Sakura Haruno's eyes widened as she watched the distraught Sasuke storm ahead, his expression dark and unreadable. Her brow furrowed tightly."Sasuke-kun…" she whispered, her voice trembling.He didn't answer. His mind seemed locked in on the chaos that had just unfolded—the shocking confrontation with Naruto and the sudden death of Teacher Mizuki.Sakura hesitated, then took a deep breath and ran to catch up with him. "Sasuke-kun, wait!"Her voice was filled with urgency, but Sasuke's pace didn't slow. He was lost in a storm of anger, confusion, and disbelief.Behind her, Ino Yamanaka and Hinata Hyuga watched silently. Since her falling out with Sakura, Ino had grown closer to Hinata, and now the two of them walked together, sharing a quiet moment amid the chaos.Ino's pale face betrayed her concern. "Hinata… did Naruto really kill Teacher Mizuki? I couldn't believe it when I heard the rumors. Is it true?"Hinata shook her head nervously, her fingers twisting together. "I… I don't know. Maybe… probably…"Ino's eyes widened. "Even if Mizuki deserved punishment for trying to kill Iruka, who would have imagined he'd die at Naruto's hands?"A shiver ran through Hinata as she thought about it. "I… I'm just glad Naruto is safe… and, of course, Teacher Iruka too…" Her hands clasped tightly as if in silent prayer. Her voice quivered, filled with relief and lingering fear.Ino, struck by Hinata's gentle sincerity, couldn't help but sigh. "Everyone is shocked by what Naruto did. But look at you, Hinata. You care about him so deeply… even more than just the danger he faced. If he knew how much you cared, I think he'd be unbelievably happy."Hinata's face turned crimson. She shook her head, modest and nervous. "It's not just me… Teacher Iruka is important too. Naruto… he risked everything to save Iruka. That shows… that in his heart, he considers Iruka as family."Ino tilted her head, teasing gently. "So, Teacher Iruka is first place in his heart… what about you, little Hinata?"Hinata swallowed, her voice soft. "I… I'm happy for Naruto. Really. Because what he needs most… is family love. Friendship, romance… all of that is important, yes, but family love fills the biggest void. Teacher Iruka gave him that, and I… I'm grateful to him."Ino's sigh was a mixture of admiration and pity. "You always speak so wisely… so maturely. Every time you do, I feel more pity for Naruto… and a little sympathy for you too."Hinata tilted her head, curious. "Why?""Because people like you… with such understanding hearts… often face harder lives than others."Hinata blinked, considering this. "Is that so? But I… I really like my life now…"Ino laughed, a warm, playful sound. "Alright, alright, I get it. But still… I envy Naruto a little. He has someone who cares for him like you do. I wonder… if anyone will ever care for me like that."Hinata's face flushed again. "Ino… you will. Of course, you will."Ino chuckled heartily. "Hahaha… I hope so!"They continued toward the classroom, laughing softly, sharing the lightness that contrasted with the heavy events of the day.Meanwhile, Naruto was deep in his own thoughts. He was cultivating, pushing his body and mind to their limits, but his focus was divided. The events with Mizuki haunted him."Hmm…" he murmured. "I saved Teacher Iruka while enduring that Lightning Release attack… but my memory is hazy. It hurt like crazy at first, then… I just went numb."Kurama's sharp mental voice intruded. You went numb, but I didn't!Naruto's brow furrowed. "But… I did it! I endured it for Iruka… and maybe, in the future, I might even become immune to Lightning Release!"The system pinged a warning:[Detecting a significant increase in the host's endurance to Lightning Release. Future punishments will increase in electrical intensity. Host, do not develop a Luck mentality.]Naruto blinked. "Isn't that… cruel? The system just keeps testing me…"Even so, he knew the system's intentions were protective. Every restriction, every warning, every sudden intervention—whether stopping him from stealing, saving Iruka, or confronting Mizuki—was meant for his safety. But some choices, the ones that weighed on the heart rather than reason, were beyond the system's comprehension.For now, Naruto set aside those thoughts and immersed himself in cultivation and study. The day had been lost, and he had to make up for every second.After school, the weekend arrived. Naruto's thoughts naturally turned to Hinata. Smiling brightly, he approached her."Yo, Hinata!" he greeted cheerfully. "Tomorrow's the weekend. Can you still help me with tutoring? Please!"Hinata's small face flushed crimson, and she lowered her gaze, nodding nervously. "Mm…"Naruto leaned closer. "What? I can't hear you."Her face turned deeper red. "I… I can…" she said quietly.Naruto's heart leapt. "Great! Thank you, Hinata! Then we'll meet tomorrow morning!""O-okay, Naruto-kun…" she stammered, but he was already skipping away, unaware of her trailing words.Ino, watching, couldn't resist teasing. "Oh, little Hinata… another date with Naruto, huh?""N-not a date… just tutoring…" Hinata protested, cheeks burning.Ino laughed heartily, pinching her friend's slightly chubby cheeks. "So shy… so cute!"Hinata tried to hide her smile, but her shyness only made her more endearing.That night, after an exhausting day of training, Naruto fell into a deep, restless sleep. The battle with Sasuke replayed in his dreams, though the confrontation with Mizuki lingered heavily in his heart.Though he had killed Mizuki, the act left a shadow of doubt. He was too young to fully understand the gravity of taking a life. Even in dreams, Sasuke remained cold and ruthless, his attacks merciless. Naruto found himself hesitating, feeling the weight of every decision."Why are you hesitating, Diao Che Wei?" Sasuke's voice echoed in the dream. "You might not care about your life… but what about the lives of others? Those you care about most? Those you want to protect? Being merciful to your enemies is being cruel to them!"Naruto's heart raced. The image of Iruka lying lifeless before him flashed vividly. He shuddered at the thought, grief and fear mingling in a painful mix.He knew, even in dreams, that the choices of a ninja were never simple. Protecting others meant confronting danger head-on, and the weight of that responsibility was heavier than any jutsu or battle.His body was at rest, but his mind was awake, struggling with the lessons of courage, mercy, and the harsh truths of the world he had only just begun to face.Yet deep down, he understood something crucial: strength alone was not enough. The heart—love, care, and the willingness to protect—was just as important as any technique. And perhaps, that was the beginning of what it truly meant to be a ninja… and, someday, a Hokage.
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