Konoha Notes

Chapter 312 Menstrual Period

"Naruto, have you gotten the chakra attribute results yet?"

"Could it be the sky?"

"No, no, it might be rock..."

There are always people in the class asking this question. Naruto has tried his best to argue many times, but he always says things like "the results will be available soon," "I'll tell you tomorrow," and "it will definitely be available next week," which always brings a burst of laughter.

He wasn't in the mood today. He silently walked past the person asking the question, sat down by the river, and didn't even notice that there was another person sitting under a tree not far away.

The person didn't say anything, but just looked up at the sunlight filtering through the leaves, as if trying to absorb that blue and white light into their eyes.

Time flowed by in the sound of running water.

Naruto suddenly let out a long howl, grabbing his hands and frantically rubbing them in his hair. He then picked up a rock and threw it into the river.

"Everyone treats me like a fool and laughs at me."

"One day I..."

"It's good that you're out of your period," a voice from under the tree interrupted, "but you should at least consider the people who might be nearby."

Naruto jumped up in fright, then turned his head and saw that familiar face before letting out a sigh of relief and slumping his shoulders: "You scared me to death! Shuuji-nii, don't suddenly appear! And don't eavesdrop on me!"

"There are two errors in what you said: first, it wasn't sudden; second, it wasn't eavesdropping."

"You're the one who suddenly appeared and then suddenly shouted, Naruto."

Naruto scratched the back of his head, chuckled twice, and then suddenly tilted his head: "What does 'period' mean?"

The man spouted nonsense: "Menstruation is something everyone experiences every now and then. It's a state where you feel annoyed by everything and have no energy to do anything."

Naruto squinted, as if digesting the word. A few seconds later, he clenched his fist into his palm.

"Sasuke must be on his period all the time!"

As he spoke, he suddenly leaned closer, his blue eyes dazzlingly bright: "Oh, right! Brother Xiuji, I have an important question."

"Should I become Hokage or the champion of the martial arts tournament?"

Shuji glanced at him: "Why not win the championship first, and then become Hokage?"

"Yeah...yes!" The blond kid suddenly realized, and punched the air hard: "Once I win all the championships and become Hokage, no one will dare to look down on me anymore!"

He spun around excitedly, but when his gaze returned to Xiu Si, his excitement subsided and turned into confusion.

Today, Brother Shuji... seems a little different.

He still had the same expression, and his tone of voice hadn't changed either. But there was something... relaxed about him. Before, whenever I saw him at school, at Ichiraku Ramen, or anywhere else, even when he was smiling, there was always something invisible, something upright supporting him.

Naruto leaned closer and whispered, "Shuji-nii, are you on your period too?"

His response was a single finger.

The force wasn't strong, but it made Naruto yell "Ouch!" and cover his forehead, shrinking back.

“He’s so respected by the teachers, and no matter what he says, people listen to him…” He rubbed his forehead and muttered to himself, “Sasuke is the same. He’s surrounded by girls and is number one, but he always suddenly seems unhappy.”

“Because it’s heavy,” Shuji said.

Naruto looked up.

"Also because of greed."

"Once you've accomplished one thing, you want to accomplish two, until you've accomplished everything."

"Once you get one thing, you want two, until you have everything."

Naruto's mouth was agape, his mind swollen from these words.

"...I don't understand," he said honestly.

"In another eight or nine years, you'll be saying the same strange things." Shuuji stood up, brushing the grass clippings off his clothes. "I need to go back and finish my work. Goodbye, Naruto."

"Ah... Oh! Goodbye, Shuuji-nii-san!"

Naruto waved to his retreating figure until it disappeared around the bend in the riverbank. He looked down at his palm, then at its shimmering reflection in the river.

"Champion... Hokage..."

He took a deep breath and shouted at the river, "I'll get them all—!"

The shout startled the birds into flight. Naruto grinned, turned, and started running towards home.
-
The window of the conference room in the venue area was open. When Xiu Si pushed open the door, Maki was already standing by the table, his shoulders taut.

"Mr. Shuji."

Judging from his expression, Shuji probably understood.

"The results of the internal investigation in Sunagakure are not ideal?"

“…” Maki remained silent.

The result was less than ideal, but the process went relatively smoothly. After all, based on the team report provided by Yunyin, the investigation had indeed led back to them.

“That’s settled then.” Shuji opened the file, his gaze sweeping over the words. “Prepare a report. The rest, leave to the secret service team.”

Maki's shoulders relaxed slightly.

"Yes." He lowered his head. "I'm sorry to have troubled you."

After Shuji sat down, he said, "You already know about the exchange students from Kumogakure in Konoha, right?"

“…Yes.” Maki hesitated. “You mean?”

“Sunagakure has also sent a few people over,” Shuji said. “They’ll attend classes, train, and stay for a while. Don’t worry about living expenses; Konoha isn’t so poor that they can’t afford to provide a few meals.”

"Consider it an expression of closeness within the alliance."

The Sand Village Jonin hesitated, "This... requires the Kazekage's decision."

"Hmm." Xiu Si didn't say anything more, but simply picked up the pen and signed his name at the end of the document.

Maki bowed and said, "I will report the situation to the village immediately."

He turned and walked towards the door, and just as his hand touched the doorknob, the door was pushed open from the outside.

Kakashi walked in and nodded to Maki as they passed each other. The Sand Village Jonin's footsteps faded into the distance in the corridor. Kakashi closed the door behind him and sat down at the table.

"The secretaries from each village have almost all arrived." Shuji pushed the signed documents over. "The board members will be elected next month. The first task is ready. I'll be trotting it out then, Kakashi-senpai."

“I didn’t say you shouldn’t call me that… never mind, there’s something I need to talk about.” Kakashi took the document. “After we talked about the Land of Snow last time, I’ve been a little concerned about it.”

"So I did some research."

"Recently, it seems someone has been looking for Feng Hua Xiao Xue."

"Snow Ninja?"

"No, we haven't found out who it is yet."

The pen twirled between Xiu Si's fingers.

The wind, flowers, raging waves—are they really going to get restless?

“Since Kakashi-senpai cares,” he put down his pen, “I’d also appreciate it if you could follow up on this matter as well.”

Kakashi said helplessly, "Hey, there's no official commission yet, not to mention I'm about to go to the secret service."

"As far as the guards are concerned, with the death of Kazaka Hayateru, the Snow Country has changed hands."

"Therefore, fundamentally speaking, it was a failed request from the village, and although the Snow Country is remote, it can still provide some share of the mission."

"Furthermore..."

"Stop." Kakashi raised a hand, cutting off the rest of his words. "I understand. The people will be arranged."

"I hope Kakashi-senpai can be more self-aware. After all, this is also helping you make up for your regrets, so please don't make me say so much."

Kakashi raised his other hand in surrender: "I'm truly sorry, Shuji-sama, for being so ungrateful."

"Then please work hard so you can become Hokage sooner."

The silver-haired Jonin couldn't help but reveal his dead fish eyes: "You look like you're looking for a scapegoat, Shuji. The Hokage is the goal that all Konoha ninjas aspire to."

"Then please strive for the goal you aspire to, Kakashi-senpai."

“Longing…” Kakashi got up and walked towards the door, “That’s the furthest distance from reality. So, let’s skip it.”

(End of this chapter)