Chapter 160:
"Alright!" Yamato suddenly interrupted the two who were about to argue. He turned to Sasuke and said, "Let's get to the point, Sasuke. My patience is wearing thin."
"Alright, alright… Hmm… I know why you're all so hesitant, why you don't dare go out at night. It's because of the Fox Spirit Hero, isn't it? Unfortunately, he's exposed you all as cowardly, all show and no substance. But don't worry. I'll take care of the Fox Spirit Hero so you won't have to live in fear anymore. You'll even dare to walk the streets alone at night…"
"You? Really?"
Neji sneered at Sasuke's bold claim.
"Do you know it's extremely rude to interrupt someone while they're speaking?"
"Oh, is it?"
As soon as Neji said that, he suddenly found himself enveloped in darkness, as though a massive beast had swallowed him whole.
"Genjutsu—release!"
Though he dispelled the illusion immediately, by the time he opened his eyes again, Sasuke already had a shuriken pressed to the corner of his mouth, ready to carve a smile into his face.
"That's enough, Sasuke. Put down the shuriken," Yamato said while forming hand seals. Wooden tendrils burst from the ground and coiled around Sasuke.
"Wood Style, huh…? Looks like you're an interesting one too."
Sasuke withdrew the shuriken, and the wood restraining him faded away.
"I believe you can kill the Fox Spirit Hero," Yamato said.
"No, no, belief alone isn't enough. I need compensation…"
"Compensation? How much do you want?" Yamato asked.
"Hmm… a jutsu from the Sealing Scroll…"
"Are you out of your mind?" Neji blurted out.
The Sealing Scroll was an incredibly valuable artifact in the village. Only the Hokage and those deemed worthy by the Hokage had the right to view it.
"No…" Sasuke clicked his tongue. "I'm not crazy. That's my condition. If you don't make a decision soon, the Fox Spirit Hero might just come looking for you himself."
…
"What now?" Sarada asked the Jar Merchant after knocking out a thug in a back alley and rifling through his pockets.
"Obviously, we're going to find the Fox Spirit Hero."
"The Fox Spirit Hero? But we don't even know who he is."
"Sarada, think carefully. In the ninja world, who is known as the Tailed Beast that looks like a fox?"
"…The Nine-Tails! Naruto!" Sarada exclaimed, then quickly shook her head. "But according to the news, this world's Naruto is just a frivolous playboy."
The image of Uzumaki Naruto—who changed girlfriends daily, sometimes even twice a day—had certainly left quite an impression on her.
"Sarada, maybe that's exactly the point. Naruto wants people to think like you. No one would suspect that a womanizing playboy could secretly be the vigilante Fox Spirit Hero… And if you pay close attention, you'll notice that the Fox Spirit Hero started appearing in the village right after Naruto returned to Konoha. Most importantly, outfitting himself with that gear… would require a lot of money."
Namikaze Manor.
"Master, two people have come to help you."
Having just returned home from a boring meeting at Namikaze Corp, Naruto was taking off his jacket when he said to Kakashi, "Don't tell me it's more nosy female reporters. You always do this, Kakashi."
"I do have to make sure the Namikaze line continues, sir. But no, it's not reporters this time. It's two people who know your secret identity—Jarlock Holmes and Sarada Watson."
"They know my identity? Which one? Konoha's wealthiest tycoon? Most generous philanthropist? Or maybe its most infamous playboy?" Naruto said while heading to the living room.
"Hello again, Fox Spirit Hero," said Jarlock Holmes as Naruto walked in. "You've got a really nice house."
"Fox Spirit Hero? Are you referring to me? I'm definitely not that violent troublemaker who keeps appearing around the village," Naruto replied. "And if you two have no other business here, please leave immediately. Otherwise, I'll have Konoha's security force escort you out."
"Don't be like that, Naruto. I actually enjoy being friends with rich people."
"Sorry, I'm not all that keen on being friends with someone who walks around with a filthy jar on his head," Naruto shot back, then turned to Kakashi. "Kakashi, get these two out of here."
"Wait a second, Namikaze Naruto. I've got proof that you're the Fox Spirit Hero. I'm a detective, and you and Shikamaru have been secretly investigating that group running illegal trades in the village, right?"
"How do you know what the Fox Spirit Hero and Shikamaru have been looking into?"
Naruto stared at the jar-headed man in front of him.
"Interrogation and intelligence gathering are basic ninja skills."
"…Prying into Konoha Security's affairs could get you arrested," Naruto said slowly. "However, this happens to be something I'm very interested in, and I do know the captain of the force—Shikamaru. Tell me what you know, and I might put in a good word for you."
"That's very kind of you, Mr. Namikaze," said the Jar Merchant. "That group? They're working for Danzō."
While they lacked concrete evidence, it was practically a rule of thumb in Konoha: if something shady was going on, Danzō was definitely involved.
"How do you know that?"
Naruto looked intrigued. This man had uncovered something he and Shikamaru hadn't, and in a short time no less. Maybe he really was a talent.
"I guessed."
The Jar Merchant replied.
"…Alright, con artist. Take your assistant and get out."
"…You just admitted it, Namikaze Naruto."
"What?" Naruto was momentarily confused.
"I only ever mentioned Sarada was my assistant during my first encounter with the Fox Spirit Hero. I never told you or your butler, Kakashi."
"Hmm… I deduced it, Jarlock Holmes. Now, if you'd kindly leave."
Second floor of the Namikaze Manor.
Naruto stood by the window, watching the two figures disappear into the distance.
"Master, those two clearly know your identity," Kakashi said from behind him.
"I know, Kakashi. That's why I need you to investigate them," Naruto replied. "I'm heading to the Fox Den to ask Orochimaru to upgrade my gear. These strangers showing up gives me a bad feeling."
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