In Konoha, Naruto lies down

He sighed, "You said, I won't bully you."

"That one in Uenoguchi...isn't very far away, but I can't run fast in a skirt, I might...fall." She tightly grasped the bottle of soda, and the bottle mouth was cold and white mist was coming out.

"You... don't be angry, okay? I wanted to buy it myself. At... at most, I'll let you bully me." Hinata's whole little body was trembling.

"Forget it, forget it, I won't bully you." Naruto held his forehead and looked into the distant night. "Let's go. I've already bought the bill. This is a return gift for the soda you bought me."

"Go, where?"

"I'll take you home. Where else can you go so late?" Naruto couldn't bear it anymore and added, "Konoha is not safe these days. Don't wander around outside at night."

"Naruto-kun, do you still want to drink that...soda?"

Chapter 280: A busy day ends, and Jiraiya finally has news

"Drink it, why not." Naruto took the soda, grabbed Hinata's wrist with his other hand, and carried her back along the way they came.

On the way, the two chatted casually, with Naruto usually the first to initiate the conversation, speaking slowly and seriously.

"Actually, the mission is simple, but some of the clients are truly disgusting. I didn't fish, they were the ones who started it first. Attacking a ninja is already impeding the mission."

"So I tied them all up, which made sense."

Hinata wanted to laugh, her face flushed, but she forced herself not to make a sound. As she listened to Naruto's strange stories, her anxious heart gradually calmed down.

"I...I can go back by myself." Hinata said softly, looking at the Hyuga base not far away.

Although she also wanted to stroll back slowly with Naruto, like a couple in love, she was still somewhat hesitant because of the incident in the bamboo forest last time.

If she was bullied like that while being looked at by many pairs of elders, she would really be too ashamed to stay in Hyuga.

"It's too dangerous to walk at night. Let me take you home." He said without any hesitation, "Besides, it's just a short distance. I might as well take you there, otherwise I won't be able to rest assured."

He was indeed worried. On the one hand, he was worried about Hinata's safety, after all, no one knew what had happened to the Inuzuka clan. On the other hand, he was afraid that he himself would not be safe.

What if Hinata remembered something halfway and returned to find that I was going to pick up Ino? That would be so embarrassing.

The Naruto clan leader had a clear conscience and was only causing trouble for himself. After all, this kind of thing couldn't really be called time management; it just happened to be scheduled on the same day.

"But...we'll be seen." Hinata said hesitantly.

"Just let them see it, no one will say anything." He still insisted on sending Hinata to the door of the Hyuga residence, and watched Hinata's figure disappear into the gate and then quickly turned back to look at him.

He just stood there, the night wind blew, and the green leaves rustled.

Hokage Building.

After finishing the last roll of documents, Ino looked exhausted and yawned behind her hand. The office was brightly lit, and she was the only one left.

I finally managed to organize all the information before the beginning of the month and barely completed the work.

It was late at night and the office door was pushed open.

Naruto walked in, his face showing no sign of fatigue, his messy golden hair hanging casually, and he leaned against the door and spoke lazily.

"Let's go, let's take you home."

"You're here?" Ino was in a good mood because she had finished her work.

After spending the better part of a month in the office, I've finally gotten more comfortable with my job. Plus, even if I work late into the night, someone's always there to pick me up, so even though I'm tired, I still feel happy.

Even when Naruto was walking on the street, he could feel the good mood of the people around him.

"Are you that happy?" He couldn't help but ask closer in the dim light of the street lamp. "How come you're still in such a good mood after working overtime?"

"I finally finished all the work. What's there to be unhappy about?" Ino was too embarrassed to tell the truth, so she simply found an excuse that couldn't be exposed.

"You are truly God's chosen worker."

"what?"

"Nothing, I'm just praising you."

Ino didn't understand, but that didn't stop her from retaliating. She grabbed Naruto's hand and bit it hard. With a scream like a slaughtered pig, a row of teeth marks were clearly imprinted on his hand.

"Ino! Are you born in the year of the dog?"

"Hmph, who told you to scold me? You deserve it." Ino bit him, as if she had released some kind of nature, and her mood seemed to be better.

"It's okay, I'll bite it back next time," Naruto muttered.

"What did you say!!" Ino had sharp ears and heard a few words. She subconsciously thought of the last time he pressed her against the glass door and bit her.

