Chapter 111 – Fire God Kagura
"Two million? Where did you get two million?"
Tsunade asked in confusion.
Naruto was still a Genin; even if he had completed two A-rank missions above his level, after the team split the reward proportionally, there was no way they could scrape together two million.
"This shop is a joint venture between me, Hinata, and Sasuke,"
Naruto explained.
A smile appeared on Tsunade's face.
Jiraiya was always worried Naruto's personality would go astray—look at him now, thinking of his friends in everything.
"I can agree to your terms."
Two million was equivalent to the pay for two S-rank missions—not exactly small change.
Besides, what she had to do was simple: provide one photo and one line of ad copy.
Tsunade had long felt Konoha owed Naruto, so she didn't overthink it and readily agreed to become the cola spokesperson.
Of course, it had to be Naruto asking; if Jiraiya had made the same request, the price would have been at least two hundred million.
"Thank you, Sister Tsunade."
By Naruto's previous-life standards, two million was a bit of a rip-off.
But if he'd asked for twenty or even two hundred million, Tsunade would definitely have gotten suspicious.
After all, three brats opening a shop and spending that much on an endorsement—had they lost their minds?
You could only say Ninja didn't understand the twists and turns of marketing.
"Tsunade, I'm coming in."
A moment after Naruto left, Jiraiya's voice rang out.
Tsunade clenched her fist and slammed it into his chest, snarling, "Perfect timing!"
Boom.
Jiraiya was embedded in the wall.
"Hokage-sama, what happened?"
Two Anbu burst in, saw Jiraiya, and muttered, "Uh… we didn't see anything."
Jiraiya raised a trembling right hand, bewildered. "I haven't even done anything—why'd you hit me?"
"Hah, you don't know what you've done?"
Tsunade rubbed her wrist and asked with a cold laugh, "Did you borrow money from Naruto?"
Jiraiya was stunned.
If you counted borrowing, he'd only mooched a bowl of ramen from Naruto.
A hundred ryo—you wouldn't even spot me, and you still tattled?
Naruto, you're too much!
"Jiraiya!"
Seeing his expression, Tsunade slammed the desk. "You'd stoop to this? You're despicable!"
"…"
Jiraiya shrank his neck.
He felt wronged!
But Tsunade was clearly furious, stressed lately, and he had prior convictions—she wouldn't hear his explanation.
This black pot landed on him harder than on Danzo.
"Hmph!"
Tsunade felt much better now and returned to normal. "What did you come for?"
Jiraiya crawled out of the wall, leaving a human-shaped hole.
"It's about Naruto."
He'd taken a punch but was fine—Tsunade had clearly held back.
"I heard Danzo's been pressuring you lately."
"That guy couldn't hold back the moment sensei died."
Tsunade's brows knitted at the name, clearly annoyed. "He actually said the Root should protect Naruto."
When Hiruzen Sarutobi was alive, a single 'I am the Hokage' could keep Danzo in check.
But Tsunade obviously didn't carry that weight.
Because Danzo believed his strength far surpassed hers, he naturally felt no fear.
"He's a founding elder of Konoha; I can't outmaneuver him."
Tsunade sighed.
Danzo had been five when Konoha was founded.
In other words, he'd seen too much, knew Konohatoo well, and his methods outclassed hers.
The two hokage advisors could barely help her against him.
Jiraiya nodded; even he might not handle the Hokage seat better than Tsunade.
"If I hadn't found a billion-ryo handle on Danzo, we'd already be in trouble."
Tsunade's expression remained grim.
A billion was only a stain on Danzo; it wouldn't topple him.
And his reasoning was perfectly sound.
As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto naturally needed the highest-level protection.
After Orochimaru's invasion, the Anbu and many Jonin had suffered losses; only Root had kept all its strength.
But whether because of Danzo's criminal record or Naruto's ties to her and Jiraiya, Tsunade could never hand him over to Root.
"I'll take him out of the village."
Jiraiya pondered and said.
Tsunade's gaze sharpened—that was indeed an option.
"Wait a bit longer; if it really comes to it, you take him out."
She had some idea of Naruto's strength, but without real battle experience he was still a greenhouse flower.
Letting him brave the world would do him good.
After leaving the Hokage Building, Narutosuddenly thought of something.
Why hadn't the achievement 'Tsunade the Gambling Goddess' triggered yet?
Was the count still insufficient?
You could tell from her napping at her desk just now.
She'd clearly been swamped lately.
Naruto suddenly stopped.
A huge poster was plastered on the bookstore in front of him.
New masterpiece by the legendary Sannin Jiraiya: interspecies reviewers guide!
Naruto blinked at the title.
Classic Jiraiya.
He thought for a moment, used Transformation Jutsu, and entered the shop.
Naruto had zero interest in this kind of novel.
But Jiraiya's inspiration had come from him.
How well was it written? Let this teacher judge—he couldn't let his pupil lose face.
Jiraiya's novels sold like hotcakes across the Ninja World.
Naruto didn't even need to ask to spot the new book.
He opened the cover—and his grin froze.
[Special thanks to my disciple Uzumaki Naruto for the inspiration; without him this book would not exist.]
Damn!
Jiraiya, what are you doing?
You shameless—I've got a reputation!
You back-stabbed me?
Naruto's hands trembled as he clutched the book.
If Hinata saw this, the image he'd built would crumble overnight.
Some men are alive, yet already dead.
Naruto had the urge to burn the bookstore down.
Stay calm.
The world is beautiful; I'm this irritable—bad, very bad.
Grinding his teeth, Naruto left the bookstore.
Jiraiya's name filled an entire page of his grudge book.
Just you wait!
A good kid like Hinata would never read this stuff.
I've still got a chance.
Naruto consoled himself—things weren't that terrible.
Back in Konoha he resumed training with Six Ears.
He kept at it until nightfall.
Remembering he had two more card draws, he splashed water on his face.
[Drawing card… Congratulations, host: obtained item card.]
Gold.
Naruto's eyes lit up—his luck had been pretty good lately.
He flipped the card; the info popped up.
[item card: Fire God Kagura (Modified).]
[Description: Permanent item. From Demon Slayer: Tanjiro family's hereditary kagura dance, offered to the Fire God for peace, also a breathing style with thirteen forms.]
[Note: Especially effective against things that should be dead yet still walk the earth.]
I've discovered transitions are the hardest to write.