7 Love and Hatred

[Medical Office]

Ino studied Naruto’s expression closely, as if trying to decipher the true colors of his heart.

"At the next patient follow-up, I will ask Haruna for her personal opinion. If she is willing to share it, I will let you know."

Naruto’s expression was as if this was exactly what he expected.

"By the way," Ino asked, "You are familiar with Haruna’s chronic condition, aren’t you?"

"Yes."

Previously, when Haruna’s rehabilitation was going poorly, Naruto had to accompany her to the hospital for every visit, and he had handled most of the paperwork himself.

Naruto said, "Haruna’s leg has chakra congestion that blocks her nerves, preventing her from continuing her life as a ninja."

Ino nodded. "Chakra is a fusion of spiritual and physical energy. If something goes wrong with chakra, both the body and the spirit of a ninja will suffer aberrations."

"Haruna’s condition cannot be cured by psychological therapy alone; her original injuries also require treatment."

"I know. But the medication provided previously hasn't been effective enough."

For her condition, the most perfect, painless restorative agent would be the Six Paths Sage Power.

However...

Seventeen-year-old Naruto Uzumaki, in the name of his best friend and his ninja way, had exhausted it without a second thought.

Because of this, the wife of the twenty-one-year-old Naruto had to endure a hundred, even a thousand times more pain due to his recklessness.

Thinking of this, Naruto’s expression grew increasingly heavy. This was the bitter fruit he had sown himself.

Ino continued, "But I have good news for you. Led by Lady Tsunade, a joint medical research project between Sunagakure and Konoha has made a major breakthrough in a specialized drug for patients like Haruna. The first batch has just arrived in my hands."

"In the past, Sunagakure would never have engaged in friendly exchanges with us. Due to the old grudges of the Ninja War, they were very hostile toward Lady Tsunade, let alone collaborating on such critical medication."

Ino added, "But because of your contributions to a peaceful world, and because you are a close friend of the Fifth Kazekage—and Gaara, the Fifth Kazekage, was saved by you—we were able to advance this cooperation so easily. Do you know? Sunagakure is even willing to tailor a medical plan specifically for Haruna."

Naruto paid no attention to the praise; his expression visibly relaxed. "Gaara is always reliable when it counts."

But this time, Ino wanted to say that those accolades were the most critical part. Because it was also Naruto, acting as a hero, who planted the seeds of kindness in the past, only to reap the success of this specialized medicine today.

She said earnestly, "The medical consultation regarding Haruna is over. Naruto, what I am about to say next is as your friend."

Naruto’s joy dimmed slightly, as if he sensed Ino was about to say something unpleasant.

Quite the contrary.

"You and Haruna share a karmic bond."

Ino believed that Haruna was not as devoid of feelings for Naruto as she appeared. After all, Naruto had never mistreated her; as a husband, he was practically perfect, and there was no hatred between them. If there had never been love or expectations, why would Haruna harbor such intense resentment toward him?

Ino knew that Haruna was not the type of person to marry someone easily for vanity. Resentment, after all, is often just a way of repeatedly proving love through pain. This situation is common in marriages, especially among couples who married for love; the higher the demand for emotional fulfillment, the more painful the reality becomes.

As a doctor, and as a friend, Ino hoped they could find the right solution to the quagmire of their marriage.

"This is a small test for you and your wife."

"At the next follow-up, I will ask Haruna if you can truly participate in the entirety of her treatment."

"I apologize; this is my professional duty as a doctor."

"And as a friend—keep at it, Naruto."

Ino pushed the medicine bottle toward Naruto. She looked at her friend with encouragement—this golden-haired hero who had saved the village and the world countless times.

"You have created so many miracles; you can definitely do this one too."

Naruto was moved. He composed himself, solemnly took the bottle from Ino’s hands, and accepted the karmic consequence he had planted with his own two hands.

He said in a low voice, "I will."

This time, it was Naruto, as a family member of a patient, questioning the doctor. However, in truth... Ino thought, it was also a psychological treatment for Naruto.

The new core system was still useful after all; even a powerhouse of Naruto’s level could relax a little and communicate calmly. Orochimaru’s technology was truly impressive.

***

The atmosphere in the clinic was warm and passionate, but the chaotic scene at the Chunin Exam arena was anything but.

No one cared about the fate of Naruto Uzumaki’s marriage anymore. Hadn't Ino just said that Sunagakure backstabbed their allies? In the previous era, the hatred between the two villages was life-or-death.

But now, Ino claimed that "the times have changed." If a situation could arise where the two villages turned their swords into plowshares, then the times had indeed changed.

Furthermore, Ino mentioned that Naruto had created countless miracles and made extraordinary contributions to peace. Could there really be a peaceful era in this world?

As for the news about Tsunade and Sunagakure jointly developing new medicine, that seemed like a minor detail now.

Baki stared fixedly at the sky, his face beaming with joy. He had found his last straw of salvation. At first, when the plan was exposed in public and it looked like Sunagakure was about to be wiped out, he felt as if the sky were falling! Then, hearing that the Fourth Kazekage was already dead... well, to be honest, that falling sky was held up by the Kazekage’s corpse. Lord Kazekage died—no, sacrificed himself—at just the right time.

When he heard Ino say the times had changed, Baki’s eyes lit up, and he almost wanted to bow to her. Well said! The alliance between Sunagakure and Konoha has always been unbreakable!

After thanking the future Ino and planning how to escape, Baki realized another piece of bombshell news. Wait. Gaara? Fifth Kazekage? A close friend of Naruto Uzumaki? Hadn't the screen just shown them fighting to the death in the Chunin Exams?

Kankuro stiffened and turned his neck to look at his brother. The future Gaara could actually become the Kazekage?!

