Chapter 98
"But Little Sakyo-chan~ If I leave, who's going to cook for you?"
"Right? You know how good my cooking is."
Naruto gave a slight smile and quickly followed after her.
…
Hokage's office. Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the only remaining ANBU and couldn't help sighing inwardly.
The ANBU removed his mask, revealing… another mask underneath~
Kakashi took out a stack of ryō from his pocket and placed it on the Hokage's desk. He said to Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Lord Hokage, this is Naruto's living expenses for next month. As a subordinate, I really shouldn't trouble you. Thank you for your help."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe and asked Kakashi: "These are small matters. Every month I always go see Naruto once anyway. This is just incidental."
Kakashi nodded: "Then… Lord Hokage, I'll take my leave now."
Sarutobi Hiruzen called Kakashi back and asked: "Kakashi, why is it so much this month?"
He was referring, of course, to Naruto's living expenses.
Kakashi thought for a moment and answered: "I learned that prices have risen recently, and… previously I was giving him normal living expenses without factoring in that Naruto is a ninja."
"There's a big difference between a normal person's and a ninja's food consumption."
Sarutobi Hiruzen blew a smoke ring: "Is that so? Prices rising, huh…"
"I heard you're meeting with Shikaku tonight?"
Kakashi nodded: "Yes. I discovered that Naruto has a very sharp mind. I want Shikaku to help guide him."
Hearing Kakashi's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen lowered his head in shame and said: "Ahem… I see. As Hokage, I haven't shown as much concern for Naruto as Kakashi. That's unacceptable."
Kakashi shook his head: "Lord Hokage, this is just my duty."
Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Mm… go ahead and handle it. Tell Shikaku this is my wish."
Kakashi's heart leaped with joy: "Yes!"
The Hokage saying this meant he wanted to help Kakashi and Naruto once.
As long as Kakashi told Shikaku this was the Hokage's order, Shikaku would definitely not refuse.
But until the last moment, Kakashi didn't want to use the Hokage's name to pressure Shikaku.
After Kakashi left, Sarutobi Hiruzen leaned back quietly in his chair, happily smoking his pipe for a while.
After a moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen rummaged in his pocket, took out a stack of ryō and an envelope.
He combined Kakashi's ryō with his own, stood up, walked to the door, turned off the light, and slowly descended the stairs…
After Sarutobi Hiruzen left, in the shadows around the Hokage Tower, a Root ninja spoke into his radio: "Sarutobi Hiruzen has left the Hokage Tower. Kakashi increased Uzumaki Naruto's living expenses this month."
From the other end of the radio came a Root member's voice: "Received. Your mission is complete."
At the same time, around Naruto's little home, a group of passersby suddenly appeared. They were practically pressed against Naruto's window, talking about something.
"Did you hear? There's an ANBU who's been secretly funding that demon fox."
"Really? There's an ANBU like that? He should be kicked out of ANBU!"
"No kidding! But I heard the Hokage didn't give all of the ANBU's money to that monster…"
"Yeah… that makes sense. That monster should be left starving."
These words came through very clearly into Naruto's home.
Unfortunately, only an empty frog wallet was there to hear them…
While the real Naruto himself was at the Uchiha compound.
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