"But the ice cream was pretty good," Kidōmaru muttered. "Are we seriously just going to wait here for him?"
"Orochimaru-sama's orders were for us to disguise ourselves as orphans, infiltrate Konoha, and carry out the Konoha Crush during the Chūnin Exams."
"But isn't there still some time before the exams even begin? The village seems to have stirred up some trouble recently..."
"I can't keep up the act anymore," Sakon and Ukon grumbled, "I'm going out to wander around."
"Hey, without him we'll starve to death!" Kidōmaru called after them. "Wait for me!"
Soon, the two left, and only Jirōbō and Tayuya remained behind in their child disguises.
"Hey, Tayuya," Jirōbō asked, glancing at his departing teammates, "you're not actually going to keep waiting for him, are you?"
"Shut up!" Tayuya snapped, her face dark, before walking off in another direction.
Meanwhile, Naruto had returned to the Ninja Academy, casually using the Transformation Jutsu to mark Sasuke and Sakura as present.
On the podium, the female instructor, Iruka-sensei's colleague Suzume, was passionately lecturing about the Will of Fire. No matter how pleasant her voice was, it couldn't hide the staleness of the ideology. Naruto quickly found himself nodding off.
Before he knew it, his head hit the desk and he was out cold. By the time he woke up, the classroom was empty, and the evening sun was casting red light through the windows.
"Crap! I overslept—again. Damn, that's embarrassing," Naruto groaned, hastily wiping the drool from his mouth. "I promised to eat barbecue with those kids, too... Why am I so sleepy all the time lately?"
He rushed out of the academy and sprinted to the meeting spot, only to find nothing but dusty ground bathed in sunset. Of course no one would wait from noon until dusk. They'd probably think he stood them up—or worse, that he didn't care about their promise.
Naruto sighed, disappointed. He had finally found some companions to hang out with, and now it seemed like he'd lost them. Well, nothing to do but eat alone, he thought.
Just then, his stomach growled loudly. At the same moment, another rumble came from behind a stack of cardboard boxes nearby.
Blinking, Naruto turned his head. From behind the boxes, a timid girl slowly stepped out.
At the barbecue restaurant.
The sizzling sound of meat meeting hot oil filled the air, mouthwatering aromas wafting everywhere. Naruto grilled the meat with practiced ease, tossing pieces into both his own bowl and the girl's.
"Eat up," he said cheerfully, already munching away himself.
After a couple of bites, the girl hesitated, then looked up at him. "Isn't barbecue... really expensive?"
"Not at all," Naruto mumbled between bites. "Don't worry—I can easily afford it."
Relieved, the girl nodded and continued to eat. When the meal was done, Naruto casually asked if she wanted to bring some back for the others.
"No need. I think they've probably already found food," she replied with a small smile, her hands clasped behind her back.
"Alright. Well, if you come again tomorrow morning, wait for me here," Naruto scratched his head awkwardly. "I'll show up early this time. Today was... an accident."
"Okay!" The girl nodded earnestly.
They parted ways afterward. Naruto strolled home lazily, while Tayuya slipped into a side alley and vanished into the shadows.
"Tayuya? You actually waited there all afternoon?" Kidōmaru sneered when she rejoined them. "Did it even pay off?"
"Yeah. We ate barbecue. You didn't." Tayuya's voice was light, almost mocking.
"You really think you're some orphan now? Don't forget Orochimaru-sama's mission!" Kidōmaru snapped. "Don't tell me a single meal was enough to buy you off!"
"That's right," Tayuya said calmly. "One meal of barbecue was enough. I got to eat. You didn't."
"You—!"
"The mission hasn't even started yet. I know where the line is," she cut him off coldly. "Don't run your mouths. Just handle your own business."
Kidōmaru wanted to argue further, but when he met her eyes, the words stuck in his throat. In the end, he said nothing.
The next morning, Naruto didn't post his usual "God of Shinobi" update, because the ANBU had shown up at his door.
"The Hokage wants to see you."
"Oh."
On the way to the Hokage's office, Naruto couldn't help but feel restless. He remembered the promise he'd made yesterday—if this meeting dragged on, he'd end up breaking it again.
Inside the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat behind his desk, pipe in hand, his eyes scanning Naruto carefully.
"Naruto," Hiruzen began, "a lot has been happening in the village lately. What do you think about it?"
"I don't feel any difference," Naruto shrugged. "With you as Hokage, the village should be safe enough anyway."
"I saw your name on the list for the upcoming Chūnin Exams," Hiruzen said after a pause. "Given the current situation, and considering how important you are to the village... I hope you'll withdraw."
"Alright," Naruto agreed instantly. "Can I leave now?"
"You don't want to know why?" Hiruzen blinked, surprised. "I thought you'd be upset. The Chūnin Exams are an excellent chance to prove yourself."
"No point asking," Naruto replied flatly. "If the village arranged it, it must have its reasons. Either way, it doesn't matter to me. Being a ninja means obeying orders, right? I don't care anymore."
For a long moment, Hiruzen was silent, staring at Naruto's calm expression. Finally, Naruto asked, "Hokage-sama, may I go now?"
"You may," Hiruzen answered quietly.
Naruto turned on his heel and walked out without hesitation. Just before the door closed, he heard the old man sigh heavily.
Perhaps the Third didn't want Naruto to become nothing more than a tool for the village... but this Naruto had no optimism left. He had seen clearly how the village treated him. Why should he risk his life for Konoha?
With the system at his side, he didn't need teachers to learn jutsu. He didn't need help to master the Nine-Tails. If he wished, the system could simply draw out Kurama's power directly.
He needed no one. He could live however he wanted.
The Nine-Tails was just a fox living inside him. Why should he back down from it?
Just a beast. With the system, even the Nine-Tails would one day be shattered by his fist.