The sun hung high overhead. Early autumn had arrived, and the sunlight was no longer as scorching as it had been in midsummer. After passing through layer upon layer of leaves, only a few stray rays occasionally slipped through the gaps and shone onto the ground.
Every now and then, a cool breeze blew past, stirring the leaves into a rustling sound.
Narak lounged comfortably beneath the shade of a tree in a loose robe, enjoying the coolness. Three-year-old Hanabi lay in his arms, idly twirling his hair.
Not far away stood a huge barbecue rack. A large wild boar had been skewered over it, its body coated in sauce. By now, its skin had been roasted golden brown, and streams of grease occasionally dripped down onto the fire beneath the rack, making the flames suddenly flare up and giving them more fuel.
A blond little brat was huffing and puffing as he worked hard to turn the wild boar, keeping it from staying in one place too long and burning black.
That person was Naruto! At this moment, he was staring greedily at the wild boar, clearly unable to resist the enticing aroma of the roast. He was not the only one, either. Two other boys were gathered around the barbecue rack, staring fixedly at the golden-brown boar.
One of the boys was chubby, with saliva constantly dripping from his mouth onto the ground. The other had face paint on and a little dog perched on his head. His nose kept twitching as he sniffed the aroma of the wild boar, his face filled with intoxication.
The two boys were named Choji and Kiba. They were both Naruto's classmates and members of the "Konoha 12."
They were not the only ones there. Shikamaru, like Narak, lay lazily beneath the shade of the tree, while Shino sat cross-legged off to the side, playing with the insects on his hand.
Hinata, Ino, and Sakura, meanwhile, had gone to pick wildflowers nearby.
According to the original story, these future pillars of Konoha should still have had only ordinary relationships with one another at this point. They should even have kept their distance from Naruto.
But because of Narak, they had instead gathered together ahead of schedule.
Since Narak often went to the school to pick up Hinata and Naruto, he gradually became acquainted with the other students in their class as well.
Among the Konoha 12, Neji, Tenten, and Lee were a year older and were not here. Sasuke was still in the hospital, while all the others were present.
Three days had passed since Narak became a Jonin. The news that he had fought the veteran Jonin Hatake Kakashi and Might Guy alone, defeated them both, and thus become Konoha's youngest elite Jonin had spread throughout Konoha that very day.
Over the past few days, whenever Narak walked through the village, the way people looked at him made him feel as though the villagers in his previous life had seen the only person from their village to get into a prestigious university return home. Their faces were full of curiosity and admiration.
The members of the Hyuga Clan had also been holding their heads high whenever they went out these past few days, unbearably proud. This was especially true of Narak's father, Hyuga Hiashi. Whenever he met or dined and drank with the heads of other clans, he spoke with particular confidence, his voice several notches louder than usual.
That smug attitude made the various clan heads extremely unhappy, but they could do nothing about it. After all, who could blame someone for showing off when he had a son who had become an elite Jonin at only ten years old? Thus, after swallowing their frustration, all they could do was return home and put their own juniors through devilish training.
As a result, over these three days, the few members of the Konoha 12 who came from major clans had suffered hellish torment. Yet they were completely unable to resist.
"Ah... Big Brother Narak, when can we eat? I can't take it anymore..."
"That's right, that's right, Big Brother Narak. I think it's already cooked. We should be able to eat it now, right?"
Naruto and Choji, the two gluttons, had been drooling over the roast wild boar for ages. By now, they were unbearably hungry and could not help urging Narak on.
"Mm... That was a good nap! You two have already asked how many times? Barbecuing takes time, so don't rush it. Don't be fooled by how golden the outside of the boar is. The inside isn't completely cooked yet. Eating it now would leave something to be desired."
Narak stretched and spoke to the two of them in an unhurried tone.
"Actually, barbecuing is just like cultivation. You have to learn to endure the boredom and tedium of the process. After all, nothing can be accomplished overnight. A towering building starts from the ground up, so you have to take things one step at a time. Do you understand?"
Narak put Hanabi down to one side, stood up, and continued fooling—teaching—the others.
"Oh, I understand, Big Brother Narak. So the reason you became so powerful is because you could endure the loneliness of cultivation? I get it! I have to follow your example, Big Brother Narak!" Naruto said seriously while turning the barbecue rack.
"Mm-hmm, me too. The old man at home has been telling me to learn more from you whenever I have time these past few days. I finally learned something today. Everything Big Brother Narak says feels so profound!" Kiba and Choji chimed in with looks of complete agreement.
Shikamaru, who had been lying on the ground taking a nap, opened his eyes and looked at the three of them as though they were idiots!
"Though I have to admit that what Big Brother Narak said does make sense, he's obviously just fooling you into continuing to do the labor, isn't he? Why are you acting as though you've heard some great life lesson? Please, can you use your brains even a little?"
Shikamaru was already too lazy to criticize these three idiots!
"Big Brother, look. Are these flowers pretty?"
Hinata, Ino, and Sakura had returned after picking the flowers. Each of them held a bouquet and ran up to Narak, presenting them to him like treasured gifts.
"Look, Big Brother Narak! I made this bouquet especially for you. Do you like it?" Ino held out the bouquet she had arranged to Narak.
"Me too, me too! Big Brother Narak, take a look. Isn't it pretty?" Sakura hurriedly said, unwilling to be outdone.
"Go away, Forehead Girl! I said it first. Why are you butting in?"
"Hmph, Ino the Pig! Your flowers are so ugly, and you still have the nerve to show them to Big Brother Narak?"
"Whose are ugly? Don't forget, my family owns a flower shop. I've been learning how to arrange flowers since I was little. Mine are countless times prettier than yours!"
"Hmph!" *2
The two exchanged a glance before turning their heads away.
Ino and Sakura began their usual bickering in front of Narak. Neither was willing to give way as they demanded that he judge whose flowers were prettier.
"Actually, I think all the flowers you picked are beautiful. If I really had to say which one is prettier, then I think..."
Narak deliberately paused. At this moment, forget Ino and Sakura—even Hinata pricked up her ears, listening for Narak to announce the final result.
"Ahem... If I really have to choose, I think all these flowers are less beautiful than you. Haven't you noticed? Your beauty has already made these flowers pale in comparison!"
Narak cleared his throat and spoke with complete sincerity!
"Ah... Really? Is that true? So we rank that highly in Big Brother Narak's heart?"
Upon hearing this, Ino and Sakura both blushed shyly and covered their faces.
Narak wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "Phew... I got away with it. Fortunately, this is the Naruto world. If these were little girls from my previous life, they would never believe such outdated, cheesy pickup lines!"
Before you continue