Beside Hokage Rock, Naruto and Hinata sat, admiring the blossoming fireworks.
Logically, this scene should have been a moment for the boy and girl to embrace and kiss, but nothing of the sort happened. They merely leaned against each other.
Hinata was still too young. Naruto was afraid that a kiss would lead to a "three-year minimum" sentence. Although Konoha had no such law, and there were precedents like Minato and Kushina's early romance, meaning he wouldn't be criticized, Naruto couldn't get past his own mental barrier.
He was nurturing her, not being a pervert. Kissing a twelve-year-old loli was simply too challenging to his moral compass. He'd wait until Hinata was older.
These fireworks were for Hinata. Naruto remembered that in the original story, after sparring with Neji, Hinata's Byakugan was overtaxed, causing temporary blindness, and she missed a fireworks display. But now, with him about to leave, he hadn't seen where this particular fireworks display was taking place, so Naruto decided to make it up to Hinata.
Konoha was lively tonight. Villagers who had initially planned to rest reacted to the fireworks by first watching the spectacle. However, after nearly half an hour, when the display still hadn't ended, people's minds became active. What a perfect opportunity! A full moon night, cloudless skies, twinkling stars, combined with these fireworks — how suitable for inviting a loved one out for a confession!
Among these active minds was Konoha's richest person, Yakumo Kurama, who had been in an unusual state of communication with a mysterious individual. So, she picked up a small box beside her and said to the insect perched on it, feeding, "Let's go. Take me to your master."
It took less than half an hour for the entire Konoha to transform from quiet to a bustling, Valentine's Day-like atmosphere.
"Naruto-kun, let's go for a walk down below."
Due to their position, they had been viewing the fireworks from the side. Hinata wanted to see them from a different angle. Moreover, the food stalls that had already closed were now reopening, and many new ones had appeared. She wanted to sample some of their offerings, too.
Hm, "too" was just a convenient excuse.
"Alright."
And so, our Master of the Golden Mountain and Silver Sea Estate transformed back into a penniless pretty boy.
Apart from a coin or two in his chest pocket, Naruto only had gold in his warehouse. But he couldn't very well pay for fried chicken skewers with gold, could he? That would be insane.
Hinata still paid. She had money and didn't care about such things. Plus, she enjoyed the feeling of feeding each other under the fireworks with her beloved. This was a romantic scene she had once fantasized about.
It was just that Naruto couldn't eat much before he was full, which differed slightly from her fantasy.
Taking a deep breath to suppress the urge to vomit, Naruto spoke, "Hinata-chan, I really can't eat another bite."
Naruto suspected that Hiashi Hyuga, whom he had already met, was not his true father-in-law. His real father-in-law should be called Star Devourer, that being who consumed planets as food. Otherwise, there was no explaining Hinata's appetite.
"Huh?"
Amidst the bustling crowd, a small girl standing under a streetlamp, holding a small box, constantly asking passersby, then sighing in disappointment, caught Naruto's attention.
"Does Naruto-kun know her?"
"Yes." Naruto nodded. He still remembered Konoha's richest person, Yakumo Kurama, but he couldn't figure out what was going on. Why was Konoha's wealthiest individual cosplaying as the Little Match Girl?
Yakumo Kurama also noticed Naruto, put away her dejected expression, and greeted him, "Naruto-kun, you're out with your girlfriend too?"
"Yes." Then Naruto introduced the two.
"You're also Kurenai-sensei's student?" Yakumo Kurama asked in surprise, holding up the small box in her hand. "Then do you know who its master is?"
The insect tracked by its unique sense of smell. Logically, it shouldn't have lost its way, but Konoha's streets tonight were too chaotic. The constant booming fireworks, the joyful laughter of the crowd, the smell of fried food, and a lingering scent of vinegar from who-knows-where, left the lone insect disoriented and circling in place. Simply put, it was so scared that it forgot who its master was and how to find him.
"Hmm..." Hinata, biting on a skewer, pondered. The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she just couldn't say who it was.
"Naruto-kun, there's a note in my left pocket. Can you get it out for me?"
Naruto reached into Hinata's pocket, pulled out the note, and asked, "This one?"
"Yes."
Hinata had specially written it down, fearing she might forget her teammate's name.
Naruto also wanted to know who this person was that he had met but forgotten. He carefully unfolded the note.
However, the words on it made Naruto freeze.
Hinata: "What's wrong?"
Yakumo: "Who is it?"
"You two can see for yourselves," Naruto opened the note.
"If big sister sees this note, please come home soon. Your little sister misses you."
The note had actually been swapped!
"How could this happen?" The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. Yakumo Kurama looked utterly dejected, like an eggplant hit by frost.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't help you," Hinata said with a hint of apology.
"It's okay," Yakumo waved her hand.
"Why don't you go find Kurenai-sensei?" Naruto asked.
"I went, but Kurenai-sensei wasn't home..."
After a few more exchanges, the three parted ways.
Watching the figure walk away as if heartbroken, Naruto couldn't help but grip Hinata's small hand tighter. The experience summarized by predecessors was indeed correct: emotions truly had nothing to do with wealth. He, a dirt-poor pauper with not a penny to his name, had a girl who loved him wholeheartedly, while Yakumo Kurama, rich enough to rival a nation, didn't even know who she liked. Wasn't that enough to prove that love has nothing to do with money?
While Naruto was musing, Yakumo Kurama encountered another small girl with Byakugan.
The little girl pulled Yakumo's sleeve: "Big sister, what were you just talking about?"
"Who are you?" Yakumo asked, puzzled.
"I'm her younger sister."
"So, you're the one who swapped that note?" Yakumo was surprised for the second time. She truly had a connection with him; when she was lost, she found another clue about him.
"Uh... yes, it was me."
"Then do you know what was written on it?"
"It seemed to be Aburame... something..."
"Thank you very much!" Yakumo bowed. Just as she was about to leave, she remembered something she hadn't said: "Oh, they just told me..."
After giving a few instructions, Yakumo, having obtained the clue, rushed away.
"What a strange person..." Hanabi Hyuga mumbled.
"Second Young Lady... they've gone far."
"Shanzhu, please," the young loli Hanabi said. Hanabi had great confidence in this person. He was her sister's bodyguard when she was little, and he was said to be very experienced in tracking her sister.
["I told you not to bring me! Just you wait and see!"]
Time passed amidst the constant explosions of fireworks.
In the small grove behind Hokage Rock, Tiezhu, having made all arrangements, took off his iron helmet, put on his white hood, and stealthily positioned himself behind one of the clones.
The other clones saw him, but they all pretended not to notice. Not a single clone reminded the one about to be "stabbed to death." They were extras.
Tiezhu didn't dare lay a hand on Naruko; he was afraid of retaliation. Naruko held grudges too much.
Although he hadn't harmed Naruko, Naruko was still planning to retaliate against Tiezhu because Tiezhu had just insulted him. But since Tiezhu hadn't physically attacked him, he had to find another way.
Ten seconds later, Naruko had an idea. Naruko knew Tiezhu well, knowing he was a drama king. So, how to retaliate against a drama king?
Very simple: steal his show!
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