[Hokage] Naruko Haze

When I first arrived in Changzhou Town, I felt an unusual atmosphere.

Jiraiya asked Naruko to put away her forehead first, and pretended to be an ordinary traveler.However, the appearance of two unfamiliar faces still attracted the attention of many people.

Probing, vigilance and suspicion.

Jilai also said softly: "It's not normal... Naruko, you can't run around today, follow me closely."

Naruko felt a little heartbroken and nodded.

But when they walked into the tavern, the skin-numbing sight disappeared, replaced by laughter and wantonness.The familiar smell of wine and the noisy human voice reassured Naruko for a while.

Alcohol can wash away the pretense of people and reveal the instinct like a rough stone.

Zilai also found a seat, ordered some food and drink, and as usual, went around to join in the fun, laughing and inquiring about information.Naruko grabbed a handful of boiled peanuts and peeled them slowly, listening to the conversation of the adults next to him, and observing the characters in the tavern.

A little boy walked by, about eight or nine years old, with a red lacquered box of miscellaneous wood hanging around his neck, and cigarettes of various colors were neatly arranged inside.Sensing Naruko's gaze, he turned his head and smiled expectantly. Seeing that it was a girl not much older than him, he stopped laughing and walked away.

The child's eyes, as well as the aura emanating from his body, always give Naruko a sense of strangeness that is contrary to harmony.Feeling bored, Naruko simply stared at the child to see how he acted.

I saw the little boy selling cigarettes everywhere, selling a few cigarettes now and then, and skillfully collecting money for change.When they came to a place, a bald man with a red face saw the child, and he forcibly broke his shoulder, took a glass of wine and drank it, muttering, "Let me teach you, the taste of an adult..."

Naruko was about to make a move, but saw the little boy unhurried, with a slight struggle, he slid off his bald arm, took off his bald wallet and stuffed it into his sleeve, but begged for mercy: "Forgive me!" Me, brother! I can't stand alcohol..." The little eyes blinked, and even tears came out.

The bald man was obviously very satisfied. Seeing that he had also downed a glass of wine, he stopped talking to the child and started drinking punches with the people next to him.The boy turned around, with a sneer of worldliness at the corner of his mouth, and walked away.

So...should I help the bald man get his money back, or do nothing?Naruko, who was hesitating, suddenly someone whispered in his ear: "Girl, you'd better not meddle in your own business."

Naruko was startled, and turned around to see that it was the little boy, with an innocent smile on his face: "Otherwise, you won't be able to eat and walk around!"

Does he know the instant body technique?Naruko looked at the boy's leaving figure and thought, could it be a ninja?Is it an enemy or a friend?

Jiraiya returned to his seat with a serious expression on his face.The people here can't even open their mouths with wine, so there must be something!

"Naruko, let's go and stroll around the streets of Changzhou Town to see the situation."

The east of Changzhou Town is close to the sea, and the fishery and aquaculture industry are well developed. The shops on the street are next to each other. The jewelry store displays gorgeous coral trees and snow-white pearl necklaces, and the seafood store hangs dried kelp and seaweed. Many small stalls sell various kinds of seafood, and the business is good.

The passers-by are well-dressed, but their colors are quite tense, and they walk in a hurry, as if there is a pair of invisible eyes watching their every move all the time.

"Get out of the way! Lord Iwai is here!" Following the shout, the pedestrians hurriedly backed away and bowed their heads deeply.

Iwai-sama, who is that?Jilai also pulled Naruko to hide by the side of the road. Naruko stretched out his head curiously, and saw a dozen or so men in full armor, wearing black clothes of the same style, with the word "well" engraved on their foreheads. Holding the moon around a man in blue.The man was in his thirties, with a mustache and a majestic and haughty demeanor.He stood at the door of a jewelry store, and the rich shopkeeper immediately came out with a smiling face, holding a black carved plate respectfully in his hand, inside was a string of shining pearls, and a small red satin bag.

"Master Iwai, you've worked hard this month too! Why do you come here on purpose? Just say hello, don't I dare to be ridiculous?" The shopkeeper grinned, and the man in blue asked. Under the business situation, after a few greetings, he raised his chin.A man in black came over, put away the pearls and the small bag, and put a small wooden sign on the plate.The shop owner immediately beamed with joy and thanked him repeatedly.

"Mr. Jiraiya, what is that for?" Naruko asked.

"Don't talk, watch first." Jiraiya pressed Naruko's shoulder.

Wherever the man in blue passed, whether it was a shop or a small stall, he took out some goods and a small bag, and happily got a small wooden sign.The man in blue will chat with them a few words, and then ask his subordinates to give the sign.

