"I'm going outside the village to make friends!"
Sasuke and Sakura exchanged glances at Naruto's enthusiasm. Both thought the same thing: People outside Konoha are in danger.
Where had Naruto learned these bizarre values? You had to beat someone up before becoming friends, or it wasn't sincere? The problem was that nobody could actually beat him. Making friends with Naruto meant accepting a guaranteed beating.
Only idiots liked getting punched in the face.
Sasuke wanted to correct Naruto's peculiar worldview, but his fists weren't big enough to win that argument. Self-preservation demanded silence.
Behind his calm dead-fish eye, Kakashi was thinking: So Naruto really does love making friends. He even mentioned it during introductions.
A new idea crystallized in his mind.
Since Naruto valued friendship so highly, maybe Kakashi could use that as a bridge between them. If he became Naruto's friend first, perhaps the revelation of their true connection would be easier to accept.
The more Kakashi considered it, the more the plan made sense.
After this mission, he'd find an opportunity to try.
The thought improved his mood considerably. He found himself looking at Naruto with growing warmth.
After his excitement settled, Naruto noticed everyone staring and scratched his head sheepishly. "Sorry, I got carried away. Please continue, sensei."
Kakashi nodded. "Our mission is to escort Master Bridge Builder Tazuna safely back to the Land of Waves. Normally, Team Seven wouldn't qualify for a C-rank mission yet. I had to negotiate extensively with the Third Hokage to secure this assignment."
He remembered the lengthy bargaining session. The old man had been stubborn about it.
"So I expect everyone to perform well. Remember this: teammates come first, mission comes second. If any teammates faces danger, you may abandon the mission objectives."
"Understood, Kakashi-sensei!" All three responded seriously.
"Good. Meet at the village gates tomorrow morning after breakfast. Now, back to training."
The afternoon passed quickly.
When dismissal time arrived, Kakashi moved to wave goodbye before remembering his immobilized arms. He simply vanished in a Body Flicker instead.
"Let's head back, Sasuke." Naruto turned to Sakura. "Be careful going home."
"See you tomorrow, Naruto. You too, Sasuke." Sakura waved, watching them walk away side by side.
Her chest tightened with longing. How wonderful it would be if Sasuke said those words to me instead.
After indulging in that fantasy for a moment, she turned toward home.
At the farm, Sasuke went directly to the kitchen to help Nine-Tails. After months of working together, the fox had stopped resisting the Uchiha's presence. Deep revolutionary friendship had formed over shared cooking duties.
Naruto settled in the yard with several banana leaves and began weaving. His fingers moved with practiced speed, like an experienced artisan. Within a minute, a lifelike cricket materialized in his palm.
He examined it with satisfaction. Perfect gift for Hanabi.
Over the next half hour, he created a menagerie: dragonflies, piglets, puppies, foxes, butterflies. Each one vivid and detailed, crafted with obvious care.
I'm basically a genius, Naruto thought, placing them in a gift box.
Then he vanished using Instantaneous Movement.
In a park near the Hyūga compound, Hanabi flew a kite with her cousin Neji. She ran backward across the grass, string clutched in her small hands, giggling at the kite dancing overhead.
Neji followed with a protective smile. He genuinely adored this cute little sister. As for the older sister, Hinata... well, after getting beaten up by her in a sparring match, Neji had concluded she wasn't cute at all.
"Naruto-niisan!"
Hanabi's delighted shriek shattered the peaceful moment. She spotted a tall figure approaching, immediately dropped the kite string, and sprinted toward him without hesitation.
"Naruto-niisan! I missed you so much! You haven't visited in forever!" She threw herself into his arms with absolute trust.
Naruto lifted her high overhead, silhouetted against the setting sun.
Behind them, Neji's smile froze. He looked down at the kite he'd spent weeks crafting, now crumpled on the ground after Hanabi abandoned it.
The silence stretched.
I worked so hard on that kite for her.
Neji felt like his heart was being carved with a knife. First Hinata fell under Naruto's spell, and now Hanabi too. Would he lose all his sisters to this guy?
Defeated, Neji collected the broken kite and left the park silently.
When he arrived at his uncle's house, Neji found his aunt Hyūga Saki playing with an infant in her arms. She glanced at the damaged kite and asked, "Oh, Neji! Did you have fun flying kites with Hanabi?"
Neji raised the crumpled remains. "It broke."
"Ah." Saki returned her attention to the baby.
For reasons Neji didn't fully understand, Uncle Hiashi had asked Saki to have another child. They'd named her Hyūga Hiyori.
Neji approached and looked down at his newest little sister, whose features were just beginning to define themselves. A fierce determination seized him. This sister—this one Uzumaki Naruto will NOT take from me.
"Let me hold Hiyori," he said suddenly.
"Of course." Saki gently transferred the infant to Neji's arms.
Holding baby Hiyori, Neji made a silent vow. I'll spend every day with you. I don't care what it takes. Uzumaki Naruto, you will NOT steal this sister away.
In the park, Naruto remained oblivious to Neji's declaration of war. He set Hanabi down and produced the gift box. "Open it and see."
Hanabi lifted the lid and gasped. "Elephants! Crickets! Dragonflies! Butterflies! So many animals!"
Her eyes shone like stars. "Are these all for me, Naruto-niisan?"
"Every one." Naruto tapped her nose gently. "I made them myself just for you. Do you like them?"
"Naruto-niisan is amazing! I love them! Thank you!" Hanabi bounced with joy.
