Chapter 62 – Attending the Wedding Banquet 喝喜酒

When Jiuchong Ring finished issuing the mission, Lin Yuan lay on the hospital bed with a speechless look on his face.

"Attend Naruto's wedding banquet? Didn't I come to this world to search for a certain magic weapon and replicate it? Why has it turned into a mission of 'attending a wedding banquet'?" Lin Yuan grumbled in his mind.

Jiuchong Ring said lazily, "Host, this mission is really tough. You know, it's not easy to live till Naruto gets married. In this ninja world, attacks are strong but defenses are weak, and there are dangers all around. So, the most important thing is to stay alive. First of all, I'll give your body a skill to make you immune to all illusions."

Lin Yuan fell silent immediately. Various events that could threaten his life flashed through his mind, and he realized it was really a tough situation.

"Alright, at least now I have the skill to be immune to illusions. I don't have to worry about being toyed with mentally anymore." Lin Yuan comforted himself, but couldn't help asking, "Then what kind of target mission is Uzumaki Naruto? Why is he so important?"

Jiuchong Ring didn't reply. Instead, it gave a mysterious laugh and said, "You'll figure it out later. Oh, and the chakra in your body has changed to the fire nature. It can beat most wind ninjutsu, but most water ninjutsu can beat it."

"I have immunity to illusions and the nature transformation of fire-based chakra this time? Hmm..." Lin Yuan mused.

A few days later, Lin Yuan's recovery was going well, and he was already able to get out of bed and walk around. On this day, Shikamaru, Neji, Choji, Ino, and Naruto and the others came to visit him and the other injured.

"Lin Yuan, you were really brave! If not for you stalling Tayuya, we wouldn't have made it till the reinforcements came." Naruto said, grinning gratefully.

Shikamaru had his hands in his pockets and yawned, "But don't get too cocky. Your injury this time is quite serious. Don't be reckless next time."

Lin Yuan waved his hand, "I was just lucky. I'm already thanking my lucky stars that I wasn't taken out in one move." He smiled self-deprecatingly, and then turned to Neji and Choji, "How are you two recovering?"

Neji replied calmly, "It's nothing serious. Just that my muscles and bones are still a bit stiff."

Choji, though, scratched his head awkwardly and said, "I'm nearly all better, but food doesn't taste as great as it used to."

Everyone laughed. Ino, though, looked at Lin Yuan worriedly, "You were the most seriously injured. Don't push yourself too hard. Just stay in the village and recover for the next while."

Lin Yuan smiled and nodded, "Don't worry. I'm not that easy to die."

While Lin Yuan was recuperating from his injury, another piece of news came from Konoha. Sakura was determined to go and find out where Sasuke was. When Lin Yuan heard this news, his heart tightened and he frowned, "If she goes alone, she's just courting death!"

Sure enough, not long after, Naruto also noticed Sakura's plan. Naruto, of course, couldn't just stand by and do nothing. He quickly went to see Tsunade and asked to go out of the village with Sakura.

"Granny Tsunade! Sasuke is my friend, and I can't just ignore it!" Naruto said firmly, with a look of unwavering determination in his eyes.

Tsunade sighed, "Naruto, you have to understand that Sasuke has defected from Konoha. He's a Konoha traitor now, and he's an enemy. If you go after him rashly, you'll just put yourself in danger."

Just then, Jiraiya entered the Hokage's office, scratched his head, and said casually, "Tsunade, this kid is so stubborn. How about I take them?"

Tsunade frowned and looked at him, "Jiraiya, didn't you just come back from outside? Why are you suddenly intervening in this matter?"

Jiraiya grinned, "I don't want Naruto and Sakura to take risks either. Let me, their master, protect them myself. Besides, this is also a good opportunity for them to gain some experience."

Tsunade thought for a while and finally agreed reluctantly, "Okay, but you have to make sure they both return safely."

...

Lin Yuan learned from Ino that Naruto and Sakura were about to follow Jiraiya on a high-level mission. While he envied that Naruto could learn from Jiraiya, he also felt a bit worried that his arrival might cause the story to develop differently.

"Jiuchong Ring, should I go with them? Naruto is the target of the mission. What if he dies? Won't my mission fail?" Lin Yuan asked in his mind.

Jiuchong Ring said lazily, "Host, you're not in good enough shape. Jiraiya's protecting Naruto, so don't worry about his safety."

Lin Yuan thought for a while, "That's right. How could there be such a big butterfly effect? Even if I die, Naruto won't die."

In the following days, Lin Yuan not only focused on recuperating from his injury but also began to study his fire-based chakra. He found that fire-based ninjutsu could not only increase his attack power in battle but also, by burning chakra and combining it with his spiritual power, temper his speed and agility.

"Since I can't take part in important missions now, I need to get stronger first. Otherwise, I might not be able to protect myself next time." Lin Yuan decided secretly.

