If the Seventh Hokage knew what had transpired that day, he probably wouldn't have felt grateful at all.
Naruto, with his army of tens of thousands of shadow clones, finally completed his mission by the time the ninja Academy's classes ended that afternoon. He'd made friends with every ninja in Konoha across three entire generations.
The previous generation: Kakashi and Guy's cohort, the veterans who'd fought in multiple wars.
The current generation: Shikamaru, Ino, and Shino's age group, the backbone of Konoha's active forces.
The next generation: Konohamaru's group. Worth noting, in this world Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't died at Naruto's hands, so Konohamaru didn't harbor any resentment. Quite the opposite. He was still the Seventh Hokage's biggest fan.
As for the youngest generation, Boruto's classmates and peers, Naruto had left them alone. They were currently in class, and interrupting their education seemed inappropriate. If he had time during their next holiday, he'd address that gap.
Throughout the friendship-making process, Naruto had gathered extensive intelligence about this world's history. Among the information collected, one fact surprised him: the Uzumaki clan wasn't limited to just himself. Other members existed scattered across the world.
Karin, for instance.
Naruto had made friends with her in Konoha's research laboratory, along with everyone else he'd encountered there. From Karin, he'd learned she was also an Uzumaki clan member.
The revelation was startling. In his own world, he knew of two surviving Uzumaki: Nagato and now, apparently, Karin. Based on the timeline, Karin in his world should still be under Orochimaru's control.
When I get back, I'll bring Karin to live with us, Naruto decided. Uzumaki clan members should take care of each other.
Now he stood at the Academy's front gate, his face split by a satisfied smile. He'd harvested quite a lot today. Almost every ninja in Konoha had become his friend.
The school bell rang, its cheerful chime signaling the end of classes.
Teachers and students began trickling out through the gates.
Mitarai Anko, Shino, Konohamaru, and the other Academy instructors spotted Naruto standing there with that bright smile. Terror flashed across their bruised faces. They fled trembling in the opposite direction, putting as much distance between themselves and the Hokage as physically possible.
A few moments later, Boruto emerged with his friends Inojin and Mitsuki. When Mitsuki noticed Naruto, he said, "Boruto, your father's here to pick you up again."
His gaze lingered on a nearby teacher's swollen face with obvious confusion. Why did all the instructors have bruised, puffy features today? Was it some kind of festival? The same question occupied Boruto and Inojin's minds, along with most of the other students.
But the teachers' affairs weren't really their business.
Boruto's eyes fixed on Naruto, his expression freezing with suspicion. Why is my dad picking me up today instead of young dad?
But then he noticed that smile, the characteristic brightness that belonged to the younger version.
"Dad, why are you disguised?" Boruto said goodbye to his friends and approached Naruto cautiously, genuinely puzzled about why the kid was impersonating this world's Hokage.
As the question formed, images of the teachers' bruised faces flashed through his mind...
"Haha, it's practical," Naruto explained cheerfully. "This way people won't think I'm some foreign ninja sneaking into Konoha to cause trouble. Saves everyone complications."
Saves complications? Or creates them? Boruto eyed the passing pedestrians with swollen faces who kept glancing in their direction with obvious anger. "Are you sure it's about solving problems and not creating them?"
"Why? Boruto, do you have some kind of misunderstanding about your father?" Naruto's smile remained perfectly pleasant. "If you have concerns, feel free to voice them. I won't take it personally."
Misunderstanding? How could I dare misunderstand you? Boruto's internal panic intensified. If I say the wrong thing, you'll beat me up again. Looking at all these pedestrian ninjas with faces as swollen as mine, it's obvious Dad beat them all up too.
He thought it but absolutely didn't dare say it aloud. "No! I don't have any misunderstandings with Dad at all. Let's go home quickly!"
Boruto really couldn't stand the resentful stares from passing ninjas. Even though the anger wasn't directed at him specifically but at his "father," he still felt uncomfortable under that collective glare.
He didn't have Naruto's thick skin and calm expression.
"Let's go." Naruto naturally felt his friends' heated gazes along the street. He smiled and said to Boruto, "By the way, I'm your father's clone. The real me is still working at the Hokage Building."
Boruto's face showed pure confusion. Why would Dad say that?
Seeing his puzzlement, Naruto's eyes gleamed as he asked quietly, "Boruto, do you want to know why everyone around us has swollen faces?"
"No, Dad, I absolutely do not want to know." The answer came instantly, without hesitation.
"Good. Did you skip class today?"
Boruto flinched. "No."
He wouldn't dare skip class now. Yesterday's beating was still fresh in his memory. Young dad had claimed it was for Boruto's own good, but after thinking about it all day, Boruto had concluded the truth: this version of his father simply enjoyed hitting him.
"Boruto's grown up and become obedient..."
Hearing praise, Boruto released a breath of relief. Maybe young dad wouldn't find an excuse to beat him up today.
Then Naruto's next words made him tremble.
"Very good. Now come here and let Dad check your progress from today's classes. Have you improved compared to yesterday?"
"...Father?" Boruto's expression filled with betrayal.
The beating commenced.
Afterward, Naruto did encourage Boruto, acknowledging that his strength had indeed improved since yesterday. The progress was small, barely noticeable, but it existed. He urged Boruto to maintain this growth.
But despite such encouragement, Boruto felt no happiness whatsoever.
Is this paternal love? For the first time, the boy found himself questioning the concept.
Back home, Hinata had prepared dinner. The family gathered around the table, waiting for the Seventh Hokage to return from work.
They had no idea that at that very moment, Hokage Building's main plaza had filled with ninjas. Every single one of them sported a bruised, swollen face.
"When Hokage-sama comes out," someone in the crowd muttered, "let's be friends with him..."
Near the front, Kakashi stood beside Guy. He'd come to be friends with Naruto, burning with the desire to beat the Hokage with overwhelming force after that humiliating defeat.
Guy had come seeking youth.
Every ninja who'd been "befriended" by Naruto was holding back rage. Today, Hokage-sama had gone too crazy. They needed to return the favor.
They would collectively "be friends" with the Seventh Hokage!
After the Fourth Shinobi World War, this moment might become Konoha's most magnificent and prosperous event. Almost every ninja in the village had gathered for a single purpose: being friends with their leader.
The event would be recorded in shinobi history.
Realizing this, excitement rippled through the crowd.
In the Hokage's office, the Seventh Hokage finally finished his day's work. He stretched with satisfaction. "Time to go home."
After packing his things, he walked briskly out of the building.
The moment he descended the stairs, he encountered the crowd filling the plaza.
A Seventh Hokage with a perfectly normal face stared at hundreds of bruised and swollen Konoha ninja.
"???" The Seventh Hokage's mind went blank.
"???" The ninja group's collective confusion matched his own.
And then understanding began to dawn.
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