belamy20

46-50

Added 2024-10-15 01:51:00 +0000 UTC

*Chapter 46: Wall Slam*

Might Guy looked at Tsunade with doubt in his eyes.

A ninja like her becoming the Hokage—what would become of the Hidden Leaf Village in the future?

"Tsunade-sama! You should heal Kakashi first!"

Tsunade's doting attitude was making Shiro a bit uncomfortable, so he hurriedly changed the topic.

Tsunade pouted reluctantly, then squatted down. She placed her hands on Kakashi Hatake's head and began performing the Mystical Palm Technique.

After a moment, Kakashi slowly opened his eyes.

"Not bad, but your Moon Crossing technique is much weaker than that kid’s from last time. You really need to work harder!"

Hearing Tsunade's words, Kakashi, who had just opened his eyes, coughed up blood and fainted again.

"Impressive, Shiro! Moon Crossing is an illusion technique, right? It only damages the mind, but you actually managed to injure Kakashi physically!"

Shiro covered his face, completely unwilling to deal with Tsunade.

That’s your fault for stressing me out!

Tsunade once again used the Mystical Palm Technique on Kakashi.

Kakashi opened his eyes again. He hesitated for a moment before his eyes grew resolute.

"Hokage-sama, Shiro's identity is still questionable. You shouldn't trust him entirely!"

Before Kakashi could finish his sentence, Tsunade punched the ground instead of hitting him, creating a large hole in the ground.

"I stake my reputation on this! Shiro is definitely not a traitor!"

Kakashi glanced at the hole in the ground, swallowed nervously, and fear flashed across his face.

But Shiro knew deep down that Kakashi would never let this go.

Not just because of the Moon Crossing technique, but also because of the whole Uchiha Obito situation!

Once Kakashi recovered, he’d definitely come after Shiro!

"Alright… Tsunade-sama, maybe you should check on Sasuke next."

Tsunade shot a glance at Sasuke Uchiha, clearly not in the mood to help this rude brat if Shiro hadn’t spoken up.

She walked over to Sasuke, placed her hands on his chest, and a soft white glow emitted from her palms.

Sasuke, who had been slightly conscious, slowly regained full awareness, his eyes becoming more alert.

"This kid just overused his chakra. Next time, he should be more careful! If there's nothing else, I’m leaving. Becoming Hokage is a lot of work, and you keep causing me trouble all day long!"

Shiro immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

But really, who could resist the temptation of seeing the last 1%?

After Tsunade left, Might Guy hurriedly picked up Kakashi to leave as well.

"Guy, wait!"

Kakashi weakly looked at Shiro, but his eyes were like those of a fierce tiger, as if ready to devour him at any moment.

"Tell me—is Obito really alive?"

Shiro let out a bitter laugh. Not only was Obito alive, but he was very much kicking and active.

However, Shiro didn’t intend to tell Kakashi that.

Kakashi and Sasuke Uchiha were different.

Sasuke saw Shiro as a master, making it unlikely that he would attack Shiro.

Kakashi, on the other hand, had always seen Shiro as a potential spy. If he recovered, he would definitely settle the score!

"I think… anything’s possible! Why don't you take a guess—is Obito alive or not?"

Kakashi was so enraged that he almost spat blood again.

His eyes grew even sharper as he glared at Shiro.

"Kakashi, let's go. You need to get back and heal quickly!" said Might Guy, not waiting for Kakashi to respond before leaping up into the trees with him.

"Shiro, don't forget to come treat Lee tomorrow!" Guy called out.

"Shiro-kun, see you tomorrow at the usual spot!" Tsunade added.

Shiro quickly smiled and nodded.

At first, he had been worried about Sasuke's condition and whether they could continue training tomorrow.

But it seemed he had been overthinking it!

Since that was the case, should he teach Sasuke Chidori Sharp Spear or Chidori Senbon tomorrow?

Shiro rubbed his chin, pondering, when suddenly he tripped over something.

