Chapter 8
One after another—first Sakura wasting her time, then Naruto going completely insane, even giving her a little bear necklace and saying it was for her "birthday."
Did she, Uchiha Sakyo, really seem like some childish little girl?
Celebrating a birthday? Who has time for that nonsense!
"You're really giving me a headache."
Naruto sighed. "You're clearly a beautiful girl, but you insist on pretending to be a guy—and you don't even want to celebrate your own birthday."
Sakyo's face darkened completely. One hand gripped the bear necklace tightly, tears welling in her eyes as she gritted her teeth at Naruto. "You don't know anything, so stop demanding I live like a normal person, okay?!"
In the entire world, very few people truly understood Sakyo. Naruto was her only real friend.
But ever since he found out she was a girl, he'd become a completely different person. Was this just what you'd expect from a total pervert?
Naruto gazed at the slowly rising sun, lost in thought.
"Sakyo, life isn't just about revenge."
"You think I don't know that? It's also about annoying perverts like you who won't leave me alone!" Sakyo shot back coldly, unleashing a torrent of complaints.
Naruto scratched his head awkwardly. "Fair enough. If you really don't like it, then forget it."
He stepped closer and reached out to remove the necklace from her neck.
However…
Sakyo quickly backed away, eyeing him warily. Pouting, she warned, "What do you think you're doing? Once you give something away—even if I don't care for it—you don't get to take it back!"
"Ding~ System mission complete. Reward: Uzumaki Bloodline +50% activation."
Naruto gave her a half-smile. "Ah~ A tsundere girl? I like it~"
Sakyo's face instantly flushed bright red. "Idiot! What are you saying?!?!"
"Who needs you to like anything?!"
She turned her head away, but inside, her heart was racing.
She knew full well Naruto was a pervert, yet she still couldn't bring herself to tell him to get lost for good.
Ah… this is pure torture!
Naruto's expression suddenly stiffened. Excruciating pain erupted inside his body, cold sweat pouring down his face. "Holy crap!"
"What's going on?!"
When he received the initial 10% activation from the newbie gift pack, there had been some pain.
But nothing like this!!!
It felt like someone was sawing through his insides with a steel blade—every nerve stretched to the breaking point.
Naruto's vision blurred. Sakyo's tsundere face grew hazy until—thud—he collapsed to the ground.
Hearing the noise, Sakyo whipped around and gasped in shock. "Naruto? Naruto!!! What's wrong?!"
"Don't scare me like this!"
She rushed to his side and dropped to her knees, frantically checking on him.
A few seconds later, she stared at him in horror. "What's happening? You… you were perfectly fine just a moment ago!"
"Damn it—are you sick or something?!"
Having never dealt with anything like this, Sakyo panicked at first. But as a ninja, she quickly calmed down and recalled what Iruka had taught them.
Right! Hospital!
Without a second thought, she scooped Naruto up in a princess carry. Luckily, as a ninja, Sakyo wasn't some weak girl who couldn't lift him.
…
When Naruto opened his eyes again, the first thing he saw was a pure white ceiling.
At the same time, Sakura's voice reached his ears.
"Ino, you're not gonna believe this—Sasuke carried Naruto to the hospital in a full princess hold."
Ino: "NANI? For real? That's wild!"
Sakura: "Of course it's real—I saw it with my own eyes!"
Ino: "Hiss~ Doesn't that make us kinda… in danger?"
Sakura: "Why are you panicking? They're both guys. You scared they're gonna get together and have babies or something?"
Hearing this, Naruto snapped fully awake. He turned his head toward Sakura with a deadpan expression. "Come on, you're way too young to be gossiping like that."
Right now, Naruto felt amazing—full of endless energy, refreshed, and strong~
He threw off the blanket and sat up, startling the two girls beside him.
Ino pointed at him in terror. "Ah! Sakura, Naruto's coming back from the dead!"
Sakura sounded just as shocked. "W-what's going on? Didn't the doctor say Naruto's condition was critical—that he could die if we weren't careful?!"
Naruto gave Ino and Sakura a helpless look. "If you two keep cursing me, I'm gonna take you both right here and now."
Ino & Sakura: "AAAAHHH!!! HE'S A ZOMBIE!!!"
Naruto: "…"
…
Outside the hospital room, Sakyo stood frozen, staring at the enormous medical bill. Sweat covered her palms.
According to the doctor, Naruto's condition had been life-threatening—if not treated immediately, he would have died.
And this astronomical bill was something Naruto could never afford.
Her teeth chattered as she desperately racked her brain for solutions. Suddenly, she remembered the deed to the Uchiha compound locked in her cabinet…
It should be enough… with money left over.
But if she did that, the Uchiha clan's presence in Konoha would become history forever!
Time was running out. Sakyo didn't have time to overthink it. Her hand trembled as she picked up the pen to sign.
Naruto was all alone—no parents, barely enough to eat most days. How could he possibly pay for treatment?
If Sakyo abandoned him, he definitely wouldn't survive.
However… right at that moment…
Terrified screams from Ino and Sakura echoed from inside the room.
Sakyo snapped to attention and rushed in.
Only to find Naruto perfectly healthy, energetically roasting Ino and Sakura like nothing was wrong—like a raging bull!
"What the—?!"
The arriving doctor stared at Naruto in confusion and went over to examine him.
A few minutes later, the doctor announced, "His illness is completely gone. No lingering effects whatsoever."
With that, the doctor left.
At the same time, a burly Konoha ANBU suddenly appeared in the room. He addressed the doctor directly: "By order of the Hokage—treat Uzumaki Naruto with full priority. Send the medical bill to the Hokage Tower."
After speaking, the ANBU waved his hand. "Sealing Squad, prepare! Jōnin Squad, prepare!! Barrier Squad, prepare!!!"
Swish, swish, swish~
Outside the hospital, jōnin who had received the alert began arriving one after another.
The ANBU turned to the stunned doctor. "What are you waiting for? Move!"
"Jōnin Squad—disperse the crowd. Everyone else, maintain perimeter alert!"
The doctor stared at the ANBU in shock, stammering, "D-Department Chief…?"
That's right—the ANBU Chief held enormous authority in Konoha.
This hospital was privately run, not one of the village's official facilities.
So they didn't know much about Naruto.
What kind of patient could mobilize the Hokage Tower directly—and even send the ANBU Chief in person?!!
Doctor: "B-but… Uzumaki Naruto's illness… it healed itself!"
ANBU Chief: "?"
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