Chapter 32: Hyuga Hiashi's Ultimate Gesture of Goodwill
There are too many hidden edges in dialogues between politicians. Thinking about these things is sometimes too taxing on the brain, and that was exactly how Naruto felt right now.
Although he had repeatedly thought about the events of Hyuga Hinata's kidnapping, Narutosimply couldn't get close to the truth behind the incident because he had too little information from other sources. After much thought, Naruto chose to give up.
"Why care so much? Improving myself is the most critical thing!" Naruto really wanted to rest now. "I'll have a good sleep, and while I'm at it, I'll pay a visit to Kurama!"
But many things aren't done just because you want to. Just as Naruto closed his eyes, he heard a burst of footsteps outside the door, followed by the sound of the ward door being opened.
"Naruto-kun... I've come to see you..."
Hyuga Hinata stood prettily behind Hyuga Hiashi, holding a flower basket in her hands, peeking out from behind Hyuga Hiashi as she spoke.
Seeing this, Naruto returned a smile. Before he could respond, Hyuga Hiashi, standing at the front, suddenly gave Naruto a 90-degree bow. "Naruto, thank you very much for risking your life to save Hinata. If you ever face any difficulties in the future, please be sure to come to me!"
"That feels good..." Naruto calmly accepted Hyuga Hiashi's gesture of gratitude while thinking to himself, "Those near-fatal injuries weren't suffered in vain. Not only have I completely won over Hyuga Hiashi, but at the very least, there are many things I can slowly start to ask for!"
"Oh, Uncle Hiashi, please don't be like this. Hinataand I are partners; it's what I should have done. I don't deserve such a grand gesture from you!" Naruto made a show of shifting his body slightly, pretending to strain his newly healed wounds, and immediately grimaced.
"Naruto-kun!"
Hinata cried out in alarm. At this moment, she no longer cared about being shy. She placed the flower basket beside the hospital bed and rushed toward Naruto with a nimbleness befitting a girl who practiced her family's ancestral Gentle Fist.
"Sigh!" Seeing how much Hyuga Hinata cared for Naruto, Hyuga Hiashi sighed deeply in his heart.
They say a grown daughter cannot be kept at home, but how old was Hinata now? Yet Hyuga Hiashi also understood that even adult women couldn't resist the charm of a hero risking his life to save them, let alone Hyuga Hinata, whose mind had only just begun to develop.
Moreover, one instance of Naruto playing the hero wasn't enough; the second time far exceeded the first in both scale and danger. This made Hyuga Hiashi lose any heart to forcibly break the two of them apart.
Although Naruto didn't seem like a good match right now, Hyuga Hiashi wouldn't have been able to become the Clan Chief of the Hyuga Clan if his Heart-Nature and methods were weak. He had already deduced from numerous clues that Narutohad become a key target of Hiruzen Sarutobi's cultivation.
He might even be Hiruzen Sarutobi's only key target!
This could be seen from Danzo Shimura's choice to move against the Hyuga Clan this time, as well as the compensation Hiruzen Sarutobi gave the Hyuga Clan after Hyuga Hizashi died in his place. This wasn't just compensation for the Hyuga Clan; it was also a form of implicit encouragement.
Hyuga Hiashi had long since realized that as long as Naruto didn't grow up poorly or encounter a major catastrophe that left him severely lacking in strength, he would definitely be the strongest contender for the future position of Hokage!
To be honest, Hyuga Hiashi's thoughts were somewhat utilitarian, but the world of adults no longer held many illusions. Furthermore, judging by the development of Hyuga Hinata and Naruto's feelings, this wouldn't be considered a political marriage between the Hyuga Clan and a future Hokage. After all, the two children already had a foundation of feelings!
Just like the Fourth and Uzumaki Kushina, their story also began with a hero saving a beauty, continuing all the way until Naruto was born...
Thinking of this, Hyuga Hiashi's attitude toward Naruto became even more enthusiastic, which even eased some of the blow dealt to him by the passing of Hyuga Hizashi.
After all, one must look forward; living only in the past is simply unrealistic.
"Naruto, this is a pass I specially made for you. With it, you can enter and leave the Hyuga household freely, without needing anyone to notify me first!" Hyuga Hiashi took out a token engraved with the Hyuga crest and pressed it into Naruto's hand.
"Come visit me more often in the future. Have your aunt cook some delicious food to help nourish your body. And in terms of your studies, I can also help you out."
"This..." Naruto was ecstatic in his heart, but he didn't show the slightest sign of it on his face. He flipped the token in his hand back and forth with some hesitation. "Won't this cause trouble for Uncle Hiashi..."
There would certainly be trouble, such as Danzo Shimura, who was always hiding in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity!
But compared to the risks, the benefits were undoubtedly superior. After all, Naruto was now part of the Hokage's camp. Until Hiruzen Sarutobistepped down, Danzo Shimura could only hide honestly in the shadows.
Even if Danzo Shimura made some small moves, they just had to maintain a strict guard. Besides, if it really came down to a real fight, the Hyuga Clanwouldn't fear the Shimura family at all.
The Hyuga Clan was not like the Uchiha Clan, which was subjected to an isolation policy by Konoha. The Hyuga Clan had many allies of considerable strength. Hyuga Hiashi was confident he could withstand any of Danzo Shimura's methods.
"It won't. As long as Naruto is willing to come, it's fine. If you don't come, that would be the real trouble!" Hyuga Hiashi glanced at Hyuga Hinata, his meaning couldn't be more obvious.
Hyuga Hinata's shy nature hadn't changed at all, but likely because Naruto had saved her twice, although her face still turned red when facing him, her shyness threshold seemed to have increased significantly.
At the very least, when hearing some relatively intimate words, Hyuga Hinata wouldn't faint anymore.
However, if they were to take it a step further, not only would Hyuga Hinata faint, but even Narutohimself wouldn't be able to get past his own conscience...
"Then I shall accept it respectfully!" Naruto didn't push back for too long. A polite gesture in his words was enough; Naruto understood the principle that too much is as bad as too little.
"I still have matters to attend to. Once Naruto has recovered, you must remember to visit!"
"I definitely will, Uncle Hiashi!"
But Hyuga Hiashi left in a hurry. By the time Naruto wanted to remind him that he had forgotten to take Hinata with him, the ward door had already been closed...
The atmosphere in the ward was a bit thick, and Naruto could clearly feel the heat radiating from Hyuga Hinata.
This little girl was about to reach her limit...
"This... that..." Naruto certainly knew about Hyuga Hinata's subtle feelings for him, but again, Hyuga Hinata was simply too young, which gave Naruto a rare feeling of being at a loss.
"I'm a bit thirsty. Could you please help me pour a glass of water, Hinata?" Naruto quickly found a reason to divert Hinata's attention; otherwise, the ward would soon become chaotic again.
Sure enough, with Naruto's interruption, Hyuga Hinata, who was about to reach her shyness threshold, snapped out of it and hurriedly went to find a cup to get water for Naruto.
And Naruto also temporarily abandoned all his schemes, lying quietly on the hospital bed like a slacker, enjoying his hard-won leisure time.
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