Heartbroken Hyuga Hiashi

Sarutobi Hiruzen listened to the Anbu ninja's laughter with a dark expression.

In truth, he wanted to laugh too.

But the moment he considered that such a brilliant mind was about to join the Anbu, Sarutobi Hiruzen lost all desire to laugh.

Uchiha Itachi might be a prodigy, but his intelligence… seemed rather low. Letting him join the Anbu was perhaps a bit hasty.

It needed more discussion!

Soon.

The Anbu ninja led Sarutobi Hiruzen to the Ninja Academy.

Gazing at the familiar building, Sarutobi Hiruzen turned to the Anbu ninja, frowning as he asked, "Isn't this the Ninja Academy?"

"Why are we here?"

The Anbu ninja stifled a laugh and said, "Lord Hokage, it's because the one who defeated Uchiha Itachi is a six-year-old kid."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face grew even darker, turning the color of the bottom of a pot.

Damn it!!!

He couldn't even beat a six-year-old kid!!!

Uchiha Itachi!!!

How low can your intelligence be!!!

"Who is it!?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen asked with a dark face.

"Uzumaki Naruto!"

The Anbu ninja said casually.

"Who!?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen froze on the spot.

The Anbu ninja pointed Sarutobi Hiruzen in a direction.

"It's Uzumaki Naruto. That kid over there, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, he's standing next to the Hyuga Clan's little girl."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked over and immediately froze in place.

A handsome boy with spiky golden hair, dressed in a red robe, and with red eyeshadow at the corners of his eyes, stood with a cute girl.

Pale red sunlight spilled onto the golden-haired boy, forming a soft, warm, almost intimate glow.

His clear azure eyes refracted the sunlight like iridescent glazed glass, and coupled with the boy's smile, he seemed as warm as the sun.

"Minato..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but murmur aloud.

So similar!

Too similar!

The Uzumaki Naruto who appeared before his eyes was like Minato Namikaze reborn.

No.

He was even more handsome than Minato Namikaze.

"Uzumaki Naruto!?"

"This is Uzumaki Naruto!?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Uzumaki Naruto with a complex expression. Though it was only for a fleeting moment, he had actually mistaken Uzumaki Naruto for Minato Namikaze.

Unbelievable.

Previously, there had been no trace of Minato Namikaze in Uzumaki Naruto.

But now...

"The change is too significant..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath, turning his gaze to the Anbu ninja beside him. He said in a deep voice, "Tell me, why has Uzumaki Naruto changed so much?"

The Anbu ninja began to recount.

Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't surprised when he learned that Uzumaki Naruto had bought new clothes and styled his hair. After all, he had given Uzumaki Naruto thirty thousand Ryo earlier, and it was normal for a child to care about their appearance.

But when Sarutobi Hiruzen heard about Uzumaki Naruto's excellent Kunai Throwing Technique, his eyes widened like brass bells.

"You're saying Uzumaki Naruto's Kunai Throwing Technique is even stronger than yours!?"

The Anbu ninja gave a wry smile and shook his head:

"Lord Hokage, you think too highly of me. When it comes to Kunai Throwing Technique, ten of me combined couldn't compare to Uzumaki Naruto."

Sarutobi Hiruzen gasped.

"He's that strong!?"

The Anbu ninja nodded with a wry smile.

"Yes, it would be difficult to find someone stronger than Uzumaki Naruto in all of Konoha Village."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Uzumaki Naruto with a grave expression.

He had always thought Uzumaki Naruto's talent was low, but that was wrong, terribly wrong.

It should be said that Uzumaki Naruto's talent was extremely high.

The reason he hadn't shown it was because the Nine-Tails' Chakra interfered with Uzumaki Naruto's own Chakra, which made it impossible for Uzumaki Naruto to use Ninjutsu.

If not for the Nine-Tails, then Uzumaki Naruto's talent...

It's a good thing Uzumaki Naruto can't use Ninjutsu.

A dark thought surfaced in Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind.

Taijutsu was indeed powerful, but there were very few Taijutsu experts in the entire Ninja World. He had no need to worry about Uzumaki Naruto's growth at all.

Even if Uzumaki Naruto's Taijutsu reached Jonin level, he would merely be a tool in his hands.

Meanwhile.

At the Ninja Academy training ground.

A large open space seemed unusually crowded, practically a sea of people, all craning their necks to look at the center of the clearing.

"Is it true? Uzumaki Naruto actually beat the Uchiha Clan!?"

"Isn't that the Fox Demon brat?"

"When did this monster get so strong!?"

"Hmph, damn it. Anyone but this monster to win."

"Hehehe, I heard Uzumaki Naruto won the Uchiha Clan head's house..."

"That's right. If Uchiha Shisui hadn't come back, the Uchiha Clan head would have been sleeping on the streets tonight."

"If that monster were smart, he wouldn't have agreed to a duel with Uchiha Shisui..."

"..."

Amidst the sea of people, everyone was whispering.

There were malicious words.

There was sarcasm.

There was excited chatter.

But without exception, everyone was watching the handsome youth in the center of the training ground with great interest.

"Hahaha, the Uchiha Clan actually lost to a brat in their proud Kunai Throwing Technique, hahaha..."

"I really want to see the Uchiha Clan head's face, it must be priceless, hahaha..."

"I heard Uchiha Sasuke lost, and then Uchiha Itachi, hahaha, are those two not very intelligent, hahaha..."

Hyuga Hiashi stood on the roof of the Ninja Academy, unable to help but burst out laughing.

The Uchiha and Hyuga were old rivals.

Ever since Konoha was founded, the Uchiha and Hyuga had been at odds. Both clans believed they were the top eye technique clan in the Ninja World.

They competed with each other both openly and secretly.

Now that the Uchiha had lost face so spectacularly, Hyuga Hiashi felt incredibly satisfied, and even developed a good impression of Uzumaki Naruto.

"Thankfully, Hinata is very well-behaved and won't gamble, hahaha..."

Hyuga Hiashi felt incredibly smug.

Suddenly.

Hyuga Hiashi's expression froze.

His gaze stiffly fixed on the training ground...

Little Hinata, with a blushing face, gave Uzumaki Naruto an encouraging kiss on the cheek, then ran to the edge of the training ground, still blushing, and quietly cheered him on.

"Hah!!!"

Hyuga Hiashi's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

The two Uchiha brothers lost their house to Uzumaki Naruto.

Hinata...

Did she just lose herself to Uzumaki Naruto???