Being a rogue ninja is worse than being Hokage.

As for the act of kindly treating Team 10 to barbecue, it was also to spend more time intimidating Ino, so that she wouldn't mention her earlier statement that "Naruto is a rogue ninja" to anyone else.

At the very least, we can't say anything more before the Chunin Exams begin.

"...This is so troublesome. If I had known it would be this troublesome, I shouldn't have complained about the trouble earlier. I should have stopped Ino from talking nonsense."

"So, Shikamaru, what's your opinion..."

"I have no objection. Anyway, it was Ino who spoke recklessly this time and was in the wrong first. It's good to let this guy remember why you made him cry before. Everyone here is a genin now, not a kid who can say whatever he wants in the ninja academy."

Shikamaru also agreed.

Finally, Naruto focused his attention on Ino.

Chapter 23 The Bonds Between the New Generation

Naruto stared at Ino, but remained silent for a long time.

Although Ino's earlier comment about being a "traitorous ninja" was unintentional, it revealed the unease among most people in Konoha regarding the Third Hokage's decision to allow Naruto to become a ninja.

Ino had a conflict with him, so Naruto's relationship with her was slightly more distant compared to the other seven people in the same cohort.

Even though her father, Yamanaka Inoichi, knew the truth about Naruto, the Third Hokage's ban on discussing Naruto's background in the village meant that Ino constructed Naruto's image mostly from rumors.

And he felt distant from Naruto...

Naruto's image was constructed through rumors...

There were also countless ninjas and villagers from Konoha...

Logically, the Third Hokage should have gradually suppressed any feelings of unease about Naruto's existence over the past two years...

Naruto's ability to graduate and join Kakashi's team is a testament to the Third Hokage's decision to bring him into the Hokage faction.

Since the Third Hokage was already prepared to let Naruto use the Nine-Tails' power as a ninja, why put the cart before the horse and continue to spread these negative emotions such as hatred and dissatisfaction towards Naruto?

...Is it Danzo?

This is the only reason Naruto can think of.

Although Danzo was being watched by the Third Hokage, he couldn't openly do anything outrageous to Naruto that the Third Hokage wouldn't allow.

But Naruto also knew that Danzo had used many underhanded schemes and tricks in the shadows.

After the incident with the Book of Seals, the Third Hokage stopped having the Anbu or the Telescope Technique monitor Naruto.

However, the "Root" organization controlled by Danzo has not completely stopped monitoring Naruto.

Being constantly watched by such a treacherous venomous snake is truly unbearable.

"Naruto!"

Naruto's thoughts drifted away, but Sakura's call immediately brought him back to his senses.

Sakura forcibly pulled Naruto's hand away from Ino's face.

She stared at Naruto and said, "Ino doesn't like this!"

Sakura's tone was tinged with anger; this was the first time Sakura had ever expressed anger towards Naruto.

Sakura was wary of Naruto's past malice, so she was always very careful when interacting with him.

After becoming a member of Team 7, Sakura was no longer as afraid of Naruto as before, but she also lowered her attitude because she was weaker than Naruto and Sasuke.

This time, however, she glared angrily at Naruto for Ino's sake.

"Do you think I enjoy being falsely accused by her?"

Naruto didn't avoid Sakura's gaze.

When Sakura met Naruto's gaze, a hint of fear was still visible in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

Sakura hugged Ino, who was still trembling all over, clearly indicating that Naruto had frightened her quite a bit earlier.

"Ino... just like I used to be, because she doesn't understand Naruto, she's misled by other people's rumors... I'll make Ino understand that Naruto isn't what everyone says he is... And I'm not protecting Ino, I just... just hope you can forgive Ino this time. I know Ino's character very well... Ino is actually a very, very good girl—and a girl who can admit her mistakes and correct them—Ino!"

Sakura gently shook Ino's shoulder.

After regaining her senses, Ino stared at Sakura, who was defending her, for a while before turning her gaze to Naruto.

"...I'm sorry, Naruto, I apologize for my nonsense just now."

She was very sincere in admitting her mistake.

"So, Naruto—I apologize to you too—you were clearly defending yourself as well as me just now… but I'm still on Ino's side—can you forgive Ino for her slip of the tongue this time?"

After Ino admitted her mistake, Sakura also expressed her apology to Naruto.

"..."

"……Can."

If Ino hadn't suddenly linked him to a rogue ninja in her words, Naruto wouldn't have cared about what Ino said at all.

"Then, Naruto!"

Just when everyone thought the matter was over, Sakura hesitated for a moment and then called out to Naruto again: "You also need to apologize to Ino!"

