After speaking with Sasuke, Naruto paid him no further attention and vanished on the spot.
Hidden nearby, Hinata had been quietly watching Naruto and Sasuke. Her cheeks flushed as she marveled at how rapidly Naruto's strength had improved.
But in her heart, she still felt the same way she had yesterday.
Even though he was much stronger now, his movements, words, and gaze all told her the same thing: he was definitely Naruto Uzumaki!
Just then, Naruto suddenly disappeared from sight.
Hinata froze for a moment, then leaned forward without thinking.
"Hinata, what are you doing here?"
A familiar voice suddenly came from behind her. Hinata jumped, her heart pounding like a drum.
She turned around in a panic, and sure enough, the owner of the voice was standing right in front of her. Naruto smiled at her.
"N-Naruto-kun... I... I was just..." Hinata fumbled, unable to get the words out.
Should she tell him she'd come all this way just to sneak a peek at him training?
Hinata was too embarrassed to say that.
But she couldn't think of a suitable excuse on the spot, either.
Naruto knew perfectly well that Hinata had been watching him the whole time. He had no intention of calling her out, though, and simply asked as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "Did you just finish training too and happen to be heading home?"
Hinata immediately nodded like a pecking chicken. "Y-yes! I just finished training. I happened to be passing by and saw you and Sasuke-kun practicing..."
"Is that so..." Naruto grinned and casually invited her, "Want to grab something to eat together?"
Hinata's whole face turned bright red. She lowered her head and answered in a voice so soft it was barely audible, "Okay..."
The two walked side by side out of the training ground and headed toward Konoha's bustling streets.
Naruto deliberately chose lighthearted topics, chatting about funny things that had happened at school and the new flavors Ichiraku Ramen had recently added.
Although Naruto had recently been researching how to break the Cursed Seal of the Hyuga Clan,
he didn't mention the weighty matters concerning the Main Family and Branch Family to Hinata at all.
Naruto knew that Hinata shouldn't have to bear those burdens.
Before long, the two arrived at Ichiraku Ramen.
The owner, Teuchi, looked up and saw Naruto accompanied by a shy, pale-eyed girl. He immediately gave them a teasing smile.
"Well, Naruto! Bringing your girlfriend along?"
Though Naruto was an "adult" who had lived through many cycles of reincarnation, he didn't blush. Still, he felt a little flustered and hurriedly waved his hands. "We're just friends for now! We'll have two of your signature chashu ramen, please!"
Because of the Nine-Tails, many people in the village had been hostile toward Naruto since he was little.
But Teuchi and his daughter, Ayame, had always been kind to him. They had even given ramen to Naruto when he was hungry.
That was what had nurtured Naruto's love of noodles from an early age.
Hearing the words "for now," Teuchi gave him a look that said, "I know, I know." He didn't say anything else and turned to prepare the ramen.
After Teuchi's teasing, the mood turned a little awkward.
Hinata lowered her head, too embarrassed to look around.
Naruto knew how shy she was. He cleared his throat and quickly picked up where they had left off, smiling as he said, "My treat this time. Eat as much as you want!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Naruto remembered the true extent of Hinata's appetite, which he'd seen by chance in one of his past cycles. His heart gave a sudden lurch.
Would he have enough money on him today?
After all, in one of his previous cycles, Hinata had apparently eaten as many as forty-six bowls of ramen in one sitting.
When the ramen arrived, Hinata ate in small, delicate bites, her movements graceful and restrained. She truly was the heiress of the Hyuga Clan.
Every so often, Hinata stole a glance at Naruto, only to quickly lower her head again, her cheeks faintly red.
In no time at all, her bowl was empty.
Hinata hesitated, then gently set down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and said softly, "I'm full."
"Oh..."
Naruto paused.
He had clearly seen the fleeting look of longing in Hinata's eyes and knew she wasn't full, but he said nothing.
Naruto couldn't help remembering the appetite he'd witnessed in one of his previous cycles. Looking at his own bowl, which was only half-finished, he sighed inwardly. That's Hinata for you. She eats so fast.
When they left Ichiraku Ramen, the sun was setting. The two walked slowly along the street.
"Um... Naruto-kun..." Hinata spoke softly. "Your Shurikenjutsu was even better today than it was at school."
Hinata wanted to ask him outright why he'd hidden his strength, how he'd suddenly gotten so much stronger, and how he had a Forehead Protector despite failing the exam. In the end, she couldn't bring herself to ask.
"Haha, it's really nothing!"
Naruto smiled, seeming to regain the cheerful nature he'd had in his first life. His smile looked especially bright in the sunset. "If you keep practicing, you can definitely get really... strong too! I remember your Gentle Fist is already very powerful!"
"R-really?" Hinata's cheeks flushed again. Naruto's praise filled her with confidence, and her voice grew a little lighter. "I'll... keep doing my best!"
"That's the spirit. You've got to be confident!" Naruto laughed cheerfully as they continued walking side by side.
What Naruto failed to notice was Sasuke, trudging home with an exhausted body on a street corner not far behind them.
Sasuke spotted the two familiar figures ahead at once. Naruto was grinning from ear to ear, and beside him was that shy heiress of the Hyuga Clan who was always blushing.
Sasuke suddenly stopped, his brow unconsciously furrowing.
Watching Naruto and Hinata laughing together, looking perfectly happy, Sasuke remembered Naruto's hurried end to their training that afternoon and his comment that "tomorrow's graduation briefing is what matters."
So that was what mattered—he was in a hurry to go on a date with a girl?
At the thought, Sasuke's mouth twitched. He gave a cold snort and deliberately took another route home.
Afterward, Naruto walked Hinata back to the Hyuga Clan compound.
After spending this brief time together, Hinata no longer blushed just because Naruto came near her or greeted her.
The closer they got to the Hyuga compound, the slower Hinata walked, and the more her expression sobered.
Naruto didn't say much. He simply kept her company as they walked.
As they reached the Hyuga Clan compound, they saw Hyuga Hiashi standing near the entrance in a white kimono.
Hiashi's face was stern. He paused his gaze on Hinata before glancing at Naruto beside her, then said flatly, "Don't go wandering around anymore. You should be considered a Genin now, shouldn't you?"
There was no feeling in Hiashi's voice, only coldness.
Naruto knew that Hinata had nearly been written off by her family. Her younger sister, Hanabi, had shown greater talent and strength of character, and the Main Family valued her more.
Hinata stepped forward, head lowered, and answered softly, "Yes, Father."
She didn't dare look at Naruto again. She hurried through the gate and quickly vanished into the depths of the corridor.
Hiashi didn't leave at once.
His gaze returned to Naruto, carrying a distant aloofness.
Naruto calmly met his eyes without looking away.
As if I'd back down just because you're trying to intimidate me.
Seeing how composed Naruto was, Hiashi looked surprised.
Of course, Hiashi knew that Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and he understood how important that status was in Konoha.
But he didn't want Hinata getting too close to Naruto, and he also didn't want to start a conflict himself.
In the end, Hiashi said nothing. He merely turned his cold expression away and closed the gate.
Before you continue