In the Ninja Academy, the once crazy Naruto, who always scratched his head and laughed foolishly, disappeared.
Instead, it was a quiet, solitary figure, who began to be alone, but always looked out of the window at the invisible person who was in a daze.
Everyone knew how great a blow the matter of the 5th Hokage defection had given to Naruto, but they did not expect that Naruto would change so much, as if he had become a different person.
Even Sasuke, who had put down his pride and took the initiative to show his goodwill, wanted to comfort Naruto, was completely disappointed. Every time, he would angrily say that he would no longer say a word to Naruto. However, in the end, he could not help but sit next to Naruto, even if he was just accompanying this guy to watch the scenery outside the window.
It was the same on this day. Just after school, Sasuke saw Naruto sitting quietly on the grass by the river bank, staring blankly.
After snorting coldly, he wanted to pretend that he did not see it, but his footsteps could not help but walk towards the other person.
Until he came to Naruto's side and sat down, Sasuke still had a sour face and thought, "Forget it, just take it as what I owe you in my past life."
"Hey, do you want to come to my house for dinner tonight?" Perhaps it was because he felt that saying this kind of words was too 'shameful', so Sasuke quickly added, "I'm not specially inviting you. I was just casually saying it."
Sasuke was proud again, but Naruto who always stuck to him in the past did not say a word, as if she was not interested in his proposal at all.
This time, it was Sasuke's turn to be unhappy. "Are you tired of wearing a dead face every day?"
"If I were you, I definitely wouldn't be like this."
"You don't know anything at all. Get lost!" Naruto glared at him coldly.
Sasuke was scolded. He really wanted to turn around and leave. Who cares if this bastard died!
But when he saw the sadness in Naruto's eyes, he sat down again bitterly. "What do I not understand? Isn't it just that soul... that guy left! Could it be that he will come back every day like this? Will all of this not happen?"
"If I were you, I would definitely do everything I can to become stronger until I surpass him. Then I would find that guy and ask him in person!"
After Naruto heard this,
His eyes seemed to flicker for a moment, but then immediately dimmed.
Although this was also what he wanted to do, how long would he have to wait?
Right now, he wasn't even enduring. In another five years, or in another ten years, he would be able to see that person's back again?
"Although I don't know what kind of difficulties that guy has, I think as long as you work hard, you will definitely be able to see him again. At worst, I will help you. I still have a lot of debts to settle with that guy."
At the end, Sasuke was still gnashing his teeth, apparently recalling some very 'unforgettable' memories.
"Difficulties? Are you saying that Big Brother Aoba was forced to do this?" Naruto asked.
Sasuke said uncertainly, "Maybe. In any case, that was what Itachi said. He said that the guy had no choice but to do this. He even said that he would bring him back to Konoha with his own hands."
Naruto nodded. The very serious knot in his heart seemed to have a thread.
Perhaps it was true?
If Big Brother Aoba had been coerced into doing this because he had no other choice, then he should have pulled himself together and saved Big Brother Aoba!
But could he really do the 'enemy' that even Big Brother Aoba was powerless against?
Just as Naruto was feeling extremely conflicted, someone walked over.
"Hokage-sama?"
Sasuke was stunned for a moment. At this time, it was the 6th Hokage, Jiraiya, who kept a low profile.
At that time, there was no one other than Jiraiya who could settle such a chaotic situation.
Therefore, even if he really had no interest in the position of Hokage, Jiraiya could only bite the bullet and go forward.
"Oh, it's Sasuke. Why are you still here? Has Itachi left?"
"What? Itachi is leaving? Is he going out for a mission?" Sasuke asked in confusion.
Jiraiya looked at him strangely. "Itachi found me yesterday and said that he was going out to travel. In fact, he was looking for 'that person'. I agreed. Why? Didn't he tell you?"
Sasuke jumped up in shock, "Damn it, no one actually told me about this"
The flustered Sasuke was about to run home, and his hatred for that bastard grew even deeper.
If not for that guy, why would Itachi suddenly go out?
And from what Jiraiya said, it seemed like he was going out for a long time and wouldn't come back?
Sasuke suddenly became anxious. It was one thing for Naruto's brother to run away, but why did his big brother also run away?
Was it me or that bastard who was more important?
Sasuke was jealous.
After Sasuke ran away with a whoosh, Jiraiya sighed and sat down next to Naruto.
He had heard what Sasuke had said to Naruto just now.
From what he had read through more than ten times in the past, how could the former Aoba and Itachi not be this kind of bond that they could not sever?
Therefore, before the matter was concluded, he had a glimmer of hope, hoping that Itachi could find out the truth and bring Aoba back to Konoha.
But before that, he had to think of a way to enlighten Naruto first.
"Do you remember the last sentence that Shinomiya Aoba said before he left Konoha? He said that he had fulfilled his promise to your parents."
"Do you know who my parents are?" Naruto suddenly turned his head.
"Your father used to be my disciple, and the name 'Naruto' is actually the name of the protagonist in my book. Even that book was a gift from me to your father." Jiraiya nodded, revealing a look of reminiscence.
Suddenly, there was a bright color in Naruto's eyes. Besides Aoba, what Naruto wanted to know the most was about his parents.
After seeing the desire in Naruto's eyes, Jiraiya smiled and continued, "Your father has a very famous name, 'Yellow Flash'."
"'Yellow... Flash'? 4th Hokage?!" Naruto blurted out in shock.
"That's right. 4th Hokage is your father. Both of you have the same golden hair. Your mother has beautiful red hair. Her name is Uzumaki Kushina."
In Jiraiya's narration, the story of that time slowly opened the picture scroll again.
"In a huge crisis, your parents sacrificed themselves to protect the village. At that time, the last person Minato and Kushina tried their best to save was Shinomiya Aoba."
Unconsciously, Naruto, who had tears flowing down his cheeks, seemed to understand many things in an instant.
Why did Big Brother Aoba treat him so well after 'accidentally' saving him.
To stand up for him, take him to dinner, give him pocket money, play with him, teach him cultivation, and never get angry at him.
He told him again and again that his parents must love him very much.
When countless pictures of 'happiness' flashed in his mind, Naruto finally understood where this love came from for no reason.
It turned out that Big Brother Aoba already knew everything about this.