["Great tea~!" Tenten's pretty brows danced.]
[She then looked at the others.]
[Aside from young Naruto and Shikamaru, everyone else was smiling a bit stiffly.]
[She'd expected this.]
[So she took out ice and milk from the fridge.]
["Then you can drink milk tea."]
[She mixed it quickly.]
[One sip in—]
[The girls immediately fell in love with the taste.]
[Chōji's eyes lit up.]
[He'd never imagined such a sweet drink existed.]
[Young Naruto smiled faintly.]
[Then said:]
["Actually, the moment I saw the Fourth Hokage's photo, I felt that he was closely related to me."]
["Five years ago, he saved the village… I might've been born around that time."]
["I don't know who my parents are… so that was naturally my first guess."]
[Hearing this—]
[The Five Little Ones all nodded.]
["That's very possible," Shikamaru said, taking a sip of milk tea, eyes bright.]
["The timing, and the attitudes of the Uchiha and Hyūga, both have a lot of suspicious points."]
["Even our parents' attitudes are subtle."]
["Yeah!" Chōji added. "When Dad and Mom found out I was bringing meat to you, they first asked if Shikamaru was with me—then they were totally relaxed, and very generous!"]
[Ino thought for a moment.]
["Dad rarely expresses opinions, but Mom is very curious about you, Naruto."]
["But she's always stopped by Dad… no, they always avoid discussing you in front of me."]
["Naruto… Naruto-kun… if you really are the Fourth Hokage's child… then why does everyone still treat you like this?"]
Hinata rushed her words again, tongue-tied.
But clearly—she was much better than before.
Growing up surrounded by her friends' care had given her more confidence.
Of course, if Naruto dared to smile at only her—
She'd still vaporize from embarrassment.
["That's exactly the part I can't figure out," Shikamaru frowned.]
[Young Naruto took a deep breath, then smiled.]
["I think I roughly understand… but if I say it, you'll…"]
[Before he could finish—]
[Hinata used returning the kunai as an excuse and grabbed Naruto's hand tightly.]
[Steam was practically rising from her head.]
["Naruto… Naruto-kun!"]
["Father said… I—I—I should listen carefully to everything Naruto-kun says~!"]
—Gah—
[Limit reached.]
[Hinata rolled her eyes, overheating.]
[Tenten reacted instantly and caught her.]
[So hot!]
[This child… what is she even embarrassed about?]
[But just as Tenten was about to straighten Hinata—]
[Hinata suddenly opened her eyes and glanced at her.]
[Then her body went limp and she fell straight toward Naruto.]
Ino Yamanaka: "Oh really, Hinata—learning bad habits now?"
"I—I'm not! I didn't! It wasn't me!" Hinata stammered, face burning red again.
"But sis, why does it look kind of intentional?" Hanabi asked.
Hinata's toes curled tightly.
"Hanabi, you're being a bit unlikable."
"What?" Hanabi blinked.
Meanwhile.
Inside the sealing space.
Kurama frowned deeply.
"How is it already this far, and I still haven't appeared?"
"Could it be… idiot!"
"Black-Frame Naruto is obviously not stupid!"
"Why am I still competing with him, constantly interfering with his chakra?"
"And when that didn't work, I got angry and didn't even drag him in to talk!"
Kurama was genuinely miserable.
Of course, it was easy to say that from his position.
If their roles were reversed, he'd do the exact same thing.
I am the mighty Nine-Tails—can't even control a brat?!
"Huh?!"
"This kid can still cultivate steadily even while I'm interfering with his chakra?!"
Unacceptable!
[The Five Little Ones: "..."]
[Hinata, your acting needs improvement.]
[Everyone noticed.]
[Sakura pouted slightly, a bit envious.]
[But Ino was staring at her the whole time—no chance at all.]
[Hinata snuck in first.]
["Ahem."]
[Young Naruto cleared his throat.]
[After setting Hinata upright, he tapped her forehead lightly.]
["Good girl. Let's talk this through first."]
["Mm…" Hinata blushed, embarrassed.]
[But her smile refused to go away.]
[Tenten watched in amazement. 'This little handsome guy's charm is ridiculous.']
[Looks like being handsome really can put food on the table.]
["This matter involves the Third Hokage."]
["In the future, I will retaliate against everyone involved."]
["My anger has never diminished."]
["If I truly am the Fourth Hokage's child…"]
["The child of a hero who died protecting Konoha."]
[Huu—]
[Young Naruto took a deep breath.]
[He didn't continue.]
[The Five Little Ones all stared wide-eyed.]
[They had vaguely sensed Naruto's wariness toward the Third Hokage.]
[But they never imagined that the true culprit behind Naruto's suffering—]
[Was that kind-looking old Hokage grandfather.]
[The atmosphere instantly turned strange.]
[Naruto didn't linger on this topic.]
[At the end of the day, their little group was still too weak.]
[He didn't want them standing on the same side as him yet.]
[The future was uncertain.]
[Even if Naruto was confident, he didn't want his friends to worry, be endangered, or have their families targeted because of him.]
["This is choice… gains and losses…"]
["As time passes, bonds deepen… connections between people grow more frequent…"]
[Young Naruto vaguely felt that he had grasped something raw and profound.]
And this—
Left the entire ninja world stunned.
Five years old?
Is this something a five-year-old should be comprehending?!
Unbelievable!
Senju Tobirama's breathing quickened.
Orochimaru beat him to it.
Orochimaru: "Amazing~! Truly amazing~!"
Orochimaru licked his dry lips excitedly, then looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Orochimaru: "Teacher Sarutobi—what a pity!"
Orochimaru: "If you had chosen honesty from the start, and treated Naruto as your own child…"
Orochimaru: "No—if you had truly fulfilled Kushina's dying wish and cared for Naruto sincerely—"
Orochimaru: "This child would never have disappointed you!"
Orochimaru: "Black-Frame Naruto has never changed—he's still that blazing, moving pure heart!"
Orochimaru: "..."
From this moment on—
The number-one Black-Frame Naruto fanboy was officially born!
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