In the yard, Hinata stood at the gate, gazing down the rocky path and waiting for Naruto's figure to appear.
Within an instant, across any distance, Naruto learned that Hinata had come to visit. He activated Heavenly Steps and appeared before her in a single breath.
Hinata jumped, startled.
"Naruto-kun, you're too fast! You scared me..." Her face flushed as she patted her chest with small hands, speaking in a whisper.
Naruto smiled, watching Hinata's flustered reaction. Over the past two years, she'd stopped restraining her appetite, and her height had increased rapidly as a result. At nine years old, Hinata now stood over 1.5 meters tall. Her body had begun developing—no longer the flat-chested child she'd been, she now showed the first hints of maturity.
"Hinata, have you been waiting long?" Naruto asked warmly.
"No, I just arrived." Hinata's composure returned, happiness evident in her voice.
The past two years had been wonderful for her. Thinking back, she owed it all to Naruto-kun. Without his encouragement that night at the Summer Festival, she wouldn't have had such an easy two years.
Now her strength had increased dramatically, earning her father's approval. Just last week, she'd even apologized to her cousin Hyūga Neji—but only after Naruto had punched him first.
Neji had challenged her, saying he'd drop the matter if she accepted his challenge. In the past, Hinata would never have agreed to fight her cousin.
But she'd grown so much at Naruto's side. She'd gladly accepted the challenge.
Then beaten Neji thoroughly.
"NARUTO!"
A shout echoed from the distance. Naruto knew without looking that it was Shino.
Naruto still found it strange how much Shino had changed. The boy used to have virtually no presence whatsoever. Now he got along with everyone and had become the life of the party in Naruto's friend circle.
"Ah, Hinata, you came here secretly! Do you want to be alone with Naruto-kun?"
Shino no longer wore sunglasses, having switched to thin-framed glasses that revealed his full face. Seeing Hinata beside Naruto, he grinned mischievously.
"N-no! That's not..." Hinata's face turned scarlet at the teasing.
"Shino, don't embarrass Hinata. She's shy." After speaking, Naruto waved to Choji, Shikamaru, and the others approaching behind Shino.
"Naruto, where's Sasuke-kun?" Sakura and Ino craned their necks, searching for the Uchiha.
"I'm here."
With a flicker of Flying Thunder God, Sasuke materialized beside Naruto. His voice was cool and aloof.
Unfortunately, his bruised and swollen face completely undermined the attempted aloofness. He looked more comical than intimidating.
"Ah, Sasuke-kun! Long time no see!" Sakura brightened immediately. "By the way, about that outing I mentioned last time—will you come?"
"Fine." Sasuke nodded slightly.
"Yes! Sasuke-kun agreed!" Sakura and Ino clapped their hands in celebration.
"Alright, everyone stay for dinner," Naruto announced.
Over the past two years, Naruto's farm had expanded tenfold thanks to support from the Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka clans, plus Shino and Kiba's families. Most importantly, the Hyūga clan had provided significant backing.
Ten times larger—which was just right for Naruto's current appetite.
He no longer ate one cow per day. Now he consumed three whole cows per meal. His energy and blood were massive; every movement consumed tremendous power that couldn't be easily calculated.
A long table groaned under the weight of beef and lamb prepared through various cooking methods.
Naruto occupied one table alone, three whole cows arranged before him. Mountains of delicacies piled in front of Hinata. With her growth over the years, she could now eat approximately thirty times what Sakura managed.
Sakura remained a useful unit of measurement for appetite.
"Begin!" Following Naruto's command, everyone picked up their chopsticks and dug in.
Over the past two years, not only had Sasuke and Hinata improved dramatically, but all of Naruto's friends had grown stronger as well. Thanks to Naruto's "friendly care" from time to time, everyone had trained diligently—hoping to have at least some ability to fight back when beaten.
It was worth mentioning that Mizuki-sensei had never actually become Naruto's friend after that incident. This remained one of Naruto's great regrets.
What made Naruto feel genuinely guilty was that Iruka-sensei and Mizuki-sensei's relationship had gradually deteriorated afterward. Now they were complete strangers.
Naruto had apologized to Iruka about it, but Iruka claimed not to care. Naruto knew better—someone as good-natured and considerate as Iruka couldn't possibly be unaffected.
Therefore, Naruto made efforts to talk with Iruka-sensei more often. Occasionally, they'd go to Ichiraku Ramen together.
Iruka-sensei always paid, of course.
It was during these visits that Naruto realized he didn't seem particularly good at comforting others. Why else would Iruka-sensei look so gloomy every time they left Ichiraku?
After the meal, everyone chatted in the yard briefly before consciously taking their leave. Sakura and Ino announced they needed to prepare for the outing. The others found various excuses to depart.
If you stayed too long, Naruto might invite you to spar.
For the sake of maintaining unblemished faces, best to slip away once you'd eaten your fill.
Soon, only Hinata, Naruto, and Sasuke remained—plus Nine-Tails, who lay sprawled on the living room couch.
"Naruto-kun, I should head home now." Hinata stood and said her goodbyes. She wanted to return to training—otherwise, her father would sigh again.
For some reason, every time Hiashi learned she'd been visiting Naruto, he looked distressed and then turned his gaze toward two-year-old Hanabi.
The toddler would be holding her baby bottle. Feeling her father's stare, young Hanabi would inevitably drop the bottle on the floor.
"Alright, head home and train hard," Naruto encouraged.
"I will! You do your best too, Naruto-kun." Hinata returned the encouragement.
After Hinata left, Naruto returned to the waterfall. His face showed barely contained excitement.
The System had promised that once he reached his strength milestone, it would allow him to meet legendary warriors from other realms.
Naruto had long been fascinated by tales of those great figures—warriors whose fists could shatter stars, whose power withered immortals.
He desperately wanted to know what kind of presence those legendary figures had possessed in their youth. How different were they from him at the same stage?
He was deeply looking forward to making friends with young legendary warriors.
"System, I've reached my strength goal now. Can you take me to meet them?" Naruto called out in his mind.
[Of course,] the System replied immediately.
With Naruto's tremendous physical power, he was nearly invincible in this world.
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