Meanwhile, the reactions of the Konoha 12 were different.
Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino were sitting together in a dumpling shop.
Choji stuffed food into his mouth while mumbling, "Naruto is actually the Fourth Hokage's child, no wonder he is so strong. Speaking of which, the Chunin Exams are over. Shikamaru was promoted to Chunin, and Naruto became a Jonin directly. When is he going to treat us to a meal?"
Shikamaru leaned back against the chair. "I had guessed that Naruto's identity wasn't simple, but this identity is too exaggerated. The Fourth Hokage's son... No wonder my old man never objected to me hanging out with Naruto before."
Ino said, "I never expected that Naruto was actually the Fourth Hokage's son. No wonder he changed so much after graduation. His strength increased, and he became more handsome too."
"Wait, that's not the point. The point is, what's the deal with that red-haired girl who was with him before?"
As she said this, the scene of tracking Naruto and Karin shopping that day surfaced in Ino's mind.
On the other side.
Kiba was brushing Akamaru in his courtyard. After Shino came over and told him the news, the brush in his hand dropped into the water basin. Akamaru was splashed with water all over his face and let out a wronged woof.
"What? Naruto is actually the Fourth Hokage's son? That loser who competed with me for Hokage since we were kids... this is too unbelievable." Kiba said while grabbing his messy hair.
Shino said, "Kiba, it's not unjust for you to lose to the Hokage's son. From the insects' perception, Naruto's current Chakra density is already on a different level from ours."
Kiba was choked by these words until his face flushed red, but he couldn't find any reason to refute.
...
Hinata was staring blankly in her room at the Flying Thunder God Kunai.
She had known about Naruto's parentage last night. Now that this news was officially announced, her first reaction was to be happy for Naruto. He finally wouldn't have to be called a "demon fox" by those villagers anymore.
Then, remembering the scene of Naruto picking food for her and refilling her rice bowl last night, her face flushed red. She pressed the Kunai against her chest and shrank into her quilt.
...
Tenten went to the hospital to visit Lee, who was still doing rehabilitation training on the hospital bed, and met Neji in the corridor, who had just finished delivering fruits to Lee.
The two were stunned for a moment when they learned the news.
Tenten recalled the first time Naruto came to her family's ninja tool shop to customize a special Kunai identical to the Fourth Hokage's. At that time, she thought Naruto was a bit strange, but now she finally understood.
Neji remained silent after hearing this. He leaned against the corridor wall, the words Naruto said to him during the Chunin Exams replaying in his mind.
"Once I become the Hokage, I will abolish all those unreasonable systems."
At the time, he thought it was just the condescending pity of a victor, but now he understood. This was someone who had experienced the same darkness, telling him in his own way that the bird in a cage of the Hyuga Clan was not impossible to open.
Upon learning the news from his hospital bed, Lee let tears stream down his face.
He turned his head to look at Guy, who had been guarding his bedside, and asked, "Guy-sensei, did you know about Naruto's background all along?"
Guy nodded.
Lee wiped his face, then clenched his fists and shouted, "Naruto's background is so blood-pumping! This is true youth! I must get well quickly and burn with youth alongside Naruto!"
—
Sakura stood in front of the bulletin board, being jostled by the crowd, her eyes fixed on the notice about the Fourth Hokage's son, Uzumaki Naruto.
Her mind went blank. Back in the Ninja Academy, Naruto was clearly the worst student in the class, unable to even perform a decent Transformation Technique, finishing last in every exam, and being defeated by Sasuke in one move during every taijutsu sparring session. Yet now, she was told that he was the Fourth Hokage's son.
She remembered that before the Chunin Exams, someone had said that Naruto looked very much like the Fourth Hokage. At the time, she not only denied it, but also said how could Naruto possibly have any relation to the Fourth Hokage.
Looking back now, she recalled the expression that had flashed across Naruto's face at that time. She didn't understand it then, but she understood it now.
And after the Land of Waves mission, Naruto's attitude toward her had cooled, and he didn't pester her like he used to.
She had always thought it was because she ignored Naruto, but now it seemed that Naruto simply hadn't cared for a long time.
Sakura ran to the old apartment building where Naruto used to live, panting heavily as she looked at the door she had visited many times.
The number plate on the door was still there, but the curtains were gone, and the light shining through the window was empty and hollow. Not even the shadow of a piece of furniture could be seen.
Unwilling to give up, she climbed upstairs and pushed the door open. The room was clean, as if no one had ever lived there.
Naruto had moved out, and she didn't even know when he had left.
Sasuke did not receive the announcement at the Uchiha Compound, because four people dressed in Otogakure attire had appeared before him.
—
Naruto's new home.
After an entire night, Naruto had erased all the markings on the two hundred plus Flying Thunder God Kunai in the scroll and carved his own technique formula onto them.
He stood up and stretched, then walked up from the training room. Just as he stepped out of the door, he heard a flurry of hurried footsteps outside the courtyard gate.
Karin pushed the door open and came in, recounting the notice posted in the village today.
"Naruto, did you see the announcement issued by the village today? There were so many people gathered around the bulletin board. Some people squatted on the ground and cried right after reading it, and some ran to your old apartment to find you but came up empty-handed."
Naruto didn't have much of a reaction after hearing this. He would not easily let go of any of those who had bullied him.
However, sometimes killing is the most low-level form of revenge. Letting someone live a lifetime in guilt and regret is more painful than stabbing them.
After he officially became the Hokage, he would have plenty of ways to slowly settle these old scores.
Karin said, "Tsunade-sensei asked me to report to the Hokage Office today. Perhaps the introductory training for Medical Ninjutsu is about to begin."
Naruto nodded. "You should go quickly, don't be late."
Karin waved at Naruto and then pushed open the courtyard gate and left.
After Karin left, Naruto habitually activated both Negative Emotions Sensing and Mind's Eye of the Kagura at the same time.
Then he frowned.
Chakra gathered at the soles of his feet and he leaped up from the courtyard, sprinting toward the direction of the Uchiha Compound.