Chapter 438 - The Adventures of Naruto Uzumaki 04.

[Chapter Size: 2800 Words.]

Canon World, Konoha, 63.

...

...

On the scroll, Minato had basically left behind information that could be the key to defeating the enemies of the future. There were details about powerful opponents, training tips to increase one's own strength, and even instructions on how to free the souls trapped by the Edo Tensei, since bringing back the Hokage was extremely important, even through a jutsu that tampered with the natural laws of the world by bringing back the dead.

It also explained how to save Nagato, revealed the entire truth about Itachi, and even described ways to bring them over to Konoha's side, although it made it clear that both Nagato and Itachi were men condemned by the circumstances they were currently living in.

Naruto had no idea about the conversation taking place in the Hokage's office after he left, but he ended up dozing off as soon as he got home and was very satisfied with that.

Completely unaware of all this, Naruto got out of bed and opened his wardrobe. His gaze swept over the countless orange clothes hanging inside.

He grimaced. "Damn... I guess my taste has changed quite a bit. I don't feel that excited about this color anymore."

Kurama snorted inside his mind, clearly disapproving of the comment. Orange was her favorite color, and she certainly didn't like people who failed to appreciate it.

"Sorry. I think I like black better... or more neutral colors." Naruto smiled to himself, fully aware of what was going on inside him.

Maybe spending so much time calling Minato his father had made him inherit some of his tastes. After all, Minato usually wore clothes in neutral tones and, in Naruto's opinion, always looked incredibly elegant.

"Maybe that's why he can keep four wives..." he muttered to himself.

He then pulled a small scroll from his pocket, one he had brought from the other world. With a light touch of his hand, the seal was pressed, and a huge pile of clothes appeared before him.

They were all outfits he had bought during his stay in the other world. Most of them were black, white, or in understated shades.

Naruto quickly changed clothes while watching, through the window, the lights of Konoha gradually come to life, announcing the beginning of the Village's nightlife.

He put on a pair of dark pants, shinobi sandals, and a loose long-sleeved black shirt, roomy enough to give him complete freedom of movement. The outfit resembled that of a taijutsu master living in seclusion in the mountains far more than that of an ordinary ninja.

Even so... He liked that style.

After adjusting a few buttons on the collar, he removed his forehead protector, shook his hair until it became spiky again, and decided to take a walk around the Village.

Completely ignoring the ANBU watching him from a distance, he slipped his hands into his pockets, began whistling carefreely, and walked through the streets.

Some people cast curious glances in his direction. No one seemed to recognize him.

Naruto merely showed a faint smile before continuing on his way. Deep down, he had already expected to once again encounter the looks filled with resentment, caution, and fear that the village had always directed at him. Even though he had returned three years ago, that distrust had never completely disappeared.

But now it was different. With his red hair and without the distinctive marks on his face, no one seemed to immediately associate him with the old Naruto Uzumaki.

And that was... good for now.

As he walked through the central area of the Village, he closed his eyes to concentrate, allowing himself to see the chakra signatures across a large part of Konoha. He ended up noticing something interesting inside a very busy yakiniku restaurant.

All of his friends were gathered there.

"Ah... So everyone's gathered there, and nobody invited me?" he commented with a faint smile as he headed over.

Meanwhile, inside the restaurant, the atmosphere among those present was completely different.

Sakura had just finished telling everyone everything that had happened that day and had gathered them all there that very night, saying she needed to discuss something extremely serious.

"Wait... Are you saying Naruto is a redhead now?" Kiba asked, sitting beside Akamaru, unable to hide his expression of absolute shock.

"I think the fact that he's a redhead is the last thing we should be paying attention to after hearing all of this," Shikamaru commented, making most of the group immediately agree.

"I'm telling you! He's completely different. It's actually unsettling," Sakura continued. She had already explained that Naruto had gone to another world, trained for six months, and returned completely changed, naturally including the fact that his hair had turned red.

"But he trained with the Fourth Hokage? You said that? That sounds awesome!" Chōji exclaimed as he continued eating the barbecue.

All eleven of them were gathered in one of the restaurant's private rooms.

"You didn't hear everything. The Fourth Hokage is also Naruto's father in that world. And his mother is someone named Kushina Uzumaki," Sakura explained.

"Naruto really is on another level..." Shino commented, genuinely impressed, while some of the others grimaced at his remark.

"And to think Naruto is the Hokage's son..." Kiba grumbled in a foul mood. "Damn... At this rate everyone will think he could become Hokage someday too."

"Well, regardless, that's still Naruto. I don't think he's changed that much," Sai said.

"I know, Sai... But it's still strange. Naruto is just... so strange now..." Sakura murmured, crossing her arms.

"You're only acting like this because he doesn't pay any attention to you anymore, aren't you, Sakura?" Ino teased. Sakura immediately shot the blonde a murderous glare.

