An Ordinary Day

Upon hearing Naruto confirm once again that it was Jiraiya who taught him, the Third Hokage flew into a rage and roared, "Jiraiya, you bastard! You were a bastard since you were a child, and I never expected you to be an even bigger bastard in your old age!"

Naruto did not expect the Third to lose his temper so suddenly. Although he felt a tiny pang of guilt toward Jiraiya, seeing the Third looking as if he were about to devour someone, Naruto immediately cast that bit of hesitation to the back of his mind, hypnotizing himself with the thought, "It was Jiraiya who taught me, it was definitely Jiraiya who taught me." As for what would happen when Jiraiya found out he had been thrown under the bus, that was a problem for another day.

However, Naruto was puzzled as to why the Third was so furious, so he asked curiously, "Grandpa Third, why are you so angry? I feel that using the power of nature to temper my body has clearly strengthened my physique significantly. I don't feel any discomfort at all."

After hearing Naruto's question, the Third suppressed his anger for a moment and said, "Naruto, you don't understand. Although using natural chakra to temper the body can rapidly enhance one's physique, the aftereffects are extremely severe."

Naruto asked in surprise, "Aftereffects?"

The Third nodded and said, "That's right, aftereffects. And they are irreversible ones at that."

Naruto was shocked. "Grandpa Third, what kind of aftereffects could be so serious?"

The Third sighed and said, "Alas, although human cells gain a powerful boost through the tempering of natural chakra, this strength comes at the cost of accelerated cellular metabolism. In other words, it shortens a person's lifespan."

Naruto was stunned. "How is that possible? Shouldn't a stronger physique lead to a longer life? Why would it decrease?"

The Third said helplessly, "Naruto, you are thinking too simply. The number of times a human cell can divide is limited. When you use natural chakra to temper your body, you force the cells to undergo constant metabolism and division until they have divided enough to withstand the baptism of natural chakra. Only then will it stop."

"If this isn't trading lifespan for power, then what is? That is why I am so angry. It is all that damned Jiraiya's fault. He was unreliable before, and now he is even more so. How could he teach you such things?"

Naruto's heart was filled with self-reproach. It was all because he had been too arrogant and hadn't consulted Jiraiya or the Third. If it were just himself, it would be one thing, but he had also taught Sasuke and Hinata to do the same.

Naruto looked at the Third in pain and asked, "Grandpa Third, is there really no way to make up for the damage caused by this power of nature?"

The Third looked puzzled. "I don't know about that. I once heard the First Hokage mention something about it. It seems that after entering Sage Mode, he had a way to make the number of cell divisions infinite, but I really don't know the specifics because I never learned Sage Mode."

Upon hearing that the First Hokage had a way to make cell division infinite, Naruto felt immense joy. As long as there was a way to fix it, no matter how difficult, Naruto believed he could do it.

Although he wondered if the First Hokage had achieved this by combining the power of nature with Wood Release and the Sage Body, Naruto didn't dare to mess around blindly this time.

He never wanted to experience that feeling of falling from heaven to hell, and then back from hell to heaven, ever again.

Having obtained a potential solution from the Third, Naruto smiled and said, "Old man, since there is a way to solve it, then it's manageable. I will find a way to fix this."

The Third looked at Naruto suspiciously and said, "Naruto, I am warning you, don't do anything reckless. And from now on, you must absolutely stop using the power of nature to temper your body, do you understand?"

Naruto replied, "I understand. I know the gravity of the situation. I'm going to tell Sasuke and Hinata right now to stop using the power of nature to temper their bodies."

The Third nodded. "Go on, then." Naruto smiled and said, "Then I'll be off." With that, he used a Body Flicker technique and left the Hokage's office.

The Third watched Naruto leave and muttered, "I hope this kid doesn't do anything out of line."

After leaving the Hokage's office, Naruto headed straight for the Uchiha compound. When he arrived at Sasuke's house, he found only Mikoto at home.

Naruto asked curiously, "Auntie Mikoto, where is Sasuke? Why isn't he home?"

Seeing Naruto, Mikoto said happily, "Oh, it's Naruto. You haven't come to visit your aunt in a long time."

Naruto said sheepishly, "Yes, I'm sorry, Auntie Mikoto. There have been too many things going on lately, and I've been too busy to come see you. Please don't mind it."

Mikoto laughed, "Hehe, look at you. Do you think I'm that petty? If you're looking for Sasuke, go check at Shizuka's house." At the mention of Shizuka Uchiha, Mikoto looked a bit dejected.

Seeing Mikoto's sadness, Naruto didn't know how to comfort her. He could only reply hurriedly, "Then I'll go find him." With that, he slipped away. Mikoto had wanted to ask if Naruto would stay for dinner, but since he ran off so quickly, she had no choice but to let it go.

When Naruto arrived at Shizuka Uchiha's house, he saw from a distance that Sasuke was standing in the courtyard, watching Shizuka, who was lost in a daze inside the house.

