"Big bro!"
Naruto Uzumaki spotted Natsume and dragged Sasuke Uchiha, who looked extremely reluctant, over.
"This is my new friend I met, Sasuke Uchiha. He's a really amazing genius!"
"I'm not your friend!"
Sasuke Uchiha interjected irritably. "You're just a stumbling block on my path as a ninja. One day, I'll kick you aside!"
"You two seem to get along well."
Natsume couldn't help but laugh.
Before [the night of the clan's extermination], Sasuke Uchiha was still quite normal.
Because of the ill-fated bond with Naruto Uzumaki across lifetimes, he enrolled in the academy ahead of schedule, but he always lost cleanly in their sparring matches.
Naturally, he felt somewhat aggrieved.
"Sasuke, let me introduce you."
Naruto Uzumaki understood his character and simply ignored his words.
"No need."
Sasuke Uchiha put his hands in his pockets and slightly raised his chin. "He's my brother's friend. Maybe I knew him before you did."
Boys will even compete over the smallest things.
"Where's your brother? Why didn't I see him come to pick you up?"
Natsume looked around. It was already after school, but he didn't see Itachi Uchiha.
"He's really busy now. It's my mom who picks me up."
Sasuke Uchiha's expression dimmed. He preferred his brother to his mom.
Just then, a ninja with a thick beard appeared in front of the three of them.
Natsume was puzzled when he heard Naruto Uzumaki shout, "Uncle Sarutobi."
"I'm Seinosuke Sarutobi,"
Seinosuke Sarutobi said with a smile. "You're Natsume, right? The old man at home often mentions you."
Old man?
With the surname Sarutobi.
Could he be the eldest son of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the mysterious father of Konohamaru Sarutobi?
Natsume was slightly stunned.
Naruto Uzumaki then added, "He's the son of the Hokage grandpa and my current Wind Release teacher."
It made sense.
It was perfectly reasonable to have his son teach the [Nine-Tailed Fox] [Jinchuriki].
Because of Natsume's actions, Naruto Uzumaki enrolled in the academy ahead of schedule and showed great talent in Wind Release.
In Konoha Village, the most powerful user of Wind Release was Tanzo Shimura.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi definitely wouldn't approve of that.
Kakashi Hatake was good at Sharingan and Lightning Release, which didn't quite fit either.
After much thought, he was assigned to Seinosuke Sarutobi.
"Goodbye, big bro."
Naruto Uzumaki left with Seinosuke Sarutobi.
Now only Sasuke Uchiha was left.
Natsume didn't leave. He had already seen Mikoto Uchiha and was going to say hello.
"Aunt Mikoto."
"Mikoto? Long time no see."
Mikoto Uchiha was a bit surprised and asked, "How's Lady Tsunade doing?"
"She has enough to eat and wear, no worries there."
Natsume's answer made Mikoto Uchiha laugh.
"An interesting way to put it."
She stroked Sasuke Uchiha's little head and said, "I have to go back and cook. Let's chat next time when I'm free."
Natsume watched them leave and then returned home.
A new day.
In the morning, he practiced Sage Mode. In the afternoon, he went to the [Gunma Casino].
After replenishing his chakra, Natsume ran to a small forest not far away.
He wanted to train his pupil power.
Naturally, Ena Uzumaki would assist him in his training.
She was quite powerful now.
After all, with a large amount of chakra and having mastered the Sealing Technique, she deserved the title of Tokubetsu Jonin.
"Come on, attack me."
Natsume activated his Sharingan, and three - tomoe emerged.
If he was only training his pupil power, there was no need to activate the Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Be careful."
Ena Uzumaki immediately threw out six shurikens. They were incredibly fast and followed different trajectories, making it a dazzling sight.
But in Natsume's eyes, they seemed to be moving slowly.
He easily dodged them and immediately raised his hand, saying, "Use the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Having only one Ena Uzumaki around was obviously not enough for the training.
However, when nine of her clones suddenly appeared, Natsume was a bit overwhelmed.
After an afternoon, he had quite a few marks of a man's honor on his body.
Fortunately, Ena Uzumaki, though not a medical ninja, had self - healing abilities, so minor injuries were nothing to worry about.
At night.
At the barbecue restaurant.
Natsume was packing a late - night snack for Hinata Hyuga.
But unexpectedly, he ran into an acquaintance.
