Naruto took the forehead protector, kissed it hard like it was a treasure, and hurriedly took off the "temporary model" he'd been wearing on his forehead.
Temporary forehead protectors don't have numbers, don't have codes, and the material is just the most ordinary iron. They're mainly for when a ninja loses their forehead protector, so they can temporarily wear one to show their identity. It's basically like a temporary ID card.
But compared to the defensive function, what Naruto cared about more was its meaning.
After all, this was the first forehead protector of his life.
After putting on the forehead protector properly, Naruto looked again at the Flying Thunder God kunai, scratched his head, and asked, "What's this? Such a weird-looking kunai."
"A late graduation gift from your father."
Ryosuke didn't hide anything.
During the days training with Kakashi, Naruto had long known that the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, was his father, and Kushina was his mother.
His background, the reason he became an orphan, Kakashi had told Naruto everything exactly as it was.
Back then, the Third Hokage chose to hide it, for protection.
But Kakashi felt that you can't chill the heart of a hero's child just for the sake of protection. Naruto had the right to know, "At least his father, compared to my old man, sacrificed his life for a reason far more worthy of respect."
Those were Kakashi's exact words.
Hearing that it was a gift from Minato, Naruto froze for a full three seconds.
Ryosuke didn't rush him, just waited quietly.
Naruto came back to his senses, carefully took the Flying Thunder God kunai from Ryosuke's hands, examined it for a long while, then suddenly turned his head toward the distant Hokage Rock. His eyes landed on Namikaze Minato's face carved there. He sniffed hard and asked,
"Brother Ryosuke, my father…"
Ryosuke said, "He was a very cool person. Reliable, strong, handsome, and..."
He reached out his hand and gently placed it on Naruto's head. "Your father loved you more than anyone."
Minato clearly knew he would die in the future, but in order to protect the established history, he didn't want to break that ending. And in the history he protected, what he cared about most was his own child.
Just like how Uchiha Itachi didn't dare make a move in Konoha before Sasuke was born.
Minato also didn't want to change the history of "Uzumaki Naruto" being born.
Naruto took a deep breath, showed a bright smile, spun the Flying Thunder God kunai in his hand, struck a battle-ready pose, and asked, "Brother Ryosuke, between me and my dad, who's more handsome?"
Ryosuke laughed. "You're still far off."
As soon as he finished speaking, a timid voice came from the corner, "I... I think Naruto-kun is more handsome."
Ryosuke had already noticed the little girl hiding in the corner.
With the same white eyes as Neji, she should be a child of the Hyuga clan.
"Eh… Hinata, I told you before, if you're looking for me in the future, you don't need to hide."
Naruto walked over, pulled Hinata's small hand, and brought her over. He openly introduced her to Ryosuke, "Her name is Hyuga Hinata. She's my best friend. Don't be fooled by her being a bit silly, she's actually really nice."
Hinata looked at Naruto holding her hand, and after hearing "best friend," her little face turned bright red. She didn't hear the second half about "being a bit silly" at all.
In the original story, at this stage, Naruto still loved pulling pranks, comparing himself to others, competing, loudly declaring he would become Hokage, all just to gain attention and recognition.
It was the behavior of someone who lacked a sense of security inside, trying to gain energy from the outside world, from the gazes of others.
But the Naruto now wouldn't do that anymore.
Becoming Hokage was still his dream, but it wasn't just a thoughtless slogan or something he said just to gain recognition.
Because Naruto was no longer someone with no one to rely on.
He had Jiraiya, Kakashi, Iruka. He also had heroic parents. He had a grandfather, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who died protecting him.
All these people and experiences settled inside Naruto's heart, becoming his strongest support.
Naruto no longer needed pranks to get attention, nor did he need to fake an overly sunny personality to hide his inner fragility. He could sincerely be himself.
And once a person sets down unnecessary disguises, they have more energy to notice the details of life, such as…
The little Hinata who hid in the corner quietly watching him.
"Hello, Brother Ryosuke…"
Hinata quietly greeted Ryosuke.
In her eyes, Ryosuke was an extraordinary figure. In family meetings, she often heard the elders of the Hyuga clan talk about Ryosuke's achievements in extremely respectful tones.
"Hello."
Ryosuke smiled in response.
'Brother Ryosuke's smile looks so nice…' Hinata thought, then shyly hid behind Naruto.
Watching the backs of the two children as they left, Tsunade's voice suddenly sounded behind Ryosuke,
"A few days ago, I abolished the Hyuga clan's branch–main family system. I imagine… that child named Hinata must be living a bit easier now."
"Branch and main family?"
Seeing Ryosuke didn't understand, Tsunade briefly explained, basically, in order to protect the Byakugan and maintain internal stability, they branded their own siblings and treated them like servants.
Ryosuke frowned after hearing just a few sentences. When he heard Tsunade forcibly ordered the Hyuga clan to end the branch–main family system, he nodded, approving her judgment.
"But… the Hyuga clan agreed?" Ryosuke asked.
Tsunade chuckled.
Of course the Hyuga clan didn't agree.
But Tsunade bluntly told Hyuga Hiashi that anyone who disagreed could leave the village. Konoha would not allow any behavior that enslaved others.
If it were in the past, the Hyuga clan would naturally have no fear. They could unite with other major families and pressure Tsunade.
But times were different now. Behind Tsunade stood Ryosuke.
And Ryosuke now controlled the entire ninja world.
Once they left Konoha, there would be no place left in the world for the Hyuga clan to stand.
Ryosuke heard the implication behind her laughter and shook his head slightly. The rules of the ninja world were changing, and naturally some people would fall behind. Wrong beliefs would bring suffering to their bodies and minds.
But…
Thinking of Hyuga Neji, who was just a child yet always had a stiff, serious face, Ryosuke felt the stubborn old members of the Hyuga clan deserved some hardship.
"When Neji has some free time, have him come to the research institute. I'll set up a special project team to crack the Caged Bird curse seal," Ryosuke said.
Tsunade nodded.
"You chased after me just to talk about this?"
"Of course not."
Tsunade reached out and handed him a glass jar.
"I forgot to give this to you just now."
Ryosuke took the jar. Inside were more than ten small white pellets, each the size of a grain of rice. He brought them close to his eyes and looked carefully. Only then did he see what they were, "Little slugs?!"
"They're modified remote-control-type slugs."
Tsunade said, "I made them at the request of the research institute."
"I installed chakra threads inside them. As long as you put one into Hidan's body, it can act as a 'pilot' and control Hidan's body."
Ryosuke thought for a moment and asked, "The remote control you mentioned… is there a distance limit?"
"With the massive chakra of the Slug Sage, practically none. At least within the 380,000 kilometers between the ninja world and the moon, there will be zero delay in communication and control."
Ryosuke understood the value of these little slugs.
The second moon-landing project was about to begin. They would become the true ace pilots.
"You've helped me a lot," Ryosuke said.
Tsunade's lips curved upward, clearly enjoying Ryosuke's praise.
"If you really think I helped…"
She put her hands on her hips and leaned her face close to Ryosuke.
That terrible, slightly bending-forward posture made the valley of her chest far too obvious.
Ryosuke instinctively stepped back half a step, not understanding what she wanted, and then he heard Tsunade say, "Give me back my pen."
"Ah?"