The Fox Who Always Wants to Be Strong

After walking a short distance up, they reached the area above the Hokage Rock. It was a large open space, with five layers of fences set up for defense. Small colored lights were winding up the mountain road from the foot to the flat area at the top of the mountain.

"Naruto! It's dangerous, come back!"

Ino stood by the innermost railing, watching Naruto standing at the outermost rail, his tactical boots stepping on a steel pipe with a diameter of six centimeters. The night wind at the height was howling, and he swayed with it.

"It's fine. I do this all the time."

Naruto faced Ino, with the cliff behind him and a skewer of red bean dumplings in his hand.

This action was incredibly dangerous, and Ino felt her heart nearly leap out of her chest. She stared at Naruto, who stood at the very edge, her heart racing with every tiny sway of his body. Her brain was overwhelmed with fear, making her dizzy.

Although it wasn't her standing there, Ino still felt fear, afraid that Naruto might fall off the railing at any moment. The insecurity made her body tremble slightly, and her throat went dry, unable to speak.

"No... don't." Ino took several steps forward, crossing three railings to try to pull Naruto down.

She saw Naruto smiling, hands behind his back, seemingly enjoying the moment.

"I won't jump." Naruto stepped down from the railing and walked over to Ino, saying, "The view of the village at night is quite nice."

"You scared me to death just now," Ino said.

"Ha-ha, sorry," Naruto laughed, "Actually, it's very safe. I often come here when I'm feeling down. Even if I fall, the protruding Hokage Rock will catch me."

"Even so, that's too dangerous!" Ino muttered. "Don't do things that make people worry!"

"Got it."

"Naruto, why did you forfeit back then?"

"No reason. I didn't want to take the exam," Naruto replied. "By the time the second round of the Chunin exam started, the whole thing was already over for me."

"What about the rest?"

"The rest doesn't matter."

"Huh??" Ino was puzzled. "Wouldn't it be good to become a Chunin early?"

"Not really. I don't want to do troublesome tasks," Naruto said bluntly. "Also, I don't have enough experience. Even if I won every match, I couldn't become a Chunin, so it would be a waste of time."

Ino was completely defeated by Naruto's logic and facepalmed.

The two didn't stay long or talk about anything too specific. After about half an hour, they left the Hokage Rock together.

At the crossroads before they parted, Ino waved at Naruto and asked,

"Naruto, will you come to my shop to buy flowers?"

"Huh?"

"You have the next month free, right?"

"Yeah, I plan to use it to sleep well."

Ino: "..."

Naruto scratched his head. Buy flowers? Should he get some for the Third Hokage in advance? Isn't that a bit too much?

.....

"Ah, so comfortable!"

The fan made a painful screeching sound, and after three loud clicks, it finally started to turn slowly. Naruto lay on the floor, letting out faint groans.

It was a scorching summer day, and the heat outside was becoming unbearable.

Naruto had ordered two air conditioners the day before, but the installer had taken the day off, so it was delayed until now.

There was a knock at the door, and Naruto thought it was the air conditioner installers. He hurriedly got up and opened the apartment door with a whoosh.

"Huh?"

He was greeted by two large air conditioners, but there was no sign of the installer.

"Sasuke Uchiha? Did you order the air conditioner installation service yesterday?" A girl wearing a uniform, about the same height as Naruto, peeked out from behind a cardboard box. Her gaze met Naruto's, and she froze.

This look is unmistakable. Is that... Doyo?

"Are you Sasuke Uchiha?" the girl frowned, glancing at the card in her hand and then back at Naruto.

Doyo didn't admit it, and Naruto didn't expose her either. He kept pretending.

"Yeah, I'm Sasuke Uchiha," Naruto said.

"I remember the Uchiha clan doesn't have blonde hair…" the girl muttered.

"Dye job," Naruto lied without hesitation.

"Ah, I see." The girl glanced at Naruto again and then showed impressive strength by moving the two large air conditioners inside.

Air conditioners, along with refrigerators, were expensive items that ordinary people couldn't afford. Fortunately, Naruto wasn't an ordinary person and bought two, contributing to the store's sales.

"Just install one, the other doesn't need installation, just leave it there," Naruto instructed.

"Got it."

The installation process was long and boring. Naruto stayed by, watching until the job was completed, and then handed the girl an ice cream.

"Thank you." The girl didn't refuse and sat cross-legged on the floor, enjoying the cool breeze from the air conditioner.

"By the way, you recognized me, right?"

"I guess so," the girl replied, licking her ice cream as she lay on the floor. "So, did you just take this job to make ends meet?"

"Yeah," Doyo nodded. "The other three idiots couldn't learn, so I had to do it alone."

"Oh," Naruto thought to himself, so even undercover agents have to work odd jobs, how tough.

"So comfortable."

"Yeah, so comfortable." Doyo echoed, lying on the floor and closing her eyes like Naruto.

After an unknown amount of time.

"Want to eat barbecue?" Naruto suddenly asked.

"Probably won't have time." Doyo replied.

"That's too bad," Naruto said. "I won't go if it's alone."

"Yeah."

....

The next day, in the sealing space.

The Nine-Tails looked at the pile of furniture, which resembled a small mountain, and was momentarily speechless. It looked at Naruto, who was using a pump to suck out waste water, and spoke.

"Human, is this how the Four Symbols Seal works? Sealing a bunch of household appliances?"

Upon hearing this, Naruto stopped what he was doing, rolled up his sleeves, and shouted toward the Nine-Tails.

"Just say if you want it or not, damn it."

"I'll reluctantly accept it, but don't think I'll be nice to you," the Nine-Tails said haughtily.

"Tch." Naruto didn't look back. "Kyūbi, I didn't do this for you. I've got too much money and nothing to spend it on, so I did a little kindness and got you all this stuff out of boredom."

"Heh, you think I need your pity?"

"In that case, what about this VCR..."

"Pity me, please." The Nine-Tails quickly softened. A smile flickered across Naruto's face.

He had already let the Nine-Tails try the joy of using the VCR, and this fox was already addicted. Too much.

"Alright, I'll pity you." Naruto quickly placed the VCR where the Nine-Tails could reach it, wiped his sweat, and said, "That one's the air conditioner. I don't think you need it, but it's a gift for you."

"That one's a refrigerator, and that one's..." Naruto went on, "Do you understand now?"

The Nine-Tails didn't understand at all but nodded anyway.

"Human, don't underestimate my wisdom!"

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