Naruto had no idea how deeply his parting words had shocked Sasuke's family. Originally, only Sasuke had believed Naruto unconditionally. Now, his whole family believed him.
Fugaku in particular no longer treated Naruto as a child. His insight, his bearing, and his courage alone were not things an ordinary child could learn. Wouldn't you agree, Sasuke?
Sasuke: ???? So what?
After leaving the Uchiha Clan's compound, Naruto glanced at the red moon hanging in the night sky, then turned and walked away. He had been here so long, yet he still wasn't used to the moon in this foreign land. It was too big and too red.
The moon back home was still better. Naruto reminisced as he walked. He missed home, mostly because he wanted something tasty to eat. The little glutton had transmigrated and still couldn't forget his favorite bites.
"Fried chicken, hamburgers, giant Indian flatbread, curry, bak kut teh, Indonesian basil..."
Naruto stopped singing there, not just because he had mixed up the lyrics, but more because he had sensed an unfamiliar presence. And he had encountered that presence earlier that evening.
Naruto frowned. How long had it even been? Someone was targeting him again?
"Not coming out? You've followed me this whole way."
The person hiding in the shadows froze for a moment upon hearing Naruto's words, but he still stepped out.
When Naruto saw who it was, he froze slightly too. He really hadn't expected the person following him to be this guy. Immediately, Naruto put on a face-changing performance for the newcomer.
No beans deducted for that face change.
"What are you doing here?"
Seeing Naruto, who had been quite cheerful just a moment ago, turn hostile faster than flipping a page made the corner of Kakashi's mouth twitch beneath his mask. This little fellow seemed very hostile toward him, and he seemed to recognize him too.
Kakashi found that strange. He had clearly never revealed himself in front of Naruto. He had always worn a mask, so how had Naruto recognized him?
With that question in mind, Kakashi wanted to know how Naruto had recognized him.
"You know me?"
Hearing Kakashi's brainless remark, Naruto rolled his eyes at him. Listen to yourself. Just listen. Isn't that a pointless question?
"Tch, there are barely two people with white hair in the whole village, and you're the only one in the Anbu, Kakashi Hatake."
Naruto looked at Kakashi as though he were an idiot. He had no words for Kakashi's question.
"Ahem, sorry. I really didn't notice that."
Kakashi felt his face grow hot. This was far too embarrassing. He was a grown man, yet a little child had actually lectured him. The worst part was that he couldn't find anything wrong with it.
Seemingly remembering what he had come for, Kakashi was just about to speak when he saw that Naruto had already walked quite far away.
"Hey, wait for me."
But Naruto had no intention of stopping. He kept walking on his own, not wanting to pay Kakashi any attention at all.
Kakashi was a bit hard to judge, so Naruto didn't want too much contact with him, especially now, when he hadn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy yet. Getting involved too early wasn't a good thing, after all.
But Kakashi still stopped Naruto.
"Wait, Naruto. I have something to tell you."
Naruto rolled his eyes at him and urged:
"If you've got something to say, spit it out."
"Hey, kid, I have something very important to tell you."
"Then hurry up and say it. Stop dragging it out, or the audience will think I'm padding the word count."
"Naruto, stay away from those Uchiha from now on. It'll be safer for you."
Kakashi had already phrased that very tactfully. He couldn't exactly say that he was worried the Uchiha would control Naruto, a jinchūriki, and bring disaster upon the village. That would be far too direct.
"Heh, fine, I get it. You're dismissed."
Kakashi's face was full of question marks. You get it? That's it?
"Naruto... I'm saying this for your own good. Remember to keep your distance from the Uchiha, or... or it won't be safe."
Naruto was rather speechless at that.
"Tch, why should I listen to you? Who are you to me?"
Hearing that, Kakashi instantly shut his mouth. All at once, he didn't know what to say. Come clean to Naruto and tell him he was his father's student? Then how would he explain having ignored him all this time?
Kakashi fell silent. He didn't know how to begin explaining it to Naruto. Even if he told him, what would that change? Would that earn Naruto's forgiveness?
Clearly, Kakashi didn't think so, and simply kept his mouth shut.
"Hmph, I don't need you telling me what to do. Just go home and read your dirty books."
After saying that, Naruto turned and left without caring how Kakashi reacted. He didn't look back or spare Kakashi another glance.
Once home, Naruto couldn't wait to check his system. Those divine artifacts had been so useful today. They had sent Obito straight into shutdown. They were simply too useful.
"System, show my personal panel."
Host: Naruto Uzumaki Strength: Kage level, second stage Abilities: Kurama Link, Shadow Clone, Clone Great Explosion, Gallant Rasengan, Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, Lariat, Chidori, Lightning Release: Kirin, Byakugan, Sharingan, Cherry Blossom Impact... Summons: Ninja Dog, Blue Snake, Gamakichi, Ninja Tortoise, Sickle Weasel, Enma Divine artifacts: Kōkinjō, Shichiseiken, Benihisago, Bashōsen, Amber Purifying Pot, Kubikiribōchō Secret scrolls: Forbidden Jutsu: Yin Healing Wound Destruction, Release Jutsu: Dispel, Secret Scroll: Chakra... Combat power: 1,000,000 Chakra: 660,000 System evaluation: (New to the Shinobi World, you already have the strength to put up a fight. A very strong human-kun.)
Naruto really hadn't expected that just this much combat power would let him put up a fight against Obito.
"No, this combat power is still too low. This time, I benefited from the information gap. It'll be hard to catch Obito off guard again next time."
Having made up his mind, Naruto once again embarked on his journey to raise his combat power. He logged into the familiar interface again and began completing his dailies, preparing to increase his combat power later.
After that came the daily arena matches. Whenever he got to this part, Naruto found playing painfully frustrating. Every opponent he was matched against was way too overpowered.
He really wondered whether that line at the top, "Matching you with an opponent of equal strength," could actually be trusted.
Still, today's Naruto gaming session had yielded something. At the very least, the Mission Assembly Hall had unlocked. That was a good thing, and he would be able to raise his combat power faster from now on.
Naruto accepted three C-rank missions, then quietly logged off and went to sleep.
Unbeknownst to them, in a place where prisoners were held in Konoha, an old man was lying on the floor. He had wounds all over his body, and blood was even seeping through the bandages wrapped around them.
Tap, tap, tap. A very faint knocking sounded. The old man opened his cloudy eyes, and a sharp gleam flashed through them in the darkness.