"It's fine, as long as our allegiance remains unchanged."
"The Third Hokage wouldn't intervene over such a small matter either."
"However, that child seems more remarkable than we imagined. Look at him, he's probably eavesdropping on our conversation right now."
Nara Shikaku crossed his arms, a slight smile appearing on his serious face.
"After all, he's Minato and Kushina's child." Akimichi Chōza's plump face also broke into a smile.
Only Yamanaka Inoichi, watching his daughter chatting and laughing with Naruto, felt a bit uncomfortable.
Sigh~
Even knowing that the child was the Fourth Hokage, who died protecting Konoha, and the former Jinchuriki Kushina's child, Yamanaka Inoichi still felt his heart bleed. His 'little cotton jacket' hadn't even warmed up yet, he hoped it wouldn't 'leak' so quickly.
Yamanaka Ino: "Dad, what are you talking about?"
Yamanaka Ino: "We're all still children, we wouldn't think of such things."
Ino looked at her father, rolling her eyes in exasperation.
Sakura blinked.
She couldn't help but think, if that's the case... then Sasuke would be all hers, wouldn't he?
But... Sakura looked at herself in the Black-Framed Naruto's big screen, and somehow felt something was off.
In the Pure Land World, seeing Black-Framed Naruto like this,
Kushina's eyes were slightly red.
But she held back her tears.
"I'm sorry, Naruto... Mom couldn't be by your side."
As a mother, she couldn't bear to see such a scene.
Her child bore too much pressure.
He never saw himself as a child, and even playing with peers required caution.
In comparison, Kushina preferred this Black-Framed Naruto.
A sensible child always makes people feel pity and love.
As for Gold-Framed Naruto, Kushina liked him just as much; he was also well-behaved and sensible, but he was just too easily influenced, which pained Kushina greatly.
Uchiha Mikoto sighed.
"Kushina, you know."
"Those old geezers have always been wary of us."
"That night, when the Nine-Tails appeared, its eyes had the Sharingan pattern."
"Fugaku and I both investigated, and it was absolutely impossible for it to be one of our people who acted."
"After that... we were driven to the edge of Konoha, and due to our identity, the Uchiha Clan members were not allowed to approach Naruto, who was the new Jinchuriki."
Kushina waved her hand.
She understood her good friend.
How could she blame her good friend?
Plus, when Minato brought Naruto back, he had said that the one who acted was that damn masked man.
It was very likely Uchiha Madara from back then.
Reminded by Mikoto, Kushina's brow furrowed slightly.
She voiced the matter.
Uchiha Mikoto's beautiful brows also furrowed slightly.
"A masked Uchiha?"
The two women pondered.
The Black-Framed Naruto's big screen continued.
"Seriously, why are you crying again?" Ino patted Sakura's back, a bit helpless.
Then she looked at Naruto, about to speak.
But she found that Naruto's attention wasn't on them; he seemed to be listening intently to something.
Turning her head, she saw her father had already come to pick her up.
"Dad~!"
Ino waved her small hand at Yamanaka Inoichi.
Seeing this, Yamanaka Inoichi, whose expression had been somewhat gloomy, immediately broke into a brilliant smile.
"Ino~"
Shikamaru glanced at Naruto, then looked at his father.
'Is he concentrating on listening to Dad and their conversation?'
"My dad's here too, Naruto, goodbye~!" Chōji stomped his feet excitedly.
If his dad came to pick him up, then they would definitely go to the snack street before going home.
"Well~"
"Then I'll head back too, goodbye, Naruto."
Shikamaru thought for a moment and did not extend an invitation.
He knew that Naruto's identity seemed a bit sensitive, and even if nothing bad happened, it would definitely cause some trouble for his father.
"Um... Naruto, I'm going back too." Ino hesitated for a moment; seeing that Shikamaru hadn't made a move, she naturally wouldn't act rashly either.
"Mhm, goodbye~" Naruto smiled, waving at the three of them.
Watching the three of them leave with their fathers,
Naruto felt nothing in his heart.
However, soon, Naruto's lips curved slightly again.
'Shikamaru's dad seems even smarter than Shikamaru.'
'Those things he just said, he must have said them on purpose for me to hear, and he noticed me eavesdropping immediately.'
Looking at the backs of the three families, Naruto took a deep breath.
This way, he could obtain useful information through the three of them.
'The feeling of being watched isn't as strong as before.'
'Is it because Ino and their dads showed up?'
Naruto shook his head, everything would wait until tomorrow.
If he gained useful knowledge, Naruto planned to temporarily not use Shikamaru and the other two as a channel.
Nara Shikaku: "A very clever child, he knew I said it on purpose for him to hear."
Yamanaka Inoichi: "That's not the point, the point is... never mind, this child is indeed very outstanding."
Akimichi Chōza: "Minato, you have an excellent child."
Minato Namikaze: Thank you, Chōza-senpai.
Uzumaki Kushina: Did I tell you to speak?
Minato: "..."
"Hahaha~" The Yin Half of the Nine-Tails burst out laughing.
This feeling... as expected of Kushina.
If possible, the Yin Half of the Nine-Tails would rather stay in Naruto's sealing space.
At least it wouldn't suffer.
It's best to avoid provoking women of the Uzumaki Clan.
Otherwise, once you offend them... heh.
Naruto looked up at the sun, "It's noon... time for lunch."
"Let's go see my... Huh? Sakura, why are you still here?"
The children who were playing earlier had all gone home to eat.
Naruto hadn't noticed that Sakura had been standing behind him the whole time.
As he was about to leave, she even grabbed the corner of his clothes.
"Um... thank you... Ino told me everything."
Sakura's eyes were still a bit red, and she shyly thanked Naruto.
"Mhm, you should go back quickly too." Naruto smiled.
All he wanted to do now was check if his trap had caught anything, hopefully a plump rabbit.
"Where are you going?" Sakura saw that Naruto was really leaving and asked subconsciously.
"To eat lunch." Naruto said without looking back.
"Wait for me~!" Sakura quickly followed.
Naruto frowned, "Is something wrong?"
Looking at this wide-foreheaded girl with short pink hair and a red bow tied in it, Naruto still patiently asked.
"My mom and dad aren't home... They gave me a lot of money and told me to eat out by myself."
"I heard Ino say that you are very brave and strong... and very gentle to people!"
"Because you don't have a mom and dad, you're always bullied by those bad people, but you're not afraid at all, and you even dare to fight back!"
Seeing Sakura, who was inexplicably excited, Naruto didn't deny anything.
"Mhm, thanks for the compliment. If there's nothing else, I really have to go, I'm hungry."
"I want to treat you to a meal!"
"My house isn't far from Ichiraku Ramen. I've seen you a few times from afar."
"And also... I know where to buy cheap and delicious food!"
Naruto stopped.
Seeing this, Sakura added, "Can I also become as brave as you?"
"You're going to treat me to lunch?" Naruto didn't answer her, but turned back to ask.
"Mhm mhm! I'll also take you to a store that very few people know about. The owner of that store is very kind and won't bully people casually." Sakura's eyes lit up, success!
"The things there are half the usual price, it's just that they can't be kept for too long."
Naruto glanced at her, then left without looking back.
Sakura stood there, a little disappointed.
She really wanted to thank Naruto for letting her kick a soda can for the first time... for not bullying or mocking her, and for volunteering to be 'it' for her.
Just as Sakura's eyes were getting a little moist,
A small hand waved in front of her.
"What are you standing around for? Follow me."
....
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