Naruto ruffled her hair affectionately. "Hanabi, go get your sister for me. I'll wait here."
"Okay!" Thrilled with her gifts, Hanabi skipped toward the house like an excited rabbit.
When she disappeared from view, Naruto glanced around, puzzled. He'd definitely seen Neji flying the kite earlier. Where had he gone?
Too bad. I wanted to make friends with him today.
Well, I'll just have Hanabi call him out when she brings Hinata.
Naruto sat cross-legged on the grass, watching the sunset paint the sky in shades of gold and crimson.
"Naruto-kun."
He turned at the soft voice.
Hinata emerged from the compound bathed in evening light, the glow giving her an almost holy radiance. She wore a blue kimono embroidered with black birds in flight. White socks covered her feet, which were tucked into traditional wooden sandals.
"Hinata! You made it!" Naruto smiled warmly.
She settled beside him on the grass, feet tucked demurely together. Her slender neck tilted back as she gazed at the sunset.
Naruto studied her profile—the peaceful expression, the princess-cut hair framing her face, the slight flutter of her eyelashes, the natural blush coloring her cheeks.
His gaze drifted downward. Several grass clippings clung to her white socks from walking through the garden.
Without thinking, he reached out and gently brushed them away.
"Thank you, Naruto-kun." The intimate gesture made Hinata's face flush crimson, matching the burning clouds overhead.
"Tomorrow I'm leaving with Kakashi-sensei for a mission. The Land of Waves. It's my first time outside the village!" Naruto's excitement was infectious. "I'm finally going to make friends beyond Konoha. I'll make the most of this opportunity."
"I wish you a safe journey, Naruto-kun." Hinata saw nothing wrong with his friendship goals. In her mind, every single thing about Naruto was perfect.
Even his method of making friends seemed completely reasonable to her.
Before Naruto could respond, a small head popped up from his side. "Hehe, Naruto-niisan!"
Naruto looked at the mischievous Hanabi and lifted her onto his lap. She settled in contentedly while Naruto and Hinata continued their conversation, voices soft in the fading light.
When the sun finally disappeared below the horizon, Naruto stood and set Hanabi back on her feet. "It's getting late. I should head back. Goodbye, Hinata. Goodbye, Hanabi."
"Goodbye," Hinata said quietly.
"Bye, Naruto-niisan." Hanabi's voice carried a note of sadness. She'd overheard that his mission might take a long time.
Naruto walked a few steps, then stopped and turned back.
He'd almost forgotten something.
"Hanabi, could you get Neji for me? I need to ask him something."
Naruto-niisan's requests were Hanabi's commands. She immediately trotted toward the house. Finding Neji in the yard holding baby Hiyori, she announced: "Neji-nii! Naruto-niisan wants to see you!"
"Naruto wants me?" Neji looked puzzled. That guy only ever came to visit Hinata and Hanabi. When had Naruto ever actually acknowledged his existence?
"Hurry! I'll hold my sister. You go to Naruto-niisan. Don't make him wait!" Hanabi's crisp voice carried authority beyond her years.
Neji wanted to shout: I'm your brother! Naruto isn't!
But he handed baby Hiyori over and headed toward the garden, curious despite himself.
When he arrived, he found Hinata and Naruto talking. Jealousy flared in his chest.
He used to look down on his main family cousin, thinking her weak and timid. But after she'd grown stronger than him, his perspective had shifted. He no longer dismissed her.
Still, her obvious devotion to Naruto grated on him.
It was bad enough with Hinata. Now Hanabi too had fallen completely under Naruto's spell.
"Naruto, you wanted to see me?" Neji's voice came out more hostile than intended.
"Neji-nii." Hinata acknowledged him gently.
"Neji!" Naruto's face lit up. "We've known each other for so long now. I want us to be friends."
He wants to trick me! Neji knew exactly how Naruto made friends. As a branch family member, he'd heard all the stories. He refused without hesitation. "No need, Naruto."
Who wants to get beaten up?! I can't even win against him!
"But I really want to be friends with you." Naruto's eyes radiated sincere hope.
"Yes, Neji-nii. Naruto-kun is being so genuine. You should accept his request." Hinata added her support. She genuinely couldn't understand why Neji would refuse such an excellent person as Naruto.
Hearing Hinata's words, Neji felt like coughing blood.
Naruto shot Hinata an internal thumbs up. Perfect assist. This girl not only shares my huge appetite but also supports my dreams so beautifully.
"Yeah, Neji-nii!" Hanabi chimed in, still holding baby Hiyori. "Naruto-niisan wants to be your friend so badly! Please don't refuse! Just be friends with him, okay?"
"I..." Neji felt his sanity crumbling. With a defeated sigh, he surrendered. "Fine. Naruto, I accept. We can be friends."
THUD. CRACK. SMACK.
Hinata and Hanabi (still holding Hiyori) watched from a safe distance as Naruto enthusiastically helped up a bruised and swollen Neji. The "friendship process" had been completed successfully.
"Neji, from today forward, we're friends!" Naruto said happily, supporting the battered Neji with genuine warmth.
He genuinely liked Hinata and adored little Hanabi. Naturally, he wanted to befriend Neji too—extend that affection to the whole family.
Today, that wish had finally come true. Naruto couldn't be happier.
Hyūga Neji looked at the cheerful Naruto, then at the smiling Hinata and Hanabi.
Silently, he made a vow deep in his heart.
I am Hyūga Neji. Starting today, I have no sisters.
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