Being a rogue ninja is worse than being Hokage.

As he spoke, Choji opened another bag of potato chips.

"You..."

Shikamaru looked at Choji helplessly, hesitant to speak.

Naruto stared at the crowd in front of him without saying a word.

The Third Hokage, who was indecisive in his later years, probably only firmly and decisively implemented one policy: keeping the new generation of ninjas away from ninja wars and allowing them to enjoy true peace—even though this peace was still part of the cycle of ninja wars.

Looking at the entire ninja world, it is precisely because the new generation of ninjas in Konoha truly understand peace that they chose to let go of the hatred that had never ceased since the Warring States period after the war.

If possible, Naruto would also be happy to enjoy the bonds between the new generation of Konoha.

Those foolish high-ranking officials in Konoha are ultimately old fogies with one foot in the grave; the future has nothing to do with them.

But—Konoha is still in the hands of these old immortals trapped in the curse of conflict.

Naruto's current situation is also different from the original story.

Although these differences are subtle, they make a huge difference to Naruto.

Since Danzo had already used Kotoamatsukami on Naruto before, he would definitely not give up on Naruto.

Danzo's inaction towards Naruto at this moment is simply due to the Third Hokage's forceful suppression of him.

Once the Third Hokage dies, will Danzo continue to bide his time until Tsunade takes over, just like in the original story, giving Naruto enough time to grow?

Naruto would never jeopardize his destiny with such an uncertain future.

If the future were truly fixed, then Umino Iruka of this world wouldn't have died twelve years ago.

Naruto is currently no match for Danzo, who possesses Kotoamatsukami, until his power is fully developed—

—Only by defecting from Konoha can Naruto have a chance to survive.

Chapter 24 A Dramatic First Encounter

"Alright, I'll start eating!"

At a barbecue restaurant that offers charcoal-grilled meat, as soon as the pork belly on the hot plate emitted its aroma, Choji reached out with his chopsticks and picked it up and put it in his mouth.

"You should let it cool down a bit before eating."

Shikamaru, sitting next to Choji, handed him a cup of cool tea in case Choji, who was wolfing it down, accidentally burned his mouth.

"Shikamaru, the best way to maximize the flavor of barbecue is to eat it as soon as it's cooked!"

While sharing his experience of tasting barbecue, Choji picked up another piece of barbecue and put it in his mouth.

He seemed completely oblivious to the heat emanating from the roasted meat cooked over charcoal.

"He's got an absolute silver tongue..."

Naruto was amazed by Choji's hearty eating habits.

"You'll get used to it. That's how Choji eats. By the way, Naruto... do you have enough money? Choji has a huge appetite."

Shikamaru leisurely picked up the grilled meat he had placed on the hot plate and put it into his own bowl.

Unlike Choji, he wasn't afraid of burning his mouth. Before cooling the scalding hot grilled meat down to a palatable temperature, Shikamaru looked at Naruto.

"Actually, our Class 7 recently did a C-level mission and made a fortune."

Naruto waved his hand, not caring at all about the expense of treating everyone.

"C-rank? You guys are really impressive! We're still doing D-rank missions."

Hearing Naruto's words, Shikamaru couldn't help but express his surprise.

"No, after all, we have Sasuke, the top graduate of the Ninja Academy."

Naruto smiled and attributed all the credit and reasons for being able to carry out the C-rank mission to Sasuke.

"Yeah, that's true. That guy was really good back in the Ninja Academy."

Shikamaru nodded in agreement with Naruto's words.

Sakura, who was listening to Naruto and Shikamaru's conversation, glanced at Naruto and then quietly placed new grilled meat on the hot plate that Choji had already emptied.

"Speaking of which..."

While Shikamaru and Naruto were chatting, Ino, who was sitting with Sakura, spoke in a low voice.

Sakura asked, "Where did Sasuke go?"

"Time to cultivate."

Sakura answered softly.

Ino was so careful with her words because she was worried about attracting Naruto's attention again.

