So Delicious

Of course.

Now was not the right time to do anything. Naruto knew full well that the ANBU had been secretly watching him all along. Even after one squad had been reassigned, another had not given up monitoring him.

To lower the ANBU's guard, Naruto would not stupidly do anything out of line. That was one reason the two squads had become one.

"N-Naruto, is the grilled fish ready?"

Hinata's clear voice rang out again, as pleasant as a lark's song.

Naruto smiled when he heard that. He knew Hinata was truly craving it, so he picked up a grilled fish and handed it to her.

"Here, hurry and try it."

"Thank you, Naruto."

Hinata gave Naruto a sweet smile, quickly took the grilled fish with her little hands, and blinked her large eyes at the golden-brown fish.

As a genuine little foodie, she had long been unable to hold herself back. Now that delicious food lay before her, she naturally began tasting it without hesitation.

"It smells so good. It's so delicious."

After taking a bite, Hinata's large eyes lit up slightly as she looked at Naruto with admiration.

This was the first time she had ever tasted such unique grilled fish. The lingering fragrance that filled her mouth was simply irresistible.

It made her think even more highly of Naruto. She felt that he was someone with hidden depths.

[Experience Points +1]

Hearing the Experience Points notification, Naruto smiled. "If you like it, eat more. There are five fish, enough for both of us."

"Mhm, Naruto, you should eat too. It's really delicious." As she spoke, Hinata could not help taking another bite of the grilled fish.

"Okay."

Naruto picked up a grilled fish and slowly began eating as well.

The two of them ate lunch beneath the warm sunlight, beside the clear little river, amid the gentle breeze and cheerful laughter.

A long while later.

Having eaten two grilled fish, Naruto nodded in satisfaction and looked ahead. He saw that Hinata, who had also finished two, was staring blankly at the last grilled fish with lingering longing.

Naruto naturally understood that expression. He picked up the last grilled fish and handed it to her. "Here, eat it."

"N-No, I won't. Naruto, you should eat it." Hinata spoke embarrassedly, though her large eyes secretly kept glancing at the grilled fish.

"Don't worry, I'm full. Hurry and eat it before it gets cold."

Naruto spoke casually, recalling Hinata's little-foodie nature.

"Then... then I'll eat it."

"Hurry up, then."

"Mhm, thank you, Naruto."

Watching Hinata eat so happily, Naruto felt happy too. In this tragic childhood of his, Hinata's company added a trace of light to his dark world.

[Experience Points +1]

"There's still a glimmer of hope." Naruto murmured as he listened to the Experience Points notification.

"Naruto, what did you say?"

Hearing Naruto's voice, Hinata looked up in confusion. A small bit of fish clung to the corner of her lips, making her look adorably dazed.

"Nothing. It would be nice if we had oranges right now." Naruto changed the subject.

"Oranges? Oh, right."

Hinata seemed to remember something. She quickly took two oranges from her pocket and handed them to Naruto.

"Naruto, these are for you."

"Oranges?"

Seeing the two oranges in Hinata's little hands, Naruto was deeply surprised. He had not expected Hinata to have oranges, and he recalled the time he had tried to buy some.

There was no need to guess.

This adorably foolish Hinata must have seen that he could not buy any oranges and secretly bought two to give him. The reason she had only taken them out now was surely tied to her shy personality.

"You're foolishly adorable. Thank you, Hinata."

Naruto smiled as he thanked her and reached out to take only the oranges Hinata had offered him.

The moment he took them, he clearly felt the softness of Hinata's little hand—tender and smooth, somewhat like the most precious silk.

[Experience Points +1]

Across from him.

Hinata felt something too. Her little hand recoiled as if shocked, and she lowered her small head in embarrassment.

At that moment, the atmosphere seemed to become somewhat different. Even the sky appeared bluer.

"Hinata, eat an orange."

Naruto spoke to break the inexplicable atmosphere. He peeled an orange with Hinata and tasted a segment.

"Mhm."

Hinata ate in small bites, but kept her little head lowered, not daring to look at Naruto.

Naruto did not know what else to say. Instead, he inhaled the lingering scent of fish and silently gazed toward the horizon.

In the distance.

Atop a large tree.

Four ANBU stood quietly on the branch, watching Naruto. One of them occasionally took a deep breath.

"Captain, this is why I applied to be transferred from surveillance duty. Smelling such a rich aroma every day without being able to eat any of it is simply unbearable." The ANBU wearing a fox mask spoke.

"Yeah, we've endured it for a long time. Ever since that brat started cooking outside, the smell has become more and more enticing, making us hungrier and hungrier. But we can't eat it. All we can do is watch."

Another ANBU spoke as well, bitterly recounting his experience. The ANBU beside him nodded in agreement.

"You can't endure a little smell? You are the ANBU elite."

The ANBU Captain angrily rebuked them, but as he spoke, he swallowed too.

"Captain, the problem isn't just this one food. That brat is especially good at cooking. Everything he makes smells amazing, but we can't eat any of it. That feeling is enough to drive someone mad."

The fox-masked ANBU explained again. He had clearly had enough.

"Hmph, what does a mere aroma amount to? You are ninja..."

The ANBU Captain rebuked them again, but halfway through his words, his stomach growled loudly. The atmosphere instantly turned awkward.

"Cough, cough."

The ANBU Captain's old face reddened. Fortunately, he wore a mask, so no one could see it. He changed the subject. "Have you checked that fish-catching tool?"

"We checked it. It's a pretty good idea. The matter has already been reported to Lord Hokage, but Lord Hokage did not take it seriously." The fox-masked ANBU replied.

"Mhm. Those are merely little tricks. It is natural that Lord Hokage would not think highly of them. Strength is what truly matters. This Naruto has some cleverness, but who knows whether he can be trained into a strong person." The ANBU Captain said.

"Captain, is the village going to train Naruto? Didn't the previous order say to delay his cultivation? Even Chakra extraction was taught to him very late." An ANBU asked in confusion.

"That was before. I received word that the higher-ups are preparing to train Naruto, to make him into a Jinchūriki who will protect Konoha." The ANBU Captain said quietly.

"I see. But isn't it a little late? Naruto may be good at catching fish, but he has eaten poorly since childhood. His nutrition has been terribly unbalanced, worse than that of an ordinary family."

"Yeah, look at how short Naruto is. He is clearly undernourished and rarely eats vegetables or fruit. It will probably be very difficult to train him up."

The ANBU ninja discussed the matter, not optimistic about training Naruto.

"Don't worry. The higher-ups have already made their decision. There is no need to worry about it."

The ANBU Captain replied before continuing to monitor Naruto. However, he had completely remembered Naruto's grilled fish and decided that he would definitely taste it if he ever got the chance.

By the little river.

After lunch, Naruto and Hinata headed home together. Only after seeing Hinata home did Naruto start walking back, while checking his own condition. Just moments ago, a mechanical voice had sounded in his mind.

[Ding! Experience Points have reached 100. Infinite Crossover System activated.]

Naruto's heart stirred when he saw this message, but he did not show it. Instead, he silently inspected the system.

The more he looked, the more excited he became, because he knew that his chance to change his fate had arrived.