Hearing Hagoromo's words, Naruto couldn't help but feel a little frustrated, since it could be interpreted as Hagoromo not yet recognizing Naruto's ability to graduate.
"Hey, Dead Last."
Seeing Naruto's state, Sasuke immediately called out.
The teacher already mentioned this last time, so there's no need to overthink it.
Naruto blinked, then realized it was the same issue: growth.
"Great job, Naruto! Keep growing, your teacher has high expectations for your future!"
Hagoromo smiled gently and patted Naruto's head.
Neji, standing to the side, couldn't help but feel envious when he saw Naruto doing this.
This is something he simply cannot do.
"Hehe, I got it, teacher!"
Naruto scratched his head shyly, having already banished the thought from his mind.
Sasuke, standing beside him, couldn't help but purse his lips. This Dead Last was actually acting cute.
"Oh, right, Naruto, the teacher will be bringing a friend over in a few days. You guys need to take good care of her when you come."
Hagoromo then thought of Karin and spoke to Naruto and the others.
"Hey buddy?"
"Teacher, are you going to take on an apprentice?"
Who is it? Who is it?
Upon hearing this, the group of people all asked questions.
Neji, on the other hand, suddenly realized that it must be the little girl he had seen when he returned to the village.
"Her name is Karin Uzumaki, and she is a--"
At this point, Hagoromo was at a loss for words.
After all, Karin isn't that kind of person; she's a restless soul.
However, when I brought her back, she behaved differently.
Forget it, let Naruto her age interact with her instead.
"Uzumaki?"
Shikamaru clearly grasped the surname Hagoromo mentioned, and his gaze involuntarily turned to Naruto.
Ino, Sasuke, and the others also came to their senses and looked at Naruto.
"Uzumaki..." Naruto was also stunned, then looked at Hagoromo with a look of confirmation in his eyes.
"Yes, they're from your mother's clan, Naruto."
Hagoromo smiled and nodded, after all, one of the reasons for bringing Karin back was because she was a member of Naruto's clan.
"My mother's clan..."
Naruto first said something softly, then shouted with joy.
"Teacher, I want to go see her right now!"
"Not for now." Hagoromo shook her head.
"Why?" Not only Naruto was curious, but Shikamaru and the others were too.
Seeing Hagoromo, Yu Yi had no choice but to pick out whatever was available to say to her disciples.
Incidentally, let them learn a little about the so-called dark side of the Shinobi World.
As Hagoromo began to speak, everyone present fell silent.
Even Neji couldn't help but compare himself to the little girl his master had described.
Much luckier.
Hagoromo Yi simply sat down cross-legged, allowing her disciple to digest the information properly.
For a long time--
"Teacher, I'm going to smash the Kusagakure to pieces!"
Naruto looked up, his eyes filled with seriousness.
"Count me in," Sasuke chimed in in agreement.
"Me too!"
Choji pouted, his chubby face full of indignation.
Karin's experiences directly evoked deep sympathy in these kids who had always lived in Konoha.
How could there be such a ninja village!
"Don't be so childish."
Neji spoke up, Naruto and Choji both looked at Neji with displeasure.
After all, it's ironic that they're not on the same side as their comrades.
"I agree with Neji's statement." Shikamaru then sat down next to Hagoromo and expressed his opinion.
"Why, Shikamaru!"
Naruto was a little incredulous, after all, Shikamaru had always been the brains of their group.
"Let's not even talk about whether we're qualified to wipe out a ninja village, even if that village is just a small one."
Have you considered the consequences of simply doing something like this?
Shikamaru looked at Naruto and the others with a serious expression.
"Konoha will be criticized by major powers as a result, and may even be used as a pretext to start another war."
"Because of your momentary thoughts, the village's ninjas will have to pay with their lives."
"Can you afford this price?"
Hagoromo didn't say anything, but just listened quietly as Shikamaru lectured Naruto and the others.
This is also why Hagoromo said that Naruto and the others are not mature enough.
There are some things you can do, but you can't say.
"I originally thought this war was just a contest between two ninja villages."
"But once you're actually on the battlefield, you'll realize how ridiculous that idea is."
"The battlefield is fraught with danger; you could be the one who dies at any moment."
"Life is nothing but a word in the face of war."
Neji then shared his thoughts, looking at Naruto and the others, "You might not understand what I'm saying."
"However, when you encounter situations where your master requires you to leave him and face things alone due to insufficient strength..."
What would you do?
When asked, Naruto was taken aback at first, then said seriously, "I won't leave. I can help my teacher!"
Although Sasuke and Choji didn't say anything, their expressions conveyed the same meaning.
After all, they couldn't abandon their teachers and run away on their own.
"I left as instructed by my teacher," Neji said calmly.
They completely ignored Naruto and the others' disbelief.
"Because, given that person's strength, I would only be a burden to my master, and might even require my master to take care of me."
"And as a result, our master will also be defeated. Can you accept this price?"
The scene fell silent as Naruto and Sasuke pondered Neji's question.
Yes.
Can they accept this result?
"Alright, no need to be so serious." Hagoromo smiled gently and said to Naruto and the others.
Shikamaru and Neji each have their own perspectives, and you both have your own convictions.
However, what your teacher wants to tell you is that sometimes backing down doesn't mean that person is unimportant or can be abandoned.
"On the contrary, doesn't it also represent your trust in that person?"
"You entrust your lives to your companions because of the trust you each place in them."
Life presents us with countless choices, and sometimes, trusting a companion is another way of showing that you value them.
As Hagoromo spoke, he looked at Naruto.
This is something that Naruto will eventually realize himself, but it will take time.
"Alright, no need for cultivation today. Your teacher will take you out for a meal!"
Hagoromo stood up, clapped her hands, and addressed all her disciples.
This time, there wasn't that intense atmosphere, after all, we had just gone through those topics.
"Oh, right, Naruto, the teacher will bring her over in a few days."
You two should get along well then.
"No problem, teacher!" Naruto regained some of his composure upon hearing this.