Naruto: Start By Punching Trees And Shocking Kurama!

The battle lasted for a long time, and the two didn't return until late at night.

During this period, no matter how much Naruto provoked or beat Sasuke, this kid just refused to awaken his Mangekyo.

This left Sasuke absolutely furious… so much so that he refused to say a single word to Naruto afterward.

In the end, it wasn't until Naruto swore he wouldn't spread any embarrassing stories about him that Sasuke finally calmed down a little. Naruto even healed him before they left.

Before parting ways, Sasuke muttered something about going back to kill Orochimaru.

'It seems like this guy had genuinely developed murderous intent toward Uncle Snake.'

However, he said he would wait for Orochimaru to summon the Shinigami before taking action.

After seeing Sasuke off, Naruto waited a while longer for Jiraiya before the two of them opened a portal to return.

The only difference is that they returned to Konoha Village instead of Mount Myoboku.

"Why are we back in Konoha?"

Naruto glanced up at Jiraiya, confusion written all over his face.

"I need to talk to Tsunade..."

"Orochimaru said he'd come back with me as long as I can convince her."

Naruto: "…"

Jiraiya grinned like an idiot, and his silly look left Naruto speechless.

'Is there even the slightest chance...'

'That Orochimaru is just messing with you?'

Naruto was pretty sure that if Jiraiya dared bring this up to Tsunade, Tsunade would beat the old man so badly he wouldn't be able to get out of bed for three days.

"Naruto?"

"Weren't you supposed to be training at Mount Myoboku Mountain?"

"Why are you back already?"

At this time, Sakura and Shikamaru walked over. Naruto almost couldn't help but go to Sakura to complain, but when he saw the attire of the two, they obviously were planning to go out of the village to complete a mission.

'Weird…'

'Can Tsunade really let Sakura-Bro leave the village without worry?'

Thinking of this, Naruto looked at the two of them and asked, "Just came back to check on things."

"You guys got a mission?"

Shikamaru, lazily chewing on a toothpick, didn't bother answering. Sakura clenched her fist and lightly waved it as she explained, "Well, there's a C-Rank mission this time."

"We've been hired to find a missing ferret."

The moment Naruto heard the keyword, Naruto's eyes widened and he leaned back slightly.

'This is a plot mission!!'

'Ferret = Gelel's Stone!'

And looking at the two assigned to the mission, Sakura and Shikamaru...

Naruto was now 100% certain he'd stumbled upon his second side quest.

But...

He had a feeling Tsunade was about to get another headache.

After all, that villain Haido kept spouting nonsense about building an 'Utopia', but in reality, he was plotting to start a war.

'Hmm…'

'Come to think of it, wasn't that guy also a creepy uncle who liked kidnapping kids?'

"I'm coming too."

"No."

Shikamaru crossed his arms, his whole body filled with resistance.

Just having Sakura on this mission was already giving him a headache. If Naruto is added, this C-Rank mission would definitely escalate to S-Rank.

And he really didn't want to imagine what would happen if two people with world-destroying tendencies teamed up.

"Shikamaru! You're being unfair!"

"I even let Temari come back with you."

"You can't say no to such a small request!"

"Besides, what could possibly go wrong with just finding a lost animal?"

Naruto's voice faltered slightly toward the end, and he couldn't even look Shikamaru in the eye.

But he was pretty sure nothing serious would happen this time.

A minor early-game boss like this wouldn't even require Kurama's help, and he could handle it easily.

"Fine, you can come..."

"But you must get Hokage-sama's approval."

Bang…

The moment Shikamaru finished speaking, a loud crash echoed nearby. The three of them turned just in time to see a certain white-haired man getting launched out of the Hokage's Office.

"Tsunade!"

"I swear I'll bring Orochimaru back…"

Jiraiya in the air shouted in grief and anger, his figure gradually disappearing into the distance.

"Uh… never mind."

"I think our Hokage in a bad mood right now. Maybe we shouldn't bother her?"

Watching his own teacher get thrown out of the window, Naruto wasn't about to go knocking on Tsunade's door.

"Let's just go!"

"We don't actually need Hokage's permission."

"Even if she says no, I'll still follow you guys."

"Shikamaru... what are you going to do about it, huh?"

Hearing Naruto's shameless logic, Shikamaru covered his face and sighed.

'Great…'

'Now you are being a scoundrel.'

"Forget it, let's go together."

"But you two have to promise to follow my orders and not cause any trouble."

Sakura: "???"

'Wait…?'

'Shikamaru, if you're going to call out Naruto, why drag me into this?!'

'What happened last time was just an accident!!!'

'Why are the people in the village still bringing that up?'

"Don't worry!"

"I definitely won't cause trouble!"

Naruto stood at attention and put on his best well-behaved expression, which only made Shikamaru even more frightened.

'Sigh…'

'Please just let this mission go smoothly.'

'Finding a lost animal shouldn't cause much trouble, right?'

When Naruto saw that Shikamaru agreed, Naruto left a shadow clone behind to find Jiraiya while his main body followed Shikamaru and Sakura out of the village.

Half a day later...

The moment Naruto caught the ferret, Shikamaru's tense heart finally relaxed.

'Thank goodness!'

'The mission was finally completed smoothly!'

The ferret licked Naruto's fingers before nimbly leaping onto his shoulder, curling up slightly and transforming into a fur scarf on the spot.

"Naruto, it looks like this guy likes you very much."

Sakura couldn't help but feel envious when he saw this.

After all, what little girl can resist such a cute little animal?

"Alright, let's go find the client."

Shikamaru pulled out a map and hurriedly interrupted their conversation.

Right now, all he wanted was to finish the mission and get back to the village.

Because he always had a bad feeling in his heart.

Suddenly, a fat man in armor appeared behind Shikamaru, swinging a flail-like weapon straight at him.

Boom…

"Shikamaru, move!!"

Naruto, who had been waiting for this moment, shouted a warning before instantly intercepting the attack. Then, raised his foot and kicked the guy ten meters away.

The two people who finally reacted looked at the distance in shock.

"I KNEW IT!!"

Shikamaru looked at Naruto, then at Sakura, and he was on the verge of a mental breakdown.

Although he didn't know who attacked them, judging by their armor and weapons...

Big guys… armor...

He had every reason to suspect they were from the Cult Mechanicus or the Scientific Truth Society!

"Did you two get into trouble outside again?"

"Are these guys from the Scientific Truth Society or the Cult Mechanicus?"

Shikamaru sighed and pulled out his kunai.

At this point, he had no choice but to accept reality.

"Not the Cult Mechanicus!"

"Not the Scientific Truth Society!"

The two former cult leaders immediately protested in unison.

Both Naruto and Sakura felt extremely wronged.

'Damn it!'

'Since when did this guys fit the aesthetic of Cult Mechanicus/Scientific Truth Society!?'

Shikamaru: "???"

After hearing what the two said, Shikamaru was momentarily stunned and the expression on his face kept changing.

'No way...'

'Is there seriously a third evil cult in the Shinobi World now???'

Rustle…

From the bushes, several more black-armored giants emerged, their heavy footsteps shaking the ground as they advanced toward the group of three.

Without any conversation, they rushed towards the three people with their helmets flashing red.

"Come on!"

"Let me show you the power of Ip Naruto!"

"Shikamaru! Sakura-Bro, don't interfere!"

"I'm going to fight ten today!"

Hearing Naruto's arrogant declaration, Shikamaru stopped forming hand seal and Sakura also lowered her Scientific Ninja Tool.