Chapter 046

From what Naruto recalled that same day from Shizune, Kiba was admitted into the hospital after being found heavily beaten and left unconscious at the hospital doors under mysterious circumstances. When Kiba was asked who attacked him, he said that he didn't have time to get a good look at them to identify his attackers. Naruto knew he was lying, but figured that for Kiba's own well being and health it was safe for him to plea amnesia. Though he fully recovered, Kiba made a mental note to never cross Hinata and Ino in any way that involved Naruto and would provoke that same result.

Later that same week, Naruto recalled, he remembered asking Kakashi for information about that particular crazy woman. Kakashi was tempted to tease him again about it, but Naruto said that he's seen the way she's been continuously mistreated by the villages for reason he couldn't understand. He told Kakashi that he heard many of the harsh and cruel names they called her, from 'Snake Whore,' 'Bitch Saddist,' 'Traitor,' 'Serpent,' the list goes on, though he could partly understand the serpent part to a degree. Naruto wanted to know why the villagers hated her so much though she's clearly a fellow Konoha nin like them. Naruto said that when he tried to approach her that day in order to get the information directly from her, Kiba pushed him into her which caused that incident to happen.

Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, Kakashi told Naruto some things he knew about her. He explained that her name is Mitarashi Anko, a Special Jounin in the interrogation department under Morino Ibiki's supervision, who happens to be another Special Jounin. The ANBU captain then explained that Anko was a former apprentice of Orochimaru, another worst and most hated traitor and Snake Sannin of Konoha who was caught doing horrific and illegal experimentations on fellow shinobis, men, women and children of Konoha, and on Anko as well.

He also told him that Orochimaru was seeking to unlock the secret to immortality, which was expressly taboo in the shinobi world. Those were among the many reasons why Orochimaru lost the candidacy in becoming Yondaime Hokage, Kakashi explained. Since Orochimaru's defect and disappearance from Konoha, Anko became among the most unpopular, hated and feared figures in the entire village and that only a hand full of people like Kurenai, Sandaime, himself and a few others see her as a fellow Konoha nin and not as a traitor or representation of Orochimaru.

Naruto couldn't help but feel bad about the type of life Anko is forced to live, even though Kakashi told him that she brushes everyone off and tells her harassers to piss off. Naruto made some attempts to befriend Anko, going as far as apologizing for the kiss incident, even though he did secretly enjoyed it and wouldn't openly admit it. At first, Anko found his offer of friendship as his idea of a joke since she remembered her encounter with Naruto that was still fresh in her memory; along with the fact that Kakashi and Ibiki teased her about it a few times much to her aggravation. However, she saw that he was being serious about being friends with her in spite of her reputation, which shocked her to no end since every parent in the village always pulled their children away from her as though she was the walking plague or a curse. Not wanting to lose the opportunity to at make another friend, Anko accepted on the basis that they were on starting on an acquaintance level.

Anko looked up from her plate of dangos and saw Naruto staring at her while he zoned out.

"What are you staring at, gaki," Anko smirked, causing Naruto to snap out his train of thoughts before he waving her good-bye and walking off to continue on his way to the academy.

While going on his way, he turned and looked back at the Hokage Monument that now had Tsunade's face on it, right next to Minato's. Ironic really, Naruto thought: father and mother, Yondaime and Godaime, side-by-side together in all their glory facing the city. Or that was supposed be the case had it not been for a certain incident.

(Flashback: A Week Ago)

Naruto was returning back to Konoha with Jiraiya after a three month absence. Three months ago, Tsunade signed an official document that was given to Iruka and the academy headmaster explaining Naruto's leave of absence and his return before the Genin exam. The document however didn't mention Naruto's training sessions with Jiraiya, but mentioned some special educating he was going to undergo outside of Konoha for a while. Though she was reluctant to let him leave however, she knew that it was for the best since he requested that he leave the village for a short while and see new things while continuing his training with Jiraiya.

Jiraiya and Naruto approached the two Jounins who standing at their post by the towering doors leading into the village. Naruto though notice that the Hokage Monument now had his mother's face on it. That was when a fox-like smile formed on his face.

"State your name and business here," the first Jounin said. Jiraiya snorted at this and said, "What do you mean? There are two of us standing in front of you guys and you both should know who we are by now."

"It's just protocols Jiraiya-sama," the second Jounin said, "But either your companion is invisible or he or she was sent to the next life."

Jiraiya tuned to see that Naruto was no longer with him.

"Damn! Where did that gaki disappear to?"

Jiraiya ran pass the jounin guards and started his search for Naruto. He at first though that he'd head for his favorite ramen stand Ichiraku; but he was surprised to see that he hadn't appeared there at all. Ayame (age 16) and her father Teuchi told Jiraiya to tell Naruto to come and greet them later after he was found.

(Later At The Hokage Tower)

Tsunade was in her office taking a break from her paperwork. Opening the draw of her desk, she pulled out a bottle of sake and a small cup and poured herself a drink. She was happy that her little Naru-chan was coming home today. Sure he kept in touch with her but that didn't replace the thought of seeing him in person and hugging him. She sipped her drink merrily…

"TSUNADE-SAMA!"

