Chapter 664: Naruto fights Ninja Master?

“So, it’s my fight against Obito in the end. That’s a tricky ability.”

When Kakashi saw Obito win, he instinctively started thinking about how to counter Kamui’s intangibility.

But no matter how much Kakashi thought, he couldn’t come up with a good method.

Kamui was simply too powerful, the kind that was difficult to deal with even if you knew its information.

“Obito won, didn’t he? I feel like your decisive battle will be very exciting.” Rin Nohara said with a smile, her fingers intertwined.

She had seen Obito and Kakashi’s daily efforts, and no matter who won, she would be happy for them.

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it!” Yamato nodded.

After several months of schooling, having grown accustomed to the students’ clumsy fights, watching Ninja of Kakashi and Might Guy’s level fight was simply a pleasure.

“Don’t get your hopes up too soon, or it’ll be embarrassing if I lose terribly,” Kakashi sighed slightly.

“Uh, actually, I’m not looking forward to it at all,” Yamato immediately corrected himself.

“Not at all? That’s heartbreaking. You don’t really have me, your senior, in your heart, do you?” Kakashi sighed heavily.

Yamato: …

So what should he say?

“What a nice day. It feels perfect for ramen. If someone were to treat me to a bowl of ramen, maybe my mood would improve,” Kakashi said, looking up at the sky and sighing.

“I’ll treat you later,” Yamato said, pained.

As he wasn’t a Ninja, Yamato couldn’t earn money by completing missions.

His only income right now was the living allowance Muzuki gave him.

Muzuki actually gave him quite a lot, but Yamato was too embarrassed to take it all, only taking a portion.

That portion was enough for him to live on, and if he saved, he could even buy some snacks.

For his senior’s good mood, it was fine to skip the snacks.

Kakashi’s eyes instantly lit up, and he smiled as he patted Yamato’s shoulder, saying, “Yamato, you really are my cutest junior.”

It was Yamato’s turn to look distressed. He only hoped Kakashi would choose a normal ramen shop.

Rin Nohara looked at Yamato with a hint of pity. What an innocent child.

This was probably karma. In the future, Yamato would bully Kakashi, Kakashi would bully the current Yamato, and then the grown-up Yamato would travel back in time to bully young Kakashi.

Seeing Muzuki finish treating Obito, Rin Nohara walked over to Obito, bent her knees slightly, and extended her hand to Obito with a smile:

“Congratulations! You’re one step closer to your goal.”

At this moment, Obito was still immersed in the thrilling battle he had just experienced. Hearing Rin Nohara’s voice, he instinctively looked up and met her gaze, momentarily stunned.

He saw the slight upward curve at the corner of Rin Nohara’s eyes, the long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, and the sparkling, vibrant eyes that resembled two pools of spring water.

“Obito, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” Rin Nohara asked, shaking her arm in confusion.

“It’s warm,” Obito answered instinctively.

The sunlight filtering through the treetops fell on Rin Nohara, flickering and dancing on her shoulders. Her whole being seemed to glow with a warm light.

It made Obito feel warm all over, even a little hot.

Watching Rin Nohara’s smile gradually turn to confusion, Obito realized what he had said, and with a slight blush, he quickly grabbed Rin Nohara’s hand and stood up.

“I mean, I’m fine,” Obito corrected himself.

“Don’t push yourself. If you’re uncomfortable, you should say so,” Rin Nohara said earnestly.

“Mhm, mhm,” Obito nodded, then quickly walked to Kakashi’s side and sat down.

“That’s all for today. The last match will be tomorrow,” Muzuki said.

Under his protection, none of his disciples were seriously injured, but their spirit and energy were indeed significantly depleted and needed time to recover.

Anyway, Obito and the others had nothing else to do, so there was no rush to end the ranking battle.

Kakashi and Obito both nodded in agreement.

Obito wanted to defeat Kakashi when he was at his peak, feeling that it would be more satisfying.

Kakashi also didn’t mind having more time to think about tactics.

The ranking battle temporarily ended, but no one left the South Border Forest.

Those who were in good condition began to train, while those who couldn’t train chatted or asked Muzuki questions about their cultivation.

It wasn’t until noon, when Muzuki had to leave for something, and the disciples also needed to go for lunch, that they disbanded.

“This one will do.”

Kakashi randomly chose a decent-looking ramen shop on the commercial street and walked in with Yamato.

The first thing Yamato did upon entering was look at the menu posted on the wall.

“Vegetable Ramen 65 Ryo, Pork Bone Ramen 60 Ryo…” Yamato breathed a sigh of relief. He could afford these prices.

“Perhaps Senior Kakashi has been to this shop before and knew the prices were cheap, which is why he came here.”

Yamato felt a little touched and showed a slight smile.

