Shadow of the Wood

Chapter 280 Homecoming

After parting for more than a year, Konoha Village has changed quite a lot. The damage caused by Orochimaru leading Otonin Village to invade Konoha has been repaired, and the scars left by the war can no longer be seen. Compared with the newly completed buildings, the most eye-catching It is still carved to the end of the village. The heads of the previous Hokages and the heads of the Five Hokages Senju Tsunade have been completed. They are so lifelike that they seem to be looking into the distance.

Uzumaki Naruto stood in the middle of the avenue with his hands on his hips, looking around like a tourist who arrived at Konoha for the first time, and occasionally gave out admiration or two, making passers-by look at him from time to time.People's likes and dislikes of their hometown often depend on their memories, but what is more important is their views on things. A person who can only see the bad side of everything, no matter how beautiful the environment his hometown gives him, he will not be satisfied, Uzumaki Naruto Even though he experienced the eyes and indifference of the villagers when he was young, he still felt satisfied and happy when he returned to his hometown after a long absence.

"You can't eat too much at one time..." Uzumaki Naruto was squinting his eyes at Tsunade's statue when he heard a somewhat familiar voice. The boy with short black hair was facing away from Naruto, patiently comforting a Ninja Dog who looked a bit downcast.

"Bawa..., Akamaru!?" Uzumaki Naruto called out uncertainly. Inuzuka Kiba grew a lot taller, but in comparison, Akamaru's change was the most amazing. Inuzuka's waist height makes it difficult to lie on Inuzuka's head or shoulders like before.Although before leaving, Naruto still remembered that Akamaru had really grown in size, but he didn't expect that Akamaru's body shape had undergone such an amazing change after more than a year.

Hearing someone calling his name, Inuzuka Ya quickly turned his head and saw Naruto Uzumaki with a smirk on his face for the first time. After a moment of surprise, he came back to his senses and said in surprise and joy: "Naruto!" Man, when did you come back?"

"I just came back from my good friend Sennin, and he left me and ran away when he returned to the village." Naruto Uzumaki stepped forward and greeted Inuzuka Fang: "How are you doing lately? Where are Shino and Hinata?"

"We're all fine, we're already Chunin." Inuzuka said in a nonchalant manner, but there was a hint of complacency in his tone.

"...It's amazing." Uzumaki Naruto said with a dry smile. He left Konoha and had no chance to take the Chunin Exam. He is still a Chunin until now. Hearing that Inuzuka Ya and others are already Chunin, he was inevitably a little depressed, so he hurriedly quit Opening the topic: "Where are the others? How is Sakura doing?"

Hearing the words, Inuzuka Ya's expression changed slightly. His city is not deep, and all his thoughts are written on his face. Uzumaki Naruto immediately noticed the abnormality. What happened, and hurriedly asked: "What's wrong with Sakura?"

Seeing Naruto Uzumaki's anxious expression, Inuzuka Ya quickly lowered his voice and said, "Shikamaru returned to the village not long ago, and left the village with Sakura, Ino, Choji, Neji, and Li."

"Shikamaru!?" Uzumaki Naruto narrowed his eyes and asked dumbfounded, "Isn't he..."

"I know, Shikamaru is still carrying a wanted warrant." Inuzuka Tooth looked gloomy, and pulled Uzumaki Naruto to a street corner where there were few people, and whispered, "It's just that he even killed Orochimaru, and he went back to the village I also met him when I saw him..., it seems that he obviously didn't take this matter seriously." <Yo Ying was involved with Shikamaru who is defecting now, which made his mind messed up. Tsunade was suddenly asked to return to Konoha Village. Although he didn't say it explicitly, some clues also revealed that it seemed to be related to Shikamaru. When Shikamaru participated in the mission of the country of water, he was still in Konoha Village, and he left the village to practice later. In the process, I have been hearing news about Shikamaru from outsiders, even Jiraiya, and now Chunye Sakura may be involved, which really makes Naruto unable to calm down.

"Shikamaru said that to rebuild Otonin Village, we need help." Inuzuka Ya recalled what Shikamaru said at the time, and said, "Once Orochimaru dies, the dragons in Otonin Village will have no leader. If those ninjas rush to a chaotic place, it will cause He needs some reliable people to help him get Ninja Village in his hands as soon as possible. Don't worry, the village hasn't dealt with Sakura, Nono Sakura and others, and hasn't done anything to endanger Muye Village. Naturally, it is impossible to be fixed and forced to the opposite side of Konoha. The fathers of Choji and Ino are both the patriarchs of the ninja clan.

"Otonin Village...," Uzumaki Naruto sighed exaggeratedly, calmed down some anxious mood with this action, and asked Inuzuka Fang in a calm voice, "Does he have any news about Sasuke?"

Uchiha Sasuke has not been seen for a while. There are rumors that he has been killed or imprisoned by Nara Shikamaru who is known as the "hidden god". Naruto Uzumaki is dubious about this statement. <No Sakura was worried that Sasuke Uchiha was as worried as Naruto, Shikamaru asked the same question when he appeared, "Shikamaru said that Sasuke should still be alive and had fled Tanokoku, but he didn't know the exact whereabouts. "

"Then why did Sakura go with Shikamaru!" Uzumaki Naruto really wanted to question Inuzuka, but he knew that it was useless to tell Inuzuka. He had been practicing outside for more than a year, and he was not only teaching. With his knowledge of ninjutsu, experience in dealing with people and dealing with things is also an important part. Naruto has become much more mature than before. In fact, when Jiraiya also saw Shikamaru's performance in the country of water, he was very interested in Naruto's heart. Naruto's requirements are also much stricter. Although he himself is disrespectful, he doesn't want Naruto to be like this.

