Made a Little Money

What should he get Naruto for his birthday?

Just as Chiye Jun was pondering, the system popped up at the perfect moment.

[Ding! Check-in mission issued. Host, please use your tailoring skill to make Naruto a birthday gift. Time limit: two days.]

A tailoring skill?

Chiye Jun had clearly forgotten about that skill.

What should he make for him...

There was no time for anything too complicated. He could only make something simple.

With that thought, an idea came to him...

At that moment, autumn rain suddenly began to fall from the sky.

Chiye Jun couldn't help humming, "What should I do on a rainy day? I miss you so much..."

"Who are you missing?" Naruto asked, blinking.

"Hehe, no one. By the way, tell me—do you really like Sakura?"

Chiye Jun intended to take the chance to give him some guidance.

Naruto nodded excitedly like a pecking chicken.

"Sakura-chan is kawaii!"

Chiye Jun poured a bucket of cold water over him.

"Too bad she doesn't like you, Naruto. A man should act like a man."

Naruto asked in confusion, "What does a man act like?"

After pondering for a moment, Chiye Jun said, "A real man can attract women and be suave, but he must never be a simp!"

Then he spent ten minutes explaining what a simp was.

He even gave countless examples of the ultimate simp king.

"Remember: simps end up with nothing!"

Naruto nodded.

"Mm! I won't become a simp king!"

"That's the spirit!"

Soon, Naruto grinned again. "Sasuke is a huge simp!"

"Sasuke? He's the King of Pretentious Style, okay? Whose dog is he simping for?" Chiye Jun wondered.

"He simps for you!"

Pfft!

Chiye Jun sprayed a nosebleed...

"Ahem, did you know there's a certain type of person called a green tea bitch?"

Naruto looked utterly baffled.

"How do you identify a green tea bitch?"

Chiye Jun pulled out two umbrellas, opened them, and began teaching him.

"Remember their major traits!"

"First, they're beautiful as flowers. That's their capital."

"Second, they look gentle and sweet on the surface, but they're actually hot-tempered and fierce. Put simply, they're violent moe girls."

"Third, they have more male friends than female friends, because women naturally understand women!"

"Fourth, they never lack backups. Like you—you're a natural backup..."

"Fifth, they know how to exploit men's feelings. They use tears and hysterical performances to make men willingly give everything."

After that, he patiently explained each point.

Yet he never mentioned Sakura's name.

The reason he was guiding Naruto like this was because he genuinely wanted to help him.

In truth, Chiye Jun's feelings toward Sakura were complicated as well.

Thinking about it carefully, aside from being a bit of a green tea bitch, Sakura was actually an idealized woman—someone who dared to love and hate, chased her dreams, and fought bravely for them.

But even so, even if Chiye Jun took in Orochimaru, he would never have any sort of relationship with Sakura...

By the time his throat was dry from explaining, Naruto finally smacked his forehead!

He had an epiphany!

"Jun, I get it! I get all of it!"

Chiye Jun finally revealed a gratified smile.

"Then can you tell me what you understood?"

Naruto stood up, pointed toward the distant lights, and shouted:

"Uchiha Sasuke is a green tea bitch!"

Pfft~~~

Chiye Jun spat out a second mouthful of blood.

"Fine, fine, hurry home! I don't admire anyone more than I admire you, Naruto..."

On the way back, Naruto kept asking what the gift was, but Chiye Jun naturally didn't tell him.

"Naruto, do you like Hinata?"

Naruto scratched his head. "Hehe, I don't feel anything."

That was good...

When they passed Ichiraku Ramen and Chiye Jun saw Naruto drooling over it, he pulled him inside with a smile.

"Eat as much as you want tonight. My treat!"

As he said that, Chiye Jun suddenly thought of Hinata, who could eat forty-six bowls.

He really wouldn't be able to afford raising a big eater in the future without money...

Naruto was overjoyed!

"Really? You have money now? Where did it come from?"

Chiye Jun said mysteriously, "Classified!"

