Naruto didn't quite understand the intricate relationships of Konoha's various clans, but he also knew there's a clan in Konoha called Yamashiro Clan. Typically, the young and able-bodied members of that clan wouldn't be placed into a cannon fodder team.
Though calling it a 'cannon fodder team' was a bit much, after all, it's impossible for a cannon fodder team to have Medical-nin. Medical-nin were highly sought after during this period, and each loss was significant.
During this long period of friction and war, the casualty rate of Shinobi was infinitely increased, and Medical-nin could preserve the manpower to a great extent. While Shinobi were considered expendable, Medical-nin were not.
While Naruto was lost in thought, the other two had already introduced themselves. One was named Shita, and the other was called Noma. These days, civilian Shinobi didn't even have the privilege of having surnames.
When it was Naruto's turn, he kept it brief, "Kitahiko, just barely survived and made it back."
The other boys eyed Naruto warily, noticing his casual, almost careless demeanor. Seeing the bloodstains on his green vest that couldn't be washed out, they began to feel uneasy.
'He escaped death but still looked this laid-back, he must have some serious illness.'
The girl also spoke up, "My name is Nohara Nao, and I'm temporarily serving as a Medical-nin."
That word 'temporarily' struck Naruto as odd. He glanced at her in confusion, and she smiled generously and explained, "I was transferred to the Medical Department after the Chunin Exams. I'm not very good at Medical Ninjutsu."
Hearing this, Naruto understood right away. This situation was not uncommon. After all, was transferred were in a safer situation, and even on the battlefield, they weren't as likely to be killed.
In simpler terms, she was someone who wasn't fully committed to being cannon fodder. She had some talent for Medical Ninjutsu, and with that, she had decisively joined the Medical Department as a non-staff member.
Naruto looked Nao over briefly and noticed her wrist guards were heavily worn, 'As expected, she was a latecomer. She was probably on a mission a few days ago and came back to join the Medical Department.'
The Nohara Clan was somewhat well-known in the village, though it was a small clan. However, Naruto didn't pay much attention to this. What he was really thinking about was how to get his hands on the information he needed.
This wasn't a simple matter of fighting. Even if he uses force, he must find the right person. Besides, Konoha was currently a place full of hidden dangers, with many eyes watching from all directions.
If he acted too recklessly, he would be easily noticed, and he would end up losing more than he gained. After all, who would believe that someone infiltrated Konoha just to find some obscure information?
And Naruto didn't want to cause any trouble either, after all, his parents were also in Konoha. He had already bumped into Kushina earlier, but luckily, she didn't recognize him.
He didn't have any particular feelings toward Minato or Kushina, he simply didn't want to risk affecting his own existence. What if something unexpected happened and the real body couldn't be born? That would be disastrous.
So, Naruto avoided pointless actions. It's easier to get things done when the purpose is clear, and there aren't so many distractions.
More importantly, people need to know their own position. He was fully aware that his current identity was that of an infiltrator, so stealing some information wouldn't be a big deal.
But if he lost his mind and decided to mess with Danzo, that would be true disaster. Right now, Danzo was one of Sandaime's most trusted allies and a hero of Konoha.
Setting aside all other stray thoughts, Naruto had basically confirmed his target. Nohara Nao was a latecomer to the Medical Department and likely had no access to core information.
However, she is still a good stepping stone, and it is definitely a good idea to establish a good relationship with her.
Naruto looked up and silently glanced at the three Chunin. Apart from the Chunin from the Yamashiro Clan, the other two were clearly cannon fodder. After the introduction, gthe roup quickly disbanded.
Without any tasks, they didn't bother with flashy group training or wasting each other's time. Who knew when they'd be sent on another high-risk mission? So it's best to conserve energy.
Save what you can, spend when necessary… Even when they die, the money remains.
After leaving the Academy, the group went their separate ways. Naruto saw the two cannon fodder teammates eagerly clinging to Nao, constantly trying to make conversation.
They were likely offering to walk her home, saying whatever they could to stay around her. There was no impatience on Nao's face, but her smile and behavior were polite yet distant.
Naruto glanced at Yamashiro Nobi who was standing not far away. He looked gentle and polite. He rolled up his sleeves, glanced in the direction where Nao and the other two left, and then looked away.
As he turned, he glanced at Naruto again, nodded at him, and left alone in another direction.
'As expected, people from larger clans carried themselves with a certain dignity. Even in this chaotic, cannon-fodder team, they maintained their poise. But being assigned here likely meant he wasn't particularly lucky either.'
After leaving the Academy, Naruto chuckled to himself and decided to use the money he had to get some new clothes. To present himself decently, appearances were key, and his current ragged state wasn't going to win him any favor.
With Kitahiko's ordinary face, Naruto needed his attire to compensate if he wanted to get close to Nao. Although a good cook cannot cook without rice, he still had to set up a pot first.
"That one, the one further inside." Naruto said, looking up at the clothing shop. With the limited money he had, he bought two sets of dark-colored clothes.
The first reason for choosing these clothes was to move around more easily and not stand out. The second reason was that the two sets were heavily discounted, and with Naruto's limited funds, he had no choice but to make do with them for now. He couldn't keep wearing his green vest everywhere he went.
"26,000 ryo." The shop owner said.
"How much?" Naruto was taken aback, "Are these clothes made of gold? Are the buttons pure silver, or is the thread made of Chakra-infused iron?"
"That's the price. Just go out and look around. The village doesn't have the energy to supply clothes now." The shop owner said, "Just tell me whether you want it or not."
"Of course, I want them. Here's the money." Naruto gave the shop owner a sharp look but didn't say anything else as he paid and left.
After buying the clothes, Naruto's money was instantly reduced by more than one-tenth.
He was too lazy to argue with the shop owner. If the price was fair, then so be it. But if that guy had ripped him off, Naruto wouldn't have to worry about money for a while. After all, he had always been fearless and wild.
At this point in Konoha, food was relatively cheap, likely because the village was in a state of war preparedness, so basic supplies like food and drink were given priority. As for clothing prices, Naruto couldn't gauge them and figured he'd ask around when the opportunity arose.
He was too lazy to go back to the dark and damp little place he had been staying to change his clothes, so Naruto found a corner, swapped clothes, and tossed his old ones into a trash heap. His new attire wasn't flashy, but it felt much cleaner.
After wandering around for a bit, Naruto stopped by a Ninja Tools shop. He went straight for the wrist guards. With not much money in his hand, Naruto couldn't afford much.
The quickest way to break the ice in relationships was through gifts, but it had to be something the recipient could appreciate. Naruto is very experienced in giving gifts, and with a single glance, he had noticed that Nao's wrist guards were worn out.
The other party didn't look like someone who was short on money. As she mentioned, she had switched to the Medical Department halfway through her career, possibly relying on her clan's resources or her own abilities. Either way, it didn't really matter.
Medical-nin didn't particularly need wrist guards, and in fact, they could even get in the way. But the fact that Nao still wore hers probably meant she had sentimental attachments to her previous missions as a Shinobi.
Whether she was reluctant to part with the old guards or simply forgot to take them off didn't matter to Naruto. In his mind, wrist guards were the perfect gift.
Anything more expensive would be impolite, and besides, he couldn't afford it.
Naruto picked a wristband worth 20,000 ryo and paid without blinking an eye. The quality was above average, the price was not too outrageous but it was definitely a good product.