Looking down, he saw the sleeping Kiba Inuzuka!

For a moment, Shiro silently mourned for this most loyal of Leaf Village ninjas.

Earlier, everyone had their own hidden agendas.

But Kiba, knowing full well he couldn’t beat Sasuke, had fought bravely until the end.

And yet, everyone ignored him.

Shiro wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, then hurriedly jogged away.

"I'd better leave quickly. If that hothead wakes up, it’ll be trouble!"

Exhausted, Shiro finally returned to his room.

Even though he had become a ninja and was much stronger physically than before, after such a long day, he couldn’t help but want to rest.

He opened the door and saw a familiar figure sitting in the living room.

A head of white hair, sharp eyes staring right at him as he walked in.

Shiro's face twitched, and he hurriedly closed the door.

"Oh, come on, don't run! I have something to ask you!"

Jiraiya rushed out in a flash, pushing open the door through a cloud of smoke, revealing a familiar face.

"Tsunade… what are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you that! What are you doing lurking around Shiro’s place?"

Tsunade slammed her fist into the wall, making a loud noise!

Jiraiya's heart skipped a beat as he waved his hands defensively, slowly backing away.

"It’s a misunderstanding! Shiro and I are close! This isn't lurking—it's just a visit!"

"Oh, really?" Tsunade smirked triumphantly.

Sweat started to bead on Jiraiya’s forehead, but something still felt off.

"Shiro!"

Jiraiya suddenly called out. Tsunade immediately responded with, "Hmm?"

As soon as she answered, sweat broke out on her forehead too.

She quickly backed into a corner, panicking.

"Perverted sage, listen to me! Wait, no, I'll change back right away!"

Thud!

Jiraiya pressed one hand against the wall, trapping Tsunade in a kabedon.

"No need. This is just fine."

Tsunade shivered all over, her eyes filled with fear as she looked at Jiraiya.

But Shiro noticed that Jiraiya’s expression was extremely serious, his eyes clear and free of any lewd thoughts.

Shiro paused for a moment, then realized what was going on.

Jiraiya had loved Tsunade since they were young.

But Jiraiya wasn’t good at expressing his feelings, so he had never confessed.

Still, his love for Tsunade had never diminished.

This was why Jiraiya had always let Tsunade beat him up—not because he couldn’t fight back, but because of love!

The saddest part was that Jiraiya never got to confess his feelings before he died.

Just then, the door suddenly opened.

Shiro and Jiraiya both turned their heads to see Shizune standing at the entrance, frozen in shock.

Boom!

Shiro quickly released his Transformation Technique, and Shizune remained dazed.

She immediately turned and ran off.

"It’s over!"

It’s over! I dreamed that nobody was voting for my story! Please tell me that’s not true!

---

*Chapter 47: Decision to Leave*

Seeing Shizune running away at top speed, Jiraiya hurriedly chased after her.

Whether it was pinning "Tsunade" against the wall or pinning Shiro, Jiraiya was destined for death! Especially with the mysterious position Shiro held in Tsunade's heart—if she knew someone was bullying him, she'd definitely rush over and beat Jiraiya to a pulp!

With Shizune being a Jonin, Jiraiya caught up to her easily.

"Shizune, let me explain!"

"No need! You can explain it to Lady Tsunade!" Shizune took a few steps back, putting some distance between them, her eyes full of caution.

"Shizune, we were just joking around..." Shiro walked over with a wry smile.

Hearing Shiro's explanation, the caution in Shizune's eyes softened, though she still kept her distance from Jiraiya.

Jiraiya twitched at the corner of his mouth. His sincere explanation was nothing compared to Shiro's casual remark. Truly, comparing people could drive you mad!

"By the way, Shizune, why did you suddenly come looking for me?"

Shizune glanced at Jiraiya, then quickly took two steps closer to Shiro, her eyes filled with tenderness.

"Lady Tsunade asked me to remind you not to forget about helping that thick-browed kid with his treatment tomorrow!"

