Naruto: I, Naruto, don't want to try anymore.

Chapter 2 Pig, Deer, and Butterfly

In the woods, by the river, on the grassy bank, Naruto rested his head on his arm, gazing contentedly at the sky.

The weather is nice today, the sun is shining but not too bright, and the breeze is just right, perfect for a picnic and camping trip.

Before his journey, he enjoyed solo motorcycle camping trips, relishing the solitude and freedom of being away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Perhaps loneliness was painful for the original Naruto, but for the current Naruto, he finds it quite enjoyable.

Dealing with interpersonal relationships is what he hates most; in comparison, Naruto prefers the brief encounters he makes on his journey.

There's no need to consider any interests or relationships; it's simply about raising a glass to celebrate the occasion, enjoying each other's company, and parting amicably after dawn.

Carefree, free, and you don't even have to give money as a gift.

It satisfies emotional needs while eliminating useless social interactions.

"They said to quickly write a love song that appeals to both highbrow and lowbrow tastes~" (If you don't like it, then we'll change it!)

With a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, Naruto hummed a little tune, his crossed legs swinging back and forth in a very comfortable posture.

A series of giggling sounds drifted from afar. A few kids were playing a ninja game in the jungle. It was basically hide-and-seek, pretending to be the ghost and tagging each other, but in Konoha, it was called a ninja game.

wow...

The bushes rustled, and a little brat with dead fish eyes and a pineapple-shaped head popped out, giving Naruto an awkward smile.

"Oh, I didn't expect anyone to be here. What a coincidence..."

"I think it's quite a coincidence."

Naruto tilted his head slightly, curiously examining the other person.

Sensing Naruto's implied meaning, the pineapple-headed brat paused, somewhat bewildered, and patted the back of his head before finally sighing helplessly, "You're really perceptive... My name is Nara Shikamaru, what's yours?"

"Monkey D. Luffy".

"..."

Noticing the playful smile on Naruto's lips, Shikamaru was speechless.

This guy doesn't play by the rules at all...

"Just kidding, my name is Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto."

Naruto smiled and sat up. "You wanted to see me about something?"

Shikamaru chuckled awkwardly, "Well... it's nothing, I just wanted to ask if you wanted to play together."

"You don't seem like such an enthusiastic person."

Naruto shook his head slightly, lay back down, and said leisurely, "The best way to deal with those with wicked ambitions is to keep your distance and take precautions. Otherwise, when they die of stupidity, they might spill blood on you."

Shikamaru's lips twitched. He couldn't hide it from this guy after all…

He was sent by his father to approach Naruto, saying that the Hokage saw that Naruto was too lonely and hoped that he could make friends with Naruto, so it could be considered a mission.

He wouldn't want to take on such a troublesome mission if he could, but he had to give the Hokage face.

Shikamaru thought it wouldn't be difficult to make friends, so he came, only to regret it as soon as he arrived.

Despite saying he was lonely or something, after observing him for a while, he realized this guy was clearly enjoying himself!

And what kind of despicable ambition is this? Is this how you describe the Hokage? How can I possibly listen to such words?

Inside the Hokage's office, Nara Shikaku's face twitched with fear.

"A despicable and ambitious person..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi, holding his pipe, sighed wistfully, "I guess I'm getting old after all..."

As expected of your child, Minato, he's just as thoughtful as you.

Clearly, Naruto had seen through the higher-ups' intentions and made it clear that he was opposed to them, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi with no choice but to accept it.

In reality, if he were twenty years younger, he wouldn't have allowed the rumors about the Nine-Tailed Fox to spread like this. But there was nothing he could do; after the Nine-Tailed Fox Night, Konoha was caught in a state of internal and external troubles.

With the death of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and the three legendary Sannin of Konoha either wandering the country or defecting, the Uchiha clan's tendency towards division has become increasingly serious. The conflict with the Hidden Cloud Village has just ended, and other ninja villages are also eyeing the Uchiha clan covetously.

The whole "too many enemies across four generations, can't reveal the identity of the hero's son" thing is utter nonsense.

Unable to withstand external wars, unable to shift internal conflicts, and with no one at the top able to take responsibility for the Nine-Tails' rampage, the outlet for public resentment naturally fell on Naruto.

