Chapter 179:
Tsunade sighed: "Meal money? More accurately, it's Jiraiya's 'buy-face' money."
Back then, with so many people watching, Tsunade felt embarrassed for Jiraiya.
If not for Naruto, Jiraiya and Shizune really would have ended up washing dishes.
Mm… why not Tsunade? Because even if Tsunade ate for free, she wouldn't wash dishes…
"Okay…"
Naruto suddenly felt a little emotional.
On the surface, Tsunade seemed very irritable—quick to get physical, looking like a total tomboy.
But unexpectedly, she had this side too.
You had to admit—Jiraiya's taste was really good… Tsunade not only stayed young and ageless, but she also noticed little details and was very considerate. It's just that ordinary people couldn't see it.
"Shizune, keep up."
Tsunade called to Shizune and turned to head toward the nearest Konoha gate.
Jiraiya didn't know when he had followed. No one knew if he had heard Tsunade's earlier words. Naruto only saw him looking at Tsunade's back with a complicated expression.
For some reason, Jiraiya suddenly called out to Tsunade: "Hey, Tsunade! Where are you going?"
So many years had passed—he was old now too.
A shinobi's life was truly tragic…
Tsunade: "I don't know!"
Jiraiya: "If you don't know, why not stay a few more days?"
Tsunade: "No."
…
In front of Naruto, Jiraiya stared at Tsunade's retreating back like someone in a daze.
A full ten minutes passed before Jiraiya finally laughed heartily, turned around, and walked down a different path from Tsunade.
The Child of Prophecy—he had to find him.
So he couldn't let personal feelings interfere with something this important.
Seeing this, Naruto suddenly felt he had been too selfish.
He didn't want Jiraiya disturbing his life—but what about Jiraiya?
For the so-called prophecy, he had spent almost his entire youth searching.
Along the way, he had lost too much.
Naruto suddenly thought of another ninja world he had once crossed into.
In that world, no one had defected from Konoha. No one had died.
Konoha's strength, in Naruto's view, was simply unheard of—unprecedentedly powerful.
Even Orochimaru was the dean of Konoha's Science and Technology Academy.
Why could that other ninja world have such things happen?
While Naruto's ninja world was much more normal?
For some reason, Naruto suddenly called out to Jiraiya: "Hey! Old man!"
Jiraiya was a man who had spent half his life searching for the Child of Prophecy.
Time had carved his appearance year after year; journeys had tempered his will to a certain realm. The Tale of the Gutsy Shinobi could be said to represent the true meaning of the shinobi profession.
For someone like him, Naruto only needed a few words to make him put down the heavy burden on his shoulders and pursue the girl he had loved for decades.
Emmm… why not?
Jiraiya turned back to look at Naruto—this little guy wrapped in a bath towel, looking frail and delicate.
But Naruto's expression was unusually calm, and the chakra within him made even Jiraiya's heart jump.
Naruto said seriously to Jiraiya: "Actually, I am the so-called Child of Prophecy."
"But I don't need your guidance—because I'm already strong enough."
Jiraiya looked at Naruto in disbelief: "What?"
Naruto nodded calmly and continued: "If I guessed right, Tsunade will leave from the east side."
"If you chase now, you might catch up."
Jiraiya returned to stand in front of Naruto and seriously analyzed: "Indeed, how did I not think of that?"
"If Naruto is the Child of Prophecy, then Nagato…"
Bang~
Jiraiya: "Cough cough…"
Naruto suddenly raised his hand and punched Jiraiya. The massive chakra pressure made even someone like Jiraiya feel wary.
Naruto sighed: "See? The Child of Prophecy is already strong enough."
"You can put down the so-called mission now and do what you want."
With that, Naruto didn't wait for Jiraiya to recover. Carrying the box, he walked past Jiraiya and returned to the hall.
Naruto's thinking was simple: since he was already this strong, there was no need for Jiraiya to teach him anything.
Perhaps he could read Jiraiya's Tale of the Gutsy Shinobi.
But that was it. Naruto's best teacher was the system.
And Jiraiya could finally be freed to do what he wanted. Wouldn't that be perfect for everyone?
When Naruto returned to the hall, he happened to run into Sarutobi Hiruzen and the daimyō walking out together, chatting and laughing, with quite a few people following behind them.
The daimyō saw Naruto and instinctively froze.
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a slight headache. Naruto had just offended the daimyō so badly—saying the daimyō wasn't angry would be a lie.
Forget the daimyō—even as a shinobi, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't possibly not be angry.
After all… Naruto's words were way too harsh.
"No worries, you continue. I'm just passing by."
Naruto smiled, carried the box, and turned to the side.
He and the daimyō had a personal grudge now—but that grudge was only known between Konoha and the daimyō personally.
In other words, it was just some small enmity between Naruto and the daimyō as individuals.
Not between the entire daimyō mansion.
Everyone who attended this negotiation was from Konoha.
And they were either high-level figures or clan heads, so there was basically no chance of it leaking.
No one mentioned the verbal battle between Naruto and the daimyō again. Just like that, the daimyō left the hall under Sarutobi Hiruzen's escort.
With everything settled, Naruto began handling his own business.
However…
As soon as the daimyō left, the Danzō whom Naruto had been watching closely formed hand seals. A puff of white smoke appeared—and a dead-fish-eyed figure was revealed…
Naruto: "Uh… Kakashi?"
Kakashi turned his dead-fish eye toward Naruto and said lazily: "Naruto has a huge grudge against Shimura Danzō?"
As soon as these words came out, many people looked over.
Not long ago, news of Danzō's unexpected death had spread. The Third Hokage said it was an accident.
But now it seemed… there was a secret?
Naruto pretended to look guilty at Kakashi and defended: "Danzō wasn't killed by me—don't talk nonsense!"
Kakashi: "…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen: "…"
Konoha high-level: "…"
Naruto's playful expression almost directly admitted that he killed Danzō.
But most people didn't take it seriously—they just thought Naruto was young and joking.
After all… Danzō was a renowned Kage-level powerhouse.
How could someone like Naruto kill him?
No way. Impossible.
"Ahem~"
Seeing that no one believed what he was hinting at, Naruto awkwardly coughed twice into his fist and prepared to leave.
Sakyo and Little Black were still in other places.
The ninja world was full of dangers—what if those two weak Kage-levels got captured?