blogombal Chapter 471 Jiraiya: The outside world is dangerous!
Chapter 471 Jiraiya: The outside world is dangerous!
Chapter 471 Jiraiya: The outside world is dangerous!
"I'm going to the Land of Stars!!"
Naruto's resounding words, imbued with all his determination, exploded like thunder in the forest clearing, startling a few birds perched on the treetops in the distance.
After that, the woodland fell into a deathly silence.
Jiraiya's smile froze.
"What nonsense are you spouting, you brat?!"
Jiraiya suddenly bent down, his large, fan-like hand whistling through the air, and covered Naruto's mouth!
"Ugh! Ugh ugh ugh!!" Naruto was caught off guard by being suffocated and could only make muffled protests. He waved his hands wildly, trying to pry open Jiraiya's iron-like hands. His blue eyes were full of confusion and dissatisfaction.
Did I say something wrong?
"Ugh! What are you doing, you perverted sage! Let go of me!" Naruto struggled to break free from Jiraiya's grasp, jumped back a step, rubbed his sore mouth, and glared at Jiraiya with a look of confusion and anger.
"I just want to find Menma and get some answers!"
"Listen, Naruto!" Jiraiya's usual playful demeanor vanished. His expression turned serious. He placed his hands on Naruto's shoulders, bent down to bring his gaze level with Naruto's, and said, word by word, "A ninja who leaves the village without official mission permission and without the village's approval is committing 'desertion'!"
"That's a serious crime! It'll get you branded a rogue ninja and hunted down by the entire village! Didn't you learn these basic ninja rules at the ninja academy?!"
"Defect? Defect?" Naruto blinked. He had certainly heard of this word before, but he never thought it would be associated with him.
In his mind, he just wanted to find a friend and ask a question that had been on his mind for a long time.
As for the ninja academy?
He spent most of his class time either causing trouble, playing pranks, or dozing off, dreaming of becoming Hokage. He didn't pay any attention to those boring rules and regulations.
Only now, after being pointed out so sternly by Jiraiya, did he vaguely realize the seriousness of the matter, but he didn't actually have a clear understanding of just how serious it was.
Seeing Naruto's expression, which was first blank and then confused, Jiraiya helplessly slapped his forehead.
"I knew it—you must not have been paying attention in class!" Jiraiya felt a headache coming on.
Teaching a disciple who is exceptionally gifted but has almost no basic common sense is more tiring than fighting Orochimaru.
He took a deep breath, trying to soften his tone: "Anyway, listen to me carefully, Naruto! Leaving the village without permission is absolutely forbidden, that's an ironclad rule! Especially now—the village won't allow you to leave at will."
He paused, avoiding using sensitive terms like "Nine-Tails Jinchuriki".
"Furthermore, the outside world is far more dangerous and complex than you imagine. With your current strength, leaving Konoha's protection and acting alone is far too dangerous."
Jiraiya's words were like a bucket of cold water poured on Naruto's feverish head.
But the light in Naruto's eyes dimmed only for a moment before a new flame ignited within them.
"The outside world?" Naruto raised his head, his azure eyes staring directly at Jiraiya, filled with longing for the outside world and an almost stubborn insistence.
"Apart from my trip to the Land of Waves, I've never left Konoha, not even once! Perverted Sage, you travel so much, you must have seen a lot of things happening outside the village, right?"
"The Land of Stars—what is it like? Menma is there, and what has become of him? I—I want to see it with my own eyes, and ask him myself!"
His voice carried an earnestness that was impossible to ignore.
This earnestness stirred something within Jiraiya.
He saw in Naruto's eyes the curiosity about the outside world and the pursuit of answers about bonds, which was so similar to his own feelings when he was young, embarking on a journey to find the "Child of Prophecy" and to understand the truth of this world.
But it is precisely because he has experienced it that he knows how cruel the outside world is.
He couldn't, and dared not, let Naruto step out so rashly.
Naruto looked at Jiraiya's silent and solemn face, a glimmer of hope suddenly flashing in his eyes. He clasped his hands together, leaned forward, and said in a tone that was both pleading and unreasonable, "Hey, you perverted sage! Will you take me with you? You're so strong, and you're one of the legendary Sannin. With you there, it'll definitely be fine!"
"Let's go to the Land of Stars together to find Menma!"
"Misunderstanding? Me? Take you with me?" Jiraiya was taken aback by Naruto's abrupt change of thought and his sudden suggestion.
Take Naruto to the Land of Stars?
Are you kidding me!
Three years ago, out of curiosity and wariness of Shura, he took a not-so-short trip to the Star Kingdom.
That experience completely overturned many of his preconceived notions.
He saw a world completely different from the old ninja world order centered on ninja villages and nations.
There were no lofty and powerful figures there, nor were there clear-cut distinctions between commoners and nobles.
Advanced scientific tools, too advanced for him to comprehend, were widely used in infrastructure and daily life, bringing about a prosperous economy. The efficient, almost ruthless, administrative system contrasted sharply with the relatively calm and even hopeful expressions on the faces of ordinary people.
