"Ah, it's Taikou and his gang."
A group of three boys, led by Taikou, blocked Naruto's path. One of them, who is shorter than Naruto, shoved him.
"Demon, I heard your dream is to become Hokage?"
A crowd had started to gather around the periphery of the confrontation.
Shikamaru and Choji made their way through the crowd just in time to hear Taikou taunt Naruto. They thought Naruto would refute it, then loudly declared that he was going to become Hokage.
However, Naruto remained unusually quiet.
Sunlight streamed through the gates of the Academy.
Naruto stood facing the sun with light bringing his blue eyes into focus, his blond hair seemed to have lost its former sharpness without the goggles in place to keep it up.
He didn't shy away or take up arms agains the three kids in front of him.
His gaze is fixed intently on Taikou.
The childishness in him had faded, and indifference colored his features.
It was as if he had become a different person. Everything from before was like ashes, blown away cleanly by the summer breeze.
"Your eyes are disgusting. Keep staring, and I'll beat you up!"
[System loading progress 99%]
Another person stepped forward and shoved Naruto, causing him to take a few steps back.
The surrounding people just watched, chatting and laughing among themselves, with no intention of stepping forward to stop it.
"mmm" Choji frowned in displeasure. He was about to step forward to stop them.
Shikamaru sighed, then said "What a drag," as he slowly walked towards Naruto. ready to step in before this became too troublesome to deal with.
[System loading progress 100%]
[Option 1: Push down the three people in front of you and loudly declare that your dream is to become a Hokage stronger than the fourth Hokage! Reward: Proficiency in the Three Basic Techniques.]
[Option 2: Deny your dream of becoming Hokage and avoid conflict. Reward: The side effect of Chakra disorder in your body disappears.]
Naruto saw the panel, but seeing that no one around him reacted, he immediately determined that he was the only one who could see it. Relieved, he focused on the options.
The Three Basic Techniques were crucial for the graduation exam at the Academy. Mastering them would ensure his graduation. However, it's also because of the Kyubi's Chakra that the Chakra inside the body became disordered, preventing him from using Ninjutsu properly.
One option was a shortcut, directly solving the immediate graduation issue.
The other addressed the root cause of the Chakra disorder. Even if he still needs to spend time practicing the Three Body Technique afterwards, it looks more worthwhile.
"That… Naruto-kun..." Hinata, who appeared out from nowhere, whispered to herself timidly.
Unfortunately for her the original Naruto didn't even know who she was beyond that weird girl that was always passing out when he got close.
This new Naruto had even less of a reason to talk to her than the old one. The original was at least interested in girls, this one only thought they were annoying and clingy.
The tall boy named Taikou didn't seem to hear what Hinata said either and looked directly at Naruto.
As for Hinata, everyone completely disregarded her.
Naruto looked at Taikou indifferently and said
"I don't want to be Hokage. Unlike you, I'm not that childish anymore."
He slowly started making his way past them
"That's your ridiculous dream, isn't it?" Naruto said, "But it's also quite sad."
"With your current strength, you might not even become a shinobi in the future."
"W-what are you saying?" Taikou stammered as he took a step to the side and looked at Naruto in shock.
Naruto's gaze remained bland as he stared straight at the leader, Taikou.
Taikou embarrassedly yelled
"What didn't you just shout about wanting to become Hokage the other day."
"People change, Taikou."
"Now leave me alone, believe it or not, I don't care what you have to say"
"What a joke!" Naruto said in passing.
Taikou's face was left with a grim expression.
Naruto made his way past the entrance and onto the streets of Konoha.
Anyway, this is not the first or second time he has skipped classes, he was just doing it openly this time.
Taikou was stunned, recalling Naruto's cold tone just now, and didn't dare to say a word.
"You're lying! We're not like that!" The ashamed and angry voices of the two people came from behind. Naruto's words seemed to have hit their sore spot.
The boys who wanted to become Hokage were insecure and sensitive. Having their dreams laid bare in the sunlight made them jumpy.
[The reward was successfully distributed.]
After a mechanical prompt, Naruto felt the change immediately.
