Chapter 4: Akira Enchanted by Konoha's Friendship

Akira isn't accustomed to eating raw fish sushi, but the previous inhabitant of this body, Kimura Akira, not only didn't dislike it but rather enjoyed it.

As a close friend of Akira, Minato naturally knew his taste preferences. The lunchbox he brought always contained foods that Akira liked.

If Kimura Akira suddenly developed a dislike for raw fish sushi and even felt like vomiting after eating it, it would definitely be unusual.

Therefore, he forced himself to swallow it and even deliberately licked his lips. Suddenly, he realized that, huh, it seemed like there wasn't any nauseous feeling or desire to vomit. Instead, there was a strange feeling of excitement.

It seemed that the discomfort just now... no, it was purely psychological.

This body was actually accustomed to raw fish sushi; eating it did not cause any nausea for Akira. It was just a resistance from Akira's past dietary habits.

"Very good, this way, I can inherit many of Akira's daily habits," Akira sighed with relief inwardly. In this way, he would truly become Kimura Akira in the future.

"Akira!"

While Akira was thinking like this, Minato, at that moment, felt a jolt in his heart.

Akira thought he concealed his emotional changes, but Minato noticed them clearly.

In that instant of disgust, Minato sensed it.

Minato remained composed on the surface, eating sushi rice balls casually with Akira, but his mind was racing.

First, the change in Chakra temperature, then the change in the speed and duration of Chakra condensation, and finally, the change in dietary taste.

Especially just now, at the moment when "Akira" forcibly swallowed the raw fish sushi despite clearly wanting to vomit, the act of deception and disguise was too obvious.

This indicates that the current "Akira" not only dislikes eating raw fish sushi but even feels repulsed by it.

However, Akira clearly used to enjoy eating raw fish sushi.

So, there is only one truth.

Akira is no longer the same Akira as before.

At this moment, Minato can be quite certain that the "friend" before him is no longer his old friend.

Or rather, he is a friend being controlled in secret.

Considering that enemies who secretly control his friend might be in Konoha, or at least should within sensing distance capable of controlling him.

If Minato hastily leaves to report, he might be detected by the enemies in secret, leading them to contemplate killing his friend and leaving.

So Minato still refrained from acting recklessly; he are the sushi rice balls while activating Chakra Temperature Sensing, trying to locate the enemies who are secretly controlling his friend.

"Phew... so full!"

Before long, after finishing half of the sushi in the lunchbox, Akira subconsciously patted his stomach, leaned back, and comfortably rested against the back table of the classroom.

During these seven days in the Naruto world, he hadn't had a single good meal. It was either instant noodles or boiled eggs, always eating with apprehension.

In fact, if there hadn't been almost no food left at home, he might not have come to school today.

Now that the issue of revealing his identity was resolved, he not only gained Minato's friendship but also enjoyed a delicious lunch. It was so relaxing.

It was quite miraculous.

Initially feeling nauseous about the raw fish sushi, Akira didn't feel nauseous at all after eating it.

It was like someone who doesn't eat spicy food and finds it unbearable the first time. But after getting used to it, the spiciness only stimulates the taste buds, providing a kind of pleasure in taste.

Similarly, for Akira now, the stimulation from the raw fish sushi brought a sense of pleasure to his body, which in turn transmitted to his spirit, making him very joyful. 

It must be said that the body and the spirit interact with each other.

Physical pleasure can transmit to the spirit. Mental pleasure can also transmit to the body.

So some subconscious habits of Akira from his previous life are also transmitted to this current body.

For example, after eating a full meal, Akira would subconsciously pat his stomach.

This habit is very ordinary, and Akira doesn't pay any attention to it at all.

But someone else does.

In Minato's eyes, his friend has never had the habit of patting his stomach after eating a full meal, at least not once.

So seeing this scene, Minato's gaze sharpened again, adding another reason to his certainty that his friend is being controlled.

Afterward, while packing up the lunchbox, Minato smiled and proposed, "Let's have lunch together from now on."

"Sure." Akira's eyes brightened, sitting up straight. He had been worried about how he would manage money in the future, but now with Minato's help, he was more than willing. However, considering the original owner's setting issues, he quickly added, "But don't worry, Minato. Once I become a powerful ninja in the future, I'll repay you double."

It's all because Konoha's relief fund is too little.

But those who understand Konoha's relief funds know that even Naruto, the son of the Hokage, has had to drink expired milk and often goes hungry. As a Chunin's son like him, let alone mentioning it, the relief fund is pitifully small.

If it weren't for the house bought by his predecessor's parents and a place to stay, Akira would probably have been sent to an orphanage by now.

