Sarutobi Hiruzen never expected that Shimura Danzo, who was always at odds with him, would step up to speak for him at a time like this.
That was still the bond of their many years together!
Orochimaru was truly a vile creature.
When he spoke of cutting in, he clearly meant something else, yet he deliberately tried to make him look disgusting!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's hands trembled, but after hesitating time and again, he decided to endure it!
A so-called ninja must first learn to endure!
As the leader of the ninjas, the Hokage, he naturally had to endure even more!
Besides, endurance had always been Sarutobi Hiruzen's specialty.
Danzo let out a helpless sigh. Even if that old bastard Hiruzen were to die, he would still be this capable of enduring...
The images on the black-bordered screen continued.
[The Third Hokage clearly had not expected Uzumaki Naruto to give such a reply, and a look of utter astonishment crossed his face.]
[“How am I supposed to carry on my subsequent pyramid scheme—ah, no, theoretical work of the Will of Fire?”]
[The Third Hokage thought for a moment, then spoke up, “How about this, Naruto? I’ll teach you Ninjutsu, and you give me some of your grilled fish in return?”]
[Hearing that there was a trade to be made, Naruto instantly changed his expression and said, “I’ve always respected the elderly and cherished the young—who in the Hidden Leaf Village doesn’t know that? Old man, it’s just a mere fish, how could I possibly be stingy with it?”]
[“Old man, hurry up and eat! Once you’re done, we can start learning Ninjutsu!”]
Everyone in the chat room was left dumbfounded by how articulate this Naruto was and how fast he could flip his face faster than turning the page of a book.
Even Naruto himself had never expected it.
“Turns out my eloquence is this good?”
Hearing this, Sasuke sitting across from him sneered, “Idiot, that guy isn't you—that's just you from another world!”
Uzumaki Naruto scratched the back of his head, narrowed his eyes, and said, “Not me? But if he's me from another world, isn't that still me?”
This time, even Sasuke was rendered confused by Naruto. He simply let out a cold snort and couldn't be bothered to engage with the Naruto before him.
[The Third Hokage took the fish from Naruto's hands. In truth, he wasn't really that hungry for fish, but eating together was the best opportunity to draw closer and foster emotional exchange!]
[After all, many matters were settled across the dinner table; the ninja world was no different.]
[As a deeply cunning and calculating Third Hokage, he understood this all too well!]
[The Third Hokage took a small bite of the fish. Originally, he hadn't held out much hope—after all, what kind of flavor could a little kid possibly grill out of a fish?]
[When the time came, he would just offer a couple of casual compliments, then get straight to the point and start brainwashing him with the Will of Fire—no, start lecturing him!]
[However, the moment the fish entered the Third Hokage's mouth, he couldn't help but blurt out,]
[“So good!”]
[The Third Hokage took another bite of the fish.]
[The Third Hokage couldn't help himself and took yet another bite.]
[Bite after bite, he devoured the fish, completely unable to stop.]
Orochimaru: “Teacher Hiruzen, he just told you to eat the fish, and you actually ate it?”
Senju Tobirama: “On this point, I have to criticize you too, Monkey. Was that fish really that delicious, to the point of being utterly addictive?”
Senju Hashirama: “Don't put it like that, Tobirama! Madara's grilled fish is delicious too! Back in the day, every time we skipped stones across the water, he'd always lose to me and have to catch fish for me to eat!”
Uchiha Madara: “Shut up, Hashirama!”
Senju Hashirama: “,,???,, ”
Namikaze Minato: “First Hokage-sama, where did you find all these emojis?”
Senju Hashirama: “I don't know, they're right here on my end. You guys don't have them?”
Fourth Raikage: “No...”
Terumi Mei: “No...”
Onoki: “No...”
Uchiha Madara: “......”
Uchiha Madara looked down at his own chat panel.
There were emojis right next to it.
What was the meaning of this?
Why was it that only he and that bastard Senju Hashirama had them?
Could it be hinting at something?
Damn it, I, Uchiha Madara, can only stretch and never bend in this lifetime!
[“Hey, you guys don't forget to teach me Ninjutsu after you finish eating!”]
The voice from the screen pulled the attention of several people back.
[The Third Hokage looked at the empty skewers left in front of him, which somehow seemed to have the character 'Wu' written on them.]
[So the reason this grilled fish tasted so good was because it used Wu...]
[“Ahem, I was careless for a moment and got so carried away eating that I completely forgot about business!”]
[The Third Hokage looked at Naruto in front of him, who had already stood up on his little legs, looking utterly impatient.]
[“Well, Naruto, I still can't teach you Ninjutsu right now.”]
[A look of uncontrollable disappointment appeared on Naruto's face. “You're such a grown-up, yet you go back on your word?”]
[The Third Hokage shook his head and slowly spoke, “It's not that I'm unwilling to teach you; it's that you don't even know how to refine Chakra yet!”]
[“Ninjutsu requires Chakra to be channeled in order to be performed.”]
[So that was how it was. Uzumaki Naruto nodded.]
[Afterwards, the Third Hokage explained all the basic knowledge regarding Chakra refinement to Naruto.]
[The Naruto in this world learned at an astonishing speed and understood it instantly!]
[The Third Hokage gazed at the Naruto before him. The moment he finished speaking, the Chakra within Naruto's body began to flow!]
[What kind of terrifying comprehension ability was this? Could this fellow Naruto be a genius?]
[If that were the case... the Third Hokage formed a new plan.]
[The Third Hokage produced the application form for the Ninja Academy that he had already prepared for Naruto.]
[After informing Naruto that he needed to attend school properly and promising that once his Chakra refinement was mastered, he would arrange for someone to specially teach him Ninjutsu!]
[Naruto naturally beamed with joy as he thanked the Third Hokage, expressing that he would definitely work hard in his cultivation!]
[If he had the chance in the future, he would certainly repay the Third Hokage properly.]
[The Third Hokage nodded with satisfaction, then wished him a smooth start to the term.]
[With that, the Third Hokage departed. Having discovered Naruto's extraordinary talent, he was in no rush to reveal his true identity to Naruto just yet.]
[Naruto practiced refining Chakra alone in the mountains until late into the night before finally returning home.]
[He took out his treasured instant noodles, plugged in the kettle to boil water, and then skillfully prepared the noodles.]
[When everything was done, Naruto lay back on his bed with his hands pillowing the back of his head.]
[Ding!]
Just as everyone was getting ready to watch what would happen next, the system's voice interrupted their thoughts.
[Quiz time has arrived.]
[Question: Please choose from the options below. Once Uzumaki Naruto learns to refine Chakra, enters the Ninja Academy, and masters Ninjutsu, what will he want to do?]
[A: Serve the Hidden Leaf Village in the future and become a qualified ninja!]
[B: Keep his word, serve the Third Hokage in the future, and carry on the Will of Fire!]
[C: He hasn't thought about anything at all—are his instant noodles almost ready yet?]
[D: For every thirty years the river flows east, it flows west for the next thirty; those bullies in the Hidden Leaf Village will surely pay back every bit with a hundredfold return in the future!]