Chapter 20: Bullying an Honest Man
Hiruzen Sarutobi understood the underlying meaning in Naruto's words; there was nothing left to learn in the Village, and moving to the outskirts of Konoha Village would at least allow him to practice Taijutsu and body tempering.
Having realized this, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Naruto would be going to the Ninja Academy in six months; now that he was moving away from the Village center, the commute to school wouldn't be short.
However, seeing Naruto's current attitude, he clearly didn't want to waste these six months, so Hiruzen needed to find something for Naruto to do during this time.
Having figured this out, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Naruto and said, "You've finished all the books in the library? I wonder what other subjects little Naruto would like to read about? I'll have someone deliver them to you."
"Really? I want to read books on medical subjects. Is that okay?"
"Medical subjects?"
"Yes! Medical books!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned as he looked at Narutoand asked, "Does Naruto want to be a Medical Ninja in the future?"
Naruto thought for a moment, nodded, and then shook his head, saying, "I haven't thought about what kind of Ninja I'll be. I just thought that if I get injured by the villagers again, I can treat myself if I learn Medical Ninjutsu."
Naruto's words touched Hiruzen Sarutobi, making him feel somewhat guilty toward Minato and Kushina. He sighed and said, "I'll have someone deliver books related to Medical Ninjutsu to your home. You should head back for now."
Naruto had made his decision this time and wouldn't go back, so he shook his head and said, "I won't be going back to that home. I'd rather stay here; it's quiet, and no one will disturb my studies."
From Naruto's tone, Hiruzen Sarutobi could hear his firm refusal to return. He glanced at the axe in Naruto's hand and then at the large tree Narutowas chopping.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed helplessly again and said, "Fine, fine! You go on ahead! I'll have someone build the Wooden Hut you want. You've been busy studying lately and need to balance work with rest. Go have some fun in the Village!"
This time, Naruto didn't refuse outright, but instead shook his head with some hesitation and said, "Forget it! I'd better stay here."
Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally noticed Naruto's hesitation and frowned, asking, "Does little Narutohave some concerns? Is it because of the people in the Village?"
"It's not the people in the Village, it's... it's that I have no money!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a bit awkward hearing Naruto's words. How could someone who had to catch fish by the river every day just to fill his stomach have spare money to go play in the Village?
Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed dryly, not knowing what to do. This was his Shadow Clone, and he didn't have any money on him!
"That... little Naruto, wait a moment. I'll go get you some money."
After saying that, Hiruzen Sarutobi used the Body Flicker Technique to find the nearest Anbu, took some money from them, and returned to Naruto.
Hiruzen Sarutobi awkwardly took out two hundred ryo and handed it to Naruto, saying, "Take this and spend it! Give yourself a day off today and get some good rest. Your Wooden Hut should be built by tomorrow."
Uzumaki Naruto's lip twitched slightly as he took the two hundred ryo and smiled at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Then I'll go have a look around the Village."
"Go on, go on!"
Naruto smiled and turned to head toward the Village, but in his heart, he was cursing Hiruzen Sarutobi up and down.
"Two hundred ryo! What can two hundred ryo buy? A bowl of Ichiraku Ramen costs sixty ryo, and a deluxe bowl costs a hundred and twenty ryo. What can I eat or do with this two hundred ryo?"
Seeing Naruto leave, Hiruzen Sarutobi dispelled his Shadow Clone.
Once Hiruzen Sarutobi received the memories, he sighed helplessly in his heart and summoned an Anbu Ninja to build the house for Naruto.
In fact, Naruto had only walked for a short while before turning back before even reaching the Village. Looking at the half-chopped tree and the axe on the ground, he recalled Hiruzen Sarutobi's words and wondered if there were any problems with his own answers.
After careful recollection, he realized that Uchiha Shisui probably hadn't gone to find Hiruzen Sarutobi.
And Hiruzen Sarutobi had simply come to see what was happening with him.
Having figured this out, Naruto breathed a long sigh of relief.
Just then, the Ninja sent to build Naruto's house arrived.
When Naruto saw the masked Anbu and was about to strike up a conversation...
...the Ninja clapped his hands together and pressed them to the ground.
"Four-Pillar House Technique!"
A small two-story Wooden Hut quickly emerged from the ground; it was actually quite exquisite.
Naruto also had a rough guess as to who this AnbuNinja was. He smiled, stepped forward, and said, "Could I trouble you to make some tables, chairs, stools, and a bed for me?"
The masked Ninja nodded and, without saying a word, performed another Ninjutsu to create some tables, chairs, and stools.
As for the bed, the masked Ninja only made a few smooth wooden planks.
However, Naruto wasn't picky. Instead, he looked at Yamato and said, "Could I trouble you to build a fence around the hut? It doesn't need to be too high, just enough to keep small animals from running in."
The masked Yamato nodded and performed a Ninjutsu to enclose the area, even making a gate while he was at it.
Naruto nodded with a smile and continued, "Then could I trouble you to harden the ground as well? That way, I won't get mud all over my feet when it rains!"
Yamato nodded again and pressed his hand to the ground.
"Earth Release: Earth and Rock Hardening Technique."
After the Ninjutsu was performed, the entire ground became like earth-colored rock, making a thumping sound when stepped on.
Even the surrounding fence was petrified into rock.
Seeing this, Naruto's eyes darted around as he continued to Yamato, "It seems you didn't lay a foundation for that house. If it rains, the water will definitely flow inside."
Yamato found Naruto's words reasonable, nodded, and performed another Ninjutsu.
"Earth Release: Earth Platform Technique."
That did it; the entire house was raised by a section, and Yamato even thoughtfully added two steps.
Seeing such a convenient tool-man available, why would Naruto wait?
So Naruto quickly grabbed Yamato's hand, led him out of the small courtyard, and pointed to the spot where he usually caught fish.
"Please harden the ground from the doorway all the way over there as well!"
Yamato nodded again and used the Earth and Rock Hardening Technique.
"Also, please make a wooden training dummy over there. I might need it for practicing Ninjutsu later."
Yamato nodded again...
"And over there..."
Yamato nodded again...
...
...
Naruto was squeezing every bit of utility out of him like wringing water from a stone, hardening everything around that could be hardened. He then had him make some wardrobes, teapots, teacups, and the like. To keep warm, Naruto even had Yamato reinforce the Wooden Hut with two extra layers, build a small bridge over the river, and even plant two trees by the door for aesthetics.