Chapter 10: Directing and Acting in a Good Play
"Courage is acceptable, but your consideration of matters is not comprehensive."
After Uzumaki Naruto made his choice, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was watching the show from the Hokage Office, offered timely commentary.
However, after his commentary, Hiruzen Sarutobisuddenly shook his head and chuckled, "How old is Uzumaki Naruto right now? If he considered everything..."
But before Hiruzen Sarutobi could finish his sentence, Uzumaki Naruto, reflected in the crystal ball, suddenly turned back and whispered a few words to Hyuga Hinata.
"You run first. Go to the house on the left at the corner of this alley and call Er Ya. Tell her to gather all our companions and tell her I need their support here."
After Uzumaki Naruto finished speaking, seeing that Hyuga Hinata was still hesitant, he hurriedly gave her a push, "I can hold out, but if you don't do as I say, the ones getting beaten up later will be both of us!"
Upon hearing this, Hyuga Hinata took a deep look at Uzumaki Naruto, as if she wanted to imprint his face deep in her heart, nodded vigorously with a blushing face, and took off running toward the location Uzumaki Naruto had told her.
"Don't let that girl get away!" the leader of the children exclaimed anxiously, "You two go chase her, the three of us will stay here to deal with this fox monster!"
"Hmph, none of you are going anywhere!" Uzumaki Naruto moved flexibly, blocking the two children who wanted to chase Hyuga Hinata, "She's gone to call my companions. If you don't want to get beaten up too badly, you'd better be sensible and leave quickly!"
"Beat him up!" The leader didn't care about that and gave the order, and he and his companions swarmed forward.
Uzumaki Naruto could actually handle four hands with two fists; after all, the decade or more of practicing the Eight Extremes Fist in the Life Experience Game was not for nothing. Furthermore, since his return, Uzumaki Naruto had been getting proper nutrition, and his stamina now was worlds apart from before.
But Uzumaki Naruto had to act...
With Uzumaki Naruto deliberately holding back, although the other side also got some scratches, he himself was beaten up much worse and was soon pinned down by three or four children, unable to move.
"Fox monster, do you know the consequences of trying to be a hero now?" Although the leader had some scratches on his face, his smile remained, "Beat him! Beat him to death just like before! Believe me, he won't die from a beating!"
"Roar!" Uzumaki Naruto let out a loud roar. There was an element of performance in this, but it was also genuine; the child's words had stirred up painful memories deep in Uzumaki Naruto's heart that he didn't want to recall.
Since he could remember, whenever he went out, there was never a time he didn't get beaten up, and those people who beat him definitely included them!
"We're all companions, don't go too far!"
"Who is a companion to a monster? Beat him!" With that, the five children swarmed forward again.
"Puff, puff, puff." Far away in the Hokage Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi smoked his pipe, watching Uzumaki Naruto getting beaten up with a sullen face, remaining silent. Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a tremor in his heart at Uzumaki Naruto's roar.
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't know exactly how many times Uzumaki Naruto had been bullied since he could remember, but what was certain was that this bullying had left its mark on Uzumaki Naruto's heart; otherwise, Uzumaki Naruto wouldn't have suddenly erupted with such great energy.
Yes, Uzumaki Naruto had erupted. Even though he was at an absolute disadvantage, he still struggled to stand up and fought back and forth with those five children.
Although this wave of Uzumaki Naruto's actions had a performative nature, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't know that. Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart had already begun to sink slowly...
He was worried about the dark side deep in Uzumaki Naruto's heart, just like his former most prized Disciple, Orochimaru.
However, soon, this matter took a turn—Hyuga Hinata had arrived with Uzumaki Naruto's little companions!
Although Hyuga Hinata's support couldn't be called a timely rain, it was just right. If it had been any later, Uzumaki Naruto's roar from just a moment ago would have been a failed performance.
"Not bad, it wasn't in vain that I took a beating!"
Uzumaki Naruto didn't have much interest in the "hero saving the damsel" trope. What he was thinking about now was how to build his persona and gain favor in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi; he didn't notice at all that the way Hyuga Hinatalooked at him had already changed.
After Uzumaki Naruto's companions joined, the battle turned completely one-sided. The "hostile" group of five quickly collapsed and was surrounded in a corner by Uzumaki Naruto and the others, crying in fear.
Uzumaki Naruto refused the kind offer from Er Ya and Da Mao to help him up. Uzumaki Narutowalked unsteadily to the five curled-up people and looked down at them.
"How will you handle this, Uzumaki Naruto?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was staring intently at the crystal ball at this moment. He was expectant yet anxious. He felt he should believe that Uzumaki Naruto's next performance wouldn't disappoint him, yet he worried that the thing he least wanted to see would happen...
It was truly contradictory, exactly the same situation as when he dealt with Orochimaru back then.
"Get up..." Uzumaki Naruto smiled and reached out his hand.
The five people curled on the ground opened their mouths wide.
Uzumaki Naruto's companions were also very confused.
Hyuga Hinata... better not mention her; she was already about to faint at this moment.
The most critical person, Hiruzen Sarutobi, took a fierce puff from his pipe, inhaled deeply, let it circulate in his lungs, and then exhaled a large cloud of white smoke with great enjoyment.
"Fourth, Uzumaki Naruto will definitely grow into a more outstanding Ninja than you, I guarantee it!"
"You decided to let us go?" the leader of the children asked tremblingly, "Are you making fun of us... Although we lost... but we aren't..."
"You're overthinking it." Uzumaki Naruto shook his head, not intending to retract his outstretched hand, "We are all from the same Village, so naturally, we are all companions. Even if companions have a misunderstanding, a fight without hard feelings will let the matter pass."
Uzumaki Naruto grabbed the hand extended toward him and pulled upward with effort, "I, who got beaten the worst, haven't said anything, what are you afraid of? After a fight, we are partners, let's play together from now on!"
After Uzumaki Naruto pulled everyone up one by one, he unhesitatingly pulled Hyuga Hinata over and pushed her in front of the group of five.
"Although I have forgiven you, you haven't obtained her forgiveness yet. You know what to do, right?!"
"Sorry, we won't bully you in the future!" X5
"It's okay... I... I..." Hyuga Hinata felt the hand resting on her shoulder, and white steam began to rise from the top of her head. Clearly, Hyuga Hinata's shyness threshold was about to reach its peak.
"Alright, this matter is settled!" Uzumaki Narutosaid nonchalantly, "Also, I'm not called a fox monster. My name is Uzumaki Naruto! I'm the man who will become the Hokage!"
"Naruto-kun..." A nerve in Hyuga Hinata's brain had already snapped. Before she was about to faint, she looked at the figure in front of her and deeply engraved his appearance and name into her mind.
"Uh... this... that... sigh..."
Uzumaki Naruto looked at Hyuga Hinata, who had fallen into his arms. He, who had just directed and acted in a good play, was at a loss. He had absolutely no experience in dealing with women!
What do I do? Waiting online, it's urgent!