A Loving Father and a Filial Son (Please Vote)

In the end,

Naruto wrote a letter of guarantee, and only then did the Nine-Tails stop being angry and happily go off to cook.

Meanwhile,

After parting ways with Naruto, Shikamaru caught up with Choji.

There really was something off about Choji. Having been with him since childhood, Shikamaru knew that if there ever came a day when Choji stopped eating, then something must have happened—and it had to be serious.

"Choji, wait for me..." Shikamaru called out loudly.

But Choji ignored him, walking like a soulless corpse. Shikamaru had no choice but to run in front of him and spread his arms to block his way.

"Choji, what's wrong?" Shikamaru asked with concern.

Choji was his best friend, and Shikamaru cared deeply about him. Seeing his friend like this, he could not help but worry.

"I..." Choji looked sorrowful, pursing his lips.

"Choji, come on. Go watch the clouds with me..." Shikamaru suggested, not caring whether Choji agreed or not as he dragged him away.

In the end, they arrived at the little hill where they often watched the clouds.

Actually, Shikamaru was the one who really liked watching clouds.

As he watched the clouds drift through the sky, endlessly changing into different shapes, Shikamaru's naturally gloomy mood would improve a little.

Sitting atop the hill, the two raised their heads and looked at the sky. It was blue, with white clouds drifting leisurely by.

"Choji, what's wrong? I'm really worried about you. Naruto is worried about you too," Shikamaru asked after a while.

Choji lay on the grass, his large head resting on his hands. His gaze drifted as though he were lost in thought. After a moment, he opened his mouth and slowly began to tell his story.

"Yesterday, after we finished eating lamb at Naruto's place, I went home..."

That day, after finishing the lamb skewers, a cheerful Choji returned home.

His father, Choza, was curious about why his boy was so happy today, so he asked, "Choji, did something make you happy? Tell Dad about it."

Looking at his father Choza, Choji remembered how much his father had loved him since he was little. Even his good friend Shikamaru was someone he had met because of his father. So Choji happily said, "Dad, I made a new friend."

Hearing that his son had made a new friend, Choza was delighted too. He asked curiously, "Oh, my Choji made a new friend? Tell Dad, what's this new friend's name?"

"Naruto Uzumaki," Choji answered.

"Naruto Uzumaki?" Choza Akimichi turned the name over in his mind. After thinking for a long time, he still could not figure out whose descendant Naruto Uzumaki was. As for anyone in the village with the surname Uzumaki, they had disappeared after the Nine-Tails' Rampage.

Still, as long as his son was happy, he was happy.

"Dad, let me tell you, Naruto's cooking is amazing. Shikamaru and I just ate lamb skewers at his place. They were really, really good." Thinking of Naruto's lamb skewers, Choji grew hungry again and could only take out some snacks to eat.

"Oh? Then tell me, whose cooking is better, his or Dad's?" Choza looked expectantly at his son, hoping his son would not disappoint him.

Choji thought for a while before saying, "He's as good as Dad."

"Mm, then he really is impressive..." Though it was not the answer he wanted most, it was barely acceptable. Choza could not help nodding.

"Dad, I suddenly remembered that Naruto said he has a great dream..."

"What dream?" Choza was curious too. What great dream could a child possibly have? Was it a dream, or did he simply dare to dream big?

"Hmm, let me think..." Choji stopped eating his snacks. A moment later, his eyes lit up as he said,

"I remember now. Naruto's dream is to have lots and lots of friends. He wants everyone in Konoha to become his friend, and even everyone in the whole world to become his friend."

"Oh, that really is a grand dream. It won't be easy to achieve," Choza sighed.

"Dad, would you be Naruto's friend? I can introduce you two. I was the one who introduced Shikamaru to Naruto, and they became friends too."

Choji looked at Choza expectantly, hoping his father could become Naruto's friend as well.

"You want Dad to become friends with Naruto? Hahaha..." Choza did not know whether to laugh or cry at a child's innocence. It was not as though he could not be friends with a child, so he asked,

"Son, tell Dad exactly how you became Naruto's friend, and how you introduced Shikamaru to become Naruto's friend too."

Choji began recounting everything word by word: how Naruto had stopped him after school and asked to be friends, how he had gone through Naruto's friendship process, and how he had introduced Shikamaru to Naruto as a friend and gone through the process again.

As Choza listened to his son's account, his expression grew more and more colorful.

Once Choji finished, Choza let out a long sigh and asked, "Son, do you really want to introduce Dad to Naruto as a friend?"

"Of course, Dad," Choji replied firmly.

"Then... Dad has to go through that process too?" Choza looked at his son, his fists already clenching in secret. What a fine son he had.

"Mhm..."

The moment Choji nodded, he saw his father, who had always spoiled him, extend a fist as big as a bowl toward him.

Only after giving his son a sound beating did Choza feel much better. This brat actually wanted his father to get beaten up. Unforgivable.

Hearing Choji's screams, Choji's Mother hurried over. The moment she arrived, before she could even ask what was happening, Choza grabbed his wife and said, "Come on, come on. Let's go to the room and make another one."

"Just that?" Shikamaru looked utterly baffled after hearing Choji's story.

"Yeah, just that!" Choji said with pursed lips. Even now, he did not know why his father had beaten him. He had only wanted to introduce a friend to his father.

Looking at Choji's aggrieved face, Shikamaru silently cried out, Good beating! You tricked me, Choji, and after tricking me, you even wanted to trick your dad. Serves you right.

But aloud, he said, "Choji, you really are a filial son."

"Of course I am." Choji nodded.

"Alright, it's no big deal. Come on, let's go find Naruto. He must be worried about you. Maybe he's already cooked and is waiting for you right now." Shikamaru got up and tugged at Choji.

"Good food." After pouring his heart out to his friend Shikamaru, Choji no longer felt so depressed. At the mention of good food, the gloom on his face gradually faded.

They arrived at Naruto's Breeding Farm. Naruto had just finished a set of punches and was soaked through.

Naturally, the Nine-Tails had already prepared the meal.

At the sight of a table full of dishes, Choji practically drooled. Without standing on ceremony, he sat down at the table and began stuffing himself.

Naruto walked over and asked Shikamaru, "What's going on with Choji?"

Shikamaru retold everything Choji had told him to Naruto.

After hearing it, Naruto remained silent for a long time. Only after a while did he turn his gaze to Choji, who was eating heartily, and let out a long sigh.

"What a loving father and filial son!"