Chapter 6: Pick up a lost child

Half a year had passed, and the coldest winter had come. After this cold winter, Naruto would be six years old, and he will be arranged by the Third Hokage to study in the ninja academy.

Since he was "passed by" by the Third Hokage that night and shared a meal of fish, when the second month arrived and the living expenses were provided for him, the Third Hokage replaced the Anbu and handed Naruto an envelope full of 1500 ryō and informed him of his identity, that he was the Third Hokage.

He also said that the extra 500 ryō was a subsidy he saved for Naruto out of his pocket, while other orphans only received 1,000 ryō a month, and some even had only a few hundred ryō. 

And hearing his words full of 'sincerity' Naruto vomited blood in his heart and cursed his shamelessness. 

'Old man, you really know how to deceive a child. If it's the original naruto, his admiration for you will definitely reach the roof.'

He didn't believe that the majestic Konoha's Fourth Hokage, the "Yellow Flash" of the ninja world, would have no money! Where was his legacy, and that of the last princess of the Uzumaki clan?

You tell me now, this was the money you saved out of your pocket? A mere five hundred ryō!?

The reward for a D-level task was 10,000 ryō!  

Then let's take a look at the number of missions Minato did when he was alive: 122 D-level, 147 C-level, 216 B-level, 323 A-level, and 39 S-level.

The reward for an S-level task was more than one million ryō.

It could be seen from this that Hiruzen had a bit of conscience, but not much.

"I see, thank you Grandpa Hokage." Naruto took it respectfully.

To be reasonable, if he saved 500 ryō, after ten days, he would have 5,000 ryō. So in the future, he didn't need to rely on his charity.

The Third Hokage didn't see the emotions of surprise,  shock, and excitement that he imagined Naruto to show, and his brows could not help but frown slightly.

Naruto had really changed, the kid who loved to attract people's attention by playing pranks was gone, replaced by an indifferent and unsocial appearance.

After this month's observation, the Third Hokage was convinced that this child was completely disappointed in the fact that the expectations he had paid for him had not been responded to.

"What's the matter, Naruto, are you disappointed?" The Third Hokage temporarily put aside the doubts in his heart and looked at Naruto earnestly.

"Ah? Nothing, I'm very happy, but, I'm thinking if only I could grow up soon. If only I wasn't a child."

Naruto explained.

This was indeed what he really thought in his heart. Children were too limited in what they could do, and their strength was not enough. It was really uncomfortable to be constrained everywhere.

"Oh? What do you want to do after you grow up?"

Hiruzen looked at Naruto in surprise, did he want to take revenge on those villagers who hated him as an adult? Is this child's thinking so extreme? Is it really necessary to use Danzo...

"When I grow up, I will be able to tell them with my strength that I am not the demon fox who will destroy the village. I want to prove to them that I, Uzumaki Naruto, am a hero who can protect the village and everyone like the Fourth Hokage!"

Naruto said loudly.

This was what the original Naruto said according to his hot-blooded character in the anime.

This should be enough to impress the Third Hokage.

really…

Hearing Naruto's Third Hokage, his eyes lit up! So it turned out that the will of fire had penetrated Naruto's heart so quickly?

This was a good thing! Well worth my while...ahem, Danzo's contribution!

"Don't worry, Naruto, you are still young. When we get old, it will be the time for you young people, so you have to eat well and grow up! By the way, you will be six years old next year, and I will arrange for you to enroll in school. Try to do what you just said and study hard!"

"I understand!" Naruto nodded.

But he sighed infinitely in his heart, it's better to leave now, he really can't hold it anymore.

Talking to this old fox exhausted his half-month rest.

"It's time for me to go home, Grandpa Hokage. Bye." Naruto excuses himself as he stands up from his seat and waves goodbye to the excited Third Hokage. 

"Is it already time? Then be careful on your way home." 

...

Naruto walked on the white snow with his hands in his pockets, making a creaking sound.

He had just returned after eating Ramen at Ichiraku Ramen. It was winter and New Year's Eve was about to come. Naruto had generously ordered a bowl of miso Ramen for 90 ryō.

But Naruto now had more than 90,000 ryō, so he didn't pay attention to a mere 90 ryō!

"Thanks to my system, I've become rich overnight~"

Walking on the road and feeling the cold, Naruto was glad that he had stored quilts and clothes for ten days before this winter, otherwise, Naruto didn't know how he would have survived such a cold day in the air-leaky room.

And to cover it up, he pretended to pick up the quilts from the outside, and there should not be too many, otherwise, it would be exposed. Therefore, at this time, Naruto still has 98 quilts in his system space, which cannot be used.

"What is the most painful thing for a person is that when a person dies, their money is not spent. And, when the person is alive, their money's gone. Just like my current self, I have too much money and quilts, but I can't use them for some reason." 

Naruto sighed.

"ahh!"

"Hm?"

A crisp voice interrupted Naruto's thinking. He looked up and saw a girl in a black martial arts uniform kneeling in the snow on the quiet long street under the white streetlight as if she had fallen.

"Hinata? It seems that in the original book, Naruto and Hinata met for the first time in the snow."

"Isn't it such a coincidence?" Naruto turned around silently, wanting to walk away.

Anyway, as the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan, even if she ran out alone, they would find her immediately after being discovered by the clan...

"Woooo..."

"Oh, forget it." Naruto turned around again and walked towards the crying little Hinata.

His heart was too soft to see a girl shed tears.

"What are u doing?"

"Woooo..."

Hinata heard someone talking and looked up.

"I..."

"It's too cold here, if you are lost, I can take you back."

"I… "

"Sigh, get up, I'll take you back."

Naruto being helpless, stepped forward to hold Hinata's hand and walked towards the Hyuga clan.

"If I had known I wouldn't be out today, I would have come to eat noodles tomorrow morning...Damn, I forgot that there would be a lot of people in the morning."

Naruto pinched the center of his brows with a headache, it had been so long, but those stupid villagers still looked at him like he killed their whole family, it was unreasonable! 

'Should I learn from Itachi and kill them all?'

"That...that..."

Hinata's voice rang in Naruto's ear.

"Ah, why… Oh, I'm sorry."

Naruto looked back as if he was too absorbed in thinking about things, walked too fast, and forgot that he was holding someone by his hand.

Hinata could only follow behind Naruto at a trotting speed. At this moment, her face was flushed red and the top of her head was steaming, which made her forget to cry.

Naruto slowed down, and after a while, he brought Hinata to a big house. Above the gate, there was a plaque with the word "Hyuga" written on it.

"We're here, don't run around in the future, it's very dangerous at night."

Naruto didn't say much, turned and left.

Hinata looked at Naruto's back and moved her mouth, but she still couldn't ask the question.

"What's your name?"