Two more days passed.
Because Hashirama and Tobirama wanted to see what trump card Danzo had that could make Feng Xu serve Konoha, they did not lead their troops to destroy Orochimaru's Hidden Sound Village as planned.
However, the Ninja of the Four Clans had already been conscripted by them.
Since it was just a small Ninja Village with no powerful figures other than Orochimaru, roughly two thousand Ninja were conscripted.
Among them, the Sarutobi Clan had the most Ninja, accounting for almost seventy percent of the total.
The Shimura Clan, with its significantly smaller size, accounted for two and a half percent.
Finally, the least numerous Utatane and Homura Clans, who had almost all their family Ninja mobilized, accounted for less than half a percent.
After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi was more focused on his family's development, while Danzo was more focused on developing his Root.
As for Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado, it was because their original foundation was too weak.
They had only managed to develop from ordinary civilian families into minor Ninja Clans by leveraging their convenience as Hokage Advisors.
Now, a single conscription had completely depleted the family Ninja they had painstakingly accumulated!
Of course, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had half of his family's Ninja conscripted, was clearly more distressed.
It should be known that after the Uchiha Clan was destroyed, the Sarutobi Clan, also skilled in Fire Release, seized the exploding tag market left by the Uchiha Clan, as well as the Uchiha Clan's ancestral method of making exploding tags!
A large reason why few Sarutobi Clan Ninja were seen on duty or on missions in the Village was because these Ninja were all making exploding tags!
After all, compared to the arduous and dangerous missions, exploding tags earned much more and were much easier to make!
Depending on the quality, one could sell for anywhere from 500 to 1000 Ryo!
An ordinary Chunin, after exhausting their Chakra, could make about three exploding tags!
Then, after resting and recovering for a period, they could continue making them!
By the end of the day, eight or nine were certainly achievable!
After deducting the portion submitted to the family, this was far more profitable than a three-person squad doing C-rank missions and then splitting the meager reward after a portion was submitted to the Village!
It is said that because of the conscription of Ninja, anyone passing by the Sarutobi mansion would hear sounds of smashing and shouting from within!
And in the past two days, the Sarutobi mansion's porcelain purchases have also increased!
It's hard to imagine how Hiruzen Sarutobi, without both arms and with difficulty using his legs, managed to smash porcelain~
...Konoha Hospital.
Sasuke, who had just regained consciousness, lay expressionless on the hospital bed.
He recalled how a few days ago, Itachi had suddenly appeared and defeated him with just a glance!
Then, gripping his neck, Itachi made him relive the night of the Uchiha Clan massacre countless times.
And he kept repeating in his ear:
'You are so weak because your hatred is not enough!'
"If you want to kill me, use hatred to awaken that ultimate power, and come find me with eyes like mine!"
Yet, such a powerful Itachi was easily defeated by Feng Xu, who arrived later!
And it was Feng Xu fighting two against one, a crushing victory!
Even Itachi's equally powerful partner was instantly killed with a single move!
As soon as he thought of this, Sasuke became almost insane with jealousy!
Why wasn't Feng Xu his alter ego!
Why was it that his desperate efforts, burdened by a blood feud, could be so easily matched by an idiot who was happy-go-lucky every day, thanks to an alter ego?
Clearly, Sasuke felt unbalanced, extremely unbalanced, regarding Naruto, who could also unleash two tails like him!
Since effort wasn't enough, and he didn't have a powerful alter ego, he could only rely on others!
Like the mysterious masked man who gave him Tailed Beast Chakra!
So he had to find a way to get to Four Stars Village!
Thinking that he still had to painstakingly escape, while Naruto could gain power for free, Sasuke couldn't help but sit up and glare fiercely at Naruto, who was beside his hospital bed!
Naruto, who was currently hunched over the bedside table, listening to Feng Xu narrate the plot in his mind and diligently writing his novel, immediately sensed Sasuke's movement.
He instantly looked up in surprise, meeting Sasuke's gaze that seemed to want to tear him to shreds.
Naruto: "???"
"Oh no, Sasuke seems to have lost his mind after waking up!"
"Kakashi-sensei, look at Sasuke! He seems to think I'm the enemy!"
Dropping his pen, Naruto turned and shouted to Kakashi, who was sitting by the window reading a book.