After finishing their ramen, both of their bellies were round and full.

As they passed a ninja tool shop, the owner spotted them.

He immediately shouted, "Hey! Chiye Jun! You big liar! Stop right there!"

Chiye Jun stuck out his tongue and grabbed Naruto, sprinting away.

They didn't stop until the owner's voice and figure had vanished behind them.

Naruto asked in bewilderment, "Why was he chasing you? Did you steal something from him?"

Chiye Jun gave him a sharp knock on the head!

"How could your big brother possibly steal anything!"

Then he told Naruto what had happened. Upon hearing it, Naruto bent over laughing, unable to close his mouth.

It turned out...

Chiye Jun had used Shuriken Shadow Clone.

He had sold several hundred "shuriken" to the armor shop owner...

That's right!

The shuriken created by ninjutsu were real objects.

But they couldn't remain that way forever.

After Chiye Jun took the three thousand ryo and ran off, the hundreds of shuriken immediately vanished...

The owner was furious beyond measure!

Just as the two boys were laughing heartily, an aged figure appeared atop Hokage Rock.

He gazed at the dim lights of distant Konoha, letting the rain lash against him.

In any case, he was wearing a huge conical hat. It could serve as an umbrella when needed...

"Can those two boys bear the weight of the words 'Hokage'...?"

The Third Hokage held his pipe between his teeth and took a puff.

Only then did he realize the tobacco had been soaked by the rain.

"Can they shoulder the burden of Konoha's rise and fall? And who will become Hokage... They're harmonious and affectionate now, but once interests come into play, will they still be like blood brothers?"

The Third Hokage couldn't help thinking of Danzo...

The night wind swept past, carrying a faint presence.

A man wearing a horse-head mask appeared.

He dropped to one knee and reported respectfully, "Lord Hokage, an emergency has arisen! Ninja tracks have appeared at the border, but they do not belong to Konoha ninja."

"Oh?" The Third Hokage's expression turned grave.

"According to reports from the Anbu at the front, they have been confirmed to be Cloud ninja."

"I understand." The Third Hokage waved his hand.

He couldn't help wondering to himself.

"The Third Shinobi World War ended many years ago. Why have they suddenly appeared at the Land of Fire's border?"

"Could it... be because of Chiye Jun?"

He looked northeast, his withered hand tightening around his pipe as it trembled slightly.

The dark clouds in the distance churned, growing ever denser.

Night fell.

The rain intensified.

The downpour lashed against the eaves, spraying water everywhere and turning the world into a hazy blur.

Chiye Jun's eyes snapped open!

"Tap!"

A crisp sound came from outside the window.

Chiye Jun sat up in the darkness and activated his Super Perception.

"Tap... tap..."

It was the distinctive sound of shoes stepping through rainwater.

At the same time!

A figure appeared in Naruto's small yard.

Ever since being intimidated last time, along with the authority of the other elders, Danzo had behaved himself much more.

Root had stopped its assassinations.

The Anbu had also relaxed their nighttime patrols.

"Could it... be Danzo stirring up trouble again?"

Chiye Jun grabbed a massive shuriken from beside his pillow and decisively hurled it out the window.

Then he clapped his hands together!

"Shuriken Shadow Clone!"

The shuriken transformed into countless copies, streaking through the rainy night with cold flashes of light.

At that moment!

A shadow had just leapt into the air.

"Psh!"

He let out a muffled groan and pulled a shuriken from his shoulder.

"Luckily, I reacted quickly. It didn't hit anything vital."

After a wave of lingering fear, the shadow immediately thought:

Was that Shuriken Shadow Clone just now?! This brat... he really is formidable!

Meanwhile, Chiye Jun had only one thought:

When a man becomes famous, all sorts of monsters come after him...

He gathered chakra beneath his feet, leapt out the window, and gave chase.

"I'd like to see who's come to court death this time!"

Perfect timing—Chiye Jun wanted a few corpses to upgrade Skeleton Resurrection...

(Three updates today. There's another chapter coming later.)