Naruto Shippuden

The State of Affairs

FIRE

So, I told my classmates…

that they were lucky to have so much free time.

It's been a month since I got here.

Isn't it about time I get to supervise a big assignment on my own?

Oh, Lord Hokage!

Where was yesterday's report again?

Third pile to the right, the second one.

Oh, here it is.

Didn't this come with some attachments?

Second pile, the third one.

I don't know what I'd do without you.

Oh right, Lord Hokage.

About next week's inspection…

I keep telling you to just call me Kakashi.

You're way too stiff and formal, senpai!

And don't forget to take a break.

Efficiency gets compromised if you don't.

Roger!

Anyway…

I didn't become a shinobi to be chained to a desk.

How do you not get bored doing this sort of work, senpai?

Uh, senpai?

I haven't looked up at the clouds in a long time.

You know, senpai, sometimes you talk like an old man.

Is something bothering you?

Huh?

No.

And, I'm done for the day!

Man!

We cruised through today!

Thanks, and see ya tomorrow!

Oh, Lord Hokage!

Thanks, and see ya tomorrow!

See ya…

Thanks for today.

Why'd you pick a guy like that?

The adult world is complicated.

I don't like that kind of stuff.

Oh?

I thought you became one of us a while back.

Give me a break!

Having more shinobi like him just goes to show we're at peace.

It's been two years since then.

I'm starting to get a belly…

I don't want to hear it.

Do you keep up with training?

Here and there.

You say it like that,

but I bet you're as disciplined as ever.

Why can't you just humor me a bit?

I told him to double-check it!

By the way, how is it going?

Regarding that issue.

It's on the back-burner.

No contact then?

I feel bad burdening you with it.

I was never really cut out to be a shinobi.

The fact that I continue to be one…

Is to make Naruto the Hokage one day, right?

To make sure that happens, I can't be a child forever.

Naruto's still a child, even now.

He is who he is.

Oh…

How about we go grab a bite after you're done?

After this, Lord Tsuchikage and I have a game.

Oh right, I saw him at the conference yesterday.

All he talked about was how he would beat you this time.

Anyway, please go easy on him.

Well, half of it is work for me.

Hey, Shikamaru…

I wonder what it means to become an adult?

No, wait… This one?

How's that, young 'un? You're speechless now, eh?

Please excuse me…

Hey, don't think I'll let you win and run!

Tsk…

I have to work twice as hard tomorrow.

HIDDEN LEAF LIBRARY

BARBE-Q

BARBE-Q Welcome!

Oh, there he is!

Over here!

Sorry I'm late.

That's the meat I was grilling!

Here you go.

This one's done too.

Another order of kalbi please!

Anyway, I keep teaching this newbie and she just doesn't get it.

There's one on my team too.

He reminds me of myself and I just can't ignore him.

I wonder if Asuma felt this way.

You two have totally embraced your roles as instructors.

Well, you're Lord Hokage's right-hand man, aren't you?

But I don't have anyone under me to mentor.

You're the type that prefers to just do things yourself.

Being a loner suits me.

You two are the only ones who are special to me.

I miss the old days.

Hey, we're not old enough to be saying that.

Back then, it was normal for us to be together 24/7.

Now, we have to set up a time and date just to eat together.

It's kinda sad, huh?

Maybe that's what it means to become an adult.

That's for sure. Your temperament's changed.

Huh? You've got to be kidding.

Lately, you never say, "what a drag."

Haven't you noticed?

Really?

BARBE-Q – Thanks for the food! – Thank you!

They gave me gum when I was at the register.

Doesn't this bring back memories?

GUM Doesn't this bring back memories?

I always chewed this when I was a kid!

Oh, it's so sweet! Was it always this sweet?

Okay, where to next?

You still wanna eat more?

Let's go BBQ hopping!

Sorry, I have to go.

Huh?!

Shikamaru… Is something on your mind?

Your mind seems to be wandering.

It's nothing.

I have to leave the village for work, on Allied Shinobi business.

Is it the same thing Temari and Kankuro attend?

So Temari is more important than us?

Oww…

What're you talking about?

SAMURAI

SAMURAI And so, we hope that it grows even more.

That concludes my activity report.

Are there any other questions?

Regarding the long list of missing persons after the Great War…

How is the search going?

It's currently under investigation.

How about the drop in shinobi requests for three consecutive periods?

It's currently under investigation.

You know, if it keeps dropping,

it'll affect how we administer the villages.

We should have a more detailed report by the next meeting.

I understand the view

that a decrease in requests for shinobi poses a concern.

But remember, this is a consequence of peace.

If there are no more questions,

we'll meet again in one month.

Hey! Wait, Shikamaru!

What's going on, Temari?

You're hiding something, aren't you?

Huh? What makes you say that?

See?

When you answer a question with a question,

it's proof that something's up.

What's going on in the Hidden Leaf Village?

I don't know what you're talking about.

It's something you can't talk to me about?

I said there's nothing going on!

So there's nothing I can help with?

Nope.

I see…

Hey, Temari…

Both you and I are representatives of our villages…

We shouldn't pry too much into the other's—

What the hell—?!

I misjudged you!

So that's what made you remember your old man.

Yes.

He often got yelled at by my mom for staying out all night.

Sorry you had to go through that.

Temari is very intuitive.

She's going to find out sooner or later

about the Land of Silence.

Many of the missing from the Great War

and Rogue Ninja are filtering into this mysterious land.

And there's a deep, dark rumor

that it's undertaking shinobi missions illegally.

By rights, the Shinobi Alliance should deal with this problem.

It'll be troublesome if they find out that

we're independently investigating this.

But taking action on the Land of Silence

in the name of the alliance will be touchy.

Just when we finally achieved peace.

It's already been two weeks since Sai left word

that he was infiltrating the Land of Silence, right?

We can't just stand by without taking action any further.

It's finally here.

The state of affairs is more serious than we previously thought.

If the Land of Silence is left to continue as is,

the Shinobi Alliance will be threatened at some point.

There is one leader at work in this land.

His name is…

Gengo.

I've never heard that name before.

It's possible, he will become the one

who may very well change the pitiful existence of shinobi…

In fact, he may change the whole framework of this world.

I don't even know myself anymore…

This isn't good.

Right?