Naruto didn't feel like he owed anyone.
Even if Konohamaru was his little brother, he had no obligation to save Hiruzen Sarutobi—especially since he had his own goals.
There was no way he would throw away his plans just for his little brother.
What Iruka had just said to them was that as long as someone had strong enough bonds, they would be willing to give up their life for them.
Naruto understood and agreed with Iruka's point, which was exactly why… he knew he should stay away from those kinds of bonds.
He respected people who dared to sacrifice themselves, but watching Hiruzen Sarutobi die made him realize that he had always been, and had to remain, someone selfish enough to put himself first.
If everything he did was for others—for friends, for his friends' families, or for his companions—then everything he did would be limited.
He had no intention of building a bond so strong that he would one day feel he had to give up his life for it.
If he cared deeply about a group of people, then what would happen when Pain attacked in the future?
Was he supposed to step up early and take out the enemy, becoming some big hero?
This way of thinking told Naruto that he shouldn't try to teach Konohamaru too much.
As the heir to the Will of Fire and the grandson of the Third Hokage, Konohamaru should listen more to Iruka's guidance.
Uzumaki Naruto was not Konoha's Naruto, but Konohamaru was Konoha's Konohamaru.
A week later,
The Sunagakure ninjas found the Fourth Kazekage's body and realized everything had been Orochimaru's plot. They surrendered to Konoha without conditions.
The war didn't last as long as many people had thought.
Still, to guard against other neighboring countries, Konoha stayed on high alert.
Almost all missions were put on hold, and every ninja was assigned to different parts of Konoha to keep watch. Naruto was one of them!
Because he had done well in the Chunin Exams, he and Sasuke were assigned to protect a certain street in Konoha—unpaid, of course!
The morning sun shone on Konoha's rooftops, giving them a warm golden glow.
Naruto lay lazily on a rooftop, sunbathing in boredom, with an equally bored Sasuke beside him. Below them, Konoha villagers worked hard on rebuilding the village.
Some were fixing houses, others carrying supplies… The war hadn't destroyed Konoha too badly, but the damage wasn't small either.
The rebuilding would take months at least.
During this time, money would become scarce, and supplies would run short.
Under these conditions, life should have been harder, but the people of Konoha were surprisingly united and kind.
Merchants didn't raise prices because of the shortage—instead, they lowered them.
Ordinary villagers helped however they could—those with strength offered labor, those with money donated money. They showed a strength that even Naruto found surprising.
But… Naruto didn't feel moved.
Because back when they united to shun him, they had shown the same kind of "teamwork."
Even though he wasn't the original Naruto and hadn't gone through most of the hardships, in just a few months of living in Konoha, he had already experienced plenty of cold looks and dislike from its people.
So no matter how kind and united they were now, it didn't really have much to do with him.
He was just a passerby who happened to end up in Konoha.
Screech!!
A hawk suddenly circled in the sky.
Naruto didn't know what it meant, but Sasuke, after a month of training with Kakashi, knew it was a summons from him.
"Kakashi's calling me. I'll head over," Sasuke told Naruto.
"Mm, go ahead," Naruto nodded, signaling Sasuke to leave.
He didn't know what Kakashi wanted with Sasuke, and he didn't care either.
But the timing did make him think of someone—Uchiha Itachi.
At this time… Itachi should be here, right?
That's what he remembered, but he had no interest in getting involved.
Just then, a figure suddenly landed in front of him.
"Found you, Naruto!"
"Jiraiya?"
Naruto was slightly surprised, then quickly went back to his calm look. "What are you doing here?"
"Hahaha, I came to talk to you about something!" Jiraiya laughed, looking friendly enough.
But Naruto was sure this guy didn't have good intentions.
He guessed Jiraiya was probably here to take him to find Tsunade, but on the surface he didn't show it.
"Just say it," Naruto said flatly.
"Haha, it's nothing serious. I'm about to go on a trip to collect… materials, and I wanted to invite you to come with me," Jiraiya said.
"A trip to collect materials?" Naruto's mouth twitched. "Would I even be useful for that?"
"No, no, no. Before, maybe not. But this time, I'm going to interview a very special woman!"
"So?"
"This woman really likes boys like you. If you come along, you'll definitely help me get the material I need!"
Tsunade likes boys like me?
I'm not a little boy at all!
Looking at Jiraiya's serious face, Naruto's forehead filled with dark lines.
"What's in it for me?"
"She's really beautiful. Don't you want to meet her?"
"No interest."
Actually, Naruto was quite curious about Tsunade, but on the surface, he had to act like he wasn't interested.
Because… he wanted something else!
"Hey, don't be so boring. That woman's figure is really amazing~"
Jiraiya even used his hands to gesture Tsunade's curves, but Naruto's expression didn't change at all.
"Don't lump me in with you, Jiraiya! If you want to tempt me with women, at least wait until I'm sixteen."
"Ah, what a headache. When I was twelve, I already liked curvy older girls~"
Hearing this, Naruto was speechless inside.
You think everyone's twelve is like yours?
Although Naruto's mental age wasn't really twelve, and he did like pretty, well-shaped older girls, it wasn't to Jiraiya's extent!
He had to respect his current body and age…
"It's not impossible for me to go with you."
"Oh? What's the condition?"
"This number!"
Naruto held up one finger.
"Huh… what?"
"Ten million Berri a day!"
"Berri?"
"Ahem, wrong word—ryo!"
Naruto had been watching too much One Piece lately and blurted it out without thinking.
"Ten million ryo a day? Why don't you just go rob someone?!" Jiraiya shouted.
"That kind of money shouldn't be a big deal for a famous author like you," Naruto said with a look that screamed, "You're so stingy."
Jiraiya curled his lip. "Even if you praise me like that, I'm not giving it!"
"Really not giving it?"
"Not giving it!"
"Well, then there's nothing I can do. You'll have to interview that woman yourself."
Naruto spread his hands and went back to sunbathing.
Seeing Naruto looking so lazy, Jiraiya wasn't sure what he was thinking. After hesitating, he said, "Ten million Beli… I mean ryo, is impossible. But I can give you some!"
When Jiraiya copied his gesture and held up one finger, Naruto asked in confusion, "Ten thousand ryo?"
"One ryo!"
"Screw you!"
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