Chapter 28
Ayame and Teuchi stood completely dumbfounded, staring at Naruto and Temari as they quietly ate their ramen. The casual atmosphere made it even more absurd, as if nothing unusual was happening.
"Just the Suna princess…? What does 'just' even mean?" they both complained internally, their expressions twitching.
Naruto and Temari ignored their reactions entirely and continued eating. Naruto raised his hand lazily. "Old man, seconds for me."
"Ah—yes, coming right up!" Teuchi snapped out of his thoughts and hurried back to work, still stealing glances at them.
Temari finished her bowl as well, setting it down with a small sigh. "Old man, seconds for her too," Naruto added without hesitation.
Temari opened her mouth to refuse, but her stomach betrayed her. Training under the gravity seal had drained her far more than usual.
She glanced at Naruto's smug face, irritation rising, but in the end, she stayed silent and accepted the second serving.
Ayame and Teuchi watched in disbelief as the two went through multiple bowls of ramen like it was nothing unusual.
"Yep, that was satisfying," Naruto said, stretching slightly as he stood up. "Let's go," he added, waving casually at Temari.
Temari frowned slightly. "What about the bill?" she asked, glancing back.
Teuchi chuckled. "Don't worry, girl. Naruto's tab is already paid."
Temari nodded and followed Naruto out, still slightly puzzled by how casually everything was handled.
Naruto walked alongside her, showing her around the village with a relaxed expression. As they passed near the hot springs, he suddenly paused.
His mouth twitched slightly. Of all times… this guy now? he thought, already sensing the presence.
On a nearby rooftop stood a white-haired man, peeking into the women's bath with a shameless grin. The sight instantly darkened Naruto's expression.
To him, Jiraiya was just another person—not some legendary figure to admire.
His first impression was simple: a perverted old man spying on women. Naruto had no tolerance for that kind of behavior.
Temari also noticed the man and frowned in disgust. Naruto didn't hesitate and amplified his voice with chakra.
"Hey! There's a perverted old man peeking into the women's bathhouse!" he shouted loudly.
Chaos erupted instantly as people turned toward the scene. Jiraiya flinched in shock before quickly trying to escape.
Before he could react properly, angry civilians began chasing him, shouting and throwing whatever they could grab.
Temari watched the scene with satisfaction before turning back. "Well, I'll be going," she said, starting to walk away.
(Wow, no goodbye kiss?) Naruto teased through the telepathic seal.
Temari nearly stumbled but quickly composed herself, continuing forward. (Shameless pervert.) she snapped back.
Naruto chuckled softly. (At least stop blushing before insulting me.) he replied.
Temari ignored him, quickening her pace as she disappeared into the distance.
Naruto stood there for a moment before muttering to himself, "Well… what should I do now?"
Karin is training Fuinjutsu, Hinata is at the Hyūga compound, and Ino is busy with her clan work… he thought, slightly bored.
Activating his Six Eyes, Naruto scanned his surroundings and quickly spotted Jiraiya again—this time observing him from a distance.
A vein popped on his forehead in irritation. First the perverted old man, then that paranoid Danzo, then Kakashi… and now this.
He hated being watched like some kind of experiment or rare animal.
Calming himself, Naruto began walking through the streets, buying and eating food. Whenever someone refused to sell to him, he simply walked away without reacting.
Moments later, he would return using a transformation jutsu, purchasing whatever he wanted without issue.
Even so, his irritation kept growing. Jiraiya had been following him for hours, making it impossible to return home safely.
If he went back like this, Karin's presence could be exposed—and that was not something he could allow.
"Hey, Kurama… got any idea how to shake him off my tail?" Naruto asked mentally.
"Hmmm… since when did you grow a tail?" Kurama replied lazily.
Naruto's mouth twitched. "You know what I mean. Do you have an idea or not?"
"Tsk. Why not just ask him directly?" Kurama said dismissively.
Naruto's irritation spiked. "Do you have an actual solution or not?"
Kurama hummed thoughtfully before speaking again. "How about you—" he paused dramatically.
Naruto perked up slightly, waiting.
"—use a Hyper Beam or Kamehameha?" Kurama finished smugly.
Naruto nearly lost it on the spot. The "moves" Kurama mentioned were just Bijūdama variations he had created from watching Anime and Narutos resangun variations.
"Can you stop with that already?" Naruto snapped.
"Then let me out. I want to try those moves myself," Kurama replied eagerly.
"Hell no. Your 'practice' will destroy a village or two," Naruto shot back instantly.
Naruto sighed in frustration, mentally cursing himself for ever showing Kurama things like Pokémon and Dragon Ball.
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