Chapter 439: Defending Is Hard When Attacks Come from Everywhere
More than half a month later, at the Konoha Casino.
The casino owner stood before Masahiko with a deep bow, occasionally wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.
Masahiko frowned as he flipped through the account book in his hand, looking up with a start: "Why are you so nervous? Relax, we're practically about to strike it rich..."
The casino owner smiled bitterly: "Are you really sure we'll strike it rich? The betting capital this time is already close to one billion, and it's still continuously growing. If we pay out..."
"Pay out? Pah!" Masahiko glared: "The Great Ancestor's gambling skills are invincible!"
His Level 10 gambling skill could be put to use as long as it involved a wager. Based on his rigorous calculations, he had set reasonable payout odds; unless his luck was so abysmal that he misjudged four out of the top eight, it was impossible to lose—it was merely a question of winning more or winning less. If he truly misjudged four... then Obito must be doing some under-the-table match-fixing, and Masahiko would beat him to death!
"It's good that you have confidence." The casino owner breathed a sigh of relief: "There are still ten days until the third phase of the Chunin Exams. Do we... still accept betting capital?"
Masahiko glared at him again: "Of course we accept! Can you please show some bearing of someone who does big things! If I knew you'd be like this, the Great Ancestor would have played solo!"
The casino owner shook his head helplessly. Behind Masahiko stood a massive Land of Whirlpools, so he didn't fear paying out. But the casino owner couldn't do that; even if it was just a twenty percent stake, it would require him to pay out more than half his family fortune. Furthermore, what he worried about even more was... if they lost, Masahiko would place all the blame on him.
Just as he was about to say something, Kimimaro suddenly arrived via Body Flicker: "Lord God, the mission is complete!"
Hearing this, Masahiko revealed a smile: "You're finally back, and it's about time too!"
Stepping out of the casino after a few strides, he saw Karin and Haku acting as a left and right escort, 'escorting' a familiar white-haired figure—Jiraiya—toward the casino.
Under Masahiko's orders, the three of them had staked out the vicinity of the Konoha Women's Bathhouse, spending more than half a month, 'waiting through a myriad of hardships to finally catch him.'
Jiraiya looked entirely listless. He had only just returned to Konoha and hadn't even had the time to... you know, before being nabbed by three brats and brought straight to Masahiko, which truly impacted his creative mindset...
However, upon seeing Masahiko, he immediately put on a joyful face: "Senior, long time no see! You were in such a hurry to find me for something? I've been traveling non-stop and just arrived in Konoha, and was just preparing to take a bath..."
"Cut it out!" Masahiko laughed and cut him off: "Stop making excuses, just look at Karin's expression of absolute contempt!"
Jiraiya turned his head to glance at Karin, then silently turned his head back, letting out a sigh: "Senior, what do you want with me?"
Masahiko raised his eyebrows: "Official business!"
Masahiko and Jiraiya chatted as they walked, arriving at Konoha's Training Ground 41. Kakashi was currently here guiding Naruto and Sakura-kun's training, preparing for the third phase of the Chunin Exams ten days from now.
"Using Shadow Clones to execute the Rasengan, Naruto is actually quite creative!"
Masahiko let out a light cough: "My creativity, I taught it to him!"
Jiraiya nodded in sudden realization, watching Naruto mold the sphere from a distance for a while longer: "His chakra volume is indeed sufficient to learn the Summoning Jutsu, though his raw capability... is borderline."
Masahiko chuckled: "Have you forgotten what you were like at twelve years old? Forget about you, even a twelve-year-old Orochimaru wouldn't necessarily beat him!"
Jiraiya scratched his hair: "I was accumulating power back then, a late bloomer."
Masahiko shot him a sidelong glance but didn't dismantle his argument any further, turning around to shout loudly: "Naruto! Look who this is?"
Naruto heard the sound and turned his head, his Shadow Clones dispersing with a series of poofs. He wore a face full of pleasant surprise: "Pervy Sage, when did you get back!"
Jiraiya: "...Senior, exactly how did you describe me to Naruto?"
Masahiko turned his face away. Did I even need to describe you? Jiraiya, you truly don't have a single shred of self-awareness...
Half an hour later, at the cliffside on the western side of Konoha.
"Naruto, when using the Summoning Jutsu for the first time, you must absolutely be cautious, cautious, and cautious again! Channel every last drop of chakra in your body into it, achieving it in one single breath!"
Jiraiya revealed a hint of confusion: "For the first time, it's still better to use it tentatively. Output a smaller amount of chakra first to guarantee a successful summon..."
