Naruto, my father's name is Uchiha Madara.

Page 259

Her gray eyes held a hint of longing for "high-level missions," but more so, a resignation to reality.

Udon sniffled, his snot about to fall, and replied in a muffled voice, "Do you even need to guess? It's definitely a D-rank mission."

"Yesterday I helped Grandma Tanaka from the next block find her lost tabby cat 'Tama,' and the day before yesterday I was clearing away the fallen leaves that had accumulated in the lower reaches of the Naka River..."

"I think today I might be helping the flower shop weed behind the Hokage Rock."

He counted on his fingers, his tone filled with a "mature" helplessness rarely seen in people his age.

"Hey! You guys are so spineless!"

Konohamaru suddenly jumped down from the wooden stake next to him, put his hands on his hips, and imitated the classic pose of a certain blond senior.

He tried to make his voice sound energetic: "We're the future Hokage and his right-hand men! How can we keep getting stuck in D-rank missions!"

"Ebisu-sensei is too rigid! He follows the rules perfectly and doesn't know how to be flexible at all! If only Naruto-nii were here..."

As he finished speaking, his voice lowered, revealing a clear sense of disappointment.

Since Naruto and his friends returned from their S-rank mission in Sunagakure, he hadn't seen his idol much.

Just then, a cheerful and all-too-familiar voice, with a penetrating power like sunshine, unexpectedly cut in:

"Yo! Konohamaru! Udon! Mogi! You're right on time!"

The three people seemed to have been paused, their movements frozen in time.

They turned their heads sharply, looking in the direction of the sound—

Naruto was there, wearing his signature orange and black training uniform, with his hands in his pockets.

With his signature bright smile on his face, he strode towards them.

Her golden hair shimmered in the morning light, and her azure eyes were full of vitality, as if they could dispel all gloom.

"Brother Naruto!!!"

Konohamaru was the first to react, his surprised scream almost lifting the roof off the training ground.

He rushed over like a cannonball, excitedly circling around Naruto: "It really is you! When did you get back? I haven't seen you for days!"

Moegi immediately jumped down from the wooden stake, a delighted smile spreading across her face: "Naruto-senpai! What brings you here?"

Udon quickly wiped his nose with the back of his hand, tried to stand up straight, and his little eyes sparkled with excitement.

Naruto ruffled Konohamaru's spiky hair and laughed, "Haha! Sorry, sorry!"

"I'm back, but I was on two big missions in a row before, and time was so tight that I didn't have time to hang out with you guys."

After all, during the previous mission in the Land of Demons, they didn't even spend a single day in the village before leaving, and during the mission in the Land of Wind, they simply ate one meal and ran away.

Konohamaru immediately seized the opportunity, his eyes sparkling as he asked, "So, Naruto-nii, you're free today? Did you come specifically to watch us on our mission?"

A small spark of hope ignited in his heart.

Naruto grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, his smile carrying a hint of mischief and...

Hmm, a subtle sense of "authority"?

He rubbed his hair: "Hmm... more or less, but to be precise, it's not 'seeing,' but 'bringing.'"

He paused deliberately, watching the three kids' eyes widen instantly.

Then, slowly, he added, "As for Ebisu-sensei, he received an urgent, classified mission and was transferred away, needing to leave the village for a while. So..."

He deliberately dragged out the sound, under the watchful eyes of the Konohamaru trio, who held their breath and whose hearts were about to leap out of their throats.

He pulled a scroll from his ninja tool pouch and unfurled it in front of them with a whoosh.

"From this day forward, I, Naruto Uzumaki, am officially the Jonin instructor of your Konohamaru team! Here, this is the letter of appointment personally signed by Granny Tsunade!"

Instructing a Special Jonin!

Naruto Uzumaki?!

These three pieces of information struck Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon like thunderbolts.

"well?!!"

"well------?!!"

Three incredulous exclamations rang out almost simultaneously, loud enough to startle birds into flight.

Konohamaru's mouth was wide enough to fit an egg.

Meng Huang covered her mouth, her eyes wide open.

Udon forgot to sniffle back his snot, and it just hung on his nose.

A brief, eerie silence fell over the entire training ground.

The only sounds were the rustling of leaves in the wind and the heavy breathing of the three people.

Naruto, seeing their petrified expressions, raised an eyebrow smugly: "Hey, don't be so surprised! My strength is recognized by Granny Tsunade! Teaching you little brats is more than enough!"

After a brief period of deathly silence came a volcanic eruption of ecstasy!

"That's awesome!!!"

