An Ordinary Day

When Naruto once again confirmed that Jiraiya had taught him, the Third Hokage flew into a rage and roared, "Jiraiya, you bastard! You were a bastard when you were young, and I never thought you'd become an even bigger one in your old age!"

Naruto hadn't expected the Third Hokage to get so angry all of a sudden. He felt a tiny bit guilty toward Jiraiya, but seeing the Third Hokage looking ready to devour someone, he immediately shoved that little bit of sympathy aside and told himself, Jiraiya taught me. Jiraiya taught me. As for Jiraiya finding out later that Naruto had thrown him under the bus, well, that was a problem for later.

But Naruto was puzzled about why the Third Hokage was so angry. Curious, he asked, "Grandpa Third, why are you so mad? Using Nature Energy to temper my body has clearly made me a lot stronger, and I don't feel any discomfort."

After hearing Naruto's question, the Third Hokage temporarily suppressed his anger and said, "Naruto, you don't understand. Tempering your body with Natural Chakra can strengthen it very quickly, but the side effects are extremely serious."

Naruto looked puzzled. "Side effects?"

The Third Hokage nodded. "That's right, side effects. And they're irreversible."

Naruto was shocked. "Grandpa Third, what kind of side effects could be that serious?"

The Third Hokage sighed. "Alas, although Natural Chakra's tempering gives the body's cells a tremendous boost and makes them stronger, that strength comes at the cost of accelerating the cells' metabolism. In other words, it shortens a person's lifespan."

Naruto stared at him in disbelief. "How is that possible? Shouldn't a stronger body mean a longer lifespan? How could it make it shorter?"

The Third Hokage replied helplessly, "Naruto, you're oversimplifying things. The number of times a person's cells can divide is limited. When you temper your body with Natural Chakra, the cells keep metabolizing and dividing until they've divided enough to withstand the Natural Chakra's baptism. Only then does the process stop.

"What is that, if not trading your lifespan for power? That's why I'm so angry. Damn Jiraiya was unreliable before, and now he's even worse. How could he teach you something like this?"

Naruto was filled with guilt. It was all because he'd been too sure of himself and hadn't asked Jiraiya or the Third Hokage for advice. It would have been one thing if he'd been the only one doing it, but he'd taught Sasuke and Hinata to do the same.

Naruto looked at the Third Hokage in anguish. "Grandpa Third, is there really no way to undo the damage caused by Nature Energy?"

The Third Hokage looked puzzled. "I don't know much about that. I once heard the First Hokage mention something about it. It seemed that after entering Sage Mode, he had a way to make the number of times his cells could divide unlimited. But I don't know exactly how he did it, since I never learned Sage Mode."

When Naruto heard that the First Hokage had a way to make the number of times his cells could divide unlimited, he was overjoyed. As long as there was a way to fix it, he believed he could do it, no matter how difficult it was.

He did wonder whether the First Hokage had managed it by combining Nature Energy with Wood Release and a Sage Body, but this time Naruto didn't dare experiment recklessly.

He never wanted to go through the feeling of falling from heaven to hell and then climbing back up again.

Having learned from the Third Hokage that there was a solution, Naruto smiled. "Old man, if there's a way to fix it, then that's good enough. I'll figure something out."

The Third Hokage eyed Naruto suspiciously. "Naruto, I'm warning you: don't do anything reckless. And from now on, you absolutely must not use Nature Energy to temper your body. Understood?"

"I understand," Naruto replied. "I know how serious this is. I'll go tell Sasuke and Hinata not to use Nature Energy to temper their bodies either."

The Third Hokage nodded. "All right, go ahead."

"Then I'll be off." Naruto smiled, then used the Body Flicker Technique to leave the Hokage's office.

The Third Hokage watched Naruto leave and murmured, "I hope that kid doesn't do anything outrageous."

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

Naruto asked curiously, "Aunt Mikoto, where's Sasuke? Why isn't he home?"

Mikoto brightened when she saw Naruto. "Naruto, it's been ages since you came to visit me."

Naruto said sheepishly, "Mm, I'm sorry, Aunt Mikoto. I've had so much going on lately that I've been swamped, so I haven't had time to visit. I hope you don't mind."

Mikoto smiled. "Hehe, what are you talking about? Do you think I'm that petty? If you're looking for Sasuke, try Shizuka's place." At the mention of Shizuka, Mikoto's expression turned a little downcast.

Seeing that Mikoto seemed sad, Naruto didn't know how to comfort her. He could only reply hastily, "Then I'll go find him." With that, he slipped away. Mikoto had wanted to ask whether he'd stay for dinner, but he'd run off so quickly that she had to let it go.

When Naruto reached Shizuka Uchiha's house, he spotted Sasuke standing in the courtyard, staring at Shizuka Uchiha, who was inside the house, lost in thought.

