Inori continued sobbing after being scolded by Naruto.
Sakura sighed helplessly, rubbing her forehead as she said, "Ugh, Naruto was kind of harsh, right Sasuke?"
Sasuke also stood up and replied coolly with both hands in his pockets, "What Naruto said wasn't wrong. It's fine if you don't want to work hard yourself, but you have no right to deny the efforts of others."
After saying that, Sasuke turned and walked away too.
Sakura stared dumbfounded at Sasuke's retreating figure.
[What the hell?!]
So this so-called three-man team only makes her feel like an outsider—?!
Kakashi sighed. This really was troublesome.
At night, Inori sat alone by the seashore. She wasn't even looking at the ocean, just squatting there with her head down.
"Can I say something?" Kakashi asked as he sat beside Inori, gazing at the ocean.
"Naruto and Sasuke didn't mean any harm. About your father, Mr. Tazuna already told me everything—he sacrificed himself fighting against Gato.
Naruto has this...intimidating aura about him that makes people fear him the moment they meet. Many people in Konoha dare not approach him and choose to stay away, yet he never feels discouraged or depressed because of it. Of course, there's someone else to thank for that—Shindai, the one Naruto calls 'God.'
You could say Naruto basically grew up with Shindai ever since he was a kid. Shindai taught Naruto how to live positively and optimistically, not caring about others' opinions, walking forward simply according to his own heart. I myself once fell into darkness, just like how you're feeling right now—completely hopeless. But they—Shindai and my two other comrades—pulled me out of that darkness.
If it weren't for them back then, I probably would've stayed that way forever...
True strength doesn't come from physical power, but from inner strength. Even when something feels impossible...you give it everything you've got. You risk it all to make it happen. That must be why your father fought so hard—to protect you."
After hearing Kakashi's words, Inori froze completely. The previously lifeless eyes showed a faint spark of light.
"Hahahaha, Kakashi, couldn't hack it so you called for backup? Pathetic!"
Arriving with Hinata, Shindai pointed at Kakashi while mercilessly mocking him.
Kakashi pursed his lips, glaring at Shindai with his usual dead-fish eyes.
Why...did it have to be this guy coming as reinforcement?!
Even Sasuke felt uneasy. Was this guy possibly going to join the enemy instead?
Though such a thought seemed absurd, Sasuke truly believed Shindai might actually do something like that.
Naruto lit up when Shindai arrived and immediately launched into an excited retelling of the battle.
But Shindai responded sarcastically, "Oh wow, so impressive! You chased two enemies all by yourself? Then why did Kakashi still call Konoha for reinforcements?"
Naruto's face immediately turned bright red as he angrily turned away. "I'm not talking to you anymore, Shindai! You're so mean!"
We had a deal not to call each other out when one of us was just boasting!
Inori peeked secretly at Shindai from behind the door.
From what I heard last night, Kakashi described Shindai as someone dependable and gentle.
But seeing him in person today... Why does he seem completely undependable? And why does he look so smug-looking?
Shindai poked Naruto's puffed-up cheek. "Angry? Then I guess I won't give you the nice stuff I prepared."
Naruto's eyes lit up instantly. He immediately turned around and grabbed Shindai's sleeve. "Really? I'm not mad at all! I want it!"
Shindai stopped teasing Naruto and directly tossed him a scroll.
Eagerly, Naruto summoned the contents using the scroll.
It was a Puppet—extremely similar to Naruto but in a female version.
Shindai introduced, "This is the Puppet I made for you, Naruko Unit 1. It contains Scientific Ninja-Ware and an automated combat system. After all, you don't know Puppet Techniques, so you can only use the automatic combat system. As for its fighting strength, though, don't expect much—it's pretty average."
Naruto eagerly asked, "Shindai, could I trade this for one of Hinata's Chakra Armors instead? I really want one!"
Shindai bluntly refused, "Absolutely not. You're different from Hinata—you can't use Chakra Armor."
Come on, Naruto is destined to become humanity's savior! If he became complacent using Chakra Armor, what if he never becomes the savior?
Most of the technology used in Naruko Unit 1 was discarded tech Shindai had already abandoned. If Naruto expected this Naruko Unit 1 to help him fight powerful enemies, he'd better prepare himself for defeat.
Just as Naruto was about to pout, Shindai interrupted directly, "Absolutely not! No whining will work. When the time comes, I'll craft you a Chakra Armor."
Though it was just a hollow promise from Shindai, Naruto believed him. "Okay! Then it's a promise!"
Shindai then looked at Sasuke and Sakura, who were watching with envy.
Smiling playfully, Shindai said, "This was originally the graduation gift I promised Naruto when he graduated from the ninja academy. Actually, if you two want one too, I suppose I could reluctantly give you one. Just call me 'Shindai' and I'll give it to you."
Juggling a scroll playfully in his hand, Shindai tempted Sasuke and Sakura.
Sakura immediately sweetly called out, "Shindai!"
Without hesitation, Shindai threw one of the scrolls to Sakura.
Sakura thanked him gratefully, "Thank you, Shindai!"
Then Shindai turned toward Sasuke. Sasuke's face flushed red; his mouth moved nervously, clearly struggling to say that embarrassing word: "Shindai."
Indeed, normally Sasuke would either call him by his name or refer to him as "that guy."
"If someone doesn't want it, just leave it."
Shindai started to put away the final scroll.
Sasuke shut his eyes tightly and shouted desperately, "Shindai brother!"
A wide grin spread across Shindai's face—he looked like he was grinning from ear to ear. This cold-but-secretly-caring guy acted like being asked to say "Shindai" was worse than losing his life.
"Here."
Shindai tossed the last scroll toward Sasuke.
Sasuke and Sakura simultaneously summoned the puppets from their scrolls.
When Sakura saw the lifelike puppet of Sasuke standing before her, her heart nearly melted.
In her eyes, Shindai had become her true soulmate!
As for Sasuke...
"Why is my puppet Naruto? Did you get it wrong? Wasn't this one supposed to be Sakura's?"
Sasuke frowned at the sight of the Naruto puppet in front of him.
Sakura stiffened—No way! She really wanted this Sasuke puppet!
"Nope, this one is yours. Naruto's puppet is Naruto Unit 2, your puppet is Naruto Unit 1, and Sakura's is Sasuke Unit 1. No mistakes here."
Each puppet has unique functions, but none are particularly strong in combat. Don't expect them to make much of a difference in battle.
Staring at Naruto Unit 1 in front of him, Sasuke finally understood the feeling of holding onto something useless—but too precious to let go.
Kakashi announced, "Alright then, since Shindai and Hinata have come to reinforce us, let's begin guarding Tazuna as he builds the bridge."
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