"No way!" Masahiko cut him off: "Naruto is a genius, he must succeed on his very first try. It would be best to directly call out Gamabunta!"
Naruto looked left and right, feeling a bit conflicted.
"Hey! Great Ancestor, Pervy Sage, exactly what should I do?"
"Listen to me, Naruto. When has the Great Ancestor ever harmed you?" Masahiko spoke with a gentle, amiable countenance.
Naruto's body gave a shudder, recalling the terror of being ruled by Masahiko... Looking back at Jiraiya, although he was perverted and unreliable, at least he had never tricked him...
"Output a small amount..." Naruto formed hand seals with a face full of conflict, biting his finger: "Summoning Jutsu!"
A line of characters flashed before Masahiko's eyes: "Witnessed and participated in the Naruto world side plot: Naruto's Summoning Jutsu, obtained 10 Witness Points."
"Pfft... Hahahahaha-hic, a tadpole?!" Jiraiya instantly burst into a wild fit of laughter.
The corner of Masahiko's mouth twitched violently as he rolled up his sleeves and rubbed his fists: "I told you to output more chakra! And you only output a tiny shred? Naruto! It seems you're begging for a thrashing again!"
Even summoning a two-legged frog would have been fine, at least it would provide some alteration to fetch a few more Witness Points... Forget it, no more talking, time for some physical education, this brat!
"Ah! Great Ancestor, I was wrong! Pervy Sage, you actually lied to me too!"
Jiraiya scratched his head: "Why did you say 'too'? It seems Naruto hasn't had it easy over these past few years..."
Smack! Smack! Smack!
"Ah! Great Ancestor, stop hitting me!... Eh? You're actually not hitting me anymore?"
Masahiko's right hand was raised high up in mid-air, failing to fall onto Naruto's body for a long while. His gaze was firmly pinned onto Naruto's butt, looking as though his mind had wandered entirely out of his body into deep thought...
"Great Ancestor, what on earth are you trying to do!"
Rewinding time to one minute ago.
At the border of the Land of Wind.
The Fourth Kazekage was entirely battered, his right hand clutching his left arm which was continuously dripping with blood. Surveying his security detail which had already been completely wiped out around him, he looked at the two enemies in front of him with an exceptionally grave countenance.
"Orochimaru! As a rogue ninja of Konoha, you actually dare to launch a head-on attack against the Kazekage? Do you intend to get your name placed on the Akatsuki organization's pursuit list?"
"Oh?" Orochimaru licked his lips: "Then that would truly be a great honor."
The Fourth Kazekage knit his brows, turning to look at the silver-white short-haired youth beside Orochimaru. Ever since his arm was injured, that person had been making all sorts of bizarre movements, giving him a highly ominous premonition. After a brief hesitation, he gritted his teeth and pulled out a scroll—it was the masterpiece of calligraphy that Masahiko had gifted him!
Written on it was: Loudly recite 'The Hidden Sand Village will entirely follow Konoha's arrangements throughout the Chunin Exams', and a deity will manifest to grant you three wishes...
"Preparations complete!" The silver-haired youth suddenly spoke aloud, simultaneously revealing a bloodthirsty smile as his skin rapidly turned pitch black, with white skeletal patterns manifesting across his body.
The Fourth Kazekage's heart sank: A bizarre ninjutsu? I hope this scroll can be somewhat dependable. The Hidden Sand Village will entirely follow...
"Pfft!"
A piercing sound caused the Fourth Kazekage's eyes to widen rapidly. Opposite him, Orochimaru held a kunai and had plunged it directly into his own companion's heart!
"Lord Orochimaru, why are you in such a rush? You stabbed me so hard it hurts!"
Orochimaru's countenance was grim and heavy. He offered no explanation, merely twisting the kunai within his chest to carve an even larger wound.
"Ah! It hurts, hurts, hurts...!"
The Fourth Kazekage's face turned completely gray. Clutching his chest, he collapsed straight backward into the dirt, gritting his teeth to mutter: "...entirely... follow... Konoha's... arrangements...!"
A ferocious gale blew past, and wild sand filled the sky.
A light-blue ethereal figure slowly drifted out from within the calligraphy masterpiece: "Foolish mortal, is it you who summons me, the Great Swindler Uzumaki, the God of Painting? Allow me to grant you three wishes... Mmm?"
"Hey! Lord Orochimaru, what on earth is this thing?" the silver-haired youth shouted and bellowed.
Orochimaru licked his lips: "Senior, you truly remain as unpredictable as ever."
Defending is truly hard when attacks come from absolutely everywhere...
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