"Don't worry, when I say I'll do something, I'll do it!" Shiro patted his chest in reassurance.

"Good, see you tomorrow then!"

Shizune prepared to leave, but upon seeing Jiraiya, she quickly stepped back, circling around him as she left.

Jiraiya twitched again, feeling thoroughly disgruntled.

He wrapped his arm around Shiro and, in a slightly threatening tone, said, "You're quite popular, aren't you?"

"Shizune hasn't gone far."

At Shiro's words, Jiraiya immediately straightened up and looked back, only to see Shizune still eyeing him warily.

"Damn it, I wasn't bullying Shiro!"

Seeing Jiraiya's expression, on the verge of tears, Shiro couldn't help but laugh.

"Alright, so what's the real reason you came to find me?"

In an instant, Jiraiya's demeanor became serious.

"Let's talk inside your room."

Once inside, Shiro sat down on a chair, while Jiraiya checked the surroundings carefully. After confirming no one was eavesdropping, he sat down across from Shiro.

"You seem to know quite a lot about the Akatsuki, don't you?"

Shiro gave a helpless smile. Know them? He practically knew every member’s jutsu! Especially Nagato, the leader of the Akatsuki.

Thinking of this, Shiro felt a pang of sadness. After all, Jiraiya died at the hands of his former student, Nagato.

"Ask whatever you want. I'll answer what I can."

Hearing this, Jiraiya's eyes lit up, and he scooted a bit closer, lowering his voice.

"What is the Akatsuki's goal?"

"They're collecting the tailed beasts for their own use."

Jiraiya's whole body trembled.

Just one Nine-Tails had nearly destroyed the Leaf Village, and Minato had sacrificed himself to seal it. If they collected all nine tailed beasts, who could possibly stand against them?

"Where's their base? And who's their leader?"

Shiro opened his mouth to answer but stopped himself just in time.

"I don't know that for now. But I'm planning to leave the village in a few days to investigate."

"That's reckless!" Jiraiya jumped out of his chair. But when he saw the determination in Shiro's eyes, he suppressed his anger and sat down again.

"If you leave the village, Tsunade will go crazy! With how much you mean to her, she might even abandon her position as Hokage just to look for you!"

Shiro smiled slightly, meeting Jiraiya's gaze calmly.

"That's why I need your help."

"I must be crazy... if I talk to her, I'll be the first to die!" Jiraiya paused for a moment before adding seriously, "Unless I go with you!"

Shiro twitched again. His goal wasn’t really the Akatsuki; it was the other four great ninja villages!

Having Jiraiya with him would certainly be safer, but it would also make collecting jutsu a lot more troublesome.

"You're one of the legendary Sannin. Everyone knows who you are. How am I supposed to conduct reconnaissance with you around?"

"But you can't leave right away either. You need to get stronger first! Within three years, I'll train you to be as powerful as Minato. Then, it won't be too late to go!"

Shiro gave a bitter smile.

By then, the story would be in full swing. While Jiraiya’s training would make him stronger, against the kind of power that comes later, it wouldn’t be enough.

"If I wait until then, it might be too late!"

Shiro's question made Jiraiya's expression grow serious. Looking at Shiro's determined gaze, the words he was about to say were swallowed back down.

"Fine, when are you planning to leave?"

"Probably in the next few days."

"So soon? Do you know how heartbroken Tsunade will be?"

"But if I don't go, do you know how many people in the Leaf Village could die?"

Jiraiya stared hard at Shiro, his hands clenched tightly for a few minutes before he finally relaxed.

"Before, I misunderstood you as a spy, but now I see how much you love the Leaf Village. I apologize for my earlier doubts."

Jiraiya then bowed to Shiro at a 90-degree angle.

"Many people still question your loyalty. While you're gone, I'll clear your name. When you return, you’ll be a true hero of the Leaf—untouchable! That is, if you come back."

