A Busy Day Ends, and There Is Finally News of Jiraiya

"Drink it, why not?" Naruto took the soda, grabbed Hinata's wrist with his other hand, and pulled her back the way they came.

On the way, the two chatted idly. Most of the time, Naruto was the Naruto who started the conversation, slowly and deliberately spouting nonsense in a serious tone.

"The mission is actually very simple, but some clients are really disgusting. I didn't set a trap; they attacked first. Attacking ninjas already constitutes obstructing the mission."

"So it makes sense for me to tie them all up."

Hinata wanted to laugh, but her face flushed red as she forced herself to remain silent. Listening to Naruto's endless stream of strange tales along the way, her anxious heart gradually calmed down.

"I... I can go back by myself," Hinata said softly, looking at the Hyuga compound not far away.

Although she also wanted to stroll back with Naruto at a leisurely pace, like a couple deeply in love, the incident in the Bamboo Forest last time still made her somewhat hesitant.

If she were to be bullied like that while being looked Byakugan upon by multiple elders, she would truly have no face to stay in Hinata.

"Walking at night is too dangerous. Let me take you home," he said without hesitation. "Besides, it's only a short distance. I'll just walk you there. Otherwise, I won't feel at ease."

He was indeed worried. One reason was his concern for Hinata's safety, given what might have happened to the Inuzuka Clan. Another reason was his fear for his own safety.

What Hinata suddenly remembers something halfway there and turns back only to find herself running into him picking up Ino? That would be incredibly awkward.

Chief Naruto has a clear conscience; he's just creating trouble for himself. After all, this kind of thing can't really be called time management; it just happened that they all fell on the same day.

"But... we'll be seen," Hinata.

"So what if she sees it? Nobody will say anything." He still insisted on escorting Hinata to the Hyuga compound, and before Hinata disappeared through the gate, he quickly turned back to look at him.

He stood there, the night breeze rustling the Aoba.

Hokage Building.

After finishing organizing the last volume of documents, Ino looked exhausted and couldn't help but cover her mouth with her hand as she yawned. The entire office was brightly lit, and she was the only one left.

I finally managed to organize all the materials before the beginning of the month and barely finished the work.

The night was deep when the office door was pushed open.

Naruto walked in, showing no sign of fatigue. His disheveled blond hair hung loosely as he leaned against the doorway and spoke lazily.

"Let's go, I'll take you home."

"You're here?" Ino was in a good mood; she had finished her work.

After working in the office for almost half a month, I've finally become more proficient at my job. Plus, even when I work overtime until late at night, someone comes to pick me up, so even though I'm exhausted, I still feel happy.

Even when Naruto is walking down the street, he can sense the good mood of the people around him.

"Are you that happy?" He couldn't help but lean closer and ask in the dim light of the streetlamp, "You look so cheerful after finishing overtime."

"I finally finished all the work, what's there to be unhappy about?" Ino was too embarrassed to tell the truth, so she simply made up an excuse that couldn't be found out.

"You're truly a chosen working person."

"What?"

"It's nothing, I was just complimenting you."

Ino didn't understand, but that didn't stop her from retaliating. She grabbed Naruto's hand and bit him hard. With a pig-like scream, a row of teeth marks were clearly imprinted on his hand.

"Ino! Are you a dog?"

"Hmph, serves you right for insulting me." Ino bit him, as if releasing some kind of natural instinct, and seemed to feel even better.

"It's okay, I'll bite back next time," Naruto muttered to himself.

"What did you say?!" Ino, with her sharp ears, caught a few words and subconsciously recalled the time he pinned her against the glass door and bit her.

"Oh? I mean, as long as you're not angry."

"Who would believe you?" Ino retorted, but then, as if remembering something, she spoke seriously, "Do you remember the wireless communication thing you mentioned last time?"

"Hmm, what's wrong?" He looked away, leaned towards her, and his voice was slightly hoarse and distracted. "Any leads?"

"Lord Tsunade agreed, but the higher-ups stopped her from doing so," Ino said.

"How come I didn't know about this?" He turned to look at Ino, a look of surprise on his face, thinking to himself, "Isn't Konohagakure under the jurisdiction of Archduke Naruto?"

That little Tsunade didn't even tell him.

