New Friendship

"You are Naruto, no mistake there. Your friend, no mistake there either, but do you even know who that block of ice is?" Izumo Kamizuki, one of the guards at the Konoha gate, roared, "That is the Fourth Mizukage of Kirigakure. No matter how you explain it, I cannot simply let you into the village. I must wait for the Fourth Hokage to arrive before I can be at ease."

Damn it. Izumo Kamizuki took a deep breath; he had actually been intimidated by three children.

Kotetsu Hagane reported the news immediately.

The first to arrive was, as expected, the Yellow Flash of Konoha, Minato Namikaze.

Minato Namikaze appeared before Naruto, wearing his dashing cloak emblazoned with the title of Fourth Hokage: "Naruto, you dared to leave the village alone after leaving just a single note. Do you think you did the right thing?"

Did Naruto have any way to leave the village otherwise? No, not when he couldn't use the Clone Technique!

"Dad, I know I was wrong. I'll leave the ice block to you; I'm taking my friends home now." Naruto blinked, then grabbed Haku and Kimimaro and slipped away.

Minato Namikaze wanted to stop him, but immediately thought that it would be good for Naruto to learn a lesson.

The second to appear was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. His eyes were fixed on the frozen Yagura: "Ice Release, a very rare Kekkei Genkai. Naruto shouldn't have that, right?"

"Of course not." Minato Namikaze was speechless. What was the old Third Hokage thinking?

The air seemed to grow colder as Danzo approached, leaning on his cane: "Yagura stole the Three-Tails that belongs to us. We should extract the Three-Tails from Yagura's body."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said cautiously: "If word gets out that we in Konoha captured Yagura, Kirigakure will certainly not stand for it. If handled poorly, it will lead to war."

Danzo trusted that powerful force was the only reliable thing: "Minato, how many people do you think know that Yagura was captured by Naruto? That news is the most shocking part, isn't it!"

Danzo was playing mind games. He was absolutely certain that Minato Namikaze would take responsibility for this matter, as that was the courage a Hokage should possess.

"Danzo, Naruto is just a child." Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke up first to defend him: "How could Naruto possibly be a match for Yagura? It must be that Naruto happened to encounter the frozen Yagura while out, and out of the goodness of his heart, brought him back to Konoha."

Minato Namikaze sealed Yagura, his tone tinged with hatred: "Regardless, Yagura's hands are stained with Rin's blood. He must face trial in Konoha. As for the Three-Tails, it can be sealed within Yagura for now until a suitable candidate for a Three-Tails jinchuriki is found, then it can be transferred."

Back then, Rin was the Three-Tails jinchuriki and an exceptionally talented ninja in the squad Minato Namikaze led. Yagura had conspired with others to force Kakashi to kill the controlled Rin with his own hands; this matter would certainly not be easily erased.

Hidden in the depths of Danzo's eyes was madness. If I could obtain the Three-Tails chakra, would I still need to remain beneath Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze?

A solution for the Yagura situation had been found.

Just as he reached his doorstep, Naruto felt a sense of unease.

Could Kushina be home?

No way, Konoha Hospital is very busy.

Naruto hesitated, just about to push the door open.

Red became a color Naruto could absolutely never win against.

"You were bold enough to run off, so why are you being so cautious coming home?" Kushina grabbed Naruto by the ear: "Mom is in a good mood today, so I'll grant you ten lashes with the broom!"

Smack!

Naruto was pinned to a wooden stake in the yard, his backside facing the sun.

The broom dancing in Kushina's hand left afterimages in the air.

"I was wrong..." Naruto wailed, looking utterly pathetic.

Haku and Kimimaro stood to the side, shivering.

Naruto-kun's mother is so powerful.

Konoha Hospital dormitory building.

Naruto walked with a limp, every movement tugging at the pain in his backside, yet he still put on a brave face as if he could handle it.

"Karin, meet my new friends." Naruto raised his hand: "You guys introduce yourselves; I need to recover for a bit."

Karin noticed Naruto's odd behavior and immediately deduced that he had an injury on his backside. She volunteered: "Naruto, I know medical ninjutsu. Let me treat you."

Naruto stopped Karin: "It's not physical pain, but rather my heart that has been frightened."

His Super Self-Healing hadn't failed, after all.

"Naruto, let me take a look anyway. I really do know medical ninjutsu," Karin said hopefully.

"Why don't you take a look at Kimimaro instead." Naruto pulled Kimimaro forward: "He coughs all the time, and I think it's very likely he's sick."

Kimimaro said with emotion: "Naruto-kun, it should just be a minor ailment. I've always coughed, but when the weather gets warmer, I stop coughing."

Karin had wanted Naruto to be her first patient—how memorable that would have been!

"Fine!"

Haku said politely: "My name is Haku. It's a pleasure to meet you, Karin."

Naruto felt they would get along well: "I've already talked to my mom. From now on, you two will stay at the Konoha Hospital and learn medical arts from her. If you don't like it, you must tell me."

"It's getting late, you should get some rest. I have to go home and continue getting lectured," Naruto said bitterly, then vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.

Karin, not yet skilled in medical arts, had Kimimaro open his mouth. After checking his throat and tongue for a while, she judged: "Inflamed throat, a minor issue."

Kimimaro didn't think he had any serious illness either: "Haku, a new life has begun."

Haku felt a sense of stability in his heart: "Naruto-kun changed our lives."

Karin said grandly: "From now on, you'll follow me. I'll definitely be able to take care of you and won't let Naruto worry about a thing."

The bond between the three was born on this night.

The sun hung high in the sky, and the flowers smiled at Naruto.

The system wouldn't be issuing any missions for a while, so he could finally enjoy a period of peace and quiet.

Naruto stood at the gate of the Konoha Ninja Academy, sighing, "I wonder how much coursework I've fallen behind on, but with my intelligence and talent, I'll catch up in no time."

Naruto smiled and greeted the classmates he ran into; he had arrived at the classroom early today.

"Naruto." Hinata ran up to him immediately, asking with concern, "You haven't been to school for so long. Did something happen? I sent you messages, but you didn't reply."

Naruto had been on a mission at the time and didn't want to lie to Hinata, so he hadn't used the Red Thread of Fate to respond: "It's nothing, I was just in seclusion training at home. I didn't want you to worry, so I didn't specifically tell you."

"Iruka is almost forgetting about you; even your disciplinary notice has disappeared from the school's bulletin board." Hinata continued, recounting everything that had happened in class.

In the diagnostic test, Sakura Haruno took first place.

In the shuriken competition, Sasuke took first place.

However, Hinata had taken second place in both, which was why she was sharing her achievements with Naruto.

Naruto showered Hinata with praise: "From now on, Lady Hinata will lead me through the school, helping me ride the wind and waves, forging ahead until we are invincible throughout the entire academy."

"Okay." Hinata laughed, looking more beautiful than ever!