Powerful ninjas were no longer tools of war separate from ordinary people, but rather integrated into that new system, playing the role of maintainers and builders.
He also tried to understand the roots of the country's rise in just a few years, but to no avail.
He also knew that Orochimaru, that dangerous guy, seemed to have already established some kind of connection with the Land of Stars and Shura, and was conducting those forbidden studies under the protection of the Land of Stars.
It was a new world full of vitality and change, but also rife with the unknown and potential threats.
Its existence, its philosophy, and its development model are fundamentally in conflict with the "old order" that Jiraiya upholds and the path of peace that he believes in.
He felt instinctively uneasy, yet he had to admit that certain aspects of that country were indeed attractive, and—
It's terrifying.
Let him take the initiative to lead Naruto, the "Child of Prophecy" he has chosen, into that place.
No, absolutely not!
"No, no! That's too much trouble!" Jiraiya shook his head vigorously, crossed his arms in front of his chest, and tried to change the subject in an exaggerated tone.
"Do you know how far it is from the Land of Fire to the Land of Stars? We have to cross several countries! We'll be exposed to the elements and face countless dangers along the way! Besides, I'm very busy! I have new novel ideas to capture and important research missions to undertake—I don't have time to go on a silly trip with you to such a faraway place!"
As he spoke, his eyes darted around, clearly trying to find an excuse.
Seeing Naruto staring at him suspiciously, seemingly unconvinced, Jiraiya's eyes darted around, and suddenly he clenched his right fist and slammed it onto his left palm, his face instantly switching to a lewd expression.
"Ah! That's right! I remember now!" Jiraiya slapped his forehead, his voice suddenly rising, as if he had discovered something of great importance.
"I heard that the new hot spring shop that just opened on the east street of the village is having a 50% discount all day to celebrate! There must be tons of pretty young ladies enjoying it right now! This is a golden opportunity to gather inspiration! We absolutely can't miss it!"
He became more and more excited as he spoke, his eyes almost turning into hearts, and his mouth stretching to his ears, as if he could already see the graceful figures of beautiful women in the misty hot spring pool.
His demeanor was completely different from the serious and admonishing image he had just projected towards Naruto.
"Huh???" Naruto looked at Jiraiya, whose expression had changed instantly and whose mind was only focused on gathering material. A huge tic appeared on his forehead, and his fist hardened.
That unreliable, lecherous immortal!
Thinking about all sorts of random things again!
"Ahem!" Perhaps realizing he had overacted a bit, or perhaps because Naruto's disdainful gaze was too irritating, Jiraiya coughed twice, toned down his lewd expression, and put on a serious elder's face, patting Naruto on the shoulder.
"In short, you've made a breakthrough in your training today, mastering the ability to cast Rasengan with one hand. That's something to celebrate!"
"Even spiritual practice requires a balance of activity and rest, so you're granted a day off today!"
Jiraiya solemnly announced, "Go back early, take a hot bath, get some rest, and relax your muscles. We'll start our summoning jutsu training again tomorrow! I'm heading out now; I have an important research mission!"
Before he could finish speaking, Jiraiya's figure turned into a puff of white smoke with a "bang" and disappeared from Naruto's sight in an instant.
Only a few fallen leaves, swirled up by the ninjutsu's energy, remained, slowly drifting down.
."
Naruto remained frozen in place, mouth slightly agape and fists clenched, for several seconds before suddenly jumping up and shouting angrily, "Damn it!! You perverted sage, you big lecher! You irresponsible bastard!!!"
His roar echoed across the empty training field, but received no response. Only the gradually setting sun cast his long shadow.
Naruto stood with his hands on his hips, his chest heaving violently.
The lecherous immortal was clearly just brushing him off and changing the subject.
What do you mean by not being allowed to leave the village? What do you mean by danger outside? What do you mean by being too busy?
They're all just excuses!
He just didn't want to take me with him!
"Hmph! If you don't take me, I'll—I'll—" Naruto gritted his teeth, his mind racing.
Go secretly by yourself?
But the lecherous immortal said that leaving the village without permission is desertion, and it seems really dangerous outside, plus I don't even know the way. But...
The thought of Menma made Naruto feel a tightness in his chest.
He absolutely had to find out!
must!
"Forget it! I don't want to think about it anymore!" Naruto shook his head vigorously, temporarily putting aside his irritable emotions.
He looked around the training ground and then felt the still relatively abundant chakra within his body.
"The perverted sage says he'll give us a vacation? No way!" Naruto clenched his fists, his eyes sharpening again.
"I've mastered the Rasengan, but I'm not proficient enough! I can reduce chakra consumption further and increase the chakra gathering speed! The power—maybe—can be even greater!"
Just do it.
Naruto immediately used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique to create hundreds of shadow clones.
"Everyone! Let's continue our training!"
"Yoshi! Everyone, do your best!"
"Alright! Let's cultivate!"
Hundreds of shadow clones roared and rubbed their hands together, throwing themselves into frenzied cultivation.