Seeing Jiraiya’s solemn expression, Shiro couldn't help but laugh internally.

All he wanted was to collect a few jutsu, but somehow things had escalated into this.

Still, Shiro silently made up his mind.

If he became strong enough, he would definitely save Jiraiya. But if not, he wouldn’t sacrifice himself recklessly.

After all, better a friend dies than oneself!

"By the way, I have one request."

Seeing Jiraiya’s serious face, Shiro knew it wasn't a time for jokes, so he quickly nodded.

"Could you transform into Tsunade again?"

"Get lost!"

---

The next morning, Shiro arrived at the ninja hospital.

Outside the operating room, Team 3 anxiously waited.

When Tenten saw Shiro, her face turned red as she walked over with her head down. But before she could say anything, Might Guy rushed over, pushing her aside and grabbing Shiro’s hands tightly.

"Shiro, please don’t hold yesterday's incident against me. Just please do everything you can to heal Lee!"

Shiro smiled wryly.

He hadn’t expected Guy to take yesterday's event so seriously.

But even if Guy had injured him, Shiro would still do his best to heal Lee.

Still, Might Guy's name was definitely going in the "grudge notebook"!

"Don't worry, I promised Tenten I’d heal Lee, and I will."

As soon as he said that, Tenten’s face turned even redder, and she began nervously fiddling with her ninja tools.

"Good luck!"

Shiro nodded slightly and walked into the operating room.

Halfway there, he suddenly realized something felt off.

"Did I just make Tenten misunderstand again?"

---

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 48: Treating Rock Lee

On the operating table, Rock Lee had already been deeply anesthetized.

His breathing was steady, but it couldn't hide the deep frustration within him.

He had incredible willpower but was unbelievably weak at controlling chakra.

If Rock Lee had strong chakra control, Naruto Uzumaki wouldn't have been needed later on!

"You two, pay close attention. Once you start using the Mystical Palm Technique, don't stop for even a second! Otherwise, this kid could suffer permanent damage!"

"No problem!"

Shiro confidently responded, but Shizune, on the other hand, furrowed her brow.

"Shiro, you're still young. If your chakra runs low, let me know in advance! If you pass out from chakra exhaustion, even Lady Tsunade might not be able to continue the treatment!"

Tsunade's face showed her dissatisfaction upon hearing Shizune’s words.

"Are you doubting me?"

"Don't worry, I know my limits!" Shiro replied with a smile.

The treatment began, and for Shiro and Shizune, the process was relatively simple.

All they had to do was continuously use the Mystical Palm Technique!

But for Tsunade, it was a challenge.

Every second required absolute concentration.

The broken bones were near the chakra pathways; even a slight mistake could leave Rock Lee permanently paralyzed!

"Shiro, if you're struggling, let me know, and I'll increase the output of my healing chakra."

"I can handle it."

"You're still young, so even if you're strong, your chakra reserves are probably not as large as mine!"

"Alright, I'll tell you if I can't continue."

Seeing how persistent Shizune was, Shiro reluctantly agreed.

After 30 minutes, Shizune's forehead was drenched in sweat, and her hands began to tremble slightly, while Shiro still looked as composed as ever!

Shizune's face flushed with embarrassment.

She had wanted to support Shiro, but now it seemed she was the one nearing her limit!

"Shizune, if you can't continue, just say so, and I'll take over for you!" Shiro offered.

Shizune nearly choked on her words—this sounded far too familiar!

"N-no need!" she stammered.

However, mid-sentence, the glow of Shizune’s healing chakra started to dim and flicker.

Shiro quickly increased his chakra output, sensing something was wrong.

"Shizune! If you're struggling, don't push yourself. You could end up hurting the boy!" Tsunade scolded.

Shizune hung her head in shame.

She nearly jeopardized the future of a young ninja because of her stubbornness.

Thankfully, Shiro intervened in time.

But Shizune didn’t give up. She sat aside and began munching on soldier pills, ready to jump in the moment Shiro showed signs of fatigue.

