In Konoha, Naruto lies down

"Huh?" Naruto came back to his senses and looked at Ino in surprise, "This... there's no need to think that way. I can actually handle it myself."

He racked his brains, trying to prove that he didn't need help at all. The only one who was against him was Danzo, and the two advisors were just trying to maintain the balance of the situation in Konoha.

With Tsunade and Jiraiya there, as well as the Hokage's direct descendants, he wouldn't suffer any loss unless something unexpected happened.

Even if we take a step back, at Ino's age, this kind of thing isn't something she should be thinking about. She's naive and overly mature. Knowing things she shouldn't know naturally weighs on her mind.

"But I want to help you." Ino said in a muffled voice.

"But the problem is that this is not something you can help with. That kind of thing is actually far from the reach of a Genin. There is no need for you to keep it in mind." Naruto explained.

"I finally know why you're unhappy." He sighed.

"I already told you." Ino muttered.

"No, I mean the deeper issues," he said. "When you know something you can't solve, and you're powerless but still thinking about it, it makes you feel bad."

"Next time, just try not to think about it. Actually, I'm fine. In a few years, when you grow up and become an elite jonin, I'll take care of it. By then, you'll be capable and it won't be so bad."

"There are still a few years left." Ino also sighed.

"It's okay, time flies." Naruto said, "Aren't the Chunin Exams about to start? You'll be a Chunin in the future, and the next step will be Jonin. You'll be busy and won't have time to worry about time."

Naruto's mouth was dry, and he felt depressed because he had to counsel Ino. He, the person involved, was not unhappy, but she was burdened with psychological baggage.

However, Ino has such a good personality that it is hard for her to be happy when she thinks about others, so it is normal for her to get stuck in a dead end occasionally.

"You lie to me every time." Ino groaned.

"How can this be considered a lie?" Naruto and Ino walked side by side, his eyes slightly on the passers-by, and he thought of the thunderstorm afternoon again. He vaguely remembered that Ino's eyes were bright and her gaze was soft.

"I've been helping you because I like you, not asking for the same in return. If I help you once, you have to help me once, isn't that too awkward?"

Ino's body stiffened for a moment, then she took a few quick steps forward to create some distance.

"I don't like you."

"Last time you..."

"Don't talk about last time!" Ino turned her head and said to him fiercely, "I didn't! It wasn't me! Don't tell me!"

"Then I won't tell you." Naruto smiled.

"Don't laugh." She said fiercely and grabbed Naruto's collar.

"I don't want to laugh, but I can't help it." Naruto was really amused, as if he had caught Ino's little handle. He suddenly figured out why Ino hadn't taken the initiative to look for him since that time.

The streets of Konoha were so long that they seemed to have no end. Ino let go of Naruto and walked forward quickly as if she was angry. Even so, her palms were still sweating.

Talking to him was too much of a struggle. Shouldn't we just forget about that awkward moment? Damn it! What is love?

It was fine before, but now that person keeps talking about it, it’s so infuriating.

His likes are too casual, that guy must like many people, definitely like Hinata! He is such a scumbag, I really want to punch him twice.

"Ino!" He chased after her.

"Don't call me!" Ino said sullenly, her mood turning sour for some reason.

Naruto followed her anyway and asked, poking her arm.

"You really don't have to think that way. I'm helping you out of my own free will. I know the mission is dangerous, but I can't just watch you die."

"It's not dangerous," she retorted weakly, it was just an investigation.

"What if," Naruto said, "What if the Akatsuki organization comes back again? Master Ji Lu is very strong but not ridiculously strong. If something unexpected really happens..."

"Ok."

Ino couldn't argue with him, but suddenly she thought this wasn't a bad idea. Going on a mission together would be a novelty. She actually wanted to say that it would be dangerous for him to go, too.

But after thinking about it, I was afraid that he would hit back, so I didn't say it out loud.

In a blink of an eye, we arrived at the door of the mountain flower shop.

"I'm going back." Ino lowered her head and said slowly.

"Okay, see you tomorrow." He waved.

The next day.

Naruto packed his ninja bag early, took a shower after morning exercise, changed his clothes, and went out. Today was the day for a mission, heading to the Fire Temple to investigate the whereabouts of the Undead Duo.

If the purpose is just to investigate, the mission is not really dangerous. If you accidentally run into two people, you just need to retreat.