“A large bowl of Miso Pork Special Ramen, please,” Kakashi called out to the owner.

Yamato’s expression stiffened. This was the most expensive bowl of noodles in the shop, eighty Ryo a bowl.

“Oh, and add an egg for me,” Kakashi added.

The slight warmth in Yamato’s heart cracked. An extra egg cost five Ryo.

“What are you having, Yamato?” Kakashi turned and asked Yamato.

Yamato glanced at the rice which only cost fifteen Ryo, but ultimately replied, “I’ll have a plate of fried noodles.”

It would be a bit strange to only eat plain white rice in the middle of the day. Although fried noodles were twenty-five Ryo more expensive than rice, they were still suitable for lunch.

After eating, Yamato tremblingly took out one hundred twenty-five Ryo from his small wallet and handed it to the ramen shop owner.

His monthly living allowance was two thousand Ryo, and this one meal cost him one hundred twenty-five Ryo, which truly pained him.

Looking at Yamato’s conflicted expression, Kakashi’s lips curled slightly. Hitting his head had a price.

“Are you busy next?” Kakashi asked Yamato.

“No, I’m not,” Yamato answered honestly.

To watch the internal battles of his seniors, he had declined all invitations from classmates and friends.

“Then come with me to the Ninja tool shop. I need to restock my Ninja tools,” Kakashi continued.

Yamato instinctively shielded his small wallet behind him.

“You don’t have to pay for the Ninja tools. What Ninja tools could you even buy with that little money?”

Yamato’s hanging heart settled.

“Is Senior Kakashi perhaps going to buy Ninja tools for me?”

Yamato nodded in anticipation and agreed, accompanying Kakashi to the Ninja tool shop.

Twenty minutes later, Yamato walked out of the Ninja tool shop with a large bag, his face covered in black lines. It turned out Kakashi just wanted him to help carry things.

Once Yamato delivered the items to Kakashi’s house, he said goodbye with a stern face: “Senior Kakashi, I’m going back.”

“Here, consider it payment for helping me carry things,” Kakashi took out two hundred fifty Ryo and handed it to Yamato.

How could he truly spend the money of a child who couldn’t earn money? He was just teasing Yamato.

Yamato’s expression shifted from surprise to a smile.

Senior Kakashi really did take special care of him!

…

After leaving the South Border Forest, Muzuki went to the conference room in the Hokage Building to attend a high-level meeting.

“The Shinobi Sect’s attitude is very strange right now. They are very unyielding, even with the Amegakure, they can barely muster two thousand Ninja at most,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said.

Ever since Orochimaru’s negotiation mission failed, Hiruzen Sarutobi had mobilized a large amount of intelligence to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the Shinobi Sect.

He not only investigated the Land of Rain but also small countries where Shinobi Sect Ninja were active, such as the Bird Country.

The more Hiruzen Sarutobi investigated, the more he felt that the Shinobi Sect was using a feint, because he couldn’t find any basis for their confidence.

They couldn’t possibly rely solely on Sōsuke, could they?

Sōsuke certainly had strength, capable of defeating Hanzō with Fire Release.

But one strong person couldn’t change the tide of a battle, unless that strong person was named Senju Hashirama or Uchiha Madara.

If Konoha went to war with the Shinobi Sect, Sōsuke’s best outcome would be to escape alone based on his strength.

Konoha also wasn’t afraid of a vengeful Sōsuke launching retaliatory attacks.

This was the foundation of a Great Shinobi Village. Konoha had too many secret techniques.

If Sōsuke dared to retaliate, Hiruzen Sarutobi could assemble an elite team to encircle and kill Sōsuke.

“Perhaps they’re gambling that we’ll play it safe and won’t make a big move at this time,” Homura Mitokado analyzed.

Homura Mitokado had to admit that the Shinobi Sect had gambled correctly. He didn’t know what Hiruzen Sarutobi was thinking, but Homura Mitokado indeed didn’t want another war.

To resolve the Shinobi Sect safely, at least a Ninja force of fifteen hundred or more would need to be assembled.

During this period, such a large-scale movement would be difficult to hide from the other Four Great Shinobi Villages.

“Could it be that Iwagakure is still up to no good and is secretly supporting the Shinobi Sect?” Utatane Koharu said.

She remembered that Iwagakure had cooperated with the Shinobi Sect, so perhaps the Shinobi Sect was specifically supported by Iwagakure to annoy Konoha.

“That’s probably not the case. If the Shinobi Sect and Iwagakure were on the same side, there’s no reason the Shinobi Sect wouldn’t have shown up during the last battle in the Land of Grass.”

Muzuki saw Utatane Koharu starting to theorize about conspiracies and stepped forward to speak for himself.

