The Meeting of One and Nine

Just as Naruto had said, he spent all three days of the break with Hinata. He did not deliberately help when Hinata was carrying out missions, merely watching her from afar and handing her a cup of water once she was done. Even such simple time together brought their relationship much closer.

"Naruto, sorry to keep you waiting."

"Did you finish the mission?"

"Kurenai received a message and left. We're done for today. Mm~ haah."

After finishing a weeding mission, Hinata interlaced her fingers and raised her arms in a stretch. The girl's gradually maturing figure was revealed in the motion.

"W-What are you staring at?"

Seeing Naruto looking at her important parts, Hinata could not help recalling what had happened a few days ago. Her little face reddened slightly as she wrapped her clothes tightly around herself and gave Naruto a coy complaint.

"Nothing. By the way, there have been lots of outsiders in the village lately. What's going on?"

It would have been a lie to say he did not care. After all, she was a girl he had spent so much time with. But mindful of Hinata's thin skin, Naruto clumsily changed the subject.

"You've been out on missions all this time, Naruto, so you didn't know. The Chunin Exams are about to begin."

"The Chunin Exams?"

"Ninja from other countries gather together for an exam held in Konoha, where they compete in skill."

"Oh, oh! I'm really lucky. I just became a genin, and I already get to take the exam. Hinata, just wait until I pass and become a chunin. Maybe there'll even be the Jonin Exams this year, and I'll accomplish my goal all at once."

"You had to retake the genin exam, though..."

Looking at Naruto's confident grin, Hinata mischievously poked his cheek and said with a smile.

"That was an accident!"

"But you're very perceptive. You actually noticed that there were more strangers in the village. Could it be that you've memorized everyone's face in the whole village?"

"No, it's just that the way they look at me is like they're looking at a normal person. It's pretty obvious, isn't it?"

Those simple words pierced Hinata's heart with pain. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek tightly against his.

"...Naruto."

"W-What is it?"

Hinata's sudden embrace left Naruto at a loss. He did not even know where to put his hands.

"You have too many painful memories, Naruto. I understand. You've always loved the village, and one day, they'll regret it!"

"As long as I'm here, I absolutely won't let you go through memories like that."

"Honestly, I don't care that much."

Hinata's resolute words moved Naruto once again. Though he said he did not care, he still hugged Hinata and enjoyed the warmth of the girl's embrace.

"Hey, you're blocking the way."

Their tender moment had not even lasted a few seconds before a cold voice interrupted it. A passerby behind them was clearly dissatisfied with them blocking the road.

"Hm? Whoa, what is that? A horse? Is that a horse?"

Naruto turned around and saw a creature he had never seen before. It stood roughly two meters tall, with a long neck, yellow fur, and two enormous eyes glaring at him unfriendly.

"Naruto, that's a camel. Its scientific name is camel."

"That's amazing! This horse can talk!"

"No, I'm telling you, it's a camel..."

"I'm the one talking."

The person sitting atop the camel spoke unhappily. Naruto raised his gaze higher and higher before he could barely make out the red-haired boy seated on the camel's back.

Every part of this boy was unforgettable. He carried a gourd larger than a person on his back, had deep dark circles around his eyes, and a red character for love on his forehead. In short, he had a face no one could forget after seeing once.

"Oh, it's Spiky Hair. I thought the horse could talk."

"Do you have any right to say that?!"

Gaara felt a surge of anger. This shorty clearly had spiky hair too, yet he was seriously calling someone else that!

"Looking at you, you're not from the village. State your name!"

"Sandstorm Gaara."

"What a strange name. I'm Konoha genin Naruto Uzumaki. Remember it well."

"So you have no right to call someone else strange! You'd better pray you don't run into me during the Chunin Exams."

Gaara coldly urged the camel past them and headed onward, but after only a few steps, a Konoha ninja stopped him.

"You're from Sand Village, right? The terms clearly state that mounts must be handed over to us for safekeeping! Why aren't you following the rules? What if you wander around the streets and hit someone?"

"Who knows what you might do to my mount?"

"Who would do anything to such an ugly creature... Urgh!"

Before the genin could finish, Gaara attacked him. Gaara vanished from atop the camel, and by the time the genin came to his senses, Gaara was already in front of him, reaching for his throat with one hand.

"You called Sandstorm ugly!"

"So Sandstorm was its name?!"

The hand aimed straight for the ninja's throat was stopped. Naruto stood before Gaara and remarked, "Oh? You actually managed to block me."

"Who asked you to meddle, brat? Come find me after the Chunin Exams."

Not only did the rescued ninja fail to thank Naruto, he even shoved him aside before walking over to the camel, grabbing its reins, and leaving.

"Someone like me."

This time, Gaara did not stop him. He merely looked at Naruto thoughtfully. That gaze was exactly like the way the people in the village looked at him... Could this guy be one too?

"Why don't you hate them?"

"You mean that? I'm used to it already."

"Why are there people willing to stay by your side?"

"What kind of random question is that? If you sincerely make friends, isn't that only natural?"

"What a boring guy."

Their brief exchange ended. Gaara had no desire to keep talking to this tame, spineless guy. Repaying resentment with kindness was simply idiotic. The gourd on his back opened, and heaps of sand spilled onto the ground, gradually gathering into the shape of a camel and carrying him once more.

"Do you seriously have to ride something?!"

Sealing Space

"The Chunin Exams? Naruto, you're finally old enough for them. Do your best, Dad will be cheering you on."

Minato smiled and rubbed Naruto's head. Naruto's childhood was still vivid in his mind, and he could only sigh at how quickly time had passed. In the blink of an eye, it was already time for the Chunin Exams.

"Naruto, isn't your hair getting longer and longer? How about growing it out like this?"

Feeling the hair beneath his hand, Minato suddenly asked.

"Why?"

"To make it easier to learn a jutsu. That person would definitely have no prejudice against you. Yeah, that person."

Minato thought of his teacher. That perverted ninja had always lamented that no one could learn his ultimate technique, because the requirement was a head of flowing long hair.

"...No. I don't like long hair. I'll just keep my hair like Dad's. It looks cool."

"Ha, hahaha, then there's nothing to be done."

Minato laughed foolishly. What father would not enjoy being admired by his son? The thought of having Naruto grow out his hair faded away with it.

"Nine-Tails, Nine-Tails."

Naruto once again came before the napping Nine-Tails, lying on his paw as he called out.

"What is it? I'm busy."

Nine-Tails raised an eyelid and glanced at Naruto.

"I never thanked you. Thank you for helping me save Sister Haku."

"Hmph, I was just bored."

"Not just Sister Haku. Back then, I felt it—your power surrounded me. At first it was scorching hot, but afterward it felt really warm. Power kept pouring out, and that was why I could defeat Zabuza."

"I think I'm really lucky to have met you, Nine-Tails."

"Enough. If you really want to thank me, do as I say. That kid you saw during the day—find a chance to fight him."

Nine-Tails had already grown accustomed to Naruto saying irritating things that moved him. His heart remained utterly unmoved as he gave the order.

"Huh? Gaara? You don't like the look of him?"

"Just do as I say. Heh heh heh, Shukaku, I never thought I'd run into you. Even my claws are starting to itch."

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PS: Thanks to reader Zui Meng Wu Piao Ling for the 200 reward.