Hinata: I'm in charge of Konoha.

On the Eve of Chapter 112

As Minato Namikaze's teacher, Jiraiya treated Naruto like a grandson in a sense.

Near the edge of a forest in Konoha, Jiraiya looked at Naruto not far ahead, who was following his orders to create countless shadow clones to fight each other and maximize the consumption of his chakra. A look of reminiscence flashed in his eyes.

Through that familiar blond hair, Jiraiya saw in Naruto his former proud student.

As the sun set, Naruto had been battling countless shadow clones for an entire afternoon before finally exhausting his chakra.

"A lecherous immortal!"

"What should I do next?"

Naruto dragged his exhausted body toward Jiraiya, who was almost asleep.

"Well, let's sign the contract here first."

Jiraiya rubbed his sleepy eyes, yawned, and placed the huge scroll from his waist in front of Naruto.

This is the contract scroll of Mount Myoboku.

By signing a contract, one can summon the toads of Mount Myōboku to fight.

"Can I summon that cool giant toad just by writing my name on it?"

Upon hearing this, Naruto immediately spoke up excitedly. Almost without waiting for Jiraiya to explain, he eagerly bit his finger and wrote his name on it.

In his excitement, he didn't notice the name Minato Namikaze that was marked in front of him in line.

"With that handsome toad, we'll definitely be able to defeat Hinata!"

Naruto was thrilled as he recalled the toad Jiraiya had summoned in front of him earlier.

"Defeat Hinata!"

Jiraiya touched his chin.

"Uh-huh!"

"I'm going to prove to Hinata that I'm right in the final match!"

No one's destiny is predetermined at birth!

Naruto clenched his fists as he thought of this, cheering himself on.

"Then you'd better try your best. Let's try the spirit communication technique first."

Jiraiya didn't refute Naruto or discourage him; he simply smiled and demonstrated the hand seals for the Summoning Jutsu.

OK!

""

Upon hearing this, Naruto immediately and excitedly did as instructed.

Just as Naruto was enthusiastically beginning to learn the Summoning Jutsu, a figure appeared on a distant hill, its pure white eyes looking down at the shouting master and disciple in front of it.

Then, Naruto, who had summoned a tadpole, was pushed away by Jiraiya with a single finger, flying through the dense forest and plummeting off a cliff.

Seeing this, Jiraiya smiled with satisfaction, then waved to the figure on the high slope: "Yo, are you here to gather information because you're worried Naruto might learn some powerful techniques in the finals?"

The person who arrived was none other than Naruto's opponent in the final exam.

Hinata.

"Do you even think he'll beat me?"

Hinata walked to Jiraiya's side, her face calm as she looked at the cliff beyond the dense forest and spoke.

"Well, while I really hope Naruto wins, it's definitely going to be difficult."

Jiraiya stroked his chin and said with a helpless expression.

"That's not why I came."

"You should know why I'm here."

Hinata looked at the man beside her, who was usually quite unserious.

"The Mizukage, Yagura, has already arrived in Konoha, and the Kazekage, Rasa, should arrive in the next day or two."

"Plus Orochimaru, whom I encountered in the Forest of Death."

"You should know."

Upon hearing this, Jiraiya sat down on the ground, propping his cheek up with one hand, seemingly unconcerned about what Hinata had said.

"The Hokage has already sensed that something is amiss; you must be aware of what's been happening in the village these past few days."

Hinata spoke as she took out a Flying Thunder God Blade and handed it to Jiraiya.

"I didn't expect you to care so much about the village."

"Judging from the old man's previous assessment of you, you shouldn't be interested in these things."

"Or do you participate because you find these things interesting?"

Jiraiya toyed with the Flying Thunder God Blade in his hand, watching Hinata with great interest.

Based on the information he had about Hinata from the old man, the child should be the type who is indifferent to everything.

Beneath her seemingly warm exterior lies a cold heart.

This is the downside of being too clever; at an age when one should be innocent and carefree, one becomes unhappy because one can see through the essence of things.

Do I look like that kind of person?

"At least my home is still in the village."

Hinata was quite dissatisfied with Jiraiya's assessment.

"Home—"

Jiraiya smiled upon hearing this.

"I definitely won't stand idly by when the time comes; after all, I'm one of the Legendary Sannin."

"Why would I need a brat like you to remind me?"

Jiraiya glared at Hinata, annoyed. The girl made it sound like he was completely indifferent to the village.

There is someone in the Hidden Mist.

Hinata ignored Jiraiya's rebuttal and continued speaking.

"Water shadow?"

Jiraiya's heart stirred.

Although Hinata is only twelve years old, it is undeniable that her strength is already on par with, or even surpasses, that of the older generation.

Who else in Kirigakure besides the Fourth Mizukage could be an enemy that Hinata could care about?

"A Jonin leading the team."

"Her name is Mei Terumi."

Hinata spoke slowly.

Although Mei Terumi has kept a low profile since the Hidden Mist ninja arrived in Konoha, Hinata has not forgotten this future Fifth Mizukage.

"Explain in detail."

Jiraiya's expression shifted slightly upon hearing this.

"Back in the central tower, when I was sparring with Neji, I used my Byakugan to scan him."

"Her chakra reserves are very high."

Although ninja battles are not battles of chakra, it is undeniable that the amount of chakra can play a crucial role in the outcome of a fight.

A ninja with a lot of chakra can never be weak.

"More than the Naruto."

Hinata, fearing that Jiraiya might not understand the threat Mei Terumi posed, added another sentence.

"Is that so?!"

Jiraiya's expression turned somewhat serious upon hearing this.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi's disciple, Jiraiya was well aware of his teacher's chakra reserves.

Although he is old, he is definitely not some roadside ninja who can be taken advantage of.

Mei Terumi's chakra level is actually higher than Hiruzen Sarutobi's, and given that she is from Kirigakure, her skill in water release must be quite high.

If such a person were to take advantage of the chaos and stir up trouble in Konoha—

"I understand."

Jiraiya responded in a deep voice.

"Since that's the case—"

Hinata, having achieved her goal, did not linger any longer and was about to leave when a huge black shadow suddenly shot into the sky from below the cliff outside the dense forest!

"Hey, not bad, you actually managed to summon this guy."

Jiraiya looked at the giant toad soaring into the sky and nodded in approval.

The red toad, with a pipe in its mouth and a short sword slung across its shoulder, was none other than Gamabunta from Mount Myōboku.

"Ha, I'm leaving."

Hinata glanced at Gamabunta, the toad Naruto had summoned, and then turned and left without a second thought.