Honest People Are Fine, but No One Likes Them

"I'm not hiding anything from you, can't I just tell you the truth?" Naruto said with a grin, holding his teacup.

"Forget it, I don't care about your business. It's up to you anyway." Neji shook his head. "But what you said makes sense. If a real fight breaks out, our Hyuga Clan will definitely have to go to the battlefield."

"Going to the battlefield is for the sake of the village, which is a matter of course, but the battlefield is ever-changing and risky." Naruto brought the topic back to the present.

"I have my own plans for Hinata and Ino. Whether it's my personal reasons or something else, I just hope they are safe and sound."

Neji was also a little confused by Naruto's vague explanation.

"Then we can just find an excuse not to let them participate." Neji didn't think much of it. He and Naruto were close enough that they didn't need to be too careful about what they said in private.

As the clan chief grew older, Neji developed a more dignified air about him, and his brows were always furrowed.

"How can that be?" Naruto waved his hand. "What kind of terrible idea is this? Putting aside how smart Ino is, she doesn't even really want children because of her work, and she says she wants to postpone it."

"If you leave her idle, aren't you putting me in a very difficult position? She's smart enough to not guess that it was me. If that happens, I'm finished."

"Even if Hinata has no objection, Ino still won't agree. By then, you and her father will both be on the battlefield. Hinata may be gentle, but she can be very stubborn once she has an idea."

Neji was genuinely amused by Naruto's rambling analysis.

"Naruto, you have quite a lot to worry about."

"Hey, with great power comes great responsibility." Naruto said nonchalantly, without the slightest shame. "Isn't this all for the good of the village? More people mean a thriving village."

Neji couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing to see him lying through his teeth.

"Do you know what the village ninjas are saying about you?"

"What? Someone dares to slander my innocence?" Naruto couldn't sit still any longer and downed his tea in one gulp. "What did they say?"

"Ahem." Neji probably realized he'd been a bit too talkative, so he coughed to stop himself. "It's nothing, I just mean you've taken all the good-looking people from the village."

"Nonsense! Who! Who's slandering my innocence out of thin air!" Naruto nearly jumped up and down. "Are Hinata and Ino the only good-looking girls in the village?"

"If other girls heard that, that guy would probably be torn to pieces. That's so vicious. Haven't I done enough for the village, putting in all my hard work?"

"Hinata and Ino, we grew up together as childhood friends, what's wrong with us being close? Is that wrong? It's just that they weren't lucky enough to be born into the right family! Being born into the right family is an art!"

Fortunately Neji was very composed and didn't break his composure. He thought to himself that Naruto really deserved to die, and forced back his urge to complain as he took a sip of tea.

"Let's not talk about these unfounded things. Is war really coming? We've only had peace for about twenty years, right? And it's about to start again?"

"The trend is there, you've seen it too." Naruto sat down, wanted to drink some tea but found it was dry, so he poured himself some.

Although I've already avoided the topic verbally, I'm still getting angrier the more I think about it. I haven't been showing off in the last two years; I've become increasingly low-key.

How can anyone be so envious? Ino Hinata like little cabbages I've watched grow up since they were kids. Don't they understand that you reap what you sow?

Jealousy? Jealousy my foot!

When I have time, I'll definitely give these little fairies a good talking to. Damn it, they've all become so pampered since they haven't experienced the magical baptism of fairies!

"No, tell me which bunch of bastards made those sarcastic remarks?"

"What?" Neji was startled, but after realizing what was happening, he couldn't help but laugh and cry. Naruto was still the same Naruto, always holding a grudge.

At the same time, he secretly regretted his words, thinking that he shouldn't have been so talkative, as he had now brought some trouble to the village.

Neji, but still said it.

Although he was a little annoyed that Naruto would cause trouble in the village again, he thought it was better for the village to be in trouble than for him to be in trouble.

Besides, those people are reaping what they sowed. Of all people to mess with, they had to provoke Naruto, the King of Hell.

Upon learning that it was a group of young people from small clans making sarcastic remarks, Naruto's lips twitched involuntarily, and he made a mental note of it.

We need to find an opportunity to teach them a lesson they won't forget. They dare mess with that blond-haired bastard, can't beat him, and can't compete with his father's connections—they're asking for trouble, haven't they ever seen the Green Green Grassland?

It wasn't that he was petty, he was just genuinely angry. Who would dare to tease someone he cared about? It was all those idiots from small families. In the past, he could make them suffer so much that they would be crying on their knees, questioning their existence, the very next day.

In the past two years, Tsunade has left, and he's become more restrained, feeling he's had enough fun. It's not that he doesn't dare to retaliate against those little beasts without Tsunade by his side.

