Mizuki eventually left, and Naruto continued fishing by the river. With his max-level fishing skill buff, it didn't take long before he reeled in an entire basket full of wild black carp.
Including the two he had already grilled and eaten, Naruto really didn't need that many more fish. Without a refrigerator at home, they would just spoil if he brought them back.
At first, Naruto only wanted to test just how strong his max-level fishing skill really was. But the results far exceeded his expectations. From the moment his hook touched the water, fish just wouldn't stop biting.
Even with an empty hook, without any bait, as long as Naruto held the rod, fish would line up to get caught.
What stopped him from fishing further wasn't time or energy, but the fact that the basket—already taller than his waist—was completely full, fish flopping about and nearly leaping out on their own.
Looking at the overflowing basket of carp, Naruto fell silent.
Bringing them home? Impossible—without a fridge, they'd just rot.Selling them? No way—no fish shop in Konoha would buy from him. They'd probably accuse him of stealing instead.
Not wanting to invite unnecessary trouble, Naruto gave up on the idea of selling.
That left only one option: give them away.
He had very few friends—he could count them on one hand. So there wasn't much hesitation about who to give them to.
The Hyūga clan? They would never accept a gift from him. Eliminated.Iruka-sensei? A single man, but he treated Naruto well—he'd get a few extra.Chōji's house was too far, so Naruto gave up on that.Shikamaru? Definitely, he could drop some off there too.
As for Sakura and Ino, Naruto immediately crossed them out. Their relationship wasn't close, and suddenly giving them something weird like a basket of fish would only make things awkward.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office.
"Haha, is this a new jutsu Naruto developed?" chuckled the white-haired old man, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, eyes fixed on his crystal ball.
This was his favorite surveillance technique, and just now he had witnessed everything Naruto did by the river.
"You're too soft, Hiruzen," came a cold, stern voice. "If the jinchūriki harbors resentment toward the village, it will be disastrous!"
"Danzō," Hiruzen stroked his beard, his expression serious. "Naruto has already made his choice. He rejected Mizuki's temptation."
"Even though the crystal ball doesn't transmit sound, I know you can easily figure out what he said."
"The boy has suffered too much injustice in this village. The conflict between Naruto and the villagers is difficult to mend. If we fail to resolve it, the Nine-Tails may resurface."
"Hmph!" Danzō sneered. "Hand him over to me. I'll make sure he becomes the village's most reliable weapon."
Hiruzen's expression darkened.
"Danzō, I am the Hokage. Don't forget that. Naruto is an important comrade of the village, not a cold weapon. Root already has enough weapons—you need not concern yourself with Naruto."
Faced with the Third's warning, Danzō bristled with unwillingness, but there was nothing he could do.
The Hokage's seat belonged to Sarutobi Hiruzen, not Shimura Danzō. And that fact gnawed at him like a curse.
The Fourth Hokage, the Sannin, Kakashi, and now the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki—Hiruzen had ties to all of them. It felt like the Hokage's mantle would forever be passed only among those people.
"Hiruzen, you will regret this!" Danzō growled, slamming the door as he left.
"...Sigh."
Hiruzen said nothing more, only letting out a weary sigh.
At the Nara household.
Knock knock knock.
Three firm raps broke the evening quiet. The door opened to reveal Nara Shikaku, Konoha's first-class strategist, a long scar cutting across his face.
Bright light spilled out from the house, casting long shadows at Naruto's feet. Covered head-to-toe in fishy smell, Naruto stood there with a wide grin.
"Naruto? What brings you here? Isn't the graduation exam tomorrow?" Shikaku asked, genuinely surprised—Naruto almost never visited.
Even when he came to find Shikamaru, Naruto always stopped at the gate, never stepping inside despite repeated invitations. He would just stand alone under the shade of a tree, peeking curiously, nervously, at the Nara household.
In others' eyes, Naruto was just a mischievous troublemaker. But Shikaku knew better. Beneath that exterior lay a boy weighed down by inferiority and sensitivity. That was why he never told Shikamaru to avoid playing with Naruto.
"I caught too many fish these past few days. I can't eat them all, and I can't store them either," Naruto said brightly, shoving the basket forward. "So I wanted to give some to Shikamaru!"
The basket now held only five or six fish—these were what remained after giving some to the others.
"Ah…" Shikaku scratched his head, looking troubled. "Uncle here has to ask Shikamaru's mother first."
From inside, the sound of frying filled the air. Drawn by the noise, Shikamaru wandered out, peering around his father to see the basket. His eyes lit up.
"Wow, Naruto, that's amazing! How did you catch so many?"
"I don't really know." Naruto rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish smile. "Maybe I just have a talent for fishing."
Shikaku was quietly moved. To be so skilled at such a young age… just how much hardship had this child endured?
Black carp from the mountains were notoriously tricky to catch—even with bait. Shikaku himself had tried several times, only to fail.
"Naruto, wait here," Shikaku said, stepping back inside.
After a while, he returned with two boxes—one filled with sweets, the other with cooked food. He pressed them into Naruto's hands with a smile.
"This is our thanks. Please, accept it."
Naruto blinked at the boxes, then looked up at Shikaku, then over at Shikamaru.
"Just take it," Shikamaru said lazily, scratching his head. "If my mom found out you refused, she'd probably stay up all night feeling guilty."
"Thanks!" Naruto beamed, gave a wave, and turned to leave.
"Naruto!" Shikamaru suddenly called out. "Don't oversleep tomorrow—it's the graduation exam!"
"Got it!" Naruto waved without turning back.
As his figure melted into the night, Shikamaru's expression didn't relax. His worry for Naruto lingered.