After that, Naruto and Kurama fell silent, and Naruto didn't continue with his impromptu serenades from his past life.
Following Hydrangea and Hibiscus, Naruto found himself at the gates of the Village of Rain.
It turned out that the two teams they were supposed to join up with were already waiting there.
The journey to Konoha Village wasn't a hop and a skip away, especially considering everyone except Naruto was truly qualified as Genin and had some "superficial" tasks to attend to, prompting them to start early.
Konan had briefed Naruto on what to expect, assigning the others some so-called missions to gather intel on Konoha Village. But in reality, it was all a smokescreen to cover for Naruto. These seemingly reasonable tasks were actually set up to indulge his whims.
Wanting to take the Chunin exam, Naruto found himself being given ample opportunities through these "Four Eight Three" arrangements.
No wonder Kurama grumbled about Konan and Nagato playing step-parents.
While Naruto wouldn't openly admit to this familial connection, he harbored a deep affection for them.
Their bond was reciprocal; in Naruto's plan, he would eventually deal with Konan and Nagato but not before entrusting them with a vital mission to save the ninja world.
But for now, they would have to play the role of villains.
In the world of ninjas, peace required both heroes and villains.
The other two Genin teams were also standard trios. The first team consisted of Shigure, Rainy, and Meiyu, all with names related to rain.
As for the other trio, they were Obi, Menghuo, and Bon.
They were all dressed in typical Rain Shinobi attire, sporting hats, umbrellas, or tight leather jackets resembling feathered coats, standing out as older and more experienced than Hydrangea and Hibiscus.
Despite their age gap, they stood shoulder to shoulder with Naruto.
The six individuals had been waiting for some time, growing visibly impatient as they watched the three Uzumaki Narutos approach. Their impatience escalated when they noticed that two of them, Hydrangea and Hibiscus, were merely children of twelve or thirteen years old, prompting complaints.
"Are we supposed to babysit these kids during the mission? We're not babysitters, we're not even leading Jōnin," one of them grumbled.
Another person took a jab at Naruto, "Hey, isn't this guy a bit too old to still be a Chūnin? What a waste."
Their mockery stemmed from Naruto's mature appearance, leaving him more dumbfounded than angry. I mean, seriously, he's only twelve, how could they judge him like that? If he's considered trash at this age, what does that say about other geniuses out there?
Besides, in Naruto's mind, only formidable foes like the S-rank rebels of Akatsuki would dare to provoke him. Since when did he stoop to the level of a Genin for anyone to call him out?
It's like an ant trying to challenge a lion—it's just not on the same level.
But Naruto, unfazed, simply sighed, "Do you guys have a death wish?"
"What did you say?" The six individuals exchanged incredulous looks. Did this guy seriously just challenge all six of them alone? Who does he think he is, asking for trouble like this?
Sure, Naruto wasn't thrilled about being called trash, but this level of arrogance was something else.
With a smirk, Naruto closed the distance between them, umbrella in hand, and before they could react, he swung it with precision. The sound of "bang, bang, bang" echoed as all six were sent flying by his swift strike.
Hydrangea and Hibiscus stood dumbfounded, unable to confront the barrage of complaints and sarcasm from the six individuals. They certainly didn't anticipate Uzumaki Naruto's decisive action. And the six were too stunned to react.
With an air of authority, Naruto reopened his umbrella and slung it over his shoulder. "As a ninja, if you provoke without knowing the situation, don't cry foul if things turn sour. And have you noticed? We're not led by Jōnin this time. I'm in charge. You get one chance to wise up. Mess up again, and you're out. Rain Shinobi Village doesn't tolerate dead weight."
Ignoring the fallen six, Naruto strode out of the village, adding without a glance back, "Keep up. If you can't, don't bother trying." And with that, he left them behind.
The six Genin, previously playing tough, exchanged looks but reluctantly rose to their feet. Alongside the bewildered Hydrangea and Hibiscus, they hurried to catch up.
Naruto spared them further embarrassment, recognizing their lack of readiness. So, the journey proceeded without incident.
"Isn't this always the case? Too easy," Naruto scoffed.
Why bother with all the initial fuss? Why the chatter?
The group remained silent, unwilling to provoke Naruto further.
Hydrangea and Hibiscus felt a twinge of relief. Luckily, they held back their complaints before Naruto's intervention, even though he seemed so young to be leading them.
Unbeknownst to them, Naruto, despite being a Genin, played a pivotal role until the end of Shippuden.
But who said Genin were worthless? In Konoha Village, Genin battles were the ultimate test.
"Let's move. Aim to reach Konoha Village by nightfall. Otherwise, you'll be sleeping under the stars," Naruto declared, wasting no time as he picked up the pace toward Konoha Village.
The group dared not protest, only striving to keep pace.
Fortunately, Naruto didn't push them too hard, or they'd still be on the road to Konoha Village.
Given the proximity of the Land of Rain and the Land of Fire, the journey to Konoha Village took only a day. After all, it's just a three-day trek from Konoha to Sunagakure, with the Land of Rivers lying between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire.
But as they approached the gates, Naruto hesitated.
Should he announce his name?
It might stir things up. How intriguing.
.....
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