Konoha: The Diary's Exposure Sent the Kunoichi into a Tailspin

But Tazuna had never expected

Konoha's ninja to be so perceptive.

He had only said a few extra words,

yet the brat in front of him had already noticed something was wrong.

The contempt in his heart

vanished without a trace.

"I'm not hiding anything, I swear. You can rest easy."

Tazuna forced the words out.

"You'd better not be."

"You know that if we run into trouble beyond the mission's assigned rank, we have the right to terminate the contract, don't you?"

Naruto Uzumaki continued.

Under Naruto's gaze, Tazuna could only nod helplessly.

"So... if you want to stay alive, drop that obnoxious attitude."

Naruto Uzumaki leaned close to Tazuna's ear and spoke softly enough that only the two of them could hear.

"And one more thing... I don't like people who reek of alcohol."

"I understand."

Tazuna wasn't a fool. Naruto Uzumaki's meaning was perfectly clear.

At a time like this,

if he kept acting the way he had before,

he might meet a terrible end.

And so,

Tazuna, who had been so overbearing moments ago, turned as docile as a lamb and stopped insisting on having his way.

"He really is just like my teacher was back then."

Watching Naruto Uzumaki from behind, Kakashi Hatake couldn't help but marvel.

Earlier,

Kakashi had sensed something was wrong too, but he hadn't worked out what it was.

Naruto was so young, and this was his first mission of this kind. Yet he had uncovered the truth behind it in no time...

He was incredible.

"Heehee... that's Naruto-kun for you!"

Sakura gazed at Naruto Uzumaki with open admiration.

A few words had left that obnoxious, booze-soaked old man speechless. She loved it.

Only Sasuke Uchiha silently clenched his small fists.

He had just been thinking he would outshine Naruto on this mission. Instead, Naruto had stolen the spotlight before they had even set off.

Damn it!

Why had Naruto gotten so smart?

Where had that dead-last Naruto gone?

Give him back already!

"All right."

"If no one has any objections, we'll leave it at that for today."

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had remained silent until now, saw that Tazuna had stopped complaining and dismissed everyone.

Once they had all left, the smile on his face gradually faded.

Naruto...

He seemed much sharper than before.

That wasn't a good sign.

Perhaps I really should consider Danzo's suggestion.

After frowning in thought for a while, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally sighed.

I'd watch him a little longer first.

"Yugao!"

"Here!"

"You'll be responsible for protecting Naruto again this time."

"Yes, sir!"

[Good morning~]

[After all this time in the Shinobi World, I finally get to leave the village and have a look around.]

Naruto was leaving the village?

As new words appeared in the Diary, the women all set aside what they were doing and began to read.

[It's only a C-rank mission, but our destination is the Land of Waves. The scenery along the way should be nice too.]

[A little sightseeing on the way should make for a relaxing trip.]

[Most importantly, once this mission is over, I'll be rich enough to rival a nation!]

At that,

the women couldn't help finding it funny.

That Naruto...

Wasn't he a transmigrator?

Why was he still like a little kid? How could one C-rank mission make him rich enough to rival a nation?

[Come to think of it, this mission is actually pretty dangerous.]

[After all, Gato has hired Zabuza Momochi, an S-Rank Missing-nin from Kirigakure nicknamed the Demon, to carry out an assassination.]

[Team 7 in the Original Story nearly met its end on this mission.]

The women: ???

What was going on?

A C-rank mission wasn't even supposed to involve other ninja.

How could an S-Rank Missing-nin show up?

"Tazuna really was hiding something."

Sakura couldn't help frowning.

She knew little about Zabuza, but anyone called an S-Rank Missing-nin was far beyond her ability to handle.

Even Kakashi-sensei might not be a match for him.

But...

If Naruto already knew,

why hadn't he exposed Tazuna's deception today?

[But Zabuza alone poses no threat to me as I am now.]

Zabuza alone?

That was quite a claim!

The women were all surprised by what Naruto had written in the Diary.

After all,

the Shinobi World at present

hadn't yet reached the point where "Jonin were everywhere and Kage Level fighters were a dime a dozen."

Elite Jonin

were already close to the pinnacle of the Shinobi World's strength.

Even a Kage Level fighter

wouldn't dare say an opponent like that posed no threat.

Just how strong was Naruto now?

What gave him such confidence?

[Actually, my main goal this time is to take Gato's fortune.]

[That guy is one of the richest people in the entire Shinobi World.]

Reading this, the women finally understood.

No wonder Naruto had said this mission would make him rich enough to rival a nation.

He had his eye on Gato's wealth.

[Hmph!]

[Gato, don't blame me.]

[Blame my future wives.]

[After all, my wives must have the best food, clothes, and homes the Shinobi World has to offer!]

[Especially Tsunade. That sucker loses every bet. If I don't make more money, how will I give my wives a good life?]

[Being the man who brings home the money... isn't easy!]

[Oh, one last thing: my wife Yugao smelled wonderful. That's a woman who bathes every day for you.]

As the Diary stopped updating, the women couldn't help giving little huffs.

Oh, please.

Now he thought it was hard?

He could try not chasing after every woman he saw.

Calling every woman his wife—of course it was hard!

Still,

for all their complaints,

the women felt a warmth in their hearts.

That guy...

He might be a bit of a lecher, but he was willing to take responsibility.

Shizune: Time to Pack Up and Run Again

The Land of Hot Water.

Inside a tavern.

Tsunade slammed her cup onto the table with a bang.

"That bastard!"

"I lose every bet?"