Chapter 6: A Gift of Ointment and a Weekend Invitation
Naruto's poor acting skills were no match for the all-seeing truth of the Byakugan. The chakra pathways he had deliberately left open and unguarded for her strikes told a story his feigned pain could not.
"Naruto-kun," Hinata began, her voice hesitant but laced with a newfound clarity. "You... you let me hit you, didn't you?"
Naruto put on his most earnest expression, the picture of bruised innocence. "No, you're just too strong. You knocked me down before I could even react."
"Is that really true?" Hinata pressed, her white eyes, still active, seeing the vibrant, undisturbed flow of chakra within him. It was like looking at a calm, deep ocean after a light rain had pattered on its surface. The evidence was irrefutable to her, but she lacked the confidence to forcefully call him out on the lie.
Iruka-sensei was equally puzzled. While he believed Hinata was a capable kunoichi, he also knew Naruto had single-handedly dealt with several other students. There was no logical reason for him to be instantly defeated. His eyes fell on Naruto, who had been the picture of lethargy for months. 'Could he have just gotten lazy?' Iruka wondered. 'All that sleeping must have dulled his reflexes. That has to be it.'
"Naruto, are you sure you're alright?" Iruka asked, stepping onto the sparring ground.
"I'm fine, Sensei," Naruto replied, pushing himself up while keeping a hand pressed to his stomach for effect.
Iruka gave him a quick, professional once-over, confirming there were no real injuries. "I think you've been slacking off too much," he chided, though his tone was more worried than angry. "Based on what I've seen, you should have been able to last more than a few exchanges with Hinata. If you keep this up, I won't be able to recommend you for graduation from the Ninja Academy!"
Naruto met his teacher's gaze and offered a placating smile and a nod. "I understand, Iruka-sensei."
But internally, a different thought was forming. Iruka's words, though meant as a warning, had struck a chord. Sleeping in class was a waste of time. The lessons were no longer challenging, and more importantly, they were no longer stimulating his system. His automatic growth had stagnated because the environment offered no competition. It was time for a change.
Leaving the training grounds, Naruto drifted to a quiet corner of the academy yard, distancing himself from the chatter and glances of his classmates. Their opinions were like background noise—unimportant and easily ignored. He wasn't truly alone, though. He was acutely aware of Hinata's quiet affection, a small, warm light in the cold neglect of his life. Yet, he kept his distance. As the Jinchuriki, attracting the attention of a major clan like the Hyūga was a dangerous game. He had no desire to become a pawn in their political machinations. Only when he was powerful enough to stand above the village's prejudices and plots could he freely pursue any connection.
His eyes drifted across the yard to where Sakura was fawning over a disinterested Sasuke. He shook his head slightly. 'What does she even see in him?' he mused. 'Her personality is abrasive, and let's be honest, her development is... mediocre at best.' He let out a soft sigh. 'Well, another day of watching everyone else linger in their immaturity.'
As the final bell rang, Naruto gathered his things, preparing to use the Flying Thunder God to make a discreet exit. But before he could form the seal, a small, hesitant figure blocked his path.
Naruto looked down at the blushing Hyūga heiress. "What is it, Hinata?"
Her face was a brilliant shade of crimson. With trembling hands, she revealed a small, ceramic jar she had been hiding behind her back. "This is... this is my Hyūga clan's special ointment for... for bruises and trauma," she managed, her voice barely above a whisper, yet every syllable was clear to him.
Naruto's senses, sharpened by his training, flickered towards a shadowed corner of the building. A presence was there—a ninja with chakra levels of at least a Jōnin, likely her guardian. 'Did she send him home to fetch this?' he wondered, touched by the sheer effort of the gesture.
"Thank you, Hinata," he said, his voice softer than usual as he accepted the jar. The ointment was unnecessary; his body had already metabolized the minor impact. But the kindness behind it was not. This was a bridge, and he would not be the one to burn it.
"It's... it's no trouble," she whispered, her eyes fixed on the ground.
On an impulse, Naruto reached out and gently patted her head. "You know, you shouldn't be so shy all the time. Try to be a little braver. I think it would make you stronger."
Hinata flinched at the contact, her blush deepening, but she managed a tiny, determined nod. "H-hai."
Naruto gave her a final, gentle smile before turning away. He knew that changing one's nature wasn't a matter of a few words; it required trials and a fierce inner resolve.
What he didn't see was the steel that solidified in Hinata's heart at that moment. Her Byakugan had shown her the truth—Naruto-kun was a mountain disguised as a hill. If she didn't find the courage to climb, she would be left behind in the dust, forever watching his back disappear into the distance.
Time flowed like a quiet stream, and the weekend arrived in the blink of an eye. For Naruto, it meant two days of freedom from the tedious academy routine.
Since the combat test, he had implemented his new strategy. Realizing that physical attendance was no longer yielding results, the boy who went to school was now a perfectly crafted Shadow Clone. Each morning, he would send his copy forth, and each evening, its memories would flood back upon its release.
This particular morning, as the clone's experiences merged with his own, one memory stood out vividly: a trembling but determined Hinata approaching his clone and asking if he would practice ninjutsu with her over the weekend.
Naruto sat up in bed, a wry smile playing on his lips.
'Well,' he thought, 'it seems there's no avoiding the Hyūga clan's attention after all.'
He let out a soft sigh, but it wasn't one of annoyance.
'But since she gathered the courage to ask me herself... I can't really refuse, can I?'
(End of Chapter)