Ten minutes passed.

Twenty minutes passed.

Thirty minutes passed.

Even Tsunade, who was conducting the surgery, furrowed her brows in disbelief.

She had seen many prodigies by the age of twelve, but someone with chakra reserves as vast as Shiro’s was a first!

"Shiro! Don’t push yourself too hard!"

"Yeah, my chakra's starting to run low," Shiro admitted.

Shizune’s eyes lit up! She had been waiting half an hour for this moment!

"Shiro, if you're struggling, I’ll take over!" Shizune smiled, walking toward him.

But just as she did, Shiro lifted his headband, made a few quick hand signs with one hand, and in an instant, a diamond-shaped mark on his forehead spread, covering his entire face!

"Creation Rebirth!"

Shizune stopped in her tracks, completely stunned!

She had been with Tsunade for so long and still hadn’t learned this technique, yet Shiro had mastered it in such a short time!

Shizune couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

But she didn't resent Shiro at all, because he was truly special.

Even Tsunade paused her work for a moment, surprised by Shiro's abilities.

"Kid, just how many surprises do you have in store for me?"

The Creation Rebirth technique was invented by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and Tsunade was the only person known to have mastered it!

Where Shiro had learned it from was a mystery that would need solving.

But Tsunade wouldn't blame Shiro—he was the most important person to her now. If he wanted to learn, she'd teach him everything without reservation.

With Shiro’s steady use of the Mystical Palm Technique, the surgery ended without a hitch!

Everyone had smiles of victory on their faces.

Except for Shizune, who sulked in the corner, biting her sleeve.

The three exhausted healers walked out of the operating room, and the anxious group waiting outside immediately rushed toward them.

Especially Might Guy, who pushed through the crowd to be the first one in front.

"How is he? How did the surgery go?"

"Shiro promised that girl he'd heal Lee perfectly. Now all that's left is a slow recovery," Tsunade responded.

Might Guy’s face lit up with joy, and he grabbed Shiro’s hands in gratitude, saying, "Thank you so much! From now on, Tenten is in your care!"

Shiro's face twitched.

Why did all the ninjas in Konoha love playing matchmaker so much?

Several times, nothing had even happened, yet they always tried to stir things up.

The small misunderstanding between him and Tenten was deepened by all these people meddling!

"Shiro, thank you. On behalf of Lee, I’m really grateful! Also, I love the gift you gave me," Tenten shyly said, leaving Shiro utterly confused.

When had he ever given her a gift?

Just then, Might Guy winked at Shiro, looking very pleased with himself.

So that's how you handed Tenten over to me! Thanks a lot! Now there's no way I can clear this up!

But seeing Tenten’s shy expression, Shiro couldn’t bring himself to tell the truth.

"Lee will wake up soon. Shouldn't you go see him?"

Might Guy, who could hardly contain his excitement, rushed inside without even answering.

After Tenten followed him, Neji, who had been standing with his arms crossed, approached Shiro.

"I don’t know what tricks you used to fool Tenten, but if you ever hurt her, I’ll make sure you regret it."

Shiro was taken aback.

Though Neji and Tenten didn’t end up together in the original story, they were very close.

There was no way Shiro could believe there was nothing between them.

And now, with Guy and the others meddling, Neji was clearly annoyed.

This just confirmed Neji's feelings for Tenten!

Just then, a figure came rushing over.

A head of short, pink hair immediately caught everyone’s attention.

Shiro couldn’t help but frown. The last person he wanted to see was Sakura Haruno!

If there had been a way to slip away unnoticed, Shiro would have turned around and left!

"Sakura, why are you in such a hurry?"

Sakura was panting heavily and took about three seconds to catch her breath.

But instead of speaking, her first action was to burst into tears.

"Sasuke... Sasuke's gone!"

---

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 49: Chasing Uchiha Sasuke*

Sakura Haruno's single sentence instantly made everyone frown.

