With the full moon high in the sky, the festival here became even more lively, with even ninjas and ninjas from neighboring countries joining in.
With Hongshi's help, Naruto and Hinata spent the whole day at the festival. Hinata gradually opened up from her initial shyness. Naruto, in fact, only saw Naruto as a little sister, holding her hand as they strolled through various places.
Hongshi, clutching the now-cold steamed buns, watched the two of them intently. "(꒦ິ⌓꒦ີ) Waaaaah, Hinata! As long as you're happy!"
"Yo, isn't this Hongshi-kun? I heard a dark-skinned ninja came here, so it really is you."
Jiraiya, reeking of alcohol and with a flushed face, walked slowly toward the Hongshi, his condition suggesting he had been intoxicated for some time.
Hongshi still held Jiraiya in high esteem. " Lord Jiraiya."
Jiraiya sat down next to Hongshi, looking at the brilliant lights below. "What Lord Jiraiya? He's just a ninja. Hongshi-kun, you were sent by the old man, weren't you? It's ridiculous that the old man would be sent on a mission by Lord Tobirama."
Hongshi nodded. Besides Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other three, only Jiraiya knew about Tobirama and Hashirama's resurrection. " Lord Tobirama is decisive and extremely intelligent. He probably had a deeper meaning in doing this."
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What kind of person do you think Lord Tobirama is?"
Hongshi took a bite of the cold bun. "I've heard a little about it. I've heard that Lord Tobirama Tobirama's talents are very comprehensive. Not only did he invent a large number of Ninjutsu for Konoha, but his mental fortitude, combat intelligence, and political acumen are also extremely strong. Moreover, he trusts those he uses without reservation; as long as they are good for Konoha, he will trust them. My goal is to become that kind of person."
Jiraiya chuckled, "Heh heh heh, even you want to Hokage?"
Hongshi remained silent, then asked another question, " Lord Jiraiya, there's something I've always wanted to ask you."
Jiraiya rarely saw Hongshi with such a serious expression, and he put down the sake bottle in his hand. "Oh? Go ahead and ask."
Hongshi slowly said, "As a ninja, must one really sacrifice their life for intelligence? Or rather, is there really any intelligence in the world more important than life itself?"
Jiraiya remained silent for Jiraiya, watching Naruto and Hinata scooping up goldfish. "Correct intelligence can end the war sooner. Sacrificing one person to protect the village is worthwhile. The ninjas of Konoha have inherited the Will of Fire. If we really need to give our lives, it's to protect the young and ensure the continued existence of Konoha."
Hongshi: "If there were a country or a ninja village..."
Just as Hongshi was about to continue speaking, he heard Naruto arguing with the two of them.
Jiraiya: "Hmm? Let's go take a look."
Hongshi: "Okay."
"Hey, you little brat, you've dirtied my clothes! You'll have to pay me 100,000!"
"What kind of clothes require a 100,000 yuan compensation?!"
Hinata had never felt the attention of so many people before, and she felt so ashamed that she hid behind Naruto, too embarrassed to speak.
It turned out that while the two were eating, they accidentally stained a man's white shirt. Upon seeing that it was a child, the man demanded an exorbitant price. "You two brats, call your parents over! Do you even know what kind of material this shirt is made of?!"
Jiraiya arrived just then. "Tsk! Such ugly clothes, and you're asking for 100,000 taels? You're going a bit too far."
"What! You want to fight? Do you know who we are? My older brother was once a legendary Chunin of Iwagakure! If you know what's good for you, pay up right now."
Jiraiya: "(≖_≖) Are there legendary Chunin too...?"
Hongshi emerged from the crowd and grabbed the man's hand. "Oh!!! You're the legendary Chunin! I've heard you've been hiding in the shadows for years, a truly formidable ninja!"
"You... you know me???"
Hongshi introduced the man to the onlookers, "Look, everyone, the one on the left, known as the White Brick of the Rock Ninja, is a master of Brick Release, specializing in attacking the old, weak, sick, and disabled. The one on the right, known as the Green Turtle of the Rock Ninja, has mastered the Rock Ninja Taijutsu, the Seventy-Seven Ninety-Six Turtle Fist, which is used to kill snakes, insects, rats, and ants!"
"Hahaha..."
"Hahaha..."
"You bastard! Looks like you're in for a beating!"
Hongshi jumped directly behind Jiraiya: "What, you want to hit me with the Turtle Fist?"
Jiraiya, watching the two charging towards him, said, "Hey, Hongshi-kun, stop playing Naruto. Naruto, let me show you the Ninjutsu I'm about to teach you."
Jiraiya opened his right hand, and a swirling ball of Chakra gradually condensed in his palm, forming a sphere the size of a fist. The surrounding air seemed to gather around this sphere. "Look closely! Spicy Sage Root!"
"Boom!"
Although Jiraiya had controlled his strength considerably, he still sent the two flying more than ten meters, smashing the vendor's stall.
Naruto was immediately captivated by the technique. "What an amazing Ninjutsu!"
Hinata also quite surprised. "You can use this technique without Hand Seals!"
Hongshi patted Hinata: "Oh, Hinata, what's the big deal? I can teach you Ninjutsu like that too."
Jiraiya and Naruto walked over to the two unconscious legendary Chunin Rock Ninja, took out a wad of cash, and handed it to the owner of the damaged stall. "Boss, this money is to make up for your loss. I'll also buy the rest of the water balloons; please pack them up for me."
After the farce ended, Jiraiya Naruto, "Alright, Naruto. Let's go train. Hongshi-kun, are you coming too?"
Hongshi said to Hinata, "Let's train together. I'll teach you two more powerful Ninjutsu; you'll definitely be stronger than Naruto."
Hinata was very tempted and nodded repeatedly, "Yes!"
Then Hongshi seemed to remember something, scratching his head. "Oh right, lend me some money, I need to buy something to eat..."
Hongshi, holding a roasted pig leg, sat cross-legged on the ground gnawing on it, mumbling about training methods to Hinata.
" Naruto, take this." Jiraiya tossed a water-filled balloon to Naruto, while he himself held one as well.
"You've already trained in water walking and tree climbing, and you've achieved a certain level of proficiency in Chakra control. The next step is to use your Chakra to create rotation. As long as the speed is fast enough, you can burst the balloon, and the first stage of training will be complete."
With a crisp "pop," the water balloon in Jiraiya's hand spun rapidly, its surface becoming uneven before it finally expanded and exploded.
However, just as Naruto was about to begin his training, Hongshi and Hinata were also training nearby...
"Smack!"
" Hongshi-kun! I did it!"
" Hinata, you're amazing! You popped the balloon in just two seconds! Alright, let's move on to the next stage: pop the balloon!"
Jiraiya: "∑(❍ฺд❍ฺlll)???"
Naruto: "(°ー°)???"