"But did he get stronger? I want to fight him!" Lee said enthusiastically.

"He definitely did, I think?" Tenten said while eating.

Neji remained silent, simply reflecting on everything he had heard.

The one who seemed the most shaken, however, was Hinata. Sitting quietly in a corner of the room, she kept her gaze fixed on her own legs.

"Has Naruto-kun... really changed that much?" she murmured anxiously.

Deep down, she was afraid Naruto was no longer the same person. It was precisely because everyone was so absorbed in that conversation that no one noticed when the curtain was pulled aside and a new young man stepped into the private room they had rented.

A familiar voice echoed through the room. "Hey... Hey... What are you all doing here?"

Everyone turned at the same time, their eyes widening. Some couldn't even believe what they were seeing.

Every single change Sakura and Sai had described was real.

Naruto stood before them. Red hair, a different face, and a much calmer demeanor than they were used to, wearing an easy smile, though it wasn't as wide and goofy as before.

While everyone remained completely stunned, Naruto simply kept that relaxed smile.

"Hey... What's with those faces? Mind if I join you?" Without waiting for an answer, he walked over to the table and sat down beside Hinata.

Deep down, he was happy to see all of them again after so many months. In that other world, none of those friends existed, since it was almost twenty years in the past.

"Naruto... So Sakura told us a pretty bizarre story about you going to another world... But seeing your hair color, I guess she was telling the truth," Shikamaru commented as everyone continued examining every detail of his appearance.

Naruto didn't mind. He picked up a piece of meat, put it in his mouth, and chewed calmly before answering.

"It's true. Well... it's a long story, but since we're all here, I can tell you a little about my adventure in that other world." His smile was genuine.

He was happy to be surrounded by those people once again.

"Naruto-kun..." Hinata called softly.

Naruto turned toward her after hearing his name. "Hinata... It's still just me."

Hearing those words, Hinata immediately blushed, not knowing what to do with him sitting so close again. But her eyes soon drifted back to him discreetly.

"Hey, he really is more handsome..." Ino commented, unable to hide her surprise. "Seriously, Naruto... Red hair suits you really well."

She then shot Sakura a teasing smile. "I can see why Sakura got so upset about being ignored."

The pink-haired girl immediately shot Ino a deadly glare.

"So, Naruto, is it true that you've gotten stronger?" Lee asked, already getting to his feet, clearly ready to challenge him right then and there.

Akamaru barked excitedly between Lee and Kiba.

Naruto simply scratched the back of his head. "Of course I got stronger. I learned ninjutsu, taijutsu, and senjutsu from my parents in that other world. They were incredibly powerful, you know?" He paused briefly before continuing.

"I can honestly say I improved far more in just six months than I did during the three years I trained with Jiraiya-sensei."

"Oh!" Chōji clapped enthusiastically, completely impressed. Sai, Shino, Lee, and Sai also began applauding, while some of the others simply stared at Naruto, ignoring the excitement of the more enthusiastic ones.

Naruto then began telling them a little about that other world. Since there wasn't really any secret to most of the story, he talked about the Fourth Hokage's four wives, about how amazing it was to have Minato and Kushina as his parents, about meeting Team Kakashi when they were still children, and about how different that Konoha was from their own.

He avoided getting into political matters or revealing important secrets about the Village. Instead, he limited himself to telling lighter stories.

He also mentioned that Sakumo Hatake was still alive and was one of the greatest shinobi in that reality, in addition to talking about meeting the Ino-Shika-Chō trio, the parents of Team Ten.

While everyone listened attentively, Neji discreetly activated his Byakugan. The very next moment, his eyes widened.

"How...?" Everyone turned their attention to him. "His chakra... How can it be this dense?" Neji asked aloud.

Through the Byakugan, he could see an enormous flow of chakra coursing throughout Naruto's entire body. And right in the center of his abdomen... There was an intense golden light.

Naruto didn't seem surprised by the reaction. "Like I said, I was trained by the Fourth Hokage. I can honestly say there isn't a better teacher than him."

The others simply nodded, still impressed. Even after hearing Neji's words, they remained silent about it. At that moment, Naruto possessed more chakra than anyone else in the village, even without using Kurama's chakra...

As the conversation continued, everyone noticed something else had changed. Naruto was no longer the loud, hyperactive boy he used to be.

Now he was calm. He knew how to hold a conversation, knew how to listen, and laughed only at the right moments.

The girls were the first to notice.

"Hey... Is it just me, or has Naruto become more charming?" Ino murmured. She crossed her arms and sighed. "Damn... I never thought I'd say that about that blond."

"He's more mature..." Tenten agreed.

A moment later, Ino looked back at Naruto with a mischievous smile. "Hey, Naruto..."

"Hm?"

"Did you happen to get a girlfriend in that other world?"

