Konoha, the Land of Fire
November 18, 61
3: 20 in the morning
Fog,
Heavy fog
Youjiwei ran in front,
Shikaku Nara chased after him. Neither of them were young men, and they were panting a little.
Finally,
Someone stopped first. It was Youjiwei. Actually, he could still run a little longer,
But he was afraid of dragging the important civilian behind him who was negligent in exercise to death. After all, since two hours ago,
After he was blocked at the office door,
That guy was like a shadow that couldn't be shaken off,
"You're simply acting shamelessly."
"Shameless." Shikaku Nara leaned on his knees and breathed heavily,
He couldn't find a shadow in the heavy fog. He really couldn't use any tricks to run with his legs,
"Ha, as long as it can solve the problem."
"Solve the problem? What exactly did you do to make you so nervous? "
Shikaku saw that Youjiwei was finally willing to listen to him. How could he let go of this opportunity,
"I know you've always hated me. But we've known each other since we were young. Even if you and I have never had any friendship, we've actually fought side by side for most of our lives. I also admit that many times, I'm scheming and like to give my brothers the blame. I'm indeed annoying and not worth entrusting. But after so many years of wind and rain, my loyalty to Konoha is always unquestionable. "
"..."
"And..,
You can't deny it,
I'm a high-ranking person,
As one of the leaders of the village,
Do I have the time to joke with you? "
"..."
"Don't think I'm ridiculous. Haven't Konoha made enough jokes over the years?" Shikaku Nara rubbed the scar on his forehead. "It can't be that a group of idiots held hands and swept through half of the ninja world, right?"
Zhiwei found Shikaku's words funny, but he still suppressed his sense of humor, curiosity, and natural reaction to Shikaku's "Understanding with Emotion". He is 40 years old this year. No matter how stupid a person is, he has seen a lot of things, so he always has some experience. When dealing with smart people like Shikaku Nara, if you don't have to listen to them, then don't listen to them. If you have to listen, then don't casually answer.
But regardless of whether there was a response or not, for the current Shikaku, being able to speak was a victory. "You haven't spent much time in Konoha these years. There are some situations that you don't know enough. Let's put it this way. You've seen Minato sitting in front of the memorial tablet crying and laughing. Plus, he's always hugging Chino's photo and talking non-stop. Do you think this is what a normal person should do? "
"..."
"When Kina died, you weren't in Konoha. If you were in Konoha, you would know. Watergate was indeed mentally traumatized during that time. Many people can prove that this is not a joke."
"..."
"He had insomnia and often couldn't sleep for many days. Later, when the medical ninja asked him, he said that he saw a dead person and pointed it out to everyone. But except for himself, no one really saw it.
Zhiwei swallowed his saliva. "I didn't believe it before, but there was indeed something in the place where White Fang died, and there was also something in the place where Kina died. The bugs are reacting. They've formed a human shape, right in front of me. "
"Is that so?" Shikaku Nara frowned slightly, but soon he snorted. "Then you still didn't see anything."
"But there's still something." Every time Zhiwei thought about walking into White Fang's bedroom with Watergate, he felt cold all over. "That person died at home. It's fine if no one lived in Qimu's old house before, but now someone lives there again. It's good to get a psychic medium to take a look. There really are two feet, the same size as White Fang's shoes. Watergate said that the person was standing there."
Shikaku Nara growled in a low voice as if he had expected better from him. "You're scared by just two feet! Believe it or not, I can think of a hundred ways to let your insects surround whoever they want without anyone knowing. “
"But Watergate wouldn't do such a stupid thing!"
"Of course he wouldn't do it when he's conscious, but what about when he's not conscious? Sometimes he can't even remember what he does when he's not conscious. "
Zhiwei pursed his lips.
Shikaku sighed. "I'm not trying to scare you. Do you know why Naruto asked Jiraiya to come back when he was three years old and stay with Minato for half a year? Because Kakashi saw Watergate strangling Naruto's neck. If he had been a little later, he wouldn't be here now. Do you still think there's nothing wrong with that? "
"You said it yourself, that was ten years ago." Zhiwei straightened his neck. "At least the Watergate I've seen has no major problems except that he always changes his mind."
