Under Naruto's high-intensity 'training', Konohamaru and Sakura finally experienced the true meaning of death.
If not for Naruto pulling out healing items at the last second, they would probably have had to stay in the hospital for half a month.
However, due to Naruto recklessly piloting his Summoned Beast to cause massive destruction in Konoha Village, the Anbu's members once again dragged both him and Jiraiya to the Hokage's Office.
As his teacher, Jiraiya certainly could not escape the responsibility.
With this, Hiruzen was forced to meet Jiraiya.
Then, Hiruzen ordered the two to repair all the damaged areas.
And, as a punishment, without using shadow clones, the master and disciple were ordered to clean the men's bathhouse in Konoha Village.
"You damn brat!"
"I was away for only half a day..."
"Look at what you did!!"
Jiraiya suddenly threw the mop in his hand to the ground, pointed at Naruto and started scolding him.
Although he likes places like bathhouses, but that didn't mean he enjoyed cleaning them.
Moreover, it's a men's bathhouse!
Jiraiya felt very wronged.
He'd spent the afternoon napping peacefully somewhere, without even taking out the crystal ball to peek at girls, but then he was dragged into the Hokage's Office and scolded alongside Naruto.
"I was just giving special training to Sakura-Bro and Konohamaru!"
"And it's at my own training ground!"
"I... I have done nothing wrong!"
Naruto spoke righteously, his expression serious yet a little smug.
To be honest, he was in a pretty good mood after getting his revenge.
Things like going to the bathhouse can be considered as daily training. It's easier than dragging a tree anyway.
"You… "
"How dare you say that!!"
"Then why did you let Bunta draw his sword!?"
"Do you know how many buildings in Konoha had collapsed?!"
Jiraiya was so angry that he couldn't stand steadily, so he found a wall to sit against. Just looking at Naruto made his head throb.
If he didn't keep this kid in check, he was really worried that Naruto would get into trouble again and implicate him.
He really wanted to ask Minato and Kushina...
'Why is this kid's personality even more difficult to deal with than Kushina's?'
"Just a few buildings..."
"I already paid to get them new ones out of my own pocket."
Naruto stood with his hands on his hips, completely unrepentant, which made Jiraiya's blood pressure skyrocketed again.
"You…"
Jiraiya's eyes bulged and he opened his mouth, but no words came out for a long time.
He really wanted to take this up with Kakashi and Hiruzen now.
Especially Kakashi!
Just like Hiruzen, he has been avoiding him!
Rubbing his temples, Jiraiya exhaled sharply and forced himself to speak calmly, "Fine. Let's drop it."
"I'm taking this punishment with you, so I hope you can learn from this lesson and don't make the same mistake again next time."
"Also, next time, don't use Summoning Technique inside the village."
"Do you get it?"
"Oh. Next time, for sure."
Naruto nodded obediently, promising he wouldn't repeat his mistakes.
"Good. Let's finish this quickly so we can get out of here tonight."
Jiraiya smiled with relief, and suddenly felt that Naruto might still be salvageable.
'At least this kid can still listen to what I say.'
At night, under the dim bathhouse lights, the shadows of master and disciple stretched across the wet tiles.
From outside, their laughter could even be heard...
…
"Grandpa! Grandpa!"
"Do you know the Summoning Technique?"
"I want to learn it!"
Late at night, Hiruzen had just finished his work and returned home when he saw his grandson, Konohamaru, running up to him and shouting excitedly.
The moment he heard 'Summoning Technique', Hiruzen's vision nearly went dark.
When Naruto learned Summoning Technique, he had destroyed a large area of the forest in the village, also destroying eight houses and seven stores.
Thankfully, most people had either been away or reacted quickly, otherwise, the casualties would have been catastrophic.
And he really doesn't know how to clean up the mess.
Now…
Konohamaru also started clamoring to learn Summoning Technique...
Hiruzen's blood pressure rose again, and he quickly took out the remaining medicines from his pocket and swallowed them dry.
Then, he looked at Konohamaru and spoke earnestly, "Konohamaru..."
"You're still too young to learn the Summoning Technique."
"Grandpa probably doesn't have many years left anyway. When the time comes, I'll pass down the Summoning Technique and the clan's Ninjutsu to you."
Hiruzen said with a kind smile.
Lately, for some reason, he always had a premonition that he would not live long.
"Great! Grandpa, you're the best!"
When Konohamaru heard this, he wiped his nose excitedly and hopped around Hiruzen in circles.
Hiruzen stroked his beard gently, his face full of love and affection, and he kept sighing in his heart.
'Konohamaru really is such a sensible child...'
But just a few seconds after he sighed, Hiruzen heard Konohamaru say something that made his blood pressure soar.
"Grandpa, so when are you gonna die?"
"You little brat!"
Hiruzen showed a bitter smile, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He raised his hand and knocked Konohamaru on the head.
Then, with his hands clasped behind his back, he started walking home.
Konohamaru rubbed his head and grinned.
He knew that his grandfather loved him the most.
Looking at his grandfather's frail figure, he quickly caught up to him, jumping up and down at Hiruzen's feet.
"Grandpa, let me tell you..."
"Naruto Aniki is so amazing."
"Thanks to his training, I've gotten way stronger lately..."
…
Late at night, at the bathhouse, Naruto and Jiraiya had finally finished cleaning every men's bath in the village.
Jiraiya looked at Naruto, who was sitting next to him, and stood up by holding his knees.
"Hey, Naruto."
"Want some popsicles?"
"Huh?"
"Wait here."
Jiraiya patted Naruto's shoulder with a bright grin, and then swaggered out of the bathhouse in his wooden sandals.
Naruto was slightly stunned when he looked at the back of the white-haired old man, and a smile unconsciously appeared on the corner of his mouth.
"Na… Ru… To..."
Just then, a familiar voice called his name from the shadows.
Naruto looked towards the corner speechlessly, "White-haired uncle..."
"Did you leave your vocal cords at home?"
The white-haired Kakashi's head peeked out from around the corner. When he poked his head out, he looked around for fear that another white-haired man might be here.
"Naruto, uh..."
"Isn't Jiraiya-sama here?"
"He went to buy stuff."
"Why're you sneaking around so late?"
When Naruto saw Kakashi's cautious demeanor, he knew that he didn't dare to meet Jiraiya.
Even when he needed something from Naruto, he had to sneak around like a thief.
"That..."
"About the steaks and the statue..."
Kakashi scratched his cheek awkwardly. After all, it had just been a while since he came to find Naruto last time, and today, he came to find this kid again. So he felt a little guilty.
However, after Kakashi met his father again and chatted with him for a few minutes, Kakashi became more convinced of the effectiveness of Naruto's steak.
This time, he wants to use the steak to see if he can find Obito...
Hearing this, Naruto had a strange expression on his face. He looked up and down at Kakashi, and really didn't know whether he should explain the situation to Kakashi.
'This guy…'
'Could it be that this white-haired slacker is addicted to dying?'
'I wonder how monster geezer Six Paths would react when he saw a white-haired person constantly shuttling between life and death?'
"Sigh…"
"Kakashi-sensei, you really shouldn't eat these too often."
Still, Naruto took out the steak and the Totem of Undying and gave them to Kakashi.
"Yeah, don't worry."
"I know what I'm doing."
Kakashi took the items, waved goodbye, hugged the statue and quickly left the scene.