"Uchiha Sasuke's favorability towards you has reached approval. You have acquired 'Uchiha Fluid Technique,' a taijutsu mastered by all Uchiha jonin. Those who excel at it are granted the title 'Dance King.'"
On his way home, Naruto heard the system's notification and smiled with satisfaction.
His month of hard work hadn't been in vain—he successfully gained Sasuke's favor and obtained the splendid 'Uchiha Fluid Technique.' He had now mastered the taijutsu styles of both of Konoha's great clans.
Directly accessing the 'Uchiha Fluid Technique,' a flood of training memories flashed through Naruto's mind.
Among them were even techniques for using Uchiha throwing weapons, which helped compensate for his shortcomings in throwing skills and propelled him to the top of the ninja academy—there was no rival for him there.
Unconsciously, Naruto arrived back at his apartment building and saw the Third Hokage pacing outside his room.
Why is the Third Hokage here again? Naruto wondered with some confusion.
At that moment, the Third Hokage noticed Naruto behind him and smiled, saying, "Naruto, you're finally back. If you hadn't come soon, these old bones of mine wouldn't have held up."
"Grandpa Hokage, is there something you need?" Naruto invited him inside.
"It's about school…" The Third Hokage sat on the sofa and continued, "Iruka-sensei told me you've been too withdrawn at school. You haven't made many friends and are indifferent toward others."
Naruto said somewhat puzzled,
"I have many friends—Hinata, Shikamaru, Choji—they are all my friends. As for the others, why should I care about them?"
After a pause, he added,
"Grandpa Hokage, I actually want to make friends, but once I tell them I'm the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, they all run away. I don't want to waste my efforts on people who won't accept me."
The Third Hokage was momentarily at a loss for words, then spoke sincerely:
"Naruto, you will become a ninja in the future. Your employers won't treat you kindly. You have to learn to accept reality and actively make friends."
Naruto fell silent, seemingly pondering what was right or wrong.
Seeing this, the Third Hokage pulled out his trump card:
"If you're willing to interact more with your classmates and make friends, I'll increase your living allowance and find you more ninja scrolls."
After hesitation, Naruto nodded:
"I'll listen to you, Grandpa Hokage. I'll try to make more friends from now on."
The Third Hokage nodded with satisfaction:
"Good boy. Here's next month's allowance. Don't be too frugal—if you want to buy something, go ahead. Don't neglect yourself."
After the visit, the Third Hokage felt quite satisfied with Naruto's situation and slowly returned to the Hokage building.
Naruto watched the Third Hokage walk away, then put away the doubled living allowance, his expression darkening.
The old man didn't care whether Naruto had friends or not. He didn't care if the rumors about the Nine-Tails spread. He only cared about whether he had lost control.
He only wanted to manipulate Naruto's life, never once considering Naruto's feelings.
Meanwhile, Sasuke was having dinner with his family.
Exhausted from training, Sasuke ate heartily, oblivious to the grim expressions on the faces around him.
Before he returned home, his older brother Itachi and his father Fugaku had a fierce argument. It was because Itachi refused to disclose information about the Anbu members and the Konoha leadership's movements.
This enraged Fugaku, captain of the Security Force, who felt betrayed by his son.
Itachi had no intention of backing down—his father cared about the interests of the Security Force, but he cared about the village. Both the village and the clan were equally important to him.
The clan he respected was plotting a rebellion against the leadership. This was something he absolutely could not tolerate.
If the clan truly launched a coup, it wouldn't only be the clan that got suppressed—the village would be severely weakened and vulnerable to attacks from other ninja villages.
The clan only saw their grievances with the Security Force and never considered the village's well-being.
Fugaku could only curse his son silently as a traitor, but there was nothing he could do against the respectful Itachi. Without Itachi's intelligence, the Uchiha clan couldn't counter the leadership.
The father and son argued bitterly over clan and village, both looking unhappy.
Caught in the middle, Mikoto Uchiha couldn't persuade either side. She could not choose between her son and husband, so she silently remained neutral.
To ease the tension, Mikoto forced a smile and said, "Sasuke, how's school? Have you made any new friends?"
Fugaku folded his arms and looked at Sasuke. "You didn't disappoint your father—you got first place in your class, right?"
Sasuke paused mid-bite, eyes darting nervously, and said guiltily,
"No, I didn't get first. But I did make a friend, Uzumaki Naruto. He's the one who beat me in the practical class and made me second."
Hearing this, Itachi glanced over with some surprise.
Though Sasuke's strength wasn't on Itachi's level, he was definitely among the top of their peers. How could he only be second?
Seeing Sasuke's unease, Mikoto comforted him:
"Not getting first is fine. Just try harder next time. Second place means you still have room to improve."
Fugaku kept a stern face:
"It doesn't matter. I never expected you to surpass Itachi anyway. But you're better than him in one thing—you haven't defied your father or disobeyed my orders."
Fugaku had never placed high hopes on Sasuke.
For example, the Fireball Jutsu—it only took Itachi a glance to learn it, while Sasuke spent much longer. That was the difference in talent.
Sasuke was too scared to speak and could only quietly eat.
Mikoto suddenly remembered something and looked at Sasuke:
"Your friend is Uzumaki Naruto? The blond-haired kid with whisker marks on his face?"
Fugaku nodded as if having realized something:
"Oh, it's him."
Sasuke nodded, curious, and asked Mikoto and Fugaku:
"Father, mother, you know Naruto too? But isn't he the village's Nine-Tails jinchūriki?"
Mikoto paused, then said,
"Yes, I've heard of him. Such a poor child—lost his parents at a young age and treated like the Nine-Tails by the villagers. Sometimes I even consider adopting him."
Sasuke found this strange:
"Adopting Naruto?"
Fugaku gave Mikoto a glance to keep quiet and said,
"That's adult business. Kids don't need to interfere. But if Naruto is the one who ranks higher than you, I suppose I can accept that."
Sasuke grew even more curious about Naruto's identity, but good upbringing stopped him from pressing further. Instead, he cautiously asked,
"Father, mother, can I invite Naruto to our home as a guest?"
(End of Chapter)
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