["That works out perfectly!" Ino thought it was nothing serious.]
["Then let's go taste Naruto's cooking first!"]
["I'll go home and grab some meat!" Chōji said quickly.]
[...]
[Noon.]
[Little Naruto set down the literacy book in his hands and took a sip of warm water.]
["It's time to eat. I should also let my brain digest what I learned."]
[He wasn't in a hurry. Rushing progress only led to mistakes.]
[However, not long after, he heard a knock on his door.]
[When he opened it, he saw the four of them standing outside.]
["Naruto!" Ino's lips curved upward slightly.]
["What's this?" Little Naruto was naturally confused. Weren't they supposed to gather tomorrow?]
[But when he saw the meat in Shikamaru's and Chōji's hands, he more or less understood.]
[He smiled, stepped aside, and let everyone in.]
[With Shikamaru here, things would be much easier.]
[After entering, the three kids looked around little Naruto's home.]
[Unconsciously comparing it to their own.]
[The difference was like heaven and earth.]
["Naruto, do you really live here alone?" Ino asked softly, unable to bear it.]
[Little Naruto nodded, then took the bag Chōji handed him.]
[It was the first time he had seen this much meat—and it was very fresh.]
["My dad knew I was coming over and told me to bring this specially," Chōji said.]
["Naruto, please take care of it~!"]
[Whenever food was involved, Chōji became extremely serious.]
[Little Naruto was startled by Chōji's intensity.]
["Then… shall we cook it the way I usually do?"]
["Soup and stir-fry?"]
["Of course!" Chōji's eyes lit up. "I also brought some vegetables."]
[Little Naruto smiled and nodded, then went to the balcony to pick vegetables.]
[The four of them followed along.]
[All of them were curious, asking questions nonstop.]
[Watching little Naruto busy himself while standing on a chair,]
[Ino and Sakura volunteered to help.]
[Seeing that, Chōji refused to be left out either.]
[Shikamaru shrugged and was about to get a chair when little Naruto suddenly lowered his voice.]
["Shikamaru, could you help me look at the books on my desk? I marked the parts I don't understand… I think you'd know."]
[Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "What a pain."]
[Watching Shikamaru's lazy retreating figure,]
[little Naruto smiled.]
[He didn't refuse, nor did he ask what kind of books they were.]
[That alone showed Shikamaru's confidence in helping him.]
[Thinking that, little Naruto's smile became impossible to suppress.]
[It also indirectly proved that Shikamaru's family definitely owned many books.]
["Naruto, how do I do this?" Ino's voice called out.]
"Ah~ this is so nice~"
"I really want a childhood like this too~!"
Ino hugged Hinata with envy.
Hinata wore the same envious expression.
"If Naruto in our world were this capable and cool, that'd be great~"
"From how the black-frame world looks, I think we'll be together a lot in the future!"
As she spoke, Ino comforted Hinata.
"It's okay, Hinata. Maybe you'll be with us too by then?"
"Just wait—when winter comes, that'll be your stage~!"
Hearing that, Hinata lowered her head slightly.
Will Naruto still save me then?
He already has so many friends… he probably won't wander around anymore, right?
It wasn't strange for Hinata to worry.
This black-frame Naruto felt unusually perceptive
So perceptive that he even overshadowed the heart-fluttering feeling gold-frame Naruto gave her.
Thinking that—
Hinata's cheeks reddened again.
Someone that smart… he'll definitely notice my feelings… what should I do?
[In the afternoon, Chōji patted his round belly and gave little Naruto a thumbs-up.]
[Then he lay down on the floor without any concern for appearances.]
["I'm so full~ so comfortable~"]
["Naruto, who did you learn all this from?" Chōji couldn't help asking.]
[The taste was no worse than any food he'd eaten elsewhere.]
[Little Naruto smiled and poured drinks for everyone.]
["Uncle Teuchi. Whenever I go to Ichiraku Ramen, I ask him questions."]
["He said once you master one cooking skill, learning others becomes easier—one principle connects to all."]
["I see~" Chōji scratched his head, not really understanding.]
[In the kitchen, Ino and Sakura were washing dishes.]
[Little Naruto had refused at first, but Ino insisted, so he let her do it.]
["Naruto, did you learn all this just this morning?" Shikamaru asked in surprise as he set down the literacy book.]
["Mm. Was it too slow?" Little Naruto walked over and sat down.]
["No—it's actually a bit too hardworking… I've finished reading it. I can teach you now."]
[For the rest of the time, seeing little Naruto and Shikamaru studying so intently, the other three joined in as well.]
[At an age meant for playing, they were dragged into studying by little Naruto.]
[And the teacher of the four was undoubtedly Shikamaru, who had already finished learning it all.]
Senju Tobirama: The kid from the Nara clan is as sharp as ever.
Nara Shikaku: "You flatter him, Lord Tobirama."
Hearing the chatroom exchange,
Temari glanced at the lazy Shikamaru beside her and shook her head helplessly.
This guy really hadn't changed at all.
However—
looking at black-frame Naruto on the screen,
Temari frowned slightly.
Will the future really develop like this?
She clearly remembered meeting Uzumaki Naruto when she first came to Konoha.
Back then, he seemed like a harmless little blond.
But now, that blond didn't seem harmless at all.
He even housed a giant fox with power comparable to Shukaku.
[The five studied together until sunset.]
[Being away all day would inevitably make their families worry.]
[So Shikamaru left first with Chōji and Ino.]
["Shikamaru, I'll trouble you to bring some books for me tomorrow," little Naruto said quietly.]
["But hide them first. I don't want those people to know."]
[Whenever the feeling of being watched faded, little Naruto would say things like this to Shikamaru.]
[Piecing these fragments together, Shikamaru arrived at conclusions that shocked him.]
[Still, he made it clear he was powerless to help Naruto's current situation.]
[Little Naruto smiled at that.]
[He knew his identity was special and wouldn't force a newly made friend.]
[He only asked Shikamaru to go home and ask his father if books could be brought for him.]
[After seeing the three off, little Naruto returned home.]
[There, he saw Sakura standing awkwardly.]
["Your parents aren't back yet, right?" little Naruto asked first.]
["Mm~" Sakura nodded timidly.]
["Then stay for dinner. I'll walk you home afterward," little Naruto said naturally.]
[After all, the fridge packed full was thanks to this pink-haired girl.]
["Thank you~" Sakura pursed her lips and thanked him quickly.]
[Little Naruto waved his hand and went to the kitchen.]
[Sakura followed like a little tail to help.]
[With Ino and the others gone, the two were much quieter.]
[After dinner, little Naruto walked Sakura home.]
[On the road, at the instant the sense of surveillance vanished—]
[little Naruto leaned closer and whispered:]
["Sakura, tomorrow's picnic—please bring me some books. Any kind is fine, just one or two."]
["If possible, I'll trouble you in the future too."]
["I still have some savings… I can give you ten thousand ryō for now."]
[As he spoke, little Naruto slipped an envelope into Sakura's pocket.]
["Ah?"]
["O-okay…"]
[Feeling the warm breath from his whispering, the pink-haired girl blushed deeply.]
[But in the next moment, little Naruto stepped back.]
["We're here. You didn't forget your key, right?"]
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