The Right Time

"...Thanks."

After a moment's hesitation, Naruto accepted Shikamaru's kindness.

He wasn't naturally antisocial; he just didn't like reaching out to people, especially in Konoha, where hostility surrounded him. His desire to interact with others had dwindled to practically nothing.

As the saying went, the more people you met, the more you came to like foxes.

But when it came to Shikamaru...

On one hand, Naruto didn't dislike him. He was very perceptive when it came to people.

On the other, this was the Third Hokage's "consideration," and Naruto had to respond somehow. After all, he still had to make a living under the Third Hokage.

During the break after the second lesson, Shikamaru came over to Naruto again. This time, he didn't bring a board game. Instead, he brought two friends along.

Inuzuka Kiba and Choji.

"Hi, I'm Akimichi Choji."

The chubby boy greeted Naruto, then went back to eating his chips.

"Hi, I'm Naruto Uzumaki."

They saw each other every day, and they'd be spending a long time together. They couldn't go on never speaking to each other.

Besides, this would put the Third Hokage at ease.

With that in mind, Naruto took the initiative and said, "I remember you, Choji. You like barbecue, right? And to be honest, I'm pretty good at grilling meat..."

The chubby boy looked delighted. "Really?"

"Of course. I'll let you try my cooking sometime."

After making plans for an outdoor barbecue, Naruto introduced himself to Kiba, and they got to know each other again.

"Woof..."

Looking at the little puppy Akamaru, Naruto said earnestly, "Your dog is great. I want one of my own someday."

"Thanks. Akamaru's my partner, so of course he's the best."

Kiba grinned, beaming with delight.

For the Inuzuka Clan, where everyone was a dog lover, complimenting their dogs made them happier than complimenting them personally.

Kiba said enthusiastically, "If you want a dog, ask me. I can give you expert advice."

Naruto pondered. "I haven't decided yet. Actually, I'd like a fox, too, but I'm short on money, so I can only choose one. But I want both... So, all things considered, I guess I want a fox with a dog's personality."

Nine-Tails: ?!

"Kid, who are you taking a shot at?"

Inside the Sealing Space, Nine-Tails figured he couldn't let this go. Knowing how the kid liked to push his luck, if he let it slide this time, he'd only get more brazen next time.

He had to get an explanation.

"Whoever gets riled up is who I'm taking a shot at."

Naruto replied calmly. Nine-Tails was nothing. He could suppress him with a flick of his hand.

Ignoring Nine-Tails' roars, Naruto turned to explain to Kiba why he didn't want a dog with a fox's personality.

"This guy... He's surprisingly good at chatting."

Standing some distance away, Shikamaru watched Naruto, Kiba, and Choji talking and couldn't help looking surprised.

I thought he wasn't much of a talker, but he's actually better at chatting than most people.

"But why didn't he say a word for the entire month before this?"

"Maybe he couldn't make any money."

A little blonde girl had silently approached them.

"Oh, Ino." Shikamaru turned to look at her, curious. "What do you mean, he couldn't make any money? From the way you said that, it sounds like you knew Naruto before."

"We met once."

Ino explained, "A year ago, he came to my family's flower shop to pitch an endorsement deal. We talked a little."

What a money-grubber!

The moment she turned him down, he stopped talking to her. He'd changed his attitude in an instant, leaving a deep impression on young Ino.

Shikamaru didn't know the whole story, but remembering his assignment, he suggested, "Why don't you go get to know him? We're all classmates, after all..."

Ino flatly refused. "No! I like handsome guys."

Shikamaru was exasperated. "I know. That's why I'm introducing you to a friend, not a boyfriend."

"Not interested. My friends have to be handsome, too."

With that, Ino ran off to Sasuke and started bickering with her fake best friend, Sakura.

Shikamaru sighed. "Women really are a pain..."

The class bell rang.

Kiba, Choji, and Shikamaru returned to their seats. Naruto rested his head on his desk and looked toward Hinata.

The result was the same as before.

Hinata, who had been sneaking glances at him, ducked her head in a panic like a startled rabbit. A blush spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears.

"It's because you're like this that we can't have a conversation..."

She was cute, but also a lot of trouble.

There was proof from a few years ago: she couldn't even finish a simple sentence.

Naruto had reached the point where he didn't really want to talk to Hinata. He was afraid she'd make him worry himself to death.

"Come to think of it... Should I start training Hinata while she's young, then mold her into the kind of person I want...?"

When he'd watched her through a screen, Naruto had liked Hinata's shy personality.

But now that he was dealing with her in person...

She was so shy that he could barely handle it.

He wasn't asking her to be bold, just to act a little more normally.

Otherwise, Naruto felt that the affection for Hinata he'd built up from watching the anime in his previous life would gradually wear away over time.

During the break, Naruto went over to Hinata and held out his hand. "Hi, Hinata. Do you remember me? I'm Naruto Uzumaki."

Hinata turned into the Steam Maiden, flustered and nervous. "I remember. I-I'm... Eek!"

Before she could finish, the moment her hand touched Naruto's, her brain overloaded and she fainted.

Naruto stared at his hand, speechless.

Time passed slowly as Naruto and the rookie kids grew more familiar with each other.

A month later, the finely crafted statue of Raiden Shogun was finished, and the Rinnegan had accumulated enough Life Energy and Soul Energy.

It was time to carry out the Statue Resurrection Plan.

The first step was to find a suitable place for Raiden Shogun to be born.

Naruto's first choice was the bathroom, since the Anbu wouldn't follow him in to keep watch.

But there was no telling with the old Third Hokage. That old man was a complete pervert. He even spied on the women's bathhouse, so spying on a little boy using the toilet wasn't out of the question.

After thinking it over, Naruto entered the Sealing Space and asked Nine-Tails for help.

"Is there a way to avoid being watched?"

The shield that had once protected Naruto was now a shackle restricting his movements.

"Kill everyone watching you."

Nine-Tails offered a simple, brutal solution.

Naruto looked serious. "Don't joke around. I'm being serious."

Nine-Tails looked displeased. "Who's joking? I'm serious, too. If it were up to me, that's exactly what I'd do."

Anyone who dared to watch him would get hit with a Tailed Beast Blast and be reduced to dust.

Naruto realized. "So that's why you're still locked up."

"Kid! You're getting more and more insolent!"

Naruto had hit a sore spot. Nine-Tails roared, and a terrifying aura spread through the space.

"Looks like you don't have any ideas, either. See you." Naruto ignored him, leaving after provoking him.

"Perhaps... I should wait for the right time."