Aoba left the Forest of Death with most of the participants and returned to Konohagakure. Along the way, the participants discussed all sorts of strange things with each other. After all, they were all eliminated from the entire group. They were at least a three-man team, so the topic was roughly the same.
Aoba followed behind everyone.
He was like an invisible person.
He wasn't noticed by these people.
He was still as low-key as before, and it could be said that he didn't have any sense of existence.
After Aoba left the Forest of Death, he separated from these people. After that, he came to a place where there was no one. He immediately controlled his mind and determined the location of the abandoned tower in another forest. He directly used Hiraishin no Jutsu(Flying Thunder God Technique) and his figure flashed and disappeared in an instant.
Swish!
Almost in the blink of an eye.
Aoba arrived at the abandoned tower.
Abandoned tower.
The same first floor.
The difference was that there was no one here. It was very quiet and would not be disturbed at all.
After that.
Aoba raised two fingers in both of his hands and form a cross in front of his chest.
"Taju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu(Multiple Shadow Clone Technique)!"
Aoba said lightly. As his voice fell, one shadow clone after another appeared beside him. Everyone looked exactly the same as him.
"Just do something!"
Aoba waved his hand at these shadow clones. These shadow clones were a part of him, and they possessed his thoughts, so they completely understood what he wanted.
Immediately after.
Aoba used Hiraishin no Jutsu(Flying Thunder God Technique) again.
He then appeared in a forest that was closer to Konohagakure's bustling area.
At this time.
Because of the Chunin Exams' influence.
Many of his plans stopped. He was not in the mood to continue, but he did not want to laze like this.
So he let these shadow clones do it!
After Aoba walked out of the forest, he did not return to the Anbu dormitory. Instead, he walked toward Ramen Ichiraku.
From the moment he entered the Ninja School classroom to take the Chunin Exams, to when he had just walked out of the Forest of Death, it had already been a full five days.
These five days were neither long nor short. It was enough for too many things to happen.
Now, Aoba had to first understand the current situation.
Regarding the changes that he missed.
In the entire Konohagakure, Teuchi was definitely one of the clearest people. Coming here to find Teuchi was far more efficient than reading other people's memories on the street.
Not long after.
Aoba came to Ramen Ichiraku's entrance and walked straight in.
"Brother Teuchi!"
After entering, Aoba immediately greeted Teuchi who was cooking ramen. It was a little late now. There was no one inside the Noodle House, so it was relatively quiet.
"Aoba, it's you. You came back so quickly?" When Teuchi saw Aoba, he narrowed his eyes and smiled. This person looked very warm.
"It's over."
Aoba shook his head with a smile. He went directly to the long table in front of Teuchi. After that, he said, "Give me a bowl of ramen!"
"Did you get eliminated?" Teuchi narrowed his eyes and stared at Aoba. It was not like he had never watched the Chunin Exams before. It was already over at this point in time. It was obvious that there was no more third round.
"About the same." Aoba smiled.
"It seems that the participants this time are very powerful. Even you were eliminated. I really didn't expect this." Teuchi immediately put the noodles in the pot. From his actions, this time, he increased the amount. He said, "I didn't expect that; I'll give you more to soothe your wounded heart."
"The participant in this year's Chunin Exams are indeed very powerful. I am amazed. I am indeed not their match."
Aoba was not being perfunctory, but he remembered that when he was in the tower, those people looked at him with contempt in their eyes.
"It doesn't matter, try it again next time!" Teuchi said with a smile.
"No, I won't try it in the future. It is useless for anyone to pull me to sign up!" Aoba shook his head. As the saying goes, you learn a lot from a pit, and this time he also understands compassion. He wanted to try what it was like to form a team with others. It was not a very good experience for him.
"Hahahaha..." Teuchi laughed and did not say much on this topic. He felt that Aoba was like a child who had just fallen out of love. He said that he would not fall in love again in the future. In fact, it was a matter in the future. It would be decided in the future and had nothing to do with the present.
"Is Minato back?"
Aoba also did not want to continue the topic. He raised his eyes and stared at Teuchi. This question was the topic he was most concerned about. After all, according to the time, it had been almost a month since Minato went to Mount Myoboku. Perhaps it was almost time for him to return.
"No news."
Teuchi shook his head. The smile on his face disappeared at this moment. He had not seen Minato in this period of time. He missed him very much. He glanced at Aoba and said, "Actually, I wanted to ask you this question."
"That's mean he is still in Mount Myoboku." Aoba nodded.
"What kind of technique does it take Minato to practice for so long?" Teuchi asked doubtfully. He had more or less figured it out in his heart. However, he felt that Minato's talent was very strong. He could learn any ninjutsu immediately. Even Hiraishin no Jutsu(Flying Thunder God Technique), which was extremely difficult to master, was not a problem for Minato. Why did it seem as if he was trapped this time?
"If I'm not wrong, Minato should have learned it, but he hasn't completely mastered it yet. Konohagakure is in a good condition now, and he is not in a hurry to return." Aoba analyzed. Senjutsu was indeed difficult to learn, but Minato's talent was really great. According to the information he knew, according to the original story, Minato had learned Sage Mode, but he had never been proficient in it. He could only maintain it for a few minutes, and there were still many things that needed to be improved.
"Now it is relatively calm. It is good to practice more. Once the flames of war spread to Konohagakure, there will be no free time to practice seriously." Teuchi nodded.
"Minato has his own choice. Before he comes back, we can just wait." Aoba said. He felt that Minato would be back in a few days.
"Don't think too much. Eat the ramen first. The ramen is ready!"
As Teuchi spoke, he fished out the noodles in the pot and put them into a clean empty bowl. After that, he poured soup and pour it on the bowl. Immediately after, the ramen fragrance filled the place.
