It's better to be a rebel ninja than to be a Hokage

Naruto stared at Ino but didn't say anything.

Although Ino's "rebel ninja" remarks just now were unintentional, they also showed that most people in Konoha were...uneasy about the Third Hokage allowing Naruto to become a ninja.

After all, Ino had conflicts with him, so Naruto's relationship with her was a little more distant compared to the other seven people of the same period.

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

And the one who feels distant from Naruto...

The image of Naruto is constructed through rumors...

There are also countless ninjas and villagers in Konoha...

Logically speaking, the idea of ​​feeling uneasy about Naruto's existence should have been gradually suppressed by the Third Generation during these two years...

Naruto was able to graduate and join the ninja class led by Kakashi - this was all a manifestation of the Third Hokage incorporating him into the Hokage faction.

Since the Third Generation was already preparing to let Naruto use the power of the Nine-Tails as a ninja, why should he put the cart before the horse and continue to spread a series of negative emotions such as hatred and dissatisfaction towards Naruto?

...Is it Danzo?

That was the only reason Naruto could think of.

Although Danzo was being watched by the Third Hokage, he could not do anything out of line to Naruto in public that would not be allowed by the Third Hokage.

But Naruto also knew that Danzo had used many conspiracies and tricks in secret.

After the Book of Seales incident, the Third Hokage no longer allowed the Anbu or the telescope technique to monitor Naruto.

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

It is really unbearable to be stared at all times by such a sinister and venomous snake.

"Naruto!"

Naruto's thoughts drifted away, but Sakura's call immediately made him focus again.

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 expressed anger towards Naruto.

Sakura used to be afraid of Naruto's past cruelty, so she was always very cautious when interacting with him.

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

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

"Do I enjoy being slandered by her?"

Naruto did not avoid the gaze Sakura sent his way.

When Sakura met Naruto's eyes, there was still some timidity in her eyes, but she quickly calmed down.

Sakura hugged Ino, who was still trembling all over. It was obvious that Naruto had scared Ino a lot before.

"Ino... is just like me before. Because she doesn't understand Naruto, she will be misled by other people's rumors... I will make Ino understand that Naruto, you are not who everyone says you are... And I am not shielding Ino, I just, I just hope that you can forgive Ino this time. I know Ino very well... Ino is actually a very good girl - and a girl who can correct her mistakes - Ino!"

Sakura shook Ino's shoulder gently.

Ino, who had come back to her senses a little, looked at Sakura who was defending her for a long time before turning her gaze to Naruto.

"…I'm sorry, Naruto. I apologize for the nonsense I just said."

She admitted her mistake sincerely.

"So, Naruto - I apologize to you too - you were clearly defending yourself as well as me just now... but I still stand 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 the rebel ninja in her words, Naruto wouldn't have cared at all what Ino said.

"So! Naruto!"

I thought the matter should end here, but Sakura hesitated for a moment and called out to Naruto again: "You have to apologize to Ino too!"

Naruto really couldn't understand this, but rather than being angry, he was more curious about why Sakura did this.

“Why should I apologize?”

Naruto made no effort to hide his curiosity.

"After all, we are comrades from the same village. If we want to resolve our differences, we should do it thoroughly! Don't let any grudges remain in our hearts!"

There is nothing wrong with the logic, but Sakura seems to have somewhat ignored the feelings of the person involved.

Naruto said nothing, just stared at Sakura.

Although Sakura is still immature and doesn't consider things thoroughly, she is still growing much faster than in the original work.

Naruto also found it quite interesting.

Facing Naruto's scrutinizing gaze, Sakura's original anger was almost exhausted.

As the saying goes, the first push is the best, the second is weak, and the third is exhausted.

When she calmed down again and saw that Naruto hadn't spoken, the fear of Naruto that had accumulated in her heart for a long time came rushing up all at once like a backlash.

She was finally able to think carefully about why she had just stood on the side of Ino, who was in the wrong first. Even though she said nice things, it was a fact that she did not consider Naruto's feelings.

Just when Sakura was feeling anxious.

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

If Inoto hadn't blurted out that he was a "traitor", he wouldn't have bothered to spend time dealing with Inoto.

