[Seeing Naruto's behavior, Neji frowned slightly. "You've gotten taller, but inside you're still the same as two and a half years ago."]
["What?!" Even Naruto could pick up on the change in Neji's tone.]
[Neji didn't care about Naruto's feelings and said calmly, "I did hear that you got stronger training with Lord Jiraiya, but your teamwork—something that can only be honed on missions—is still at the level of a Genin."]
["Eh! That Naruto kid is Jiraiya's student?!"]
["Jiraiya! That's one of the Legendary Sannin, right?!"]
Jiraiya, lifting his cup, grinned. "So that kid became my student, huh?"
Tsunade snorted dismissively. "No wonder he looks so clueless—he's that idiot's disciple."
Minato Namikaze smiled warmly. "That's great, Naruto!"
Kushina, however, looked a bit worried. "I just hope Jiraiya-sensei doesn't corrupt him."
Naruto also saw these comments and turned to Kakashi. "Kakashi-sensei, who is Jiraiya? And what does Sannin mean?"
Kakashi scratched his head. "That's a bit complicated. You should've learned it in the academy's history class!"
Neji nodded in agreement. "It's true, you should know. Looks like my comment on the screen was right—your brain's not that great."
"What did you say?!" Naruto exploded.
Kakashi held him down again and explained patiently, "Lord Jiraiya was a student of the Third Hokage and also the master of the Fourth Hokage."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Wow! That's amazing! He was my idol the Fourth Hokage's teacher? Then of course I'll let him train me!"
Unable to stand Naruto's smug face—and frustrated by the uncertainty of his own future—Sasuke couldn't resist sniping at him. "Don't get cocky, dead last! Even if you're trained by a Sannin, with that brain of yours, you'll never learn anything!"
"Oh, shut up, Sasuke! Wanna fight?!"
[After scolding Naruto, Neji reiterated to the team, "Listen carefully—our mission is to protect the VIP. Don't leave their side."]
["Neji's the team leader, right?" "Yeah, let's do our best with the Konoha teamwork spirit!" Sakura and Lee both chimed in to Naruto.]
["Yeah… yeah." Naruto responded half-heartedly, baring his teeth. Sakura couldn't stand it and grabbed his ear, shouting angrily, "Answer properly—once is enough!"]
[Naruto screamed and quickly apologized. Neji sighed helplessly as the team leader.]
["The way those two interact… it feels more like a couple than teammates."]
["Looks like my mom scolding my dad for leaving his socks everywhere."]
["That Hyuga kid looks so exasperated—imagine having to deal with a hyperactive teammate like that."]
["He's a Jonin, but he's only fifteen or sixteen—he's not as experienced as the old Jonin."]
Naruto was about to get smug reading those comments, but Sakura suddenly shrieked, "Nooo! Why are they shipping me and Naruto! What nonsense is this?!"
Naruto's mood deflated instantly. "Sakura, that's way too harsh!"
Over in Team Ten, Ino smirked mischievously. "That big forehead's probably going crazy right now. Let's just ship her with Naruto—then Sasuke's all mine! Hahahaha!"
Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "Women are such a pain."
In Team Eight, Hinata clutched her chest, shyly touching her index fingers together. "Naruto-kun…"
Kurenai looked on helplessly and gently patted Hinata's shoulder.
["Are you sure about this?" Back in the Hokage's office, Shizune asked Tsunade.]
[Tsunade misunderstood her concern as being about the mission. "Neji's got the Byakugan—he's a great information gatherer. As a Jonin with good judgment, he's the best choice to protect the VIP."]
["No, I'm not worried about Neji, Lee, or Sakura." Shizune dismissed the three. Tsunade immediately knew what she meant. "Naruto, huh…"]
["His guard skills were below average. Even with Jiraiya's training, that only boosted his personal combat strength." Shizune explained her concerns.]
[Tsunade, however, had a different view. "There are things you can't learn in training. No matter the situation, he never gives up—that's a rare quality. No matter the obstacle, this mission has to succeed."]
["Haha! Looks like everyone knows Naruto's not reliable."]
["Hey, come on—he's Jiraiya's student, after all. The Hokage's assistant even said his combat power is solid."]
["The Hokage really trusts him. It's not just because of Jiraiya."]
["If the mission was assigned, it means the Hokage judged he was suitable. Don't underestimate the Hokage's decisions!"]
["In the end, Mōryō's gonna kill him anyway."]
["That's just cold."]
Naruto didn't even react to these comments anymore, but Minato and Kushina grew even more worried reading them.
[Night fell. In a shabby camp, Yomi sat cross-legged in a wide chair with his eyes closed. "Where are the Four?"]
[At his order, the four he'd shown before knelt before him. "Ready at your command."]
["Head for the Land of Demons immediately and kill the priestess who inherited the sealing jutsu." Yomi issued Mōryō's orders. Then he raised his left hand and four hideous snake-like tentacles shot out of his sleeve and drilled into the body of the leader of the four. "Take this with you—you're the only one who can control it. Now go."]
[After that, Yomi slumped against the chair, his face weary. "Hurry up," he muttered. Even the body he'd specially prepared couldn't fully withstand Mōryō's soul.]
["So Yomi's fighting on two fronts—attacking the nations and sending his men to kill the priestess!"]
["See? I told you this guy and Mōryō aren't really on the same page. If I were Mōryō, I'd get rid of the priestess first, not rush to conquer the world."]
(To be continued)