Naruto: Passerby and Returnee

Chapter 104 Companions

"Naruto! We're planning to go to the hot springs, do you want to come?" The most enthusiastic Lee jumped onto the windowsill and extended the invitation in a voice that could be heard throughout the entire street.

Naruto's expression went blank for a moment, then he quickly sensed worry from the large group of people. Were they worried he'd be upset if he lost Sasuke? Even Sakura was there; she was clearly the one who should be the most heartbroken…

"Okay, this is a good opportunity to relax." Naruto was smiling, but his response was weak and listless. Even while walking in the group, he kept yawning, looking like he was severely sleep-deprived.

Shikamaru observed silently for a long time, until everyone was already soaking in the pool, before he suddenly asked in the middle of a casual conversation, "Didn't you sleep well again last night?"

Naruto, who was so sleepy he was almost falling asleep in the water, answered instinctively, "Yeah... him..."

Naruto suddenly snapped out of his daze. Shikamaru truly lived up to his reputation as the smartest man; even at only thirteen, he was not to be underestimated! He had almost fallen for Shikamaru's trick!

"Sigh... never mind, there's nothing to say." Naruto's quick wit and acting skills were still on point; after all, he'd played a two-faced character for so many years. At this moment, he was just like an ordinary person concerned about a friend, all the sadness of loss hidden deep inside.

However, Shikamaru remained unmoved and continued, "Sasuke wanted to leave on his own, didn't he?"

The group of people in the hot spring fell silent for a moment, then resumed their conversation and laughter as if nothing had happened. Luckily, there were enough of them to have the entire hot spring to themselves, and Danzo, knowing Naruto's exceptional sensory abilities, didn't dare send anyone else.

"As expected of Shikamaru." Naruto leaned back and sighed. He felt a bit like he was back in the past. If there was a pot of good sake floating in the hot spring, wouldn't this be a replica of his past life? He really didn't understand why Shikamaru liked to have heart-to-heart talks in the hot spring.

"Didn't you write the report about the person who went missing?"

“That was written before you woke up.” Shikamaru was in the same relaxed posture, almost as if he had a cigarette in his mouth. “After you woke up, you didn’t seem very anxious. If Sasuke had really been kidnapped, you definitely wouldn’t have been so calm.”

"Orochimaru is so dangerous, how can you be so carefree?"

“If he wants to leave, can I just tie him up and bring him back? Besides…” Naruto paused for a moment, but finally said, “There are people above who are full of hostility towards the Uchiha, and they are even more worried about the Uchiha who have been cursed.”

This statement probably exceeded Shikamaru's expectations. He turned around in shock and immediately looked around, somewhat afraid that an Anbu member might suddenly appear out of nowhere.

"There's no surveillance around, don't worry. Actually, I just came out of Root's interrogation room yesterday."

"Weren't you in the hospital yesterday?!" Xiao Li, who could no longer pretend to be deaf, was shocked.

Neji joined in and asked, "This isn't an order from the Hokage, is it?"

"Isn't 'Root' under the Hokage's jurisdiction?" Choji asked innocently.

Shikamaru's face was grave. Although he was bright, his perspective at thirteen was still too limited; he couldn't imagine that there were departments in the village that disobeyed the Hokage's orders. Naruto's status was so special; had this incident caused disagreements among the higher-ups? What kind of trouble would that lead to? Just thinking about it gave him a headache.

"Well, these aren't problems we should be worrying about~ I'm sure Granny Tsunade can handle them!"

Faced with Naruto's words of comfort, Shikamaru became even more certain of one thing. Naruto must have shouldered a lot of pressure and gone to great lengths to clean up Sasuke's mess after his defection. He had even anticipated his comrades' reactions, and that report was a result of being guided and delivered as a form of assistance.

This is such an outrageous scheme! Did Naruto really do it all by himself? If so, how much effort must he have expended to devise such a plan all by himself? Right now, they really can't be of any help...

But the present doesn't define the future. Since Naruto's goal is to become Hokage, and there are people in the decision-making body who are at odds with him, he must work twice as hard to gain real power in order to share Naruto's burdens!

Relaxation time is always fleeting. Naruto was given a break, but the others weren't. Plus, a familiar chakra reaction near the hot springs made Naruto decide to check it out. So, the group parted ways at the hot spring entrance. Their chakra gradually separated from the main group, until only Shikamaru and Sakura remained. After confirming there were no surveillance cameras nearby, Naruto tacitly approved of this exchange of truth. He was now unsure how to face Sakura. Those two bastards in Team 7 had made a decision on their own, excluding her—it wasn't a pleasant feeling. Hopefully, Sakura wouldn't come after him and blow his head off…

"...Hehe, a little more up~ Yes, that's it..."

A shameless peeping tom was perched on the wall of the hot spring, muttering to himself. Suddenly, someone poked his shoulder, but the person's aura was familiar. This skilled ninja didn't react at all, and annoyed by the poking, he casually brushed the person away.

"Go away, don't disturb my research."

Naruto was utterly speechless. Even after two lifetimes, he still couldn't understand the Perverted Sage's obsession with women. The three legendary ninja perfectly embodied one of the three vices: gambling, prostitution, and drugs. And when Konoha expanded into a city in the future, the three ninja prohibitions became the three prohibitions of Konoha.

The reason is simple: even if all three are banned, some people will still take the risk for high profits. Gambling, prostitution, and drugs have always been intertwined; once they reach a certain scale, the related chains can encompass all social classes. Ordinary people, once deeply involved, can only be swept along into the abyss. The vast majority of people lack self-control and the ability to protect themselves. To ensure the city's positive development, none of these things can exist. This resolution was, of course, also written into Hui's outline. If Hui is fortunate enough to succeed, and the lecherous immortal lives to that time, it's uncertain whether he'll still be able to find a place to spy on women. Let him experience that world—which is uninteresting to him—in advance.

Naruto cleared his throat, just about to shout something about catching a peeping tom, when an extremely unusual spatial fluctuation suddenly appeared within his perception range.

It wasn't just a spatial rift; it contained another power that he felt inexplicably familiar with... However, the person who came with the rift was someone he was even more familiar with.

No way... this can't be! How could this be!

"Ah! There's a pervert!"

The women's shrill screams couldn't completely bring Naruto back to his senses. He was stunned and stood there, only managing to avoid being overwhelmed by the angry women because Jiraiya habitually picked him up and ran.

"Don't just stand there when it matters! I'm going to leave you behind!"

Finally calming down, Naruto raised his hand and formed a hand seal. The scene before them instantly transformed from a bathhouse into a shopping street. Then, numbly raising his hand, he spoke in a tone he tried hard to conceal:

"As a reward for helping me escape, how about treating me to some meatballs?"