Naruto was truly baffled, but more than being angry, he was curious about Sakura's reasons for doing this.

Why should I apologize?

Naruto made no attempt to hide his curiosity.

"Because we are ultimately fellow villagers, if we are going to let bygones be bygones, we should do it thoroughly! Let's not hold any grudges in our hearts!"

The logic is sound, but Sakura seems to have overlooked the feelings of the person involved.

Naruto didn't say anything, he just stared at Sakura.

Although Sakura is still young and her thinking is not yet thorough enough, she is growing up much faster than in the original story.

Naruto found it quite interesting.

Faced with Naruto's scrutinizing gaze, Sakura's initial anger had mostly dissipated.

As the saying goes, "One should strike while the iron is hot, but the momentum will wane and eventually be exhausted."

Once she calmed down, she saw that Naruto remained silent, and the fear she had accumulated over time surged up all at once like a backlash.

She was finally able to reflect on her earlier actions, which showed that she had blindly sided with Ino, who was in the wrong. Even though she had said nice things, it was true that she hadn't considered Naruto's feelings.

Just as Sakura was feeling uneasy.

Naruto finally spoke: "I know, I went a bit too far just now, please forgive me, Ino."

If Ino hadn't blurted out that he was a "traitorous ninja," he wouldn't have bothered to pay any attention to her.

Naruto's choice regarding his future destined him to be on a different path from the new generation of Konoha.

Instead of wasting time arguing with the wild beasts, you should think about how to maximize your own interests before defecting.

For example, should we kill Kabuto Yakushi during the upcoming Chunin Exams...?

In the original work, besides Black Zetsu, Madara Uchiha, and Obito, during the Fourth Shinobi World War—

—Yakushi Kabuto is the most sinful war criminal.

However, Naruto's consideration of whether or not to kill Kabuto was certainly not driven by his sense of justice.

Naruto simply felt that he and Kabuto Yakushi were not on the same path.

He and Kabuto Yakushi will definitely only be enemies who can never understand each other in the future.

Naruto didn't want to become a "Jinchūriki weapon" whose will was erased by Danzo's Sharingan.

However, Kabuto Yakushi is someone who would willingly abandon his own will.

The first thing Orochimaru thought of after his death was that he rejected the will of "Yakushi Kabuto" and wanted to become a new Orochimaru!

Furthermore, in the original work, after Orochimaru was "killed" by Sasuke, Kabuto Yakushi mastered various forbidden techniques of Orochimaru and also learned the Sage Mode of Ryuchi Cave.

Dealing with Kabuto Yakushi at that point would become quite tricky.

As for Kabuto Yakushi now, aside from his troublesome medical methods and intelligence gathering abilities...

Judging solely from his actual combat strength, he should be at the same level as Kakashi in his normal state.

This is certainly not meant to belittle Yakushi Kabuto.

Kabuto Yakushi, who was between 19 and 20 years old during the Chunin Exams, was aiming to match Kakashi, who had been famous for many years and had a remarkable ability to use the three-tomoe Sharingan.

There are very few ninjas in the ninja world who have achieved as much as Kakashi Hatake.

Thinking about it carefully, eliminating Kabuto during the Chunin Exams would indeed have caused various uncontrollable problems for Naruto's defection plan.

However, from a long-term perspective, if Naruto can withstand the uncontrollable factors that may arise after dealing with Kabuto Yakushi, then...

The benefits he will gain in the future are enormous.

Hmm... Whether or not to deal with Kabuto Yakushi during the Chunin Exams is indeed a choice worth considering the pros and cons of.

As for "forgiving" Ino.

Naruto was simply going with the flow; clinging to the idea of ​​not forgiving Ino would be a complete waste of time.

Since Sakura unexpectedly gave Naruto a way to downplay the situation, why didn't she take advantage of it?

Compared to pointless arguments.

The most urgent thing is to quickly shut Ino up and make her promise not to say things like "Naruto is a rogue ninja" to anyone she meets, as that is Naruto's Achilles' heel.

Sakura and Ino, of course, had no way of knowing what Naruto was thinking.

They didn't expect Naruto to become so easy to talk to again.

Sakura and Ino both looked bewildered.

"Girls are such a hassle."

Seeing the expressions on their faces, Shikamaru joined in the conversation.

He's very good at judging the timing of conversations; his ability to interject meant that the conflict between Naruto and Ino had ended.

Shikamaru's words finally put Sakura and Ino at ease.

"How much longer do I have to stay here? I'm starving."