072 Naruto Mobile Game

Ever since the news spread that the Ninja Mobile Game's Organization Dominion Tournament would soon begin, the entire ninja world had fallen into a strange, inexplicable tension over the past few days.

It wasn't a war, yet it felt just like one.

Many people actually thought it was great. Even though there would definitely be winners and losers in the end, at least no one had to die if they lost, right?

With the rewards still unknown, everyone was already eager and getting ready in advance.

Honestly, there wasn't much to say.

Those who already belonged to an organization either trained their techniques or threw money into the game.

Those who didn't have an organization but didn't want to miss the Organization Dominion Tournament were, indeed, starting to panic.

"Naruto, I heard your organization is short on members? Let's make a deal. I'll let you read here for free from now on. Can you let me join your organization?"

"Ha? Don't joke around, boss. I'm aiming to win and enter the cross-server tournament!"

"Fine then. Shall we talk about how you snuck into my bookstore earlier and secretly read adult books?"

"Uh–hehehehe, bye!"

Naruto's chakra activated on its own. His whole body shot forward like a wild horse breaking loose, rushing straight out of the bookstore. The shopkeeper couldn't even stop him.

But just as Naruto stepped out of the door, he crashed head-first into someone.

If it had been an ordinary person, caught completely off guard, they probably would've been knocked flat instantly.

But Naruto felt like he had slammed into something that didn't move at all—like a solid, unbreakable wall.

"Ow!" Naruto held his head and looked up, seeing a tall figure standing before him.

White long hair, a forehead protector with the kanji for "oil," and two red tear-marks beneath the eyes.

"Eh? Pervy Sage?!"

"That's right! I am… Pervy Sage?! I'm the Toad Sage, you brat!"

Jiraiya was preparing to introduce himself properly when Naruto's words stabbed right into his pride. He immediately punched Naruto on the head, sending the boy rolling on the ground in pain.

"Hmph! Now you know how strong I am."

"Come on! The whole ninja world calls you Pervy Sage!" Naruto complained loudly.

"And whose fault is that?! People were calling me that on my way back, all because you yelled it in the storyline instance!"

"If you weren't such a perv, it wouldn't matter what I called you! If I called Orochimaru that, would anyone believe it?!"

"Heh heh… that's not necessarily true!"

After saying that, Jiraiya grabbed Naruto and vanished on the spot.

When Naruto finally regained his senses, he realized they were no longer on the street—they were standing on a rooftop.

"Let me go!" Naruto struggled free from Jiraiya's grip, then stared at him suspiciously.

"Stop staring. I'm the real Jiraiya, no imitations!" Jiraiya pointed proudly at himself with a thumbs-up.

"I know!" Naruto said helplessly. "So what do you want? I'm busy."

Jiraiya chuckled. So this kid already realized he came looking for him?

"Don't move." Jiraiya reached out and suddenly lifted Naruto's shirt right before the confused boy's eyes…

Bang!

A dull thud rang out.

"Ow ow ow ow!" Jiraiya suddenly clutched his eyes and fell to the ground, screaming in pain.

"Hmph! Don't act without explaining!" Naruto withdrew the fist he had just planted in Jiraiya's face and fixed his clothes.

"You idiot! I was checking the Nine-Tails' seal!" Jiraiya jumped up and yelled angrily.

"I said don't act without telling me what you're doing!" Naruto yelled back.

The two glared at each other fiercely.

These two—who were already master and student in the story instance—were meeting for the first time in real life, and it was anything but friendly.

After staring for a while, Naruto snorted and turned to leave. Jiraiya, annoyed and helpless, grabbed him.

"Alright, Naruto. The Third said the Nine-Tails' chakra has been unstable recently—leaking out several times. Has that happened to you?" Jiraiya asked seriously.

"I don't know. I didn't feel anything."

Seeing Naruto's calm expression, Jiraiya's eyes shifted, but he didn't press further.

He suddenly burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! I heard from people in the village that your organization is short on members. Your popularity sure is terrible!"

"My organization doesn't want you," Naruto replied, squinting at him.

Uh…

Jiraiya's laugh froze. He didn't expect the kid to see right through him again.

His eyes rolled thoughtfully.

"But Naruto, this Organization mode isn't the same as last time. Your group might not even make it past the preliminary round!"

"Stop joking. All of Team 7 are experts, okay? Only Sasuke is a bit behind," Naruto said confidently, arms crossed.

Jiraiya ignored Naruto's confidence and kept talking.

"Konoha already has over a hundred organizations now."

"But only the top 16 on the power rankings are qualified… What rank is Uzumaki Naruto at?"

Naruto's eyes went blank. A bead of cold sweat slid down.

Right. He completely forgot—without enough power ranking, they couldn't even participate.

So the real problem was: how could a five-member organization reach the top 16?

"Um, Mighty Sage," Naruto rubbed his hands together and leaned in with an awkward grin, "actually, we've always been missing a deputy leader… hehe."

"You sure know how to change your attitude fast," Jiraiya muttered and naturally reached out to pat Naruto's head.

Naruto neither dodged nor resisted.

Thanks to Ninja Mobile Game culture, almost everyone in the ninja world hated being patted on the head now.

Unless it was their parents, no one liked it—not even other elders.

But somehow… though part of him just wanted to recruit Jiraiya, Naruto didn't mind. Maybe because so few people would ever pat his head this way.

"Naruto, what were you doing in that bookstore just now? Studying?" Jiraiya asked casually.

Naruto's expression twitched. Then he sighed.

Because of the Ninja Mobile Game storyline, Team 7 now spent part of every day training.

No time during training, and afterward when resting, Naruto had another headache.

"Our organization has no people! Team 7 is four. Add Sasuke's mom and we're only five!"

"Don't just count my mother casually. She won't necessarily keep helping you," Sasuke said coldly.

"Sasuke! If you won't help recruit, fine! But don't talk like that. I'll tell Mikoto-san on you!"

"What? Naruto, you bastard!"

"Sasuke!"

"Naruto!"

Because he was explaining to Jiraiya, Naruto reenacted both sides himself with different tones. Even Jiraiya broke into a sweat watching.

After Naruto and Sasuke argued for a bit, Kakashi told them: both of you go recruit people. Whoever brings back more gets special training.

"So you went to that bookstore to recruit? Then why did you reject that boss?" Jiraiya asked.

"Even if we're short, we can't take just anyone. And I was just passing by. It's the bookstore I often go to. I mostly wanted to test my training results," Naruto said.

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"Forget it, I'll show you."

Naruto clasped his hands and formed a seal. A burst of white smoke erupted. From within it emerged a curvy silhouette.

The drifting white mist brushed against smooth skin, and a blonde, twin-tailed young girl swayed lightly as she stepped out.

Jiraiya's eyes went wide instantly. His mind blanked.

The next second, his nosebleed shot out like twin arrows, launching him through the air.

Bang!

Naruto dispelled the Sexy Technique and returned to normal.

He looked up at the figure flying into the distance and waved frantically.

"Hey! Where are you going? You haven't answered me yet!"

"N-no problem..." came Jiraiya's fading voice as he turned into a shooting star.

"As for deputy leader, that position is mine~~"