Actually, they might not have lacked such ideas. However, opportunity also comes with danger. Not many people thought of this, and fewer still were qualified to make such a decision.
Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi indeed brought forth his authority as the longest-serving Hokage. Honestly, such a matter was most fitting for Hiruzen Sarutobi to handle. Other ninjas would find it difficult to propose such an idea. After all, Luffy, an outsider, held too many secrets, and what might be triggered might not necessarily be a good thing beneficial to Konoha... In any case.
Now that the Hokage had made his decision, the other clan heads, after careful deliberation, felt that they truly couldn't respond to the worst-case scenario that might occur. As for Luffy, he slept through most of the entire meeting. Of course, even if Luffy heard the parts related to him, he probably wouldn't care. He was just that kind of person.
Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, having dealt with many such cases, had already pretty much figured out Luffy's temper. As long as there wasn't direct, and repeated, malice, Luffy probably wouldn't care. Just like the Hokage this time, being direct and openly stating his plan, might even earn Luffy's active help and support!
After all, Konoha wanted to research Luffy's abilities, even his power system. And Luffy also wanted to see the skills of the ninjas in this world, who were completely different from those in his own!
...
"Huh? What? I'm already your village's 'Honorary Elder'?!" "What do you mean…?" "What do you mean 'Honorary Elder'?"
After Luffy sobered up, facing the excited Naruto, he himself, the one who experienced it firsthand, was completely bewildered. Just now, some influential figures in Konoha Village gathered for a meeting, and he was dragged along.
But he didn't grasp any of the meeting's spirit. He even almost forgot everyone's self-introductions at the beginning, these ninjas from Konoha. Some important matters, he even had to learn through a third party.
For example, the matter of him becoming Konoha Village's Honorary Elder... "Oh... this 'Honorary Elder'... should mean a very honored elder, right?"
Alright, Luffy was confused, and Naruto here wasn't too clear either. The two of them widened their eyes, and after a while, they simply stopped thinking about these messy things.
"In short, Mr. Luffy, you can stay in the village for a while… No, you can stay for as long as you want, and you're absolutely free!" Naruto looked genuinely proud.
"Oh, right, right! I can stay here for a while. This village doesn't just have Ichiraku Ramen, right? I can try other food!" Luffy kept thinking about this matter.
Since it had already been decided to keep Luffy, Konoha Village naturally did their best to provide him with everything. They even specifically allocated an area in the village for Luffy to move around in, a special resting place.
But of course, it was a bit further from the core inner areas. After all, that place had been inhabited for many years already, and by noble families at that; they couldn't possibly drive them away to make space for Luffy.
At night, Luffy still had to be led by an Anbu ninja specially designated by the Hokage to find the residence provided to him by Konoha.
"Those people nearby, are they your comrades?" Luffy pointed around his residence, asking the Anbu ninja hidden in the shadows who had accompanied him.
"…Yes." That Anbu ninja had actually received orders from the Hokage to escort Luffy to his resting place and temporarily remain silent. Besides that, he didn't know any other intelligence, nor was he clear if there were other Anbu comrades assigned to protect him from the shadows or… do other things.
However, Luffy had just arrived here, yet he instantly spotted the Anbu members hiding in the shadows. It must be said, there was a reason why the Hokage and the others held this outsider in such high regard.
"You don't need to protect me! Didn't I already refuse Old Man Hokage?!"
Luffy pouted. As a pirate, and the top-tier kind at that, Luffy naturally enjoyed the feeling of being active and resting at sea, doing everything. However, this didn't mean he couldn't operate on land.
Throughout his adventures on the Grand Line, Luffy had no idea how many islands and countries he had visited. Many of them were vast nations and large islands.
What Luffy truly cared about wasn't actually his living or resting environment. Even delicious food could be put aside for a while. What Luffy truly cared about was the constant stimulation and adventure brought by danger! The Anbu ninja beside Luffy fell silent. After all, he wasn't sure if the Anbu hiding in the shadows had received other missions.
"Ugh… Alright, alright!" Luffy waved his hand. "I'll just walk the rest of the way myself. That's the house, right?"
The Anbu ninja, wearing a white rabbit mask, watched Luffy enter the house prepared for him, then quietly left his original position. His order was to escort Luffy into his residence.
However, since Luffy had already discovered the Anbu ninja hiding in the shadows, why did he still confidently enter that house? Was it because of his overwhelming strength and fearlessness? Or was there some other reason?
This Anbu ninja dared not neglect. He quickly went back to report what had happened here to Lord Hokage! To be honest, if Luffy hadn't discovered him beforehand, he probably would have had to get even closer to see those Anbu comrades himself.
As an Anbu member himself, he knew very well how to conceal himself and act, and even the formation of those few Anbu ninjas… It didn't look like protection at all…
Luffy went back to his residence, saying nothing more.
Naruto, on the other hand, was tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep. The big battle he witnessed during the day at Ichiraku Ramen, involving Luffy and Danzo, had truly shocked the heart of young Naruto! That was the true strength and power a powerful ninja should possess! When would he himself possess such power? Luffy tossed and turned in bed like a pancake.
As soon as he thought that tomorrow he would go to learn taijutsu and other combat skills from Mr. Luffy, he became so excited that he couldn't sleep all night. "Hoo-ah!"
Finally! Naruto couldn't hold back anymore. Although it was deep into the night, almost dawn, Naruto was still unwilling to wait any longer. He didn't want to waste these few hours!
He simply flipped out of bed, pushed open the door, and went out to find Mr. Luffy. "Let's start training!"
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