Kapitel 104: The Surrender of the Young Girl
Naruto finished speaking, but Temari remained silent and still, though her sobbing had ceased.
The room was quiet, with only the sound of the wind whistling through the trees outside the window.
"Let go," Naruto said, his tone as cold and detached as ever.
He felt Temari stiffen before she slowly released her grip on him, her face buried deep in her hands, flushed and hot.
"Here's your fan." Naruto placed her giant fan firmly on the ground with a thud. Just as he was about to leave, Temari suddenly grabbed his hand.
"What is it?"
"I'm... sorry..."
"I understand." Without hesitation, Naruto walked away.
Back at the Hokage building, the mission report had already been written. Judging by the handwriting, it was done by Shizune. Tsunade was slumped over a desk full of documents, fast asleep, while Shizune stood to the side with an awkward smile.
Naruto whispered his thanks and left quietly.
Walking out of the Hokage building, he squinted under the blinding sunlight, frowning at his shadow. Since he hadn't managed to bring Sasuke back, he decided to avoid Sakura for now. Better to let her cool down and gradually accept the fact that Sasuke had chosen to go his own way.
In Konoha, the only way to get stronger without an extraordinary bloodline was to be a genius like Guy with taijutsu. Sasuke had chosen a bigger stage to grow, pursuing power through vengeance.
It was his decision, and Naruto had no reason to persuade him to let go of his hatred and remain in Konoha, confined to playing ninja games and being treated as the last of the Uchiha, a relic to be preserved.
As Naruto strolled through the streets, he pondered how to console Sakura next time. Life is like a long train ride—people get off at different stops, and one should be grateful for the time shared.
Lost in thought, he looked up and noticed a familiar petite figure heading toward the Hyuga compound.
"Hinata."
"Ah!"
The sudden call startled Hinata, but she relaxed when she saw it was Naruto.
The two walked side by side down the street, keeping a respectful distance.
"Naruto-kun, is your mission finished?" Hinata asked, fidgeting with her fingers, only to suddenly clasp them together nervously as if realizing something.
"It's okay," Naruto said, noticing her small gesture. "What I said last time was just a joke. Don't take it seriously, Hinata-chan."
"Alright..." Hinata replied softly, her hands folded behind her back, her gaze flitting nervously but her cheeks flushing with a shy smile.
"What about you? Have you been busy lately?"
"Not too busy," Hinata whispered, then added quickly, "Our Team 8 mainly handles tracking and reconnaissance, but recently Shino has been taking on solo missions, so I've had more time for training."
"Shino is really capable," Naruto remarked, thinking about the Aburame clan's prowess. Team 8, being a specialized reconnaissance team, often had its members sent on separate missions.
"You're working hard, Hinata-chan."
"No, not really," Hinata said, quickly lowering her head. "I don't have much talent, so I just spend more time practicing. I don't want to be a burden to my teammates."
"Teammates are meant to help each other. Don't push yourself too hard," Naruto said, feeling relaxed after the mission. His tone was warm and sincere.
"You can't please everyone, so don't undervalue yourself. I know you're always striving to prove yourself, but it's okay to take a break sometimes."
Hinata, being from the Hyuga main family, wasn't often sent on dangerous missions. The Hyuga clan's Byakugan was too invaluable, akin to a USB drive that anyone could use. But not everyone is born a genius.
"Thank you, Naruto-kun. I feel much better now," Hinata murmured with a small smile.
"Good," Naruto replied with a smile of his own.
He knew that anything he said would encourage Hinata—those who are favored tend to feel secure.
To be honest, before the Third Hokage's funeral, Naruto had been cautious about interacting with Hinata, fearing that his status as a jinchūriki might cause her trouble.
After the Third's passing, there hadn't been a moment to breathe, with one crisis after another—Itachi's arrival, Tsunade's return, Sasuke's defection...
"Are you heading home now?" Naruto asked casually.
With nothing else to do, he figured he could accompany her for a bit if she wasn't going straight home. Better than lounging around at home, he thought, and he wouldn't mind a leisurely stroll with a sweet girl like Hinata.
"Yes, I'm heading home," Hinata replied shyly. "Father sent someone to call me. It seems there's something he wants to discuss."
"No problem," Naruto said with a grin. "I thought I could walk with you for a bit, but if your father's looking for you, I wouldn't want to get you in trouble."
"That wouldn't happen... It's fine," Hinata said quickly, flustered.
Her downcast eyes and timid glances were utterly endearing. Naruto resisted the urge to pat her on the head—such a gesture might be considered overly intimate.
After a brief hesitation, Hinata stammered, "Is it... really okay?"
Naruto didn't refuse. He walked her to the Hyuga compound, chatting lightly along the way. Although Hinata didn't talk much, she seemed genuinely happy.
Once she disappeared inside the compound gates, Naruto turned and headed home.
Back at his apartment, he sprawled on the couch, lost in thought about the upcoming high-level meeting. Frustrated, he eventually closed his eyes.
The wind chime from his old house now hung on his balcony, its soft jingling blending with the summer breeze. The room was so quiet he could hear his steady breathing.
"Ding!"
A synthetic voice suddenly echoed in his mind, jolting Naruto awake. He sat up straight, sweat beading on his forehead.
[Nine-Tails Approval: 27%]
The progress had increased?
Groggy and bewildered, Naruto hadn't been trying to deliberately boost his connection with Kurama. He was simply letting things happen naturally. While he was pleased with the progress, he couldn't help but wonder...
The walk had been hours ago. Why was the increase showing up now?
Was the system glitching?
Naruto tapped his head a few times, receiving no response. Hearing the wind chime tinkle again, he shook his head, found no answers, and curled up with his blanket to sleep once more.
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