"Ah? I mean I hope you're not angry."

"...Who would believe you?" Ino said angrily, but then she seemed to remember something and said seriously, "Do you remember the wireless communication thing you mentioned last time?"

"Well, what's wrong?" He looked away, leaning towards her, his voice a little hoarse with absentmindedness, "Any clues?"

"Lady Tsunade agreed, but was suppressed by the higher-ups," Ino said.

"How come I don't know about this?" He turned to look at Ino, a look of surprise on his face, thinking to himself, isn't Konoha under the jurisdiction of Archbishop Naruto?

Just little Tsunade, and she didn't even tell him.

"What's the point of telling you? The two major advisors are strongly opposed. They believe that the ninja village should still develop according to tradition." Ino sighed.

"More importantly, what they say makes sense. The situation among the five major nations is becoming increasingly tense, and an intelligence war could break out at any time. If new communications are added, Konoha might be in a desperate situation where secrets are leaked."

"We can't fight." Naruto said firmly, thinking that since Otsutsuki had not yet arrived, he still had the final say in the ninja world, but he quickly took a breath.

"Why does this tone sound so familiar? What does leaking secrets have to do with communications? If those old guys object, it will be troublesome."

"Yeah." Ino looked a little lonely.

"Could it be... that's why your father transferred you from the Intelligence Department?" Naruto turned around and looked at Ino with a strange expression.

If Ino was warned because Tsunade supported her communication reform plan, it is possible that Yamanaka Inoichi had to transfer his daughter away to avoid the limelight.

"Ah? Maybe." Ino had obviously guessed it a long time ago. She hesitated, opened her mouth but didn't know what to say, so she simply kept silent.

"Forget it, you don't have to be discouraged. Maybe in a few years those old guys won't be able to bear it and will go into seclusion." Naruto patted her shoulder and comforted her.

"Konoha still belongs to the younger generation. Once Kakashi-sensei takes over, maybe..."

"Thank you, Naruto." Ino knew he was just trying to comfort her, but she still raised her head and forced a smile, "I hope so."

After walking for a while, Naruto asked again suddenly.

"Do you really want to do this?"

"Hmm... a little." Ino lowered her head, vaguely seeing her toes. "The village's daily communications are actually very rudimentary. To find someone, we can only search the streets."

"Other small nations already have convenient communication technology, and even the Fire Nation's capital has already tried it out on a small scale. Friends can contact and chat with each other..."

"...I just feel really envious. Ninjas are human beings too. I believe the ninja world will eventually see peace. When that time comes, ninjas won't have to train all day long and be stained with blood."

She actually felt that even if she didn't have any missions, if she didn't go to see him, she would basically be out of touch, which could last for a few days or even several months.

During a random mission, she discovered that people in a small country were using communication devices. Couples could hear each other's voices and even video chat while taking a shower.

She tried to understand it, and it wasn't that complicated to communicate remotely. If she switched to chakra communication, it would even be more stable and the performance would be improved.

"Don't even think about peace in the ninja world. Wherever there are people, there will always be disputes." Naruto said, "Actually, there's no need to think too far ahead. Just deal with the situation at hand."

"Those old foxes are just deliberately trying to shift the blame for the village's safety to the communications equipment. Even now, Konoha's intelligence is constantly being leaked to the other four major ninja villages."

"The Root is a complete slacker, Danzo's personal organization. So, what does Konoha's intelligence security have to do with this new equipment?"

"Yeah." Ino smiled, "Hearing you say that, I feel much better."

Don't listen to those old foxes. You never know when they'll be led into a ditch. He was about to say this, but swallowed it back when it reached his lips.

There's no point in saying more, it's just superficial comfort.

If peace in the ninja world is the basic condition for developing new technology, then Ino can never count on it in this lifetime.

In peacetime, ninjas are mercenaries and personal bodyguards, and the five major ninja villages are armed organizations centered around ninjas. Tsunade wants to change Konoha, but she can't interfere with the trend of the five major countries.

Konoha and Sunagakure formed an alliance to recuperate, train the next generation of ninja, and develop the economy. The Hidden Mist Village had just emerged from the shadow of the Blood Mist Village and was in a period of transition.

The only ones still bent on expansion are the declining but still proud Iwagakure Village, and the powerful and ambitious Kumogakure Village, which still wants to stir up trouble in the ninja world.

