Choji didn’t overthink things.
Since Naruto claimed to be Bai’s friend and Bai didn’t deny it, Naruto was Choji’s friend too.
Choji pulled out another bag of chips from somewhere and handed it to Naruto: “Here, eat this!”
“For me?” Naruto couldn’t believe it.
Only after Choji nodded did Naruto happily accept the chips.
“That said, you’d better leave the last chip for Choji!” Bai kindly reminded him.
“So your name is Choji!” Naruto was confused: “But why?”
“Just leave it for Choji!” Bai said helplessly.
“What if I don’t?” Current Naruto possessed quite a death-seeking spirit.
Bai rolled his eyes at Naruto, stating succinctly: “You’ll get beaten up!”
“Uh…” Hearing Bai’s words, Naruto sized up Choji, looked down at his own skinny arms, and wisely decided to save the last chip for Choji.
With chips in hand, Naruto quieted down, and Bai took the opportunity to tell Naruto to wipe the face paint off.
Thanks to Bai, Ino and Sakura’s attitudes toward Naruto softened quite a bit.
In truth, even without Bai, their upbringing wouldn’t allow them to be cold to someone they just met—Sakura’s harshness toward Naruto in the original story stemmed not only from her own flaws, but also from Naruto’s persistent pestering.
After all, Naruto had once transformed into Sasuke to trick Sakura into kissing him!
What truly turned people off Sakura was her double standard of calling Naruto when in trouble while clinging to Sasuke during peace.
In this life, guided subtly by Bai, Sakura likely wouldn’t act that way again.
Wasn’t this the joy of nurturing?
As for Naruto’s reaction to Sakura—perhaps because of Bai, Naruto made a new friend in Choji the moment he arrived at school, directing all his attention toward Choji and chips, failing to notice Sakura.
As for Hinata…
Aside from being briefly distracted by Naruto and Kiba at the beginning, once her eyes met Bai’s again, she re-entered her steam-engine mode.
As the commotion caused by Naruto drew to a close, the other male protagonist of the Naruto world finally made his entrance.
One had to admit Sasuke was genuinely cute, featuring delicate facial traits and fair skin.
The moment he walked into the classroom, several girls’ eyes lit up as they whispered among themselves.
However, Sasuke paid no attention to his classmates, staring longingly back out the door, turning his head every three steps.
Following Sasuke’s gaze, Bai saw Itachi Uchiha!
Bai pulled his gaze back and looked at the three girls.
Hinata hadn’t recovered yet.
Sakura merely glanced at Sasuke, mildly surprised by his looks, but nothing more, returning to comfort Hinata while muttering under her breath, “Alright Hinata, you know Bai is just an idiot!”
Truthfully, Bai wasn’t worried about Hinata or Sakura; their deep devotion in the original series was evident, both willing to die for the one they loved.
The only one Bai felt uncertain about was Ino.
Yet when Bai turned his gaze toward Ino, he found her smiling sweetly back at him, as if she had guessed his thoughts all along.
Resting her chin on her hands, Ino looked at Bai with a light smile: “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing…” At this moment, Bai felt as though he had been read like a book.
Rare red flushes touched his cheeks as he cleared his throat awkwardly: “Just looking!”
“Is Shiro-chan jealous?” Regardless of his answer, Ino spoke with complete certainty despite phrasing it as a question, and Bai even caught a hint of teasing in her eyes.
Seeing the blush on Bai’s face, Ino felt her mood for the entire week brighten up!
Then Ino added: “Don’t worry, Shiro-chan is way cuter than that Uchiha guy!”
Hearing this, Bai couldn’t help rolling his eyes, turning back around and ignoring Ino.
Meanwhile, Bai secretly resolved that ten years from now, he would definitely make Ino beg for mercy, at least twice!
Thinking of this, a sinister smile curled at the corner of Bai’s lips…
Seeing Bai suddenly laugh while looking at Sasuke, Shikamaru glanced at Naruto, then poked Bai, speaking in a stern tone: “Hey!
You better stay away from him!”
Bai looked at Shikamaru, understanding perfectly without a word.
The Uchiha clan was currently tottering in the storm.
Already disliked by the village, the clan produced a “filial son” like Itachi Uchiha…
Shisui’s death delayed the clan’s doom, but only temporarily.
The executioner’s blade would drop sooner or later—and Bai knew clearly that it would happen next year!
Approaching the Uchiha clan at this point was like joining a doomed cause on the eve of its collapse.
In Bai’s view, even the current Uchiha clan wasn’t necessarily doomed.
Although Shisui was dead, the Kotoamatsukami Mangekyo remained in Itachi’s hands, so the clan’s trump cards hadn’t diminished.
Combined with Itachi and Fugaku Uchiha—two Kage-level powerhouses with Mangekyo—there was plenty of tactical room, certainly enough to avoid total extinction.
Unfortunately, while the father poured his heart out to his son, the son plotted against his father!
Shisui Uchiha trusted the wrong person, but Itachi Uchiha was a pure idiot!
Even after Danzo betrayed their trust, Itachi still cooperated with him, claiming he didn’t want innocent Konoha citizens dying in a civil war—as if the innocent members of the Uchiha clan weren’t villagers of Konoha!
In terms of actual casualties, who could say which path caused more deaths!
Although Shikamaru didn’t know the full insider details, he knew the Uchiha clan was standing on the edge of a cliff!
“Why?” Bai and Shikamaru shared a unspoken understanding, but Naruto didn’t get it.
Staring at Sasuke, an indefinable glint flickered in his blue eyes as he muttered: “But I feel like he’s pretty special…”
Holy crap, was this the dynamic between Naruto and Sasuke!?
Sasuke hadn’t even done anything yet, and he was already special?
Shikamaru also stared at Naruto with an odd expression.
After a moment of silence, he said sincerely: “Anyone else is fine, but especially you…”
Theoretically, Naruto could do whatever he wanted in Konoha Village; at worst, he’d get scolded, and any real danger would fall on others!
If Bai approached the Uchiha clan, Bai would be in danger; if Naruto approached the Uchiha clan, the Uchiha clan would be in danger!
What was Konoha’s F4’s rationale for purging the Uchiha clan?
Wasn’t it the Nine-Tails incident six years ago?
Now Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, wanted to get close to the Uchiha clan—it was practically wishing for the Uchiha clan’s swift death!
But looking at Naruto’s oblivious face, Shikamaru knew his words were completely wasted!