"What's the point of telling you? The two advisors are adamant in their opposition; they believe the ninja village should continue to develop according to tradition," Ino sighed.

"More importantly, what they said makes sense. The situation among the Five Great Nations is becoming increasingly tense, and an intelligence war could break out at any time. If new communications are added, it might put Konohagakure in a precarious situation due to leaks."

"There won't be a fight," Naruto said confidently, thinking that as long as the Otsutsuki hadn't descended, he was still in charge of the Shinobi World. But then he gasped in shock.

"That tone sounds so familiar. What does leaking secrets have to do with communications? If those old guys object, then we'll be in trouble."

"Yes." Ino's expression was slightly dejected.

"Could it be that your father transferred you away from the Intelligence Department because of this?" Naruto turned to look at Ino with a strange expression.

If Ino was warned because Tsunade supported her communications reform plan, it's possible that Inoichi Yamanaka had to transfer his daughter away to avoid the limelight.

"Huh? Maybe." Ino had obviously guessed it already. She stammered, opened her mouth but didn't know what to say, so she simply stopped talking.

"Forget it, don't be discouraged. Maybe in a few years those old guys won't be able to take it anymore and will retire," Naruto patted her shoulder and comforted her.

"Konohagakure still belongs to the younger generation. Maybe when Kakashi-sensei takes over..."

"Thank you, Naruto." Ino knew he was just trying to comfort her, but she still looked up and forced a smile. "I hope so."

After walking for a while, Naruto suddenly asked again.

"Do you really want to make this happen?"

"Yeah, a little." Ino lowered her head, her toes barely visible. "Communication in the village is actually very rudimentary. To find someone, you have to search all over the streets."

"Other small countries already have convenient communication technology, and even the Capital City of the Land of Fire has been using it on a small scale. Friends can contact each other and chat."

"I feel envious. Ninjas are human too. I think the Shinobi World will eventually be at peace. When that time comes, ninjas won't have to train and shed blood all day long."

She felt that even when she wasn't on missions, if she didn't contact him, they were basically out of touch. This could last from a few days to several months.

During a mission, she discovered that people in a small country were using communication devices. Couples could hear each other's voices while showering and even video chat.

She tried to understand it, and found that moving away wasn't too complicated. If Chakra communication were used instead, it would be even more stable, and the performance would be improved significantly.

"Don't even think about peace in the Shinobi World. Wherever there are people, there will be conflict," Naruto said. "Actually, we don't need to think that far ahead. Let's just deal with the matter at hand."

"Those old foxes are just deliberately trying to link the village's safety to communication equipment. Even now, Konohagakure's intelligence is being leaked to the other four great ninja villages."

"Root Organization is a complete idiot, Danzo's private organization. In that case, what does Konohagakure's intelligence security have to do with the new equipment?"

"Hmm." Ino smiled. "Hearing you say that makes me feel much better."

"Don't listen to those old foxes. You'll never know when they'll lead you astray." He had intended to say that, but he swallowed the words back.

Saying it again is useless; it's just a meaningless consolation.

If peace in the Shinobi World is the foundation for developing new technologies, then Ino should never count on it in her lifetime.

In peacetime, ninjas are essentially mercenaries and private bodyguards, and the Five Great Shinobi Villages are armed organizations centered around ninjas. Tsunade intended to change Konohagakure, but she couldn't interfere with the changing power dynamics of the Five Great Nations.

The alliance between Konohagakure and Sand aimed to allow them to recuperate, train the next generation of ninja, and develop their economy. Kirigakure, having just emerged from the shadow of the Bloody Mist Kirigakure, was also facing a period of transition and uncertainty.

The only remaining Iwagakure and the powerful and ambitious Kumogakure, who also want to stir up trouble in the Shinobi World.

However, Naruto Leader, wouldn't agree. He was thinking about how to start an Evil God Cult and wreak havoc on the people of Kumogakure and Iwagakure. That way, they wouldn't have anything better to do all Tenten and would stop causing trouble.

Moreover, Kumogakure had already slapped Kumogakure, and his face was swollen. If the Fourth Raikage A, was still not satisfied, he had plenty of ways to annoy him.

However, internal strife cannot bring peace to the Shinobi World; it can only delay the arrival of war.

