"Full marks? That's amazing…" Sakura murmured, stunned for a moment. "Naruto seems… kind of different from before."
Ino was completely dumbfounded. What the hell is going on today? Did I just see a ghost? How did that dead-last suddenly become so good?
"Tch, that guy…" Kiba turned away with Akamaru perched on his head, walking off in annoyance.As one of the infamous "class-cutting trio," he had always relied on Naruto dragging the bottom so that his own theoretical grades didn't look too bad.
Sasuke watched silently for a long while before turning and leaving as well, his eyes calm and indifferent as always, reflecting the lush trees at the end of the corridor.
"Sa… Sasuke-kun, after graduation, would you like to grab a meal together?" A nervous girl appeared from around the corner, clutching her newly-earned forehead protector tightly in her hands. She had clearly just passed the exam too.
"I've got things to do. Find someone else." Uchiha Sasuke was a proud person. He couldn't allow himself to stagnate—he was determined to train harder. The hatred of his clan's massacre drove his every step. Nothing else interested him, and he rejected her without the slightest hesitation.
In the crowd, Sakura saw the girl being turned down by Sasuke and felt a swirl of complicated emotions. Suddenly, a hand patted her shoulder, making her jump.
"Ino, what are you doing?"
"Hehe, stop staring. Sasuke-kun's never going to go on a date alone with you," Ino teased smugly.
For some reason, Naruto's annoying face flashed in her mind, along with his mocking voice echoing in her ears:
"Sasuke doesn't like women! Women! Women!"
"Arghhh!!! Damn it!" Ino suddenly crouched down holding her head, wearing a mask of anguish for no apparent reason.
With the graduation exam behind him, Naruto's life returned to normal. During the three-day break, he simply spent two days lying around at home. Naturally, he didn't run into Konohamaru this time.
On the last day of the break, Naruto was dozing, sunlight streaming through the window, warm and comforting. Suddenly, a piercing flash of light made him frown and open his eyes.
An ANBU in an animal mask was crouched on a tree branch outside his window. From the eyeholes shone a pair of cold eyes. His voice carried no emotion:
"The Hokage wants to see you."
Without waiting for Naruto's reply, the ANBU disappeared in an instant.
Naruto stared at the ceiling for several minutes before finally confirming someone had really come. But… where was he supposed to go again?
"Go… to…"
"The sun's so warm… feels just like soaking in a hot spring…"
His steady breathing filled the room as he drifted back to sleep.
When he woke again, it was already dark. The room's lights were off, but someone was sitting at his desk in the shadows, flipping through his training notes. The rustle of pages stopped suddenly.
"You're awake, Naruto?" An old, familiar voice sounded, gentle and warm.
The light clicked on, filling the room.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat at the desk smiling kindly at him. On the desk lay Naruto's brand-new forehead protector, his diary, and a recipe book.
"Hokage-sama," Naruto rubbed his sleepy eyes and greeted him.
"Didn't you used to call me 'Gramps Hokage'?" Hiruzen chuckled. "What's this? Become a ninja and now you're being distant?"
"Hehe." Naruto scratched his head in embarrassment. "I'm a proper ninja now. Calling you that doesn't feel right anymore."
Hiruzen only smiled and let it go. Then he asked, "Naruto, did you forget something today?"
"Forget… something?" Naruto thought hard, then suddenly remembered—the ANBU had told him to see the Third Hokage earlier.
"Ah! I totally forgot!"
"You little rascal…" Hiruzen sighed, but then smiled helplessly. "Still, resting is normal."
"So, Hokage-sama, what did you want with me?" Naruto asked.
"It's not really a big matter." Hiruzen replied. "I just wanted to ask—Naruto, what is your dream for the future?"
"My dream is to lie flat," Naruto answered without hesitation.
"Lie… flat?" The Third was confused.
"It means living a stable, easy life," Naruto explained.
"So young people nowadays are already thinking this way, huh…? Seems I really can't keep up with the times." Hiruzen chuckled self-deprecatingly. "But wasn't your dream to become Hokage?"
"And what's life like after becoming Hokage? Is it happy?" Naruto asked.
"Well…" The Third coughed lightly. "It's busy most of the time. Sometimes Konohamaru complains I can't spend time with him. But to protect the village and its people, that responsibility drives me forward—even to the point of giving my life for them. I think… in a way, that makes me happy."
"Wow, Hokage-sama's life sounds really tough." Naruto sat cross-legged on his bed. "But I don't want to live that kind of exhausting life. I'm tired of people's strange looks."
"Someone like me can't even eat a fresh meal without wondering if the shopkeeper will sell me vegetables. Even if I became Hokage, that wouldn't change."
"If you become Hokage, Naruto, the village will surely come to love you," Hiruzen tried to encourage him.
"But Hokage-sama, I'm doing fine right now." Naruto hugged his head. "If I don't cause trouble and slowly live as an ordinary person, people will eventually forget their hatred of me. I don't know why so many dislike me, but since I've become a ninja, maybe I won't have to endure those looks anymore."
The Third wanted to say more, but the words caught in his throat. He understood that it was his neglect that had let a child grow into this state. Ice three feet thick does not form in a single day—Naruto had always been optimistic, yet years of hostility had worn him down.
Changing Naruto's attitude would take time and patience.
"Then Naruto, if someday enemies invade the village and threaten the people you care about—what will you do then?" the Third asked.
Naruto thought for a moment, then looked at him seriously."I don't know."
The Third left without pressing further.
Naruto sat down at the desk where Hiruzen had been, stroking his forehead protector, his eyes turning distant. This so-called "Lying Flat System" was, in truth, an endless grind.
Naruto could relax, but his strength would still grow. If there was an easier way to get stronger, why not lie flat?
Lie flat himself, let others grind instead.
In this terrifying world where strength ruled, without power he'd always be at others' mercy.
Tomorrow would be the day they were assigned to their jōnin instructors.Kakashi—he would be meeting him soon.