Chapter 204: Why Is There a Movie Plot?
On the pedestrian street to the right of Ichiraku Ramen, inside a simple, makeshift "shack," Masahiko and six others were eating noodles.
The shack took up most of the street, forcing pedestrians to pass in single file. It definitely fell under the category of "illegal occupation of the road."
"Elder Masahiko, isn't it bad for us to do this?" Minato asked with a bitter smile.
After Masahiko squeezed the three boys out of the line, he was subjected to their resentment-filled "attacks." With Minato also trying to persuade him from the side, Masahiko simply helped Teuchi temporarily expand the shop.
"What's bad about it? Didn't you see the envious looks from the people queuing over there?" Masahiko shook his head with a smile. "Or would you prefer the three of them to queue up all over again?"
The three boys had their faces practically buried in their noodle bowls. They didn't have much contact with Masahiko, but their fathers were extremely familiar with him.
Masahiko glanced at them, then smiled at Minato. "Look how hungry they are. Do you have the heart to make them line up again?"
"Minato, hurry up and eat. The sooner we finish, the sooner we free up space," Jiraiya spoke up; he felt perfectly at ease.
Minato could only smile bitterly and start eating.
Masahiko had eaten noodles last night, so he really didn't have much of an appetite for another bowl right now; he was just joining in for the fun.
After taking two bites, Masahiko suddenly remembered something.
"Kakashi, you've been graduated for three years. Why haven't you taken the Chunin Exams?"
He remembered that in the original story, Kakashi became a Chunin at six and a Jonin at twelve. He thought he could leech some Witness Points from it, but unexpectedly, the boy hadn't taken the exam in three years.
A look of helplessness appeared on Kakashi's face. "It's Father. He won't let me take the exam."
Masahiko was startled, then nodded with slight understanding. Although Kakashi had the strength of a Chunin, he was still young after all. Sakumo probably wanted him to hone his skills for another two years.
"Then you've really had it tough these past three years." Masahiko smiled. In peaceful Konoha, a Genin like Kakashi could only do menial chores, also known as D-rank missions.
Kakashi smiled bitterly, then quickly perked up. "Elder Masahiko, could you persuade..."
"No." Before Kakashi could finish, Masahiko rejected him directly.
However, Kakashi didn't give up and immediately thought of another method. "Jonin Minato, can you take me on a mission outside the village?"
This question left Minato stunned. He glanced at Masahiko and Jiraiya, but both shrugged, indicating they wouldn't get involved.
Guy, Asuma, and Shizune also perked up. Although they were still in the Ninja Academy, they had heard about the "miserable life" of the genius Kakashi after his early graduation. While it couldn't be called schadenfreude, it was certainly entertaining to hear... well, maybe there was no difference.
Before Minato could answer, an Anbu used the Body Flicker Technique to appear beside them.
Masahiko smiled. "What, is the Anbu Urban Management Squad here to demolish illegal structures?"
The Anbu didn't reply, nor did he state his purpose. The scene instantly fell silent.
The slightly oppressive atmosphere lasted for half a minute. Just as Masahiko was starting to feel awkward, the Anbu finally spoke: "Oh, right. Jonin Minato, the Hokage summons you."
"Hey, did you just forget what you wanted to say?" Jiraiya looked exaggeratedly shocked. "The Old Man's Anbu really recruits some 'talents'."
Masahiko didn't know whether to laugh or cry; Jiraiya had voiced his thoughts exactly.
"Understood. I'll go right away," Minato replied and flickered away.
Masahiko frowned. Minato still had half a bowl of noodles left. He mentally blamed Hiruzen; couldn't he let the man eat a meal in peace?
"Elder Masahiko, we're done eating too. Thank you for the meal." The four children spoke at the same time, put down their chopsticks, and got up to leave.
It wasn't until their figures completely disappeared that Masahiko reacted.
"Did I say I was treating this time?" Masahiko's face went stiff as he slowly turned to look at Jiraiya.
"Senior, I'm done too. I'm going to prepare for the novel's publication. See you later!" Jiraiya quickly slurped up the last bit of noodles in his bowl and fled as if escaping for his life.
Masahiko was left speechless. Looking at his bowl, which still had more than half the noodles left, he lost his appetite. He paid the bill and left.
"Hunting wild geese all day, only to have my eye pecked by a pigeon..." Masahiko shook his head with a smile and set off for the Hokage Building. He wanted to see what was so urgent that Hiruzen wouldn't let Minato finish a meal.
Inside the Hokage Building, Masahiko paused. Besides Minato, he sensed two other slightly familiar chakra fluctuations.
"Elder Masahiko, you're here." Hiruzen greeted him, then looked solemnly at the three people in front of him.
"Minato Namikaze, Choza Akimichi, Shibi Aburame. This mission is ranked S-class. Depart immediately!"
Masahiko was startled. There weren't many A-rank missions in peacetime, let alone S-rank missions.
Before he could ask, Minato spoke up. "Lord Third, can I add one person to the team?"
The corners of Masahiko's mouth twitched. Minato wasn't really going to bring Kakashi along, was he?
Things went exactly as he predicted, but what he didn't expect was that Hiruzen actually agreed.
After the three left, Masahiko turned to Hiruzen with a confused look.
"What mission is so urgent, and allows Kakashi to be brought along on an S-rank mission?"
Hiruzen nodded somewhat gravely. "The current mission difficulty shouldn't reach S-rank. It's good for Kakashi to join and get some training. With Minato there, there won't be any danger."
"The difficulty isn't S-rank now, which means the trouble later will be significant?" Masahiko paused, then glared at Hiruzen. "Stop keeping me in suspense. Speak up!"
Masahiko felt this scenario was a bit familiar, but couldn't recall where he had seen it.
Hiruzen hesitated. "Do you know Roran (Loulan)?"
"Roran?" Masahiko frowned, the feeling of familiarity growing stronger.
Hiruzen nodded. "It was originally a declining small country, but six years ago, it suddenly began to develop rapidly."
"So what? Can it threaten Konoha?" Masahiko looked skeptical.
"Exactly." Hiruzen said solemnly. "Not just Konoha; the other great nations will also face trouble. The Land of Whirlpools likely won't be spared either."
"Don't joke, Hiruzen." Masahiko didn't know whether to laugh or cry. With his current strength, he could be the "Undefeated Uzumaki" for at least another twenty years.
"I didn't care much about this small country originally either, but the recent intelligence from the Anbu forced me to pay attention. Rumor has it they possess a Dragon Vein (Ryūmyaku), and within the Dragon Vein lies infinite chakra. Six years ago, a man named Anrokuzan became their Minister of State and used the power of the Dragon Vein to develop a puppet army..."
"Wait, wait." Masahiko waved his hand, interrupting Hiruzen, his expression changing rapidly.
"This sounds like the plot of a theatrical movie version, doesn't it? Transmigrating into Naruto is one thing, but how come there's a movie plot too?"
"And Dragon Veins? That's too unscientific!" Masahiko knew the origin of chakra. A Dragon Vein with infinite chakra? How was that possible...
☆☆☆
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you