Akimichi Shito.
He was a Jonin that their team had saved during the war between Konoha Village and Kumogakure.
"Natsume!"
Akimichi Shito's chubby face broke into a big, silly smile, and he said, "Let me foot the bill."
"Uncle Shito."
Natsume quickly shook his head and said, "You don't have to spend your money."
"What are you talking about? If it weren't for you guys saving me, I wouldn't even have the chance to eat barbecue now."
Akimichi Shito turned around and said boldly, "Boss, put it on my tab!"
"Sure thing!"
The Akimichi clan was a regular customer at the barbecue restaurant, so the boss naturally recognized Shito. He said with a smile, "That'll be 120,000 ryo."
"...?"
Akimichi Shito almost lost his balance.
"Let me do it."
Natsume noticed his expression and paid the money first.
Jonin were supposed to be well - off, but in reality, they were quite poor.
After all, the reward for a Class S mission started at one million ryo.
But there weren't that many Class S missions to take.
As for why it was 120,000 ryo, it was because Hinata Hyuga's appetite had grown a bit.
"No way!"
Akimichi Shito quickly waved his hand and said, "Let me pay!"
This chapter is not over!
Although it hurt him to spend the money, this was a debt of gratitude for saving his life.
"Uncle Shito, if you really want to thank me, how about teaching me a ninjutsu?"
Natsume suddenly had a flash of inspiration and said.
"No problem!"
Akimichi Shito patted his chest and asked, "What ninjutsu do you want to learn?"
"The Partial Multi - Size Technique."
Natsume originally wanted to learn the Expansion Jutsu, but it was a secret technique exclusive to the Akimichi clan, so he settled for the simplified version.
Akimichi Shito hesitated for a moment.
Technically, even the simplified version shouldn't be taught.
But Natsume had saved his life, and he was a student of Tsunade, so he definitely wouldn't betray Konoha.
Moreover, the core of the Akimichi clan was the secret pills, the clan's forbidden drugs.
Just learning the Partial Multi - Size Technique didn't matter much.
"Alright."
Akimichi Shito nodded and asked, "When are you free?"
"How about at one o'clock tomorrow afternoon at Training Ground No. 4?"
Natsume let out a sigh of relief.
The Partial Multi-Size Technique is a jutsu that can enlarge a part of the body.
As for how large it can become, it depends on the user's Chakra.
Natsume exchanged for this jutsu because he thought it would be extremely powerful when used in combination with the Sage Body.
[Due to your actions, Tsunade's destiny has changed. You have gained six points of destiny value.]
[Due to your actions, Hinata Hyuga's destiny has changed. You have gained six points of destiny value.]
[Due to your actions, Karin's destiny has changed. You have gained six points of destiny value.]
Natsume's eyes widened in surprise.
You have a problem.
This can really change someone's destiny?
Three six-points!
All Natsume could say to this was, "Well done!"
After saying goodbye to Akimichi Shito, he returned to his room and then used the Reverse Summoning Jutsu to appear in front of Hinata Hyuga.
Since Natsume came every night, Hinata had gotten used to it.
She won't be suddenly startled like before.
"Brother Natsume."
Hinata showed a cute and somewhat shy smile, her heart filled with joy.
The thing she looks forward to most every day now is seeing Natsume.
Because the days are too tiring.
All she does is train, especially having to face Hiashi Hyuga's disappointed expression and Neji Hyuga's cold attitude.
"We're having barbecue tonight."
Natsume stroked her hair and said, "I'll buy you chicken drumsticks tomorrow."
If it was in his past life, she'd probably be going crazy for Crazy Thursday deals every day.
"Um... delicious..."
Hinata said while eating, "I... I'll definitely pay you back later."
She was referring to the money for the late - night snacks.
Natsume was slightly taken aback.
He recalled that the real rich girl was right in front of him.
And Tsunade's so - called 'rich girl' label was fake.
It's just ridiculous that Natsume still hasn't cleared all his debts to her.
Moreover, Tsunade didn't like gambling at the Gunma Casino because she thought it wasn't exciting enough and insisted on going to other casinos.
It perfectly illustrates the saying 'the grass is always greener on the other side.'
Although Natsume wanted to rely on a woman for support, as a man, he had to have some strong points.
Taking care of Hinata? It's a piece of cake.
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