What It Feels Like to Be Relied Upon

The tent was too dark to see anything clearly; Naruto could only make out Hinata's general outline and sense that she seemed somewhat uneasy.

Hinata's mind was already racing with ideas for how to win someone over, including scenarios like "I can't secretly hold your hand behind my friend's back," which made her so shy she was about to explode.

Just as she was feeling confused and uneasy, a rustling sound came from beside her ear, and a hand was placed on her forehead. As if to comfort her, it gently touched it twice.

"Hmm"

Hinata shoulders were trembling slightly, immediately quieted down, her eyes filled with tears.

The next day, before dawn.

Hinata opened her eyes. Naruto's bed was empty. Her eyes were blank for a moment before she suddenly came to her senses. She seemed to have fainted last night.

She huddled up, carefully cradling her gradually blushing face, as if trying to hide her small self.

The mist in the forest had not yet dissipated when the group set off again.

Out of fear of Naruto's Fox-dog, Shino Aburame walked with Kiba Inuzuka, keeping a considerable distance from Hinata and Naruto.

Hinata and Naruto exchanged a knowing smile as they looked at the distance between the two people in front of them.

"We should be able to reach our destination today," Hinata said softly.

"Hmm, do I still need to train today?" Naruto asked about Hinata's daily extra training time, as she had trained until very late yesterday as well.

Hinata nodded and said, "If we can't keep up with Kiba and the others, we'll cause trouble for everyone."

She looked at Naruto, who seemed to have completely forgotten what happened yesterday and had no intention of mentioning it. She couldn't help but purse her lips, her thoughts a jumble of complex emotions.

Sure enough, when the group set up camp again, Hinata once again left alone in silence.

Since they were deep in the heart of the Forest of the Land of Fire, surrounded by towering trees, sleeping in the trees would be safer than setting up tents. Lighting a fire in the old forest wasn't a good option either, so the four of them had to make do with dry rations.

"We should arrive by noon tomorrow, no need to rush," Shino said, and took the lead in shrinking into his sleeping bag.

It wasn't completely dark yet when Ya followed him into his sleeping bag. From a distance, his and Shino Aburame's sleeping bags looked like two insects firmly attached to a tree trunk, neatly arranged together.

Naruto, unable to sleep, grabbed Nine-Tails by the neck and went to find Hinata. Anyway, if they stayed here, Akamaru and the Kikaichū would likely have a restless night.

In the woods.

Hinata swung her palm sharply, creating a strong gust of wind, with fine blue Chakra enveloping her hand.

The Hyuga Clan's ninjas are known for their unparalleled close-quarters combat prowess and mid-range attacks, using Chakra to create needles that strike their enemies. Hinata, for example, is currently practicing with her Empty Palm, diligently honing her fundamental skills.

"Hinata." Naruto, carrying the Nine-Tails, landed in the forest and walked to Hinata in a few steps.

"Naruto, what brings you here?"

Hinata withdrew her Empty Palm, then immediately realized that she was only wearing a quick-drying fishing net training uniform for the convenience of training, and suddenly felt a little unsure of what to do with her hands.

Looking at Hinata had her arms crossed, Naruto looked away and said somewhat awkwardly.

"I've come over to take a look."

"Okay." Hinata lowered her head and didn't say anything more.

"I'm pretty free anyway, how about I keep you company while you cultivate?"

"Ah, is that alright?" Hinata didn't refuse. She kept in mind that she couldn't be shy, and asked in what she thought was a calm tone.

"Of course, I'd actually love to be with Hinata."

"Eh?" Hinata panicked again, and in her haste, she waved her hand and said incoherently, "No, no, I'm the kind of person who only causes trouble for others."

"To be honest, I'd love to be bothered by Hinata."

"That kind of... that kind of thing," Hinata blushed even more, "I would feel so useless."

"No," Naruto denied. "Working hard is good, but don't put too much pressure on yourself. Hinata 're actually very strong, you just lack an opportunity to show it."

"But..." Hinata pursed her lips, not daring to look up.

"In short, becoming stronger is a long process, not something that can be achieved overnight." Naruto said earnestly, and the person who should never have said this said it without batting an eye.

A lazybones with a system shamelessly reached out and, taking advantage of his height increase over the past few months, patted Hinata on the head with satisfaction.

A few months ago, having achieved the lowest altitude, he felt an almost pathological jealousy towards everyone taller than him. Now, he has finally calmed down and gained a shameless sense of satisfaction.

Naruto smiled, his eyes narrowed. "Before Hinata gets stronger, I'd love to see what it feels like to be relied upon by you."

Upon hearing this, Hinata's mind went completely blank for a moment.

When she was a child, her father described her as weak, spineless, and useless; all she had to do was be someone who didn't cause trouble for others. As a result, she became increasingly timid and afraid of confronting people.

She's incredibly cautious around people she likes, always feeling like she's walking on thin ice, never daring to make the slightest move to get close. She's afraid of causing trouble for them, and she doesn't know how to handle trouble.

Even though the people around her were very kind and told her again and again that they weren't afraid of bothering her, it didn't matter. The more they did that, the more she wanted to prove herself.

But then, the person she liked suddenly told her that he wanted to try being relied on by her.

Although I felt very embarrassed, but...

"Ah"

Hinata surprisingly didn't blush; she smiled with her lips pursed, but her tears wouldn't stop. They fell in a soft, rustling sound like autumn leaves, impossible to hold back.

"You cried?" Naruto's words ruined the atmosphere.

Fortunately, Hinata had already calmed down by this time. However, his words made her blush again, and she covered her burning cheeks with her hands.

"Ah! I didn't, I just..."

"Then I'll give you a gift as an apology," Naruto suddenly said. Hinata was completely caught off guard and before she could react, a kunai appeared in her hand.

It was an ordinary kunai, except for a special talisman on the handle, which looked like it had been temporarily carved on not long ago.

"This is?"

"Just an ordinary kunai," Naruto explained. "The part at the end is just for decoration. You can keep it for now."

He was helpless; the system had only given him one Flying Thunder God kunai, and if he wanted a second one, he would have to make it himself. But he wasn't good at that kind of thing, so he could only make imitations when he had free time.

It can be used, but it's unclear how many times it can be used.

"Okay, thank you, Naruto." Hinata carefully put away the kunai and placed it in the innermost compartment of her ninja tool pouch.

"Um..." Hinata seemed to remember something, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

"What you just said stands," he said. "Stop crying."

Recommended by py: This is a work by a passionate author who wrote many side stories for the novel without accepting a single penny. We cannot let a hero's spirit be dampened.

P. S.: There will be more tonight.