In Konoha, This Naruto Has Decided To Take It Easy

"Do you really know her?" Jiraiya asked again.

"Yeah, let her go." Naruto nodded. As Ajisai's face showed a glimmer of relief, he added, "Let me handle this."

'This is like escaping from a wolf's den only to fall into a tiger's mouth!'

Just as Ajisai was ready to die rather than surrender, Naruto suddenly asked, "Did you take on an S-Rank mission?"

At those words, Ajisai's whole body trembled, and the expression on her face that was pressed into the puddle changed slightly. Her pupils slightly dilated, and Naruto caught this reaction, confirming his suspicion.

"Did I guess it right?"

'Guess?' Ajisai felt a pang of regret, 'My earlier reaction must have been noticed by him.'

She cursed her own inexperience for exposing herself too early.

'But how did he know about the S-Rank mission?'

Jiraiya released his grip and stood back with his arms crossed, as if he were just there to watch the show. The two of them had originally planned to sneak in quietly, but luck seemed to have handed them an informant.

"I guessed it right, so stop struggling." Naruto glanced at her, his grip still firm, "You dare to accept a mission that will send you to your death? Do you want to be turned into a puppet?"

"W-what are you talking about?"

"Isn't it obvious enough? The S-Rank mission is just a cover to send you to your death."

"You are talking nonsense! Tenshi-sama... she... she!"

"Enough with the so-called Tenshi. There's no such thing as angels anymore. They are just Shinobi." Naruto replied. He already let her go and gave her a light shove.

Jiraiya noticed that Naruto seemed to have done something to the impulsive young Kunoichi, but although he was curious, he did not ask directly.

After being apart for so long, even Jiraiya, as his master, wasn't fully familiar with his odd and ingenious disciple's techniques anymore.

Ajisai almost suffocated, and suddenly fell back into the puddle as she gasped for air. Her eyes, filled with cold hatred, glared up at him as if she harbored a deep grudge.

Naruto seemed quite pleased with this reaction, 'That was a normal response… If she had turned into a naive and overly trusting Shinobi, that would've been creepy.

"What you're saying... Impossible! It can't be true!"

"Well, just believe whatever you want." Naruto said as he pulled back his wet hand, rain dripping from his fingertips as he looked completely indifferent.

"Damn it!" Ajisai felt as though her faith had been desecrated, yet there was nothing she could do against the old man and the young man. Either of them could kill her with a mere flick of their wrist.

"You can kill me, but you are not allowed to slander Tenshi-sama!" Ajisai tried to form hand seals, but before she could finish, a large hand suddenly struck, interrupting her actions.

Naruto, still in his rain cloak, casually interrupted her hand seals, grabbed her by the collar, and then… tossed her aside.

With a loud thud, Ajisai crashed into the puddle again.

She struggled to stand and formed hand seals again.

Bang!

She was once again flung into the distance.

This time, even Jiraiya couldn't bear to watch anymore, 'What was the point of bullying a Genin like this? Just knock her out already.'

Ajisai struggled to her feet again, only to be smacked down once more. This time, she collapsed, completely drained of strength, lying in the puddle, utterly defeated.

"What Tenshi? All that's just for show. She's probably hiding something filthy behind the scenes." Naruto clapped his hands, looking down at Ajisai with disdain. Before leaving, he even stomped on her a couple of times for good measure.

As he and Jiraiya turned to leave, quietly whispering to each other, Jiraiya glanced back at Ajisai lying in the puddle. With a sour look in his eyes, he asked in a low voice, "Do you have a grudge against her?"

"Nope, this is probably the first time we meet."

"The first time you met? Then why torment her like that for no reason? Do you have some weird hobbies or something?" Jiraiya glanced at him and asked in doubts.

"You don't understand anything, Pervy Sage. This is love."

With that remark and a hint of teasing about Jiraiya being outdated, the two figures vanished into the heavy rain. Ajisai raised her head with difficulty, her whole body trembling.

The rain obscured most of her vision, but she could roughly tell that those two were heading toward Amegakure.

"I... I need to notify Tenshi-sama." She gritted her teeth, fighting through the bruises and pain as she forced herself to stand.

Even though the S-Rank mission had failed, she had to return to the village now.

…

In the rain.

Jiraiya and Naruto crouched on a high vantage point outside the village, looking into the distance at another group of people who were also planning to enter Amegakure.

"Did you do anything to that girl back there?"

"You actually discovered it." Naruto pretended to be surprised, making the older ninja feel smug.

"Of course! You think you can pull one over on me with your little tricks?" Jiraiya looked proud, but then lowered his voice, "Was that a safety measure? Is it reliable?"

"Of course it's reliable." Naruto's eyes never left the group in the rain ahead. He was already thinking about how to make those cannon fodders draw more firepower.

Earlier, he had deliberately beaten up Ajisai, creating the illusion that they were about to enter the village. He was counting on her to report back so that the other group could draw the first wave of hatred.

It was a sneaky move, sure, but he figured it made the best use of the situation.

"As long as it works." Jiraiya reached out and patted Naruto's shoulder, "Based on your intel, dealing with the Six Paths of Pain might be a little tricky."

"When it comes to a life-or-death situation, you should be more careful. I might not be able to look after you."

"Chicken!" Naruto retorted.

"Huh? What did you say?" Jiraiya looked displeased, "Watch how you talk to your master! You were the one insisting on coming, talking about Amegakure having some 'great fortune'."

"By the way, what does 'fortune' even mean?"

"It means opportunity."

"And what exactly is 'opportunity'? You always say these cryptic things. Your brain hasn't gone haywire, has it?" Jiraiya asked with a frown.

"'Opportunity' just means a lucky break, a chance to score big!" Naruto said perfunctorily, dismissing the conversation with a wave of his hand.