The heavy snow continued, and Konoha's eerie atmosphere grew thicker.
Little Naruto left early in the morning.
Seemingly aimless, he was actually heading towards the Hyuga Clan's area.
Before even getting close, he felt the oppressive atmosphere within.
From a distance, little Naruto saw the situation at the Hyuga Clan's compound.
It looked like a funeral was being held inside.
Looking at the Hyuga clansmen, all dressed in black.
Little Naruto frowned slightly.
He didn't get any closer, turning instead to check his traps in the back mountains.
In a blink of an eye, night fell.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the Hokage's office, silent for a long time, smoking cigarette after cigarette.
Looking at the somewhat desolate Konoha under the heavy snow.
Hiruzen Sarutobi finally sighed.
As if he was convincing himself.
Looking at the reply from Hidden Cloud Village, only a few words were written on it.
'I am satisfied.'
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned.
"Eight-Tails Jinchuriki?"
Konoha also has this level of war weapon!
Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts couldn't stop.
"Naruto has deeply grasped the Will of Fire."
"The Chakra Refining Technique should also be put on the agenda."
Thinking of Hidden Cloud Village's Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if Konoha also produced such a war weapon?
Subconsciously, Hiruzen Sarutobi took out the crystal ball.
"That dead monkey, what does he want to do?!"
Here in Konoha, the moment Hiruzen Sarutobi took out the crystal ball, they couldn't hold back.
A woman couldn't help but point at Hiruzen Sarutobi on the viewing platform and curse.
One person started the attack, and others immediately followed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his head away, pretending not to see or hear.
But he couldn't help but feel a little confused, he didn't seem to have done such a thing back then, did he?
Buzz—
The crystal ball's image froze above the Hyuga Clan.
Then it quickly shifted.
However, during the shift, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly paused.
Immediately after, the image shifted to a street near the Hyuga Clan's compound.
A girl dressed in traditional black mourning clothes was jogging in the snow.
Slap—
The girl, wiping away tears, accidentally tripped and fell flat on the ground.
Seeing this scene.
Ino nudged the dejected Hinata.
"Hinata, it's coming~"
Although Ino tried her best to cheer up Hinata's heavy mood.
But Hinata, seeing this scene, didn't act as shy as before.
She was still immersed in the Hyuga Clan's unprovoked disaster.
"Neji-nii-san... that's why Neji-nii-san was so persistent..."
With that, Hinata burst into tears.
Ino's heart ached, and she hugged her, comforting her softly.
Little Hanabi's mood was also low.
Ino quickly winked at Sakura.
Sakura understood and quickly pulled little Hanabi to her side.
"Hyuga Hinata?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Hinata in the crystal ball for a while.
After a long time, he slowly spoke:
"Have Naruto come to see me. Tell him I have a surprise for him."
"Yes."
The scene shifted.
The image in the crystal ball changed to little Naruto's home.
Hmm?!
Little Naruto, who was cooking, froze.
That feeling of being watched returned.
Little Naruto acted extremely natural, muttering examples of the Will of Fire.
Unfortunately, he didn't know that this was crystal ball surveillance and couldn't transmit sound.
However, Hiruzen Sarutobi could read lips.
He knew what little Naruto was saying at a glance.
After watching for a while, Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face was filled with relief.
Whoosh—
Thump thump thump—
Just then, a knock came at little Naruto's door.
Little Naruto froze, then put down what he was doing and went to open the door.
'Could it be Ino and the others?'
'But... isn't it still a few days away?'
He wasn't tall enough to look through the peephole, so little Naruto could only open a crack in the door.
When he saw that it was an Anbu Ninja standing outside, he was clearly startled.
'I've been discovered?!'
He couldn't help but think this, his mind racing, wondering how to break the situation.
"Uzumaki Naruto, the Third Hokage wants you to come over. He has a gift for you."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Anbu Ninja disappeared.
It seemed he didn't even want to get close to little Naruto.
"Could it be... that Naruto and Hinata's meeting... was also planned?"
"After all, the Hyuga Clan had just experienced such a thing. If they came to their senses later... they would definitely develop disloyalty."
"If the main family of the Hyuga Clan... were to fall for a Jinchuriki, and the Jinchuriki's heart was loyal to Konoha and the Third Hokage in the future."
Clap—
Tenten clapped her hands, then shared her speculation with everyone in the chat room.
Rock Lee: "Tenten, what you said makes so much sense!"
Might Guy: "As expected of my subordinate, Teacher Guy!"
Rock Lee: "Teacher Guy Sensei!"
Might Guy: "Lee!"
Ino covered Hinata's ears.
Their eyes met.
Ino's lips curved slightly.
Up close, Hinata was so cute.
But... how did you grow, child?!
She usually seemed unassuming, but this hug made Ino envious.
Seeming to sense something, the shyness in Hinata's mind took over, and her pretty face flushed.
"Ino... don't touch..."
Looking at the departing figure outside the door, little Naruto frowned slightly.
He went back to the kitchen to tidy up, then put on warm clothes.
Little Naruto walked out the door.
Upon realizing that the feeling of being watched had disappeared, little Naruto breathed a sigh of relief.
'Thankfully.'
'But what gift does That old man want to give me?'
'It wouldn't be a genjutsu grand package, would it?'
At this time, little Naruto had already learned this information.
He was very glad he had gone to the park earlier, and he was also grateful to Ino and the others.
'Soon, I'll be able to access some historical books.'
'Sakura said it was because of her age that she couldn't buy them.'
'Shikamaru said that they couldn't bring these things out of their Ninja clan.'
Hoo—
Little Naruto took a deep breath. This feeling of historical blockage made him vaguely guess some things.
It was definitely not just about concealing information about his identity; there were many other things that old bastard didn't want everyone to know.
'Is it to solidify his position?' Little Naruto showed a mocking smile.
The history of the Ninja World was hidden, but Ino could still get some legends, storybooks, and such for little Naruto to read.
Before long, little Naruto passed through the snack street where a few scattered shops were still open.
After passing the snack street, the subsequent streets were empty.
Step by step, he walked slowly in the snowy night.
Soon, little Naruto saw a child squatting under a street lamp ahead, covering his face with his hands.
Soft sobs reached his ears.
Little Naruto frowned slightly, about to detour and leave.
But he suddenly noticed the clothing of the little girl under the street lamp.
Black mourning clothes... and that hairstyle...
Little Naruto, hands in his pockets, walked towards her.
When he got closer, little Naruto recognized her.
'This is... the girl the Cloud Village Envoy tried to abduct a few days ago?'
'Isn't she from the Hyuga Clan? Why is she here?'
'Wait!'
'Why is it such a coincidence?'
'This is the only way to the Hokage's office...'
While thinking, he suddenly noticed.
The soft sobs in his ears stopped.
He looked down, and their eyes met.
'Such white eyes... Is this the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan?'
Hinata recognized little Naruto.
Her big eyes blinked, then she shook her head, shaking off the tears.
"Have you cried enough?" little Naruto asked.
At this question.
Hinata's nose wrinkled slightly, and her pure white eyes, tinged with faint purple, filled with tears again.
Seeing this, little Naruto showed a gentle smile.
This girl had clearly paused just now, she must have seen him or heard of him, but she hadn't shown fear or disgust.
From her eyes, little Naruto saw curiosity.
"No rush, tell me when you've cried enough."