At the Hokage's Office…
Hiruzen Sarutobi was puffing on his smoking pipe, his gaze intently fixed on the image within the crystal ball before him.
Though he was getting on in years, he still harbored a fondness for things that were fragrant and beautiful. At the very least, it pleased his eyes.
"Hey, old man!"
Just as he was thoroughly absorbed in what he was watching, a sudden voice interrupted him at the worst possible moment. Startled, he hastily grabbed a cloth and threw it over the crystal ball.
Turning toward the sound, he saw none other than Jiraiya poking his head through the window in greeting before climbing inside with practiced ease.
"You're back?"
Hiruzen took a few calming puffs from his pipe to settle his emotions, then finally spoke with helpless resignation.
"There's a perfectly good front door, but you insist on coming in through the window. Where did you even pick up this ridiculous habit?"
"Don't sweat the small stuff."
Jiraiya waved it off without a care and strode briskly into the room, a mischievous grin playing across his face.
"What now? Don't tell me you're peeking again."
"Don't talk nonsense. I was merely checking in on the village to see if everything is still in order."
Hiruzen's face flushed a deep red. Though his student shared many of his less admirable habits, he was still someone who valued his reputation.
"Enough of that. Tell me about the mission. Did you uncover anything?"
"We did. And it's far more complicated than we initially thought."
Jiraiya pursed his lips, his tone growing more serious, showing he understood the weight of the matter.
"We got lucky this time. It didn't take long in the Land of Hot Water before we stumbled on a lead."
He went on to recount the mission with well-measured detail, omitting the less crucial parts but emphasizing Kitagawa Gen's role and the vital information they had extracted from Orochimaru.
Hiruzen listened in silence, his pipe resting between his lips, as Jiraiya recounted everything. When the tale finally came to an end, the Hokage's brow furrowed ever so slightly.
"It does seem like a troublesome matter. Still, it aligns with the intelligence Danzo provided. But do you really trust what Orochimaru said?"
The fact that the Mizukage had hired this mysterious organization suggested that the internal strife in Kirigakure had reached a dangerous level. So dangerous that the Mizukage had been forced to enlist outside help to quell the chaos.
This, of course, was good news for Konoha. Nobody in the village liked the bastards from the Hidden Mist. But it certainly complicated the investigation into that secretive organization.
"I think it shouldn't be a big problem."
Jiraiya nodded with calm conviction.
"Even if Orochimaru held something back, that's only to be expected. At the very least, we've secured some critical intel."
Hiruzen said nothing for a moment. In truth, he believed Orochimaru's information to be mostly reliable this time.
He knew the man well. Orochimaru could lie, certainly, but he was also a prideful individual.
"I understand. It seems I will have to pay Kirigakure a visit after all."
Hiruzen sighed deeply. Though he was reluctant to take unnecessary risks, this mysterious organization truly unsettled him.
Especially that guy Uchiha Obito. That man's heart seemed consumed by hatred. He had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and wielded Wood Release as well.
Such a matter could not be left uninvestigated!
"Alright, old man. Don't overthink it."
Jiraiya looked at Hiruzen's troubled expression and could not help but offer a few words of comfort.
"Some things need to be uncovered, one way or another. This organization is a hurdle we have to overcome eventually, right? Relax, relax. We'll take care of it."
"You damn brat. Since when do I need you to console me?"
Hiruzen gave Jiraiya a look of amused exasperation, but Jiraiya merely grinned and shrugged. After a pause, he added thoughtfully.
"Oh, by the way, make sure this mission is recorded as S-rank. That kid Gen seems intent on becoming a Chūnin, so let's help his record shine a little."
"He needs a better record?"
Just the mention of Kitagawa Gen lightened Hiruzen's mood considerably.
Though the boy had only recently graduated and had not completed many missions, each one had been of considerable difficulty, and his performance had earned high praise every time.
Whether it was in the battle against Biwa Jūzō and Uchiha Itachi, or this time, as Jiraiya's latest report suggested, his performance had been outstanding throughout.
Perhaps… this boy might one day become Konoha's next Minato Namikaze.
At the thought, Hiruzen gave a slight nod, though he refrained from saying anything definitive.
"Very well. I'll take it under consideration."
"Perfect."
Jiraiya chuckled, then, with a gleam in his eye, he slipped up beside Hiruzen and reached out to lift the cloth from the crystal ball.
"Hey, you rascal. What are you doing?"
The sudden action startled Hiruzen, making him jump in alarm, but Jiraiya paid it no mind.
"We've handled the serious stuff. We can worry about the rest later. It's time to take a break. You can't keep all the fun to yourself, old man."
"What nonsense are you spouting now? And let me remind you, anything related to work is called official duty. Got it?"
