Hinata, You're Not Sincere

The next day,

Naruto said goodbye to Sasuke, Choji, and Shikamaru at the school gates.

Sasuke said, "Naruto, give me a few more days and I'll have fully mastered the Shadow Clone Jutsu. Then we can train together."

Sasuke was a little excited. After all, he had spent the past ten days or so diligently practicing the Shadow Clone Jutsu and had not had the chance to train with Naruto.

"Yeah, keep it up, Sasuke." Naruto encouraged him.

Shikamaru also said to Naruto, "Naruto, Choji and I won't be going to your Breeding Farm today. I'll go home with Choji. For my sake, maybe Choji's dad will forgive his filial devotion."

Choji pursed his lips, eating snacks without saying anything.

"Yeah, yeah, then let's part here," Naruto said, raising his hand to wave. Then he suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right, Sasuke, Choji, Shikamaru. The first batch of pigs at my Breeding Farm is ready for market. I'd like to ask you to help me sell them when the time comes."

Sasuke's family was part of the police force, while Shikamaru's and Choji's families were part of Konoha's famous Ino-Shika-Cho clans. They were perfect for helping him sell pork.

If he sold it himself, he might be met with nothing but contemptuous looks.

The system had told him that people needed to learn to use connections. Without them, one might have to travel a very long road to succeed, but with them, perhaps only a few centimeters.

So this time, he entrusted the three of them with selling the pork. It was an effortless task for them, and Naruto would not have to go through so much trouble himself.

"Yeah, yeah, leave the pig-selling to us." ×3

The three agreed. Naruto watched them leave, then slung his schoolbag over his back and happily headed home to the Breeding Farm, humming a little tune.

After walking for a while, Naruto stopped and looked back.

Hinata was following him again. The moment Naruto turned around, Hinata stopped as well, standing where she was with a flushed face, completely at a loss.

What's with this Hinata? We're not even friends, so why does she keep following me?

Naruto did not understand.

I'm still young, and I like taking baths. Right, maybe she's after my Breeding Farm.

The moment that possibility occurred to him, Naruto became extremely wary.

Feeling Naruto's guarded gaze, Hinata grew even more uneasy. Her hands kept rubbing the hem of her clothes as she wondered why Naruto had suddenly become so wary of her.

It's not like I eat people!

"Hinata, why are you following me again? Are you lost?" Though wary, Naruto still maintained basic courtesy and asked gently.

"Um... um... Yesterday, we still hadn't properly told each other our names..." Hinata said weakly.

"Huh? But I know you're Hinata Hyuga, and you know I'm Naruto Uzumaki. Do we really need to say it again?" Naruto felt his logic being challenged.

"Th-that's different..."

"How is it different?"

"It... it wasn't formal enough..." Hinata raised her face and said seriously.

Seeing the earnest look on Hinata's face, Naruto thought, So that's how it is. Kurama and I had also formally exchanged our names before.

So Naruto put on a serious expression and said, "My name is Naruto Uzumaki. And yours?"

"Mm... My name is Hinata Hyuga!" Hinata declared her name firmly, as though she were carrying out some sacred and solemn ritual.

After saying that, Hinata added, "Um, Naruto, can I go play at your Breeding Farm?"

Looking at Hinata's expectant face, Naruto nodded. "Of course!" He had forgotten to become friends with her yesterday, so today would do. Naruto thought happily.

"Mm-hmm, thank you, Naruto-kun."

The two walked one behind the other along a small mountain path, with all kinds of wildflowers growing by the roadside and giving off a faint fragrance.

From time to time, Hinata looked up at Naruto's tall back and broad, sturdy shoulders. Every glance made her face burn fiercely, her ears and neck heating up as well. She no longer dared to look and could only lower her head to stare at her toes.

Before they knew it, they had arrived at the Breeding Farm. The Nine-Tails ran out of the wooden cabin and spotted Hinata beside Naruto. It gave a soft snort, then leaped into Naruto's arms and let him gently stroke its head.

Hinata's eyes lit up when she saw the Nine-Tails. Ever since petting it yesterday, she had been thinking about it constantly. Now that she saw it again, she wanted to pet it some more.

"Naruto-kun, can I pet the little fox again?" Hinata looked up and asked.

"Oh, the little fox is shy around strangers. After you petted it yesterday, it couldn't enjoy its food or sleep properly," Naruto explained. The Nine-Tails, which was supposed to play along with Naruto's act, immediately began trembling all over.

Seeing the Nine-Tails really shaking, Hinata did not doubt him, though a flicker of disappointment crossed her face. "Oh, so that's how it is!"

Deliberately ignoring the disappointment Hinata tried to hide, Naruto noticed that she always had to tilt her head up whenever she spoke to him. "Hinata, let's sit down and talk. You keep looking up like this. Your neck must be sore."

Only after Naruto mentioned it did Hinata realize that her neck was a little sore. She said "oh, oh" twice, then sat down with Naruto to talk. It's all because Naruto-kun is too tall, so tall and big.

After chatting about all sorts of things for a while, Naruto heard footsteps behind him. He knew those footsteps too well. Without even turning around, Naruto knew it was Sasuke.

Right, wasn't Sasuke asking his brother about the Shadow Clone Jutsu? Why does he have time to come here?

Curious, Naruto turned to look. Sasuke approached with a cold expression, but instead of coming near them, he merely snorted and walked to the side to continue producing charcoal.

"Sasuke-kun, what's wrong with him?" Hinata asked curiously.

"Sasuke is a very hardworking person. He's practicing Fire Release Jutsu right now," Naruto explained.

"So that's why. No wonder Sasuke-kun's grades are so good." Hinata looked admiringly at Sasuke, who had his head lowered as he frantically used Fire Release Jutsu, then turned back to speak softly with Naruto.

Sasuke nearly coughed up blood when he heard Naruto. I finally managed to ask my brother for some time off, only to come here and find you sitting so close to another classmate, chatting.

Hmph, I refuse to be a third wheel.

Fuming inside, Sasuke produced charcoal even faster.

"Oh, right, Naruto-kun, we're friends now, right?" Hinata gathered her courage and asked carefully.

"Friends? Hinata, when did we become friends?" Naruto was utterly confused by Hinata's words. He did not remember sparring with Hinata.

"Just now... just now, didn't we formally introduce ourselves to each other? Aren't we friends now?" Hinata said with a wronged expression.

"That doesn't count, Hinata," Naruto said seriously.

"Why doesn't it count? Is there something else?" Hinata asked in confusion.

"Yeah." Naruto suddenly stood up and struck a pose, his expression serious. "Hinata, let's spar. Once I beat you, we'll be friends."

"Th-this..."

"There's really no need..."

"Naruto, I surrender. Let's be friends."

Hinata was frightened by Naruto and said weakly.

Hearing Hinata's words, Naruto lowered his stance. His face filled with disappointment as he sighed faintly. "Hinata, you're not sincere!"

"Ah~"

Hinata: (ω`)