Take The Money, Leave Hinata

People came and went.

Team Eight's instructor, Kurenai Yuhi, strode into the hall with her sexy, long legs.

Behind her followed Kiba Inuzuka, with a dog on his head, and Shino Aburame, whose robes were wrapped tightly and who wore sunglasses.

Only Hinata was missing.

Naruto stepped forward and asked, "Hello, Teacher Kurenai, why don't I see Hinata classmate?"

Kurenai Yuhi had a pair of dark red eyes and fluffy black hair draped over her shoulders. She looked particularly cold and alluring. "You're looking for Hinata for something?"

Naruto nodded.

Kurenai Yuhi said thoughtfully, "Outside, her father just called her away."

"Thank you, teacher." Naruto exited the hall. Before his eyes had even started searching, a chilling aura pressed down on him like an iceberg.

He followed the sensation and saw Hinata standing beside a stern-looking man in front of the plaza's notice board, her small hands clasped at her lower abdomen, her head bowed in dejection.

Naruto glanced at Hinata with pity, then looked directly at the man and walked towards him.

As the distance closed, the aura pressing down on him became stronger and sharper, as if a thousand blades were piercing him, ready to flay him alive.

But Naruto's pace remained steady from start to finish. He reached the man and politely said, "Hello, Uncle Hyuga."

Hyuga Hiashi did not respond to Naruto. Instead, he looked at Hinata and snapped, "Go back!"

Naruto was annoyed, very annoyed. The reprimand felt like it landed directly on his head, but it was their family matter, and he truly had no right to interfere.

He just wanted to clarify one thing to confirm his stance: "Hinata classmate! You promised me yesterday, right!"

Hinata, who had just turned around, trembled violently. Veins bulged on her temples, even reaching her temples.

She nodded heavily, then ran off crying.

She knew clearly that persisting would only harm Naruto.

The Hyuga Clan was the most powerful clan in Konohagakure.

After receiving a clear answer, Naruto smiled. He was only afraid that Hinata would share the same stance as her father; then he would have nothing more to say.

"Uncle, do you have any advice for me?"

Hyuga Hiashi was quite surprised in his heart. His killing intent was strong enough to force ordinary Genin to their knees, yet Naruto showed no reaction at all.

He pulled out a stack of banknotes from his kimono sleeve and extended it to Naruto. "Take the money and leave Hinata alone."

Hinata, who was running, couldn't help but look back. She hadn't expected her father to try to end their relationship with money.

"Naruto is indeed short on money, he wouldn't..."

Her heart clenched with fear.

But the man she liked would never disappoint her. He firmly responded to her expectations.

Facing the powerful pressure of a Jonin and the temptation of money, Naruto unhesitatingly pushed his hand away and refused, "The relationship between Hinata classmate and me cannot be measured by money."

Hearing Naruto's answer, the anger of Hyuga Hiashi instantly surged. However, with the bearing of the Hyuga Clan head, he coldly uttered three words, "300,000 Ryo."

Naruto shook his head.

"500,000."

Naruto shook his head again.

"1,000,000!"

Hyuga Hiashi's voice was already laced with anger. If this brat wasn't a jinchuriki, he would have loved to strike him dead with a Gentle Fist and feed him to the dogs.

"Impossible." Naruto's gaze was sharp. "I said, money cannot measure it."

At the street corner, Hinata's tears streamed down like pearls, completely breaking through their dam. She ran towards the training ground without looking back.

She wanted to work hard, just like Naruto.

The mission hall was already the busiest place in Konohagakure, and Hyuga Hiashi and Naruto were almost household names.

Their confrontation naturally attracted many onlookers.

This made Hyuga Hiashi even more embarrassed. Who was he, to be arguing with a child over trivial matters of childhood interactions?

He had initially thought he could easily scare this brat away, but now it seemed this brat might have considerable ambitions!

