"Alright…"
Hinata smiled sweetly, filled with happiness.
Cooking with Naruto… In Hinata's original mind, this was a dream scene she dared not even imagine… Yet now, it was truly happening!
Hinata took out the vegetables Naruto had prepared and began washing them meticulously.
"Wow, Hinata, you're quite good at cooking too…"
"It's, it's alright…"
Hearing Naruto say this, Hinata immediately became nervous.
"I mustn't make any mistakes. This is a meal I'm eating with Naruto-kun; I have to wash everything perfectly clean…"
"Byakugan…"
"Activate!"
Naruto jumped: "Whoa!"
"It's just washing vegetables, Hinata, you don't need to activate Byakugan!"
"Be-because I want to do my best. This is, after all, the first time I'm cooking with Naruto-kun…"
Naruto didn't quite understand, but he still nodded.
"Alright! Then I can't lose to you either!"
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Instantly, Naruto created two Shadow Clones, who began frantically bustling about in the kitchen.
Hinata: "…"
With their own thoughts and a bit of a competitive spirit, the two finally managed to finish a sumptuous meal.
By this time, it was already midday.
Naruto and Hinata placed the dishes on the table together, both somewhat tired as they sat down.
"Ah, I'm so tired, but it looks so delicious!"
Naruto burst out laughing.
Hinata, blushing, also nodded.
"Alright, Hinata, let's eat!"
"Don't be shy, just treat this place like your own home!"
Hinata's heart fluttered once more.
My… own home?
Blushing, she pressed her hands together, as if in devout prayer.
"Then… I'll start eating, Naruto-kun…"
Chapter 60: Hyuga Neji's Provocation! Naruto's Fury! Please vote for me with your monthly tickets!!!
Eating the meal she had made with Naruto, Hinata felt an unparalleled happiness.
This world was not perfect; it was even cruel, cold, full of pain and regret.
But at least at this moment… Hinata felt this was her happiest day.
"It's delicious, thank you, Naruto-kun…"
Naruto wolfed down his food frantically.
"Haha, it's not just my effort, Hinata, you helped too!"
"But, it really is delicious!"
Hinata smiled gently and, no longer reserved, began eating heartily.
She didn't say much, but Naruto kept talking.
However, just silently listening was enough to make her feel incredibly sweet.
Naruto was talking about what had happened earlier.
However, his memories were only vague.
"I heard Iruka-sensei was in danger, and I forgot everything else. I only remember that I had to save him, even if it cost me my life. As for how I saved him, how I fought that scoundrel Mizuki, I can't remember anymore…"
At this point, Naruto's heart stirred slightly.
He still wasn't strong enough… Otherwise, he wouldn't have needed to go into a berserk state to save Iruka-sensei.
And this time might have been a fluke.
What if there was a next time?
"I… want to become stronger!"
"That way, I can protect Iruka-sensei better!"
Hinata smiled slightly and nodded.
"I understand, Naruto-kun…"
Naruto's heart stirred: "Ah, and that includes you, Hinata. I will protect you at all costs too!"
Hinata felt as if struck by lightning.
"Naruto-kun…"
"Wh-why…"
"Because, as I just said, we're good friends!"
"You care about me so much, you help me, so of course I'll treat you like Iruka-sensei, someone I'd die to protect!"
Hinata was on the verge of tears… "Naruto-kun…"
"I, I'm the same…"
"I will also risk my life to protect Naruto-kun…"
"This is my vow!"
Naruto's heart trembled.
"Hinata, you…"
Their eyes met, and Hinata shyly lowered her head, but the resolve in her heart remained unshaken.
"Good!"
Naruto suddenly shouted: "Besides Iruka-sensei, I, Uzumaki Naruto, have another person I want to protect!"
"Thank you, Hinata!"
"And thank you, Naruto-kun…"
The atmosphere between the two suddenly became a little ambiguous.
Hinata felt herself getting hotter and hotter… She hurriedly stood up.
"Th-that… Naruto-kun, I only took half a day off, so…"
Naruto understood her difficulty and nodded: "I understand!"
Hinata was both shyly wanting to escape and a little reluctant; the complex emotions of a young girl were full of contradictions.
"G-goodbye, Naruto-kun…"
"Alright, see you next time, Hinata!"
Hinata left with complicated steps. Naruto heard her going downstairs and ran to the window himself, looking at the girl's figure on the street and waving his arms.
Hinata on the street looked up at Naruto and showed a sweet smile.
"Naruto-kun…"
"Let's do our best together!"
The girl mustered her courage and shouted up to Naruto at the second-floor window.
Naruto was stunned for a moment, but quickly clenched his fist.
"Oh! Let's do our best together!"
…After bidding farewell to Hinata, Naruto still followed his previous training plan, preparing to go to the Konoha Village training ground.
The system's prompt was still very thoughtful.
"Please continue the taijutsu special training, Host, and work a little harder than Rock Lee, otherwise you will face an even stronger Lightning Release baptism from the system!"
Naruto pouted.
Ever since he had braved the Lightning Release baptism to kill Mizuki last time, the system had increased the difficulty for him.
It was said to be much more powerful than the previous Lightning Release baptism… Although he was a little curious, he didn't dare to try it easily.
"Alright, alright, isn't it just working harder than Lee?"
"I'm mentally prepared!"
However.
As he approached the training ground, he already heard Rock Lee's voice.
Bang bang bang—
Boom!
The violent sounds, even without seeing, just the noise alone was enough to make one's scalp tingle and send shivers down one's spine!
"Hiss—"
Naruto couldn't help but gasp.
"That guy Lee seems even more extreme than before!"
"Training like this, isn't he afraid of exhausting himself to death?!"
He pushed aside the bushes and finally saw Rock Lee's figure.
At this moment, he was continuously using the Leaf Whirlwind technique, frantically kicking at a wooden stake.
Each kick was delivered with full force, shaking the entire stake, sending wood chips flying, and making it totter!
But he himself also endured the equally intense pain of the backlash.
Just watching, Naruto already felt his leg bones were about to shatter… "Lee…"
Naruto couldn't help but call out.
Rock Lee, hearing him, instantly stopped his desperate hard training and turned to look at Naruto, revealing a brilliant smile.
"Naruto!"
"You're finally here; I was waiting for you!"
Naruto couldn't help but ask curiously: "You… how long have you been training like this?"