"Sister Shiro, are you here waiting for me?"
"Yes, Master Zhen Ya!"
Hyuga Shiro blinked at Naruto, looking somewhat playful.
Her voluptuous body swayed gently, creating ripples that made the people nearby, who were already attracted to her, unable to look away.
It was just a pity that this woman was smiling at that Demon Fox.
Hmph, she's actually close to a Demon Fox like that. It seems she isn't a good person either!
Hyuga Shiro didn't care about such gazes in the slightest. As a member of the Hyuga Branch House, the place on her forehead covered by that white silk scarf was engraved with the ugly Caged Bird seal, making her also a lonely caged bird yearning for freedom.
"Today, we let quite a few artists in the editorial department try to restore some of the characters from your works. I wanted to let you take a look now and see if you are satisfied."
Hyuga Shiro slowly bent her body down a little, and an aura that made one's blood surge hit him in the face.
Naruto's face instantly turned red, feeling his body temperature rise significantly.
There was no helping it; when two giant rays of maternal glory were about to press against his face, he really couldn't calm down.
That kid Konohamaru, at a young age, crashed into Tsunade and got a 'facial cleanser'.
Naruto now felt that Hyuga Shiro might not be as proud as Tsunade Hime of the Sannin, but she was still a very formidable kunoichi!
"Ahem, let's talk when we get home."
At the school gate, Uzumaki Naruto was not the focal point, yet he was more than a focal point.
Wherever he was, the surroundings became dead silent, as if someone had hit the mute button.
The whispers that occasionally drifted into this empty space were all harboring malice toward him.
"Alright."
Seeing Naruto's embarrassment, Hyuga Shiro took the initiative to reach out, grabbed Naruto's small hand, and led him walking outward.
Naruto was stunned.
Hyuga Shiro's hand was a bit larger than his, very soft, and very white.
Those slender, scallion-white fingers made Naruto's eyes stare fixedly, somewhat reluctant to look away.
Holding her hand, he felt a warmth continuously transmitting from this woman's good-looking palm into his own palm.
"My, Master Zhen Ya, could it be that you have a hand fetish?"
Knowing clearly that Naruto wasn't that kind of child, but seeing his current dazed and cute appearance, Hyuga Shiro was in a good mood and wanted to tease him.
"No, it's just that I've never had my hand held like this by anyone before."
Naruto's answer left Hyuga Shiro somewhat startled.
She fell silent. Under the setting sun, she revealed a smile to Naruto.
"Then you don't need to worry, Master Zhen Ya. I believe that in the future, there will be even more people who will want to hold your hand!"
"But, you are the first."
Naruto looked up. A pair of good-looking azure blue pupils shone brightly in the twilight sun.
He looked directly at Hyuga Shiro, who was holding his hand, and said earnestly.
"I will never forget this moment."
Naruto was very serious. Even though he was clearly just a little brat, his determined appearance made Hyuga Shiro feel her heart thumping wildly.
"Are you... trying to pick me up?"
She bent her waist down again, attacking with the 'facial cleanser', making Uzumaki Naruto feel dizzy and dazzled.
"Mmph, mmph, mmph..."
Naruto waved his arms and legs but couldn't escape from this woman's abyss.
"Ahem!"
At this moment, a familiar voice sounded at the door of the house. Hyuga Shiro's face blushed. She released Naruto and bowed respectfully toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Lord Third."
"Mmh."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze looked peculiarly at the place Hyuga Shiro had just used to attack Naruto, seeming to want to assess just how terrible the attack was.
"Naruto, how did you feel at school today?"
Naruto took out the key, opened the door, and walked into the house with Sarutobi Hiruzen and Hyuga Shiro.
"Everyone dislikes me, just like before."
Naruto became somewhat downcast. However, the situation in the Ninja Academy was more than just dislike.
previously, when Naruto was hated by the villagers, he could give up contacting them, go home, slowly explore his abilities, and write down the things in his head to earn more money to make his life better.
But, to gain power, he had to stay in the Ninja Academy all day, enduring those stupid gazes and stares.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had been observing Naruto, paying attention to his mental state.
Seeing his depressed appearance, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but feel a headache.
Naruto was the Fourth Hokage, Minato's child, but even more so, he was Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
The village needed the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki to remain loyal to the village forever. But if Naruto continued to be isolated like this in the Konoha Ninja Academy...
Inevitably, Naruto would develop resentment in his heart and a rift would form, just as Shimura Danzo had said.
This was not what the village wanted.
A Nine-Tails Jinchūriki harboring resentment toward the village would be a disaster for the village.
"So, Naruto, what do you think?"
"I... I want to become even more powerful!"
After entering the room, Naruto clenched his fists and revealed a look of longing to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"If I can become a powerful ninja like you, Grandpa Third, then everyone will definitely like me! Just like that show-off Uchiha Sasuke. Even though he clearly has such a sour face, when he threw shuriken there, the girls in the class were all cheering for him."
Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled cheerfully. He patted Naruto's head, his eyes somewhat complex.
"Naruto, it's not that becoming a powerful ninja makes you liked by everyone. I am liked by everyone because I carry this village in my heart, I carry the entire Konoha in my heart. I am willing to sacrifice for the village, willing to sacrifice for everyone, and fight to protect everyone. That is why so many people like me and are willing to support me."
"Naruto, are you willing to become such a ninja?"
"I... I am willing! I want to become a great ninja just like Grandpa Third!"
Naruto's face flushed red, as if his blood was boiling from Grandpa Third's words. His entire being seemed to have the surging Will of Fire burning within.
He ran thump-thump-thump into his room, in such a hurry that it was startling.
"Sister Shiro, let's talk about our business later. I'm going to write my diary. I want to write down Grandpa Third's words so that I won't forget them in the future!"
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, smiled even more happily.
After all, what bad thoughts could a small child who hasn't seen the world and doesn't even go out possibly have?
So, Naruto must have been infected by the Will of Fire!