The Bored Hokage

The Bored Hokage

"Hinata Hyuga's favorability toward you has reached approval. You have received a pair of 'Winter Warm Gloves.' The girl you helped hopes her friend's hands will no longer be cold."

Naruto froze slightly when he heard the voice.

He reached into his pocket and found an extra pair of gloves inside. They were knitted from wool and extremely thick. The moment he put them on, his hands felt much warmer.

Is this my Golden Finger?

Picking up the fish basket from the ground, Naruto studied the Golden Finger he had just obtained while feeling puzzled.

The Golden Finger he had received was called the Approval System. As long as someone else's favorability toward him reached the approval level, he could randomly obtain one of that person's abilities. The higher their favorability, the better the ability he could obtain.

And approval was only the lowest level. Above it were trust and Undying Loyalty.

Upon reaching higher levels of favorability, he could even obtain the other person's combat memories, ninjutsu, and even Kekkei Genkai.

His earlier act of helping Hinata had undoubtedly earned her favor, which was why he had received these 'Winter Warm Gloves.'

"Was Asura's Chakra and the Nine-Tails cheat not enough? Now I've been given another Golden Finger?"

After activating the Golden Finger, Naruto's expression did not change much. If anything, he found it a little amusing.

The method of activating the Golden Finger was obviously very simple. He only needed someone else's favorability toward him to reach approval.

Yet before he met Hinata, no one had ever truly approved of him—not his parents' former subordinates, nor the Third Hokage, who met with him once every month.

None of them had ever approved of his existence.

What a cruel joke.

He continued onward through the snow.

After returning home, Naruto casually shut the front door, keeping the wind and snow outside. He then sat on the sofa and began recalling what had happened that day.

He had successfully bought food, caught an arm-length fish by the river, helped Hinata, and activated a highly useful Golden Finger.

All he needed to do next was follow the path of the Child of Prophecy. Then he could easily grow stronger and become the village's Seventh Hokage.

Thinking about it that way, everything seemed to be moving in a wonderful direction.

But why should he put on a hypocritical mask, become the Child of Prophecy, save the world, and curry favor with people who were full of malice toward him just to gain their approval?

Even without the Golden Finger, what he possessed now was already enough.

The Nine-Tails and the Uzumaki Clan physique were both high-level cheats. Once he completely digested them, he would at least reach the level of a Super Kage, more than enough to thrive in Shippuden.

After thinking it over, Naruto rubbed his growling stomach, got up, and headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

The main dish tonight was naturally the large fish he had just caught. Since the villagers were unwilling to sell him good food, it was already his best source of protein.

After frying the fish until both sides were golden, Naruto poured in boiling water and added some mushrooms and vegetables.

As for the staple food, Naruto chose the most convenient option: rice.

He was not the native Naruto. As a transmigrator, he could not possibly live on instant noodles every day. That would lead to serious malnutrition.

In the original story, twelve-year-old Naruto clearly had Uzumaki Clan blood, yet he had always been one of the shortest among his peers.

Half an hour later, Naruto stepped down from his stool and carefully carried the cooked fish soup to the table. He pressed his palms together, ready to enjoy his delicious dinner.

At that moment, a series of knocks sounded outside. Naruto instinctively frowned, slowly rose to his feet, and went to open the door.

The person outside was none other than the Third Hokage, dressed in a Hokage Robe. He was also Naruto's guardian in all but name within the village.

Despite his high status and authority, the Third Hokage did not put on airs before Naruto. He was as kind as any ordinary old man.

Unlike the other villagers, the Third Hokage was still the Hokage, and he also controlled the powerful weapon known as Naruto's living expenses.

Therefore, facing the "strongest" Hokage of all time, Naruto rarely revealed the smile of a child as he said happily, "Grandpa Third Hokage, you finally had time to come see me."

"It has been a while since we last met. I specially made time to come visit you."

The Third Hokage spoke with a smile, then entered the house and looked around Naruto's room.

This time, aside from bringing Naruto his living expenses, he had also come to observe Naruto's mental state.

After all, besides being Minato and Kushina's posthumous son, Naruto was also the village's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and one of its important future combat assets.

For Minato and Kushina's sake, and for the village's sake, nothing could happen to Naruto.

