Wang Jie's Return

The streets were packed with people on both sides, elderly villagers loudly cheering for the returning young hero—well done, full of spirit, not letting Konoha down—while girls cast admiring glances at the youth, some shyly, others boldly.

Jiang Feng wore a flower garland given by some friend, receiving a reception as grand as a thimble in Litang.

A young lord in fine clothes and a spirited horse!

Though Jiang Feng hadn't ridden a horse, years later when people mentioned this day, they would surely say he had.

Just like how on a certain night it hadn't actually rained, but when people talked about that night, they still preferred to believe it had poured.

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The youth kept smiling, nodding to the villagers along the streets, and when he spotted familiar friends, he waved and exchanged a few words.

Konan followed closely behind Jiang Feng, her delicate face showing no ripples—she was long used to this. Yahiko in the village, and even Jiang Feng in the village, both enjoyed such popularity.

Wasn't it only natural for a world-famous youth to receive a warm welcome from the villagers?

Princess Tsunade was equally used to it.

Years ago, when she, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru led their troops back to Konoha, the cheers and welcome they received were even more fervent than Jiang Feng's at this moment.

Admittedly, that war wasn't particularly just—Konoha's essence was expanding its power—but the Hokage Office propagandized it as righteous internally, so the villagers cheered.

Nor was it a war with particularly brilliant results; the three of them hadn't defeated Hanzo the Salamander, but the Hokage Office propagandized their victory internally, so the villagers cheered.

The underlying logic of governing a village is often the same as a lone warrior navigating the underworld.

People always mock fish for having only seven or eight seconds of memory, but how much better are people compared to fish?

When a master hasn't made any notable achievements for a long time, those who once fawned over him will forget him and turn to praise a new master.

Those enemies who once saw him as a thorn in their flesh or a nail in their eye will also suspect—has he grown old and useless after so long without acting?

So a master must stir up some commotion every so often, telling the world, "I'm still formidable, I'm not planning to retire from the scene yet."

So a village must also make some noise from time to time, publicizing the glorious deeds of one of its ninjas—preferably a young one—telling the world, and mainly telling its own people, "We're still formidable, we've got this covered."

That's why Tsunade truly envied Jiang Feng.

At least this time, Konoha was absolutely righteous, and Jiang Feng was absolutely victorious—he was far more deserving of praise than they had been years ago.

"Feeling good, aren't you? You left unknown and returned to shake the world."

"You've misunderstood me a bit."

Jiang Feng corrected her: "A long time ago, I already shook the world—only then, I had a reputation for beauty, not for might."

Tsunade paused, realizing that was indeed true.

This little brat was no unknown nobody; from what Jiraiya said, his popularity was sky-high, and everyone knew his strength was far beyond a mere Chunin.

Now, he was simply getting what he deserved.

"But I am happy, having so many pretty girls favor me."

Jiang Feng smiled, waving to the young girls and women along the streets: "Being praised and sung about by young, beautiful women is probably the most joyful thing in the world. What's even rarer is that the girls of Konoha are all quite pretty."

Being liked by a girl was certainly worth celebrating, but if the girl was too ugly, that joy would inevitably take a hit.

Fortunately, the world of Naruto was originally a 2D world, where the girls generally had decent looks—even if many weren't outstanding, they were far from ugly.

"I think you won't be happy for long."

"What do you mean?"

Tsunade gestured with her chin toward a group in the crowd.

Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma, Kakashi, and others stood among the crowd, the young faces all wearing expressions of schadenfreude, waiting for the drama to unfold.

The girl stared with big red eyes, glaring intently at Konan, who followed beside Jiang Feng like an orchid in a secluded valley—she sensed the scent of a rival.

Jiang Feng suddenly froze.

There was killing intent!

Amid her schadenfreude, Tsunade couldn't help feeling a bit relieved, grateful that Konan was there. Without Konan, she wouldn't know how to face Kurenai Yuhi's daughter.

"Jiang Feng~"

Though the girl called his name, Jiang Feng hallucinated it into a syrupy, cloying "Big brother~"

The girl pushed through the crowd, ignoring Tsunade and Konan entirely. Without a word, she threw herself into Jiang Feng's arms like a fledgling returning to its nest, fiercely staking her claim in front of Konoha's elders and villagers.

Who was this girl?

With eyes that red, she must be at least a Three-Tomoe—was she Jiang Feng's little sister?

Didn't the storytellers say that the Heavenly Flying Immortal Jiang Feng's lover was Princess Tsunade?

Oh, it's Jonin Kurenai Yuhi's daughter.

The gossipers began whispering, piecing it together and realizing—oh, so Uchiha Jiang Feng had more than one lover; truly a young man of romance.

People didn't want to believe such a graceful youth had only one lover; they stubbornly believed that a young, romantic figure like him should have many lovers.

"And who is this beautiful big sister?"

Having staked her claim enough, the girl Kurenai hopped down from her pigeon brother's arms, clung tightly to Jiang Feng's arm, and blinked her harmless, innocent big eyes at Konan.

"Land of Rain, Konan."

Konan still maintained a demeanor as tranquil as a chrysanthemum, a secluded orchid in an empty valley, even though seeing the girl Kurenai Yuhi throw herself into his arms like a fledgling bird didn't sit well with her.

"Konan is Jiraiya's student and my friend. She's representing the Akatsuki Organization on a visit to Konoha this time..." Jiang Feng briefly introduced Konan's identity and background.

"Looking for Jiraiya-sama?"

"At the very least, I'd like to see Jiraiya-sensei."

"But Jiraiya-sama isn't in Konoha, Sister Konan. I'm afraid you've come all this way for nothing."

"No matter. I can stay at Jiang Feng's place and wait for Jiraiya-sensei. Yahiko said Jiang Feng would definitely take care of me."

Pah, what a shameless woman!

The girl Kurenai Yuhi gritted her teeth inwardly. Coming to look for Jiraiya-sama, huh? Your schemes are slapping me right in the face—you're definitely coveting my brother's good looks.

But the girl Kurenai Yuhi was helpless.

She couldn't very well invite Konan to stay at her place, since her parents were still there. Nor could she tell Jiang Feng to put Konan up in an inn. If her own home had room, Jiang Feng would never send his friend to a hotel.

"If she's staying at your place, then I'm staying at your place too!"

Kurenai Yuhi clung to her brother's arm and acted spoiled, trying to get the same treatment as Konan.

"Fine." Jiang Feng nodded.

Kurenai Yuhi was taken aback: "Aren't you going to ask me why I want to stay at your place?"

"No."

"Don't you think I'm being unreasonable, embarrassing you in front of your friend?"

"No."

"Why?"

"No reason."

Why wouldn't he think Kurenai Yuhi was annoying or unreasonable?

Of course, because Kurenai Yuhi was very pretty. In front of a man, no matter what a beautiful girl says, the man will find her both interesting and lovely.

But Jiang Feng would never tell Kurenai Yuhi the reason in front of Konan and Tsunade.

To reiterate, praising one woman's beauty in front of another is an extremely foolish act.