Chapter 40: Changes in the Villagers
"I don't think that Uchiha clan member is here to cause trouble. Right now, our priority is Asuma," Dongmao said gravely.
She still didn't believe the Uchiha ninja would act rashly while under the protection of the others guarding the Daimyo in the West Capital. Before leaving, she hadn't sensed any hostile intent. It seemed this Uchiha was merely delivering a message.
"That's a good point," Chiriku said, halting in his tracks. Originally, he planned to rush to the palace to protect the Daimyo, but upon hearing Dongmao mention Asuma, concern grew in his eyes.
"Asuma doesn't know yet, does he?" Chiriku asked worriedly.
Dongmao shook her head. "No, he's still asleep."
"The two of us alone aren't enough. Let's wake Kazuma and the others, then find Asuma to tell him," Dongmao suggested.
"Agreed."
The two hurried out quietly to wake their companions, closing the door gently behind them.
---
Meanwhile, the Hokage Ceremony in Konoha was winding down.
Years ago, after Konoha's White Fang—Kakashi Hatake—had died, his coffin was denied entry into the village memorial. Kakashi himself had buried his father beneath a large tree in a training ground the White Fang once frequented.
Now, with Fu Yue overturning the White Fang's case, Kakashi's coffin was moved to the village's official memorial monument.
---
At the Ninja Academy, school had just been dismissed.
Crowds of parents gathered at the entrance, waiting to pick up their children.
Two children, one chubby and one skinny, shoved a yellow-haired boy, hurling insults.
"You hateful fox demon! Stay away from us or you'll infect us with bad luck!"
The boy being pushed was Naruto.
Naruto hadn't done anything wrong. He was waiting for Sasuke, who had been called to the office by a teacher. He didn't know why, but planned to head home together afterward.
The two kids kept antagonizing him for no reason.
Naruto was used to such treatment.
He made a bitter face but didn't fight back.
Hokage Grandpa once told him not to fight with children; even if bullied, he should endure first and tell him later so it could be resolved.
Though living with his uncle and aunt, Naruto kept this habit.
He quietly stepped back, but the two kids relentlessly approached again.
"Hey, you stinky fox demon! Go roll in the toilet and don't come out until we leave!" the chubby boy sneered.
Naruto clenched his fists, lowered his head silently.
The skinny boy pushed Naruto to the ground.
Naruto hadn't even reacted when suddenly two shouts rang out.
"Ah! Ah!"
Two adults grabbed the misbehaving kids, spanking their bottoms hard.
"Not going straight home after school? I'll teach you a lesson!" the middle-aged woman scolded the chubby boy, spanking him until he wailed.
The skinny boy was disciplined similarly by a middle-aged man.
Naruto was confused.
He felt a pang of sadness.
These adults must have thought their kids were making friends with Naruto and were scolding them to "correct" their behavior.
Naruto had heard adults tell their kids not to play with him countless times.
Soon, the adults stopped, smiling warmly at Naruto.
"Naruto-kun, are you okay? Sorry, my child is naughty. I'll teach him properly," said the woman.
The man nodded and sternly told his son, "Apologize to Naruto!"
The skinny boy stopped crying and looked incredulous at his father, as if seeing a stranger.
The man's face darkened with frustration.
"Didn't you hear me? Apologize now!"
Shaken by his father's tone, the boy quickly said, "S-sorry, Naruto."
The man forced a smile at Naruto and pulled the boy away.
The woman slapped the chubby boy a few more times until he grudgingly apologized, "Sorry."
She smiled at Naruto, "I'll educate him properly."
The two adults left quickly.
Naruto stood dazed, not fully understanding.
---
Just then, Hinata shyly approached from a hiding spot.
"N-Naruto-kun, get up!"
Naruto grinned awkwardly and got up.
Hinata's cheeks turned bright red, steaming like a cooked shrimp, and she quickly ran off.
Naruto didn't mind the moment.
Hands behind his head, he swaggered to his usual spot—a swing by a tree.
Before moving in with his uncle, he'd sit here waiting for everyone to leave after school, then go home alone.
Thankfully, that wouldn't happen anymore.
Today, he was waiting for Sasuke.
---
After a while, Naruto noticed something different.
The adults at the school entrance occasionally glanced at him with friendly eyes.
Nearby, a snack vendor brought him a warm, freshly made wrap.
Naruto remembered that same vendor had once been mean—refusing to sell him anything and kicking him out.
But Naruto didn't think much of it.
If someone gives me food, I'll eat it.
He happily ate the fragrant wrap.
Just as he finished, Sasuke came out of the school.
Naruto's eyes lit up as he jumped off the swing and ran toward him.
"Waiting for me, huh?" Sasuke glanced sideways.
"Haha, Sasuke, let's go home together!" Naruto grinned, licking the wrap sauce from his fingers.
Sasuke looked disgusted and hurried away.
"Who wants to go home with you?" he muttered, but his steps slowed a bit.
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