Naruto is actually quite frightening when he's angry, and Ino, who angered Naruto, felt this especially deeply.

"As expected of Sasuke, he's already so amazing, yet he still works so hard..."

As she spoke, Ino glanced at Naruto again.

Hmph... Unlike some people who only know how to eat barbecue.

The little girl holds grudges... even if she was the one who started them.

Sakura noticed Ino's mood. She picked up her chopsticks and, before Choji could, grabbed a piece of high-quality grilled meat from the hot plate and placed it in Ino's bowl.

"Ino, you have no right to complain about Naruto right now."

Sakura gave a reminder.

"I know, I know! I didn't really have any bad intentions!"

Sakura saw through her thoughts, and Ino, as if trying to escape, used her chopsticks to put the grilled meat in her bowl into her mouth.

But Ino forgot that the grilled meat in her bowl had just left the scalding hot plate.

The sizzling oil from the grilled meat danced in Ino's mouth; unlike Choji, she was instantly scalded by the heat and covered her mouth.

"Well……!"

With tears welling in her eyes, Ino was searching for a way to cool down when a hand holding a cup filled with cool tea appeared before her.

Ino immediately took the teacup, took a sip of cool tea, and the scalding heat of the grilled meat dissipated from her mouth.

"It seems the grilled meat at this restaurant suits your taste."

Naruto smiled at Ino; he was the one who had just handed Ino the herbal tea.

"Um..."

A flicker of fear crossed Ino's eyes at first, but she responded to Naruto with a smile, "Thank you for the tea—it was indeed very good. How about you treat us again next time? What do you say, Choji?"

This is so troublesome...

Seeing Ino, who clearly knew she was wrong but still argued with Naruto, Shikamaru felt like his head was about to explode.

"Oh! You'll treat us again next time? Really? Naruto!"

Choji remained oblivious to the situation.

"Of course, but..."

Naruto picked up the teapot and refilled Ino's teacup, which she had just finished drinking, with cool tea: "I might become a rogue ninja next time, so I hope I can treat you guys to another meal before I do."

"..."

Ino stared blankly at the teacup she was holding in both hands, now refilled with tea. Naruto's words, full of hidden meaning, left her speechless.

Sakura then subtly poked Ino with her finger under the barbecue table.

“Naruto, I really know I was wrong. I won’t say those nonsense again…” Ino gritted her teeth and looked directly at Naruto: “Please, forgive me this time, just this once. If I make the same mistake again next time… no, I shouldn’t have made the same mistake even this once.”

"really?"

Naruto and Ino looked at each other.

"real."

"I believe you."

Naruto smiled and focused his attention on the grilled meat on the hot plate.

That should stop Ino from talking nonsense. Now that this matter is resolved, it's time to eat barbecue.

You can't possibly pay for the meal yourself and then not get enough to eat...

"..."

Ino put down her teacup, head bowed, clearly not in high spirits.

"Ino, let's just let this go. Don't keep feeling like you've been taken advantage of. You were in the wrong to begin with."

Sakura gently comforted her from the side.

"I really know I was wrong... I'm sorry, Sakura, I said those bad things to you before too."

Ino looked at Sakura and apologized to her as well.

"I don't mind. We've been saying bad things to each other before, so if you apologize to me, I should apologize to you too... I'm sorry, Ino—but we're friends, and these little things aren't worth getting angry about."

"We used to be friends."

"It always has been."

"..."

Ino stared blankly at Sakura, feeling ashamed of her immaturity. "...Yes, we've always been friends."

The conflicts between the two were just minor squabbles that others would find amusing, and they would eventually reconcile at the right time.

The process has only been accelerated because of Naruto.

After a pause, Sakura said to Ino, "And it's not just Sasuke... Naruto is actually very strong too."

Sakura's words were an explanation for Ino's misunderstanding of Naruto when they were discussing Sasuke.

Upon hearing Sakura's words, Ino's eyes froze. She looked at Sakura but didn't say anything.

"...W-what happened?"