The conversation returned to normal, and they started talking about the war.

"Sasuke has already declared war, so there's a strong chance he has a powerful force behind him. Otherwise, how could he possibly start a war on his own?" Naruto analyzed seriously.

In fact, war was already inevitable. Black Zetsu and Kabuto, if they weren't fools, would have definitely tricked Sasuke Uchiha their side. A declaration of war was only a matter of time; Naruto simply accelerated the process.

He didn't want to wait any longer. Who knew when the Otsutsuki would descend? If they were beset by internal and external troubles, they would be in a very passive position. He also had a family to support, which would put them in an even more passive position.

The lab was desperately awaiting its work, continuing its research on Kaguya Otsutsuki's bodily fluids. Were aliens no longer human? Even if they were caught, they'd just be experimental subjects, let alone Kaguya Otsutsuki, a semi-native.

In order to better govern, they even shamelessly fabricated some kind of myth. A tale of a princess in distress—they really know how to adapt to local customs!

Damn it, how could two species possibly have love? Eating shit isn't even that absurd. Besides, even if Naruto were transported to a world where only monkeys lived, he'd rather masturbate for the rest of his life than marry a monkey.

Even if we take a step back and assume it's used as a tool at most, how could it possibly turn into a cross-species romantic obsession? That's outrageous! Either the person who made up this story is insane, or Kaguya Otsutsuki is obsessed with appearances.

Ultimately, Kaguya Otsutsuki's bloodline purity can be guaranteed. The reason she had two sons was probably because she couldn't swallow the enormous Chakra Fruit, so she created two backup hidden energy sources.

Kaguya Otsutsuki, this outsider, was quite adept at adapting to local customs, creating a whole bunch of fancy things in an attempt to farm, block her fellow countrymen and friends, and build a Shinobi World fortress.

Unfortunately, halfway through her efforts, her two backup hidden energy sources betrayed her. It can only be said that Kaguya Otsutsuki's cleverness backfired; her success and failure both stemmed from her insistence on playing the human game.

This teaches us a lesson: it's okay to use tricks, but first, read history. There's nothing new in history; how many human kings have been usurped by their sons?

Then again, it's ultimately a matter for the outsiders themselves, and what Naruto wants to do is catalyze it all. Capture Kaguya Otsutsuki as soon as possible and start the experiments.

Neji listened to Naruto's earnest analysis for a while and actually started to think that what he said made some sense. He rubbed his temples and said with a headache.

"The internal conflicts within the Hyuga Clan haven't been fully resolved, and now war is fast approaching. One thing after another is really getting to us."

"Let's talk about things that haven't happened yet," Naruto said.

"You really are something else," Neji was speechless. "Weren't you the one who was saying there would be a war? Now you're avoiding the topic."

"These are two different things. War is inevitable. But it hasn't happened yet, so there's no point in speculating. Who knows how many years it will last?"

Upon hearing this, Neji fell into deep thought.

"What you said makes some sense. If it is really a long war, I need to discuss it with Lord Hiashi in advance so that I can be prepared."

After leaving the Hyuga Clan Compound, Naruto wandered around for a bit and felt that Konohagakure was suddenly a bit empty. Apart from Neji, all his friends were out on missions.

With nowhere else to go, he returned to Anko's house. There wasn't much to say; he was still not entirely satisfied with Anko's teaching abilities and spent three or four hours giving her pointers before finally stopping.

It was past midnight when Anko finally came to her senses and said regretfully.

"Please, Ino Hinata are gone, can you please stop watching me every Tenten? I have to go to work tomorrow, or I'll get wrinkles!"

"Stop instructing me! You've been instructing me for so long, my saliva's dried up. I can't afford to offend you, young master, you should find someone else!"

"What kind of talk is that? It's not something you should learn." Naruto lay back in the soft chair by the fireplace, holding a beer can, and took a leisurely sip.

"Didn't you beg me to come in the first place? Are you trying to rip me off now?"

"It's not that I'm abandoning the bridge after I've crossed it, but there has to be water in the riverbed, right? If there's no water, it's not a river. What's the point of building a bridge?" Anko argued.

"You usually think of me once a month at most, but you've been free these past few days. I'm still stuck in this slump as a working dog!"

"I have to criticize you for this. Your attitude isn't serious at all." Naruto sat by the fireplace on this cold day, feeling refreshed after drinking an ice-cold beer.

"Anyway, I'm too tired, I'm exhausted. You can find someone else to teach you next time." Anko yawned, her eyelids drooping. "I'm going to sleep now, goodnight."

