Vacation, Hyuga Hiashi's Invitation

Today was the Ninja Academy's last day of classes. The academy was about to welcome a winter break of over a month, and the many mischievous students cheered excitedly.

Finally, they would not have to come to the Ninja Academy anymore. What should they do for fun over this month?

Naruto's fellow rookies were also thrilled. After all, what students loved most was vacation.

Seeing the others' reactions, Naruto kindly reminded them, "Even though we can't train together every day during the break, I hope you'll all keep training on your own. Once school starts again, we'll know who trained properly just by comparing. Only when the tide goes out do you find out who's been swimming naked!"

Naruto's words were like a bucket of cold water dumped over the rookies. Their joy over vacation instantly became dull. Damn it, they still had to compete during winter break?

Although they did not want to train during their rest time, after following Naruto for three months, they had already developed the good habit of exercising every day. Worse than getting addicted to drugs was getting addicted to exercise!

So even if Naruto said nothing, they would still be unable to sit still and would go train. Without classes taking up their time, they would feel that time passed slowly, then wonder whether everyone else was competing at that very moment.

See? The atmosphere was all set now.

Teacher Iruka looked at the students below with a gratified expression, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Before he knew it, three months had passed. These students had gone from being confused and unfamiliar with one another when they first arrived to fully adapting to the rhythm of the Ninja Academy. Though they still came to school complaining every day, they persisted nonetheless.

The students had improved greatly, especially Naruto.

Iruka looked at Naruto, surrounded by a circle of friends, and the smile on his face grew wider.

At first, he had worried that Naruto might be isolated or bullied at the Ninja Academy. He had planned to look after Naruto more in private so he could study there without worry.

But unexpectedly, Naruto himself was a socially anxious person—a social terrorist.

There were plenty of people orbiting around him, including disciples from Konoha's great clans. Some of them were extremely arrogant at heart, yet around Naruto, they had little temper at all and acted like model students. Iruka could not help but find it amusing.

And Naruto truly was a good child. People around him were unconsciously moved by what he said and became more polite. Influenced by Naruto's bright, sunny smile, they felt themselves becoming more enthusiastic as well.

Naruto was truly like a little sun, warming everyone around him with his light.

It was also because of Naruto that whenever students deliberately caused trouble in class, Naruto would take the initiative to stand up and tell them they were wrong and needed to respect the teacher. The other students understood as well and would not make the same mistake next time.

Thus, although Iruka's class was recognized as an elite class, there were not many troublemakers in it. Instead, the students behaved obediently, making teachers from other classes incredibly envious.

In truth, the one who had changed the most over this time was Naruto himself.

When Naruto had first been reborn into this world, all he felt was the intense malice of the villagers around him. When he could not even secure enough food and clothing, it was only natural that he harbored hatred for them.

But after the system appeared, Naruto's strength gradually began to grow. Once he possessed the power to crush those ignorant villagers to death at will—

Naruto no longer resented them so much. They were merely insignificant fence-sitters, not even worthy of being strangled by him.

Naruto also knew clearly that his enemies were only a small number of people: Konoha's higher-ups led by Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and the rest.

At first, Naruto's attitude toward Konoha was rather vague. He had originally thought he could remain neutral, but after experiencing the villagers' hatred, he had come to hate Konoha as well.

But later, little by little, he gained some friends around him: Inuzuka Kiba, Akimichi Choji, Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, Haruno Sakura, Hinata Hyuga, Rock Lee, and Uchiha Sasuke.

Regardless of whether they had initially approached Naruto because of their families' influence, after enough time had passed, Naruto could naturally tell that they truly regarded him as a friend.

As the saying went, sincerity was met with sincerity. After completely undoing Kurama's seal, Naruto could also sense who around him harbored genuine malice.

If Naruto, newly reborn into this world, had gained the power to destroy Konoha, he naturally might have chosen to destroy it. At that time, he had nothing, and Konoha had brought him nothing but endless suffering.

But after several months, Naruto had formed his own bonds in Konoha. Because he had bonds, he could not easily cast them aside.

People often became weak because they were bound by emotions.

But! Grandma once said, "People may become weak because they love others, but that is not shameful. That is not true weakness. Only those who understand weakness can truly become strong."

So Naruto did not think he had become softhearted. Through his interactions with his friends, he could no longer bring himself to betray Konoha, even though he now possessed tremendous strength.

