Sasuke Takes a Detour

After finishing his conversation with Sasuke, Naruto no longer paid him any mind and vanished from his spot.

From the shadows, Hinata, who had been silently observing Naruto and Sasuke, blushed slightly. She hadn't expected Naruto's strength to improve so rapidly.

However, Hinata's inner thoughts remained the same as yesterday.

Although he was much stronger now, judging by his movements, words, and gaze, he was indeed Naruto Uzumaki!

As she was thinking this, Naruto, who was not far away, suddenly disappeared before her eyes.

Hinata blinked in surprise and unconsciously leaned forward.

"Hinata, what are you doing here?"

A familiar voice suddenly came from behind her, startling Hinata and making her heart pound like a drum.

She turned around in a fluster and saw the owner of the voice. Naruto was standing in front of her, looking at her with a smile.

"Naruto... Naruto-kun... I... I was just..." Hinata stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

Should I tell him I came specifically to secretly watch him train?

Hinata felt too embarrassed to say this reason.

But she couldn't come up with any suitable excuse on the spot.

Naruto, of course, knew Hinata had been watching all along and didn't intend to expose her. He simply said naturally, "Were you also just finishing your training and heading home?"

Hinata immediately nodded vigorously, like a pecking chick, "Y-yes! I just finished training, and I happened to be passing by when I saw you and Sasuke-kun training..."

"I see..." Naruto grinned and casually extended an invitation, "Want to go grab a bite to eat together?"

Hinata's entire face turned crimson. She lowered her head and replied in a voice barely audible, "Okay..."

The two walked out of the training ground side-by-side, heading towards the lively streets of Konoha.

Naruto deliberately chose lighthearted topics, chatting about amusing incidents at the academy and new flavors at Ichiraku Ramen.

Although Naruto had recently been researching ways to break the Hyuga Clan's cursed seals.

He didn't mention the heavy matters of the Main Family and Branch Family to Hinata at all.

Naruto knew these weren't burdens Hinata should carry.

Before long, the two arrived in front of the Ichiraku Ramen shop.

Teuchi, the owner, looked up and saw a shy Byakugan girl accompanying Naruto. A teasing smile spread across his face.

"Yo, Naruto, brought your girlfriend?"

Naruto, being a "seasoned adult" who had reincarnated multiple times, didn't blush but felt a slight ripple inside. He quickly waved his hands, "We're just friends for now! Two bowls of the signature Chashu Ramen, please!"

Because of the Nine-Tails, many people in the village harbored hostility towards Naruto from a young age.

But Teuchi and his daughter Ayame were very kind to Naruto, even giving ramen to a hungry Naruto on many occasions.

This also led Naruto to develop a fondness for noodles from childhood.

Upon hearing the word "friends," Teuchi put on an "I understand, I understand" expression and didn't say anything further, turning to prepare the ramen.

His teasing comment made the atmosphere slightly awkward.

Hinata's face was completely lowered, and she didn't dare to look at her surroundings.

Naruto, knowing her shy nature, cleared his throat and quickly picked up their previous conversation, saying with a smile, "My treat this time, eat as much as you want!"

As soon as he said it, Naruto suddenly remembered Hinata's true eating capacity, which he had accidentally witnessed in a previous reincarnation. His heart skipped a beat.

Do I have enough money today?

After all, in his past lives, Hinata could eat up to 46 bowls of ramen at once.

When the ramen was served, Hinata ate little by little, her movements elegant and reserved, befitting a young lady of the Hyuga Clan.

During the meal, Hinata occasionally glanced at Naruto before quickly looking away, her cheeks flushing slightly.

In just a short while, her bowl of ramen was empty.

Hinata hesitated for a moment before gently putting down her chopsticks, wiping her mouth with a napkin, and quietly saying, "I'm full."

"Oh, oh..."

Naruto was taken aback.

He clearly saw a fleeting look of unfulfillment in Hinata's eyes, knowing she wasn't truly full, but he decided not to call her out on it.

Naruto couldn't help but recall Hinata's appetite from his previous reincarnations. He looked at his own bowl, which was only half-eaten, and sighed inwardly, "As expected of Hinata, she's so fast."

Leaving Ichiraku Ramen, the sun was setting. The two walked slowly along the street.

"Um... Naruto-kun..." Hinata spoke softly, "Your shurikenjutsu today was even better than at school."

Hinata desperately wanted to ask why he was hiding his strength, how he suddenly became so powerful, and why he had a forehead protector despite failing the exam, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to ask.

"Haha, it's really nothing!"

Naruto smiled, as if regaining the cheerful personality of his first life. His smile was particularly radiant in the setting sun. "As long as you keep practicing, you'll definitely become super... amazing! I remember your Gentle Fist is already very strong!"

"R-really?" Hinata's face flushed slightly again. Naruto's affirmation filled her with confidence, and her voice became a little lighter. "I'll... keep working hard!"

"That's the spirit, you need to be confident." Naruto chuckled heartily and continued walking alongside Hinata.

However, what Naruto didn't notice was that not far behind them, at the street corner, Sasuke was dragging his tired body home.

Sasuke's eyes immediately spotted the two familiar figures ahead. Especially Naruto, who was smiling brilliantly, with the shy young lady from the Hyuga family, who was always blushing, by his side.

Sasuke suddenly stopped, his brow furrowing unconsciously.

Watching Naruto and Hinata chatting and laughing, looking so harmonious, Sasuke recalled Naruto's hurried departure from training that afternoon, saying, "Tomorrow's graduation briefing is the main event."

So the so-called main event was rushing to go on a date with a girl?

Thinking this, Sasuke's lips twitched slightly. He let out a cold snort and decisively chose another path to circle home.

Afterward, Naruto escorted Hinata back to the Hyuga clan's residence.

Through this brief time together, Hinata was no longer at the point of blushing just because Naruto was close or greeted her.

The closer they got to the Hyuga residence, the slower Hinata's steps became, and her expression gradually became more reserved.

Naruto didn't say much, just walked with her slowly.

As they arrived in front of the Hyuga clan's residence, before they even got close to the entrance, they saw Hyuga Hiashi standing there, dressed in a white kimono, from a distance.

Hyuga Hiashi's expression was stern. His gaze paused on Hinata for a moment, then swept over to Naruto beside her. He spoke in a flat tone, "Don't go wandering around anymore. You should be considered a Genin now, right?"

Hiashi's voice held no emotion, only coldness.

Naruto knew that Hinata was now practically considered a discarded child by her family. Her younger sister, Hanabi, had shown stronger talent and temperament, receiving more attention from the Main Family.

Hinata stepped forward, lowered her head, and quietly replied, "Yes, Father."

She didn't dare to look at Naruto again and quickly walked inside, her figure soon disappearing into the depths of the corridor.

Hiashi did not leave immediately.

His gaze fell on Naruto once more, with a sense of distant detachment.

Naruto calmly met his gaze, not flinching.

As if I'd avoid your gaze, he thought.

Seeing Naruto so calm and composed, Hiashi showed a surprised expression.

Hiashi naturally knew Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and understood how important that identity was in Konoha.

But he did not wish for Hinata to get too close to Naruto, yet he also did not want to actively provoke a conflict.

In the end, Hiashi said nothing. He simply shifted his indifferent gaze away and turned to close the door.