In Konoha, Naruto lies down

"How could you not get enough rest? Some people haven't contacted me for a long time, and it seems that they don't have anything important to do on weekdays." Ino said with a pout.

"This..." Naruto knew he was in the wrong.

"Okay, you don't need to explain." Ino muttered, "Anyway, you are like this. It's not bad if you don't contact me. At least I won't be harassed."

"I'm going to be sad if you say that."

"Lüe! Who would believe you!" Despite this, Ino still smiled.

"The mission is decided. I will negotiate with Lady Tsunade for it." Naruto said with a decisive look and a tone that did not allow for refusal.

"Let's not do that." Ino sighed and said a little guiltily, "It's really safe. There's no need to trouble Lady Tsunade."

Hearing this, Naruto's eyelids twitched slightly, and he thought to himself, "How could I not know whether it's safe or not?"

It would be a miracle if he could be safe if he met Kakuzu and Hidan. The immortal duo were the most troublesome and difficult to deal with. The slightest mistake would result in the loss of his life.

Since there is a butterfly effect, Naruto doesn't dare to bet that Ino can come back safely.

"I have made up my mind. You don't need to persuade me anymore," he said.

"But you are just a Genin after all. If you keep being so willful, even if Lady Tsunade doesn't blame you, you will offend the higher-ups." Ino was anxious and couldn't help but say.

As soon as she said it, she regretted it and quickly changed her words.

"It's not the top management, it's just that this has a bad influence. Always doing things for me... too much."

"You don't have to worry about that." Naruto leaned back in his chair, "It's not a problem at all. Besides, there's no way I'd watch you take risks."

Ino felt a little confused and her cheeks turned slightly red.

"Isn't that what all ninjas do? How could... how could they do something like this just out of worry?"

"Of course." Naruto stared at her and gave her a roguish smile. "I'll be a high-ranking official soon. What can they say to me?"

"What?" Ino looked up in surprise, "What senior management?"

"Me!" Naruto pointed at himself, "What I just said wasn't clear enough. The person sitting in front of you, I will soon become a high-ranking official in Konoha."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Ino blinked, wondering if Naruto was delirious. "You're still a Genin, how could you be a high-ranking official?"

"Right away," Naruto corrected, coughing before sitting up straighter and saying, "Let's get reacquainted with the new head of the Uzumaki clan."

He stretched out his hand to Ino in a very coquettish manner and said.

"One of the future high-ranking officials of Konoha, Uzumaki Naruto, is here!"

"You?" Ino was stunned, unable to digest such a large amount of information for a moment. "What did you just say about the leader of the Uzumaki clan? I don't quite understand."

"That's not something you need to understand. It's just a title." Naruto returned to normal. He picked up a piece of barbecue and said, "Anyway, don't worry about me."

"No matter what, I can't just sit there and watch you go on a mission that's too dangerous."

"Who...who wants you to care?" Ino retorted in a low voice.

After leaving the barbecue restaurant.

The two walked side by side on the road again. Ino listened to Naruto's explanation about the high-level seats, still sighing from time to time. After looking at him with a complicated look, she said.

"Wouldn't it be lonely to be the head of a clan alone?"

"Okay, you wanna come?"

Ino: "........I shouldn't have asked you."

Chapter 218 The whole summer

Ino turned her head and stopped talking, and Naruto didn't react much.

The events at the Fire Temple were unexpected, and he would definitely have to get involved. Asuma and Team 10 would definitely not be able to deal with the Undead Duo.

Naruto himself couldn't guarantee that his presence would change anything. If it were any other opponent, it would be fine, but they were the Immortal Duo.

It's not that strong, it's just very tricky.

When they came to their senses, they were still walking side by side on the street. Ino had a worried look on her face, and after hesitating for a long time, she turned to look at Naruto and asked.

"Is your plan feasible?"

Naruto didn't speak immediately, but said after a moment of silence.