Naruko also saw the little boy selling cigarettes.He smiled and picked up the bald wallet. The man in blue glanced at him and said, "That's right. No more cigarettes." The person next to him took the wallet and handed over the sign, and the little boy smiled even brighter.

What is that little sign, Naruko thought, and heard a roar:

"What do you mean! How dare you give Mr. Iwai such infamous things!"

In front of a tall shop, the black-clothed subordinates surrounded a man dressed as a clerk and started arguing, while the blue-clothed man remained silent and watched coldly.

The guy was holding the disc, and inside it was a small bowl with some sea salt, and a thin red paper packet.Seeing that he was not in a hurry, he said with a faint smile: "Masters, my family is just a salt seller. It's not a small business, so please take care of Master Panjing."

"Xiaoben? When did your business have a hard time? Salt is a hard currency! You just opened a new salt farm two days ago, and you see big trucks pulling around every day. Is this your sincerity?!" The subordinate of the brand pointed at Haiyan and cursed, but was stopped by the man in blue.

"Aji, kindness makes money, don't be rude."

The man in blue didn't even look at the waiter, he took a step forward and shouted loudly: "The shop owner, please come out and speak."

The door curtain was lifted, and a young man in simple clothes walked out, his skin was tanned, and he said politely: "Master Panjing is still so angry, what do you want from me?"

The man in blue smiled and said: "It's not a big deal. But you must know the practice of Changzhou Town. Our Iwai Group maintains the market order, but it's very hard. From the industry's pricing to the thieves and ruffians, we have to take care of it." There will be no trouble. The local officials and tax officials sent by the daimyo are also handled by our Iwai group. If you are dissatisfied with the salt merchants, just open it and announce it, and we will definitely improve it."

"Master Panjing is really open-minded, which is admirable. I can't hide it, so let's talk about it directly." The young man said with a smile: "Our salt merchants have grown up to now, and we should be able to support ourselves, and we can't always be troublesome. Iwai-sama, whether it's the price or the officials, we will figure out a way by ourselves, so I won't bother the Iwai group."

The face of the man in blue changed, he stared at the young man closely, and the subordinates in black also stared at him aggressively, occasionally hearing the sound of weapons colliding.

The youth didn't change his face, he still smiled: "As for the thugs, I asked Konoha Ninja to help me and stay in the store, so I don't bother the Iwai group to take action."

As soon as the words fell, a tall figure appeared behind the young man in an instant. It was a man in his forties with a Konoha forehead guard, and his face was vicissitudes and hard.

Never seen that person.Naruko looked closely at the face of that Konoha ninja, and asked Jiraiya softly, "Teacher, do you know him?"

Jilai also didn't speak, the hand on Naruko's shoulder trembled slightly.

Under the staring gaze of that Konoha ninja, the man in blue was a little at a loss, and forced himself up: "Just one ninja, can he be stronger than our Iwai group!"

The ninja sneered and made seals with his hands, and a dozen clones appeared. The men in black were startled, showing fear on their faces, and they all took a step back.

"You're amazing, let's go!" The man in blue clicked his tongue and left with his men.

That's just an ordinary avatar technique, Naruko thought, it seems that to ordinary people, ninjas are really scary.

"Naruko, let's go, let's meet that 'Konoha Ninja'!"

Ji Lai also changed his body, took Naruko quietly to the back door of the salt shop, and hid behind a tree.Soon, the ninja came out. To Naruko's surprise, the boy who followed him was the one he met in the hotel!

The two walked into a residential house next to Liyandian, Jiraiya and Naruko followed, stuck to the outer wall, and listened carefully to the movement inside.

"Father, I met a girl in a tavern today. She looks like a ninja to me." The childish voice was very calm.

A bass voice sighed: "I hope it's not Konoha's. I have been incognito for more than [-] years, and I don't want to be ruined."

"I warned her not to meddle in her own business." Tong Yin continued, faintly complacent.

"Idiot!" The bass voice scolded: "How did I teach you, don't show ninjutsu, and don't provoke other people! Do you think you are very good? If you were in Konoha, you would be considered a ninja at most!"

Tong Yin snorted dissatisfied: "Father, don't underestimate me. The cooperation with the salt merchant this time was also facilitated by me!"

The bass paused, and his tone became softer: "Yes... This will bring me closer to my dream..."

Jilai couldn't listen any more, so he lifted Naruko and walked to the door and knocked hard on the door.

"Zi, Ziraiya..." When the door was opened, the ninja's face turned pale, and he took a few steps back, as if he had lost all his strength, and suddenly collapsed on the ground.

