Zuo Jing was surprised.

It's not that he doesn't know Hinata Hinata, but he has only met her a few times, and he hasn't had any conversations. It's a superficial relationship of 'meeting'.

And my understanding of the other party is limited to the fact that the other party comes from a wealthy family and is a noble lady.

In addition, I learned from Sakura that this eldest lady seems to have an unusual relationship with Naruto.

Other than that, he didn't know anything else.

"Of course, you are a member of Team 7, so we will be companions from now on. I heard from my father that you have taken care of Naruto many times during missions. As Naruto's friend, naturally I cannot exclude you.

.”

Shikamaru smiled.

"Is that so? Okay, I understand."

Zuo Jing thought about it for a while and felt that this was a good way to integrate into the group and would be beneficial to his mission.

However, to celebrate Hinata Hinata's birthday, you need to prepare birthday gifts.

What gift should I give to a girl?

Moreover, as we are strangers, it is not good to give something too precious, and it seems that we do not take it seriously enough to give something too simple.

As a result, Sakai's brows furrowed in distress...

It seems that I really lack the common sense to communicate with others.

The more this happened, the more he felt that he should join this birthday party. Only in this way could he better disguise himself as a normal person.

After chatting for a while, Shikamaru left the library.

Sakura closed the medical book and said helplessly: "It seems that I don't have time to read today, Sakai, will we go pick out gifts together later?"

Sakai nodded, maybe Sakura could give him some good reference advice.

"Then Naruto..."

"I will ask the teacher to be responsible for delivering the message later. There seems to be a communication office in the village that is in contact with Mt. Myoboku. And the Chinese New Year is coming soon, so it won't be a problem to ask Naruto to come back a few days early."

Sakura said this, obviously thinking about the next arrangements.

Sakai closed the book, put the books on the bookshelf with Sakura, and walked out of the library.

◎

"That's it, little Naruto, as long as you work harder, you can introduce natural energy into your body normally and control them!"

Next to the oil pool where toad oil is stored in Mt. Myoki, Fukasaku Sage, one of the two great sages, holds a black stick in his hand and dances to direct Naruto to practice celestial arts.

If you want to learn magic, absorb natural energy, and skillfully use natural energy, this is inevitable.

Even though Naruto used the Shadow Clone Technique to increase the experience accumulation process of absorbing natural energy, various errors still occurred in the process, resulting in unsatisfactory progress.

But this unsatisfactory progress is only compared to learning other ninjutsu. In the view of Fukasaku Sage, Naruto's training progress can be regarded as a type of ninja who progresses very quickly in terms of simply learning natural energy.

If you continue to practice at this speed, it will not be difficult to learn how to use natural energy and involve the principles of magic in the next year.

If circumstances permit, the goal of learning magic can even be achieved faster.

"ah!"

Naruto shouted happily from his mouth.

He was only wearing boxer briefs, revealing his strong abdominal muscles and leg muscles. There were a lot of whip marks on his back, with red marks all over it, like a medal worth being proud of.

"It's really troublesome. It's like this again. This kind of energy is too difficult to control, isn't it, Grandpa Immortal?"

Feeling that the natural energy in his body was getting thinner and thinner, Naruto couldn't help but become dejected.

This was the first time that he had made no progress in his cultivation.

The rest of the ninjutsu had already been completed in advance with the help of the shadow clone, and had been mastered and used.

However, it is completely unfeasible for natural energy, a special power that is different from chakra.

Even with the help of the shadow clone, in his opinion, the effect is not particularly obvious, it is still like a turtle crawling.

This is in a place like Miaomu Mountain where natural energy is abundant and easy to absorb. If it were the outside world, it might not be possible to absorb natural energy on its own and would need help from others.

"Little Naruto, you are just too impatient. This is the most taboo thing when learning immortal arts, otherwise it will easily disrupt the natural energy in the body. In fact, you have already done a very good job in the introductory practice of natural energy."…

Fukasaku Sennin jumped over with a black stick and comforted Naruto.

