In the days that followed, Naruto used his status as Danzo's "special protégé" to extract a wealth of resources from Orochimaru.
And as expected of the master of forbidden techniques—the man who stood atop the summit of ninjutsu—even just learning the scraps of Orochimaru's research was enough to benefit most ninja for a lifetime. Against ordinary shinobi, it was more than sufficient.
Of course, Naruto had to offer up a few… "insignificant things" in exchange.
But really, it wasn't his land he was selling—it was Danzo's. Why would he feel bad?
---
Root's storage was truly overflowing with treasures.
Even Hashirama's cells were piled up like leftovers.
---
Time passed.
What had started as a one-man training journey gradually became a team:
Naruto, then Neji and Lee, then just Naruto and Sasuke, and now—Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata.
In just one more week, they would face the Ninja Academy graduation exam.
The real story was about to begin.
---
A noteworthy development had occurred three months ago:
Five Uchiha had finally managed to endure the attacks of a Level One " (Go)."
They were:
Uchiha Izumi
Uchiha Inaho (OC)
Uchiha Tekka
Uchiha Hachidai (OC)
Uchiha Fugaku
Hachidai had been dispatched to Hōzuki Castle.
Izumi and Tekka were sent to the Land of Snow, a poor country in the far north.
Inaho and a Fourth member were sent to the Land of Demons.
As for Fugaku, Naruto had special plans for him.
With time, more Uchiha would pass the test.
---
"Let's go eat at Ichiraku Ramen today," Naruto suggested on the walk home.
"It's been a while—I really miss that flavor."
If Naruto had a favorite food in all of Konoha, it was without question Ichiraku Ramen.
Partly because it was delicious—but also...
---
"Tch. You say it's been a while, but it's only been like a week," Sasuke muttered with a sideways glance.
Despite the complaint, he didn't object.
Ichiraku wasn't exactly Sasuke's favorite, but if Naruto liked it—
That was reason enough.
---
"If not Ichiraku," Naruto said, "then I'll have to cook myself."
Because...
no other shop in the entire village was willing to serve Naruto.
The three fell silent.
It wasn't because Naruto's cooking was bad.
On the contrary—living alone his whole life had made him a great cook.
They went quiet because of what that statement really meant.
---
Aside from Ichiraku, no one else would serve Naruto.
---
Sasuke's treatment wasn't all that much better.
The Uchiha's reputation had left them with many enemies.
But Sasuke—thanks to his clan's massacre and his naturally striking looks—earned a kind of sympathy. Most people didn't dare to provoke him.
Naruto, on the other hand, looked almost identical to the Fourth Hokage in his youth.
Seeing him brought people's minds straight to the Fourth, which in turn made them think of the Nine-Tails.
And from there...
--
"Na..Na..Naruto-kun..."
Hinata looked up at him, eyes full of sympathy, trying to offer comfort—
Until her stomach growled thunderously.
"GRRRRR~"
Her face flushed bright red from shame.
---
"Hahaha! Alright, let's go, then! Ichiraku Ramen it is!" Naruto laughed, quickly changing the subject.
Then, as if remembering something:
"Sasuke's buying."
---
"Why is it always me?" Sasuke scowled.
"Because you're the one with money powers."
After the clan's downfall, a portion of the Uchiha fortune had been transferred to Sasuke.
Even that small portion was a staggering amount.
So yes—among the three of them, Sasuke was definitely the money man.
---
"Uncle Ichiraku! One tonkotsu ramen, one miso ramen, one tomato ramen!" Naruto called out the moment they entered.
The tonkotsu was for Naruto
The miso was for Hinata
The tomato was for Sasuke
"Coming right up!"
---
Before long, piping hot bowls of ramen were placed in front of them, and the trio dug in without restraint.
Soon, a small mountain of empty bowls piled up.
In total, they ate eighty bowls of Ichiraku Ramen.
Naruto ate twenty-two
Sasuke ate eight
And the rest—Hinata.
---
Ever since training in the Kame-Sennin style of taijutsu, Naruto and Sasuke had both developed hearty appetites.
In the Dragon Ball world, people like Krillin or Yamcha never had that "big eater" trope…
But here in the shinobi world? Everyone who trained in Kame-Sennin-style ended up eating like a beast.
Naruto chalked it up to shinobi having denser cells and faster metabolism.
Still, even combined, he and Sasuke didn't eat as much as Hinata.
---
In fact, Hinata's appetite was more like that of a Saiyan.
---
"Hinata, Sasuke—what are your dreams?"
The three of them walked side by side down a quiet Konoha street.
Naruto suddenly asked.
Sasuke didn't even hesitate:
"To kill that man… and restore the Uchiha clan."
Revenge still burned at the center of his heart.
---
Naruto turned to Hinata.
"And you, Hinata?"
"I-I-I… um, that is…"
Hinata fumbled with her fingers, stammering, unable to form a full sentence.
---
Naruto nodded solemnly, as if he understood everything.
Sasuke: "???"
"What did she even say?"
He looked back and forth between them, utterly lost—
It was like they were speaking in some secret language he couldn't understand.
---
Then Naruto gently reached out and took Hinata's hand.
H-H-Holding hands again?!
Hinata's cheeks turned as red as tomatoes.
Steam began rising from her head.
But Naruto's next words made her forget her embarrassment entirely.
---
"If one day… I leave Konoha," he asked softly,
"Would you two come with me?"
---
"Hmm?"
Sasuke's brow furrowed. He thought Naruto was joking.
But seeing the serious look on his friend's face, he replied without thinking:
"Wherever you go, I'll follow."
Sasuke didn't care about where—
As long as it helped him grow stronger, helped him get his revenge, he'd go anywhere.
---
"I-I…"
Seeing Sasuke answer so quickly, Hinata panicked.
She wanted to speak up too, but her nerves had her tongue-tied.
"Me too! I want to follow Naruto-kun!"
She screamed the words in her heart.
---
Yes, she had a family.
Yes, she was a Hyūga.
But that family didn't mean much to her—not with its rigid main house/branch house system.
Even her five-year-younger sister Hanabi had more presence than her now.
Especially after she'd been stripped of her heir status.
To the Hyūga clan, she was basically invisible.
And she didn't even like that kind of family structure.
She had seen her cousin Neji suffer under the Caged Bird Seal more than once.
---
She wanted freedom.
And besides, if they got married, she'd be called Uzumaki Hinata anyway, right?
Wouldn't it make sense to follow her future husband?
"Wait, what am I even thinking?!"
Hinata's face turned crimson, steam now gushing from her head—
And with a soft puff, she fainted.
---
Naruto caught her gently before she hit the ground.
Cradled in his arms, Hinata passed out with a blissful look on her face.
---
"I accept your wishes," Naruto whispered, smiling down at her.
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