Naruto, You Need to Respect the Old and Love the Young

Hokage Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was holding his pipe in his mouth, staring intently at the scene inside the Crystal Ball.

Though he was getting on in years, he still liked things fragrant and alluring, if only to feast his eyes a little.

"Hey, old man!"

But just as he was absorbed in watching, a voice suddenly interrupted him at the worst possible time. He hurriedly grabbed a cloth and covered the Crystal Ball with it.

He turned his head and saw Jiraiya poking his head in through the window to greet him, only then climbing inside.

"You're back?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took two drags from the pipe hanging from his mouth to calm himself, then spoke helplessly.

"There's a front door and you refuse to use it, insisting on jumping through the window. Where did you pick up that rotten habit?"

"Don't sweat the details."

Jiraiya did not care in the slightest. He quickly ran in, then gave him a wicked grin.

"What, peeping ag—"

"Don't talk nonsense. I was only checking whether Konoha is stable right now!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face flushed. Although his disciple had the same rotten habit as him, he still had his pride.

"All right, tell me about this mission. Did you find anything?"

"We did. The matter is far more complicated than we imagined."

Jiraiya pursed his lips. Fortunately, he knew what was important.

"We got lucky this time. We didn't spend much time in the Land of Hot Water before discovering something."

Jiraiya gave a concise account, omitting some details, but he also highlighted Kitagawa Gen's role, as well as the intelligence they had drawn out of Orochimaru.

Hiruzen Sarutobi listened quietly with the pipe hanging from his mouth. Only after Jiraiya finished did he frown slightly.

"It seems this matter really is troublesome. Still, it matches the intelligence Danzo provided. The only question is, do you believe Orochimaru's words?"

The Mizukage had hired this mysterious organization, which already showed that the internal strife had reached a high level, so high that even the Mizukage had to mobilize outside help to purge the threat.

This was a good thing for Konoha. Nobody liked those bastards from Kirigakure, but as far as investigating the mysterious organization went, it made things somewhat troublesome.

"I don't think there should be much of a problem."

Jiraiya nodded seriously.

"Even if Orochimaru held something back, that's normal. At the very least, we obtained some key information."

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not speak. In truth, he also believed there should not be any major issue with the intelligence Orochimaru had revealed this time.

He understood Orochimaru very well. Though that man would lie too, he was still, in the end, a proud person!

"I understand. Looks like we'll have to make a trip to Kirigakure."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. Although he did not particularly want to take risks, that mysterious organization truly alarmed him.

Especially Obito Uchiha. That fellow's heart seemed filled with hatred, and at the same time, he had awakened the Mangekyo and possessed Wood Release.

He had no choice but to investigate this matter.

"All right, old man, don't think so much."

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's worried expression, Jiraiya could not help offering a word of comfort.

"Some things have to be made clear. This organization is an obstacle we have to get past, isn't it? Relax, relax, we'll handle it."

"You brat, since when do I need you to comfort me?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Jiraiya, unsure whether to laugh or cry. Jiraiya, however, did not mind. After thinking for a moment, he spoke.

"Oh, right. Remember to give this mission a Rank S. That brat Gen seems to want to become a chunin, so make his record look a little better."

"Does he still need his record to look better?"

At the thought of Kitagawa Gen, Hiruzen Sarutobi's mood improved quite a bit.

That boy had not completed many missions since graduating, but every mission had been difficult, and the evaluations had been extremely high.

Whether it was dealing with Biwa Juzo and Itachi Uchiha, or this time through Jiraiya's account, his performance had been outstanding!

Perhaps this boy would become Konoha's new "Minato Namikaze."

Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, though he would not make any promises.

"All right, I know. I'll consider this matter."

"That's good."

Jiraiya smiled. Then he sneakily ran over to Hiruzen Sarutobi's side and reached out to tug away the cloth covering the Crystal Ball.

"Hey, you bastard, what are you doing?"

The action startled Hiruzen Sarutobi, but Jiraiya did not care.

"We're done talking about the troublesome stuff. The rest of the trouble can wait. Now it's time to rest, old man. You can't keep the good stuff to yourself."

"What nonsense are you spouting? And when it comes to work matters, you call me by my title, understand?"