"To be honest, I don't know. Maybe it's possible. I don't want to get involved in those messy things. My life is a mess after all."

Ino was stunned, and her eyes dimmed for a moment.

"Okay, don't think so much."

She forced a smile and said, "He's a high-ranking official in Konoha. It doesn't matter if I can't succeed. If I do succeed, I'll make a profit."

Since Ino was also affected, the comfort seemed a little pale and powerless.

Naruto didn't need any comfort, he just couldn't help but complain about his original body's fate. A messed up village, a messed up and twisted life.

"Yeah, I made a lot of money." He said lazily, obviously not meaning what he said.

Ino sighed, glanced at the boy beside her, and took the initiative to reach out and grab his hand. Naruto felt his hand being grabbed, and turned to look at her in surprise.

"What are you looking at!" Ino's face turned slightly red and she looked angry, but she didn't let go of his hand, just turned her head away.

It was still broad daylight, and there were quite a few people on the street. Naruto was a little surprised. Seeing that Ino was already looking embarrassed, he leaned over and whispered.

"Aren't you afraid of running into someone you know?"

"......." Ino threw Naruto out at that moment, her face turned even redder, like a ripe apple. She glared at him and said, "You'd better not ask anymore."

"Oh." Naruto nodded and squeezed Ino's palm with a little more force.

The latter's body trembled violently, and he turned his head reflexively, "What's wrong! If you...if you pinch me again, I will..."

Ino gritted her teeth and raised her fist.

"No more pinching." Naruto leaned over and said in a low voice, knowing when to stop.

Holding hands and whispering in the street in broad daylight was bound to attract attention, and Ino couldn't stand it anymore. She pulled Naruto into an alley and hid for a while, her red face slowly returning to normal.

The two stood at the entrance of the alley. Ino, dressed in cool clothes, fanned herself with her hands, and the warm wind blew gently. Overhead were large white clouds, and in the distance were shady green trees.

Naruto squatted on the ground, squinting his eyes and looking at the girl at the alley entrance, watching the fine beads of sweat gather on her forehead. The crowd on the street was noisy, and the sound gradually penetrated.

The voice was hazy, as if separated by a thin layer of paper, with him and Ino standing on the other side of the paper. Naruto stared at the girl who kept fanning herself and looking around.

Ino turned her head and noticed his gaze, she was stunned for a moment, looking a little embarrassed.

"What are you looking at?"

Naruto hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Watching Xia Tian."

"Are you stupid? How can you see summer?" Ino tucked her golden hair behind her ear and said sarcastically, "It's summer everywhere. There's no need to look for it."

"But it's so sour of you to say that."

After saying that, she couldn't help laughing again, as if describing Naruto as those sour things was very interesting.

Naruto didn't get angry when he heard Ino's slightly mocking words. He just stood up and looked at her and smiled.

"You're so cute Ino."

"Ah?... Why are you suddenly saying something like that?" Ino's face flushed instantly. "You... can't win an argument with me, and you're acting like a rogue again!"

Summer is hot and annoying, and makes you feel sticky all over, but I also like it.

"I didn't say anything, you said it yourself." Naruto walked to the entrance of the alley, then stopped. Ino looked outside hesitantly.

Naruto gave her time to think and simply grabbed her hand.

"gone."

Ino's pupils dilated instantly, but Naruto didn't react at all, as if he didn't know anything. He just led her forward, not looking embarrassed at all.

She glanced back at her and found that Ino's dark blue eyes were moving restlessly. She touched her face to try to hide her uneasiness.

"Let go," she said, but her voice was soft.

Naruto pretended not to hear and continued walking forward, openly in the sunshine, without any need to hide.

.......

"You are now one of Konoha's high-ranking officials." Tsunade glanced at him with a slightly tired look and said, "Now that you have got what you wanted, get out of here if you have nothing else to do."

Naruto was naturally not so heartless, and took the initiative to come forward and pour tea for Tsunade.