Naruto didn't panic. Instead, he thought for a few seconds. "No... Not a girlfriend." He scratched his cheek, looking a little embarrassed this time. "But there was a kunoichi who kissed me during the farewell party..."

Silence filled the room. The girls were completely stunned.

"Naruto... got kissed by a girl?" Lee asked, giving him a thumbs-up.

Naruto merely smiled awkwardly as the atmosphere around the table suddenly became strangely tense.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed some movement while most of the group laughed and started asking who the girl was. Naruto immediately noticed Hinata's reaction. He hadn't expected that. She looked genuinely bothered.

"Well... She was a girl from the Uzumaki Clan, like me... Anyway, it was just a farewell kiss. It's not like I'll ever see her again. I know I'll never meet those people again, but I'll always remember everything I experienced in that other world." His voice carried a melancholic tone.

For a few moments, everyone remained silent. Then Naruto smiled.

"Come on, come on! That's enough of the gloomy mood. It was a wonderful experience for me. Now let's get back to eating and talking."

Without realizing it, he naturally guided the group forward. Everyone nodded, and the atmosphere became lighthearted once again.

The conversation continued for hours. Only when the moon had climbed high into the sky did they finally decide to leave the yakiniku restaurant.

Naruto said goodbye to everyone.

Hinata also started walking toward the Hyūga Clan compound. She was surprised when she realized Naruto was walking beside her.

"N-Naruto-kun!" she exclaimed in surprise.

Naruto simply smiled. "Hey, Hinata. I figured you were heading this way. I thought I'd walk with you, if that's okay."

Hinata merely nodded, despite her nervousness. The two walked in silence for several minutes.

"Naruto-kun..." She tried to say something, but the words simply wouldn't come out.

Naruto began noticing the little details. He had never realized it before. It was obvious, and the fool had never seen it... Whenever Hinata was near him, her behavior changed completely.

'When a girl likes you, she always acts differently when she's around you.' His mother's words came back to his mind from when they had talked about girls a few times.

Naruto had already given up chasing after Sakura. He now understood that insisting on it would get him nowhere.

But... what about Hinata?

As he walked, countless memories came to mind. Back in their Academy days... During the Chūnin Exams... Even after the three years he had spent away from the Village... 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Hinata had always behaved the same way. She would become nervous, anxious, always seemed to want to talk to him, always looked for an opportunity to see him. Her eyes were always drawn toward him...

'Could it be that someone has loved me all this time?' he wondered, surprised that this girl's eyes had been on him all along without him ever noticing.

"Tell me something, Hinata..." Naruto broke the silence, determined to test his suspicions.

"I've changed a lot with this new appearance, haven't I? I mean... I'm not blond anymore. Everyone says I've changed a lot. Some think it was for the better... others, maybe not so much." He wanted to know what she thought.

Hinata was completely caught off guard by the question. She slowly raised her eyes. Her cheeks turned red almost instantly.

"Y-you... became... more handsome." She managed to answer despite her nervousness.

Naruto gave her a genuine smile. "I'm glad. I'm happy you like it."

Hearing that, Hinata blushed even more. Unable to look at him, she began walking faster.

Naruto blinked a few times in confusion. 'Damn... Has she always been like this?' he murmured to himself.

He quickly picked up his pace to catch up with her. "Wait, Hinata." When he reached her side, he noticed she still kept her head lowered.

She simply couldn't bring herself to look him in the eyes. So Naruto tried changing the subject.

"Did you hear when I said that in that other world, my father wasn't married only to my mother?" he asked, while she nodded without looking at him.

"I didn't mention that one of them was a Hyūga... Hanabi Hyūga. I heard you have a sister with that name, right? What a coincidence, huh?"

This time, Hinata had to look at him, completely dumbfounded. Naruto immediately noticed her expression and let out an awkward laugh.

"Of course it's not your sister. After all, the Hanabi over there was an adult woman twenty years in the past, while your little sister is still younger than you, I imagine..."

Hinata nodded slowly, understanding what he meant. Even so... It was still a little unsettling to imagine that the Fourth Hokage had a wife with the same name as her little sister.

Meanwhile, Naruto couldn't help but think of something. The adult Hanabi from that other world was truly very beautiful.

And, glancing discreetly at Hinata walking beside him, he found himself imagining that if she matured in the same way, she would certainly become a breathtakingly beautiful woman.

In fact... Even after the three years he had spent away from the Village, Hinata had already become much prettier than she had been before Naruto left with Jiraiya.

In any case, the two continued talking in a lighthearted and relaxed manner for the rest of the walk. When they reached the gates of the Hyūga Clan compound, Naruto stopped. "I guess this is where we say goodbye."

Hinata nodded with a small smile. "Good night, Naruto-kun."

"Good night, Hinata."

After watching her hurry into the clan compound under the watchful eyes of the Hyūga guards observing their interaction, Naruto turned back toward the road home, still wearing a faint smile.

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