After all, Naruto is the son of Namikaze Minato, as Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and the "Savior" and "Son of Prophecy" in the mouth of Toad Immortal, I never think that anyone in the younger generation is more qualified to inherit Hokage than him—— —Even if it was Shikamaru before rebelling against the village.

…………

In Konoha Village, there is also a person who, like Naruto Uzumaki, is deeply worried, and that is the Fifth Hokage Senju Tsunade.

"Tsunade." Since entering the office, Tsunade has been silently looking at a map of the ninja world. He has been thinking for a while, looking a little frowning. Seeing this, Jiraiya couldn't help calling out, "What's the trouble? Is it?"

Tsunade Yin grimaced, sighed and said, "Shikamaru killed a group of Anbu ninjas."

Ji Lai, who was moving a chair and was about to sit down, froze, and quickly asked, "What's going on!"

Shimura Danzo secretly ordered Sato to mobilize the dark unit privately, but he could only hide it from Tsunade for a while, and when Tsunade, known as the "princess", knew the situation, he was shocked and angry.

Anbu, as a combat force directly under Hokage, an important armed force, can be mobilized silently by outsiders, which shows that Tsunade's control over Anbe is limited.As for the ninja who can be influential and can secretly control Anbu to defy Hokage's orders and act privately, Tsunade can determine who it is without thinking too much - only Shimura Danzo in Konoha Village has the ability to do it.

And when Tsunade tracked down the whereabouts of the Anbu team, he recalled Jiraiya as soon as possible. After the Anbu team entered the Tanokuni, no news has come out so far. Thinking of what the other party once said in the ninja world , Those Anbu are probably in danger.

This has always made Tsunade a little worried. After Shikamaru killed Orochimaru, his reputation in the ninja world was so high. Between the three great kingdoms of fire, earth, and thunder, even utter wild words, and no Ninja village has ever declared war with it.

If Shikamaru misunderstood that Anbe was sent by Tsunade's order, the consequences would be disastrous.

The time Tsunade spent with Shikamaru may not be as good as Asma, but he also understands his temperament very well. In my memory, the boy who is only 15 years old this year is simply a natural ninja, struggling in the ninja world Tsunade also had a period of low will and psychic fragility. At the same time as Tsunade, Jiraiya and Orochimaru, and even many famous figures in the ninja world, also experienced a lot of tempering before they had a prominent reputation and reputation. Amazing will, but Shikamaru is a ruthless character who has just stepped out of ninja school and dares to face Momochi again, so that his achievements in the ninja world in just a few years have left most ninjas beyond the reach.

Shikamaru's actions in the country of water did not reassure Tsunade much. Thinking about it carefully, being able to sever the relationship with Konoha Village where he lived since childhood, as well as the connection with family and friends, has already proved Shikamaru from the side. Tsunade's psychic determination is far beyond human comparison, and Shikamaru's recent movements also make Tsunade unable to guess his thoughts.

Internal and external troubles are the situation Tsunade is facing today. Outside the village, after the war with Hidden Sand Village, the alliance between the two countries is already in jeopardy. When it comes to military strength, Hidden Village is no less than Konoha, and relying on the opponent's military spending that is still slowly increasing year after year, it seems that it is not out of reach to surpass Konoha Village.There are also Taki Shinobi Village who always wants to regain its status, Iwagakure Village with an ambiguous attitude, the "Akatsuki" organization trying to capture Kyuubi, and Shikamaru with unknown intentions... These forces are more or less threatening Wooden For Ye's safety, even if there is no war caused by the masked man and "Akatsuki", the fragile balance of the ninja world may be broken at any time, thus triggering a war that spreads all over the world.

In this case, there is Shimura Danzo coveting the throne of Hokage in Konoha Village. In order to become Hokage, he will not hesitate to pry at the corner of Ninja Village.

Tsunade can no longer guarantee her own strength and can safely guard the safety of Konoha Village. She needs help from Jiraiya, who is also a "three ninjas". It can deter the villages from provoking at will, and test the attitude of Konoha Village. Even when Shikamaru really dares to return to the village, Jilai can also fight with Tsunade to defeat him.

Tsunade narrated his thoughts to Jiraiya. In the current form, even if Naruto Uzumaki's practice is suspended, Konoha's high-end force must be guaranteed.

"Will this matter spread out?" Jiraiya suddenly asked.

"No." Tsunade shook his head. Anbu's actions are secretive, and few people know the movements of this team. If Shimura Danzo spreads it, it shows his connection with this incident, he will not do it yet. As Hokage, Tsunade occupies a great reputation, which is not comparable to his elders, and there has been no news of that dark unit in the country where Shikamaru is located.

"That's good." Zilai also pressed his eyebrows and said in a low voice.

Tsunade understands what Jiraiya means. If this matter is made public, Tsunade will have no way out. Admitting that he is unfavorable to Anbu's control will plummet his reputation, otherwise it may attract Shikamaru's hatred and even push Shikamaru away To the opposite side of Konoha.

This might be a blessing in misfortune, Tsunade thought to himself.