Konohamaru was the first to jump up, spinning around several times, excitedly waving his arms and legs: "Hooray! Naruto is our mentor now!"

"No more endless etiquette lessons and rules from Ebisu-sensei! We're liberated! The Konohamaru Army is finally liberated!"

Moegi's face flushed with excitement as she clapped her hands vigorously, exclaiming, "That's awesome! Naruto-sensei! Please take good care of me from now on!"

She imagined that following Naruto on missions would be much more interesting and exciting than following the serious Ebisu.

Even Udon, who was usually a bit slow on the uptake, broke into a big smile and nodded vigorously: "Yes! Naruto-sensei! Please take care of me!"

The snot bubbles popped and reappeared with his movements.

Looking at the three jubilant kids in front of him, who seemed to have won the lottery, Naruto felt a surge of warmth and a sense of responsibility.

He clapped his hands, trying to look serious: "Alright, alright, stop howling! If you keep howling, the whole of Konoha will know I'm a teacher!"

"Next stop—the mission reception center! Let's see what 'interesting' missions await us today!"

"Yes, Naruto-sensei!"

The three spoke in unison, their voices loud and clear, brimming with unprecedented enthusiasm.

Konohamaru puffed out his chest, feeling that he had instantly taken a giant step closer to becoming Hokage—

After all, the instructor is the future Hokage!

The group arrived at the familiar Hokage Building mission reception area in a grand procession.

The hall was still bustling with people, with ninjas issuing missions and teams handing over missions, creating a busy yet orderly scene.

Just as Naruto expected, when the receptionist smiled and handed them today's task list...

Konohamaru's face immediately fell, as if he had seen the most terrifying enemy in the world—

The list is entirely composed of D-level tasks.

"Repair the leaky roof of the West Street bathhouse (must climb high, be careful)..."

"Clear weeds in Area C of the Third Exercise Ground (bring your own tools)..."

"Escort the florist to a flower nursery in the suburbs of Tanabata Street to pick up the goods (about half a day round trip)..."

"Looking for lost pet dog 'Bochi' (distinctive features: short brown fur, a piece missing from its right ear)..."

"Ugh! It's these again!"

Konohamaru wailed, his little face scrunched up in a grimace: "Naruto-sensei! Look! Another D-rank! We're supposed to become elite ninjas! How can we do this every day!"

He waved his little fist, his dissatisfaction evident.

Although Meng Huang didn't say anything, disappointment was evident in her eyes.

Udon silently looked at the list, seemingly pondering which task would be the least strenuous.

Seeing Konohamaru's disgusted yet impatient expression, Naruto felt as if he had instantly traveled back several years.

Back then, wasn't I also standing in front of my third-generation grandfather, relentlessly pestering him for a C-level mission, even rolling around on the ground?

That look of "unappreciated talent" and "unfulfilled ambitions" was exactly the same as Konohamaru's.

A strong sense of déjà vu made Naruto's lips twitch, and his toes unconsciously dug into his ninja shoes.

He felt like his dark past was being replayed in high definition right before his eyes.

Chapter 280 Naruto: I want to crawl into a hole in the ground.

Within the space of consciousness:

"Pfft..."

Nine-Tails' undisguised sneer rang out first.

The enormous fox lay lazily on the water's surface, its nine tails swaying leisurely, its scarlet beastly eyes filled with mockery.

"So, Naruto, how does it feel to see 'yourself'? Doesn't it feel especially 'familiar'?"

"Haha! I remember it clearly. Back then, you cried and made a scene in front of the Third Hokage just to take on that unlucky mission from the Land of Waves."

"They're practically throwing a tantrum on the ground! Look! Just like that little brat over there!"

The Nine-Tails pointed its enormous claws toward Konohamaru's direction.

He even used chakra to materialize a blurry, miniature version of Naruto clinging to the Third Hokage's leg and acting like a spoiled child, which swayed on the water's surface.

Naruto's consciousness instantly blushed, and roared in embarrassment and anger, "Don't bring up that embarrassing history again! Put that illusion away!"

He wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

The ghostly image of Minato smiled gently beside him, his azure eyes filled with understanding and the warmth of memories.

"Hehe, Kurama, stop teasing Naruto."

He looked at Naruto's consciousness, his tone soothing yet tinged with the感慨 of someone who had been there before: "How does it feel, Naruto? Seeing your past self now standing in the position of a mentor?"

"Do you now understand the helplessness that the Third Hokage and Kakashi felt when facing you back then?"

Naruto scratched his golden hair, muttering somewhat embarrassedly, "Dad... I feel... so awkward."