The next day,
Naruto had breakfast with Karin in Konoha for the last time before getting ready to head to the Land of Snow.
But when the two of them got to the village gate, they found a crowd waiting there.
Kakashi, Hinata, Kiba, Shino, Shikamaru, Ino, Chouji…
Seeing so many people gathered, Naruto couldn't help but feel confused.
Don't tell me they all came to see me off?
But are we even that close?
Just as he thought that, Ino suddenly ran up to him and handed him a package.
"I heard Sasuke's going to stay in the Land of Snow for two years. Please give him this package for me! And also… tell Sasuke I'll miss him! Waaaah~"
"..."
Alright, guess I was overthinking things.
Naruto tossed Ino's package to Karin, then looked at the others. "What about you guys? Anyone else want me to deliver something?"
They looked at each other, and finally Shikamaru scratched his head and stepped forward.
"What a drag…"
"We don't have anything to give you. We just came to see you off. After all, not seeing you for two years… we'd probably miss you a little."
The way Shikamaru said it sounded so half-hearted that Naruto rolled his eyes. He couldn't help but ask Kakashi, "You set this up, didn't you?"
Kakashi scratched his cheek, looked up at the sky at a forty-five degree angle, and awkwardly muttered, "Uh… no."
"..."
"Alright, enough. If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."
Kakashi's little schemes were never hard to see through.
Trying to stir up some "bond evolution" before I leave Konoha?
What do you take me for, a Pokémon? Or a Digimon?
"W-wait, Naruto-kun!"
Just as Naruto was about to leave with Karin, Hinata, after hesitating for a long time, finally spoke up.
She handed him a carefully wrapped box, blushing as she said softly, "I… I made rice balls for you. For the trip…"
Looking at Hinata, who hadn't really changed much, Naruto smiled a little and accepted her gift.
"Thanks!"
"N-no problem." (Sounds like she's writing a job application…)
Neither of them said more. Naruto passed the box to Karin and was about to set out again.
But right then, a green blur rushed toward them.
"Wait!!!"
It was Rock Lee's voice!
He was moving so fast he kicked up clouds of dust, choking the people along the roadside with his "exhaust"!
"Cough, cough!"
"Why are you running so fast? Trying to reincarnate or something?!"
"Sorry! I'm in a hurry!"
After quickly apologizing to the bystanders, Rock Lee sped up, leaped high, and landed right in front of Naruto with a backflip.
"Made it in time!"
Rock Lee let out a sigh of relief, then looked at Naruto, one hand on his hip, the other giving a big thumbs up, flashing his shiny white teeth.
"Konoha's strongest hardworking genius, Rock Lee, is here to see off his greatest rival!"
"..."
"And then?"
Naruto looked helplessly at Rock Lee, not sure why he was here too.
Did he really think of Naruto as a rival?
As crazy as it sounded… knowing Rock Lee, it might actually be true.
"Please help me give this to Sakura!"
"..."
Naruto stared at the lunchbox in Rock Lee's hands and was completely speechless.
He really overestimated Rock Lee!
"What's inside?"
"It's a lunchbox filled with my youth and love!"
"Speak normally."
"Fried eggs, rice, grilled sausages, and two leaves of vegetables that I washed with my youthful passion and stir-fried wildly with ketchup!!"
"..."
"Rock Lee, it's not that I don't want to take it for you, but our trip to the Land of Snow will take half a month. By the time we get there, the food inside will have gone bad."
"No problem, I already expected that!"
Rock Lee proudly pulled out a small packet from his bag. "This is a preservative I bought from a shop owner! He told me as long as I put this in, no matter what food it is, it won't go bad for at least a month!"
Preservative?
Naruto stared at the small packet in Rock Lee's hand, his mouth twitching.
Isn't that a chemical preservative?
And can that even work on rice and vegetables?
He wanted to explain, but after seeing the "wise" look in Rock Lee's eyes, he gave up.
Why bother arguing with him?
He would just carry it along. Whether Sakura eats it or not later is up to her.
Thinking this, he picked up the lunchbox again and tossed it to Karin.
At this point, Karin was already carrying a pile of bags. If someone from the Konoha labor department saw this, they would definitely accuse Naruto of child labor and fine him a million!
If a capitalist saw it, they would give Naruto a thumbs-up and call him a genius in evil!
"Let's go… huh? Did you open that preservative packet?"
Naruto was about to leave when he noticed the small packet in Rock Lee's hand was empty. The so-called "preservative" inside was gone.
"Was I not supposed to?" Rock Lee scratched his head in confusion. "I mixed all the preservatives into the food. When I fried the eggs, when I cooked the vegetables, and when I grilled the sausages—I added them all. Is that wrong?"
As soon as he said that, everyone's mouth twitched.
When it comes to cooking, Rock Lee is a true prodigy!!
"Lee, listen, never cook for anyone again, or you'll end up in jail!" Kakashi couldn't help warning him.
"Why?" Rock Lee looked at Kakashi in confusion.
"Just listen." Kakashi patted his shoulder, showing a serious and sincere look with his one visible eye.
"Fine… from now on, I'll only cook for Sakura!" Rock Lee muttered.
"..."
"She should feel touched."
Naruto gave him a thumbs-up, then finally set off again.
"We're really leaving now, don't follow!"
Under the morning sky of Konoha,
Naruto and Karin walked toward the village gate, leaving behind some people who were both familiar and distant.
"Naruto! When you come back, I'll challenge you again! Next time, I will defeat you!"
"I'll prove again that hard work can beat talent!!"
Naruto just waved his hand without turning back.
Hard work can make you a hardworking genius!
Talent can make you a natural genius!
But cheating beats them all!
A hardworking genius can beat an ordinary genius!
A genius can also crush a hardworking genius!
But none of them can beat someone with cheats!
That… is fate!
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