Naruto walked up to Sasuke and said, "Sasuke, I have something I need to tell you."

Sasuke nodded and walked toward the woods outside the courtyard. Naruto glanced at the dazed Shizuka, sighed, and followed Sasuke out.

Once in the woods, Sasuke asked, "What is it? Speak." Naruto explained the information he had received from the Third to Sasuke.

Naruto looked at Sasuke seriously and said, "So, you absolutely cannot use the power of nature to temper your body during this time. I know you crave power, but until I find a solution, you must not continue."

Sasuke replied, "Fine, I promise you I will stop using the power of nature to temper my body for now. But you must also promise me that if you find a solution, you will notify me immediately."

Naruto nodded. "Okay, I will notify you the moment I do."

Sasuke nodded and began walking back toward Shizuka's house. Naruto looked at Sasuke's back and said, "Hasn't Sister Shizuka moved on from Brother Itachi's departure yet?"

Sasuke stopped and said, "Yeah, I'm really afraid she might do something desperate."

Naruto sighed and said, "Are you not planning to tell Sister Shizuka the reason why Brother Itachi did what he did?"

Sasuke replied, "I don't dare tell her. If I did, she would definitely go find my brother. You know his current situation; if she goes to him, I believe he would kill her for the sake of Konoha."

Naruto thought for a moment and replied, "That does sound like something Brother Itachi would do."

Sasuke said, "That's why I don't dare tell her the truth. I hope she will eventually move past the grief."

Naruto said, "But I think that once she does, she will definitely hate Brother Itachi."

Sasuke said desolately, "Perhaps that is exactly what my brother wanted."

Naruto replied with a touch of sadness, "Perhaps."

Sasuke pulled himself together and said, "Alright, I need to go keep an eye on her. You should go find Hinata, too." With that, Sasuke left.

Naruto sighed and headed toward the Hyuga compound. When he arrived, he happened to find Hyuga Hiashi, Hinata, and Hanabi drinking tea in the courtyard.

Hiashi saw Naruto and said, "You're back. Did the mission go smoothly?"

Naruto smiled and said, "It went quite well, Uncle Hiashi."

Hiashi nodded. Naruto walked up to them and said with a smile to Hanabi, "Little Hanabi, hello. Here is a gift." Naruto took out a box and handed it to Hanabi.

Hanabi took the box and said haughtily, "Although I don't really care for it, since you, a big idiot, went through the trouble of bringing it, this young lady will graciously accept it."

Naruto said exaggeratedly, "Then I truly thank the Second Young Miss for the honor; this humble one is endlessly grateful." Beside them, Hinata saw Naruto's comical expression and immediately lowered her head to stifle a giggle.

Naruto looked toward Hinata and was momentarily stunned. He said gently, "Hinata, I'm home."

Hinata immediately lowered her head in shyness and replied in a very soft voice, "Welcome home, Naruto-kun."

At this moment, it was as if only the two of them existed in Naruto and Hinata's hearts.

Hanabi, unable to stand their lovey-dovey display, said loudly, "I can't take you two anymore. You guys talk; I'm going back to my room." Having said that, she took the box Naruto had given her and strode away.

Hiashi also coughed and said, "You young people chat; I'm leaving too." With that, Hiashi also walked toward the house. Naruto and Hinata were left feeling a bit awkward by Hanabi and Hiashi.

Not until both of them had walked far away did Naruto step forward, take Hinata's hand, and say affectionately, "Hinata, I've missed you so much these past few days."

Hinata looked up into Naruto's eyes and replied, "Me too, Naruto-kun. I've been thinking about you every day as well."

The two gazed at each other with deep affection. Naruto gently pulled Hinata into an embrace, lowered his head, and kissed her lips, while Hinata closed her eyes and responded to him.

Naruto sat on the wooden floor of the veranda, holding Hinata. Hinata lay against Naruto, breathing in his scent, and said blissfully, "Being able to stay with you like this, Naruto-kun, I truly feel incredibly happy."

Naruto looked down at Hinata in his arms and said happily, "Me too. Being able to hold you like this, I feel like the luckiest person in the entire world."

Hinata shyly buried her head even deeper into Naruto's chest. Seeing her so bashful, Naruto's affection for her grew even stronger, and his arms tightened around her slightly.

Not knowing how long they had been embracing, Naruto finally remembered the real reason he had come to see Hinata today. So, Naruto said to the Hinata in his arms, "Right, Hinata, don't use natural chakra to temper your body for the time being."

Hinata asked in confusion, "Is something wrong, Naruto-kun?"

Naruto replied, "I went to see the Third Hokage today. He told me that using natural chakra directly is harmful to the body, so until I can think of a solution, don't use it to temper yourself anymore."

Hinata didn't ask any further, simply saying softly, "I understand."

After a while, Naruto wondered why Hinata had become so quiet. He looked down and saw that she had already fallen fast asleep in his arms. Looking at the sleeping Hinata, Naruto smiled gently, "It really has been a peaceful day, and a happy one, too."