Nine-Tails' Favorability Toward You Increased

The childish sparring match ended quickly. Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji rested with their backs against a large tree.

Their future achievements might surpass those of most ninja, but for now, they were just little brats. Any random Genin could easily defeat them.

While eating, Choji said, "Naruto, you're really strong. You're already on par with the upperclassmen at the Ninja Academy. Shikamaru and I are both no match for you."

Shikamaru, beside him, looked at Naruto with surprise as well. Even when he and Choji joined forces, they had failed to defeat Naruto.

Naruto smiled. He had gotten a sense of his own strength. He had already surpassed the vast majority of children his age, but before real ninja, he still wasn't much.

That was without using the Nine-Tails' power, of course.

Once he handed his body over to the Nine-Tails, even Jonin would be no match for him in a berserk state. It would take a Kage-level expert or several elite Jonin to stop him.

To thank Shikamaru and Choji for being his sparring partners, Naruto took several rice balls and pieces of fried chicken from his backpack.

The instant he saw the fried chicken, Choji's eyes lit up. After taking it, he immediately started gnawing on it with his hands, producing crisp crunching sounds.

Shikamaru, meanwhile, reluctantly accepted a rice ball, as though he had lost all worldly desires.

After finishing one drumstick, Choji took another from Naruto and grinned like a child. "Naruto, the food you brought is so delicious. If I could eat this every day, I'd be willing to spar with you every day."

Naruto wore the smile of an old father and gave all the remaining fried chicken to Choji.

Taking a rice ball, he walked over to Shikamaru and sat beside him on the grass. Together, they blankly gazed at the distant forest, small bridge, and flowing stream.

"Another peaceful day..."

Shikamaru sighed like that, then noticed Naruto beside him. "Why did you come over? Did Choji eat all your food? He's always had that bad habit."

"Not really. I just came to keep you company. After all, you and Choji are the third and fourth friends I've made."

Naruto plucked a blade of grass, put it in his mouth, and spoke while chewing it.

Shikamaru gave a perfunctory smile and put a grass stem between his lips as well. "I thought Choji and I would be your first and second friends. Didn't expect we were still too late. Your first friend must have been that little girl from the Hyuga clan."

Naruto pretended to be shocked. "Shikamaru, how did you know about Hinata and me?"

Shikamaru leaned back and lay down on the grass, speaking indifferently. "Because when Hinata was being bullied that day, Choji and I were across the street. Choji wanted to become friends with you then, but I stopped him."

"Why?"

"I was afraid of interrupting your hero saving the damsel..."

"Then I should thank you... Thank you for giving me the chance to save the damsel."

Seeing Shikamaru lying on the grass, Naruto copied him and lay down as well, looking at the sky and drifting clouds. At the same time, he asked the Nine-Tails inside him, "Big fox, is the old Third Hokage watching me?"

"No. And brat, stop thinking about ordering me around all the time. I'm not your babysitter. Handle your own affairs."

After hearing the Nine-Tails' words, Naruto relaxed and said to Shikamaru, "Come to think of it, you and Choji probably didn't become friends with me just because you wanted to, right? Your sudden appearance was too strange."

"It was my father's idea. As for whether my father received orders from someone else, I don't know."

After a pause, Shikamaru continued, "I hate troublesome errands like this. At first, I planned to just go through the motions, but after learning about your past, I decided to become your real friend."

"Looks like this Demon Fox really is charming. There are even people willing to be my friends."

Naruto's words carried another meaning, and his gaze toward Shikamaru turned cold. "I'm getting more and more curious about who my parents were. They were important enough to draw the attention of so many important people."

Shikamaru's expression changed, but he quickly recovered. "I don't know about that either. But please trust the village. Since those important people in the village acted that way, they must have had their reasons."

"So they just accepted my identity as the Demon Fox and ignored the villagers bullying me?"

Naruto's tone gradually calmed, but to Shikamaru, Naruto was even more frightening now than before, like a volcano about to erupt.

As he spoke, Naruto put on a relaxed smile again.

"But none of that matters anymore. Those villagers don't dare bully me now, or they'll taste the Demon Fox's curse. And I've made friends like you and Choji. Sooner or later, I'll forget all those unpleasant things."

"That's what the Will of Fire says, isn't it?"

"You're right..." Shikamaru looked deeply at Naruto, overturning his previous impression of him.

He had once believed that Naruto had hidden a great deal of darkness in his heart after suffering the villagers' bullying. But now, it seemed that beyond the darkness, Naruto held an even stronger attitude of disdain.

Was Naruto really the same age as him? Or had Shikamaru simply been protected too well by his father?

At that moment, Shikamaru saw Naruto get up from the grass and asked curiously, "Naruto, where are you going? Aren't you playing with us anymore?"

Without turning back, Naruto said, "Of course I'm going fishing. I saw plenty of fish in the river just now. Since you were willing to come out and play with me, I have to let you see what I can do."

Shikamaru fell silent, but still followed him. Choji followed as well.

Several hours later, Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji had lit a campfire by the river. Beside it were grilled fish skewered on branches, sizzling with hot oil.

Naruto took big bites of grilled fish and smiled sincerely as he looked at Shikamaru and Choji.

The Nine-Tails inside him said disdainfully, "The Third Hokage hasn't watched you for half a day. Those two brats are definitely his informants, yet you're still smiling so happily. Are you missing a few screws?"

"But the happiness I feel right now is real... I feel like I can truly open my heart to them."

At that moment, Naruto seemed to think of something and revealed a mischievous grin. "Big Nine-Tails fox, watching us eat grilled fish, are you getting jealous? If I get the chance, I'll bring you something to eat too."

The Nine-Tails said dismissively, "I have no interest in such appetites, and don't forget that I'm sealed inside you. How are you supposed to bring grilled fish to me?"

"You're right..." Naruto deeply agreed and turned to leave the Sealing Space.

But before the Nine-Tails could show a lonely expression, Naruto suddenly turned back. Holding several skewers of grilled fish, he walked to the iron gate and offered them forward.

"These are for you. Since you can use Chakra to affect my emotions, I can also use Chakra to record the taste of grilled fish and turn it into food within the Sealing Space, so we can share this delicious meal."

"I already said I have no interest in appetites like that..."

The Nine-Tails haughtily shook his head, putting on an exceptionally dignified front.

Naruto smiled, set down the grilled fish, and tactfully left the Sealing Space. When he returned to the real world, a crisp notification sounded beside his ear.

"Kurama's favorability toward you has reached recognition. You have obtained 'Malice Perception lv1.'"