Naruto: Two opponents versus Naruto, Konoha panics!

Onoki: "Oh no!"

Onoki: "So it found out so quickly... Then the ninja world will soon have its third flying ninja!"

Onoki: "And if Naruto with black frames finds out... we're doomed, my information and Mu-sama's information will be exposed too!"

Onoki's concerns were understandable.

Ninjas often exploit information asymmetry.

If we didn't have information about Itachi Uchiha.

Before the battle even begins, the Tsukuyomi alone is enough to render many ninjas incapable of fighting.

Including Pain from Nagato.

It shares vision and can infinitely repair battle-damaged Payne.

They cannot be separated, and they must be dealt with all at once in a short period of time.

Things will become very complicated.

Moreover, if Nagato's true form cannot be found...

So, it won't be long before a new Payne appears.

[At Naruto's house.]

"Sarutobi Asuma?"

Nara Shikamaru frowned.

"Naruto, you mean the Third Hokage's son, Sarutobi Asuma, will become our Jonin instructor?!"

Ino felt like the sky had fallen.

Today is the third shift's day off.

Therefore, the Konoha Clan members all came to Naruto's place without prior arrangement.

Speaking of which, ever since Tenten and the other two became ninjas, their get-togethers have become significantly less frequent.

Furthermore, as graduation approached and their ages became similar, they began practicing their family's secret techniques with their fathers after school.

Ino was just chatting with Tenten.

[I'm a little envious that Tenten is in the same class as Lee and Neji.]

But then, Tian Tian recounted the usual situation of the third shift.

Even Neji couldn't help but twitch his eye, then sighed silently.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

[Looking at Xiao Li, who suddenly started talking about youth all the time.]

When he looked at Tenten and Neji again, a hint of pity appeared in his eyes.

However, at that moment, Shikamaru and Naruto suddenly started talking about training Jonin.

Ino seized the opportunity to run over, only to overhear the possible instructions given to the new Ino-Shika-Cho trio by the Jonin.

Shikamaru, resting his chin on his hand, said somewhat displeased, "Although I'm very unhappy, this is very likely to be the case."

"Everyone has seen Sarutobi Asuma during this period."

"After all, he's the son of a third-generation descendant."

"And he just returned from the daimyo's place not long ago."

"He also has a 'fire' symbol pinned to his waist... Dad said it's a Guardian Ninja, one of the Twelve Ninja who protect the Daimyo."

[Click—]

Choji, munching on potato chips, remarked, "He's been to Akimichi too."

"Hyuga too," Neji said after a moment's thought, arms crossed, leaning against the wall.

"Woof!"

"Inuzuka came by once too."

"Aburame too."

"Damn it... my Jonin instructor is that big-bearded guy who smokes... No way~!"

Ino wanted to cry but couldn't.

[I had just accepted, but it's very likely I won't be in the same class as Naruto after the class assignments.]

[After all, separating the Ino-Shika-Cho trio would mean that even if Ino could get her parents' approval, Yamanaka Inoichi and Yamanaka Rino wouldn't actually agree.]

[If they were just ordinary clansmen, it wouldn't be so bad, but the three of them are all heirs of the three great families: Ino, Deer, and Butterfly.]

Regardless of the circumstances, the Ino-Shika-Cho clans are still outwardly aligned with the Hokage's lineage.

"Alright, Ino, stop struggling."

Shikamaru lay down on the ground.

"Since Naruto is so certain, then there's no chance of things changing."

"This is Konoha."

"That's right," Neji nodded in agreement.

[Big beard...smoking...middle-aged man...who also relentlessly pursues girls.]

Good heavens, how can someone be all the things she hates?

Ino also collapsed, but she was more shrewd and rested her head on Naruto's lap.

"If that's the case..."

"Then our Jonin instructor will likely also be a ninja from the Hokage's lineage."

Shino adjusted his glasses.

Then he glanced at Kiba and Hinata, who was busy in the kitchen.

"What are you talking about?" Ya scratched his head.

"Our class is special; there will be a lot of political factors involved," Shikamaru said.

"Now that it's peacetime, if you want to become Hokage, you need sufficient prestige... and the support of the major ninja clans."

"The Ino-Shika-Cho trio is clearly a good target."

"Hyuga, Aburame, Inuzuka... are also targets for recruitment."

"So, Kiba, you, Shino, and Hinata are most likely in the same class."

Hearing this, he tilted his head and said, "The rest are... Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura?"

"That's most likely the case," Naruto nodded with a light laugh.

【No~!】

"Damn it... Sakura is so enviable!"

"I really want to be with my sweetheart too~"

Naruto gently patted Ino's head.

Ino wasn't about to leave so quickly and continued to whine and act cute.

"What a nuisance...all they do is scheme and plot!"

Shikamaru was getting a little annoyed.

From the very beginning, he was the only one who could resonate with Naruto.

Now, there's Neji too.

But Neji is mostly quiet.

Naruto saw the defiance in his eyes, but offered no words of comfort.

He preferred Hinata to tell Hinata about this.

But clearly, Neji didn't give Hinata that chance.

Furthermore, Hinata has been diligently training over the years, trying to catch up with Naruto.

"Naruto, what are you trying to do?"

Soon, Kiba Inuzuka couldn't hold back any longer.

[See? Even Kiba Inuzuka, who's usually the slowest to react, has noticed something's wrong with Naruto's group.]

"Just do whatever Shino does."

Shikamaru spoke before Naruto could.

[Shikamaru had actually been thinking about this for many years.]

[There were also indirect inquiries about Nara Shikaku.]

Nara Shikaku's response was rather bland, and after that, Shikamaru never brought up the topic again.

Shikamaru remembers it very clearly.

His father's voice was calm at the time; he simply said that he was the future head of the Nara clan, but the responsibilities he bore extended beyond Nara, including Akimichi and Yamanaka.

They themselves can make mistakes, but as leaders of the three races, they cannot afford to err easily.

[The fact that you asked the question yourself means you've already had this idea.]

If he has such thoughts, then Ino and Choji are even more likely to have them.

"Shikamaru, if you think it's possible, then go for it. Even if you fail, your fathers are still alive. Think it over carefully; you only have one chance."

[So, you want to help Naruto? Sure, but you only have one chance, and only one.]

[But there's no need to feel pressured. Even if they fail, the three of them can still withstand the wrath of the Hokage's faction.]

After that incident, Shikamaru often kept an eye on the others.

When he saw his father, the Aburame clan leader, and the heads of the Hyuga and Inuzuka clans growing closer, he knew that the Inuzuka, Hyuga, and Aburame clans were trustworthy.

Sadly, the Uchiha clan is gone.

He knew that his father was helping him understand the internal situation of Konoha.

It's fair to say that Hiruzen Sarutobi was a really bad Hokage.

Otherwise, when Shikamaru approached the "Naruto Gang," he would have stopped them from integrating into the group.

Orochimaru: "A very smart child, who made the right choice."

Tobirama Senju: "But right now, Naruto with black frames won't agree, because he himself isn't absolutely certain, so he won't easily let the six great ninja clans get involved."