After speaking, Naruto moved the kunai away, leaving Lee still a bit puzzled.
Neji and Tenten stepped forward, their expressions watching Naruto closely.
If Tenten's eyes were full of curiosity and a hint of admiration, Neji's gaze carried solemnity, tempered with a strong fighting spirit.
He had witnessed the entire battle. Naruto's performance was nothing short of extraordinary—every move precise, every strike measured, and throughout it all, he remained calm, not a hint of panic in him.
"Most importantly," Neji thought, "he seems to treat this duel like entertainment. He even coordinated with Lee, encouraging him to keep fighting… only someone truly strong could have this mindset."
In the original story, geniuses like Neji and Sasuke desired as many challengers as possible.
Of course, in the original, it was only when a near-invincible Chunin-level shinobi challenged the remaining 5% of people stronger than him that he faced a variety of setbacks…
But Neji couldn't help being intrigued by Naruto.
"Hey, what's your name?" Neji stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Naruto.
Naruto thought, Oh, sorry, I've taken Sasuke's role. Yet outwardly, he remained calm.
He chose to answer with a question:
"Byakugan? Are you from the main branch or a branch family?"
Neji froze, his expression darkening. Another branch-family prejudice?
"Does that matter to you?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"It doesn't. What matters is whether you're from the main family. If you are, I might start criticizing you," Naruto said with a smile. "This system is ridiculous—it should be abolished."
Neji was stunned. He hadn't expected an outsider to question a system upheld by the Hyuga clan for generations. A mix of emotions flooded his mind.
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Uzumaki Naruto. You don't have to tell me your name. I'm only interested in strong people."
He then gestured toward Sasuke beside him, smiling:
"For example, this guy."
This guy?
Neji looked at Sasuke, who seemed slightly embarrassed, then glanced down at Haku beneath them.
He didn't ask Sasuke's name—he only looked deeply at Naruto.
Uzumaki Naruto… I'll remember you.
Tenten also noticed Sasuke standing nearby and thought, He's so cute! But like Neji, she was also drawn to Naruto.
Lee's eyes were full of passion as he looked at Naruto, initially barely noticing Sakura nearby.
Guy nudged Kakashi lightly with his elbow, lowering his voice:
"Kakashi, is this the Nine-Tails kid? The Hokage asked me to check—has he shown any unusual behavior lately?"
Kakashi spread his hands.
"The biggest change is that he's become smarter. Also, he now seems able to control a small portion of the Nine-Tails' power."
"I see," Guy said, suppressing his curiosity, and began introducing them to the physical training regimen.
Some time later…
"…Here's what happened," Kakashi summarized briefly.
"Is that so?" Guy stroked his chin and made a decision immediately:
"I'll take Lee to escort Zabuza and Haku back to Konoha. Neji has the Byakugan, so he and Tenten can team up with you to capture Gato. How's that?"
"I agree," Naruto said, glancing at Tenten. He wondered if he should start his "harem plan" immediately. After all, as long as he worked hard, Tenten would be around… mainly because her family ran a ninja tool shop, which had been a valuable resource for Naruto in his early days. Regardless, running a ninja tool shop made her from a well-off family—perfect for a young genius like him.
What a brilliant plan! Think of Boruto's era Naruto: even as Hokage, he might have less influence than the office clerks, who would hand him cigarettes. How could such a life hold hope?
Clearly, relying solely on Jonin organization wasn't enough. Who knew if, by Boruto's time, the Ōtsutsuki would treat him as a monster…
Wealthy women are better!
No one objected, so Daz's bridge-building plan proceeded according to schedule. Everything ran smoothly. Each member meticulously controlled their actions—friends were protected, enemies precisely neutralized. They upheld responsibility, professionalism, and the true spirit of the shinobi.
During this time, Naruto began interacting with Tenten.
First, during the pursuit of Gato, he accidentally exchanged a few words with her. Then, they discussed ninja tools—evaluating the usefulness and weaknesses of each primary item.
Although Naruto's motivations weren't pure, he genuinely learned a lot from Tenten, deepening his understanding of ninja tools.
Of course, the conversation naturally veered off-topic. Naruto casually mentioned how many of his teammates and classmates were obsessed with Sasuke, looking down on him. He even invented various gruesome conspiracies, portraying the girls in his class as shallow, only caring about appearances.
This wave of chatter was a way for Tenten to vent, and also to bring them closer.
When Tenten began complaining about teammates, Naruto immediately sided with her, harshly criticizing Guy, Lee, and their strange habits. Finally, he concluded:
"Tenten, you deserve better teammates!"
Naruto wasn't sowing discord; he simply wanted to offer her emotional support.
Tenten, naturally, didn't understand the subtle undertone—she only felt this boy was strong, eloquent, and truly brilliant.
Later, when the conversation touched on gender topics, Naruto immediately said:
"Tenten, a ninja like you is my ideal type!"
Tenten's cheeks suddenly turned red.
But Naruto thought to himself: Tenten, you're really great. I don't deserve you right now. Oh, and no pressure. I just want to say, I've really enjoyed talking with you lately. Before, everyone would exclude me, look down on me, because of the monster inside me…
He continued to recount his hardships, emphasizing just how much he longed for a warm, safe haven.
Tenten, ever kind, was even moved to the point of choking back tears as he spoke.
Then… Sakura finally noticed Naruto's scheme and threatened to punch him, effectively ending his flirtatious plans.
On the surface, the matter was settled.
Yet Tenten was genuinely touched, and Naruto had left a deep impression on her.
[Author's note: This content is fictional; readers should not imitate!]
"If I see you running a harem again, I'll personally make sure you lose your manhood!" Sakura fumed.
"Tenten is Neji's official partner!"
"And I am too! But these are all unofficial. Besides, I've been to the ninja world—let me enjoy myself for once… Alright, calm down. Everyone, lower your fists!"
After another pause, Naruto suddenly said:
"Shall we give it a try?"
Sakura delivered a solid punch to Naruto, making him yelp in pain and turn his face away.
Kakashi approached with a helpless expression:
"Enough. Neji's situation is the latest update."
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All the fanfiction is 30-chapter ahead but this "A Witty Life in the Naruto World" is 30 chapters ahead there