"Yeah, yeah. Enough talk. Let's have a look already."
"You little devil, hurry up and get out of here..."
"Thank you for the information, Senior. I'll take my leave now."
"Don't mention it."
At Konoha Hospital, Kitagawa Gen wore a bright smile as he greeted the medical staff stationed at the entrance. Only after exchanging a few friendly words did he finally turn to leave.
Yet, the moment he stepped out of the hospital, his mood took a slight downturn. He had come all this way, only to find the person he was looking for already gone.
"So he's been discharged. Well, that's a good sign. His recovery must be going well."
Thanks to Jiraiya's reminder, Kitagawa Gen had rushed to the hospital to visit Kakashi, only to learn he had already left.
"But I suppose that's fine. Better to be up and about than lying sick in a hospital bed."
Since he had missed his chance to see Kakashi, Gen decided to head home for some rest. He would go to the meeting and make his visits tomorrow instead.
"I also need to give serious thought to the matter with Uchiha Obito."
Ever since he had messed with Obito, everything had begun to spiral into chaos.
Especially considering he had also warned Jiraiya. Whether openly or behind the scenes, he had stirred the pot around the so-called Great Toad Sage.
As for what to do next, Gen needed to consider his steps very carefully.
Of course, he already had a plan in mind. It just needed a few final touches.
"After all, there's still the second phase of Kakashi's exclusive mission. That can't be overlooked."
There were far too many valuable things on Obito. He was, after all, the successor of Uchiha Madara. Even if Gen believed Obito's mastery of those legacies was far from complete, that didn't change the fact that he possessed them.
If there was even the slightest chance of getting his hands on those, then he absolutely could not let the opportunity slip away.
Just then, as Gen was deep in thought, a familiar voice suddenly called out from behind him.
"Hey, Gen? You're back?"
He turned around to see Naruto running over, a wide grin on his face. The boy was carrying a bag in his left hand and a basket hooked over his right arm.
"What's all this?"
Seeing Naruto's unusual loadout, Gen couldn't help but feel curious. But the moment his gaze fell on the contents of the bag, the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
"More of this boxed ramen... Haven't you had enough of Ichiraku's stuff? Why'd you buy so much of it?"
"Heh, this is limited-edition premium stuff!"
Naruto beamed with excitement, clearly very pleased with his haul.
"It's a good thing I was quick with my hands and eyes to grab so many; otherwise, they would have been sold out long ago."
"This isn't some rare delicacy. If I remember correctly, don't you still have a ton left at home?"
"Limited edition! Limited! Miss it now and it's gone forever!"
"..."
Gen was utterly speechless. He simply couldn't fathom why this kind of instant ramen was so expensive, let alone what Naruto saw in its taste.
In the end, however, he chose to respect Naruto's personal choices and refrained from further comment. Instead, his attention shifted to the other basket Naruto was holding.
"What about that? What's in there?"
"This? This is good stuff too!"
Naruto suddenly lowered his voice and glanced around like a sneaky thief. Only when he was sure no one was watching did he whisper with a grin.
"Let me tell you, I found this awesome spot. There's all kinds of food just sitting there for the taking. And get this—free of charge!"
"Are you... stealing?"
"What? No way! Don't talk nonsense. I don't steal!"
"Then what happened to your monthly stipend?"
"I spent it on the limited edition ramen!"
Seeing Naruto's righteous expression, Kitagawa Gen felt helpless. He finally understood the situation.
It wasn't that the Third Hokage had shortchanged Naruto when it came to money, but rather that no one had taught him how to manage it—how to spend it wisely or save for later.
Then again, thinking about it, the old man had enough on his plate. As the Hokage, he probably didn't have much time to teach Naruto financial planning.
"Heh, how about this? Let's eat together tonight. My treat."
Just as Gen was at a loss for words, Naruto offered with a bright smile.
"You can try some of the stuff I've cooked up. Oh, and that jutsu you asked me to develop? I've just about finished it."
"Is that so?"
Gen perked up at once. He even considered grabbing a camera to document it. But right now, his curiosity about the contents of that basket was stronger.
"So, what's in there, exactly?"
"Here, take a look."
Naruto didn't bother keeping it a secret. He pulled back the cloth covering the basket in one swift motion.
The moment he did, Gen's face turned green.
The entire basket was filled with... mushrooms—vividly colored, strange-shaped, and all of them looking oddly appealing in a dangerous kind of way.
A chill ran down his spine. He stared at Naruto in silence for a long moment before finally speaking in a grave tone.
"Naruto..."
"Huh?"
"You should learn to respect your elders and care for the young."
"Uh... What do you mean by that?"
"Why don't you make a nice mushroom stew with these and deliver it to the Hokage's office?"
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[Chapter End's]
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