"That's because you don't spend much time with him!" Shikaku seemed to be a little agitated. "What kind of place do you think Konoha is? Do you know how difficult it is to achieve what you have now with Konoha's conditions? Do you know how many days Watergate could only sleep for an hour when he was the busiest? Why do you think you can have a smooth sailing most of the time outside? Do you know what it's like to walk a tightrope for the entire decision-making level of Konoha for more than ten years? Do you know how much pressure it is to face the possibility of losing everything every time you give an order? I feel like every day is a year when I'm only in charge of one department, let alone Naruto. "
Zhiwei calmed down at this moment. Countless lessons taught him that when smart people like Shikaku get agitated, he must remember not to think that they are really venting their emotions. They just want you to follow their emotions and forget the previous point. So, ignore the conclusion that the Intelligence Minister tried to instill in you that "Watergate is abnormal," and you can easily find the key. "But what I see is that you don't want to see the living communicate with the dead. You're so determined that you don't want to see the living communicate with the dead. You're so determined that you don't want to leave even the slightest chance. So, what exactly is it, the dead know, but Watergate doesn't know. "
Shikaku Nara looked at the reflection on Youjiwei's small sunglasses and couldn't help but twitch his eyelids. "Of course, it's for Watergate and Konoha, and even for the entire ninja world."
"You make it sound so serious." Zhiwei was glad that one day he could take the initiative to talk to smart people. "We were only in our teens when Shukaku senpai died, so it probably doesn't involve much. So, are you afraid of Kina? Yes, a woman who died vaguely. You're so afraid, is there something Watergate doesn't know about that you're involved in it? That's right. If it weren't for the fact that you're closely related to me, people like you would at most talk big and wouldn't charge into battle like you did today. "
"…" For the first time in his life, Shikaku felt that Hiroyuki Yamanaka's advice to him was reasonable. Wisdom can't solve everything. But a certain truth is not everything. So Shikaku stared at Zhiwei with a more serious expression, and said word by word, "If you find a psychic for Watergate who can really communicate with the dead, I bet my head that our Four Generations, Naruto, Golden Flash, and Bo Fung Watergate, may not live until next spring."
"Bang!"
Shikaku rubbed the bleeding corner of his mouth and spat out half a tooth. "When there is no evidence to prove that Watergate's imagination is imagination, no matter what we say, Watergate will choose to believe that it is Kina's soul. It's good to have a ghost. Living in different times, but dying in the same place, there is still hope. At the same time, there is not enough evidence to prove that the dead person he saw was not an illusion. Then Watergate's hope of being together after death will become: Although we can be together after death, we can't die so easily. Before things are cleared up, if the wrong person dies, he won't even have the hope of being together after death. So, do you understand what it means to be a psychic? The point is, if everything he expects is just a pure imagination, an illusion, what will Watergate do? Or if it is proven that it is not an illusion, and that it is a dead person, what will Watergate do?
"…"
"In fact, it is not difficult to find some evidence. Then tell me, why did everyone tell Watergate that it is an illusion all these years, but didn't give him any evidence? If Bo Fung Watergate is an ordinary person, as a friend, we will dissuade and support him. But Bo Fung Watergate is not an ordinary person. He is Naruto of Konoha. He is even in fact the guardian of the entire Fire Country. Why do you think it is Konoha? What is Naruto? What country?
Youjiwei couldn't help but lick his lips. Konoha is not a kindergarten child playing house, Naruto is not a school class monitor, and the country is not a zoo. Besides, the world will not allow them to play like this.