After withdrawing his gaze, the Third Hokage caught the scent of fish soup and said with a smile, "That smells wonderful. Naruto, are you stewing fish soup? When did you learn how to cook?"

"I figured it out when I was bored. Grandpa Third Hokage, would you like to stay for dinner?"

"Then I'll gladly accept."

Unable to resist the temptation of the fish soup—and wanting to continue observing Naruto—the Third Hokage nodded.

He sat down and continued looking over Naruto's room.

Naruto's room was kept very clean. His bedding had been washed thoroughly, without a trace of stains or yellowing. His cookware and daily necessities were also arranged neatly.

That was already quite rare for an orphan with no one to look after or discipline him.

The Third Hokage made that assessment inwardly. So far, he was fairly satisfied, but the villagers' complaints about Naruto gave him a headache.

Naruto appeared harmless and obedient in front of him, but he showed a completely different face before the villagers.

Before long, Naruto had served the Third Hokage a bowl of rice, and the two sat down at the dining table to begin dinner.

The Third Hokage picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth. The fish was fresh, tender, and smooth, carrying the rich fragrance of mushrooms. He then scooped up some milky-white fish soup. After taking a sip, he comfortably narrowed his eyes.

A few minutes later, the Third Hokage was already seventy percent full. The only two things that dissatisfied him were the lack of sake and the fact that he had forgotten to bring his pipe.

The Third Hokage sighed sincerely. "Naruto, your cooking is good enough for a head chef at an Izakaya."

Yeah, I was only being polite, yet you really came to mooch a meal off an orphan... Naruto complained inwardly, but he looked delighted.

"Really? Then please eat more if you like it! No one else ever comes to my home anyway."

The Third Hokage nearly choked. Although Naruto was speaking the truth, it somehow felt like a slap to the face. Still, since Naruto could eat such delicious fish soup, his life presumably was not too bad.

It was just that his personality needed to be corrected properly.

Thinking this, the Third Hokage said earnestly, "Naruto, the villagers are always complaining to me. They say you are constantly playing pranks and disrupting their lives. That isn't good."

Naruto sneered inwardly and said indifferently, "Grandpa Hokage, I'm just a child with no father or mother. I treat them the way they treat me. They aren't Grandpa Hokage."

The Third Hokage fell silent, unsure how to persuade Naruto.

Noticing the Third Hokage's expression, Naruto pressed on. "Besides, they call me Demon Fox behind my back every day and wish I would die sooner. I can't exactly go kill myself, can I?"

"Demon Fox?!"

A dangerous glint flashed through the Third Hokage's eyes. Naruto's identity as a Jinchuriki was classified within the village. How had rumors about the Demon Fox spread?

Naruto was still so young. What if he lost control?

Realizing Naruto was still beside him, the Third Hokage restrained his killing intent and asked softly, "Naruto, who called you Demon Fox?"

Naruto seemed frightened, and his voice weakened considerably. "Everyone says it. I'm used to it already. Maybe I really am a Demon Fox. Otherwise, why would I have no parents from the moment I was born? Everyone bullies me too. I can't even play with other people. Even now, I don't have a single friend."

The Third Hokage frowned repeatedly upon hearing this and promised, "Naruto, don't worry. No one will call you Demon Fox again."

"Then thank you, Grandpa Third Hokage." Naruto did not seem to have much hope.

At that moment, the Third Hokage added, "Naruto, don't go out for the time being. I'll have someone bring you food, as well as some books for young people. Stay at home for now."

After mooching food and drink, the Third Hokage left without delay.

As the village's leader, the Third Hokage had many important matters to handle. If Naruto had not been a Jinchuriki, he would not have taken time out of his busy schedule to visit.

Naruto stood by the window, watching the Third Hokage's retreating figure with a cold smile in his heart.

Having read the original story, he knew that the Third Hokage possessed the Telescopic Jutsu and could monitor his life at any time.

He could express dissatisfaction with the village and its villagers, but he could not show dissatisfaction with the Hokage. From his current perspective, the Hokage had "never" wronged him.

He could trust Hiruzen Sarutobi as his father's teacher, but he could not trust the Third Hokage as the Hokage.

Because to become a qualified politician, one first had to lose oneself. The same was true for the Hokage.