If Sasuke left without saying a word, it could be considered as defection, and if the Leaf Village issued a warrant, no country would harbor Uchiha Sasuke!

Upon hearing Sakura's words, Shiro also frowned.

It wasn’t because of what she said, but rather the timing!

Defection is always a sensitive topic, especially since the Leaf Village had just been struck by turmoil not long ago.

After the incident with Kabuto Yakushi, Danzo Shimura had searched the village thoroughly and had indeed uncovered many spies.

Now, Sakura was openly discussing Sasuke’s defection in public.

If anyone from the Root organization heard this, Sasuke would surely face relentless pursuit!

The most critical point was…

Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, was standing right there. Wasn't she just courting death by saying that?

“Sakura, right? I’m very interested in what you just said about defection. Care to elaborate?” Tsunade, already annoyed with both Sasuke and Sakura, now had her displeasure written all over her face.

Sakura’s heart sank as she realized her mistake.

Her eyes darted around helplessly, finally locking onto Shiro!

Sakura knew.

No matter what happened, as long as Shiro spoke up, this Hokage would nod in agreement and forgive!

Sometimes, Shiro's words were even more influential than the Hokage's!

“Shiro! Please, help Sasuke!” she pleaded.

Shiro smirked. In the past, whenever Sakura had issues, she’d always turn to Naruto Uzumaki. When things were fine, she’d completely ignore him. Who would’ve thought that today, he’d be the one she’d come running to?

Sasuke’s departure didn’t surprise Shiro in the slightest.

After all, after watching so many years of Naruto, these major plot points were crystal clear!

But Sasuke left a few days earlier than expected.

“You want Shiro to help? Sasuke is suspected of defection right now. Are you asking Shiro to go and kill him?” Tsunade sneered when Shiro didn’t respond for a long time.

Sakura panicked, shaking her head frantically as tears began to flow.

“No, Sasuke must have had his reasons. He would never become a rogue ninja!”

Might Guy, seeing the situation, quickly stepped in to mediate. “Lady Hokage, it might be too soon to judge him as a rogue ninja. Youth must be passionate and full of energy! Maybe Sasuke just went off to play and will come back in a few days. If you’re still worried, why not send someone to bring him back?”

Shiro stroked his chin, deep in thought.

Sasuke’s departure from the Leaf Village must have been due to Orochimaru’s manipulation.

However, after training with Shiro, Sasuke’s strength had grown significantly, and yet he still wanted to leave.

This disappointed Shiro somewhat.

Nevertheless, Shiro decided to help move the plot forward.

Because this mission to chase down Sasuke would be Shiro’s chance to leave the Leaf Village as well.

“Lady Tsunade, since Sasuke is still young, why don’t I go and see if I can bring him back?”

Tsunade furrowed her brow, glancing at Shiro.

“No way! If you go, others must accompany you! Elite jonin of our village, all of you, go with Shiro and bring Sasuke back!”

Shiro's eye twitched.

If elite jonin accompanied him, there wouldn’t even be a chance for him to leave, let alone teach Sasuke a lesson!

“Lady Tsunade, you know the state of our village. Everyone is working hard to rebuild. Even the free ninjas are needed to protect the village and can't be spared.”

“But I’m worried something might happen to you if you go alone!”

Shiro smiled wryly, knowing exactly whom Tsunade was referring to.

Though there was some risk, if he could escape, he’d finally be free to fully dedicate himself to learning new jutsu and enhancing his strength!

He had to be strong enough to survive the final battle and not end up as easy prey!

At this moment, Neji Hyuga stepped forward, respectfully addressing Tsunade.

“Lady Hokage, we volunteer to bring back Uchiha Sasuke.”

Seeing Neji’s determined gaze, Tsunade sighed in resignation.

“Fine. Gather a few more ninjas. Bringing Sasuke back isn’t the top priority—your safety is!”

She spoke sternly, her last words aimed directly at Shiro.

Ten minutes later, everyone gathered at the village gates.