So being able to mooch Minato's lunch every day at noon is really great.

Anyway, they are friends, so there's no need to be too polite with friends.

Because these things, he will repay them in the future.

With a series of talents brought about by his mutant consciousness, Akira is confident that he can possess the strength to prevent Obito from harming Minato and his wife if the Nine-Tails incident arrives.

The gratitude for lunch will be repaid with life-saving gratitude. Minato won't lose out on this exchange.

"Mm."

Looking at his friend's face and naturally speaking the words that only friends would say to each other, Minato couldn't help but wish he could immediately expose and kill the bastard who was secretly controlling his friend.

But that's just what he thought in his heart; on his face was a cheerful smile as he nodded in response.

Now is not the time.

Minato remained calm and did not show any signs of hostility.

While maintaining his usual interaction with Akira, Minato focused his mind on sensing the Chakra around Akira, trying to find the enemy who was controlling his friend in secret.

Unfortunately, there was no hidden enemy at all; Minato never detected any Chakra temperature similar to that of the controller.

Akira was completely unaware of everything Minato was doing in secret.

He thought he had already completely integrated into this world, fully becoming Kimura Akira.

Little did he know, danger was silently approaching.

...

"See you tomorrow, Minato."

"See you tomorrow, Akira."

"Akira, Minato, see you tomorrow."

At 5:00 PM outside the Academy gate, amidst waves of classmates bidding farewell, Akira and Minato waved back.

"See you tomorrow, Akira."

After the classmates left, Minato waved to Akira, their homes perfectly confronting each other—one to the north and the other to the south, different paths. Every time they parted ways, it was at the school gate.

"See you tomorrow."

Akira waved back with a smile. His expression looked much more relaxed than in the morning.

The two turned and walked towards their respective homes.

Along the way, those who knew Akira's previous self greeted him, not only classmates but also people on the street. Akira responded to each one.

It must be said that in terms of the villagers' friendliness in daily life, Konoha surpassed the other four major ninja villages by a long shot.

Today at school felt great too. There was no bullying as Akira had feared. Everyone was friendly and sincere towards him. In the morning, they had been considerate of Akira's mental state and hadn't interacted much with him. However, by the afternoon during the practical class, it seemed that Akira had already moved past the death of his parents. His classmates started talking to him and interacting with him, not excluding him because of his orphan status.

This increased Akira's sense of identity with Konoha a lot.

It's different from various dark theories about Konoha seen on novels in his previous life.

In this world's Konoha, the villagers, especially the children in the Academy, are very loving and united.

In fact, they had a strong sense of identity with Konoha.

Thinking of this, Akira couldn't help but sigh.

Although the Will of Fire brainwashes people, it really works.

Thanks to the brainwashing of the Will of Fire, classmates at school recognize the identity of Konoha Ninja, and they show love towards Akira.

At least situations like Naruto and Kushina's won't happen to him.

And Naruto's situation was because of the propaganda about the Nine-Tailed Fox.

Kushina's case was due to her status as an outsider.

The ninja world is actually quite exclusive.

Because many outsiders often play the role of spies, naturally they are not well received.

Coupled with the Will of Fire's mandate to uphold Konoha, it naturally contrasts its greatness with the evil of outsiders.

For those influenced by this brainwashing, being exclusive is normal.

The Nine-Tails and Kushina were exactly the kind of outsiders who weren't accepted by everyone, so they were ostracized.

Someone like Kimura Akira, born and raised in Konoha, whose parents sacrificed themselves for Konoha as ninjas, not only wouldn't face exclusion but would also be treated kindly and cared for.

"So!"

"This Konoha is really great!"

"At least it's good now."

"With such a great Konoha, I'll protect it in the future."

At this moment, passing by the Hokage Building, Akira stopped, looked up at the two "Hokage" engraved on the Hokage Building, smiled faintly, showed a determined expression, and then continued walking forward.

At this moment, standing by the window of the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage Hiruzen happened to witness this scene.

"Great, another good child inheriting the Will of Fire."

With a cigarette holder in his mouth, he puffed smoke rings, his eyes fixed on the road leading from the Academy.

Seeing Akira stop and gaze up at the Hokage Building with eager eyes, a pleased smile spread across the Third Hokage's face. He silently noted another inheritor of the Will of Fire, and with it, another supporter.

What?

Supporting the Will of Fire doesn't mean supporting him?

How could that be?

He, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, was the embodiment of the Will of Fire.

To support the Will of Fire was to support him.

Watching one child after another, inheriting the Will of Fire, pass by the Hokage Building, filled the Third Hokage with extreme contentment.

So, at this time every day, he liked to stand by the window and watch the children coming home from the Academy.