Robbing Money

Wu Di looked at the two items in Naruto's hands and spoke softly.

"The meatball in your left hand is called a Futon."

"It's specifically used to capture certain carnivorous animals."

"Once a beast eats the meatball, it will completely obey your commands."

"As for the scroll in your right hand..."

Wu Di took a closer look and immediately gasped.

Naruto really was the protagonist of Naruto—even his scratch-off tickets were dripping with insane luck!

"Inside this is a composite ninjutsu called Wood Style: Thousand Years of Impalement Technique."

"It has both the control effect of Wood Style: Impale Technique and the essence of the taijutsu Thousand Years of Death. Go home and practice well!"

Naruto scratched his head, completely baffled.

He'd heard about the power of Wood Style before, but the other jutsu it was combined with... seemed kind of useless!

If only it could be combined with a more powerful offensive jutsu, then he'd be invincible!

Still, after a moment, he came around.

For a hundred ryo scratch-off ticket, pulling a ninjutsu was already pretty good—how much more could he ask for?

He put away both items and was about to head out.

But at the door, a burly white figure blocked his way.

On his head was a chef's hat, printed with two big red characters: Ichiraku!

Naruto instantly sensed trouble.

He turned to escape through the window, only to feel his collar grabbed from behind.

"Naruto—pay up!"

Uncle Ichiaku roared.

In a panic, Naruto raised two fingers and jabbed blindly behind him: "Sunflower - Acupoint Sealing Technique!"

The next second, he felt Uncle Ichiaku go still, so he gave a little tug and broke free from his grip.

Turning around, he put on a smug grin.

"Uncle Ichiaku, just give me a few more days."

"Once I save up money from missions, I'll pay you back right away!"

Uncle Ichiaku glared with wide, round eyes, wanting to curse him out, but found he couldn't open his mouth—only muffled growls escaped his throat.

Naruto clapped his hands and sauntered off, swaggering away.

By the time Uncle Ichiaku recovered, he was long gone.

Walking down the street, Naruto felt a bit down.

He'd have to pay back the money he owed Ichiraku Ramen sooner or later, but he wanted to keep the mission earnings for scratch-off tickets.

What was he supposed to do?

Just as he was hesitating, a ninja in black sunglasses and a black headband ran past the street corner.

Naruto caught up and saw him chasing a five- or six-year-old kid.

"Konohamaru-sama, please come back! The Third Hokage-sama is looking for you!"

"I don't want to go back! Being forced to learn ninjutsu by the old man is so annoying!" Konohamaru shouted.

A sly glint suddenly flashed in Naruto's eyes.

"That's right—how could I forget the ultimate secret of Sunflower - Acupoint Sealing Technique?"

With a look of pure mischief, he hurried after them.

"Ebisu-sensei, leave Konohamaru to me!"

He shouted from behind.

Ebisu stopped, glanced sideways at Naruto, and adjusted his glasses.

Now that Naruto was a genin, as a teacher, he could naturally hand off this low-level task to him.

Ebisu crossed his arms and nodded: "Go ahead!"

"Alright!"

Naruto flashed a grin of triumph and yelled at Konohamaru: "Konohamaru, stop right there!"

Ebisu folded his arms, ready to enjoy the show.

But the moment Naruto passed him, he suddenly changed direction.

Two fingers shot out.

"Sunflower - Acupoint Sealing Technique!"

At these words, Ebisu was greatly startled, and then discovered in astonishment that he could not move at all!

His eyes bulged wide, wanting to ask Naruto what he had done to him, but he couldn't even open his mouth.

"Sorry about this, Ebisu-sensei!"

Naruto rubbed his palms together as he approached and, under Ebisu's gaze, directly reached into his pocket.

"Naruto, what do you think you're doing? I'm warning you, I'm a teacher at the Ninja Academy!"

"If you dare treat me like this, aren't you afraid I'll send you back to the Ninja Academy to start over?"

"I'll make you study alongside those four- and five-year-old kids! Ah, Naruto, I'll kill you!"

Though Ebisu looked calm on the surface, inside he had already cursed Naruto ten thousand times, and the corners of his eyes were a little moist.

He watched as Naruto took his wallet and brazenly pulled out silver notes.

That money was meant for him to buy flowers at the Yamanaka family shop, to give to the girl he liked...

Naruto pulled out three thousand ryo in silver notes, leaving him only a few hundred to get by on.

"Ebisu-sensei, thanks a lot! When I have money someday, I'll definitely pay you back!"

Naruto grinned as he closed the wallet and stuck it right onto Ebisu's glasses frame.

Not far away, Konohamaru saw Naruto's money-grabbing scene and came running over excitedly.

"Hero, take me as your disciple!"

Naruto ignored him, glanced at him, and kept walking forward.

Konohamaru stomped his foot and shouted.

"If you don't take me in, I'll report to Grandpa that you robbed someone in public!"

Hearing this, Naruto's short temper flared up immediately, and he directly gave Konohamaru a set of Sunflower - Acupoint Sealing Technique.

Looking at the two immobilized people, Naruto chuckled softly, hummed a little tune, and left.

A few minutes later, Ebisu's immobilization wore off. He took down his wallet with tears in his eyes and howled at the sky.

"Naruto, this is a fight to the death between us!"

Even though he shouted loudly here, Naruto could no longer hear him.

He came out of Ichiraku Ramen, looked at the mere two hundred ryo in silver notes left in his hand, and let out a long sigh.

Just then, Sakura passed by in front of him.

"Naruto, I saw a D-rank mission on the mission board. It needs three people to complete."

"I've already contacted Sasuke. Now there's just one spot left. Are you coming?"

Naruto immediately got excited: "I'm in, of course I'm in!"

Being invited by Sakura was an incredible stroke of luck for him—how could he refuse?

"Then let's hurry up. Don't keep Sasuke waiting!"

Sakura said with a smile, but a hint of anxiety flickered in her eyes.

Seeing this, Naruto's heart sank, but he still followed her as they headed into the woods together.

In the woods, Sasuke was fiddling with the Otaku Provocation Stick in his hand, swinging it around.

As luck would have it, through a gap in the trees, he pointed it straight at a wild bear that had gone into a frenzy.

A roar immediately tore through the mountain forest.

Outside the woods, Sakura looked toward the direction of the roar and said nervously.

"Damn, that's exactly the area where we're supposed to do our mission. Sasuke must be in danger over there!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she leaped up and dashed into the woods.

Naruto followed behind her, watching how anxious she was over Sasuke, and felt a little uncomfortable inside.

But he still trailed after her, unable to help himself.

In the blink of an eye, they had reached the mission area.

From a distance, they saw a wild bear, its body charred black, with several kunai stuck in its back, roaring up at a tree.

On a thick branch above it, Sasuke was crouching there helplessly.

"Sasuke!" Sakura stopped and shouted loudly.