The team for this pursuit included Naruto Uzumaki, Neji Hyuga, Choji Akimichi, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shikamaru Nara as their leader, having just been promoted to chunin.

As Shiro approached the gate, Kiba angrily stormed up to him.

“Shiro! If it weren’t for you getting in the way yesterday, I would’ve already caught Sasuke. He wouldn’t have had the chance to escape!”

At this moment, Hinata Hyuga stepped forward, her eyes full of anger as she looked at Kiba.

“Don’t talk to Shiro like that! He must have had his reasons!”

Kiba was startled. In his mind, Hinata had always been a gentle girl. This was the first time he’d seen her act this way!

“Shiro, let me come with you, please? My Byakugan can help you find the way!” Hinata pleaded, looking at Shiro with hope.

Shiro chuckled helplessly.

Neji, with his Caged Bird Seal, didn’t have as powerful a Byakugan as Hinata.

But Hinata’s status as the Hyuga clan’s princess complicated things.

If she went on a dangerous mission, she’d probably have several ANBU members shadowing her!

It would be a hassle to move freely with that kind of surveillance.

“Hinata, you should stay in the village and wait for us to return.”

Just then, Tenten, Shizune, and Ino Yamanaka approached, speaking in unison. “Let us come with you! More people will make things easier!”

Before Shiro could respond, Kiba jumped in.

“Enough already, Shiro! We’re on a mission, not watching you flaunt your romance in front of us!”

No sooner had Kiba spoken than Tsunade arrived, her eyes fixed on Shiro.

“I’m really not at ease with this. How about I go with you?”

Shiro sighed deeply, taking several breaths to calm down.

“You’re the Hokage! You can’t just leave the village so easily! Go back and handle your duties!”

Reluctantly, Tsunade nodded.

“Alright, but make sure you come back safe!”

Shiro hesitated for a moment, then glanced back at everyone’s faces.

A hint of reluctance stirred within him.

Unconsciously, he blurted out, “I’ll be back!”

“Of course, we’ll be waiting for you.” They exchanged glances and smiled.

Seeing this, Shiro quickly turned away, fearing that if he stayed any longer, he wouldn’t be able to leave.

---

(End of the chapter)

Chapter 50: Jiraiya's Farewell

The team included Kiba Inuzuka and Akamaru, so there was no fear of following the wrong trail. Especially with Hyuga Neji’s Byakugan, they could track Uchiha Sasuke in a straight line.

Just a few minutes after leaving the village, Kiba suddenly stopped, looking around cautiously.

"Be careful, there's someone around!"

The team tensed up immediately, everyone drawing their weapons, ready to attack as soon as the enemy appeared.

"Relax, it's just me!"

"Pervy Sage!" Naruto's face lit up with joy as he hurried over. "Pervy Sage, what are you doing here?"

Jiraiya smiled wryly and turned to look at Shiro.

"You guys go on ahead. Shiro, stay back for a minute. I want to have a word with you."

Although Naruto was familiar with him, the others didn't let their guard down. They had been given two orders before they set out.

The first:

Catch up with Uchiha Sasuke and bring him back!

The second:

Protect Shiro, and ensure he doesn't get into danger!

Even though they were reluctant, these were orders from the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, and no one dared to ignore them.

"It’s fine. He's one of the Three Legendary Sannin, there’s absolutely no problem! You guys go ahead. I’ll catch up soon!" Shiro assured them.

Hearing Shiro’s words, Shikamaru Nara made a gesture, and the group finally let their guard down.

"Alright, follow this road, and make sure to rejoin the group quickly!"

Shiro nodded, watching as the tracking team left. He let out a sigh of relief.

"You’re planning to leave the Hidden Leaf Village this time, aren't you?" Jiraiya asked seriously.

Shiro shrugged nonchalantly.

Since he had already been upfront with Jiraiya earlier, he didn’t mind confirming it.

"That’s right, I’m using this chance to leave the Leaf."

