Changes Among the Villagers

"I don't think that Uchiha Clan member came looking for trouble. The most urgent matter now is Asuma."

Tō'u spoke gravely.

She still did not believe that Uchiha Clan member would make a move with Seito and the other two protecting them. Besides, before leaving, she had not sensed any desire to attack from that person. It looked like he had merely come to deliver a message.

"Well, you do have a point."

Chiriku immediately halted. He had originally wanted to hurry to the palace to protect the daimyo, but when Tō'u mentioned Asuma, he suddenly realized how troublesome things were.

"Asuma doesn't know yet, does he?"

Chiriku asked worriedly.

Tō'u shook her head. "I just checked. He's still asleep in bed."

"The two of us might not be enough. Wake Kazuma and the others, then we'll find Asuma and tell him about this."

"Alright!"

Tō'u nodded. The two hurried out, carefully closing the door behind them as they went to wake their other companions.

While the two were busy with this matter, the Naruto inauguration ceremony in Konoha was also nearing its end.

Because of what had happened back then, Konoha's White Fang's coffin had not even been allowed into the village's Memorial Stone after his death. Kakashi had buried him beneath a large tree in the woods of a training ground Konoha's White Fang had often visited in life.

Now that Takuya had cleared Konoha's White Fang's name, his coffin was moved into the Memorial Stone.

Konoha Ninja Academy.

School was over.

Quite a few people had already gathered outside the academy gates, all there to pick up their children.

The children were now streaming out as well.

A fat child and a skinny child shoved a blond-haired boy while cursing, "You damned demon fox, stay away from us! Don't pass your bad luck on to us!"

The one they were shoving was Naruto.

Naruto had not done anything. He had been planning to wait for Sasuke at the school gates. Sasuke had just been called into the teacher's office, and Naruto had no idea what it was about, so he intended to wait and go home with him.

But before he even reached the gates, he ran into these two unreasonable brats. He had no idea when he had offended them.

Naruto had long grown used to these hateful little brats picking fights for no reason.

He wore a miserable expression and did not fight back.

Grandpa Naruto had once told him not to fight with other children. Even if he was bullied, he had to endure it first, then tell him afterward so he could handle it.

Naruto lived with Uncle and Auntie now, but he had kept that habit.

Naruto silently moved farther away, but the two brats refused to let up and followed him.

"Hey, filthy demon fox, get to the toilet and stay there! Don't come out until all of us have left!"

The chubby boy said coldly.

Naruto clenched his fists, lowered his head, and said nothing.

Seeing Naruto stand there without moving, the skinny boy unhappily shoved him again, this time knocking Naruto straight to the ground.

Naruto had not even reacted when he suddenly heard two cries of pain.

Aah!

Aah!

He looked up in confusion and saw two adults grabbing those two aggressive brats and fiercely smacking their bottoms.

"Not going home after school? I'll teach you to disobey! I'll teach you to behave like this!"

The middle-aged woman held the chubby boy up by one hand while spanking his bottom with the other, making him howl and wail miserably.

The other child received the same treatment, except a middle-aged man was the one hitting him.

Naruto was completely baffled.

Then his heart stirred, and he felt a little sad.

Those adults must have seen their children standing with him and thought they were making friends with him!

He had heard countless times that these adults would not allow their children to play with him.

Yet not long afterward, he saw the two adults stop hitting their children and turn toward him with ingratiating smiles.

"Naruto, are you alright? I'm terribly sorry. My child is far too naughty. Don't worry, I'll teach him a proper lesson when we get home!"

The other man added, "That's right, that's right." He dragged the sobbing skinny boy over and sternly said, "Apologize to Naruto!"

The skinny boy's sobs abruptly stopped. He looked up with an incredulous expression.

He stared at his familiar father as though he were seeing something utterly alien.

The middle-aged man's face darkened, and a trace of anger appeared. "Didn't you hear your father? Apologize to Naruto!"

The skinny boy trembled at the shout. Afraid of being beaten again, he hurriedly said, "S-Sorry, Naruto."

Only then did the middle-aged man snort. He forced another smile at Naruto before pulling his child away in haste.

The middle-aged woman also gave the chubby boy several hard smacks. Only then did he reluctantly apologize, "Sorry."

The stern look on the middle-aged woman's face finally turned into a smile. "Naruto, Auntie will properly discipline him when we get home. Don't worry."

With that, she dragged the chubby boy away as well.

Naruto stood there blankly, unable to understand what had happened.

"Naruto, hurry and get up."

At that moment, little Hinata, who had been secretly watching from afar, shyly ran over and spoke in a low voice.

"Oh, it's Hinata."

Naruto grinned foolishly as he climbed up from the ground.

When Hinata saw Naruto foolishly smiling at her, her cheeks instantly turned red like cooked shrimp. Steam practically rose from her head as she darted away.

Naruto did not take the incident to heart. With his hands behind his head, he swaggered over to his usual throne—the swing beneath a tree.

Before moving in with Uncle and Auntie, he would sit on that swing and wait until everyone else had gone home from school before returning home alone.

Thankfully, he would not have to do that anymore.

Today, he would sit on the swing and wait for Sasuke to come out.

He had not been sitting for long when even the thick-skinned Naruto sensed that something was off.

The adults standing by the school gates kept glancing at him, their gazes friendly.

Even the owner of a nearby snack shop specially brought him a hot, freshly made wrap.

Naruto still remembered that shop owner. A long time ago, when he had gone there to buy a wrap, the owner had been vicious. Not only had he refused to sell Naruto anything, he had even chased him out!

But Naruto did not think too much about it. With his brain, he could not be bothered to think that hard.

If you gave me food, then I'd eat it.

Naruto happily ate the piping-hot, fragrant wrap, feeling wonderful.

Just as he finished the wrap, he saw Sasuke walk out through the school gates.

Naruto's eyes lit up. He immediately jumped off the swing and ran toward Sasuke.

"You idiot, were you waiting for me?"

Sasuke asked, shooting a sidelong glance at Naruto rushing over.

"Haha, Sasuke, let's go home together!"

Naruto said with a grin, licking the fingers that had held the wrap. Delicious sauce still clung to them.

Sasuke looked disgusted and walked off quickly. "Who wants to go home with you?"

Despite his words, Sasuke slowed his pace a little.