Naruto went over to Sasuke and said, "Sasuke, there's something I want to talk to you about."

Sasuke nodded, then walked toward the woods outside the courtyard. Naruto glanced at Shizuka Uchiha, still lost in thought, sighed, and followed Sasuke out of the courtyard.

Once they were in the woods, Sasuke said, "What is it? Go ahead." Naruto explained what he'd learned from the Third Hokage.

Naruto looked at Sasuke seriously. "So, you absolutely can't use Nature Energy to temper your body anymore. I know you're desperate to get stronger, but until I find a solution, you must not continue."

"Fine," Sasuke replied. "I'll stop using Nature Energy to temper my body for now. But you have to promise me that if you find a solution, you'll tell me right away."

Naruto nodded. "All right. I'll tell you immediately."

Sasuke nodded and started back toward Shizuka Uchiha's house. Watching him go, Naruto said, "Hasn't Sis Shizuka gotten over Big Brother Itachi leaving yet?"

Sasuke stopped. "No. I'm worried he might do something rash."

Naruto sighed. "Aren't you going to tell Sis Shizuka why Big Brother Itachi did what he did?"

Sasuke replied, "I don't dare tell her. If I do, she'll definitely go looking for my brother. You know what kind of situation he's in right now. If she goes to find him, I'm sure he'll kill her for the sake of Konoha."

Naruto thought for a moment, then replied, "That does sound like Big Brother Itachi."

Sasuke said, "That's why I don't dare tell her the truth. I think she'll eventually get over her grief."

"But I think she'll hate Big Brother Itachi once she does," Naruto said.

Sasuke replied gloomily, "That might be just what my brother wants."

Naruto answered sadly, "Maybe."

Sasuke pulled himself together. "All right, I'm going to keep an eye on her. You should go find Hinata too." With that, Sasuke left.

Naruto sighed and headed for the Hyuga Clan. He arrived just as Hyuga Hiashi, Hinata, and Hanabi were having tea in the courtyard.

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

"It went pretty well, Uncle Hiashi," Naruto replied with a smile.

Hiashi nodded. Naruto walked over and smiled at Hanabi first. "Hey, Hanabi. How are you? This is a present for you." Naruto took out a box and handed it to her.

Hanabi accepted the box and said haughtily, "It's not like I wanted it, but since you, you big dummy, went out of your way to bring it, I'll graciously accept it."

Naruto exaggeratedly replied, "Then I'm truly honored, Miss Hanabi. I'm deeply grateful." Seeing Naruto's comical expression, Hinata lowered her head and giggled.

Naruto looked at Hinata, then froze. He spoke gently. "Hinata, I'm back."

Hinata shyly lowered her head and answered in a very soft voice, "Welcome back, Naruto-kun."

At that moment, it felt as if Naruto and Hinata had eyes only for each other.

Hanabi couldn't stand the two of them being so lovey-dovey. "I can't take this anymore! You two talk. I'm going back to my room." With that, she took the box Naruto had given her and strode away.

Hiashi coughed and said, "You young people can talk. I'll be going too." He headed inside, leaving Naruto and Hinata a little embarrassed.

After they had both gone some distance away, Naruto stepped forward, took Hinata's hand, and said tenderly, "Hinata, I've missed you so much these past few days."

Hinata raised her head and looked into Naruto's eyes. "I've missed you too, Naruto-kun. I think about you every day."

The two gazed into each other's eyes. Naruto gently embraced Hinata, lowered his head, and kissed her. Hinata closed her eyes and kissed him back.

Naruto sat with Hinata in his arms on the wooden veranda. Lying against him and breathing in his scent, Hinata said happily, "Being here with you like this, Naruto-kun, makes me feel so happy."

Naruto looked down at Hinata in his arms and said blissfully, "Me too. Holding you like this makes me feel like the happiest person in the world."

Shyly, Hinata burrowed deeper into Naruto's embrace. Seeing how bashful she was made Naruto love her even more, and he tightened his arms around her.

After holding her for who knew how long, Naruto finally remembered the real reason he'd come to see Hinata. He said to her, "Oh, right, Hinata. Don't use Natural Chakra to temper your body anymore for the time being."

Hinata asked, puzzled, "What's wrong, Naruto-kun?"

Naruto replied, "I went to see the old man Third today. He told me that using Natural Chakra directly can harm the body, so don't temper your body with Natural Chakra until I've found a way to fix it."

Hinata didn't ask anything else. She only said softly, "I understand."

After a while, Naruto wondered why Hinata had gone so quiet. When he looked down, he saw that she'd already fallen asleep in his arms. Smiling tenderly at the sleeping Hinata, Naruto said, "It really was an ordinary day—and a happy one, too."