Naruto: Imitation Ninja

"Damn it!" Asuma muttered. "Don't even talk about being a man. If I weren't unable to beat him, even the woman, Sunset Red, would feel like giving Xing Liu a good beating right now."

Who talks like that, leaving things half unsaid, especially when it's about life-and-death situations…

Thus, Jiraiya, who held as high a position as Xing Liu in this group, first slapped the back of Xing Liu's head with some force, then began to grumble.

"You little brat, I've wanted to beat you for a long time. Putting aside that you were speaking in half sentences on the rooftop earlier, how could you still make such a joke under such life-threatening circumstances?"

"Ouch! Perverted Sage, what are you doing…" Xing Liu rubbed the spot on his head where Jiraiya had slapped him, then glared at him unhappily.

"I was just about to reveal that person's identity, and then you interrupted me! It's your fault!"

"Ah…" Jiraiya now realized that he had indeed been the one to interrupt, and this time, it wasn't because Xing Liu had spoken half a sentence.

"My bad, my bad. Go ahead and finish what you were saying, this time, I promise I won't interrupt you…"

Upon hearing Jiraiya's words, Xing Liu rolled his eyes at him once more before slowly continuing the sentence he had not yet finished.

"Actually, the person I was talking about is someone you know as well. That person was with you and Orochimaru during the second Great Ninja War when you both held on until the very end." Xing Liu said, his face breaking into a mischievous grin as he looked at Jiraiya.

No way. Could he be talking about that woman?

While Jiraiya was still pondering whether it was truly her, Xing Liu had already answered the question for him.

"The one who can save Kakashi now is none other than Tsunade Senju, one of the Legendary Three Ninjas of Konoha."

"Is it really her?" As soon as Xing Liu mentioned someone Jiraiya knew, Jiraiya started to suspect it might be her, but he hadn't expected it to be confirmed so quickly.

"Tsunade Senju?!" The others were momentarily stunned upon hearing the name before slowly recalling who she was.

Among the Legendary Three Ninjas of Konoha, besides Jiraiya and Orochimaru, Tsunade's fame was mostly confined to the gambling halls.

After all, following the Fourth Great Ninja War, she had been humorously dubbed "Big Fish" by the people of all the ninja villages due to her terrible gambling skills.

"That's right." Xing Liu nodded, smiling at everyone's confusion. "The one who, relying solely on her medical skills, stood with Jiraiya and Orochimaru during the Second Great Ninja War until the very end."

Even Jiraiya believed that no one but Tsunade could treat Kakashi's condition, but that woman was a notorious gambler, constantly hanging around gambling houses. Who knew where she could be found?

"Jiraiya-sensei, you should know where Tsunade-sensei is, right?"

No! I don't know! Jiraiya wanted to shout this out loud, but in the face of everyone's hopeful gazes, he could only grit his teeth and mention a few gambling houses where Tsunade was known to frequent.

Xing Liu laughed, jotting down the names of those places in a notebook. Then, he shot Jiraiya an ambiguous glance.

"As expected, the bond between the three of you is strong. You even know exactly where she is."

"Go to hell! I don't believe you don't know where Tsunade is…" After being teased by Xing Liu, Jiraiya realized that the brat had tricked him.

Someone who could casually mention Tsunade's name couldn't possibly not know where she was…

"Alright, enough of this nonsense. I'll take you all back to the hospital. If Sasuke asks about Kakashi, just tell him the truth."

Before anyone could react, they found themselves back at the hospital in Konoha.

"Stay here and rest for now. After that battle, you must all be exhausted." Xing Liu said with a smile as he helped Kakashi into a bed.

"Asuma, did you say that you'd tell Sasuke about Itachi coming to the village?"

"That's right. If I'm not mistaken, Sasuke should break down the door any minute now."

Click—

Sure enough, not long after Xing Liu finished speaking, a cold-looking boy in black clothing stormed into the room.

"Kakashi? Where's Kakashi?"

The boy quickly spotted Kakashi lying in the bed and turned to the others.

"Why is Kakashi lying in bed? What happened?"

"Sasuke, calm down and listen to me…"

Before Xing Liu could finish his sentence, a ninja burst into the room and shouted toward the group, "Hey! I heard Uchiha Itachi just returned?"

"And his target is Naruto?"

Swish—

As soon as the words left his mouth, Sasuke dashed out of the room like lightning.

"Sasuke!"

Watching Sasuke's retreating figure, everyone sighed.

They hadn't expected Itachi to still have such an effect on Sasuke.

"Alright, you all stay here and recuperate. Perverted Sage, let's go to Ichiraku Ramen to find Naruto and bring Sasuke back."

Before Jiraiya could respond, Xing Liu had already teleported hundreds of meters away to Ichiraku Ramen.

...

"Boss! One bowl of ramen, please!"

No sooner had they arrived than Naruto's voice echoed from inside the ramen shop.

"As expected, when looking for Naruto, this place is always the first choice…"

Xing Liu pushed open the curtain of Ichiraku Ramen, only to see Naruto slurping his noodles contentedly.

As soon as little Naruto saw who had sat next to him, the ramen suddenly lost its appeal. Why was Uncle Xing Liu here? Was he here to make me treat him to ramen?

As Naruto protectively guarded his bowl of ramen, Xing Liu realized that this was how Naruto thought of him.

"Alright, I'm not here to steal your ramen. How about I treat you to this meal?"

"Oh yeah! Boss, pack another bowl to go!"

Hearing that Xing Liu would treat him, Naruto didn't put up much of a fight, and after seeing the silver-haired old man beside Xing Liu, he quickly greeted him.

"You little brat, don't forget the promise you made with me." Jiraiya said, then grabbed Naruto and took the ramen that had been packed to go, leaving the shop.

---

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