At the same time, he also started to try to find opportunities to have more contact with Naruto. After all, the mission was to "attend Naruto's wedding". He had to keep in touch with Naruto to live until then.

=====================

当九重戒将任务发布完毕,林远一脸无语地躺在病床上.

"喝鸣人的喜酒?我不是来这个世界寻找某个法宝,复制宝物的吗?为什么变成了 '喝喜酒' 的任务了?" 林远在脑海里吐槽道.

九重戒语气懒散地回应:"宿主,这也是一项极其高难度的任务.你知道要活到鸣人结婚得有多难吗?在这个高攻低防,危机四伏的忍者世界,保命才是关键.首先,我会在你这身体按上免疫任何幻术的技能."

林远顿时沉默,脑海里浮现出各种可能会威胁到他生命的事件,想想还真是有点难搞.

"行吧,至少现在我有免疫幻术的技能,不用怕再被人玩弄精神." 林远自我安慰道,但又忍不住问:"那漩涡鸣人算什么目标任务?为什么他这么重要?"

九重戒没有回答,只是神秘地笑了一声:"你会慢慢明白的.顺带一提,你这身体查克拉性质变化为火,可以克制大部份风遁忍术,但会被大部份水遁忍术克制."

"这次是免疫幻术,和火属性查克拉性质变化么?嗯..." 林远沉思道.

几天后,林远的恢复情况良好,已经可以下地走动了.这天,鹿丸,宁次,丁次,井野以及鸣人一行人前来探望他和其他伤员.

"林远,你这次可真男人啊!要不是你拖住了那个多由也,我们可能没办法支撑到援军赶来." 鸣人咧嘴笑道,一脸感激.

鹿丸双手插在口袋里,打了个哈欠:"不过,也别太得意.你这次的伤可是够严重的,下次别逞强了."

林远摆摆手:"我这是运气好,没被一招送走已经谢天谢地了." 他自嘲地笑了笑,随后转向宁次和丁次:"你们两个恢复得怎么样了?"

宁次面色平静地答道:"没什么大碍,只是筋骨还有些僵硬."

丁次却一脸不好意思地挠头:"我倒是恢复得差不多了,就是好像吃东西没以前香了."

众人哈哈一笑,井野却担忧地看着林远:"你才是伤得最重的,别太勉强了.接下来一段时间就乖乖在村子里养伤."

林远笑着点点头:"放心吧,我没那么容易挂."

就在林远养伤期间,木叶又传来了一则消息,小樱下定决心要去寻找佐助的下落.林远听到这个消息时,心里一紧,皱起了眉头:"她一个人去,根本就是自寻死路啊!"

果不其然,没过多久,鸣人也察觉到小樱的计划.鸣人当然不可能坐视不管,当即跑去找纲手,要求跟随小樱一起离开村子.

"纲手婆婆!佐助是我的朋友,我不能放着不管!" 鸣人坚定地说道,眼神中透露出不容拒绝的决心.

纲手叹了口气:"鸣人,你要明白,佐助已经叛逃木叶,属于木叶的叛忍,他现在是敌人了.你贸然追出去,只会把自己置于危险中."

就在这时,自来也走进火影办公室,挠了挠脑袋,懒洋洋地说道:"纲手,既然这小子这么坚持,不如让我带着他们去吧."

纲手皱眉看向他:"自来也,你不是刚从外面回来吗?为什么突然要插手这件事?"

自来也咧嘴一笑:"我也不希望鸣人和小樱冒险,不如让我这个师父亲自保护他们.再说了,这也算是一次好机会,让他们见见世面."

纲手沉思片刻,最终无奈地答应了:"好吧,不过你必须保证两人都平安回来."

...

林远从井野口中得知鸣人和小樱即将跟随自来也执行高级任务.他一边羡慕鸣人可以跟随自来也学习,一边也有些担忧自己的到来会不会引起不一样的故事发展.

"九重戒,我是不是该跟着一起去?鸣人可是目标任务啊,万一他挂了,我的任务不就失败了吗?" 林远在脑海中问道.

九重戒懒洋洋地回应:"宿主,你的身体状况不允许啊.而且鸣人身边有自来也保护,安全问题不用你操心."

林远想了想:"也对,哪有那么大的蝴蝶效应,我挂了,鸣人都不可能挂."

接下来的日子里,林远一边安心养伤,一边开始研究自己的火属性查克拉.他发现,火属性忍术在战斗中不仅可以增加攻击力,还可以通过查克拉燃烧配合精神力淬炼自己的速度和灵敏度.

"既然我现在无法参与大任务,那就先提升自己的实力,免得下次连保命都成问题." 林远心中暗下决心.

与此同时,他也开始试图寻找与鸣人进一步接触的机会,毕竟任务目标可是 "喝鸣人的喜酒",活到那天还得和鸣人保持一定的联系.