Naruto, my father's name is Uchiha Madara.

Page 261

He was already prone to a runny nose, and now, under the combined torment of the high temperature and dryness, it felt like his nasal cavity was stuffed with two lumps of burning coals.

Even Konohamaru, who is usually full of energy, looked like a cactus that had been wilted by the sun.

Dragging his heavy steps and hanging his head, he complained weakly, "This godforsaken place... is a hundred times hotter than Konoha's hottest summer!"

"I feel like the soles of my feet are being roasted!"

He tried to sit down on the sand to rest, but as soon as his bottom touched the sand, he jumped up with a "whoosh".

"Hot hot hot hot hot hot!!!"

Seeing the three little devils looking so disheveled and complaining, Naruto, who was walking in front, couldn't help but laugh out loud.

After experiencing the high temperatures in Sunagakure, this heatwave is nothing.

He turned around, put his hands on his hips, and tried to adopt the posture of an "experienced senior" and a "reliable mentor".

"Hey, you can't even handle this? Cheer up, future elite ninjas!"

Naruto deliberately raised his voice: "What's this little bit of heat! You guys don't know where Gaara and the others live in Sunagakure, that's a real 'oven'!"

"It's windy and sandy all year round, much drier and hotter than here! At least we have a bit of a breeze here, so it's a cooler version!"

Konohamaru straightened up and wiped the sweat from his face with the back of his hand.

He forced himself to cheer up: "Naruto-sensei is right! What's a little difficulty like this!"

"Just think, we've taken on a C-rank mission! Escorting the caravan of the Moon Kingdom's prince! This is a crucial step on our path to becoming Hokage!"

The thought of the "advanced" nature of the mission seemed to give him a renewed strength to combat the scorching heat.

"That's right! A C-rank mission!"

Naruto nodded, his smile fading slightly as he adopted a serious expression: "Starting from C-rank, the missions will no longer be those simple tasks like pulling weeds and finding cats in the village."

"We are likely to encounter real enemies—bandits in the desert, or wandering ninjas who covet the caravan's goods."

"Remember, this is not a drill! Protect your client, protect yourselves, and follow instructions! Understand?"

His gaze swept over the three genin.

Konohamaru immediately straightened his back and answered.

"Yes, Naruto-sensei!"

Meng Huang nodded vigorously, trying her best to overcome her discomfort.

"Um... I understand..."

Udon sniffed, trying to look serious.

Just then, a deep, rhythmic sound, like rolling thunder, came from afar, accompanied by the clear ringing of bells.

The sound grew clearer and clearer as it approached from afar.

"They're here!" Naruto's eyes narrowed, signaling the three to be on alert.

On the horizon, a flag appeared first, fluttering in the wind and embroidered with a peculiar crescent moon and wave pattern.

Immediately afterwards, a sizable caravan slowly came into view.

It consisted of a dozen or so sturdy, large horse-drawn carriages covered with thick, rainproof and sunproof tarpaulins, with the camel-drawn beasts leaving deep hoof prints on the sand.

The goods loaded on the carriage were tied up tightly.

Although we can't see exactly what it is, its heavy appearance and the occasional glimpse of a fine wooden box suggest that it is quite valuable.

Some guards dressed in uniform and carrying scimitars rode cautiously on both sides of the convoy.

Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon all exclaimed in unison, their eyes widening in surprise.

Even living in a great ninja village like Konoha, they rarely saw so many caravans carrying such mysterious goods at once.

The exotic decorations and the weary guards were all full of novelty.

Even Naruto, looking at this caravan laden with wealth, couldn't help but feel a bit like a "country bumpkin in the city."

He thought to himself, "This Moon Kingdom... seems pretty rich?"

The caravan slowly came to a stop in front of Naruto and his companions.

The most ornate carriage at the head of the procession was decorated with even more gold and silver ornaments and soft silk curtains.

The carriage curtain was laboriously lifted by a chubby hand, and an extremely obese figure, supported by two attendants, struggled to get off the carriage.

He wore a loose and luxurious silk robe, typical of the Moon Kingdom, embroidered with intricate gold moon patterns.

But it was still stretched taut by her round figure.

His round face was covered in sweat, and his small eyes were squinting, exuding an air of pampered arrogance.

He cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound more authoritative.

But his aura was clearly weak: "You are the ones sent by Konohagakure of the Land of Fire to escort me..."

"Ahem, are you here to escort the ninjas of this caravan?"