Shikaku Nara patted Zhiwei's arm. "Think about it carefully. Why? You just casually glanced at the information about psychics when you are handling official business, and I can find you? Even if I am the head of intelligence in Konoha, no matter how long my reach is, this efficiency is too high. "
"…"
"Back then, Fugaku was also curious about my efficiency. I only told him that the highest level of surveillance is to prevent problems before they happen." Shikaku chuckled. "But you, I can make it clear to you, lest you misunderstand that I planted someone around you. As an intelligence officer, it is not too much to prepare for someone as important as Naruto. I have suffered a lot in this aspect before, and Watergate has also suffered a lot because of me. But now, I have a lot of emergency plans here. If there is something unexpected, I can only act according to the situation. But as long as it has happened before, and I can think of it, I have turned them into keywords. This time, you have triggered the keywords I set up. "
"…"
"But that is just a small detail." Shikaku sighed. "Zhiwei, the point is, Watergate has worked so hard for so long. He did not dare to rest for a moment and led everyone to fight for 15 years. He gave almost everything to achieve this good result. And what is all this for? Watergate is a great hero. Of course, he has a lot of noble ideas. But no matter how noble his ideas are, who will benefit in the end? "
"Children."
"Ha, it is your son, my son." Shikaku chided softly. "That is why we have no regrets when we put our lives on the line. Watergate is the same. Naruto is not his goal, but Naruto is his motivation. If there is no Naruto in the beautiful future he envisions, what do you think Watergate will do? Fortunately, he has now seen Naruto grow up healthily and happily. In a few years, he can also see Naruto fall in love, get married, have his own children and even grandchildren … In the end, how good would it be for the whole family to live happily with Watergate for the rest of his life? So why do you have to let a dead person destroy these hard-won happiness? People have to look forward when they live. "
"But." Zhiwei knew that he was inevitably hooked. Yes, it had happened before. So what if he knew now? Between the happiness that was within reach and the irreversible past, a rational person would know which to choose. But Zhiwei was still upset, and he hated Shikaku Nara even more.
Shikaku patted Zhiwei on the shoulder. "If Watergate is still alone after a happy life with many children and grandchildren, then it is okay to return him to Kina. Anyway, Kina is already dead. He can wait for a year or a hundred years. "
…
"So you convinced Zhiwei just like that?"
Konoha, November 18, 61
4: 45 p.m.
Hiroyuki Yamanaka's house
Hiroyuki Yamanaka's bedroom
The sky was still dark, and the lights were not on.
"Do I really have to tell that idiot about Kina's messy account? Our third generation head's gag order is not a joke. Moreover, he wouldn't be able to understand things that are too complicated. Otherwise, Minato wouldn't have transferred him and Ding Zuo outside with the reason that 'those who want to kill people should kill people'. " Shikaku Nara poured himself a glass of water in the dark and gulped it down. "So as long as I help Zhiwei analyze that this is good for Watergate and everyone, it will not only hurt everyone, but also Watergate. Then he will choose for himself. "
"Tsk." Hiroyuki Yamanaka, who was lying under the blanket, took a breath and yawned.
Shikaku continued to pour water for himself and continued, "And look at him, wearing small sunglasses, wrapped in a big trench coat, and a straight face, afraid that others will see through him. Although I look down on his tricks, I admit that he passed. But don't forget, Watergate was his class monitor when he was in school, and he was his captain when he graduated. With his disguise, what's the difference between telling him and telling Watergate directly? "
"Heh, you really dare to say that." Hiroyuki Yamanaka rubbed his eyes. "If Zhiwei is really as bad as you say, why don't you not even tell him? Just let him find psychic mediums who are always scammers from National capital."
"Heh, I'm just afraid that Watergate will see through me." Shikaku put down the cup and burped. "Watergate hates it when people test him, and I've tested him a total of three times this year. I can't wait to coax him. So some things are better left to Zhiwei to persuade him. "
"Sigh." Hiroyuki Yamanaka sighed.
"Sigh." Shikaku also sighed, kicked off his shoes, and climbed into bed. "It's still early. Lend me half of the blanket to lie down. The cold wind tonight is making my head hurt."
Hiroyuki lifted the blanket and let Shikaku in. "Do you want painkillers?"
"I already took them when I drank water." Shikaku lay down and closed his eyes.
At this time, Hiroyuki noticed that half of Shikaku's face was swollen. "Did you hit Zhiwei?"
"In the face of a pure slasher gang, I'm afraid that I can't avoid it as an office worker, so I just let him hit me." Shikaku was vague. "Why did he have to hit my face? How am I going to explain it to my wife when I get home tomorrow?"
