Two People Not on the Same Wavelength

Naruto let Kiba shake him, his expression unchanged.

Although Kiba was always loud, he had a straightforward personality and was loyal. Through so many cycles of Reincarnation, whether it was standing punishment, skipping class, or going on missions together, he hadn't changed.

He was a trustworthy comrade.

Shikamaru yawned from the side and lazily chimed in, "It's a hassle, but I'm a bit curious too. You're definitely different today."

Naruto looked at Shikamaru, his heart stirring slightly.

He had asked Shikamaru for help before, though it still... didn't work.

Shikamaru, his friend, always had "What a drag" as his catchphrase.

Yet, every time, he would seriously help Naruto analyze the situation and deduce possibilities. Even though they could never break through the cycle of Reincarnation in the end, that silent support...

Naruto always remembered.

Although Shikamaru had also said that if they were stuck in Reincarnation forever, perhaps just enjoying it wouldn't be a bad idea, which coincided with Orochimaru's current suggestion.

It was just that Naruto's personality back then was too impatient, and he couldn't listen at all.

And then there was Choji. He seemed only concerned with eating, but he was more sensitive and gentle than anyone, more than once quietly handing Naruto a bag of chips when he was at his lowest.

Naruto finally just smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "I just suddenly figured some things out. Let's go, it's almost time for school to end!"

With that, Naruto broke free from Kiba's hands and quickly walked away, giving them a farewell gesture before turning towards the school gate.

Kiba was still shouting from behind, "What was that! You're not making any sense!"

Shikamaru watched Naruto's retreating back, narrowing his eyes slightly. In the end, he just sighed and muttered, "Forget it, it's better to think less about troublesome things."

Choji nodded and opened another bag of chips.

As the first day of Reincarnation, Naruto was all too familiar with the time. He had barely reached the school gate before it was almost time for dismissal.

Naruto didn't slip away to find a solution like he usually did.

Instead, he stood unhurriedly at the school gate, leaning against the nearby wall to wait.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before Iruka came running out in a hurry, looking around as he ran, muttering under his breath, "That brat Naruto... he must have run off again! I knew I shouldn't have agreed to help Mizuki with him..."

As soon as Iruka finished speaking, he turned his head and saw Naruto standing quietly nearby, waving at him.

"Teacher Iruka, let's go."

Iruka didn't react immediately, stopping in his tracks. He asked with an awkward expression, "Naruto... you didn't run?"

"Why would I run? Aren't I supposed to clean up the morning's prank?"

Naruto asked back naturally.

Of course, Naruto could have done this himself.

The only reason to wait for Iruka was to put on a show of being well-behaved and sensible, which would earn him a reward from Ichiraku Ramen.

In this cycle of Reincarnation, Naruto wanted to quietly experience the scene of eating ramen alone with Teacher Iruka.

Iruka blinked, unsure of what to say for a moment.

Finally, he scratched his head and just sighed, saying with a complex tone, "You've really... grown a lot today."

"Let's go, Teacher Iruka."

Naruto didn't explain, just smiled.

The two walked towards the Hokage Rock in silence.

Iruka occasionally stole glances at Naruto beside him. He walked steadily, without his usual bouncing and looking around. Instead, there was a calmness that didn't match his age.

Just like in class today, it was exactly the same.

Arriving at the top of the Hokage Rock, they took the elevator up. Naruto skillfully picked up his brush and bucket and went inside.

Then, he descended to the appropriate position and immediately began cleaning the graffiti on the Fourth Hokage's stone face without a word.

Naruto's cleaning was swift; in no time, he had scrubbed off most of the paint.

This made Iruka, standing on the Fourth Hokage's stone head, wonder if he had scolded Naruto too harshly this morning.

But it was no different from previous criticisms.

Thinking of this, Iruka looked down at Naruto and finally couldn't help but ask, "Naruto, recently... have you encountered something? You seem to have changed a lot."

Naruto's hands didn't stop, but his gaze gently fell on the stone face of the Fourth Hokage.

That face, he had gazed upon countless times in countless cycles of Reincarnation.

He had even revived his parents in many cycles, causing quite a stir in Konohagakure.

Naruto slightly raised his head and asked softly, "Teacher Iruka, if you knew that no matter what you did, something would fail, would you still try to do it?"

Iruka froze for a moment, then his expression changed to one of understanding.

He thought Naruto's dream of becoming Hokage was getting further away because of this morning's prank.

So, Iruka replied with a firm tone, "Yes, I would do it without hesitation."

"Why?"

Upon hearing this, Naruto's eyes held a hint of surprise.

In previous cycles of Reincarnation, his decadence had also been comforted by Iruka-sensei, especially after the sacrifice of the first life's Pervy Sage...

Iruka cleared his throat, puffed out his chest, and said earnestly, "Because in life, failure is always present."

"Back then, my insufficient strength meant I might drag my teammates down during missions, which is why I chose to become a teacher."

"But I wasn't discouraged, because I knew everything I was doing was for a more distant dream: to train them into excellent Ninja, all the way to becoming Hokage!"

Iruka spoke with passion, feeling a little proud of himself.

Surely Naruto will regain his fighting spirit now?

I'm such an excellent teacher!

Naruto, however, was slightly stunned after listening.

Iruka's words, in a way, were very similar to the theories of Orochimaru and Shikamaru. It was just that Naruto had been too impatient before.

Naruto suddenly realized that he might be like Iruka-sensei back then, "dragging his teammates down during missions" was equivalent to him endlessly searching for a solution in the infinite cycles of Reincarnation without success.

Perhaps changing the overall strategy was the true meaning.

For example, Iruka chose to become a teacher, while he should carefully observe every difference in this cycle of Reincarnation, and its hidden meanings, in order to truly break free from Reincarnation.

With this thought, Naruto's eyes gradually brightened. "I think I understand!"

Seeing this, Iruka smiled with relief and encouraged him, "Then you have to work hard! The first step is to start by cleaning the Hokage Rock!"

At the same time, Iruka was incredibly excited inwardly.

Third Hokage, I will definitely train a future Hokage candidate!

Naruto's mind also felt suddenly clear.

This life, he would no longer obsess over how to break free from Reincarnation.

Instead, he would feel the unnoticed details around him and the hidden truths.

Thus, Naruto cleaned with even more vigor, scrubbing and washing his father's face repeatedly.

Iruka watched, moved, and finally waved his hand grandly, "Naruto, after you're done cleaning, I'll treat you to Ichiraku Ramen!"

"Really? That's great!"

For the first time in a long time, Naruto smiled from the bottom of his heart.

It was as bright as his smile in the first life, but with a different kind of warmth.