It didn’t really matter whether he spoke or not; he was just bored anyway.

“Muzuki is right. The Shinobi Sect, overall, is still a neutral force,” Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed.

This was also one of the reasons why he only wanted Sōsuke dead.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn’t actually dislike the Shinobi Sect. If Sōsuke hadn’t killed Danzo Shimura, but just a Jonin, he would have let it go.

Unfortunately, reality had no ‘ifs.’ Whether for Konoha’s prestige or personal grudges, this matter could not be easily overlooked.

“How about we release information about ‘Uchiha Madara,’ saying that new clues have been discovered and a new investigation has begun, and then we’ll deal with this matter when the time is right?” Homura Mitokado thought for a moment and said.

This way, Konoha’s reputation would be preserved, and it would be convenient to act later.

“I think it’s fine to remain silent and ignore it for now. Through these years of war, no one in the Ninja World is unaware of Konoha’s strength,” Utatane Koharu said.

Recently, Konoha’s mission requests had surged, with requests from various countries in the Ninja World pouring into Konoha.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a moment, then said, “This matter is of great importance and must be resolved quickly.”

“Change the negotiation terms to a challenge. After the battle, regardless of the outcome, Konoha will not pursue the Shinobi Sect’s responsibility.”

“A challenge to kill Sōsuke? His strength is not weak. Who should we send?” Homura Mitokado asked, frowning slightly.

Sōsuke had a reputation, and even if the Three Sannin were dispatched, the probability of completing the mission would be very low.

“Me,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said indifferently.

Given Sōsuke’s combat record, the Three Sannin wouldn’t be suitable; it could only be him or Muzuki.

Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu were both stunned.

“Hiruzen, don’t be impulsive. You are the Hokage; your actions affect everyone. How can you leave the village to fight for such a matter?” Homura Mitokado quickly advised.

He hadn’t expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to be so hot-headed, actually preparing to go himself.

“I understand your feelings. I also want to avenge Danzo, but revenge cannot be impulsive. How about we assemble a Ninja force to attack the Shinobi Sect?” Utatane Koharu followed up.

Compared to Hiruzen Sarutobi personally fighting Sōsuke, Utatane Koharu felt that assembling a Ninja force wasn’t out of the question.

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled, “Why are you so worried? Which Ninja in the Ninja World dares to say they can definitely win against me?”

Actually, he wasn’t as impulsive as his two Advisors thought. This was a method Hiruzen Sarutobi had considered carefully.

It avoided assembling a force for war and also perfectly leveraged his own strength to personally avenge Danzo Shimura.

Of course, as a Hokage, such behavior was indeed a bit self-indulgent.

Therefore, Hiruzen Sarutobi was very grateful to Muzuki; it was Muzuki who gave him the capital to be self-indulgent.

With Muzuki, Konoha’s rise was inevitable and would not change because of anyone’s unexpected circumstances.

Finally, it was his confidence in his own strength. He was the Professor of Ninjutsu who had mastered over a thousand Ninjutsu and secret techniques. He had defeated countless geniuses in his lifetime.

“Sandaime, this is somewhat inappropriate,” Muzuki also advised.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi truly challenged him, he could only suffer a crushing defeat.

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi’s kindness to him had multiple reasons, kindness was kindness, and Muzuki didn’t want to trouble Hiruzen Sarutobi too much.

“You don’t need to persuade me anymore; my mind is made up,” Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head.

He still remembered Danzo Shimura’s dying words entrusted to Muzuki, and Danzo Shimura’s appearance in death.

While Danzo Shimura had done many wrong things, his ultimate goal was to protect Konoha.

He didn’t want to let go of Sōsuke, who killed Danzo Shimura, nor did he want to affect Konoha’s development plan, so his personal action became the best choice.

“Hiruzen, you can’t be so autocratic!” Homura Mitokado was a bit anxious.

“Yes, if you’re not satisfied, we can continue to discuss. There’s no need to be so aggressive. How about letting Muzuki go?” Utatane Koharu followed up.

“As the Hokage, my authority is limitless! This matter is not open for further discussion,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said with Haki.

He called this meeting to inform Homura Mitokado and the others, not to genuinely discuss.

After speaking, Hiruzen Sarutobi walked directly out of the conference room and returned to the Hokage Office.

Sitting in his office chair, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed.

He was indeed so self-indulgent now that he felt somewhat unfamiliar with himself. He hadn’t been so impulsive even when he was eighteen.

Perhaps the visibly glorious future of Konoha gave him confidence.

Thump, thump.

The Hokage Office wooden door knocked. The Advisors knocked and entered the office, continuing to earnestly persuade: “Hiruzen, you…”

Or perhaps it was because Konoha had forever lost an Advisor who didn’t knock before entering the Hokage Office.