The next day, Naruto, having unloaded most of his burdens, was full of energy.
"Good morning, Kimimaro."
Yesterday's cool and aloof Kimimaro seemed a bit awkward today: "Morn... good morning."
Naruto cheerfully moved closer and asked, "What's wrong? Not used to it?"
"No, it's just that I've always been seen as a weapon, imprisoned in a cell, only released when there's a need to fight.
Sleeping in a warm, soft bed like yesterday, eating in a spacious and bright room, receiving meticulous care from others... I've never experienced any of that before."
"So, do you like it?"
"Yes, but... what's the meaning?"
"What?"
"What is the meaning of living?"
Ugh... Naruto felt a headache coming on. At such a young age, not focusing on proper activities, but thinking about life all day long. No wonder Orochimaru kidnapped him.
In his memory, there were three people in the original story who asked this kind of question:
The first was Orochimaru, and then the Third Hokage gave an explanation about how a molting snake signifies rebirth, which is the meaning of a new life. Later, Orochimaru molted like crazy throughout the entire anime... The Third Hokage truly was the best at leading his disciples astray in the Shinobi World.
The second was Itachi Uchiha, and then Orochimaru gave an explanation that life has no meaning, and if it does, it only exists when life is eternal. As a result, the 4-year-old Itachi jumped off a cliff on the spot. If he hadn't suddenly woken up and successfully saved himself, he would have been a goner that day.
The third was Kimimaro. Orochimaru told him that living may not have meaning, but living on might lead to finding something interesting. Just like he found that flower, just like he found him. As a result, Kimimaro's encounter with Orochimaru ruined his life.
Of course, there was also Haku, who willingly became Zabuza's tool for the simple reason of "wanting to be needed," a baby-5-esque reason.
The children of this world are too precocious, even for being early bloomers. Naruto wasn't planning to fool Kimimaro like Orochimaru. After all, he was just a child, and he didn't know the meaning of living either.
So Naruto decided to call for off-site assistance, Secret Technique: Summoning the Old Dad: "Old Dad! Kimimaro is asking what the meaning of living is."
Minato and Kushina walked out of the kitchen with breakfast, placed it on the table, and sat down.
"The meaning of living, huh?" Minato thought for a moment and said with a smile, "Everyone's answer is different, and the answer must be found by oneself.
For example, for me, it's about protecting. As a father, I must protect my children; as a husband, I must protect my wife; as the Hokage, I must protect the village; these are all the meanings of my life.
You guys are still young, you can slowly decide on your own goals."
"Protect?" Kimimaro murmured.
Naruto nudged the dazed Kimimaro with his elbow and pointed at Minato: "Did you see that smile just now? How did it feel?"
Kimimaro blankly said, "Very warm."
"I've just decided, I must protect that kind of smile!" Saying that, Naruto gave Kimimaro a big smile.
Kimimaro clenched his fist, thinking about Minato's gentle smile, Naruto's bright smile, and Kushina's happy smile when she looked at them. He secretly made up his mind: "I am willing to risk my life to protect such smiles. Perhaps this is the meaning of my life."
"Alright, the food is getting cold," Kushina reminded. "I'm going to take Kimimaro to buy some clothes and daily necessities later. Naruto, you come along too."
"Okay."
...
This day, Naruto deeply understood a truth: accompanying a woman shopping is so tiring, even if this woman is your own mother.
Why does she have to pick and choose everything, pick it up and put it down, haggle over the price... Naruto mostly shopped online in his previous life. If he couldn't shop online, he would search for the destination, look for the signs, take the item, pay, and leave.
After finally persevering to the end, Kimimaro's things were all bought and packed up, and he officially moved into the room next to Naruto's. This also meant that Naruto would have someone to accompany him in his future training, and someone to accompany him in learning literacy and basic knowledge.
Although Kimimaro was three years older than Naruto, he had basically not received any education other than combat. Minato planned to let Kimimaro study at home for a period of time, and then enter the Ninja Academy.
...
In the evening, Naruto lay on his small bed and, as usual, entered the Sealing Space.
"Big Fox, I'm here again." Naruto waved hello.
Nine Tails raised his eyelids and glanced at him, then closed them again, without saying a word.
"Give me some reaction."
"Could it be that I didn't come yesterday, and you're angry?"
"Tch."
"Oh ho, I can't tell, Big Fox, you care about me so much." Naruto made a funny expression.
"Don't be so self-righteous, brat!"
"Yes, yes, yes, I'm self-righteous." According to Naruto's estimation, this fox is about 10% arrogant, 20% mighty, and the remaining 70% is all tsundere.
"Then I'll continue to tell you the story. Last time, we talked about how that stone monkey decided to go out to sea to find a famous teacher to learn skills...
...Spirit Platform Mountain, Crescent Moon Three Stars Cave... Patriarch Bodhi named him Sun Wukong."
"Why use that monkey's name!?"
"Speaking of which, you might not believe it, but actually, when the Sage of Six Paths named him, he plagiarized my story." Naruto sighed. He was afraid that only he himself would believe it if he said it out loud.
"Impossible! That was the old man's name more than a thousand years ago!"
Four Tails, who calls himself 'Flower Fruit Mountain Water Curtain Cave Monkey King Great Sage Equal to Heaven Sun Wukong', is shaped like a red gorilla, with a pair of horns on his head that look very much like a headband, and four... tentacle-like tails behind him.
If Naruto were to evaluate it, it would be ugly as hell, and it would not live up to the three words "Monkey King" at all. He didn't know what kind of aesthetic the Sage of Six Paths had. Among the nine Tailed Beasts, only Two Tails Matatabi and Nine Tails Kurama had online looks, and the others were all strange shapes.
"Forget it, just treat it as a coincidence." Naruto was too lazy to argue, and he couldn't make the Sage of Six Paths bloom. "Speaking of which, do you have a grudge against your fourth brother?"
Nine Tails replied, "No grudge, I beat him up."
Naruto became interested: "Tell me about the process!"
"There's nothing to talk about, a weakling, this old man let him have five tails."
"Emmmm... Speaking of which, haven't all eight of them been beaten by you?"
"Almost, especially Shukaku, who got beaten the most. That guy has a foul mouth and thick skin, so it's very enjoyable to beat him up." Nine Tails seemed to suddenly be in the mood to talk, and told Naruto about the feel of each Tailed Beast, and finally complained:
"It's a pity that the seventh one can fly after growing wings, so it's not easy to catch, and it gets beaten the least."
Naruto looked at him with a strange look. You're not a fox, you're a husky, always picking fights every day. The only thing that doesn't make you like a husky is that your combat power is strong enough, and you can really win after picking a fight.
"This old man sensed your malice, brat, what kind of look is that in your eyes?"
"I'm just admiring your strong combat power."
"Tch, continue with your story."
"Oh."
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