Once Naruto's identity as the Fourth Hokage's son is revealed, someone must step forward to take responsibility for the Nine-Tails' rampage. This would be tantamount to publicly admitting the incompetence of the higher-ups, and adding the charge of defaming the son of a hero.

Of course, if revealing his identity could establish a connection between Naruto and the village, then Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't mind taking the blame.

But before that, we must address the two most important issues at hand.

The two issues are the succession to the Fifth Hokage and the split within the Uchiha clan, with the former being particularly important!

Otherwise, there is a high probability of internal turmoil and invasion by external forces.

Unfortunately, among the current generation of young people in Konoha, Kakashi, the most outstanding one, has been in a state of decline, and his youngest son, Sarutobi Asuma, on whom he had placed high hopes, is not strong enough. Most of the others are also mediocre.

The old can't leave, and the young can't rise. The entire Leaf Village seems prosperous, but in reality, it has long become a quagmire, making it difficult for everyone to extricate themselves.

Even he, the Hokage, had long since been reduced to a politician spouting grand pronouncements amidst the power struggles…

Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed again: "Although I don't consider myself a power-hungry person, it's hard to avoid becoming corrupt after being in a high position for so long."

Upon hearing this, Shikaku quickly defended Naruto: "Hokage-sama, Naruto is just a child who doesn't know any better..."

"It's alright, Shikaku."

Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled, puffing on his cigarette one after another, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table, before letting out a wistful sigh.

"Let's try to build a bond with Naruto first."

As they were talking, a little girl with blonde hair and blue eyes entered the scene in the crystal ball, accompanied by a chubby little boy.

"Shikamaru! You bastard! You said you wanted to play ninja games, but you ran off first, making us look for you for ages!"

The blonde girl waved her little fists menacingly, then her gaze shifted and fell on Naruto lying on the riverbank, and she couldn't take her eyes off him.

The little girl tiptoed up to Naruto, her eyes fixed intently on his handsome face, her big eyes unblinking. At only three years old, she already possessed the typical infatuation of a boy.

"Hello, my name is Yamanaka Ino. What's your name?"

Naruto closed his eyes, didn't speak, pretending to be a master... pretending to be dead... pretending to be asleep.

Seeing that Naruto didn't say anything, a small hand nudged his arm.

Naruto: "..."

Don't you know what modesty is, you little girl?

"Naruto Uzumaki"

Seeing that Ino was pushing harder and harder, determined not to stop until she woke him up, Naruto finally opened his eyes.

Ino's face lit up with joy, and just as she was about to say something, a chubby boy squatted down next to her.

"Hello, my name is Choji Akimichi, Naruto. Would you like some potato chips?"

"Thanks."

Naruto reached into the bag Choji handed him and took a potato chip, giving him a friendly smile.

Choji Akimichi was his favorite male supporting character in the original work, without a doubt.

Simple, kind, and honest—to be friends with such a person is undoubtedly one of the greatest blessings in life.

Choji smiled, his eyes narrowing, "If you eat my potato chips, then we're friends!"

"Okay, sure."

Naruto smiled gently: "No matter how our positions change, we will always be friends."

Shikamaru, who had just relaxed, started to panic again. Clearly, the key point of that sentence wasn't in the second half...

"Naruto, how old are you this year?"

"Naruto, what are your hobbies?"

"Naruto, do you... have a girl you like?"

By the riverbank, Ino chattered around Naruto like she was taking a census, asking questions while covering her face, extremely shy.

Naruto looked at Shikamaru, but Shikamaru turned his head away.

So, I guess we can consider this... mission accomplished?

Anyway, Shikamaru felt that the group got along quite well, but friends are friends and their positions are another matter, and Naruto clearly understood this distinction.

If someone tries to criticize Naruto's stance as a friend, they're just asking for trouble.

It wasn't until evening, when the three children's parents came to pick them up, that Naruto finally got some peace and quiet.

The King Kong was poured into the river, bringing up several plump river fish. Then, the scales were scraped off, the gills removed, and the internal organs gutted. Soon, the aroma of grilled fish wafted from the riverbank.

(End of this chapter)