Gathering
Once everyone was seated, Naruto began serving the dishes.
This time, Naruto could be said to have put in twelve-tenths of his effort, preparing every ingredient available in this world that he could use from his past life's cooking knowledge; over fifty dishes were laid out on the table.
As for those he couldn't make, it was either because the seasonings were missing or the ingredients were insufficient, and the result simply didn't have the right flavor.
When Naruto finished serving all the dishes, everyone stared at the table in stunned silence.
Kurenai Yuhi looked at Naruto in surprise and said, "You could practically open a major restaurant with this."
Asuma nodded in agreement and said, "We haven't even eaten yet, but just based on the presentation and aroma, even the Daimyo's private chefs couldn't pull off these dishes."
Kakashi also felt that Naruto's spread was a bit excessive; if this table were sold in a restaurant, it wouldn't go for less than several hundred thousand Ryo, and in a luxuriously decorated hotel, it would cost millions.
Naruto curled his lip and said, "Just eat while there's food! Making such a huge spread... I'm never inviting this many people for a meal again. Never mind whether my wallet can take it, just the cooking alone is enough to kill a person."
Kakashi, Kurenai Yuhi, and the others actually agreed with Naruto's sentiment; after all, seeing such a massive spread, it clearly took a lot of effort, let alone for the person doing the cooking.
However, Ino was a bit unwilling and wanted to grab Naruto's arm to act spoiled, but then she remembered Naruto was constantly tempering his body. She looked at him with some distress and said, "How can you not invite us anymore! Doesn't that mean we won't get to eat delicious food?"
Choji also nodded in agreement and said, "Yeah, yeah! Can we start now?"
Choji spoke while drooling; everyone knew he was craving the food.
Naruto smiled and said, "We'll talk about future gatherings later! Let's eat!"
Following Naruto's command, everyone picked up their chopsticks and said, "Itadakimasu!"
At the same time, in the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was watching Naruto and the others' outdoor dinner through a crystal ball, had much more complex thoughts.
The four teachers Naruto invited to dinner this time could be considered the backbone of Konoha, and combined with the students of the four classes, it basically encompassed several of Konoha's large and small Great Clans.
If all the clans used Naruto as a link to unite and overthrow him as Hokage...
Hiruzen Sarutobi really didn't have any good solutions, especially since the Nine-Tails Jinchurikiwas already on their side.
"It seems I need to have Jiraiya speed up his journey, otherwise, a major disturbance might really break out."
Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't the only one watching Naruto's dinner; even Orochimaru was using a small snake to monitor their gathering.
As for the various Great Clans of Konoha Village, although they didn't send people to watch, they were all waiting for their children to return.
It could be said that the Great Clans of Konohawere also watching Naruto's movements; if Narutohad any moves or ideas, they might immediately follow in his footsteps.
After all, the children of their respective families had already grown up; if they didn't curb Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura now, their children's futures might also be ruined.
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Naruto went to find Might Guy to ask for guidance on the Eight Gates.
Kakashi, meanwhile, stared at the people at the gathering, observing them to see if they knew anything about what Naruto intended to do.
But Kakashi was disappointed; everyone was chatting about other things and didn't discuss anything related to the Village at all.
The gathering didn't end until late at night. After Naruto saw everyone off, he returned to the Wooden Hut by the river.
During the dinner, Kakashi, Kurenai Yuhi, and the others had each arranged training for the Konoha 12 for the coming period, placing emphasis on the few who needed to participate in the final exam.
Since Might Guy's Team 3 had been entirely eliminated, once Rock Lee's injuries were healed, they would have to take on missions. After all, the Ninja competition in a month would draw many nobles and Daimyo to watch.
These people would certainly post escort missions, and the number of teams needed then would not be small; a team like Might Guy's would absolutely not be left wanting for work.
The reason Naruto returned to the Wooden Hut by the river was that he now had no need to remain in the Village. Previously, he needed to involve the entire Village, but now it was unnecessary. In the current Konoha Village, he could leave at any time; anywhere in the Ninja World, he had the power to protect himself.
After Naruto returned to the Wooden Hut by the river, he activated the Genjutsu Barrier. On one hand, he didn't want to be monitored constantly, and on the other, he was avoiding Jiraiya.
In the original story, Jiraiya returned to Konohaafter the second exam ended, and presumably this time wouldn't be much different. Hiruzen Sarutobilikely felt the tension in the air and called Jiraiyaback to maintain order.
After opening the Genjutsu Barrier, Naruto used Kagura Minds Eye to perceive the area and discovered a small white snake.
Speechless, Naruto wrote a note on the table, caught the little snake, and stuffed it into its mouth.
"Scram!"
The Little White Snake understood Naruto's meaning and wiggled, preparing to leave, but it was blocked by the Genjutsu; the little snake couldn't get out no matter what.
Naruto had no choice but to close the Genjutsu Barrier again.
Only after the Little White Snake had completely left did Naruto reopen the Genjutsu Barrier.
When Orochimaru saw the note Naruto had stuffed into the snake's mouth, his face turned very ugly.
Because the note read: [Jiraiya is coming back soon. Two people! Kill them quickly!]
Orochimaru knew this was Naruto's final notice to him, and also a warning to stop using those petty tricks.
Orochimaru crushed the note in his hand into powder and muttered to himself, "I may dislike Konoha's decay, but I am not someone to be toyed with."
However, Orochimaru had no good options right now. If he killed Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado now, it would certainly disrupt his Konoha Crush Plan plan.
If he didn't kill them now, he definitely wouldn't have a chance to act against them within this month, so he could only wait until the day of the Konoha Crush Plan plan to kill them.
The more Orochimaru thought about it, the angrier and more annoyed he became.
"That damnable brat!"
A few more days passed like this, and Jiraiyareturned, though he didn't go to see Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately.
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't know Jiraiya was back either, until someone reported a peeper at the Konoha women's bathhouse; only then did Hiruzen Sarutobi know Jiraiya had returned.
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi was annoyed with Jiraiya, he knew very well in his heart that Konohatruly needed Jiraiya to maintain order right now.
So he dispatched many Anbu to watch the major women's bathhouses. Once Jiraiya was discovered, they were to immediately notify him to come see the Hokage.