Gone Mad

Although Ino said it was fine not to attend the New Year Festival shrine visit, Naruto couldn't take it seriously.

Sometimes, showing the right attitude is enough; you don't actually have to do it. If Ino were absent, things would become even more complicated, so there's no need to.

He finished washing up and making breakfast in one go, while Nine-Tails remained curled up on the sofa cushion, not even going into its own room to sleep. That's how Tailed Beast are; they don't eat human food.

Naruto had no idea how Nine-Tails had turned into this mess, Kurama the Sake-tail?

Breakfast was ready. Naruto opened the door, walked to Ino's side, and poked her cheek with his finger. It was a little soft, but she wasn't awake.

So they increased the intensity, Ino finally reacted, frowning but still not opening her eyes.

Naruto frowned, thinking that there was still no reaction even after all this, so he continued to poke at Ino with his finger. This time, Ino finally opened her eyes, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

"Go to hell! Stop poking me!"

"Awake?" Naruto put his hands behind his back, pretending nothing had happened.

"You woke me up on the first poke! You poked me so hard, how could I not wake up?" Ino said angrily. "Couldn't you just leave and let me get up slowly by myself?"

"But breakfast will be cold," he said, shrugging.

"Ugh!! I'm so angry! You idiot! You pervert! You foot fetishist!" Ino suddenly threw off the covers and started putting on her cotton coat.

Without even glancing at Naruto, she shuffled into the bathroom in her cotton shoes to wash up. Naruto didn't seem to care and lazily returned to the kitchen.

Just as Ino came out of the bathroom, he had just put breakfast on the table.

"Have breakfast and head out, don't miss that thing," Naruto mumbled.

"Are you trying to kick me out?" Ino narrowed her eyes.

"What do you mean 'get rid of me'? You said it yourself that the Ino-Shika-Cho clan is going to be there for the New Year Festival." Naruto rolled his eyes. "Anyway, you should still have time after you finish eating."

"I understand," Ino said, lowering her head with a hint of dissatisfaction.

"If you really don't want to go, that's fine too. I wasn't really keen on it to begin with," Naruto explained. "It's so boring lying at home alone; it's better to go with someone."

"Damn it! I'll leave right after I finish eating." Ino said with a look of disgust.

"Tsk, heartless."

Several days have passed since the New Year.

After lying at home for a few days, Naruto suddenly remembered something important. Damn it, he had completely forgotten what Tsunade had told him.

He rushed to the Hokage Building, and as soon as he opened the door, he saw a familiar face standing next to Tsunade's desk. He was immediately stunned.

Sakura looked back and naturally smiled.

"Naruto, it's been a long time."

"Uh, long time no see." Naruto scratched his face. He had been training with Jiraiya all winter, and he hadn't really had much contact with other people for a long time.

He squinted at Sakura's smile, secretly wondering if Pink Sakura had returned.

Just as he was lost in thought, Sakura, who had her back to Tsunade, suddenly licked her lips. He hissed and gasped, immediately realizing the answer in his heart.

Okay, it's her again.

Tsunade didn't look up the entire time. That bastard was the only one who never knocked before entering the Hokage's Office. Tsunade knew he was there without even guessing, and had no interest in looking up.

"What? You still know how to come over?" Tsunade's voice echoed in the office, and it was clear that she was angry.

It's not Tsunade's fault. She promised that after the New Year Festival, he would come to the Hokage Building to see her. But suddenly, she was stood up for four or five days without any news, especially since she sent someone to deliver a message but still received no response.

Anyone would want to kill this pigeon spirit.

Naruto felt a little guilty, but he couldn't be entirely blamed. Uzuki Yugao did come, but instead of using the door, she called out through the window. He was still asleep at the time and mumbled a reply.

But when I woke up, I couldn't remember anything like that, and several days passed before it happened.

"Lord Tsunade, I'm so sorry!" Naruto admitted his mistake in a flash, sincerely apologizing, "It's all my fault for delaying Lord Tsunade's plans."

He knew perfectly well that Tsunade had no real plan and was just slacking off at work Tenten. But to sound nice, he still had to say a few flattering words against his will.

"Hmm? Didn't you say you wanted to learn Summoning Jutsu?" Tsunade frowned slightly. "I gave you the chance, and you're useless! Do you want to die, Naruto Uzumaki!"

"Ask yourself honestly, how many times have I asked you to come on time?" Tsunade's face darkened. "You haven't learned anything else from Kakashi, but you've certainly mastered the art of breaking promises."

"Wow, Naruto Uzumaki, you're really something!"

"Um... Lord Tsunade, I didn't mean to." Naruto's face trembled slightly; he was starting to get scared.

"It wasn't intentional?" Tsunade waved her hand, gesturing for Naruto to walk over.

He was slightly taken aback, but still obediently walked over, only to have Tsunade grab his face and knead it for a while, like she was molding clay, before her anger subsided.

"Alright, where were we?" Tsunade asked.

"Hiss~!" Naruto covered his swollen face and mumbled, "Learn Summoning Jutsu."

Speaking of this, Tsunade her forehead, asking as if she wanted to confirm something one last time.

"Are you really going to contract Slug?"

"Yes!" Naruto nodded vigorously.

"Since you're going to be learning Senjutsu from Jiraiya, why don't you just sign Summoning Contract with the Toad of Mount Myōboku?" Tsunade asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Well... maybe it's because I don't like Toad," he said, offering a random excuse.

"This is ridiculous! There's no such thing as liking or disliking training. If all ninjas acted like you, doing whatever they wanted, they would all be dead by now," Tsunade scolded.

"Yes, yes, Lord Tsunade is right." Naruto stood there, letting it go in one ear and out the other.

Seeing his stubborn and unyielding attitude, Tsunade got angry and waved him away impatiently.

"Then it's settled. Don't regret it later! If you don't have time today, come back tomorrow at four o'clock in the afternoon."

"Got it!" Naruto breathed a sigh of relief and turned to slip away.

He hadn't gone far when someone called out to him from behind. Naruto stopped abruptly, turned around, and saw Sakura carrying a mission pouch and jogging towards him.

Finally, she stopped in front of him, leaned forward slightly, and began to smile.

"Naruto, are you aware of the news about the incident in the Land of Wind?"

"I don't know." Naruto shook his head honestly. He had already reconciled with Sakura, so there was no need to deliberately avoid her. "What could possibly happen in the Land of Wind?"

"I heard that Gaara is in a bad situation now, and some of the ruling elders want to kill Gaara."

"Oh, this shouldn't concern us, right?" Naruto asked.

"It'll be related soon." Sakura suddenly reached out and pinched Naruto's face, rubbing it like Tsunade, but very gently.

"Team Seven is about to be reorganized. Guess who the higher-ups will send to the Land of Wind?"

"Oh no, I'm doomed!" he thought to himself.