"You accompanied me in my morning exercise. You didn't dare to hurt me, so you didn't avoid it." Hiroyuki said without hesitation.
Shikaku also didn't hesitate. He was glad that he had such a friend, but after thinking about it, he felt that something was wrong. "Hey, Hiroyuki, I suddenly realized that you, who always have a good reputation and are widely respected, are also a liar."
"There's no conflict between convincing people with reason and talking nonsense with a straight face." Hiroyuki sighed again. "Didn't you not sleep all night and have a headache?"
"Yes, but I can't sleep."
"What's wrong? Did the kind villain in your head hit your head with a small hammer? "
Shikaku breathed evenly as if he was really going to fall asleep, but in the end, he felt that he still needed a little support. "Hiroyuki, I mean, what if what Watergate saw wasn't an illusion …"
Hiroyuki understood what he meant. "Don't worry, Watergate doesn't have the courage to find a psychic medium a second time. It can't be confirmed the first time, but the next time will be at least a few years later. Watergate is also afraid. Whether it's an illusion or the real Kina, he knows very well that he will be the one suffering in the end. "
"What if it's really Kina, and Watergate talks to her? That woman loves to gossip and is always good at exaggerating things a little. "
"Ah." Hiroyuki opened his eyes and smiled. "At that time, who do you think will die first, Watergate or Konoha?"
"I think the first to die will definitely be me — I'll just slit my own throat and turn into a ghost. And I'd rather go to hell and have my soul scattered than become a wandering ghost. "
"Then what are you afraid of?"
"I'm afraid I won't be able to bear it when the time comes." Shikaku also opened his eyes. "I have such a good wife and son. Really, I don't want to hug my chubby wife in the cold, but I'm actually sharing a bed with a skinny old man like you. "
"Please call me uncle who keeps a good figure. And you're wearing clothes, I'm only wearing a pair of pajama pants. Don't take my blanket, thank you."
"Hey, stop pulling. If Little Infield comes in, we won't be able to explain ourselves even if we have hundreds of mouths."
"Infield will understand his old father who has been single for many years, but it's hard to say if you'll still be able to enter the house."
And so, the sun was rising, and the fog was even whiter.
Morning, 6: 15 a.m.
Fire Nation, Konoha Naruto Building
Naruto's Office
Bo Fung Watergate pushed open the large floor-to-ceiling window and looked at the foggy Konoha. He took a deep breath and then coughed non-stop.
Shisui, who was folding his blanket in the lounge, hurried over to help him pat his back and then motioned for his subordinate to close the window. "My lord, that's fog."
"It doesn't stop me from waking up early to take a deep breath. It's a good habit." Watergate smiled brightly.
But Shisui was more concerned about whether his work partner was hungry or not. "My lord, what do you want for breakfast?"
"Since you woke up early today, let's make it a little more sumptuous."
Shisui nodded and gave his subordinate a look, then continued folding his blanket. He felt that the leader of the Four Generations seemed to be in a good mood today.
Watergate also felt that he was in a good mood today. He drank warm water while casually flipping through the reports. The report from the intelligence department put Naruto's news at the top as usual. "Well, yesterday was the first day that Naruto arrived at the border station. He was assigned to a genin dormitory, brushed a pair of shoes, and complained that the station's canteen and Konoha's canteen had the same taste. Oh, there was also a photo of Naruto eating. It seemed that he was fighting with Sasuke for food again."
Our Naruto silently turned on his good father mode and carefully removed the photo from the report. He wrote the date and incident behind it, then opened the drawer, took out a thick photo album, and found an empty space to stuff it in.
Originally, Watergate only asked the Anbu to send him a few photos occasionally because he was too busy with work and couldn't see Naruto's charm in kindergarten and school. But who knew that over the years, he had unknowingly accumulated two thick photo albums. Many of them were very memorable moments. Watergate sometimes wanted to share them with Naruto, but when he thought about how they were secretly taken … Our silly Naruto secretly stuck out his tongue and decided that before his son really grew up, he should just keep them as a little secret.
There will come a day when a secret will no longer be a secret.
…
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