However, Naruto refused to agree, thinking about setting up an evil cult to kill everyone in Kumogakure and Iwagakure, so that they would not be idle all day and jump around all day.

Moreover, Kumogakure had already been slapped by him, and his face was swollen. If the Fourth Raikage Ai still didn't accept it, he had plenty of ways to disgust him.

However, internal friction cannot bring peace to the ninja world, it can only delay the arrival of war.

Humans are complex creatures, each with their own unique philosophies. Perhaps the only thing they share is their tendency to seek benefits and avoid harm. From this perspective, neither Izuku's nor Akatsuki's thinking is wrong.

They turned themselves into the ultimate villains, forcing the five major powers to unite and stop fighting. But one was to make the world feel pain, and the other was to unify the world.

No matter which one, it was too far away for Naruto now. He couldn't risk the rest of his life seeking peace in the ninja world for a communicator project.

Ultimately, if you can't solve the problem, then solve the person who raised the problem.

Just get those old guys to compromise, Naruto thought silently. Rather than seeking peace in the ninja world, he preferred to find a bright spot wherever there was a little light.

If you are not allowed to open the window, just poke a hole through the ceiling.

The lights on Konoha's streets were dim, and the two of them remained silent. Ino tried to speak several times, but seeing Naruto's pensive expression, she couldn't help but retreat.

It was not until they reached the big green tree in front of the Yamanaka Flower Shop that Naruto stopped and suddenly spoke.

"It's April already? The trees are so lush already?"

"Hmm?" Ino had a troubled look on her face. "Is...right? Um, did what I just said bother you?"

"No...."

"I'm sorry!" Ino bowed sharply and apologized, "It's...it's all my fault. I said that for no reason and put you under pressure!"

"No, I actually didn't..." Naruto waved his hands and was about to speak when he was interrupted by Ino's apology.

"Please... please don't take it to heart! I don't really want to get that communicator, it's just a spur-of-the-moment interest!"

"No."

Ino, blushing, listened as Naruto chuckled, his voice lazy and low. The gloomy atmosphere dissipated like melting snow.

"Actually, you misunderstood. I never thought of helping you because I can't do it. Matters like peace in the ninja world should be left to more capable people."

Hearing this, Ino suddenly raised her head, grabbed Naruto's clothes, and said in shame and anger.

"Are you kidding me again?"

"No, I never said anything like that. You were just imagining it." He smiled nonchalantly, looking a little bit like he deserved a beating.

"You!! You didn't say a word the whole way!"

"I'm thinking about what to eat tomorrow."

"Liar!"

"Do you want me to tell you the menu for tomorrow?" Naruto put his hand on Ino's shoulder and hugged her with a smile.

"No!" Ino pushed his hand away and muttered, "I thought you..."

"What do you think of me?" He laughed, standing straight under the green tree streetlight. "I'm not omnipotent, and the five great nations won't listen to me."

"Of course I know." She said, "I'm glad you didn't think that way. I was just worried that you would go to the higher-ups..."

"But there is a solution. Just continue to do what you should do regarding the communicator." Naruto's shoulders slumped down and his voice dropped.

"Ah?" Ino took a moment to react. "But, there's no point doing this now."

"It will be useful soon." He raised his eyelids slightly. "First of all, let's be clear. I'm not just helping you. I mentioned this a long time ago, and this is what I wanted to do."

"Besides, I can't do it alone. It will probably take some time. Anyway, the result will definitely be good."

"Yeah." Ino responded obediently.

It's true that he wasn't omnipotent, but he didn't persuade her to give up. Instead, he really listened to her carefully, and that was enough to make her happy.

Mid April.

Sakura's two-week meal break ended amidst her complaints, which also meant her vacation was over. Her face was covered with an expression of "I don't want to go to work," which was exactly the same as Tsunade's.

Naruto ate Sakura's food for half a month, and fortunately he didn't pass out, which was a blessing.

He put the communication technology issue on hold and waited patiently for half a month. Tsunade seemed to have resolved the Inuzuka clan issue without informing him.

He didn't care, as he didn't care about these trivial matters.

It wasn't until late April that Tsunade suddenly sent someone to look for him. When he arrived at the office, Tsunade's secretary had been replaced by Sakura instead of Ino.