Chapter 61: Jiraiya and Naruto
"Hehe, I really didn't expect to get such good grades this time!"
On the streets of Konoha, Naruto ignored the passersby pointing and whispering at him, running excitedly toward Ichiraku.
In this school assessment, he actually achieved a great result!
Thinking of Sasuke's somewhat stunned expression, Naruto was even more overjoyed.
He didn't know why himself, but that guy Sasuke always gave him a strange sense of closeness, yet also made him extremely annoyed.
As long as he could beat that guy, he would be absolutely thrilled!
"But Hinata is also amazing, and I heard that guy Neji performed even better..."
As he walked, Naruto thought of the two people who trained with him.
Hinata was already his classmate, and although she usually seemed delicate and weak, her performance this time was truly astonishing.
And that guy Neji, even though he was a grade above him, Naruto had heard of his reputation as the 'Genius of the Hyuga Clan'!
"According to Hinata, it seems someone else has been guiding that guy, and he's become a lot more cheerful?"
Naruto rubbed his chin, recalling how Neji always used to have a cold face, but now he had actually started smiling more, which felt strange to him.
"Forget it, why bother with him? Time to celebrate first!"
Naruto shook his head and said to himself with a smile.
"I'm definitely going to eat my fill tonight, and then I'll tell that bastard Makoto the good news..."
However, as he laughed, his smile gradually faded.
Hyuga Makoto had quietly gone out again for some time. Although that guy usually didn't act like a decent person, he had truly helped him a lot.
His significant progress this time was also thanks to Hyuga Makoto's credit!
It's just that now he couldn't even tell that bastard the good news...
"Sigh."
Naruto sighed, pursed his lips, and lowered his head.
"Don't you go and die out there, you bastard."
"I don't know who you're talking about..."
Just as Naruto finished speaking, a cheerful voice suddenly rang out behind him!
"But why do I get the feeling you're cursing at me?"
"Huh?!"
Naruto was stunned and immediately turned around.
He saw Hyuga Makoto standing behind him with his arms crossed, looking at him playfully!
It was still that handsome face, those strange Byakugan, and that punchable expression.
But for some reason, Naruto felt this scene was so pleasing to the eye, and his gaze was filled with surprise and excitement!
But before he could speak, Hyuga Makoto put on a look of disgust.
"Hey, what's with that expression? It's so gross."
"..."
"Also, were you cursing at me just now? Make it clear!"
"..."
"Silence equals admission. After all I've done for you, Naruto, you've really let me down."
"..."
Naruto felt his fists tightening.
And looking at the head-shaking Hyuga Makoto, he suddenly felt it might be better if this guy had died out there after all?
However, just as he was feeling frustrated, Hyuga Makoto suddenly reached out and pressed a hand onto his small head.
"Hey, idiot, congratulations."
"Ah?"
Naruto was taken aback, but Hyuga Makoto continued with a smile.
"I heard you've been performing well lately and got good grades at school. That's quite impressive."
"You... you know?"
Naruto's large eyes flickered, and then he bit his lip, putting on a look of indifference.
"Tch, it's no big deal..."
"Alright, progress should be celebrated."
Hyuga Makoto roughly ruffled Naruto's hair before saying leisurely.
"Let's go, I'll treat you to roast... Ramen. Today, eat your fill on me!"
"Okay!"
Naruto was so excited that he didn't notice Hyuga Makoto changing his words at all.
To him, Ichiraku Ramen was the best food in the world!
And the fact that the person treating him to ramen was Hyuga Makoto made him even happier.
But while he was happy, someone else couldn't take it anymore.
"Hey, hey, hey, aren't you being too stingy?"
Just as the two were about to leave, Jiraiya, who could no longer hold back, stepped out from the shadows.
He looked at Hyuga Makoto with a dark face and spoke with a hint of annoyance.
"After taking so much funding, you're only treating this kid to ramen?"
"Also, haven't you been with us these past few days?"