"I thought so… You can't wait until Tsunade officially becomes Hokage? It’s just a few more days."

Shiro quickly shook his head.

"I’m sure Orochimaru will make a big move soon. I need to use this opportunity to scout things out. I might even uncover some information on the Akatsuki."

Seeing Shiro so determined, Jiraiya gave up on trying to persuade him.

"So, how long do you plan to be away?"

"Three years."

In three years, the Akatsuki would begin their operations in earnest, and by then, Naruto and the others would be fully-fledged shinobi.

And Jiraiya would meet his end at the hands of his own student.

Shiro knew he had to return by then to save Jiraiya.

"Three years, huh… Alright, I’ll talk to Tsunade for you! I’ll also keep your little girlfriends safe while you’re gone!"

Shiro almost choked on his own breath.

Still, when he thought about returning in three years and settling down, maybe even finding a girlfriend or getting married, the idea didn’t seem so bad.

For a moment, a hopeful look crossed Shiro’s face.

Seeing Shiro's expression, Jiraiya burst into laughter.

"Hah! I knew it! You can't stop thinking about those girls! Don’t worry. With me around, no one will touch them! When you come back as a hero, they'll like you even more!"

Shiro coughed awkwardly.

"Alright, I should get going. See you in three years!"

"Yeah! And don’t you die on me, kid! If you do, Tsunade will be heartbroken!" Jiraiya joked with a smile.

Suddenly, his eyes sharpened, and he turned to the woods behind them, his gaze cold.

"Go on, I’ll deal with these tails following us!"

Shiro hesitated for a moment, then smiled bitterly.

The tails Jiraiya mentioned were likely members of Danzo's Root.

It seemed the moment Shiro left the village, they made their move.

Originally, Shiro was planning to take care of them himself, but with Jiraiya there, it saved him a lot of trouble!

"See you in three years, Pervy Sage!"

With that, Shiro dashed off, leaving the sound of clashing shuriken behind him.

As Shiro jumped between the trees, he felt a little nervous at first, but once he got used to it, it wasn’t so bad.

However, he still couldn't quite get used to the way shinobi ran.

With his arms behind him, it was hard to maintain balance!

But all ninjas ran like that, and he didn’t want to stand out, so he had to go along with it.

As Shiro continued running, he realized he wasn't in much of a hurry.

Letting Uchiha Sasuke run a bit farther would make it easier to find Orochimaru’s hideout.

If they caught up too quickly, they might alert the enemy!

It was better to take his time, slowly chase them down, and recover some chakra along the way.

After running through the endless forest for about half an hour, Shiro suddenly noticed two people lying on the ground.

"Izumo Kamizuki! Kotetsu Hagane!"

If it had been anyone else, Shiro might have pretended not to see them, but he couldn’t ignore Kamizuki!

"Good, they’re not dead!"

Shiro quickly used his Healing Palm Technique, and the two's pained expressions immediately eased.

Once they were out of danger, Shiro stopped the healing technique.

Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane might just be special jōnin, but they had been guards for the Fourth Hokage before. Their strength was not to be underestimated!

Although they likely relied on teamwork to win, their individual skills were still impressive.

If Shiro had been surrounded by those four, he might have ended up in the same situation as Kamizuki and Hagane.

"Alright, I need to get moving."

Since the two were out of danger, Shiro didn’t stay any longer. He continued running through the woods.

After a few minutes, he heard the sounds of battle ahead.

It sounded like a large creature was rolling across the ground!

"That must be Choji Akimichi fighting Jirobo!"

Shiro sped up and arrived at an open area, just in time to see Choji being punched into the air.

"Choji, I’m here to help!"

"Don’t worry about me, go save Sasuke!" Choji struggled to his feet, his face full of determination.

"Choji, let me help you. It'll go faster that way!"

"Shiro! You're strong, but this guy isn't weak either! I’ll hold him off, you go on ahead and save Sasuke!" Choji stared resolutely at Jirobo.