Naruto: Two opponents versus Naruto, Konoha panics!

"What should we eat?"

"Anything... is fine... I'm hungry~"

[Red Bean spoke weakly.]

Naruto looked at her with a half-smile.

After a while, Hongdou jumped up, her face flushed.

"You wretched brat!"

"Again!!"

"Not hungry anymore?" Naruto looked at her with newfound respect.

"Hungry! I'm still very hungry!" Red Bean said, her voice trembling with fear.

"Then just wait patiently." Naruto stopped provoking her and turned to leave.

Even after seeing Naruto leave, Anko remained vigilant, waiting for a while to confirm that Naruto had indeed gone out to buy groceries.

She finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Clutching her lower abdomen, her face flushed, she said, "I was careless."

"This kid's been gone for a while... Hong and Xiyan aren't here either..."

At this moment, Hongdou no longer harbored any thoughts of possessing it exclusively.

She was tempted to run away; she was genuinely hungry, and she was genuinely afraid.

However, as soon as I stood up, my legs started trembling.

【...】

【The next day. 】

The third shift has returned.

【"Yo~"】

"Kakashi, my eternal rival, is he waiting for me?"

Matt Kay seems to be perpetually full of energy.

Kakashi crossed his arms and glanced at him.

Then she smiled faintly and said, "I've been waiting for you for a long time."

"Here's the secret you've always been curious about."

As he spoke, Kakashi casually tossed a secret manual—the one belonging to the young prince—to Might Guy.

[Matt Kai paused, then instinctively took it.]

"The secret I've always wanted... the secret to cultivating youth?"

Just as he was about to look through it, Kakashi's voice rang out again.

"Kai, let's have a match."

"What?" Might Guy was startled, slowly raising his head, then staring at Kakashi with wide eyes and an expression of utter disbelief.

Is this...is this still the same Kaka Ikuso, my best buddy?!

He actually invited me to a duel where we'd stake our youth on the outcome?!

"Let's see who gets to Shadow Rock first!"

[The words fell.]

Before Might Guy could react, Kakashi vanished with a "bang."

"I'm going first." On a rooftop not far away, Kakashi glanced back at his best friend, his signature deadpan expression remaining completely unchanged.

[Whoosh—]

In the blink of an eye, Kakashi vanished from the spot.

Seeing this, Matt Kai's breathing became rapid.

[So excited he was practically dancing with joy.]

"Hahaha, Kakashi, finally my youth... Oh no!"

Suddenly, Might Guy realized that Kakashi had cheated.

Run!

"Seriously," Tian Tian sighed, rubbing her forehead in exasperation.

[Then he looked at Lee, whose eyes were shining, hesitated for a moment, and looked at the silent Neji.]

"I'm going to find my blond-haired buddy. What about you guys?"

"I have something to do, I need to go home first," Neji replied, then put his hands in his pockets.

"I want to go too! It's been over a month... I want to eat Naruto's curry rice!" Lee suddenly looked away, staring intently at Tenten.

"I want it to be super, super, super spicy!"

【Gurgle—】

As soon as he finished speaking, Neji stopped in his tracks.

My stomach is making a protesting noise.

"Let's go." Tenten's lips curled slightly, she waved her little hand, and ran towards Naruto's house.

"I wonder if Naruto has returned," Tenten said.

"Don't worry, what mission could possibly be too difficult for Naruto-kun?"

"That's true... Neji, weren't you going home?" Tenten glanced at Neji.

Neji turned his head away. "Hinata is very likely there. It's the same if I report to her."

[Saying one thing and meaning another.]

Tian Tian pursed her lips, then quickened her pace.

Before long, the three arrived in front of Naruto's house.

[Just about to knock on the door.]

"You're back~"

[Squeak—]

The door was opened.

"No glutinous rice balls allowed in the house!"

The red bean peeked out.

[Eight eyes met.]

After a moment of silence, Hongdou slammed the door shut.

Three seconds later, Hongdou casually opened the door. "The mission is over?"

"Uh... um." Tian Tian's eye twitched slightly, and she looked at Hong Dou with a face full of hostility.

[After her gaze lingered on the red soybeans for a moment, Tian Tian couldn't help but look down at them.]

[I can see the toes.]

[I still lost... It's okay! I still have time to grow! I'm the big sister! The kind of person who's a late bloomer!]

Temari: "Pfft~"

Temari: "Sigh, thank you for your thanks."

Tian Tian: "Damn it! What are you so smug about?!"

Tian Tian: "I'm sure I can catch up with and surpass you!"

Temari: "Really?"

Temari: "Alright, I'll be watching. The loser..."

Tian Tian: "I'll acknowledge her as my boss!"

Temari: "Okay!"

On the other side.

"I knew Naruto-kun would be here!"

"Woof!"

Kiba Inuzuka touched his nose, and Akamaru on his head barked.

Naruto didn't even turn his head, but instead handed over the groceries he was carrying.

[The tooth instinctively caught it.]

"The timing was quite precise."

"Third class is back too."

"Huh?" Ya blinked. "What a coincidence?"

"Wait, you guys only just got back?"

"Yes." Naruto nodded.

"I thought you guys were quick too... We finished our first C-rank mission in just three days," Ya said with a hint of pride.

"Because our task is quite unique, it's extremely suitable for our class."

【Om—】

A bug fell into Shino Aburame's hand.

[Still with a cold demeanor.]

"Naruto... Naruto-kun~" Hinata pursed her lips, her pretty face filled with joy.

Naruto turned around and looked back.

[He first smiled at Hinata, thinking, "This little girl... I need to talk to her later."]

[Then, he looked at Kurenai Yuhi behind Hinata.]

[She exudes an even stronger mature, sophisticated aura.]

Hinata is relatively easy to please right now. A few words of praise are like a treat, making her smile sweetly.

There are still many people here.

[Red, of course, didn't reveal another side.]

However, her smile vanished when she saw Naruto's neck.

【who?!】

[No...she's been back for a few days...it's definitely that girl, Hongdou!]

【Humph! 】

[Since that's the case...then she'll take control of her future!]

After completing her mission, Kurenai Yuhi rushed to Naruto's house. She hadn't seen him for a month and missed him terribly; the taste of food there was unforgettable.

On the way, Kurenai Yuhi paused, then gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"What's this?"

"I'm a Jonin instructor!"

But then, Kurenai caught a glimpse of a figure flash past the window.

That's right, it's red soybeans!

At times like this, one can't afford to be reserved.

Otherwise, it will be difficult to enjoy the future alone tonight.

[But...is it really possible?]

That wretched little brat...

【at the same time.】

[Within the sealed space.]

The large fox glanced at Minato Namikaze, whom it had tossed into the corner.

[She's had her eyes closed for quite some time now.]

The heart vessels are severely damaged.

Of course, his problem is easily solved.

Then the large fox looked at Kushina.

[This person's heart meridian is more severely damaged.]

However... it's easier to solve.

[For a genius like myself, it's just a matter of a single sentence.]

[Then, the large fox, through Naruto's gaze, looked at the impatient woman.]

[He just got back, and he's still in the kitchen, yet he's so impatient, and he even dares to tease Naruto?]

"Heh~!"

[He gave a cold laugh, his meaning unclear.]

"Kushina, wake up~"

"Otherwise, Naruto will be eaten...up...by those wicked women tonight?!"

[He hadn't finished speaking.]

[Kushina, who had been sleeping with her eyes closed like a sleeping beauty, suddenly opened them.]

[The Big Fox: "......"]