Newfound Friendship

"You're Naruto, there's no doubt about that. And there's nothing wrong with your friends, either. But do you know who that block of ice is?" Izumo Kamizuki, one of the guards at Konoha Gate, shouted, "That's the Fourth Mizukage of Kirigakure! No matter how you explain it, I can't just let you into the village. I have to wait until the Fourth Hokage gets here before I can feel at ease."

Damn it. Izumo took a deep breath. He'd actually been intimidated by three kids.

Kotetsu Hagane reported the news at once.

As expected, the first to arrive was Konoha's Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze.

Wearing a handsome cloak emblazoned with the words "Fourth Hokage," Minato appeared in front of Naruto. "Naruto, you left a note and dared to leave the village by yourself. Do you think that was the right thing to do?"

Did Naruto have any choice but to leave the village? No. He couldn't use the Clone Technique, after all!

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

Minato had started to stop him, but quickly reconsidered. Maybe it was for the best to let Naruto learn his lesson.

The second to arrive was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. His gaze settled on Yagura, frozen in ice. "Ice Release... a very rare Kekkei Genkai. Naruto wouldn't have that, would he?"

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

The air seemed to grow a little colder. Danzo, leaning on his cane, strolled over. "Yagura took the Three-Tails that belonged to us. We should extract the Three-Tails from his body."

Hiruzen said solemnly, "If people find out that Konoha captured Yagura, Kirigakure will certainly be the first to object. If we don't handle this properly, it could lead to war."

Danzo trusted that overwhelming power was the most reliable thing of all. "Minato, how many people do you think know that Naruto captured Yagura? That's the most shocking part of this, isn't it?"

Danzo was trying to get inside Minato's head. He was utterly certain that Minato would take responsibility for the matter. That was the kind of courage a Hokage needed.

"Danzo, Naruto's just a child." Hiruzen was the first to speak up for him. "How could Naruto possibly be a match for Yagura? What must have happened is that Naruto encountered Yagura frozen in ice while he was outside the village. His kind heart got the better of him, and he brought Yagura back to Konoha."

Minato sealed Yagura, a trace of anger in his voice. "Whatever the case, Yagura has blood on his hands—Rin's blood. He must stand trial in Konoha. As for the Three-Tails, we can seal it inside Yagura for now. Once we find a suitable Jinchūriki, we can transfer the Three-Tails to them."

Rin had once been the Three-Tails' Jinchūriki, and one of the most outstanding ninja in Minato's team. Yagura had joined forces with others and made Kakashi kill Rin with his own hands while she was under their control. That was not something they could simply forget.

Madness lurked in Danzo's eyes. If I got my hands on the Three-Tails' chakra, would I still have to remain beneath Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze?

Yagura's situation had been dealt with.

When Naruto reached his front door, he felt a sense of unease.

Could Mom be home?

No way. Konoha Hospital must be busy.

Naruto hesitated, then reached for the door.

Red had become the one thing Naruto could never beat.

"You were bold enough to run off, but now you're tiptoeing around just to go home?" Kushina grabbed Naruto by the ear. "Mom's in a good mood today, so I'm awarding you ten swats with the broom!"

Smack!

Naruto was bound to a post in the yard, his butt facing the sun.

Kushina swung the broom so fast it left afterimages in the air.

"I'm sorry..." Naruto wept bitterly, looking utterly pitiful.

Haku and Kimimaro stood off to the side, trembling.

Naruto-kun's mother was so strong.

Konoha Hospital dormitory.

Naruto limped along. Even the slightest movement made his sore butt ache, but he still acted as if he could bear it.

"Karin, meet my new friends." Naruto raised a hand. "Introduce yourselves. I need a moment to recover."

Karin noticed something was off with Naruto and immediately figured out that his butt was injured. She eagerly volunteered, "Naruto, I know Medical Ninjutsu. Let me treat you."

Naruto stopped Karin. "I'm not in physical pain. I was just emotionally traumatized."

His Super Self-Healing was still working, after all.

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

"Take a look at Kimimaro instead." Naruto pulled Kimimaro forward. "He's always coughing. I think he might be sick."

Kimimaro was touched. "Naruto-kun, I think it's just a minor thing. I used to cough a lot, but once the weather got warmer, I stopped."

Karin had wanted Naruto to be the first person she treated. It would have meant so much!

"Okay!"

Haku said politely, "I'm Haku. It's nice to meet you, Karin."

Naruto felt sure they'd get along. "I've already talked it over with Mom. You can both stay at Konoha Hospital from now on and learn medicine from her. If you don't like it, be sure to tell me."

"It's getting late. You two should get some rest. I have to go home and get scolded some more." Naruto spoke bitterly, then used the Body Flicker Technique to leave.

Karin didn't know much about medicine yet, but she had Kimimaro open his mouth and examined his throat and tongue. Then she concluded, "Your throat's inflamed. It's a minor thing."

Kimimaro didn't think he was seriously ill, either. "Haku, our new life has begun."

Haku felt at peace inside. "Naruto-kun changed our lives."

Karin said confidently, "Stick with me from now on. I'll take good care of you, and I won't let Naruto worry about a thing."

The bond between the three of them was born that night.

The sun shone overhead, and the flowers smiled at Naruto.

The system wouldn't be issuing any missions for a while, so he could finally enjoy a peaceful stretch of days.

Standing outside Konoha Ninja Academy, Naruto sighed. "I wonder how much schoolwork I've missed. But with my brains, I'll catch up in no time."

Naruto smiled and greeted the classmates he ran into. Today, he'd arrived at the classroom early.

"Naruto." Hinata hurried over to him and asked with concern, "You haven't been to school in ages. Did something happen? I sent you messages, but you never replied."

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

"Iruka-sensei almost forgot about you. Your notice of punishment even disappeared from the school bulletin board." Hinata continued, telling him all about what had happened in class.

In the placement exam, Sakura Haruno had come in first.

In the Shuriken contest, Sasuke had come in first.

But Hinata had come in second in both, so she was sharing her achievements with Naruto.

Naruto praised Hinata nonstop. "From now on, Lady Hinata will lead me through school, riding the wind and breaking the waves, charging straight ahead, and becoming invincible across the whole school."

"Okay." Hinata smiled, looking prettier than ever!