Naruto immediately composed himself, stepped forward, and, mimicking Kakashi, gave a slight nod: "Hello."

"I am the captain of this mission, a Jonin of Konoha, Naruto Uzumaki."

He turned to the side and introduced, "These three are my team members: Genin Sarutobi Konohamaru, Kazamatsuri Moegi, and Ise Udon."

Konohamaru and the other two quickly bowed slightly in accordance with ninja etiquette: "Nice to meet you!"

The obese man—Prince Mangetsu of the Moon Kingdom—criticized Naruto and his companions from head to toe with his small eyes.

Especially when he saw Konohamaru and the others' youthful faces, his brows furrowed imperceptibly, as if he was somewhat dissatisfied with the "team" sent by Konoha.

But he still nodded, as if in acknowledgment: "Yes. I, the King... I, the Prince, am the Crown Prince of the Moon Kingdom, Full Moon."

"The goods being transported this time are related to an important celebration in the Moon Kingdom, and cannot be lost."

"I hope that you Konoha ninjas can demonstrate strength commensurate with your reputation."

His tone carried a condescending, scrutinizing quality.

Just as Naruto was about to make his promise, something unexpected happened!

A sharp whistling sound suddenly rang out from the magnificent carriage behind Prince Full Moon!

An arrow, gleaming with a cold metallic light, emerged like a venomous snake from its hole.

It shot straight toward Konohamaru's head, who was standing behind Naruto!

Extremely fast speed, and tricky angles!

Konohamaru hadn't even reacted when he felt a gust of evil wind rush towards him!

However, just as the arrow tip was less than half a foot away from Konohamaru's forehead!

A hand wearing a black fingerless glove appeared like a phantom in the trajectory of the arrow, its five fingers suddenly closing.

He grasped the arrow shaft firmly and precisely!

The fletching of the arrow trembled violently from the sudden stop, emitting a whirring wail.

It was only then that Konohamaru realized what had happened, his face turned pale with fright, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

Naruto maintained the posture of holding the arrow, and the polite smile on his face, which he used when facing the client, remained unchanged.

It was as if he had simply brushed away a fallen leaf.

A cold, sharp glint flashed deep within his azure eyes as he turned his gaze toward the direction from which the arrow had been fired—

The window of that magnificent carriage.

A small hand lifted the curtain of the car window, revealing the face of a boy about the same age as Konohamaru, but with an air of unruliness about him.

He had fair skin, black hair like a full moon, wore glasses, and a provocative smirk played on his lips.

He was also holding a small toy bow in his hand.

Upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that the arrow in Naruto's hand is also a toy; even if it hits someone, it won't cause injury.

Naruto's smile remained, but his tone carried an undeniable warning.

With a flick of his wrist, he easily flung the arrow back, which landed precisely on the sand beside the carriage wheel, its fletching still trembling.

"Oh dear, little one,"

Naruto's voice sounded relaxed, yet carried an invisible pressure: "Using this kind of thing against others, especially the ninjas protecting you, is a very, very bad habit."

"If we hurt our own people, or... offend someone we shouldn't have, then it won't be fun."

He deliberately emphasized the words "not fun".

The boy—the little prince of the Moon Kingdom—clearly hadn't expected Naruto to catch his "sneak attack" so easily.

His narrow eyes narrowed, a hint of annoyance and deeper provocation flashing within them. He snorted coldly, "Hmph! Not bad, a Konoha ninja."

"I hope your good luck continues until Mikazuki Island."

His voice carried a harshness and arrogance that were beyond his years.

Chapter 282 Hopefully nothing unexpected will happen.

"What the hell! You arrogant brat! You almost shot yourself on me!"

Konohamaru finally snapped out of his shock and immediately started yelling at the carriage in dissatisfaction.

Especially when she saw that she had been startled by a toy bow, the fear she felt just moments before turned into anger at being looked down upon.

Naruto immediately reached out and placed his hand on Konohamaru's shoulder, stopping him from making any further impulsive moves.

At this moment, Man Yue patted the little boy's head, reminding him to take his earlier rudeness to heart:

"This is my son, Hikaru. I'm so sorry about earlier!"

Naruto didn't hear any remorse in the apology at all.

But as a Jonin instructor, he could no longer rush up and start arguing with the opponent like he used to.

He could only maintain a smile and nod slightly in the direction of the carriage: "Your Highness is too kind. Protecting our clients and ensuring their safe arrival is our duty."

But inside his heart, it was as if ten thousand alpacas were stampeding through, stirring up a monstrous wave.