Mizuki eventually left. Naruto stayed by the river, continuing to fish. With the buff from Max-Level Fishing, it didn't take long before he hauled up an entire basket filled with giant black carp.
Counting the two he had already roasted and eaten earlier, he didn't actually need so many fish. With no refrigerator at home, they'd just spoil if he took them back.
At first, Naruto only wanted to test how useful Max-Level Fishing really was. The result far exceeded his expectations. From the moment he cast the hook, the fish never stopped coming.
Even without bait, the bare hook seemed enough. As long as it was in Naruto's hands, the fish kept biting.
The thing that forced him to stop wasn't time or strength, but the overflowing basket — taller than his waist, packed so full that fish could easily flop out with the slightest struggle.
Naruto looked at the basket of carp in silence.
Bringing them home was impossible, with no fridge to store them.
Sell them? Not an option either. No fish shop in Konoha would buy from him. They wouldn't just refuse — they'd probably accuse him of stealing.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, Naruto gave up on selling.
That left only one option: giving them away.
He had very few friends, easily counted on one hand. So deciding who to give them to didn't take much thought.
The Hyūga clan would never accept a gift from him — ruled out. Iruka-sensei was single, but he treated Naruto well, so he deserved a few.
Choji's house was too far — forget it. Shikamaru's house was close enough, so he'd get some too.
As for Sakura and Ino, absolutely not. He wasn't close to them yet. Suddenly giving strange gifts would only make things awkward.
"Is this some new ninjutsu Naruto developed?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, gray-haired, chuckled as he stared into his crystal ball. This was his favorite peeping jutsu, and everything Naruto had done by the river was in his view.
"Hiruzen, you're too soft." A cold voice cut in. "If a jinchūriki grows hatred for the village, the result will be catastrophic."
"Danzō, Naruto has already made his choice." The Third stroked his beard seriously. "He wasn't swayed by Mizuki. He refused him."
"Even if the crystal ball can't record sound, I'm sure it isn't difficult for you to figure out what Naruto said."
"The jinchūriki has suffered so much unfair treatment that conflict between him and the villagers is already hard to reconcile. If we can't ease it, the Nine-Tails may appear again."
"Tch!" Danzō grunted with dissatisfaction. "Hand him to me. I'll make sure he becomes the safest weapon for the village."
Hiruzen's expression darkened immediately.
"Danzō, I am the Hokage."
"I know everything you've done. Be warned, Danzō. Naruto is an important comrade of the village, not a cold weapon. Root already has plenty of weapons. Naruto is none of your concern."
Faced with the warning, Danzō was clearly displeased but powerless.
Sitting in that chair was Hiruzen Sarutobi, not him, Shimura Danzō. That had become his heart demon.
The Fourth Hokage, the Legendary Sannin, Kakashi, and now the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki — all of them tied closely to the Third. The Hokage's seat seemed like it would only ever pass among them.
That old man wanted to reshape all of Konoha by himself? Dream on. This wasn't just his Konoha!
"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!" Danzō snarled, slamming the door as he left.
"Sigh..."
The Third Hokage only gave a weary sigh.
Outside the Nara household.
Three knocks broke the quiet. The door opened to reveal Nara Shikaku, Konoha's scar-faced strategist.
The door swung wide, bright light spilling out across Naruto's feet.
Seeing Naruto standing there reeking of fish, Shikaku was surprised.
"Naruto? What brings you here? Isn't tomorrow the graduation exam?"
His surprise was understandable. Naruto almost never came by. Even when he looked for Shikamaru, he always refused to enter, no matter how much he was invited.
He'd only linger under the trees outside, curious and anxious, peeking at the Nara home from a distance.
To others, Naruto was just a mischievous child. But Shikaku understood the inferiority and sensitivity buried in his nature, which was why he never told Shikamaru not to play with him.
Naruto beamed brightly and pushed the basket of leftover fish forward.
"I caught too many fish these past days. I can't finish them or store them, so I wanted to give some to Shikamaru!"
Only five or six fish remained in the basket — the last, after he had given the rest away.
"Well..." Shikaku scratched his head, looking troubled. "Uncle will have to ask Shikamaru's mother."
From inside came the sound of cooking. Following it, Shikamaru stepped out, peeking from behind his father. When he saw the basket of fish, his eyes lit up.
"Naruto, you're amazing. How'd you catch so many?"
"I don't know either." Naruto laughed sheepishly, scratching his head. "Maybe I've got a talent for fishing."
Hearing this, Shikaku was moved. For a boy so young to fish this well — how much hardship had it taken to learn?
The mountain carp were clever, hard to catch even with bait. Shikaku had tried before, but after several empty trips he'd given it up.
"Naruto, wait here." Shikaku said, heading back inside.
A while later, he returned with a box of sweets and another of food, placing them in Naruto's hands. Seeing Naruto's puzzled look, Shikaku smiled.
"This is our thanks. Please accept it."
Naruto glanced at him, then at the boxes in his hands, and turned to Shikamaru.
"Take them." Shikamaru shrugged, hands behind his head, looking indifferent. "If my mom knew you refused, she'd probably feel guilty all night."
"Thanks." Naruto smiled, waved goodbye, and turned to leave.
"Naruto!" Shikamaru suddenly called out. "Don't oversleep tomorrow. It's the graduation exam!"
"Got it!" Naruto waved, as if he'd really taken it to heart.
Even as his figure vanished into the night, Shikamaru's worried expression didn't fade.
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