After finishing the heartwarming breakfast, they went to a nearby pet shop together to carefully pick out a soft and comfortable dog bed for Dahuang.
Naruto and the others then carried the new bed and Dahuang back to Naruto's house, chatting and laughing.
After setting up the dog bed next to the sofa in the living room, Dahuang immediately pounced into it excitedly, circled around a few times, and then lay down comfortably, clearly very satisfied with this new bed.
Seeing the little guy settle down, Naruto, Ino, Hinata, and Hanabi prepared to head to the training ground.
However, just a few steps after they walked out of the gate of Naruto's house, a crisp and slightly hurried female voice came from behind them to the side:
"Please wait, Young Miss Hanabi, and Young Miss Hinata!"
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young woman walking over quickly.
She had delicate features and was wearing the traditional, simple attire of the Hyuga Clan, but over it, she wore an apron with exquisite white lace trim that did not quite match the style of the clan clothing. She wore a Konoha forehead protector on her forehead, and there was a hint of imperceptible nervousness in her expression.
"Sister Natsu?"
Hanabi recognized the person immediately; it was Natsu Hyuga, the maid from the Hyuga branch family who used to be responsible for taking care of her daily life.
Hinata also greeted her softly: "Sister Natsu."
Natsu Hyuga walked up to them and first bowed respectfully to the two Young Misses of the main family.
Then, her gaze quickly swept over Naruto and Ino beside them, a flash of complex hesitation in her eyes, but in the end, she lowered her voice and said to Hinata and Hanabi: "Two Young Misses, the Elders... want to see you immediately."
"Elders?"
Ino frowned, keenly sensing that the atmosphere was wrong.
Naruto's reaction was more direct and swift.
The moment he heard the word "Elders," he stepped forward almost reflexively, shielding the Hinata sisters behind him.
His brows were tightly locked, and a sharp light shone in his deep blue eyes as he stared straight at Natsu Hyuga: "Elders? Which Elders?"
His voice carried a rare coldness and vigilance.
Not long ago, Hiashi had clearly stated that his departure from the village this time, in addition to the mission, was also to take the opportunity to draw the snakes out of their holes. He had asked Naruto to help look after Hinata and Hanabi while he was away, especially to guard against the ulterior motives of certain "old things" within the clan.
Now, not long after Hiashi had left, these Elders wanted to summon Hinata and Hanabi in private?
Anyone who had taken history classes on Blue Star could guess that this group of guys was planning something big.
They must be planning to control Hinata and Hanabi, using them as bargaining chips to threaten Hiashi Hyuga, who was about to return from his mission, forcing him to make concessions, or even to seize more power from the main family!
Thinking of this possibility, Naruto's heart tightened, and his stance shielding Hinata and Hanabi became even firmer.
Dahuang, on his shoulder, also seemed to sense its master's suddenly tense emotions; it raised its head, emitted a low whimper from its throat, and watched Natsu Hyuga vigilantly.
Ino also immediately stood by Naruto's side, her hand moving discreetly toward her ninja tool pouch.
Although she did not fully understand the internal affairs of the Hyuga Clan, Naruto's reaction, combined with Natsu Hyuga's nervous and uneasy expression, was enough for her to understand that things were definitely not simple.
Natsu Hyuga, intimidated by Naruto's sharp gaze and the suddenly tense atmosphere, subconsciously took half a step back, a flash of panic crossing her face.
She bit her lip, her voice even lower, almost inaudible: "It is... it is several Elders of the main family led by the Grand Elder... they are all waiting in the clan now."
"If they like to wait, then let them wait slowly. Uncle Hiashi will be back in two or three days. If they have anything to say, let them go tell Uncle Hiashi."
Naruto refused to budge an inch.
"But..."
Natsu Hyuga had no choice; she was controlled by the Caged Bird Seal and could not refuse the orders of the Elders at all.
Seeing Natsu Hyuga's dilemma, Naruto also guessed that she was helpless in this situation.
Naruto had seen her many times before. After Hanabi was born, her mother had passed away, and she was the person Hiashi had hired to take care of Hanabi.
Those Elders were probably taking advantage of Hiashi's absence to use the Caged Bird Seal to threaten her, forcing her to come.
"How about this, just say that I am the one who won't let them go back. If they have the ability, let them go complain to Lord Third."
Hearing this, Natsu Hyuga breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as there was an explanation, it was fine.
"Yes, I will go back and report to the Elders now."
Watching Natsu Hyuga's figure disappear at the end of the street, a sharp look flashed across Naruto's eyes.
That phrase appeared in his mind with unusual clarity at this moment: "I am not yet strong, but when strong, there will be changes."
Was he not yet "strong" enough? In the eyes of those decrepit, conservative guys, perhaps he was still just a Genin with some potential, a Jinchuriki that needed to be controlled, a pawn that could be manipulated at will on the chessboard.
But they seemed to have forgotten that chess players are never ranked by seniority.
As the saying goes, how is getting into Chang'an by exam as easy as fighting your way in?
A flame, long dormant but never extinguished, quietly ignited deep within his deep blue eyes.
The low profile he had maintained, hiding part of his strength, and following a conventional growth path, might be seen by some as a sign of being "not yet strong."
But now, someone was trying to reach out to the people he had promised to protect, trying to oppress the people he cared about with rotten rules.
It seemed it was time.
It was time to give this seemingly calm, but actually turbulent Konoha, a little "shock" that belonged to Uzumaki Naruto.
Just consider it a 'pop quiz' before the Chunin Exams.
Those old things from the Hyuga Clan do not even count as 'Five-Three'.
It would also be a good opportunity to test his Ice Release level.
He withdrew his outward sharpness, turned around, and looked at the worried Hinata, the indignant Ino, and Hanabi, who, despite her young age, also had her little face tensed.
Naruto reached out, his warm and broad palm gently landing on Hanabi's soft hair, rubbing it.
His voice was not loud, but it carried a strange power, as firm and reliable as a rock: "Don't be afraid, I am here."
He looked at Hanabi, and also at Hinata and Ino. "Their hands cannot reach here yet."
This sentence was unremarkable, even a bit "arrogant."
The current Naruto, on the public level of Konoha, indeed did not have illustrious renown, and most of his true strength was also intentionally hidden.
In the eyes of those high-and-mighty big shots, he might still be an uncut jade that needed polishing.
But, when he said the words "I am here," a light of trust immediately ignited in Hanabi's eyes, and she nodded vigorously; Hinata's pale cheeks regained a bit of color, as if she had found her backbone; even the always independent Ino felt her tensed shoulders unconsciously relax, and the corners of her mouth even curled into a smile that said "this is how it should be."
They believed in Naruto.
Without reason, yet with unwavering firmness, they believed.