Humans are complex beings, and everyone has different philosophies, but perhaps the only thing they have in common is the instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm. From this perspective, Uchiha Sasuke's thinking and the Akatsuki Organization's thinking are not wrong.

They transformed themselves into the ultimate villains, forcing the Five Great Nations to unite and cease hostilities against a common enemy. One, however, inflicts suffering upon the world; the other aims to unify the world.

Neither of them is too far-fetched for Naruto right now. He can't possibly risk his entire future seeking peace in the Shinobi World for a communicator project.

Ultimately, if you can't solve the problem, solve the person who raised it.

"Just make those old guys give in, "Naruto thought to himself. He preferred simply lighting up wherever there was light rather than seeking peace in the Shinobi World.

If they won't let us open the windows, we can just punch a hole through the ceiling.

The Konohagakure Street were dimly lit, and the two remained silent for the rest of the way. Ino wanted to speak several times, but seeing Naruto's thoughtful expression, she couldn't help but shrink back.

Naruto stopped and suddenly spoke when he reached the Great Green Tree in front of the Yamanaka Flower Shop.

"It's April already? The trees are so lush!"

"Hmm?" Ino looked conflicted. "Is that right? Did what I just said cause you any trouble?"

"No"

"I'm so sorry!" Ino bowed deeply in apology. "It's all my fault. I said those things for no reason, which put pressure on you!"

"No, I didn't actually say that," Naruto waved his hand, about to speak, but was interrupted by Ino's apology.

"Please don't take it to heart! Actually, I didn't really want to get that communicator; it was just a passing interest!"

"No."

Before Ino could even look up, her face flushed, she heard Naruto chuckle lazily and deeply. The oppressive atmosphere melted away instantly, like snow melting.

"Actually, you misunderstood. I never intended to help you, because I couldn't do it myself. Things like peace in the Shinobi World should be left to those who are more capable."

Upon hearing this, Ino suddenly raised her head, grabbed Naruto's clothes, and said in shame and indignation.

"Are you playing me again?"

"No, I never said anything like that. You're just making things up." He laughed nonchalantly, which was inexplicably irritating.

"You!! You didn't say a word the whole way!"

"I'm thinking about what to eat tomorrow."

"Liar!"

"Do you want me to tell you the menu for tomorrow?" Naruto put his hand on Ino's shoulder and hugged her with a smile.

"No!" Ino pushed his hand away, muttering, "I thought you..."

"What do you think I am?" he laughed, standing upright under the green trees and streetlights. "I'm not omnipotent, Five Great Nations don't listen to me."

"Of course I know," she said. "It's good that you don't think that way; I'm just afraid you'll go to the higher-ups."

"But there's still a way. Just keep doing what you need to do with the communicator." Naruto's shoulders slumped down, and he lowered his voice.

"Huh?" It took Ino a while to react. "But it's no use doing all this now."

"It will be useful soon." He slightly raised his eyelids. "First of all, let me make this clear: I'm not simply helping you. I brought this up a long time ago, and this is what I've been wanting to do."

"Besides, I can't do it alone. It will probably take some time. In any case, the result will definitely be good."

"Mmm," Ino replied obediently.

He wasn't omnipotent, but he didn't try to persuade her to give up; instead, he genuinely listened to her, and that was enough to make her happy.

Mid-April.

Amidst Sakura's complaints, her two-week stint of freeloading meals came to an end, which also meant the end of her vacation. Her face, bearing the expression of "I don't want to go back to work," was strikingly similar to Tsunade's.

Naruto ate Sakura's cooking for half a month, and thankfully he didn't get drugged, which was a relief.

He put the communication technology matter aside and patiently waited for half a month. It seemed that Tsunade had already resolved the Inuzuka Clan issue and hadn't informed him.

He didn't care, as he didn't concern himself with such trivial matters.

In late April, Tsunade suddenly sent someone to find him. When he arrived at the office, Tsunade's secretary had been replaced by Sakura instead of Ino.

Sakura secretly gave a helpless smile, then put on a serious face again.

Tsunade didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point.

"Jiraiya has arrived."

Something came up and I missed a day, only managing 6,000 today. I'll stay up a little late, and I should have 4,000 by morning.