Hinata's Gift
A few days later, at the training grounds in the grove.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
With Naruto's firm declaration, two shadow clones instantly appeared beside him, charging toward Shikamaru and Chōji. The three engaged in a heated spar, wrestling with one another.
When the difference in strength isn't overwhelming, sheer numbers can tip the scales in battle.
It didn't take long before Shikamaru and Chōji, unable to keep up, were overwhelmed. One after another, they admitted defeat.
Seeing them yield, Naruto dispersed his clones and took out the lunch he had prepared, grinning.
With Shikamaru and Chōji's help—and without interference from the Nine-Tails' chakra—Naruto had mastered the Shadow Clone Jutsu in just a few days. This alone proved his natural talent for ninjutsu.
Had he honed his skills earlier, he wouldn't have been the weakest in the class for so long.
After their match, Shikamaru and Chōji regarded Naruto with wide eyes, as if looking at something inhuman. They couldn't help but recall the rumors about the Kyūbi sealed inside him.
How was this possible? They were all the same age, and yet…
They had just recently begun practicing their clan techniques and basic ninjutsu like the Transformation and Substitution Jutsu. Meanwhile, Naruto had already mastered those and was now proficient in the advanced B-rank Shadow Clone Jutsu—a technique notoriously difficult to learn, requiring exceptional chakra control.
Even more terrifying, it had taken him mere days to achieve this.
As they ate the bentos Naruto had brought, Chōji turned to Shikamaru and asked, "Shikamaru, are we even qualified to be Naruto's sparring partners anymore?"
Shikamaru fell silent. He knew the answer. If they wanted any chance of competing with Naruto, they'd need to team up with their future Ino-Shika-Chō partner from the Yamanaka Clan. Even then, victory wasn't guaranteed.
But if nothing else, this confirmed his earlier judgment—Naruto wasn't an enemy to be made. He was someone best kept as a friend.
While lost in thought, Shikamaru found himself curious about Naruto's origins. Could he be the descendant of some legendary figure in the village? After all, a phoenix does not hatch from a chicken's egg.
Yet, his father, Shikaku, always seemed unwilling to discuss Naruto's background. That alone was a sign—some things were better left unspoken.
As Naruto cheerfully chatted with them, the conversation shifted to an unexpected topic.
"Wait… What do you mean, there have been a lot of foreign ninja in the village lately?" Naruto asked, frowning.
Shikamaru gave him a sidelong glance. "They're the delegation from Kumogakure. The war on the front lines has ended, and they're here to sign a peace treaty with us."
Chōji nodded, adding, "Both Konoha and Kumogakure suffered heavy losses in the war. To prevent other villages from taking advantage of our weakened states, a truce was necessary."
Shikamaru continued, "It's actually a good thing. In the last Great Ninja War, even Academy students were forced onto the battlefield. At least this time, we won't be sent to fight so young."
"You should've received your Academy admission notice too, right?"
Naruto nodded slightly. "Yeah, Old Man Hokage delivered it to me last time."
Even so, his brows remained furrowed. It wasn't the peace agreement itself that unsettled him—it was the presence of the Kumogakure delegation.
He had a vague recollection…
If his memory was correct, this visit wasn't just about peace talks. Kumogakure's true objective was the Byakugan.
Their mission would indirectly lead to the tragic death of Hyūga Hizashi, deepening the rift between the Hyūga main and branch families.
At that moment, Chōji suddenly set down his food and turned toward Naruto. "By the way, there's something Shikamaru and I wanted to tell you."
Naruto blinked. "What's up?"
Chōji scratched his head. "After today, we probably won't have much time to hang out. Our families want us to start training seriously within our clan grounds. I have to train alongside Shikamaru and Ino now."
A new generation of the Ino-Shika-Chō trio, huh?
Naruto glanced at them, then nodded. "Alright, go focus on your training. I've got plenty of ninjutsu to work on myself. We'll catch up once we start at the Academy."
Shikamaru hesitated for a moment, but when Naruto met his gaze with a small, knowing smile, he simply sighed.
That afternoon, the three played together one last time before parting ways. Even if their friendship had started out of obligation, the bond they'd built was real.
The Old Man Hokage's idea of giving me 'artificial bonds,' huh? Naruto thought wryly.
---
After watching them leave, Naruto wandered through the village alone. Now that Kumogakure's delegation was here, the streets felt more crowded than usual.
Dark-skinned Kumo ninja strolled through the marketplace, haggling with merchants.
As Naruto passed by, villagers shot him the usual looks of disgust. But when their eyes turned to the Kumo shinobi, their expressions changed—replaced by cautious flattery, as if greeting honored guests.
Naruto chuckled to himself and ignored them.
To these villagers, he was a cursed child, a walking disaster. Meanwhile, the same people who had started the war were being welcomed as bringers of peace.
Hypocrites.
After wandering for a while, he reached a quiet, secluded park—one of the few places in the village where he could be alone.
Or so he thought.
There, sitting on a bench, was a small figure.
It was Hinata.
She clutched a neatly wrapped gift box in her hands, glancing around anxiously, as if waiting for someone.
When she spotted Naruto, she quickly stood up, her face turning pink.
"N-Naruto-kun… please accept this!"
Naruto tilted his head but accepted the box without hesitation. But then, a thought struck him.
"Wait a second… How did you even find me? And… how long have you been waiting?"
Hinata fidgeted, her voice barely above a whisper. "T-the first day… I didn't expect to meet you right away…"
After some questioning, Naruto realized something surprising—Hinata had been sneaking out, hoping to run into him. She didn't even know where he lived, so she had simply waited here, day after day.
And yet, somehow, she had actually found him.
Naruto sighed, feeling a strange warmth in his chest. Looking at her serious expression, he said gently, "I'm happy to receive your gift, but don't sneak out like this again. Especially at night. What if you get lost?"
Hinata lowered her head. "I… I've been training really hard in Gentle Fist. I won't… I won't get bullied anymore. I just… wanted to see you, Naruto-kun."
Naruto blinked, feeling an unexpected happiness at her words.
Then, as if sensing something, he subtly glanced around, focusing his chakra. Sure enough, he detected a familiar presence—someone from the Hyūga Clan watching from the shadows.
Finally, they're taking better care of her, Naruto thought. Took them long enough.
Remembering her past kidnapping incident, he leaned in slightly and whispered, "Hinata, make sure to go home early, okay? And always have an escort when walking at night. I don't want anything happening to you."
"A-ah…!"
Feeling Naruto's warm breath so close, Hinata's face turned as red as a tomato. She nearly shrank into herself, nodding furiously.
"O-okay… I'll listen to Naruto-kun!"
Naruto smiled. She's really something else.
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