But the problem is that Asuma is too valuable, the 35 million taels that were moved. It was all because of the bad debt Asuma left when he was young, and he had to go with Dilu to be the daimyo's personal bodyguard.

In the end, instead of making a name for himself, he got himself into a lot of trouble. He returned to Konoha dejectedly and returned to the arms of his father, the Hokage.

As soon as Naruto left, Kyuubi slowly got up from the sofa, stood on the ground for a few seconds, then skillfully opened the balcony window and ran out.

The sun was blazing outside, and Ninetails skillfully leaped over several rooftops. It couldn't remember the route, as its body was completely shrunken, and everything looked like a tall building.

I only vaguely remembered a direction, so I started walking in a straight line, leaping over buildings as I came across them, following rooftops and crossing dead-end alleys, finally coming to a stop beside a tall, simple wall.

It howled, like a wolf or a fox...but not like a dog.

After a long time, the gate of the Hyuga base opened. A young girl walked out. Hinata had grown taller and was no longer as thin as before.

She was about 1.60 meters tall, and probably tall because of her thin build. Her short hair had grown longer and now draped softly over her shoulders.

His forehead still had the same curly bangs, and his eyes were soft and gentle. He looked around as if searching for something, and when he saw the crouching Nine-Tailed Fox, he couldn't help but smile.

"I brought this for you today." Hinata said with a smile, taking out a small wine flask from behind her.

The wine jug was funnel-shaped, with a narrow mouth, and its actual capacity was only about the size of two fists. Even if it was full, it wouldn't hold much wine, not even half a bottle of Nine-Tailed Fox's wine.

Unfortunately, the wine in Hinata's hand was expensive, and Naruto would not buy it normally, nor could he buy wine supplied through special channels. Kyuubi wanted to drink it, and he couldn't complain about the small amount.

Although it had tried to protest, the woman in front of it would always say softly, "No, you can't drink too much. You won't be able to bear it."

Kyuubi felt depressed, thinking that he drank eight or nine bottles of wine a day, so how could he not be able to handle it.

But it couldn't really speak. If it scared her, this daily guarantee would be ruined. Drinking is so good, it's a beautiful thing.

I forgot who told me that, but that little brat kept saying some incomprehensible things, and it was also led astray by them.

Anyway, as long as there is wine to drink.

At first, it was a little annoyed by Hinata crouching next to it and chattering, but later it got used to it. Occasionally, it would even respond, probably just raising its paw to shake hands, and the woman would be very happy.

Humph, simple-minded slave.

"You came so early today." Hinata touched the Nine-Tailed Fox's head and took out a white jade plate, which was so expensive that it made people doubt their lives.

If Naruto were here, he would definitely kick the Nine-Tails away and then play with the plate lovingly. Some things can't be bought with money, but the eldest princess of the Hyuga family can take them out at will.

The Hyuga family is wealthy and has a deep foundation.

Hinata thought it was inconvenient for the foxhound to keep drinking from the bottle, and since she couldn't find a suitable dish, she just grabbed something from home.

She carefully poured the wine into the white jade dish. The dish was shallow, only enough for a few sips. Kyuubi leaned over the edge and licked it with satisfaction.

The aroma of wine is overflowing and the sun is setting.

Hinata squatted there, looking small, watching Kyuubi tasting the wine with undivided attention. She was mumbling something, occasionally smiling.

The smile is very pure and the eyes are soft.

"I actually have a mission today, but Shino and the others said I don't need to go there specially, they will come over in the afternoon. Everyone is taking good care of me. Although I have become stronger, I still feel that the training is not enough."

The Nine-Tailed Fox looked up, and Hinata was stunned for a moment. She actually read doubt in a dog's eyes. She was going crazy.

The foxhound that Naruto-kun raised doesn’t seem to be a ninja dog. Can it really understand?

She was nervous for a moment, but quickly dismissed the idea. She saw Kyuubi lower his head again.

Chapter 224 Hymn to the Evil God

Jiuwei thought to himself that this person was really weird. What’s the point of becoming stronger? It would be better to drink some wine.

Hinata had no idea what Kyuubi was thinking, but she watched him patiently as he finished the wine on the plate. Then, he muttered a few more words, stood up, and waved goodbye.

After drinking his fill, Kyuubi returned to the apartment with familiarity. After walking a few steps, he turned his head and looked back at the Hyuga residence with a thoughtful expression on his face.