"What are you looking at?" Gaara said coldly.

Kankuro shivered. If Gaara were made Kazekage, wouldn't the entire population of Sunagakure be shaking in their boots every day?

Temari, however, understood the future trajectory. After all, a Kage can be dull, greedy, or full of flaws, but they must be a powerhouse capable of protecting the village. Gaara absolutely satisfied that requirement.

Moreover... Temari felt a stir in her heart. The red-haired boy’s expression remained indifferent. Whether the screen said his father was dead or that the Konoha Crush plan was an Orochimaru conspiracy from the start, there was not a flicker of emotion on his face. Only when he heard that he had become the Fifth Kazekage and was involved with Naruto Uzumaki did he show a hint of surprise.

His position as Kazekage was stabilized by that unremarkable blond guy? How could that be? In the eyes of Gaara, his only opponent was Sasuke Uchiha; he had never put Naruto in his sights. As for becoming close friends, that was even more impossible. He was a weapon; weapons didn't need family, and they certainly didn't need friends.

Just then, her younger brother’s voice sounded softly beside him.

"Perhaps, having a friend is one of the miracles Naruto Uzumaki created for Gaara?"

Gaara looked over instinctively, meeting Temari’s expectant and cautious gaze. If the miracle of having a friend could happen, what about having a family and the love of the villagers?

That’s right. Temari had received the tragic news of her father’s sacrifice from the sky, but she also saw the dawn of a new life for Sunagakure and her family. She wanted to grasp it tightly.

Kankuro looked at the screen, hoping for more information about Sunagakure and his brother, but a line of large text appeared:

[This broadcast has ended. Time until the next broadcast: 720 hours. 100 Heart-Pounding Points.]

***

Everyone retracted their gaze from the sky and looked at the golden-haired boy who had been showered with infinite praise and expectations.

"Haruna-chan has specialized medicine now, that’s great—wait?! I actually became friends with Gaara? I did all those big things?"

"That’s my boy, Naruto! I knew I didn't misjudge you; you really didn't let your—" parents’ expectations down!

Jiraiya was purely overjoyed, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Naruto. In truth, he had originally taken the boy as a student only because of Kakashi’s request, Minato’s legacy, and the fact that Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. He had been gradually moved by Naruto’s talent and sincerity, but he hadn't been ready to make him an official student yet. After all, his students were tied to the prophecy of saving the world, and each one had to be carefully considered.

But now, it was different! From the screen, Naruto was undoubtedly the true Child of Prophecy, the existence who would play with the Tailed Beasts and bring peace to the ninja world! After searching for decades, sacrificing so much, and falling into confusion time and again, he had finally found the answer!

Having fulfilled his life’s quest, it was no exaggeration to say that Jiraiya felt tears welling up in his eyes.

Jiraiya slapped Naruto hard on the shoulder. "Well done!"

"Sss, that hurts! Why are you hitting me, Pervy Sage!"

"Hahahaha!" Jiraiya laughed heartily. In the face of the important news that Naruto was the Child of Prophecy, everything else seemed insignificant. He had to cultivate Naruto well from now on to ensure that the future could be realized.

Those who hadn't lived through the war years would never understand the preciousness of "the times changing" and "peace."

The Third Hokage’s furrowed brows finally relaxed. The Child of Prophecy being a Jinchuriki of Konoha was the best possible outcome. Moreover, the conflict between Konoha and Sunagakure seemed to have a different explanation now.

"Ask the delegation from Sunagakure to speak with me. Jiraiya, take Naruto and Haruna with you; the matter of the sky screen still needs to be handled."

"Kakashi, you take command of the Anbu here to settle the candidates from Sunagakure and Otogakure."

"As for everyone else in the arena—Asuma, Kurenai, Guy, leave the order here to you."

"Without my permission, no one is to leave the arena. Violators will be dealt with as felons!"

The Third Hokage issued his orders, quickly stabilizing the scene. His tone had been calm, but the last sentence was filled with the aura of a killer! Regardless of the beautiful future revealed by the screen, the Konoha he led now faced a real crisis, and the Third would not go soft.

Everyone felt a chill in their hearts.

"Understood!"

"Yes!"

...

Naruto and Haruna walked at the back of the group. Ahead were the Third, the Anbu, and the envoys from Sunagakure—all big names.

The boy’s footsteps felt light, as if he were walking on clouds. Just now, as he walked by, everyone’s gaze toward him had been different; to be honest, it was quite satisfying to his vanity.

Only when his eyes fell on the girl beside him did Naruto find an anchor in reality and quickly calm down. Whether before or after the broadcast, whether he was the demon fox or the hero, Haruna’s attitude toward him hadn't changed a bit. Even if he said he had been watching her for a long time, and even if the future version of him said he truly loved her, the brown-haired girl hadn't been moved in the slightest.

That’s right. Haruna-chan had never looked down on him or despised him because he was a demon fox, so why would she love him just because he had a hero’s halo?

Hadn't it been this very fairness and calmness that had attracted his gaze all along?

Thinking of this, Naruto curled his fingers slightly, feeling a bit ashamed of his earlier vanity.

*Idiot!*

What did the glorious achievements of the future have to do with the current, dirt-stained version of himself? He needed to work even harder to realize the beautiful parts of that future and correct the bad ones.

Besides that... for some reason, a strong desire sprouted in the depths of Naruto’s heart. At first, it was just a faint thought, but once noticed, this sprout grew rapidly at the tip of his heart. Its existence could not be ignored, like a claw scratching at his soul. Every time he stole a glance at her, the thought grew stronger.

Naruto longed to be closer to her.

He so wished he could, like his future self, naturally and intimately call her—

"Haruna."