Teuchi brought over the bowl of ramen that had already been cooked and placed it in front of Aoba. Throughout the entire process, he was all smiles as he stared at Aoba.
"Thank you, Brother Teuchi!"
Aoba nodded at Teuchi. He picked up the fragrant ramen in front of him and immediately began to eat in large mouthfuls.
Slurp~ Slurp~ Slurp~
When the noodles entered his mouth, they left a fragrance on his lips and teeth.
This feeling of satiety immediately made his sense of happiness multiply. One had to know that in the five days, he had been in the Forest of Death, he had not even eaten a proper meal and had always been eating military rations pills.
...
Just as Aoba was eating noodles.
Hiruzen had already arrived at the Konohagakure Intelligence Division entrance.
"Sandaime-sama!"
When the two Anbu guards at Konohagakure Intelligence Division's entrance saw Hiruzen, they immediately bowed to him.
"Is your Captain here?"
Hiruzen casually waved his hand at the two Anbu. He did not care about etiquette at all. The most important thing now was to find Eaton and ask about the matter of the Uzumaki Clan ninja from him.
"Captain is in his office!"
How could these two Anbu dare to hide anything? The one standing in front of them was the village's Hokage.
"Take me there."
Hiruzen said indifferently. He wanted to ask about this matter as soon as possible. Then, he would return to the tower and compare it with the memories of the three Iwagakure ninjas over there to confirm whether the Kirigakure ninja was related to the ninjas of the Uzumaki clan.
"Yes!"
The two Anbu looked at each other. One of them immediately led Hiruzen to Eaton's office.
Soon.
Under the guidance of this Anbu, Hiruzen arrived at the office door of Konohagakure Intelligence Division Captain, Morino Eaton.
"We're here!" The Anbu who brought Hiruzen over said respectfully.
"Thank you for your hard work. You can go back." Hiruzen nodded at this Anbu.
"Yes!" This Anbu immediately responded and turned to leave.
After watching the Anbu leave, Hiruzen raised his hand and knocked on the door of Eaton's office.
"Wait!"
Eaton's voice sounded from inside the office. There was a strong sense of impatience in his voice as if the sound of the door knocking had disturbed something important.
A few minutes later.
The door of the office opened.
Eaton walked out of the door with a frown on his face. Just as he was about to ridicule this person in front of him, he immediately saw this person's appearance.
"San... Sandai... Sandaime-sama..."
Eaton's expression suddenly became incomparably wonderful. His face seemed to have a feeling that something good had been interrupted, but he had no choice but to show respect to this person. The flames of depression in his heart could not be released at all, making him feel very uncomfortable.
"I didn't disturb you, did I?"
Hiruzen said politely. He didn't care what Eaton was doing at all. He didn't even think about it. His thoughts were completely occupied. All he thought about was the identity of the Uzumaki Clan ninja.
"No... no... no... nothing..."
Eaton shook his head repeatedly. He didn't know Hiruzen's real purpose. He thought that Hiruzen had something to say. Suddenly, his face turned red and he couldn't even speak clearly.
"You won't let me in?" Hiruzen looked at Eaton's strange face and asked.
"Please come in!"
Eaton quickly stepped out of the door. After he saw Hiruzen walk in, he immediately closed the door of the office.
Hiruzen had no intention of being polite to Eaton. After entering the office, he sat on the chair in front of Eaton's desk.
Eaton looked at where Hiruzen was sitting.
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
One had to know.
With Hiruzen's status, he could directly walk onto the main seat.
This made him feel awkward.
"Eaton, sit!"
Hiruzen looked at the stunned Eaton and immediately waved to him. His eyes fell on Eaton, trying to control his urgency to make himself seem natural.
"Yes!"
After hearing Hiruzen's words, Eaton no longer dared to decline. He immediately sat on the main seat. From the appearance of his face, he appeared to be cautious.
After Eaton sat down.
He did not dare to speak lightly.
He waited for Hiruzen to speak.
He still didn't know why Hiruzen was here.
"Eaton, I came here to find you because I have something very important to ask you. You have to tell me the truth!" Hiruzen stared at Eaton and said in a deep voice.
"Yes!" Eaton immediately nodded.
"The person who came with you to treat Danzo's injuries..." Hiruzen narrowed his eyes and slowly asked, "Who is it?"
"This..."
Eaton did not expect that Hiruzen would ask this question. He instantly fell silent and did not answer Hiruzen.
It was not that he did not know the answer.
It was that he knew too well!
He had already promised Aoba, so he would not betray him that easily!
But...
The person in front of him was the Hokage!
"What? Is it inconvenient to say?" When Hiruzen saw Eaton's embarrassed look, he spoke again, this time with some intimidation.
"Sandaime-sama, didn't you already promise that you wouldn't ask me such a question?" Eaton said with a bitter smile. He had no way to answer this question, so he could only bring the topic to another place.
"It seems that he told you everything!" Hiruzen nodded. He was even more sure that Eaton knew the identity of that Uzumaki Clan ninja. His face darkened and he whispered, "I suspect that he is related to Kirigakure. I need you to tell me his identity."
"Kirigakure?" Eaton was stunned for a moment, then shook his head repeatedly and said, "Impossible!"
"Are you so sure?" Hiruzen asked doubtfully.
"I am very sure that he is not related to Kirigakure!" Eaton patted his chest and promised, "Sandaime-sama, if you are looking for Kirigakure's ninja, then I can guarantee that he is definitely not. I can be sure of this!"
"Oh?"
When Hiruzen heard this, he suddenly laughed.
"Since he is not related to Kirigakure..."
"Then he is a ninja disguised as Kirigakure ninja!"
"Then tell me..."
"Is he a ninja from the Uzumaki Clan?"