"Sasuke's awake!"
Sakura and Ino, who were washing fruit in the restroom, quickly ran out, bumping into each other.
Because Sasuke was in the ward, and Naruto, who had become handsome in his clothes, hairstyle, and face, and was also incredibly strong, was also there.
So, besides Sakura, Ino, who was also recovering in the hospital, had been ditching Shikamaru and Choji on the other side for the past two days.
She would often come here to look at handsome guys and feast her eyes.
The quiet sleeping beauty Sasuke, and the devoted prince Naruto, who stayed by his side, diligently writing and not causing trouble.
To be honest, Ino, who imagined them in these roles, was truly thrilled.
As for why Naruto was a prince?
That was, of course, because the silhouette of Naruto she saw when she was rescued was so tall and reassuring!
"Sasuke, and Naruto, I'll peel these freshly washed apples for you!"
"Apples aren't that great. My cherries, specially soaked in saltwater, are much tastier!"
Facing the enthusiastic duo, Naruto immediately grinned foolishly, accepting everything and stuffing it into his mouth.
Sasuke, however, glared fiercely at Naruto, snorting disdainfully.
"Hmph, you idiot!"
After cursing, he lay back down, turning his back to the others.
Kakashi put away his book, walked over, patted Naruto's shoulder, and pointed towards the door.
"Naruto, someone's looking for you outside."
"Someone's looking for me?" Naruto looked in the direction Kakashi pointed.
He immediately saw Jiraiya, whose injuries had healed, enthusiastically waving.
"Eeewww~~~ It's the Perverted Sage."
Naruto quickly turned his head away with a look of disgust, pretending not to see him.
He still remembered two days ago, after he performed his Sexy Technique, Jiraiya had been gushing blood and leering, saying 'Don't come near me!' while trying to hug him!
He was truly perverted enough to leave Naruto with psychological trauma!
To be honest, Naruto now had PTSD from the Sexy Technique!
"Lord Jiraiya must have something important to discuss with you. Don't worry, I'm here."
Kakashi secretly placed his hand on Naruto's finished novel, subtly inching it towards himself.
Naruto thought about it and, still grimacing, prepared to go out.
After all, Jiraiya was the person his father entrusted to look after him.
"Alright."
Naruto stood up, ready to take his novel and leave, but found he couldn't lift it!
Then he looked at Kakashi in confusion.
Kakashi coughed awkwardly a couple of times.
"Ahem... Leave it here. I'll help you check for typos. You'll be back in a bit anyway."
Naruto: "..."
"Then Kakashi-sensei, you have to remember to pay later, okay? You can't just freeload off my hard work!"
Looking at the four big characters 'Married Woman White Zetsu' on the cover, Kakashi was already itching with anticipation.
He immediately waved his hand dismissively: "Alright, alright, I know."
"I'll definitely buy ten copies to collect then. Now hurry up and go!"
Chapter 138: It's Decided, You'll Be the Fifth Hokage!
"Perverted Sage, what do you want with me?"
Naruto reluctantly arrived at the door, asking weakly.
"Hey, what kind of tone is that, you brat!"
"I'm out of the hospital and can teach you to train, teach you to control the Nine-Tailed Chakra! Aren't you happy!?"
Jiraiya, hurt by Naruto's expression, flew into a rage.
As one of the Legendary Sannin, when had he ever been disliked, except when caught peeping!
"Training? Mastering Nine-Tailed Chakra?"
Naruto finally remembered that Jiraiya had unilaterally taken him as a disciple.
He recalled that right after Jiraiya had taken him in, and was about to show off his skills, he was severely beaten by Feng Xu.
Then, when he was about to continue teaching him, he was again severely injured by a seal!
Thinking of this, Naruto again showed an expression of disgust and doubt.
"Perverted Sage, can you really do it?"
"Or maybe not. You just got out of the hospital. I don't want to send you back to the hospital..."
Jiraiya: (╬◣д◢)
What words! What kind of words are these?!
He absolutely had to show Naruto his skills again today!
"It seems I have no choice but to show you my powerful Chakra control!"
With that, Jiraiya grabbed Naruto and shot out of the hospital, arriving at a nearby open space.
After putting Naruto down, he confidently extended his right hand.