eurekapd Chapter 247 Evening
Chapter 247 Evening
After finishing his training as usual and safely escorting the somewhat reluctant Satsuki back to the Uchiha clan compound, Naruto set off alone on his way back to his apartment.
At this moment, the streets of Konoha were bustling with activity at dusk. Pedestrians thronged the streets, and ninjas who had finished their missions walked in twos and threes toward izakayas and barbecue restaurants. Warm lights shone from the shops, and children chased and played in the open spaces. The entire village was enveloped in a peaceful and lively atmosphere.
As usual, during the latter half of Naruto's training, while Naruto was developing his own ninjutsu, Jiraiya made an excuse to slip away early. Right now, he's probably in some tavern, drinking and chatting with some newly met "female friends," getting quite drunk.
Naruto was already used to his future teacher's unreliable behavior.
As he walked down a relatively quiet street, his gaze was drawn to a scene ahead. Several children, who looked to be only about five years old, were gathered under a tree, their little faces upturned, staring blankly at a red balloon stuck in the branches, their expressions filled with anxiety.
The scene was just like a classic illustration in a school textbook used to teach that "helping others is a virtue"... Naruto made a small complaint in his mind, but he still walked over.
Under the children's astonished gazes, he simply leaped lightly and easily plucked the balloon from the treetop.
"Here you go, take it." He handed over the balloon.
The children received their balloons back, and their eyes lit up instantly as they looked at Naruto, filled with pure gratitude and admiration. They shouted in unison, "Thank you, Ninja brother!"
Naruto's face naturally broke into a gentle smile, and he was about to reply with "You're welcome"—
"Xiao Jian! Come here quickly!"
A hurried shout, clearly tinged with tension, interrupted him. Several adults who had been chatting nearby had obviously noticed the interaction and immediately rushed over, scooping up the child who was thanking Naruto and holding him tightly in their arms. It seemed they had just run into acquaintances and were engrossed in conversation, leaving the child to play for the time being.
The parents completely ignored the confused and bewildered looks their children were giving them. Their eyes were all fixed on Naruto, filled with undisguised wariness, apprehension, and even a hint of fear.
They said nothing, but holding the child, as if avoiding something ominous, they quickly turned around and disappeared around the street corner.
Here we go again...
Naruto slowly lowered his outstretched hand, the smile fading from his face. He simply scratched his blond hair in slight annoyance; he was already used to this kind of treatment.
Naruto even tried to find some solace in his own thoughts, thinking that these people were actually quite "polite" today. At least they just walked away quietly, unlike some others who would deliberately lower their voices and leave behind a disgusted "monster" or "demon fox" before leaving.
"Excuse me, miss, please don't go! But your heart... well... it really is as vast as mountains and rivers!"
"I've already told you I'm not that kind of woman! Get away from me, you old lecher!"
With a crisp "smack!", it seemed someone had received a solid slap. Naruto felt that the lewd voice sounded familiar, and looking in the direction of the sound, he saw an angry woman quickly leave, leaving behind a white-haired figure covering his face, reeking of alcohol, and staggering—it was Jiraiya.
"That old lecher..."
Naruto couldn't help but rub his forehead and mutter to himself. Jiraiya's eyes were glazed over, his cheeks flushed with the effects of alcohol, and he was swaying unsteadily, as if he would collapse to the ground at any moment.
"Oh! It's Naruto!" Jiraiya squinted, recognizing him, and let out a loud hiccup. "Training... finished? Hehehe, even if you're exceptionally talented... you're not allowed to slack off! Otherwise... this sage might have to... reconsider taking him on as a disciple!"
This was clearly drunken ramblings. Naruto quickly stepped forward and caught Jiraiya, who was about to collapse. Although the guy was behaving inappropriately, Naruto couldn't just leave him on the street.
"Yes, yes, I understand. Let's go, you perverted sage." Naruto said helplessly, putting one of Jiraiya's arms on his shoulder to support his heavy body, and moving step by step toward his small apartment.
Jiraiya leaned almost his entire weight on Naruto, staggering along while muttering incoherent drunken ramblings. He would occasionally burst into a tuneless song or boast about his past "great achievements."
Naruto could only struggle to support him, occasionally offering perfunctory "uh-huhs" and "ohs." Smelling the strong smell of alcohol around him and feeling the strain of supporting the drunkard, Naruto secretly rejoiced, realizing that deciding not to learn to drink was indeed a wise choice.
"Naruto...you brat...hiccup...you're strong enough, but still too green! You lack experience..." Jiraiya leaned half his body on Naruto's shoulder, waving his other hand drunkenly. "You know! Your grandpa Jiraiya...back in the day, I fought against that 'demigod' Hanzo of the Salamander! I was a true legendary ninja!"
"Yes, yes, you're the best." Naruto steadied the two of them as he reluctantly agreed.
"And another thing... the line of people who wanted to become my disciples could stretch from the entrance of Konoha Village to the Hokage Rock! You kid... don't be so ungrateful!" Jiraiya continued to boast, his tongue thick with pride, a hint of melancholy and arrogance creeping into his voice. "Do you know who my last disciple was? That was... the infamous Fourth Hokage!"
"Yes, yes, I know."
And so, listening to Jiraiya's drunken ramblings, Naruto finally managed to half-carry, half-drag him back to his small apartment. He had no idea where Jiraiya was currently staying in Konoha.
He settled the heavy Jiraiya on his not-so-spacious bed, took off his shoes, and covered him with a blanket. Jiraiya mumbled a few more incoherent words in his sleep on the pillow, and then loud snoring filled the entire room.
Looks like I'll have to sleep on the floor tonight. Naruto first tidied up the room quickly and quietly, then carefully moved the Pokémon egg to a more secure corner. He had already eaten dinner at Satsuki's house, and after washing up, he was ready to rest.
After changing into clean pajamas, he lay down on the makeshift bed and hugged the kitten doll dressed in a miniature Uchiha clan outfit that Zuo Yue had given him.
Accompanied by the rhythmic snoring coming from the bed beside him, Naruto slowly closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.