Naruto: Start by eating the golden fruit.

Nagato sighed and packed his things with a lost look on his face.

Although he became the Minister of the Ministry of Construction, it was more because the previous minister did not want to do the job anymore.

Nagato didn't know why at first, but now he seemed to understand a little.

I'm afraid that no matter what proposal we submit here, the reply from above will be "wait".

Of course, there were some that agreed, but some proposals such as the construction of new residential areas, renovation of real estate projects, expansion of commercial areas, etc., which were related to the country's development but not so relevant, were passed.

Nagato remembered that the previous minister once proposed to build a temple in the Whirlpool Country to enshrine the successive Hokage and kings of the Whirlpool Country, but the proposal was naturally rejected.

I built a temple, but I refused to let you worship with me. What's the point of doing this?! Can't you just say I'm a stamping machine?!

I can only approve it if you notify me, and I can't even refuse it. If you don't notify me, I won't dare to say a word.

What else is there to say? I quit being this crappy minister!

Nagato sighed.

Sometimes being smart is not a good thing.

He now understands what took his predecessor more than 20 years to figure out.

or……

Nagato sorted out the documents and walked towards his room.

While walking on the road, he was suddenly stopped by someone.

"Oh! You're Nagato, right?"

Nagato was stunned. This name is so familiar...

Turning his head, he saw a middle-aged man and woman walking towards him.

The middle-aged man had a head of white spiky hair gathered back into a hedgehog braid.

The middle-aged woman was looking at him tenderly with a gentle smile on her face, her smooth long hair parted on one side. This kind of hairstyle is not something that most people can pull off.

"You are... Sensei Jiraiya?!" Nagato looked at the middle-aged couple in front of him with some surprise.

Jiraiya looked at Nagato and touched the back of his head and laughed, "That's right! See, I said Nagato would remember me."

As he spoke, Jiraiya gestured to Nagato, "This is Himiko, your master's wife. Call her master's wife."

Nagato quickly bowed and said, "Hello, Master's wife!"

Himiko's eyes became softer.

Jiraiya laughed, then pointed to the hot pot restaurant nearby and said to Nagato: "Let's go, your master will treat you to hot pot today~"

Nagato thought about it and was about to open his mouth to refuse, but Jiraiya took him into the hot pot restaurant without any explanation.

Entering the hot pot restaurant, Jiraiya ordered a lot of things.

Nagato was horrified. He was afraid that today's meal would cost him one-tenth of his monthly salary.

Although the teacher paid...

"By the way, you look so sad today, did something happen?"

Jiraiya looked at Nagato and asked casually.

Nagato looked at Jiraiya, thought for a moment and said, "Teacher Jiraiya... is he from Konoha Village..."

"You kid, have you forgotten this? Of course I, your master, am..." Jiraiya was about to teach Nagato a lesson, but when he saw that Nagato looked unhappy, he immediately asked in a deep voice, "Did anyone from Konoha Village bully you?"

But after thinking about it, Jiraiya shook his head and said, "That shouldn't be the case. I've met Mito Kado En before, and he said that the soldiers stationed in the Whirlpool Country would not do anything out of line..."

Nagato pursed his lips, looked up at Jiraiya and said, "Today... I told the Hokage of Konoha Village my request. I want to ask the Hokage to build a university in the Land of Whirlpools..."

Jiraiya blinked and said, "That's good. Hmm, so the Hokage refused? Maybe he has his considerations?"

Nagato looked at Jiraiya and asked, "Teacher Jiraiya, do you know what is the most important thing for a village?"

Jiraiya looked at Nagato in confusion, "What is it?"

Nagato took a deep breath and slowly raised his head: "It's history, it's culture, it's... education."

Jiraiya looked confused.

Himiko, who was standing by, lowered her head and fell into thought.

Nagato sighed, stood up and bowed to Jiraiya, "Thank you... for everything you have done for me..."

Then, Nagato left the hot pot restaurant.

Jiraiya was confused for a minute, then he said to Himiko in confusion: "It's my treat...he hasn't eaten yet?!"

Himiko chuckled and covered her mouth, then fed the boiled meat to Jiraiya...

Next day:

Nagato walked towards the government building of Whirlpool Country with a stack of notebooks in his hand.

Here are the contents of the books that he copied down word for word with a pen from the fourth floor of the Konoha Library and brought back.

He knew that all his problems could be solved by the books he copied.

but……

He felt like he had come to a fork in the road.

He didn't know which way to go next.

Sighing, Nagato was not in a hurry. He still had a lot of time...

"Hey, Nagato."

A voice made Nagato look away.

Jiraiya held a two-stick popsicle in his hand and said to Nagato with a smile: "I've been waiting for you for a long time. How about we chat?"

Nagato pursed his lips, walked over and took the popsicle that Jiraiya handed to him.

"Your master's wife told me yesterday that you must have a lot of things in your heart."

Nagato took a bite of his popsicle and was about to speak when Jiraiya continued, "Of course, your mistress also asked me to comfort you, but...

Your teacher, I never listen to your teacher's wife~"

Jiraiya grinned, then waved his hand and said to Nagato: "Today, your teacher will take you to a fun place!"

Nagato narrowed his eyes: "Teacher, you are already married, so don't go to that kind of place."

Jiraiya froze, then slapped Nagato softly on the back of the head, "What are you thinking about? Your teacher said I was taking you to the arcade!"

Nagato looked confused and said, "I've been to the arcade many times, but I don't think it's that fun."

Jiraiya pushed Nagato and said, "Come on, let's go. Your teacher will be my treat."

But I felt relieved in my heart. Damn it, if Nagato knew that I was indeed planning to take him to that kind of place in the beginning, wouldn't my image as a master be completely ruined?

"..."

On this day, Jiraiya and Nagato did not discuss work, and Nagato was not punished for being absent from work for a day. After all... in his position, it didn't really matter whether he was there or not.

What's more, it was Jiraiya who took Nagato away.

This guy……

Although he is married and has children now, he still behaves like a playboy.

Nagato actually had a lot of fun the whole day today.

As long as he didn't think about work, or in other words, as long as he didn't think about the country of whirlpools, Nagato felt that he could be happy forever, but...

How can I not think about it...

Sighing, Nagato was about to take a shower when his cell phone rang...

He answered the phone and was a little surprised:

"Yahiko? Why is it you?"