Even if he already possessed Six Paths-level strength and no one in the entire Naruto world could defeat him, he could certainly kill, kill, kill, and slaughter every hateful person. But then what?

Living alone in this world with no attachments, like a walking corpse—that was not what Naruto wanted.

So, since he could no longer choose to leave, Naruto would choose to remain in Konoha and change this originally detestable Konoha. He would make it his Konoha. Wouldn't that be far more interesting?

The end-of-class bell rang, pulling Naruto back from his thoughts.

"Today is the last day, so I won't require everyone to train. If you want to train, go home and do it secretly. Don't let anyone else find out. The winter break competition starts today!" Naruto said to those around him.

"Hmph, Naruto, just wait. When winter break is over, I'll definitely show you how much I've improved!" That was the tsundere Sasuke. However, he had become much more honest now and could properly express what he felt.

"Naruto, take care of yourself!" That was the somewhat shy Sakura.

"Naruto, come eat with me when you have time!" That was Choji, who was always thinking about food.

"Naruto, come visit me at my family's flower shop when you have time!" That was the cheerful and generous Ino.

"Naruto, Akamaru and I will miss you!" That was Kiba and Akamaru.

"Woof woof woof!"

"What a drag. Can we go now?" Starting with "what a drag"—that was obviously Shikamaru.

"Naruto, I wish you all the best during winter break." That was the quiet Aburame Shino, who had little presence.

One after another, the others left the classroom and headed home.

Naruto had sensed earlier that Hinata had been staring at him. That was hardly normal.

"What is it, Hinata? Aren't you going home?" Naruto asked curiously. At the same time, he placed his large hand over Hinata's adorable little head and gently stroked it.

"N-Naruto, my father invited you to visit today!" Hinata had gotten much better at controlling her shyness. She was fine around other people, but around Naruto, she was still a little nervous.

After all, Naruto was her first love.

"Oh? Your father is looking for me? Then let's go together. We shouldn't keep him waiting!" Naruto led Hinata out of the classroom.

At the entrance of the Ninja Academy, Neji Hyuga was already waiting for Hinata.

When he came over to Hinata, he said coldly, "Lady Hinata, let us return."

Without waiting for Hinata to respond, Neji began walking on his own. Hinata hurriedly followed after him.

Naruto followed close behind them. Seeing Naruto follow as well, Neji instantly stopped, took up a fighting stance, and said, "Uzumaki Naruto, why are you following us?"

The atmosphere immediately became tense. Hinata hurriedly explained, "No, Brother Neji. Father invited Naruto to visit today. Naruto is not maliciously following us."

After hearing Hinata's words, Neji lowered his stance and said, "Hmph. Since the Hyuga Clan Head invited you, I suppose I have no choice but to let you come along."

Seeing Neji's attitude gave Naruto a headache. Neji really had been like this as a child. After those incidents, his attitude toward the Main Family had become this poor, and he was also extremely pessimistic about fate.

He had always believed he was a little bird trapped in a cage, with no possibility of escape.

In the original story, Neji's attitude only began to change after Naruto defeated him during the Chunin Exams.

So when it came to the current Neji, Naruto would need to use Heavenly Mouth on him a few more times before he could possibly change his attitude.

The three walked together and eventually arrived at the gates of the Hyuga Clan's compound, one of Konoha's great clans.

When the guards at the gate saw Neji and Hinata return, they greeted Lady Hinata while ignoring Neji beside her.

At the same time, they stared at Naruto following behind them. If Naruto could not explain why he had come, they would have no choice but to treat him as an enemy trespassing into the Hyuga Clan.

After another round of explanations from Hinata, they learned that Naruto had come at Hyuga Hiashi's invitation. Only then did they reveal respectful expressions and allow Naruto inside.

The shift in their expressions drew a hint of disdain onto Neji Hyuga's face.

After entering the Hyuga Clan compound, Neji said to Hinata in a cold voice, "Lady Hinata, I will take my leave first."

"Brother Neji!" Before Hinata could finish speaking, Neji had already vanished from everyone's sight.

"It's okay, Hinata. Neji will change someday," Naruto said, seeing the disappointment in Hinata's eyes.

"Okay, I believe in you, Naruto!" Hinata led Naruto toward the Hyuga Clan's Reception Room.

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