"Fine, fine, let's hurry up and take a look."

"You bastard, get lost already."

"Thank you for telling me, senior. I'll take my leave then."

"You're welcome."

At Konoha Hospital, Kitagawa Gen smiled broadly and greeted the medical staff there, only then turning to leave.

But after walking out of the hospital, he felt somewhat depressed, because he realized he had come for nothing.

"He's already been discharged, huh? He recovered pretty well."

With Jiraiya's reminder, Kitagawa Gen naturally rushed to the hospital at once to visit Kakashi, only to unexpectedly find that the man had already left.

"But that's fine too. Recovering early is better than looking sickly."

Since he had not found the person he was looking for, Kitagawa Gen planned to head back and rest first, then gather and visit tomorrow.

"I also need to think carefully about things on Obito Uchiha's side."

Ever since he had tricked Obito Uchiha, the way things developed had become rather chaotic.

Not to mention, he had also given Jiraiya a reminder, which counted as taking a shot at Kenji both openly and secretly.

But as for how to operate afterward, Kitagawa Gen still needed to examine it carefully.

Of course, he already had an idea. It just needed a little refinement.

"After all, there's still the second phase of Kakashi's exclusive mission. I can't let this matter slip!"

There were far too many good things on Obito Uchiha. He was, after all, the inheritor of Madara Uchiha. Even if Kitagawa Gen felt that what he had learned was not exactly complete, that did not change the fact that he had it.

If he could get it, he absolutely could not miss it!

"Hey, Gen? You're back?"

Just as Kitagawa Gen was thinking, Naruto's voice suddenly rang out from behind him.

"Mm."

Kitagawa Gen turned his head and saw Naruto running over, carrying a bag in his left hand and a basket in his right.

"What's going on with you?"

Seeing Naruto dressed like this, Kitagawa Gen could not help feeling curious. But when he saw what was inside the bag, the corner of his mouth could not help twitching.

"Boxed ramen again. Didn't you get enough after going to Ichiraku? Why buy so much?"

"Hehe, this is limited-edition good stuff!"

Naruto grinned with excitement.

"I only managed to grab so many because I was quick. Otherwise, they would've sold out long ago!"

"It's not some rare delicacy. I remember you still have quite a lot at home, don't you?"

"Limited edition! Limited edition! If I missed it, wouldn't that be a huge loss?"

"."

Kitagawa Gen truly had no strength to criticize Naruto. He really could not understand why this stuff sold for so much, or what was so good about eating it.

But in the end, he still chose to "respect the fate of others" and said nothing more, only looking at the other basket in puzzlement.

"What's this, then?"

"This... this is good stuff too!"

Naruto suddenly became mysterious. Like a thief, he looked left and right, only then speaking in a low voice.

"I'm telling you, I found a great place. There's lots of food there you can take, and it doesn't cost any money!"

"...Are you stealing?"

"Don't talk nonsense. I would never steal!"

"Then what about your stipend?"

"I bought limited-edition ramen with it!"

Seeing Naruto act so completely justified, Kitagawa Gen was powerless. He finally understood.

Although the Third Hokage had not shortchanged Naruto on money, he had not taught Naruto how to spend or save money.

But thinking about it, that made sense too. As Hokage, that old man probably had plenty of things to deal with, right?

"Hehe, how about we eat together tonight? My treat."

Just as Kitagawa Gen had nothing to say, Naruto spoke with a smile.

"I can let you try what I got. Also, the jutsu you asked me to develop is almost done."

"Is that so?"

Kitagawa Gen immediately perked up. He planned to get a camera and record it, but right now, he was even more curious about that basket.

"What exactly is in there?"

"Here, look."

Naruto did not hide it either. He casually lifted the cloth covering the basket, and Kitagawa Gen's face instantly turned green.

The basket was filled entirely with colorful mushrooms of every sort, each looking beautifully appetizing!

This made him shudder uncontrollably at once. He raised his head and stared at Naruto. Only after a long while did he speak.

"Naruto."

"Huh?"

"You should respect the old and love the young."

"Uh? What do you mean?"

"Take these mushrooms and stew them into a pot of soup, then send it to the Hokage."