Naruto: Passerby and Returnee

Chapter 281 Slip of the Hand

Did the final fight take place?

It seems like it was hit, but then again, it doesn't seem like it was hit at all.

It's important to understand that Naruto's greatest strength right now isn't chakra, but his soul. Without the constraints of his physical body, only heaven knows how extraordinary he truly is. Kurama unfortunately got away with it, specifically because they were inside Naruto's mental space. The current Naruto isn't some clueless newbie; he can even create some wonders here now. Therefore, Naruto only needs to simulate it slightly to create a Uzumaki clan bloodline limit that he can't use in reality. With a few chains, the tailed beasts would have no choice but to obey.

"You're cheating!" Nine Lama was extremely indignant.

"Sorry, I've been really busy lately. Maybe next time." The person who had been working late into the night yawned widely and returned to his desk.

In conclusion, the Chunin Exams plan was successfully approved this year, which should have been great news, but Naruto was not happy at all.

"Where's my new manuscript?" Someone with questionable tidying habits was rummaging through drawers and cabinets trying to find his new work, but it seemed to be nowhere to be found on the entire table.

"Just slip it into that document and hand it in~ so you won't mess it up." Nine Lamas has been particularly fond of mocking him lately.

"Impossible! I showed all the documents I submitted to Shikamaru; he'll definitely keep them!" Naruto scratched his head, pacing around the room, even briefly considering using his super-sensory abilities. But since that incident, his body hadn't fully recovered, and even the slightest use of his super-sensory caused him a headache. Moreover, his sensory range had decreased considerably; he couldn't even sense Sasuke while asleep, which made him slightly anxious. As time went on, Orochimaru's physical condition was bound to deteriorate further. Although he knew that the guy wouldn't be able to change vessels again for another year and a half, it didn't stop his paranoia from continuing.

After spinning around several times, Naruto returned to the sofa, not because he felt a slight pain in his foot.

"I don't think I've reviewed any of 'Hui's' official documents in this room recently, and apart from that lecherous immortal, no one has come to visit me..."

Nine-Tailed Buddha twirled the tip of his tail and said, "Didn't a toad come by too?"

Naruto was stunned for a moment, then immediately searched for another item that absolutely could not be seen. Sure enough, he found a letter prepared to be sent to Sasuke inside the seal containing the confidential documents. He almost screamed and quickly formed hand seals to recall the communication frog.

"Huh? The letter has already been delivered, and Sasuke's reply is already written." The contact with Naruto was unusually efficient this time, mainly because Sasuke had figured out Naruto's letter-sending pattern, so he could always summon him at roughly the same time.

"Hahahaha! You've finally met your match!" Kurama laughed hysterically in his mind's eye. Although he didn't know the specific content of that damned thing, just the fact that Naruto had blocked him when he wrote it meant that it was definitely a manuscript that would "astound the world and make ghosts weep."

"Ahhh!!" Naruto cried out in his mind, the only way he could barely maintain his image in the real world. He accepted Sasuke's reply with a smile, gave Kosuke a new letter, and then smiled as he said goodbye.

As soon as Kosuke disappeared, Naruto couldn't keep his composure any longer. He grabbed his head and buried his face in the back of the sofa, as if that would allow him to pretend that he wasn't bursting with shame.

Nine-Lama, exhausted from laughing, asked breathlessly, "What...did you write?"

"Nothing at all!" Naruto replied instantly, his voice filled with an air of trying to cover something up. He stared at the reply as if it were a troublesome official document, even though he usually looked forward to Sasuke's reply the most.

Help! He's so old, and he finally managed to put aside his shame and write some dating games for kids, but the first person to read them is the one he least wants to see... He'll be laughed at for the rest of his life.

Naruto had spent a long time mentally preparing himself, and was just about to tear open the envelope when the door rang at that inopportune moment.

Oh right, he had arranged for the Perverted Sage to come and appraise his latest manuscript today. Now look what's happened, he can't deliver the manuscript, and he'll have to face Sasuke's ridicule for the rest of his life... There's no better time than today, so why not just die today?

Death was, of course, something to contemplate; a leader had to bravely face the harsh realities of life. He finally opened the door, using the excuse of being too busy with work to write a draft to gloss over the matter. He also showed Jiraiya the recently approved plan, asking for his opinions on the defense arrangements. However, Jiraiya was the type to work alone, not suited for the role of strategist. He could analyze regional situations instantly, but he wasn't good at commanding. Therefore, at this hastily arranged seminar, Jiraiya didn't offer any particularly insightful suggestions.

"If you used half of your proposal-writing skills on writing, you might be able to create a masterpiece that will be passed down for a thousand years." Jiraiya was actually the type who got a headache just looking at official documents, but he felt that Naruto had really inherited Minato's abilities very well. Back then, he had marveled at Minato's ability and speed in handling affairs. That was truly unmatched by ordinary people. The fastest man in the ninja world wasn't just fast on the battlefield.

"The plan wasn't my doing. I just assigned tasks to the most suitable people and then integrated them. After all, I've only participated in the Chunin Exams once, and I really didn't know the exams could have so many variations." Naruto, who never took credit, responded quite modestly, but being good at using people is a basic quality of a good leader, and he could actually be a little more proud.

However, most kids this age are arrogant and think they can do anything. It's rare to see someone as steady and methodical as Naruto. He should keep it up; there's a long road ahead.

While Naruto could easily fool Jiraiya with his quick wit, Sasuke, who had indeed obtained the manuscript, was not someone who could be easily fooled. He knew perfectly well how easily his terrible handwriting was identifiable; even if the Perverted Sage was short-handed, he wouldn't hire someone with such awful handwriting to copy manuscripts...

"...You huge idiot, what have you been watching lately? Can't even the Chunin Exams keep you busy? Hmph, let me be blunt, this stuff might fool a few-year-old, but anyone over ten can't stand it. Or do you enjoy this kind of blatant robbery and theft?"

Or are you in a relationship? Who is the other person? How old are they...?

Never mind, it's not important. Just tell me the name, I'll look it up myself.