In Konoha, This Naruto Has Decided To Take It Easy

Chapter 403 Pandora’s Box!!

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Training Ground Five wasn’t particularly large. Naruto, once he tightened his windbreaker, was ready to go. He wasn’t taking it too seriously, after all, he didn’t expect Hinata’s attacks to be too challenging.

But when he glanced at the faint blue glow in Hinata’s Byakugan, he was momentarily stunned.

"What's wrong with your eyes?"

After some training, Naruto frowned as he pinched Hinata’s cheeks, turning her head left and right with a puzzled expression on his face.

"Huh? I… I don’t understand what you mean, Naruto-kun." Hinata replied, confused as her face being squished around.

"Your eyes… It seems like there’s something inside them."

"Huh?"

Hearing this, Hinata frantically rummaged through her small bag for a mirror and checked her eyes again and again. She looked at her reflection, then back at Naruto, who was still frowning.

"There’s nothing there." She tilted her head up, looking confused.

"Nothing?" Naruto looked like he had just seen a ghost, holding her face and staring intently into her eyes, almost close enough for their noses to touch.

He was sure he saw something!

When Hinata activated her Byakugan earlier, something wasn’t right. Now, he was feeling uneasy. A few years ago, he had encouraged Hinata to stop obsessing over Gentle Fist and to focus on developing her Byakugan.

‘Now, was this the result of a small step forward? Dammit, had I opened a Pandora’s box?’

"When you activate your Byakugan, don’t you feel anything off?" Naruto asked.

"No." Hinata shook her head hesitantly.

"Hmm?" Naruto wasn’t entirely sure, but he didn’t want to alarm her, so he changed the topic and said, "Ah, I’ve been staying up too late lately. I must’ve been seeing things."

He finally let go of Hinata, but he felt her tug at his clothes. Hinata was looking at him, and as soon as he turned his gaze toward her, she immediately looked away and whispered softly, "Um… you shouldn’t stay up so late."

"Got it."

Naruto couldn't help himself and reached out to pinch Hinata's face again.

"Why do you never fight back?"

"Huh?"

Humans are strange, they like obedient people, but they also hope for a bit of resistance to get a greater sense of satisfaction. Still, Hinata being so compliant wasn’t bad either.

Naruto’s earlier words were actually just to give Hinata something to focus on. Just like Ino, if she was busy, she wouldn’t have time to think about the presence of other girls.

Jealousy could be avoided, as long as Naruto didn’t give it room to grow.

Ino was busy developing communication devices, and Hinata was focused on becoming a Jonin. They both had strong convictions and bright futures. So, for both of them, Naruto was always generous with his support.

He’d spend some time with them, offer encouragement, and let them shine as he stood on the side. As for Sakura, well, she didn’t really factor into this. Naruto believed that if Sakura ever got jealous, it’d probably be an impostor like a White Zetsu.

After the training session, Naruto escorted Hinata home before heading to the Hokage’s Office. On his way up, he ran into Yugao who is on her way down.

"Here, your badge." Naruto said, handing back the badge she had lent him a few days ago.

"Thanks." Yugao replied, taking it from him.

"Why do you look so listless?" Naruto asked just before she left.

"I’ve always looked like this." She said as they passed each other, "Tsunade-sama isn’t upstairs. You should go find Shizune-sama instead. I’ve got something else to take care of, so I’ll be leaving first."@@novelbin@@

‘Tsunade is not here again?’ Naruto was slightly stunned for a moment, ‘Ever since Kakashi was forced to start his Hokage internship, Tsunade had been slacking more and more openly, practically becoming a hands-off leader.’

Since Tsunade wasn’t around, Naruto decided to turn and go look for Shizune instead.

Yugao seemed to have encountered some trouble, but it had nothing to do with Naruto. The two of them were just ordinary colleagues who occasionally gave each other a thumbs-up.

The secret to the Great Toad Sage’s long life was simple: mind your own business. If something did come up, he’ll just find someone like Jiraiya to do the dirty work. First, brainwash him, then send him off on endless missions.

Speaking of Jiraiya, Naruto wondered if he ever found the Child of Prophecy. The Great Toad Sage had said just a few words, and Jiraiya spent decades running around because of it. It was almost pitiful.

‘Speaking of which, that old guy is really a piece of shit. Luckily, I’m not someone who can be duped so easily, otherwise, I might’ve been tricked into the same mess.’

Naruto couldn’t imagine living like that. It looked like Jiraiya had all the freedom to travel and meet girls, but in reality, it was endless undercover work. In the few moments between gathering intel, Jiraiya could only find time to write his romance novels, without even anyone by his side.

Naruto climbed the stairs, quietly and familiarly making his way to Shizune’s office. The door was open, so he knocked and walked in.

"Come in."

Shizune was buried in paperwork. She glanced up at Naruto and instinctively lowered her head to continue working. But just as her pen touched the paper, she stopped abruptly.

"Is there something?" Shizune removed the fatigue-relief glasses she’d been using and placed them on the table, frowning slightly.

"Shizune-san, are you not happy to see me?" Naruto casually pulled up a chair and sat down, raising an eyebrow, "You’re already trying to kick me out right after I arrived?"

"Nothing good ever happens when you come to see me."

"… I’m here to take on a mission." Naruto sheepishly scratched his head, "But since Tsunade-sama isn’t around, I have no choice but to come to you for help. Maybe a mission within the borders of the Land of Fire?"

"Accept a mission? Now that’s surprising!" Shizune said, twirling her pen in disbelief, "When did you change so much? Prove to me that you’re the real Uzumaki Naruto."

Naruto thought for a moment before speaking, "Last time when you got drunk, you complained that Tsunade-sama likes to sleep…"

"Stop! Stop it!" Shizune felt guilty and immediately cut him off, ‘If that enormous secret got out, Tsunade-sama would definitely skin me alive.’

‘No, wait… a third person already knows about it.’ Looking at the young man with red lips and white teeth in front of her, Shizune silently considered whether it’d be safer to silence him for good.

"So, you want a mission, right? Let me ask around. Are you taking it alone?" Shizune asked, flipping through some documents without looking up.

"Just pair me with some idiot Jonin as a placeholder." Naruto said.

"Idiot jonin?" Shizune felt slightly. She was also a Jonin, and Tsunade often said she wasn’t particularly bright either, "Who do you have in mind?"

"Anko. She’s been idle recently."