Chapter 181: Konoha Cannot Exist 80!

Konohagakure, the small grove outside the training grounds.

Several youths wearing Ninja Academy uniforms surrounded Uzumaki Naruto.

These children mocked Naruto as a demon fox while using shuriken-throwing techniques to pelt him with gravel, striking him until bruises appeared on his head.

Unlike the Naruto in history, this Naruto had a ruddy complexion, a tall and straight build, and neat clothes.

But the fall after being struck left Naruto covered in dust, and his originally bright smile had turned into anger.

As the Nine-Tails jinchuriki of Konohagakure, Uzumaki Naruto had lived amidst the alienation and prejudice of the entire village since birth.

Even though Yamanaka Chujiu had settled things with the Third Hokage and brought Naruto to live with his older brother Inoichi, to be raised alongside Ino, the hostility this child suffered had still not completely dissipated.

"The fox whiskers on your face prove that you are a demon fox; acting cute is useless!"

"Hurry up and get out of Konohagakure!"

Although angry, Naruto did not fight back.

Because his mentor Jiraiya had told him to use love to influence those bad children, and every time he would advise him: "You must understand, you must be tolerant..."

Although Naruto could not understand why he had to influence others and tolerate these violent older children when he was the one being bullied, he still endured it according to Jiraiya's request.

However, the situation changed today when a hand caught the stone thrown at Naruto.

The true ruler of Konohagakure, the acting Hokage Yamanaka Chujiu, had finally secured some time to rest after seven consecutive days of busyness.

Because Konohagakure had no decent entertainment and Yamanaka Chujiu did not like to drink, he simply strolled over to find Uzumaki Naruto.

He wanted to see what new skills Naruto had learned and what new growth he had achieved in the year since he had handed the child over to Jiraiya.

When Yamanaka Chujiu appeared on the treetops of the small grove and watched the scene of Naruto being bullied, terrifying anger surged in his eyes.

As a transmigrator, he naturally knew the reputation of Konohagakure as the "village of bullying."

The orphan of the Fourth Hokage, bullying him!

The last Uchiha, bullying him!

The young lady of the Hyuga Clan, they even want to bully her, saying her eyes are ugly!

What?

Lord Hatake Sakumo made a mistake!

Yamanaka Chujiu could understand the low level of civilization in the Ninja World and the prejudice and ignorance of the common people at the bottom.

But he was even more aware of Naruto's identity as a child owed by Konohagakure.

And the root of the name "demon fox calamity" lay in the power struggle between Shimura Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen for control over the Nine-Tails jinchuriki.

Yamanaka Chujiu had thought that after Orochimaru had finished off Danzo, he had placed Hiruzen under house arrest, disbanded the Root, and set aside the Anbu, no one would target Naruto again.

Only then did he feel at ease handing the child over to Jiraiya to care for.

He never expected that after a year, he would actually see a scene of Naruto being bullied.

Yamanaka Chujiu was furious!

Under the new order of Konohagakure that he had built with his own hands, beyond the bottom line of equality and justice under the rule of law, there actually existed shadows like bullying, exclusion, and lynching.

How shameful!

He reformed Konohagakure, ended wars, quelled internal strife, and unified the four seas, not to see such an ugly scene!

He did not erupt with massive chakra, but simply said to the seven or eight of them: "All of you, stop!"

Yamanaka Chujiu's voice was not loud, but it carried the majesty of a top-tier superior and a soul-shaking pressure.

Upon hearing this, the several youths surrounding Naruto subconsciously stopped their actions and stiffly turned their heads.

When they saw Yamanaka Chujiu's appearance, everyone was frightened into bowing their heads, their faces turning pale one by one, their legs trembling uncontrollably.

Yamanaka Chujiu jumped down, his gaze falling on Naruto's wounds.

He raised his hand, and green chakra seeped into the wounds, soothing the pain: "It's alright, Naruto."

Naruto stared blankly at Yamanaka Chujiu, then suddenly burst into loud tears: "Uncle Chujiu, I missed you so much."

Yamanaka Chujiu did not say much, only gently patted his shoulder, then his gaze suddenly turned toward the edge of the small grove.

Standing there was the white-haired Jiraiya, his expression awkward, his eyes filled with panic and guilt.

"Lord Jiraiya, you are one of the Konoha Sannin and one of the strongest ninja in the Ninja World. The only task I gave you was to teach and protect Naruto; why is Naruto being bullied and humiliated within the village?"

Jiraiya walked up quickly, looking at Naruto, who was covered in dust and wounds, and the guilt in his eyes became even more apparent.

Yamanaka Chujiu's icy, bone-chilling gaze made his heart tighten even more.

Jiraiya took the initiative to bow and admit his fault: "It is all my dereliction of duty, Lord Chujiu."

Yamanaka Chujiu looked at him and said coldly: "Of course it is a dereliction of duty!"

"Under your very nose, the core combat power of the village, the only child of the Fourth Hokage..."

"Do you have any sense of responsibility as a ninja, any love as an elder?"

Yamanaka Chujiu reprimanded Jiraiya unceremoniously, leaving no room for face.

Jiraiya was scolded until his face turned pale, his head hung even lower, and the guilt in his heart was beyond measure.

He had always been free and loose by nature; after being restricted to living in the village by Yamanaka Chujiu, he felt the village's atmosphere was excellent, so he let down his guard, indulged in heavy drinking, and neglected his responsibility to care for Naruto.

Jiraiya's voice was hoarse: "I have nothing to say; I leave it to Lord Chujiu to deal with me."

Yamanaka Chujiu looked at him and spoke slowly: "For the sake of Master Orochimaru, I will give you one last chance."

"You will continue to protect, care for, and teach Naruto."

"But remember, from this day on, if one more incident of bullying occurs, I will strip you of your status as a Konoha Jonin and exile you."

Jiraiya responded solemnly: "Yes!"

Yamanaka Chujiu stopped looking at him and turned his gaze toward the trembling young students.

His voice turned cold: "You relied on force to bully the weak, ignoring village rules and laws; the nature of this is extremely vile."

"Call your parents to see me!"

Wah...

All the children were scared to tears, but crying was useless.

The next day, Yamanaka Chujiu officially issued an order to launch a special campaign to rectify anti-bullying in Konohagakure.

At first, whether they were ninja or villagers, everyone felt that Lord Yamanaka Chujiu was making a mountain out of a molehill.

What could possibly be the matter with some scuffles between children?

The weeping of the victims also made the villagers tremble with fear.

The atmosphere in Konohagakure changed; ninja from the Security Force, Intelligence Department, Interrogation Department, and Supervisory Department were all deployed, and no one dared to be lax ever again.

Regardless of age, status, or family background, any behavior involving bullying, slander, or preying on the weak was punished according to regulations.

The responsibility of their parents would also be pursued.

For children whose cases were serious and who refused to mend their ways despite repeated instruction, Yamanaka Chujiu did not indulge them in the slightest, directly expelling them from the academy and stripping them of their qualifications to become ninja.