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

Instead of spending time getting angry at Ino, you might as well think about how to maximize your own interests before defecting.

For example, should I kill Kabuto Yakushi in the upcoming Chunin Exams?

In the original work, in the Fourth Ninja World War, besides Black Zetsu, Uchiha Madara, and Obito,

——Kabuto Yakushi is the most sinful war criminal.

However, when Naruto considered whether to kill Kabuto Yakushi, it was certainly not because of his sense of justice.

It's simply that Naruto feels that he and Kabuto Yakushi are not the same kind of people.

From now on, he and Kabuto Yakushi will definitely be enemies who will never understand each other.

Naruto doesn't want to become a "jinchūriki weapon" whose will is erased by Danzo's Sharingan.

However, Kabuto Yakushi is a guy who would voluntarily give up his own will.

The first thing he thought of after Orochimaru's death was to deny the will of "Kabuto Yakushi" and want to become a new Orochimaru!

Moreover, 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.

By that time, it would become quite difficult to deal with Kabuto Yakushi.

As for the current Pharmacist Kabuto, apart from the troublesome medical methods and intelligence gathering capabilities.

Judging only from his actual combat strength, he should be at the same level of normal Kakashi.

This is certainly not meant to belittle Yakushi Kabuto.

During the Chunin Exam, Kabuto Yakushi, who was between 19 and 20 years old, was competing against Kakashi, who had been famous for many years and had an outstanding ability to use the Three Magatama Sharingan.

There are not many ninjas in the ninja world who can achieve such success as Hatake Kakashi.

If you think about it carefully, getting rid of Kabuto Yakushi during the Chunin Exam will indeed cause all kinds of uncontrollable problems to Naruto's defection plan.

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

The benefits he will gain in the future will be enormous.

Well... whether to get rid of Kabuto Yakushi in the Chunin Exam is indeed an option that is worth taking the time to consider the pros and cons.

As for "forgiving" Ino.

Naruto just went with the flow. It was a complete waste of time to dwell on and not forgive Ino.

Since Sakura unexpectedly gave Naruto an opportunity to make a big deal out of a small matter, why not take advantage of it?

Than pointless quarrels.

The most urgent thing is to make Ino shut up and ask her to promise not to tell anyone "Naruto is a traitor" or something like that which would offend Naruto!

Of course Sakura and Ino 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 at a loss.

"Girls are such a hassle."

Looking at the expressions of the two, Shikamaru interrupted the conversation.

He was a person who could clearly see the timing of a conversation. His ability to interrupt meant that the conflict between Naruto and Ino had ended.

Shikamaru's words finally made Sakura and Ino breathe a sigh of relief.

"How long are you going to stay here? I'm already hungry."

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

"You..."

Shikamaru looked at Choji helplessly, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

Naruto looked at the people in front of him without saying a word.

The only policy that the indecisive Third Generation implemented firmly and decisively in his later years was probably to keep the new generation of ninjas away from ninja wars and enjoy true peace - even if this peace was still part of the cycle of wars in the ninja world.

But looking at the entire ninja world, Konoha's new generation of ninjas have truly understood peace, which is why they chose to let go of the hatred that has never stopped since the Warring States Period after the war.

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

After all, those stupid high-ups in Konoha are just old guys who are half buried in the ground. The future has nothing to do with them.

But - Konoha is now still in the hands of these old immortals who are trapped in the curse of fighting.

Naruto’s current situation is also different from what happened in the original work.

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

Since Danzo has already used Kotoamatsukami on Naruto before, he will definitely not give up on Naruto.

Danzo's inaction towards Naruto at this moment was nothing more than the Third Hokage forcing him down.

Once the third generation dies, will the current Danzo continue to endure until Tsunade takes the throne, as in the original novel, giving Naruto enough time to grow?

Naruto would never put his fate on such an uncertain future.

If the future was truly fixed, this world's Umino Iruka would not have died twelve years ago.

Naruto now has no way to contend with Danzo who has Kotoamatsukami. Before his strength fully grows—

——Only by defecting from Konoha can Naruto have a chance of survival.