Chapter 27: Chapter 27
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As Ikeno was thinking, the system suddenly appeared at the perfect moment.
[Ding! A mission has been posted. The Host is to use his tailoring skills and give Naruto a birthday gift within two days]
Tailoring skills?
Ikeno had clearly forgotten about this ability.
What should I make for him...?
It's too much trouble, and I won't finish in time. I'll just make something simple.
With this thought, everything started to make sense...
At that moment, autumn rain began falling from the sky.
Ikeno couldn't help but hum to himself: "What should I do if it rains? I miss you so much..."
"Who are you thinking about?" Naruto asked, blinking in confusion.
"Haha, no one. By the way, Naruto, let me ask you—do you like Sakura?"
Ikeno decided to take this opportunity to enlighten him.
Naruto nodded excitedly.
"Sakura-chan, she's kawaii!"
Ikeno poured cold water on his excitement:
"It's a pity she doesn't like you, Naruto. A man should act like a man."
Naruto looked puzzled. "What does a man act like?"
Ikeno thought for a moment and said: "A man can be charming and attract attention, but he should never be a 'dog licker!'"
Ikeno then spent ten minutes explaining what a 'dog licker' was, citing numerous examples of the worst offenders.
"Remember, if you lick a dog, you'll get nothing in return!"
Naruto nodded with conviction.
"Right! I don't want to be a dog licker!"
"Good job!"
Soon, Naruto burst out laughing: "Sasuke is the biggest licker of all!"
…
"Sasuke? He's the King of Acting Cool, not some dog licker," Ikeno said in confusion.
Naruto teased, "He's licking you!"
Poof!
Ikeno almost spat out a nosebleed...
"Ahem, did you know there's a group of people with special traits called 'green tea b**ches'?"
Naruto looked bewildered.
"How can you tell who's a 'green tea' girl?"
Ikeno took out two umbrellas, opened them, and started teaching Naruto.
"Pay attention to their traits!"
"First, they're as beautiful as flowers—that's their capital."
"Second, they appear gentle and sweet but are actually quite fierce. They're violent and cute."
"Third, they have more male friends than female friends because girls can spot their type."
"Fourth, they always have backups, and like you, they naturally treat you like one..."
"Fifth, they exploit men's emotions, using tears and dramatic performances to make men willingly sacrifice for them."
He carefully explained each characteristic, without ever mentioning Sakura's name.
The reason he was enlightening Naruto so much was that he truly wanted to help him.
In truth, Ikeno had complicated feelings toward Sakura.
If he thought about it deeply, Sakura was actually an idealized woman—one who dared to love, hate, chase her dreams, and face challenges head-on.
But despite that, even if Ikeno accepted Orochimaru, he wouldn't get involved with Sakura...
By the time he was done explaining, Naruto finally slapped his forehead!
An epiphany!
"Ikeno, I understand! I understand everything now!"
Ikeno smiled happily.
"Then tell me, what do you understand?"
Naruto stood up, pointed at the distant lights, and yelled:
"Uchiha Sasuke—he's a green tea b**ch!"
Phew~~~
Ikeno nearly spit out blood for the second time.
"Alright, alright, go home quickly! I can't believe I'm impressed by you, Naruto..."
On their way back, Naruto kept asking about the gift, but Ikeno refused to tell him.
"Naruto, do you like Hinata?"
Naruto scratched his head. "Hmm, I don't really feel anything."
That's good...
As they passed by Ichiraku Ramen, Naruto stared longingly at the shop. Seeing this, Ikeno smiled and pulled him inside.
"Let's eat tonight—my treat!"
As he spoke, Ikeno suddenly remembered Hinata could eat 46 bowls of ramen.
If I ever run out of money in the future, I won't be able to support a big eater...
Naruto was overjoyed!
"Really? You have money? Where'd you get it from?"
Ikeno smiled mysteriously. "That's a secret!"
After their meal, both of them were stuffed.
As they passed a ninja shop, the owner spotted them.
"Hey! Ikeno! You big scammer! Stop right there!"
Ikeno stuck out his tongue and dragged Naruto into a wild run.
They didn't stop running until the owner's voice faded into the distance.
Naruto was confused. "Why is he chasing you? Did you steal something?"
Ikeno bonked Naruto on the head.
"Steal? Me? Never!"
He explained the situation, and Naruto burst into uncontrollable laughter.
It turned out that Ikeno had used Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu to sell hundreds of "shurikens" to the armor shop owner...
That's right!
The shurikens created by ninjutsu were real, but they wouldn't last forever.
When the shurikens suddenly disappeared after a short while, the shop owner was left furious!
As the two teens laughed together, an old figure appeared on the Hokage Rock.
Looking at the dimly lit Konoha in the distance, letting the rain fall on him, the Third Hokage stood there, deep in thought.
"The word Hokage... can these two boys truly bear its weight?"
The Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe, only to realize that the rain had soaked the tobacco.
"Can they carry the burden of Konoha's future? They're harmonious now, but what happens when their interests clash? Will they still be like brothers?"
The Third Hokage couldn't help but think of Danzo…
As the wind picked up, a masked man appeared.
He knelt and reported, "Lord Hokage, an emergency! There are unidentified ninjas at the border. They're not from Konoha."
The Third Hokage looked grave. "Oh?"
"According to intelligence from the ANBU, they're confirmed to be Cloud Shinobi."
"I see." The Third Hokage dismissed the man.
He was filled with suspicion.
"The Third Great Ninja War ended years ago. Why would they appear now, near the Land of Fire's borders?"
"Is it... because of Ikeno?"
He looked toward the northeast, gripping his pipe tightly, his withered hands trembling.
In the distance, the black clouds thickened.
Night fell, and the rain grew heavier.
The downpour drenched everything, creating confusion everywhere.
Suddenly, Ikeno's eyes snapped open!
"Crack!"
A sharp sound came from the window.
Ikeno sat up in the dark and activated his heightened perception.
"Tap... tap..."
The unmistakable sound of footsteps in the rain reached his ears.
At the same time, a shadow appeared in Naruto's courtyard.
Since being intimidated last time, and with the added pressure from the other elders, Tuan Zang had been lying low.
No more assassination attempts from the Root.
Even ANBU had reduced their night patrols.
"Could it be... Tuan Zang is at it again?"
Ikeno pulled out a giant shuriken from under his pillow and threw it decisively through the window.
Then he clapped his hands.
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
The shuriken multiplied into countless clones, gleaming coldly as they sliced through the rainy night.
At that moment!
A shadow leapt into the air.
"Pfft!"
The shadow groaned as he pulled a shuriken from his shoulder.
"Good thing I reacted quickly—no vital areas were hit."
The shadow was startled but impressed.
"That was the Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu! This kid... he's really powerful!"
But Ikeno had only one thought in his mind:
"Fame brings trouble, and strength brings challenges. Even the Eight-Tails and Orochimaru are starting to worry..."
He gathered chakra at his feet, jumped out of the window, and began his pursuit.
"I need to see who dares to come after me this time!"
Besides, Ikeno had been looking to collect some more bodies to level up his Resurrection Jutsu...
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