, defecting from Konoha decades ago.
Jiraiya buried in literature, peeping on women bathing, wandering the nations.
Tsunade buried in medicine, addicted to gambling, infamous in the gambling world as the "Legendary Sucker."
"Vice, gambling, and... poison" — between the three of them, they had it all covered.
"Don't worry, Sensei. Since I'm suggesting Tsunade, that means I'll definitely be able to find her." Jiraiya declared with absolute confidence.
The Third Hokage finally nodded, relieved.
"Then I'll leave this matter entirely to you."
Jiraiya made an "OK" sign.
"Count on me!"
...
Outside Konoha.
Two figures in black stood quietly.
Their cloaks were embroidered with red clouds, their faces hidden beneath veiled bamboo hats—mysterious to the extreme.
"Itachi-san, we've come to your hometown," said the tall one carrying a strange object on his back.
"I heard there was a huge battle here a few days ago. Seems Konoha has produced quite the prodigy. A Wood Release shinobi, tsk tsk... just like the legendary God of Shinobi. The thought alone is enough to inspire fear."
"Let's move."
Uchiha Itachi adjusted the hat on his head and coughed twice.
The tall man said, "Itachi-san, looks like you shouldn't use your eyes too much. Your illness is getting worse again."
...
Ichiraku Ramen.
Shinju and Naruto teleported there with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Shinju noticed a sign hanging at the entrance: Temporarily Closed.
Two days ago, during the battle, Ichiraku had been damaged as well. At the moment, the owner and his daughter were busy repainting the storefront.
Naruto's face fell with disappointment.
"Orochimaru is the worst! He wrecked Konoha and now I can't even eat ramen! (눈益눈)"
"Shinju! You're here!"
Teuchi, who had been worrying about the repainting, brightened the instant he saw Shinju and Naruto, and warmly ushered them inside.
"Shinju-kun, and Naruto—what flavor ramen do you two want today?"
Shinju frowned slightly.
"Didn't you say the shop was closed today?"
"For everyone else, sure. But you're the hero who saved Konoha! If you want ramen, you can have as much as you want." Teuchi patted his chest in reassurance.
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Alright! ୧⍢⃝୨ Uncle, bring us ten bowls of tonkotsu ramen!"
Shinju: "..."
"Naruto, at least control yourself a little. Ten bowls of ramen is like three days' worth of our food money."
He sighed helplessly.
It wasn't that he couldn't afford it—frugality was a traditional virtue!
Naruto looked torn. "But we finally get to eat something good..."
"Fine, five bowls then. I can probably get half-full with that..."
Shinju sighed again. He didn't have a bottomless stomach like Naruto, and honestly, Ichiraku's ramen wasn't that amazing.
He preferred braised pork or rib soup...
Seeing the two kids worry about money, Teuchi said generously,
"Since Naruto wants it so much, then ten bowls it is. I'll cover five of them."
Naruto beamed. "Really?! You're the best, Teuchi-san! (｡◝ᴗ◜｡)"
Shinju scolded him lightly.
"Naruto, Teuchi-san needs to make a living too. We've already taken advantage of him enough times..."
In the end, under Shinju's insistence, Teuchi still accepted the money for ten bowls.
But being the kind man he was, he added extra noodles to every bowl, just to make sure Naruto was full.
Soon, Naruto and Shinju were happily eating.
At that moment, two black-cloaked figures appeared at the entrance.
"Boss, two bowls of ramen," one of the guests outside said.
Without looking up, Teuchi replied,
"Sorry, we're closed today. The village was invaded recently, and we're still repairing the shop."
"But there are two kids eating inside," the man outside said again.
"They're family," Teuchi answered.
While Teuchi spoke with the strangers, Shinju had been narrowing his eyes at the two figures outside.
Black cloaks. One tall, one short.
From the shorter one, Shinju felt a familiar chakra... almost identical to Sasuke's!
But that made no sense. Sasuke was supposed to be the last of the Uchiha...
No.
Shinju suddenly stiffened in realization.
There was still one more Uchiha alive.
Sasuke's older brother.
The one who single-handedly massacred the Uchiha clan—the true culprit of that tragedy... Uchiha Itachi!
Another S-Rank missing-nin whose name hung on Konoha's bounty board!
If it was him, then that explained the familiar chakra.
Shinju froze mid-bite.
Naruto looked at him curiously.
"What's wrong? Doesn't the ramen taste good today?"
Shinju forced a smile and nodded.
"It's good, it's good..."
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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