"Tsk!" Naruto chuckled, stood up and stood by the window, slightly opening it. The cold wind instantly sobered him up. "Being invincible is also a kind of loneliness."

The next day, Naruto indeed stopped bothering Anko, mainly because he was genuinely free. Sakura and Konan were busy with things in Amegakure, so there was no need for him.

In Konohagakure, Hinata and Ino both went on missions, and what's even more surprising is that Choji, that fatso, went too. Now he has no one to brag to, and Neji is too boring.

But he couldn't possibly find someone else like Anko suggested and start a small tutoring class. What would that be? He was indeed free, but he wasn't a lecherous devil.

After thinking about it, he decided to go home and sleep. There wasn't really anything suitable to do right now; in short, he just had to wait!

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye, Naruto's daily life was repetitive. He was either lying at home sleeping or, fully bundled up in thick clothes, trudging through the snow to eat, his routine extremely regular.

This continued until everyone who had gone out on missions returned. Choji, who was greeted by Shikamaru, Kiba Inuzuka, who had gotten up early to greet Naruto while breathing out cold air, was moved to tears.

In the freezing cold, they watched from afar as Naruto stamped his feet and breathed on them to warm them up, waiting for everyone. Kiba Inuzuka and Choji, dressed in warm clothes, were probably caught up in the atmosphere and were just about to say something when they suddenly heard Naruto ask a question.

"Ino and Hinata alright? Are they hurt?"

Kiba Inuzuka: "."

Choji: "."

"Naruto Uzumaki, you're a real jerk!" Kiba was furious, yanking off the scarf around his neck. He finally mustered his temper. "Why don't you just ask him yourself?"

"Are you kidding me? Asking them both at the same time? Am I crazy or are you crazy?" Naruto looked surprised and casually rubbed Choji's belly fat through his clothes.

"With Choji and Shikamaru around, Ino will definitely be fine. I don't know about Kiba. He's only half-baked. If only he were half as attentive as his sister."

He had both praised and insulted the person, which infuriated Kiba Inuzuka.

You deserve to die!

Just as Kiba Inuzuka rolled up his down jacket sleeves, ready to make his move, Naruto quickly made his escape. After dashing away from the three of them in a flash, he started fooling around again.

First, they secretly met Ino at Yamanaka Flower Shop. The two hid behind a bare tree covered in snow and Ino. They laughed and joked around the street for a while before parting ways.

Snow fell heavily, like salt raining down.

He turned around and jumped onto the wall of the Hyuga Clan Compound to tease Hinata. In a corner covered with snow, the two of them breathed hot air and kissed each other.

Hinata's eyes held a poetic quality, like raindrops falling on a canvas, her pupils reflecting Naruto's face as she gazed at him intently. Their time together was already limited, so they remained silent.

Naruto only said a few sentimental words, Hinata burst into tears. Love is like something broken down and swallowed, crushed and ingrained in one's very bones—a one-sided, unwavering devotion.

The snow fell heavier and heavier. Naruto, Choji, Kiba Inuzuka, and the other mischievous guys sat on the snow-covered rooftop, watching the sky gradually darken into night. The heavy snow fell on their shoulders, making each of them look like a pagoda-bearing Heavenly King Li Jing.

"Hey, how Hinata and Ino were completely fooled by someone as damned as Naruto?" Kiba Inuzuka complained. "I'm so nice to him, but I'm never appreciated?"

"Naruto's a master liar, he's managed to escape several dangerous situations!" Choji sighed. "He even managed to get away with betraying me a few times. He's really a scoundrel!"

"What you two are saying is pointless. What do you mean by 'liar'? You two can figure it out yourselves. Do you think Hinata and Ino wouldn't understand?" Naruto said with a smile. "You two definitely don't understand, yet you're asking this kind of question. You're probably just... [unclear/incompetent]."

"But I'm good to her, and I'm not like you who 'Tenten chasing after other women."

"Being nice to her isn't love. Everyone's after something different, you know?" Naruto said, pursing his lips.

"But I'm an honest man, I certainly wouldn't want her to worry," Ya retorted. "Is that wrong?"

"But they don't like honest people. They like handsome honest people." Naruto grimaced. "Or it's some other trait. No one will like someone just because they're honest."

"What should I do? I've already opened my heart, but she still thinks I'm childish." Kiba scratched his head and turned to look at Naruto. "Do you think I'm childish?"

Naruto narrowed his eyes and replied, "It is indeed quite childish."

"You!" Ya was somewhat indignant.

"Why not find someone who suits your temperament? Why hang yourself on one tree?"