The pure substance poured out of the gurgling teacup actually had the aroma of wine. The scene was a little awkward, and Tsunade picked up the wine glass and said as if nothing had happened.

"Don't ever replace the wine in my teapot without permission. If Shizune finds out, you'll die a miserable death."

Naruto's mouth twitched, but he forced himself to endure it because of the great joy he was having today.

"Yes, yes, next time for sure."

Tsunade was a generous person, and seeing the usually sharp-tongued Naruto being so well-behaved today, she immediately knew that he was a man who knew how to repay a favor. She felt relieved that her efforts had not been in vain.

Tsunade had a drink, and Naruto ran behind her and started massaging her back and shoulders, following her like a bootlicker.

After all, Tsunade was really good to him. Although she didn't say it, he knew very well who she was busy for during this period of time.

It would be terrible if we didn't have any sense at all.

There is no kindness or hatred without reason in the world. Tsunade's kindness to Naruto originated from the sword he blocked for Tsunade and the dragon claw hand that was 404.

But this was not worthy of Tsunade's unilateral continued care, some things were just a matter of return. Since Tsunade was doing this for his own good, he also tried his best to cooperate with Tsunade.

Even though he was lazy, he never refused to do anything Tsunade asked him to do. Tsunade wanted him to be trained as Hokage, but he clearly refused, but he was not so tactless.

"Not bad, your shoulder-kneading technique has improved." Tsunade groaned, took another sip of wine, and said with relief, "You still have some conscience."

"It is my duty to share Tsunade-sama's worries." Naruto said in a very servile manner, and then asked cautiously, "Tsunade-sama, why did the higher-ups give in so easily?"

"Easy?" Tsunade frowned slightly, her voluptuous body trembling. She turned her head and stared at him, "Who told you this is easy? The top management was originally against it."

Tsunade stopped talking midway. Naruto asked while trying his best to contribute his value.

"Then how did you agree to it?"

"You don't need to know this. Anyway, Kakashi spoke for you. You should go see your teacher later." Tsunade reminded.

"If nothing unexpected happens, the position of the Sixth Hokage will be Kakashi. Among the younger generation, no one is more suitable to take over except Kakashi."

"Okay." Naruto didn't know why Kakashi appeared in the Konoha high-level meeting. Logically speaking, Kakashi was just an elite senior ninja.

There are only a few core high-level officials in Konoha, including a few others who are just there for show. Unless Kakashi is the captain of the Anbu, he can attend the high-level meetings.

Just as the former teacher of Team 7 and a current Jonin, his status probably doesn't carry that much weight.

"Is Lady Tsunade busy lately?"

"So..."

Tsunade enjoyed a massage while drinking, chatting with Naruto from time to time, her loose robes rustling. This little bit of wine couldn't do anything to Tsunade, it just warmed her up.

"I heard that you want to take part in the Chunin Exam?" Tsunade asked casually.

"Um, just thinking about it, I haven't decided yet." Naruto replied, "I'm a bit free recently, so..."

He stopped, because he could sense Tsunade's strong dissatisfaction, and quickly changed his words.

"I just want the title of Chunin. I can't always be a Genin."

"It's up to you." Tsunade said, "If you want to participate, then do so. It's not a big deal anyway. But you should be aware that this high-level position is just a figurehead and has no real power."

"Just a name is enough," he said. "I don't want to be really busy."

Tsunade: “….”

"I'll take you to the high-level meeting in a few days to see what you're up to, and by the way, show your face before the Chunin Exams. That way, you'll be officially a name in Konoha."

"Is this... an official debut?"

"What is that?" Tsunade asked with a frown. That kid always spoke strange words.

"No...nothing."

"Lady Tsunade, is Sakura's illness serious?" Naruto continued to massage her shoulders while subtly turning the topic to Sakura.

"She seems to have been hospitalized. I went to Konoha Hospital several times, but there was no sign of her waking up."

"There should be nothing wrong." Tsunade sighed, "All the physical indicators are normal, but the person just can't wake up."