Neji frowned slightly at Naruto's antics."You've grown taller," he said coolly, "but your heart is the same as it was two and a half years ago."
"What?!" This time, even Naruto could feel the sting in his tone.
Neji didn't bother softening his words. "I've heard you've grown stronger training under Lord Jiraiya. But teamwork—the kind forged only through missions—you're still at a Genin's level."
Gasps rose from the audience."Wait—this Naruto is Jiraiya's disciple?!""Jiraiya? The Jiraiya of the Legendary Sannin?!"
Jiraiya raised his wine cup, looking anything but surprised. "That kid? Yeah, he's my student."
Tsunade snorted. "No wonder he's such a blockhead—turns out he's that idiot's disciple."
Minato's smile lit up with relief. "That's wonderful, Naruto."
Kushina, however, bit her lip. "Just… don't let Jiraiya-sensei lead you astray."
Naruto, hearing all of this, couldn't help blurting out: "Kakashi-sensei, who's Jiraiya? And what does Sannin even mean?"
Kakashi scratched his head awkwardly. "Hard to sum that up. Didn't you learn it in history class?"
Neji gave a curt nod, backing him up. "We did. Seems the sky's judgment was right—your brain really isn't that sharp."
"You bastard!" Naruto snapped, bristling with fury.
Kakashi quickly restrained him. "Listen, Naruto. Jiraiya-sama is the student of the Third Hokage… and the master of the Fourth Hokage."
Naruto's anger vanished instantly, his face lighting up. Wiping his nose with his sleeve, he grinned. "Whoa! That's awesome! He's the teacher of my idol, the Fourth Hokage! Then I'll totally let him guide me!"
Sasuke, unable to stomach Naruto's smug expression—and with his own future hanging in the balance—snorted. "Don't get carried away, loser. Even if one of the Sannin takes you in, with that brain of yours you won't learn much."
"Oh yeah? You wanna fight, Sasuke?!"
Neji cut through their bickering. "Enough. Remember, our mission is to protect the client. Do not stray from that."
"Neji's the team leader, right." Sakura and Lee chimed in. "Then let's work together with Konoha's team spirit!"
"Y-Yeah, yeah." Naruto replied lazily—only for Sakura to yank his ear and snap, "Once is enough!"
"Ow, ow, ow! I get it, I get it!" he howled.
Neji sighed, exasperated.
The audience buzzed."Those two seem closer than normal teammates… are they a couple?""Reminds me of when my mom scolds my dad for leaving socks everywhere.""This Hyūga boy looks so helpless… poor kid.""Even if he's a jōnin, he's still only fifteen or sixteen. You can't expect him to manage everything like the veterans."
Naruto was just about to puff himself up proudly at the comments when Sakura shrieked. "What?! Why are people pairing me with Naruto?!"
Naruto drooped immediately. "Sakura… you're so cruel…"
Meanwhile, on Team 10, Ino smirked. "Big Forehead must be fuming! Pairing her with Naruto… hah, that means Sasuke's mine!"
Shikamaru gave her a dead-fish stare. "Women are such a drag."
On Team 8, Hinata fiddled with her fingers, whispering softly, "Na-Naruto-kun…"
Kurenai sighed, patting her student's shoulder helplessly.
Back in the Hokage's office, Shizune frowned. "Is this really okay?"
Tsunade misunderstood at first, thinking she meant the mission. "Neji's Byakugan makes him excellent at reconnaissance, and as a jōnin his calm judgment makes him ideal for protection. He's the perfect candidate for this assignment."
Shizune shook her head. "I'm not worried about Neji, Rock Lee, or Sakura. It's Naruto…"
"He failed the guard detail course," Shizune reminded her. "Even training under Jiraiya only sharpens personal strength—it doesn't teach responsibility."
Tsunade countered firmly. "There are things training can't teach. No matter the situation, Naruto never gives up. That tenacity… it's rare. No matter the obstacles, this mission will succeed."
The crowd reacted again."Hah, everyone knows Naruto's unreliable.""Don't say that—he's Jiraiya's disciple, after all. Even Shizune admitted his combat power's decent.""If the Hokage trusts him, it's not just because of Jiraiya.""The Hokage wouldn't assign him if he weren't fit. Don't underestimate her judgment.""And yet, he was killed by that monster in the end.""That's pointless to say now."
Naruto forced himself not to react anymore, but Minato and Kushina, watching, grew only more worried.
That night, in a dimly lit camp, Huang Quan sat cross-legged on a wide chair, eyes closed. "Where are the four?"
At once, four figures knelt before him. "Awaiting your orders before the Emperor."
"Then go," Huang Quan commanded, his voice cold. "Head to the Land of Demons. Kill the priestess who inherited the sealing technique."
As he raised his left hand, four grotesque, snake-like tendrils slithered from his sleeve, plunging into the chest of the squad leader. "Take this power. Only you can control it."
The man shuddered, body convulsing, then steadied himself with a nod.
Huang Quan slumped against the armrest, his body trembling, the toll evident. "Hurry… even this vessel can't resist the ghost's corruption much longer."
The audience whispered in shock."He's fighting on two fronts? Waging war on the nations while sending assassins against the shrine maiden of the Ghost Country?""I told you—he's not loyal to the Ghost. If I were that spirit, I'd destroy the shrine maiden first instead of trying to conquer the world."