Not Disliked
"Boss, why is that Demon Fox here again?"
Yuan Wei whispered. He didn't really discriminate against the Demon Fox, but he also didn't feel anything for him.
Konoha Village was so big, with the Death Forest, Training Ground 44, alone being twenty kilometers in diameter. Most of the students who could enter the Ninja Academy kept the Demon Fox at arm's length.
Quite a few people would laugh at the Demon Fox for being a dropout, but there wasn't much actual discrimination or isolation.
"If he wants to follow, let him follow," Lin Ke sighed like a little adult.
He really hadn't thought about getting involved with the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, but why didn't he refuse or drive him away forcefully?
Besides worrying that the guy would become more clingy, the root cause was that he couldn't bring himself to dislike Uzumaki Naruto.
In his previous life, he had read the complete manga. It was his youth when he was in school. Back then, he, who loved manga and novels, opened the manga book alone and watched the mischievous and dropout protagonist being shaped by one plot after another.
For that guy who risked his life to gain the recognition of others, that dropout who never gave up no matter how he was in adversity, who was determined, brave, passionate, and gentle...
Perhaps the Naruto manga had this or that problem that was criticized, but Uzumaki Naruto, as a standard shonen manga protagonist, at least in the early stages, he genuinely moved Lin Ke.
This was why he once loved this manga and Uzumaki Naruto so much.
After truly transmigrating to the Naruto World, Lin Ke wouldn't naively think that the manga was reality, but he found it difficult to feel any ill will towards Uzumaki Naruto.
It was precisely because he knew what a good kid he was that he kept a cold face and was unwilling to communicate.
He was afraid that one day he would be inexplicably corroded by emotions, have some kind of bond, and inexplicably die like Hyuga Neji.
From the beginning, his goal was to live well and to take his destiny into his own hands.
"Boss," Xia suddenly said, "You—"
"You smiled."
Lin Ke looked up at the azure sky. Did I smile? Hmph. He returned to his calm appearance and lowered his head, saying, "Alright, enough nonsense. Xia, starting with you, demonstrate everything I taught you yesterday."
"Boss~" Xia's voice was obviously much lighter, no longer as suppressed as before when being led. She walked towards the nearby open space and said, "I'm a girl, you know."
"Ladies first, isn't that perfect?" Lin Ke didn't have any intention of retaliating.
Xia helplessly began to act.
Yuan Wei secretly chuckled beside her.
The Fifth Squad's training lasted for about two hours. Lin Ke let them rest for a while and then practice freely. He walked to a nearby vending machine, bought two cans of Sweet Red Bean Soup with Mochi, found a seat nearby, opened one can and took a sip, and placed the other can on the other side of the bench.
Canned Sweet Red Bean Soup with Mochi, the drink Naruto drank with Konohamaru while chatting in the forest when he just graduated. By the way, Mitarashi Anko is a loyal fan of this drink.
"Come out," he took another sip of the drink, soothing his throat.
"Rustle, rustle."
Uzumaki Naruto jumped down from the treetop, surprised, "How did you find me?"
"You've been following me since I left Ichiraku Ramen yesterday, okay?" Lin Ke complained.
Uzumaki Naruto was a little unconvinced, but he didn't refute. Instead, he prepared to form hand seals for battle. He had a killer move that he hadn't used yet!
"Your tracking skills are terrible," Lin Ke said calmly, sitting still on the chair, gesturing with his chin for the other to sit down and drink, "I'm treating you."
Strangely, Uzumaki Naruto didn't have any other reaction. Instead, he was stunned for a moment. After hesitating slightly, he sat down, picked up the Sweet Red Bean Soup with Mochi, and said softly, "Thank you."
It was the first time someone his age had chatted with him peacefully, the first time someone his age had offered him a drink, the first time...
Oh, no, it was a little brat shorter than him.
"What are you thinking about?"
Lin Ke narrowed his eyes. He always felt that this guy seemed to be thinking about something he shouldn't be thinking about, something that needed to be beheaded.
"Nothing," Uzumaki Naruto looked down at the ground, holding the Sweet Red Bean Soup with Mochi in his hand without opening it. It wasn't that he wasn't thirsty or anything, but he was a little reluctant.
Reluctant to drink it.
Tch, kid.
Lin Ke curled his lips, a little strange about why this guy was so quiet, but he didn't take it to heart, and said, "Why have you been following me?"
Some things always need to be said. Since he can't shake him off, he might as well have an honest conversation. Maybe he can become a friend, neither too close nor too distant, like Uzumaki Naruto's other classmates? That doesn't sound too bad.
Speaking of which, if I could travel back in time and tell people that I became friends with Uzumaki Naruto, wouldn't many people envy me?
He took another sip of his drink to suppress the corners of his mouth.
Lin Ke looked over after finishing his drink. What's this guy doing? He couldn't even answer a question for a few seconds. He casually asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Uzumaki Naruto repeated his previous answer, his tone sounding a bit down.
No way? Lin Ke felt a bit uneasy. Was this guy suddenly going to cry? Could it be that becoming a Genin and gaining recognition from the people around him was so difficult for someone even younger than himself?
Uzumaki Naruto raised his head, a bright smile blooming on his face. "Thank you."
"What's going on..."
Lin Ke muttered, taking another sip of his drink to calm his nerves. The plot was a bit strange, okay?
He's thanking me for just one drink? If it were Hinata, a few more gifts would probably be enough to kidnap the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki back home.
Now it suddenly feels awkward. At this moment, can I still tell him to stop following me?
He scratched the back of his head, a little troubled. Could this be the legendary winning hearts strategy? Thinking, he said, "Okay, I'll tell you, um..."
What should I say? His emotions are a bit disjointed.
"Forget it." Lin Ke said helplessly. There's really no way to deal with this guy. Anyway, it hasn't affected his normal life so far. It's a bit weird, but he doesn't dislike this guy anyway.
Uzumaki Naruto calmed down and asked curiously, "Were you just... teaching them?"
"Yeah." Lin Ke returned to a normal conversational mindset. He took another sip of his drink and said, "It's not that easy to become a qualified Genin."
"Then, could you—" Uzumaki Naruto hesitated briefly. Considering that the other party was two years younger than him and could become a Genin, and even teach his classmates, a strange idea appeared in his head, but to ask a kid—
Lin Ke glanced at this guy. From just now, this guy had been glancing at the top of his head, subtly. Don't think he doesn't know what this guy is thinking.
But, as an adult, stay calm, stay calm
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