It had already drunk quite a bit of wine from Hinata, though not a lot each time. The quality was high. If it had been large enough to satisfy its hunger, it would have already found another wise master.

I want to drink, and that woman seems to like that brat. If I can make that woman happy, maybe... Kyuubi shook his head, thinking of a feasible plan.

A few more days passed.

The Fire Temple welcomed the ninjas of Konoha. Di Lu walked out of the hall which had not yet been renovated and met everyone with a serious face.

Asuma followed the monk into the back hall, and Naruto followed behind, glancing back at the dilapidated walls. He had an idea of ​​the Undead Duo's combat power, and his body subconsciously tensed up.

Mixed with some excitement, he finally encountered the Akatsuki organization again after more than a year. Even if there were traces left by the immortal duo, he was mentally prepared.

He will definitely take revenge for the blows inflicted by Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame.

However, the two were probably currently trying to capture the Five-Tails. After all, their attempt to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had failed unexpectedly. Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki couldn't possibly be taking a break. The Five-Tails was the best target right now.

"What's wrong with you?" Ino pulled him, "What were you looking at just now?"

"Nothing." He waved his hand. "Just taking a look. The people from Akatsuki are really dangerous."

"Yeah." Ino quickly glanced at the collapsed temple wall and her expression changed.

Her understanding of Akatsuki only stayed at the level of their powerful rebel ninjas. It was difficult for her to understand the horror of the immortal duo just by listening to Asuma's simple description.

But the ruins before our eyes were real. The temple walls that had not yet been repaired looked like huge wounds that had been torn open, and they looked extremely hideous and terrifying.

The two men lowered their heads and followed the team, and followed the instructions to enter the back hall to have tea.

It was called the rear hall, but in reality, half of it had been destroyed. It was rickety and shaky, like a dangerous building. A few people took a break for tea in the less dangerous side hall, where the curling white smoke revealed Di Lu's serious face.

"They came for me."

Naruto's mouth twitched, and he thought to himself, "Even a blind man could see that. Master Dilu, there's no need to act like a tough guy anymore."

Master, you've already called for help from Lao Ma, and you're still pretending to be awesome.

Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino were unaware of Dilu's bold personality. They all sat upright, as if they had a heavy responsibility on their shoulders.

Asma's expression changed, but it was clear that something was wrong; he seemed to be enduring it. He must have known the nature of this once bohemian, freedom-loving monk who worked two jobs a year.

But in front of her disciples, Lao Ma couldn't help but spoil her friend's joke. She lit a cigarette and pretended not to hear anything.

"But I wasn't there at the time and happened to leave the Fire Temple." Di Lu sighed and said, "If I had left a few days later, the Fire Temple wouldn't have become what it is now."

Hearing this, Naruto's eyelids twitched slightly. He thought to himself, if you had walked slower, you would have turned into 30 million taels of cash.

"More than ten days have passed now, and the two people from Akatsuki have no intention of returning. They may have given up." Di Lu continued.

"Although the specific purpose of this organization is unclear, I heard that they have accepted many bounty-bearing missions, probably to raise money for something."

"Cough cough." Naruto couldn't hold it anymore and coughed.

Realizing that all eyes were focused on him, he quickly dismissed the thought of 600 billion detonating talismans from his mind.

"Well, I'm going to the toilet."

........

With a splash, Naruto finished draining the water, but he didn't rush back. He could ask Ino directly about what Dilu said later.

He jumped onto the towering stone pillar and used the momentum to leap onto the crown of an ancient tree that was taller than the temple. From his high vantage point, he looked down at the landscape surrounding the Fire Temple.

This place is still some distance away from Konoha. If we don't find too many clues in this investigation, we will have to return to Konoha directly before the mission expires.

When he jumped down, he saw Ino walking towards him from a distance.

Naruto asked with a smile as he walked over.

"Why did you come out too?"

"Master Jilu said that those two from the Akatsuki organization might come back, and it's not safe outside either." Ino said, with her hands behind her back. "Asuma-sensei is smoking inside, and I'm feeling a bit stuffy, so I came out to get some fresh air."

"Are you worried about me?" Naruto tilted his head.

"No!" Ino retorted.

"What does it say?"

"Nothing much, I can't explain it clearly. Master Di Lu was not in the temple at that time. Most of the monks who witnessed the incident died, and not many survived." She said.

"All the clues are gone?" Naruto was stunned.