Stepping out of the Hokage building, the sunlight fell upon Naruto's body, yet he felt no warmth. He only glanced left and right before heading straight in another direction.
The streets of Konoha bustled as always, crowded and lively.Walking among the throng, Naruto had already tossed aside what had just happened. Since the Third Hokage wanted him to give up the Chūnin Exams, then he'd simply find other ways to stir up trouble in Konoha.
When he arrived at the meeting place, Naruto spotted the little girl, and instantly his face lit up with a smile.
Everyone else was busy preparing for the exams. Originally, Naruto could still waste time with D-rank missions, but Kakashi had excused him from those as well.
Now, with a single command from the Third Hokage to abandon the exams, Naruto was thrown back into having nothing to do.
Kakashi was busy tutoring Sasuke, Sakura was focused on learning medical ninjutsu, and the rest of the teams were all in the midst of their preparations—even Hinata was working diligently.
Everyone was occupied, except Naruto. He drifted idly like a cloud in the sky—free, yet unbearably bored.
So in the mornings, he took the girl into the woods to catch wild animals. In the afternoons, they fished in the shallow streams. At sunset, they went up to the Hokage Rock to gaze over Konoha.
Though Naruto occasionally asked about the whereabouts of the other three, the girl only gave vague replies, saying they had gone off on their own. He didn't mind and simply continued to enjoy himself.
After all, if you're alone, even the finest feast tastes dull. Having a companion to eat with greatly satisfied Naruto's little vanity.
He wasn't short on money anyway. Barbecue for lunch, Ichiraku ramen in the afternoon. The next day, seafood. After that, mountain delicacies.
Days passed by, and the date of the Chūnin Exams drew closer.
"Isn't this really expensive?" the girl asked, gazing at Naruto with some confusion. Even in her naivety, she sensed how extravagant this lifestyle was.
Naruto didn't seem to notice at all and replied casually:"Is it?"
"Yes."
That evening, the two stood atop Hokage Rock as the night wind swept past, looking down at the thousands of glowing lights of Konoha. Naruto hopped onto the railing, crouching there as he spoke:
"As long as you're happy, money doesn't matter."
His words lingered in the air, unanswered. When he turned to glance at the girl, she wore an expression of hesitation, as if on the verge of saying something but holding back.
"What is it?" Naruto asked, then continued, "Tomorrow let's go to the Valley of the End. I heard there are big red fish there."
"I can't go tomorrow," the girl suddenly said.
"That's fine, I can go by myself," Naruto replied. "What about the day after? Seems like we've already been everywhere else. Not much left that's fun."
"I have things to do. I might not have time to play with you anymore." She hesitated. "I really want to, but there are… important matters."
Naruto froze for a moment, then jumped down from the railing, smiling as he said:"Is that all? If you have something to do, then go. We're both from Konoha, right? There'll be plenty of time to hang out later."
"Yes…" the girl replied, though her eyes dimmed slightly as she said it.
"Then go. When you're free again, we'll hang out." Naruto waved casually, his face showing no sign of sadness.
"Alright." She nodded, stood there for a moment, and then slowly turned away until her figure disappeared into the darkness.
Beneath the night sky, Naruto let out a long sigh. A hint of melancholy flashed across his face, but it quickly turned into a smile.
"At this time, the only ones sneaking into Konoha… would be Orochimaru's people. Tayuya."
Meanwhile, Tayuya had already returned to the Sound Four's hideout—though calling it a "hideout" was generous. It was little more than a drafty, abandoned house.
"Oi, Tayuya, why are you back so late again?" Kidōmaru called out from a distance.
"None of your business," Tayuya snapped coldly, not even sparing him a glance.
"You—!" Kidōmaru's irritation flared, but he held it back. He knew Tayuya's mouth was always sharp, but even so… he suddenly thought of something.
She probably doesn't act like this in front of him, does she?
The thought stung him, and he blurted out:"Tayuya, the Chūnin Exams are almost here. Lord Orochimaru ordered us to be ready. You're not still tangled up with that guy, are you?"
"None of your business." Tayuya's red bangs fell over her eyes, hiding the coldness in them. Her mood was clearly sour.
"You—damn it, Tayuya!" Kidōmaru finally lost his temper, rushing forward to block her path. He shouted:"Don't tell me you actually like that brat! What, just because he fed you a few meals? That Nine-Tails jinchūriki is just an easy mark—"
Thud!
Kidōmaru's eyes went wide. The next second, he doubled over, vomiting sour bile as his whole body curled up like a shrimp.
Tayuya had kicked him square in the stomach. She watched coldly as he knelt on the ground in agony.
"Kidōmaru, are you alright?" Jirōbō hurried over, his bulky frame resembling a sumo wrestler, and helped him up with a worried look.
"Get off!" Kidōmaru shoved Jirōbō away, his face twisted with fury as he stormed off.
The next day.
Naruto went out wandering as usual—fishing by the river, swimming under waterfalls. But after a while, playing alone felt dull.
He had already guessed Tayuya's identity, but chose not to expose her.
Why? Simply because, back then, she was the only one as idle as he was. Out of boredom, they had passed a few days together.
But that dream had ended. Now, it was time to stir things up in Konoha again.
Naruto summoned the system panel, and in the puppet persona's message box, he typed the following words:
"August 29. Out of boredom, let me make a little prophecy: The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, will die during the Chūnin Exams."
After pressing confirm, Naruto's lips curled into a faint smile.
And in that very moment, nearly everyone in Konoha froze, their faces filled with shock.
The Third Hokage will die?
At a certain hot spring in the village—men's side.
Jiraiya, soaking in the steaming water, suddenly grew solemn. His gaze hardened as the tranquility within him shattered by the message.
Though he often disagreed with the old man, which was why he chose to wander and why Tsunade buried herself in gambling, Jiraiya had never once imagined that Hiruzen would die.
Yet this message… it couldn't be a prank. There was no chakra fluctuation at all, and still the words had slipped directly into his mind—clear as day, undeniable.
Like a thought implanted within his own heart.
With a splash, Jiraiya stood up abruptly from the water. Grabbing the white towel from his head, he wrapped it around himself and strode out of the hot spring.
He had to see the old man. He had to see if the prophecy was true.