Pride

"Iruka is a good teacher..."

Kushina nodded in agreement. "Naruto, you must listen to Iruka-sensei."

"Yeah, I know."

As the three of them chatted idly, Minato suddenly said, "Naruto, that little girl from the Hyuga clan over there is peeking at you. It looks like she wants to say something."

"That look in her eyes... there's no mistake, it's the look of someone in love. Naruto, Mom guarantees it as someone who's been there—she definitely likes you!"

Kushina looked excited.

"Oh? So she's a future daughter-in-law?"

Minato realized it a beat late and began to carefully observe Hinata.

"No, it's not even close to that yet."

After brushing off his parents, Naruto turned his head to look at Hinata. "Is something the matter?"

Hinata blushed, lowering her head as she encouraged him, "I... I believe in you, Naruto-kun. Naruto-kun, do your best!"

Naruto was stunned for a moment, then smiled. "Thank you for your support. I feel much better now."

In truth, Naruto didn't care about the opinions of the outside world, but it was clear that others didn't see it that way...

So be it.

He would accept the kindness and ignore the malice.

Inside the Sealing Space, Minato watched Naruto and Hinata talking and commented, "That child... she has a rather shy personality."

Kushina said with regret, "I originally wanted Naruto to find a woman like me..."

Minato smiled and comforted her, "There's no need to force it. As long as the child is happy, that's what matters."

"I know, it's just a little disappointing."

Listening to his parents' conversation, Naruto couldn't help but cast his gaze toward Sakura in the distance.

If one were to talk about who resembled Kushina, it had to be Sakura.

However, Sakura didn't like Naruto; she was single-mindedly infatuated with Sasuke.

At this moment, Sakura was engaged in her daily routine—bickering with Ino over a boy in front of Sasuke.

"That is... Sasuke! Sasuke has grown up too, he looks so much like Mikoto."

Following Naruto's gaze, Kushina saw the impatient-looking Sasuke. She was stunned for a moment before quickly recognizing his identity.

The son of her dear friend, whom she had held when he was a baby, but in the blink of an eye...

Things had changed, and people were gone.

Thinking of what Naruto had told her, Kushina's gaze toward Sasuke was filled with pity.

This child had it so rough.

At the same time, Kushina felt a deep sense of fortune.

There is no "most miserable," only "more miserable." Compared to Mikoto, she could consider herself quite happy; at least her son was obedient and wouldn't want to kill her.

"Uchiha..."

Minato's expression turned grim.

The Uchiha problem had always existed. After becoming the Fourth Hokage, he had dedicated himself to resolving it and had already made significant progress.

But the Nine-Tails Incident had shattered all his plans.

When he opened his eyes again, he learned from his son—the Uchiha were completely wiped out!

It was hard to describe Minato's mood; all he could say was... he was very disappointed in the Third Hokage.

He really didn't do a single thing right!

"I told you not to keep using that..."

Feeling the sympathetic gaze from behind him, Sasuke turned around in annoyance, his warning cutting off abruptly.

He saw the little blond kid chatting with the Byakugan girl. Upon hearing his voice, the blond kid tilted his head, looking at him with a confused expression.

"What did you say?"

"You... weren't you the one looking at me?"

Sasuke had clearly sensed the gaze coming from that direction.

Naruto glanced at his stomach, then asked indifferently, "Are you that good-looking?"

Sasuke took after his mother and was naturally good-looking, but it was clear that wasn't what Naruto meant by his question.

Sasuke snorted coldly, turned his head back, and said nothing.

Seeing this, Sakura spoke without thinking, "Sasuke, don't pay any attention to that monster..."

"Get lost!"

Sasuke wore a cold expression; he found people who spoke ill of others behind their backs annoying to look at.

"Sasuke..."

Sakura was on the verge of tears, but Sasuke's coldness only intensified, and he looked ready to say something even harsher.

Ino hurriedly pulled Sakura away, lecturing her: "Sakura, it's fine if you don't like him, but don't talk behind his back. It makes people dislike you..."

"That child must be from the Yamanaka clan; it seems Inoichi has taught her well..."

Minato's expression was filled with nostalgia.

He and Inoichi had a very good relationship, and had it not been for the Nine-Tails Incident, the friendship between their two families would have naturally passed down to the next generation.

Unlike now...

Kushina turned to Naruto Uzumaki and asked: "Aside from Hinata, does Naruto have any friends in class?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

None!

Originally, Naruto Uzumaki had four superficial friends who might have eventually become true friends over time.

However, after one incident involving a leak of Nine-Tails Chakra, those four superficial friends had vanished.

"That won't do. You don't need many friends, but you can't have none... Naruto, get moving and make a friend you can trust."

Kushina was full of energy, cheering her son on.

"Oh~"

Naruto Uzumaki slumped over the table, completely lacking motivation.

"Don't you dare brush your mother off!!!"

The Bloody Habanero had returned; she clenched her fists, and her long red hair began to flutter behind her.

"Uh..."

Was the initial gentleness just a facade after all?

Naruto Uzumaki fell into deep, silent thought.

Fearing damage to the bond between mother and son, Minato tried to soothe both sides: "Kushina, calm down for a moment. Naruto, try to understand your mother; she's just worried about you..."

"I know, I'm just thinking about who to make friends with."

"Find Sasuke!"

Kushina's anger vanished instantly, and she said happily: "Let me tell you, back when Mikoto and I were pregnant, we made a pact that if our children were of opposite genders, they would become a married couple..."

Naruto Uzumaki interrupted: "And if they were the same gender, they would become brothers."

Kushina paused, then shook her head: "That wasn't part of it, but it would be best if you two could become brothers. Even if you don't become brothers, you should at least be friends."

The older generation always hoped that their own friendships would continue through their children.

Beyond that sentiment, Kushina also felt that Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke, being children in similar situations, were well-suited to be friends.

When school let out at noon, Naruto Uzumaki habitually prepared to skip class, but Kushina and Minato stopped him.

"Classes are useless..."

Naruto Uzumaki explained his reasoning to his parents; he wasn't skipping to be lazy, but to train more effectively.

"There's no need to rush your training..."

The Rinnegan, a perfect Jinchuriki... the achievements Naruto Uzumaki had attained at his age were already shocking, and his future as a powerful ninja was a certainty.

Therefore, there was no need to rush his training; he should just follow the standard path.

By comparison, Kushina and Minato believed it was more important for Naruto Uzumaki to have a normal childhood.

"Besides, skipping class like this is very disrespectful to Iruka..."

"I respect Iruka very much, in my heart..."

After some bargaining, Naruto Uzumaki secured the privilege of skipping class twice a week.

During the afternoon session, Iruka was surprised to find Naruto Uzumaki present. This child...

Has he finally felt the sincerity of my intentions?

A sense of accomplishment in teaching and nurturing filled Iruka's heart.

He felt proud and boastful, his entire body brimming with energy, feeling as though he could keep working for another five hundred years.

"Let's go! Afternoon practical training!"

Iruka waved his hand and led the students to the training grounds.