Chapter 121 – Spy Within a Spy
Naruto was afraid that the nine-tailed horn would vanish with Ido, so he simply tossed it into a card.
He didn't understand the exact principle behind it.
According to the card's description, as long as you throw in seven materials, it will craft a perfect puppet.
It reminded him of the dungeons.
There was an NPC named Kari who loved to shout in the street: "Hey, handsome guy over there!"
Just like going to Guangdong—lost in the endless chorus of "leng-zai" until you hand over your weapon for enhancement, pay the gold and materials, and end up with a peerless sword… in your dreams.
Usually only four big characters appeared:
Enhancement failed.
But Naruto believed his system couldn't be that shameless.
After all, it never mentioned anything about probability.
Materials in hand.
All that remained was to deal with Kurenai Yuhi.
Naruto thought for a moment and looked straight at Yakumo Kurama.
The little loli jumped in fright and reflexively raised both hands.
A pen dropped.
Naruto remembered that in the original story, Idohad died from that very pen.
It was absurdly anticlimactic.
After pages of buildup about how overpowered she was, she got stabbed by a pen.
A tiny pen replacing a greatsword.
To die by his sword in this life would be a step up.
Still, what's with that surrender pose?
Naruto didn't yet know that in Yakumo's mind his image was already on par with Ido's—both legendary demons.
The only difference was that he was handsome.
Seeing this, Hinata put away her bow, walked over, patted Yakumo's head and said, "Don't be scared, the demon's gone."
She'd heard the story and knew how miserable the little loli had been, so her natural protective instinct kicked in.
Yakumo buried her face straight into Hinata's chest.
She really was terrified.
Naruto twitched his lips.
That spot was clearly reserved for him.
Someone had beaten him to it.
Damn it!
Once Yakumo calmed down, Naruto told her the whole story.
Whether the little loli believed it was up to her.
He needed her cooperation to put on a show.
Naruto and Hinata had handled Ido too roughly; Tsunade would definitely nag them for it.
All nagging, like the Tang monk in A Chinese Odyssey.
Besides, he couldn't bear to let Hinata suffer.
After hearing the tale and the plan, Yakumo believed it.
The reason: Naruto was handsome, Hinata was beautiful, and Ido was ugly.
People prefer listening to good-looking guys and girls.
Sorry—she was a face-con.
So she agreed to their plan.
Konoha Hospital.
Kurenai Yuhi opened her eyes.
"Sensei, you're awake!" Yakumo said joyfully.
Kurenai was a bit dazed.
She looked around.
Besides Yakumo, there were her boyfriend Asumaand Team Eight—Hinata, Kiba, and Akamaru.
"Why am I in a hospital room?"
Noticing the surroundings, Kurenai asked.
"Don't you remember?" Asuma sat beside her. "You were carrying out the mission the Third Hokageleft behind."
Kurenai suddenly recalled: she'd been heading to the Chiriku mountain villa when someone ambushed her and she blacked out.
"You fought Ido and successfully eliminated her," Asuma said with a smile. "Congratulations on completing the mission."
"I eliminated Ido?"
Kurenai instinctively looked at Yakumo.
The little loli gave her a confirming nod.
"When we arrived, only a painting and a pen were left."
Asuma held her hand and added, "The Anbu Ninjaand two medical Ninja are in the same state—you all lost your memories of the incident after Ido's illusion."
"It was Ido's special ability," Yakumo chimed in. "It trapped you all in genjutsu, and when it died the memories vanished."
Only she knew Ido best; if she called it a special ability, no one would argue.
Most important, Ido really had been wiped out.
Kurenai fell into doubt.
Did I really… do that?
When did I get so strong?
Yet the people in front of her couldn't all be lying.
"Sensei, you'll keep being our Jonin leader, right?" Shino asked.
"Huh? Shino, when did you get here?" Kurenai blinked.
"When? I came with Hinata and the others," Shinoreplied, adjusting his sunglasses.
Naruto didn't visit the ward; he and Kurenai weren't close and he didn't want to raise her suspicions.
The scene of his fight with Ido was ultimately disguised by Yakumo.
Her ability was just too handy—turning illusion into reality.
Naruto really wanted to ask: if she sketched Rin Tohsaka or Nezuko, could they come to life?
But he held back because Hinata was present.
The Byakugan is great—except for privacy.
It sees straight through bodies and hearts, instantly spotting lies.
Still, Naruto was only curious about Yakumo's power—honest, he could swear to Jiraiya on that.
With Yakumo the inside help, the Kurenai incident was smoothly closed.
Konoha was about to welcome a grand event: Shiranui Ari's song-and-dance show.
Thanks to Kakashi, Naruto got two front-row seats.
In return he gave Kakashi a bag of steel-wool pads.
Night.
Fireworks blossomed.
The Hokage square buzzed with excitement.
After days of publicity and with Tsunade present, nearly every free villager came to join the fun.
Naruto sat with Hinata.
He'd already seen the rehearsal, so the formal show held few surprises.
And with Hinata beside him, he couldn't stare at other women—he was a serious, pure-hearted boy.
Naruto toyed with Hinata's small hand; it was soft and comforting.
Soon the performance began.
Hana Rin appeared center-stage.
The first song was "Song of Leaving Island," Ari's character theme.
As she sang, countless streams of light flew skyward, turning into lanterns—special effects, of course.
In the Ninja world, effects were easier than in his past life.
"So beautiful," Hinata murmured, yellow light flickering across her face.
Naruto leaned to her ear and whispered, "You're even more beautiful."
It took Hinata a few seconds to register his words; Naruto's grin widened.
After "Song of Leaving Island" came "Blue Bird," "Butter-fly," "Cruel Angel's Thesis," "I Want to Shout I Love You," and more—fifteen songs in total.
The crowd's reaction was wildly enthusiastic, and this was only the beginning.
As time passed, Hana Rin's fame would only grow.
Naruto was already wondering whether to have Fuka Koyuki team up with her for a High School Musical or La La Land.
When the concert ended, the long-awaited system voice finally sounded:
Congratulations, host, on achieving "She's not Shiranui, she's Ari"—three stat points awarded.
Congratulations, host, on achieving "Spy within a Spy"—one normal draw awarded.
"…?"
Naruto blinked at the second achievement.
What the heck?
Where did that even come from?