Naruto tilted his head under the big green tree outside the Yamanaka Flower Shop, watching Ino disappear inside.
Was she going to misunderstand something?
"Dummy, huh…"
Shaking his head, Naruto gazed at the warmly lit shop for a while before turning away. Treating someone to barbecue hardly mattered to him now.
Not even a drop in the bucket.
After all, the system had already transferred all the illicit wealth Kado's shipping company had hoarded over the years—roughly eight hundred billion ryo.
Even Naruto had been stunned when he first saw that endless string of zeroes. From a broke nobody before transmigrating, to filthy rich thanks to the "system dad" after…
Still, wealth kept hidden was like wearing brocade at night—glorious but unseen. Frustrating, but for now, he could only show off a little at the barbecue table.
Inside the Yamanaka Flower Shop.
Ino handed the white cat back to a well-dressed middle-aged woman. Yamanaka Rino wore a dark green dress and a tasteful red hairband.
Cradling the cat in one arm, she stroked its silky fur with the other and asked softly:
"Ino, that boy was Naruto, wasn't he?"
"Mm… yes." Ino tried to brush it off but eventually nodded. "We just happened to run into each other. He accepted the missing cat mission."
"I see." Rino nodded calmly, then added in an unhurried tone, "I don't object to you falling in love. It's just…"
Her eyes lowered slightly as she studied her daughter.
"...Naruto is different from the others. I don't want you to love the wrong person and end up with only heartbreak."
"Mom, what are you talking about?" Ino flustered. "You've misunderstood! There's no way I'd like that annoying guy Naruto!"
"Ino." Rino's gaze softened. "The Yamanaka clan crest is the lilac. Do you remember its meaning?"
"Growth… positivity… and… positive love." Ino faltered, her voice trailing off.
"This is only advice," Rino said as she turned toward the stairs. "Rest early tonight, Ino."
"Yes, Mom."
Later, washed and tucked into bed, Ino lay staring at the ceiling. Her mother's words replayed in her mind, mingling with the events of the evening.
If not for her mother, she never would've thought in that direction. Naruto? Of all people? Impossible.
He was lazy, mischievous, irritating… Even if his recent growth was undeniable, he was still hard to look at.
They'd clashed since childhood.
And yet…
She covered her eyes with her palm, light filtering through her fingers. Her thoughts returned, unbidden, to that scene in the bamboo grove.
Her neck burned faintly, making her restless. Her heart tangled like vines climbing a garden wall.
Ichiraku Ramen.
The noren curtain lifted, and Teuchi squinted at his guest with his small eyes before tossing a bundle of noodles into the pot.
"The usual, Naruto?"
"Yeah." Naruto hesitated a moment but swallowed back the urge to say, Give me the most expensive bowl you've got.
Soon, a steaming bowl was set before him.
"The Chūnin Exams are coming up soon, aren't they?" Teuchi asked, smiling warmly.
"Huh?" Naruto blinked.
"I've overheard plenty of academy teachers talking while eating here. Can't miss it."
"You'll be participating too, right? Do your best!" Teuchi chuckled, sliding over a piece of tempura.
"On the house. Work hard, kid!"
Naruto couldn't help but smile at Teuchi's sincerity. He nodded firmly.
"I definitely will!"
The Chūnin Exams came quickly after graduation. But in truth, most genin with enough missions under their belt would pass—it was often just a formality.
For fresh graduates like Naruto's class, though, the difficulty was much higher.
And Naruto knew it. For him, this exam was little more than running alongside the real contenders: the Ino-Shika-Chō trio, and the Hyūga prodigies.
What business did a down-and-out orphan of the Uzumaki clan, a Jinchūriki no less, have in that competition?
Chūnin promotions weren't only based on jōnin recommendations. The Fire Daimyō and nobles had influence too. There were always unspoken rules.
The Nara clan, for instance, had long been the backbone of Konoha, loyal supporters of the Third Hokage, and with deep ties to Fire Country's aristocracy. Their deer-antler medicine trade spanned the land. Of course Shikamaru's promotion was practically guaranteed.
Later that night, Naruto soaked in his brand-new bathtub, mulling over the coming exam.
No doubt, the system would trigger during such a major arc.
In the original story, Naruto had thrown himself in headfirst, only to end battered and bruised, gaining nothing.
But knowing he'd never be chosen as a Chūnin, why waste effort? The real question was how to maximize profit.
The Chūnin Exams were like a mirror, reflecting all the ugliness Konoha tried to hide in daylight:
The Hyūga branch house slavery.The bloody Uchiha massacre.The burden of the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki.The few remaining heirs of the Uzumaki.
Fire couldn't stay hidden in paper. Sooner or later, it would burn in the open.
Naruto even considered leaving the village during the chaos—but unlike Sasuke, his Jinchūriki status made slipping away impossible.
Even Nagato, with the Rinnegan and godlike power, had failed to build a village capable of standing against the Five Great Nations.
How could he alone succeed?
Only Madara Uchiha had ever stood against the whole shinobi world by himself.
No, for now, it was safer to stay in Konoha and move slowly.
Travel would have to wait until he could call it a "mission." Annoying, but manageable.
Still, there were perks. With his wealth, he could use the black market exchange instead of acting directly.
To restore the Uzumaki clan, two things were necessary: gathering scattered clan members—and ensuring the family line continued.