"If you want to cling to the Hyuga family, show us your strength. Do you think you can gain recognition by exploiting Hinata's ignorance?"

"Uncle, I call you Uncle out of consideration for Hinata," Naruto said calmly. "Don't push your luck."

Hyuga Hiashi's face turned ashen. Since his birth, no one had ever dared to disrespect him like this.

If he didn't teach him a lesson, where would the dignity of the Hyuga family lie?

He reached out to grab Naruto's collar.

Slap!

His hand was slapped away by Naruto, flung high into the air, causing him to widen his eyes in disbelief.

As this scene unfolded, the observing ninjas immediately lost the nerve to watch, scattering and feigning to pass by.

At this moment, a unique pink figure, moving against the crowd, ran into the mission hall.

"Hokage Grandpa! Iruka-sensei!" Haruno Sakura shouted, "Naruto's in trouble! He got into a fight with Hinata's father in the plaza!"

Whoosh!

Hiruzen Sarutobi practically flew from behind his desk and rushed out the door, Iruka also leaping up from his desk.

Haruno Sakura quickly followed.

After Team Seven disbanded, Naruto's promise of waiting for Hinata's happy expression lingered in her mind.

Didn't he say he'd wait for her answer? Why was he getting involved with Hinata again?

She had secretly circled back to observe the situation, only to witness Naruto's words and actions for Hinata.

What kind of resolve was that? For a moment, she was even a little envious of Hinata.

In the plaza.

Hyuga Hiashi's face was livid. Although he hadn't gone all out, he never imagined Naruto could shake him, an adult fighting a baby.

His monstrous strength was like a charging bull, his arm going numb from the impact.

He looked at Naruto, whose aura had drastically changed and whose gaze was as sharp as a sword, and an unbelievable thought arose in his mind.

If he didn't get serious, he probably wouldn't be able to capture him.

Given his status, he couldn't act, nor did he have the opportunity, because a powerful Chakra fluctuation erupted from the mission hall, carrying a gale with it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, his Hokage robe fluttering, blocked the space between them, his presence commanding respect. "Lord Hiashi!"

Hyuga Hiashi said solemnly, "Lord Sarutobi."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said softly, "Naruto, what mischief have you gotten into now? Hurry and apologize to Lord Hiashi."

"I can't apologize," Naruto stared at the Third Hokage. "Since you're going to protect your own, protect them thoroughly. Don't leave me in an awkward position where I'm wronged and upset."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned, but his heart warmed. Naruto still knew he was protecting him.

He hardened his resolve and said, "Hiashi, Naruto is just a child. What mistake did he make that requires you to personally hold him accountable?"

Hyuga Hiashi knew that blocking Hinata and Naruto from interacting was not something worth bringing up. He changed the subject, "Third Hokage, you can ask this kid yourself. I have missions to attend to. Farewell."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, saving face for both of them.

After he left, he asked Naruto, "Can you tell Grandpa what happened?"

Naruto was quite satisfied with his performance just now and nodded, saying, "This old man dislikes me and won't let me see Hinata."

Hiruzen Sarutobi understood and asked with a strange tone, "Are you and Hinata... dating?"

Naruto blushed and waved his hands repeatedly, "No, no! I was borrowing money from her. I've been eating a lot lately, and my mission rewards aren't enough."

Hearing the word "money," Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.

According to the records, the Fourth had undertaken 39 S-rank missions, each worth at least 1,000,000 Ryo, and 323 A-rank missions, worth 150,000 to 1,000,000 Ryo.

Combined with Kushina Uzumaki's assets, their family fortune was in the hundreds of millions of Ryo.

Yet, their son Naruto had never enjoyed any of it and was now being lectured by another father over borrowing money.

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt unbearable shame. "Naruto, if you need money, you can tell Third Grandpa. Before, I was afraid you'd spend it recklessly, but now..."

"Give me 500,000 Ryo," Naruto held out his hand. "Thanks."