He tried to sense the flow of Chakra within him. He could now feel the direction of his Chakra flow, which had become smooth compared to before.
It was like taking off a heavy winter coat and walking away in light attire ready to bask in the sunlight heralded by the arrival of spring.
Naruto couldn't help but smile, feeling a sense of elation.
"Shikamaru, did I hear that right?" Choji tugged on Shikamaru's clothes and asked as he watched Naruto leave, "Naruto said he doesn't want to become Hokage anymore?"
"Wasn't that his dream? Why suddenly…?"
"Who knows?" Shikamaru's dead fish eyes shifted, and he said indifferently, "That guy was really different today. Besides, what's so great about being Hokage?"
"Busy all the time, endless paperwork and no time to relax at all."
"Enough about that. Naruto's gone." Choji said, "If Iruka-sensei catches him skipping class, he's in for it!"
Hinata stood in an inconspicuous corner of the crowd, watching Naruto leave with a conflicted expression. Class was about to start, but she was afraid that something might have happen to Naruto to make him so cold.
'Naruto-kun. What happened?'
Thinking of this, Hinata clenched her little fists. Naruto was a constant source of courage for her. Seeing him fight against the verbal abuse and negativity thrown at him and still smiling towards his dreams was the reason she still held on to a little hope that maybe she too can change.
At this moment, she really wanted to chase after him, but she lacked the courage. Just stepping forward and seeing him had used up all her bravery. Now, in front of so many people…
Without Naruto, the Academy was unusually quiet. When Iruka learned that Naruto had skipped class, he lost his temper as usual.
No one was messing around with paint buckets, and no one was causing a ruckus in the Academy. Everything seemed very harmonious.
Until sunset, Iruka did not find any trace of Naruto on the Hokage Rock. The most mischievous kid in the class seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth.
Just as Iruka started to feel a little panic, a soft voice called out.
"Iruka-sensei?"
"Hinata? What are you doing here?" Iruka turned his head and was slightly stunned.
The girl stood timidly in the orange sunset. She lowered her head and dared not look at him, her face red as a tomato, as if she had been caught... picking her nose... or passing wind... cough cough out... passing out yeah.
"I...I came to look for Naruto-kun." The girl's voice was barely audible. "Naruto-kun didn't come to class all day... and he was acting weird this morning... I'm worried…"
Looking at Hinata's very red face, Iruka smiled kindly and said, "Hinata, do you know which way Naruto went?"
Hinata looked at iruka hesitation written on her features.
"Don't worry. Im not mad that he skipped class. I am just worried about him."
Iruka sighed and got ready to continue his search. "It's getting late. You should go home now, or your father will be worried."
"No, no!" Hinata mustered her courage and looked him in the eyes, "Iruka-sensei, I...I can help you find Naruto-kun!"
Iruka smiled down at her. He took a moment then looked at the sky and said gently, " Alright, but only for half an hour. If we don't find him, you must go home, okay?"
"hmmm" Hinata nodded with determination.
"Ah? You were looking for me?" Naruto looked over to the side and spoke up.
The two were startled for a moment. Without his usual kill me orange jumpsuit, the blond prankster of Konoha was a lot more stealthy that usual.
Naruto looked at the two of them in confusion.
"Iruka sensei. Hyuga san why are you here?" Naruto asked in surprise.
"I…" Hinata lowered her head mumbling in a voice so low only a dog could hear.
"I asked Hinata to help me find you." Iruka explained, "I thought she might know where you were."
"Is that so…" Naruto scratched his head feigning confusion, "why would she know where to find me?"
Hinata hid behind Iruka sensei and had a silent 'oh my god they are going to know I am a stalke... erm an observer of blond anomalies in Konoha"
Iruka coughed trying to dispel the awkwardness in the air. Hinata's long standing crush on Naruto wasn't a secret from those more observant in the academy like the teachers, or a certain blond gossip from the Yamanaka clan.
Naruto trying to move on from that topic of conversation looked at his sensei and asked.
"Iruka-sensei, are you here because I skipped class?"