Kakashi also scratched his white hair and asked curiously from the other side.
"How did you know this kid has made progress?"
"You guys are..."
Naruto felt somewhat uncomfortable at the appearance of Jiraiya and Kakashi.
He knew he wasn't welcome in the Village, and even though he felt bad and wanted to change everything, he had slowly adapted to it.
Now that someone had suddenly approached him of their own accord, it made him feel unaccustomed.
He instinctively retreated behind Hyuga Makoto, but soon he noticed something.
"Eh? You were on a mission with them? Then how did you know I made progress?"
"These two are my captain and Senior. As for your business..."
Hyuga Makoto glared at Jiraiya and Kakashi before speaking reluctantly.
"You've been muttering about it the whole way, how could I not know?"
"..."
Naruto's fists tightened even more; it turns out this guy didn't know anything at all!
"Also, what do you mean by stingy?"
But Hyuga Makoto ignored him and turned to look at Jiraiya instead.
"This kid's favorite is Ichiraku Ramen. After all, it's one of the few places that doesn't hold prejudice against him."
"This..."
Jiraiya opened his mouth but for a moment didn't know what to say.
He could only sigh softly, his gaze fixed straight on Naruto.
Although he hadn't been in Konoha, he knew that Naruto's life as a Jinchuriki might be very miserable.
After all, this was the standard way of raising a Jinchuriki, and he was helpless to change it.
But Naruto was Minato's son after all, which was one of the reasons he had been unwilling to return to Konoha.
He couldn't change anything, so he could only keep it out of sight and out of mind.
Returning this time, he hadn't taken the initiative to make contact, especially since he hadn't yet investigated who was responsible for Minato's death!
Who would have thought that this kid Hyuga Makoto would be so familiar with Naruto.
So familiar that, in his eyes, he almost didn't act like a decent human being!
He had only come out because he couldn't hold it in anymore, but it turned out the one 'not acting human' was actually himself...
"It seems I misunderstood you guys."
After a while, Jiraiya smiled helplessly.
"However, eating ramen all the time isn't good. And didn't you just say you made progress at school, kid? Then today, I'll treat you!"
"Eh?"
Naruto blinked. Usually, only a few people didn't despise him.
Most people, even if they didn't say it, would actively avoid him when they saw him. After all, in everyone's mouths, he was the so-called 'Demon Fox'.
But he really didn't expect that today, a perverted-looking white-haired uncle would actually offer to treat him to something good?
This left him somewhat at a loss, and he involuntarily looked up at Hyuga Makoto beside him.
"What are you looking at me for?"
Hyuga Makoto gave Naruto an amused push and then smiled.
"Someone is treating, shouldn't you say thank you?"
"I..."
Naruto was still somewhat in disbelief, but Jiraiya reached out and pressed a hand on Naruto's head.
Looking at those blue eyes and golden hair, his gaze was slightly dazed, but he also showed a smile.
"Don't be so coy, kid. This Immortal will treat you all today. Let's go!"
"Oh, thank you..."
Naruto glanced at Hyuga and finally didn't object anymore.
Seeing this, Hyuga Makoto smiled and prepared to follow, but Kakashi patted his shoulder at that moment.
"Thank you, Makoto."
"Thank me for what?"
Hyuga Makoto knew what Kakashi meant, but he still feigned a look of confusion.
"Today is Lord Jiraiya's treat; it even saved me some money."
"You guy..."
Kakashi was caught between laughter and tears and didn't explain further.
However, he didn't notice that Hyuga Makoto's gaze turned toward the distance, where the Konoha Cemetery was located.
"Only one left, and the mission should be ready for completion..."
Actually, after Jiraiya returned, he had thought about bringing Naruto before him.
He didn't expect it to be so coincidental today, and even more coincidentally, he had received a mission.
[New Side Mission Acquired]
[1. Four Generations Under One Roof: Naruto, You Are Not Alone]
[2. You Are Truly Just an Orphan]
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