The Slug Sannin spewed her drink out before seeing Shizune and several other Jounins behind her rushing into the office.

"What is it," Tsunade barked loudly and indignantly.

"It's an emergency," Shizune said, "The Hokage Monument! Someone is vandalizing it in paint."

Sighing, Tsunade got up from off her seat and head out of the office to the roof of the Hokage tower with Shizune and the other Jounins following after her. Upon reaching outside, their ears came to hear loud fits of laughter coming from the villagers and other ninjas. Tsunade and Shizune with the other Jounins stood on the roof and looked over at the Hokage Monument to see what it was that got everyone in an uproar of laughter. Needless to say, the Godaime's eyes widened upon the seeing the condition the monument was now in.

Painted next to the face of Senju Hashirama, the Shodaime was a large graffiti of a Icha-Icha Paradise book with a hormonal half-naked kunoichi being chased by a horny half-dressed shinobi; this was followed by the face of the Shodaime being painted in way that made him appear to be scowling at the book. Senju Tobirama, the Nidaime, his face was painted in a way to make you think he was sweat-dropping at the sight of the book.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was painted in a way that made him the way he used to look like when he was much younger. However there was redness painted on his cheeks making it seem that he was blushing from the sight of the book as he looked away.

Namikaze Minato's face was painted in a fashion that made him look like he was annoyed at Hiruzen's facial expression.

Finally, Tsunade's face was painted beautifully making her look like an authentic geisha; however she was painted in a way to make her look completely appalled at the book.

The sight of the graffiti representing that adult series alone being painted at the side of the monument was enough to make Tsunade's blood boil. Hiruzen, who was also on the roof, was also cracking up with several others at the scene he was seeing; knowing only one person had the audacity to pull something like this off. The culprit of this offense, whose face was completely masked from sight, was still standing on the scaffold of the monument.

The offender boasted, "Am I not a genius of expression?!"

"You're in a world of trouble! That's what you're in," Tsunade loudly retorted before she ordered the Jounins to apprehend the culprit and bring him before her. Complying the Jounins went in pursuit of the culprit who suddenly took off his mask and revealed himself.

"NAARRUUUTTOOOO!," Tsunade yelled.

"Uh Oh," Naruto said as he speedily jumped off the scaffold and jumped from roof to roof the house near the monument before landing on the streets commencing a chase between him and the Jounins after him.

"Naruto," yelled one of the Jounins, "What the hell have you done!?"

"You're not going to get away with this!"

Naruto speedily started jumping from roof to roof as the Jounins continued yelling and chasing after him.

"Ha Ha! Oh shut the hell up already," Naruto said, "None of you and I mean no one can stoop to this level of low! But I can, 'cause I'm the greatest!"

The Jounins continued their pursuit, not realizing that Naruto gave them the slip with a camouflaging sheet.

"That was too easy," Naruto smiled brightly. However this was short lived when…

"OI GAAAKKIIIII!"

Naruto jumped and turned to see Jiraiya standing behind him with a serious expression.

"What was that for," Naruto barked, "Ero-jisan?!"

"You have an interesting way of announcing your return," Jiraiya retorted, before smiling lecherously, "Though I like the idea of you advertising my book for me, and on the Hokage Monument of all places! Gaki you have my utmost respects!"

"And my wrath to go along with it!"

Both Naruto and Jiraiya turned to see a fuming Tsunade running after them at lightning speed.

"OH CRAP!," Naruto and Jiraiya panicked before running away from her in fear for their safety.

(End Flashback)

Luckily the monument didn't need any actual clean up since it turned out that the paints Naruto used were vanishing paints that would only last for two hours before completely crumpling away, returning the monument back to its original glory. In spite of this, Tsunade had Naruto clean the side of the monument that had her face on it. She was upset that Naruto pulled such a juvenile stunt and not allowing her to give him the 'welcome back' she wanted to give him. Still, she was happy that Naruto came back from his absence unharmed and in one piece. Jiraiya though had to hide from Tsunade for a while since she wanted to inflict some serious injuries on him for 'corrupting' her son and making him into a pervert.

Hiruzen and many others though thought that the stunt Naruto pulled was a well needed prank since the village had been awfully quiet and a bit dull without his mischief going around giving everyone something to laugh and cheer at. It also served to scrutinize their security seeing how Naruto was able to pull off such a major prank right under their noses without alerting everyone that he was back.

Naruto, finally realizing that he was going to be late, now started running to the academy.

(At The Academy)

Shikamaru, Kiba, Sakura and everyone else were already there as Iruka started the session. He looked around and saw that everyone was accounted for, everyone but one person.

"You'd think that as rookie of the year he'd be here first if not on time for something as important as this," Iruka said, "Where is Naruto?"

As if on cue the door open and closed behind the boy who entered the class.

"Hey Iruka-sensei," Naruto greeted, "Sorry I'm late. I lost my way on memory lane."

He's becoming as tacky as Kakashi, Iruka thought before studying Naruto's new appearance like everyone else. Needless to say, the Chuunin was shocked at how Naruto now looks like, or more like who Naruto now looks like.

.

.

.

.

👀The novel is available in PDF, visit my Patreon store👀

🚬Patreon.com/BlackGoku222🚬