Ninja Ice House

Chapter 562 Speculation and Rumors

When asked the question, Kurenai Yuhi became even more embarrassed and speechless.

Silent asked curiously:

"That guy from the Furusugi family was really famous when we were kids, but... not all for good reasons. He's good-looking, but his skills... well, they're passable, but he's far from a genius like Kakashi..."

Having repeated so many years, Kosugi Bokusui has been classmates with countless ninja academy students. He knows many of his classmates and even more from different years with whom he has maintained contact.

Children who grow up during wartime are not like Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Ino Yamanaka, who lack a sense of crisis and rely solely on looks.

Kosugi Bokusui definitely has talent. The aptitude and strength he showed at the Ninja Academy were excellent, even among the top-tier Chunin.

At the beginning, the strength of minor characters such as Might Guy, Mizuki, and Iruka was slightly weaker than that of Furutoshi Kosugi. At that time, the level of the young head of the clan was roughly the same as that of Namiashi Rai and Genma Shiranui, but they lacked stamina and were left behind by these future Jonin and Special Jonin.

With his handsome face, generous spending, and gentle and refined manners, he has made quite a few casual acquaintances, but has hardly any deep friendships with anyone.

There were quite a few female classmates who admired Kosugi Shōgaku. Not all young girls had big dreams, and those who aspired to become Hokage, like Tsunade, were extremely rare.

When they first graduated, Sakura Haruno, Ino Yamanaka, Hinata Hyuga, and others were preoccupied with early romance issues, unlike Kurenai Yuhi, Anko Mitarashi, and Shizune, who went to the front lines of the Ninja World War at a young age.

"Different ways of displaying talent can lead to huge differences in the future. Back then, Obito and Rin didn't show anything particularly special, but in the end... sigh!"

As she spoke, Jingyin let out a soft sigh.

The topic of Nohara Rin is something no one really wants to talk about. That quiet and gentle girl back then never expected that she would have the potential to become a high-level Jinchuriki. If she could grow up smoothly, her future would be limitless. Then there's Uchiha Obito, that "comedic relief" loser who grew up so fast on the battlefield, especially after he awakened his Sharingan, his rise was like a rocket launch, even surprising Hatake Kakashi who became a Jonin early on.

As expected of a top-tier clan in the ninja world, their bloodline limit is second to none.

Once the right opportunity arises, one can rapidly improve their skills.

Furthermore, the chaos in the ninja world over the years, and the series of "incidents" that have occurred in Konoha Village, although not yet definitively concluded, have led the village's higher-ups to believe that the vortex-masked stranger is none other than Uchiha Obito, who disappeared on the battlefield years ago without a trace.

Some of the Jonin with connections had already heard of this speculation, and the three of them brought it up in casual conversation, so it wasn't entirely unfounded.

As for why it wasn't made public, the reason is simple: Obito Uchiha is a hero enshrined on the memorial tablet, the pride of the village. If we want to condemn him as a murderer who was an enemy of the village and caused a large number of deaths and injuries, we need solid evidence. Otherwise, it's best not to draw conclusions lightly, let alone publicize them, so as not to attract controversy.

"Is it really Obito?"

Kurenai Yuhi and Anko Mitarashi looked at Shizune with complicated expressions. Because she had followed Tsunade on her travels at a young age, she didn't have much contact with her classmates and peers, so she didn't have a deep understanding of them. Back then, Obito Uchiha and Kakashi Hatake were the two most prominent figures in the class, except one was a genius and the other was a joke.

We were classmates, and even from the same village, and it all turned out like this. Nobody wanted it to end like this.

Shizune shook her head with a wry smile and said:

"I can't say much about this, not even in private, otherwise... there will be problems, especially at this time."

"Okay! We won't ask anymore..."

Mitarashi Anko changed the subject in disappointment.

"That little sister from the Inuzuka family is really persistent. She goes to great lengths to get involved with the Furusugi family and then find opportunities to meet with the young commander. Speaking of which, I was too late to realize this back then. If I had won her over earlier, wouldn't I be a renowned noblewoman by now?"

"You've had too much to drink, Red Bean!"

Kurenai Yuhi squinted at her friend beside her with displeasure.

"It's only just begun, I'm not drunk yet. My alcohol tolerance isn't as high as yours, you 'wine woman,' but it's not bad either... Okay, okay, I was just talking nonsense, don't glare at me, it's scary. By the way, Shizune, I heard the Fifth Boss mention at the tavern that you're quite fond of that young master..."

"Nonsense, that's not true at all. Lady Tsunade just said it in a drunken stupor."

Shizune quickly denied it.

"I do find his face and demeanor attractive, but not to the point of being infatuated with a married man. It's just... a simple admiration for a rich, handsome, and talented young man. What girl hasn't dreamed of such an ideal lover, especially when he's right in front of her? But... we're not close!"

To reiterate, almost everyone knows Kosugi Bokusui; most have had some interaction with him. There are still quite a few people who laugh at him for being foolish or overestimating himself, for giving up a perfectly good benefactor to become a ninja.

Compared to the talent that Gu Shanbu Shui once displayed, his children were extraordinary and quite remarkable.

But that's all just hindsight.

"The young master and his wife, Furusugi, have a good relationship and no health problems. They should live to be a hundred. As for the others... it's best to make plans early and not follow the example of that girl from the Inuzuka family..."

"Having seen the best, who would want to settle for second best? Besides, this is far from it..."

Mitarashi Anko chuckled twice and then stopped, not wanting to provoke her friend Yuhi Kurenai any further. Before the latter could get angry, she quickly changed the subject:

"The village is making a big move this time. I heard several versions of the rumors in the tavern. There are seven or eight versions of what they mean by updating the village's protective barrier. I don't know how many outside spies and agents are gathering information or stirring things up inside."

Don't assume that just because we have a common enemy... the Akatsuki and the Eight Orochi, two dangerous groups formed by S-rank rogue ninja, won't hold back their temporary allies.

For ninjas, intelligence is their lifeline. I may not care, but I absolutely cannot be ignorant of it. Otherwise, danger will creep closer without us even realizing it, until it's too late to react.

"Hope everything goes well..."

Having been involved in the entire process, Jingyin understands all too well the immense impact the success or failure of this mission will have on Konoha Village.

"The sooner we finish this, the less pressure there will be on my defense and surveillance. I've been so busy lately, it's great to finally get a break and relax a bit..."