"Really?"

Naruto looked suspicious.

"Of course, as an immortal, how could I deceive you? Although little Naruto, your shadow clone training method can shorten the accumulation process to a certain extent, but learning immortal arts is a long grinding process. What's important is

It is about learning the patience and remembering the feeling of absorbing natural energy every time. I think in a short time, you should be able to absorb natural energy by yourself, and you can be self-sufficient even in the outside world."

Fukasaku Sennin smiled.

Different from when he first came to Mount Miaomu to practice celestial arts, Naruto now has completed the improvement of his own skills, especially in terms of control of chakra and other aspects, and has obviously received targeted training.

After so much training, Naruto at this time has obviously reached the qualification line for cultivating natural energy.

Just as Naruto was about to say something, the sound of footsteps came, and Jiraiya walked over from far to near.

"Boss Fukasaku, Naruto, you are all here."

He said hello.

"What's the matter, Lustful Immortal? I'm practicing natural energy."

Naruto stood up from the ground and dusted off his pants.

"Let's put aside the training matters for now. Next, we should return to Konoha."

"Eh? Now?"

Naruto was stunned for a moment.

"Well, that's right. Let's go now. We've already received a letter from the village, asking us to come back as soon as possible. The next time we come here may be after the New Year. And by that time, I may not have time to come with you."

Jiraiya's tone was full of inexplicable meaning, as if it was foreshadowing what was about to happen.

"Really? It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if I come alone then."

Jiraiya touched Naruto's head and smiled, then turned to look at Fukasaku Sage and said: "Boss Fukasaku, then I will take Naruto back."

"Okay, but remember to be careful when you go back, little Jiraiya, and don't be too impulsive then."

There was a heavy look in Fukasaku Sennin's eyes, and his tone became a little lower, which meant something.

Jiraiya put his palm on his chest and scratched it, and continued to smile and said: "Don't worry, after all, I am also one of the three ninjas, and I will not be defeated so easily."

Naruto stood aside, a little confused about the exchange between the two, and blinked in confusion.

"Okay, let's go back, Naruto."

Jiraiya ignored Naruto's gaze, patted him on the back, and left quickly as Fukasaku Sennin watched.

◎

The country of ghosts.

Bitter ice and snow are flying in the sky.

The area under military jurisdiction was filled with a chilling atmosphere.

The flag engraved with aster flowers was fluttering in the cold wind.

Located in the built-in corridor outside the conference room, Yiji put her hands behind her head in boredom, and occasionally looked sideways at the closed door of the conference room.

This time lasted for about half an hour, and then the closed door of the conference room slowly opened.

Senior military personnel walked out of it one after another. They walked calmly in the corridor, with an unhurried attitude, as if they did not expect the difficulties they would face next. They dispersed in an orderly manner and returned to their work as usual.

post.…

The wind and snow were blowing wildly outside, and a layer of solid ice had formed on the windows, making them pale and cold.

"I heard that it has been snowing heavily for three days in the Bear Country, making the road difficult to travel. Is there really no problem with the deployment there?"

Seeing her mother Liuli coming out of the conference room, Yiji turned her back away from the wall and asked casually.

In such an icy and snowy day, even if you have an efficient transportation vehicle, it will be more difficult to use and operate than usual.

"The action plan has been drawn up a long time ago, and now it's just a matter of redefining the process. As for you, the burden on you next is not light at all. It's impossible not to be prepared."

Liuli responded calmly.

Yiji chuckled lightly.

"I am no longer the child who will be easily knocked down by you. Mom, you have to realize this clearly. By the way, you shouldn't go home tonight, so I'll go back and prepare first."

After saying that, Yiji turned her head slightly, glanced at the flying snowflakes outside, turned around and walked in the opposite direction.

Liuli looked at Yiji's leaving figure, lowered her head and thought about something.

"Hey, isn't Yiji working with you? Why did he leave alone?"
To be continued...