"Lei Huo, it's been a long time." Zilai also walked up a few steps, grabbed the other person, and looked straight at him, "Dream? Tell me, what dream do you have!"

Lei Huo... Naruko has an impression of this name.The waiting in the cemetery was too boring, so I read every tombstone several times.One of them is engraved with the name "Thunder Fire".

"It's been 20 years, have you actually been alive? Have you forgotten Konoha's companions, your own identity, and your mission as a ninja?"

Lei Huo avoids Jiraiya's gaze: "Jiraiya, everyone has difficulties, not everyone can be like you, pure and passionate, and don't mind being a tool of Ninja Village..."

Suddenly a silver light shot down from the roof, Naruko saw it out of the corner of his eye, and immediately threw a dart, only to hear the sound of a soldier, a knife was thrown flying, and plunged into the earth wall.

"Stop it, Ming!" Lei Guang roared, "We are no match for Jiraiya!"

But Naruko had already fought the opponent.Naruko's opponents have always been taller than her, and this is the first time she has met a small opponent. Moreover, his movements are very agile and his strength is stronger than expected. It took some effort to subdue him.

"Smelly girl!" The boy gritted his teeth, reluctantly tied up by Naruko, and thrown in the corner.

Jilai also didn't care about the things around him, he still looked at Leihuo, his eyes were red: "You betrayed Konoha! You betrayed your companion!"

"I have never done anything to betray!" Lei Huo's voice suddenly increased, and he roared: "I have never betrayed any companions! In that war, I was injured and fell into the river, drifting along the current for dozens of miles, and was finally killed People rescued him. After that day, Konoha Leihuo died! I am now an ordinary Leihuo!"

Ji Lai was also stunned, silently letting go of Lei Huo, with a complicated expression on his face.Lei Huo straightened his clothes, walked over to untie the rope, and Naruko asked him, "Then why did you escort the salt merchant in the name of Konoha?".

"Because the salt merchant can help me realize my dream. As an ordinary person, Lei Huo has a dream." Lei Huo said lightly: "Maybe you think it's ridiculous to talk about dreams when you are old, but even if I abandon my self-esteem and become a thug, I want to do it too.”

"What is your dream?" Naruko asked.

Lei Huo didn't say anything, he pulled off the rope on his body, and said with a sneer, "How can you help if you know? Go and rest!"

Naruto glared at him angrily.Lei Huo walked over and bowed deeply to Ziraiya: "Jiraiya, please act as if you haven't met me, and let me go, I won't do anything to harm Konoha."

Jilai also said in a low voice: "Even if I don't tell you, today's Iwai group is not easy to provoke. And the salt merchant knows that you have left Konoha, how can you let it go?"

Lei Guang replied: "That's not a problem. They invited me because I lost contact with Konoha. The salt merchants didn't want to really invite people from Konoha, they just needed to borrow a name. Because if Konoha knows about these things in Changzhou Town, and if you tell the daimyo, it will be troublesome."

Ji Lai also asked: "Looking at the situation today, the salt merchants want to break away from the control of the Iwai Group."

Lei Huo nodded: "Yes, the big and small matters in Changzhou Town are monopolized by the Iwai Group, and even the officials sent by the daimyo are handled by them. The salt merchant business is getting bigger and bigger, and I am already very dissatisfied with the Iwai Group's finger-pointing. We need to charge a high protection fee. However, we can’t really make a mess, if the officials who are afraid of trouble ask Konoha to settle it, the result will be too unpredictable, and the salt merchants don’t want to take that risk!”

Naruko interjected: "So the salt merchant asked you to come forward to scare off the Iwai group, clean and easy?"

Ming gave Naruko a sideways look, Naruko didn't bother to care about this dead brat.

Lei Huo laughed as soon as he heard it: "That's right! And the Iwai group also knows Konoha's rules and will not send ninjas to perform the opposite task. They must think that the salt merchants invited Konoha ninjas first, and they are upset."

"So please leave quickly." Guang said coldly, "Don't show your forehead, keep quiet, don't get in the way."

Ji Lai also looked at Lei Huo: "As a former comrade-in-arms, I respect your choice. However, I will not leave before the matter is over!"

Lei Huo sighed, opened a low cabinet, took out a bottle of wine and put it on the table, and said to Qing: "You take Naruko out for a stroll, Zilai and I also have something to say."

Ming said unhappily, "I'm not a child!"

"I know, you know, take her there quickly."

After the two left, Lei Huo closed the door and turned around with a clouded face.

"Jiraiya, this time, no one can stop me!"