Naruto shivered as he noticed Fujin''s smile. He didn''t doubt Fujin''s words one bit! While he knew Fujin wouldn''t harm him directly, he understood that what awaited him would be a training session more hellish than any he endured so far.

    As he thought of what troubled him and how to say it, Naruto''s energy unusually subdued and he slumped on the table. After a minute of silence, he finally spoke in a low voice, "It''s just... I don''t get it, you know? Sakura-chan... after everything we went through, after all that trouble to bring Granny Tsunade back to the village, she just... ignored me. I mean, I fought my heart out and gave everything I had! And who does she run to first? Sasuke. She hugs him, cries over him like he''s the only one that matters."

    Naruto stared absentmindedly at the table as he continued, "I know she doesn''t see me like that. I''ve always known. But... I thought after everything, I''d at least get something. A ''thanks,'' maybe. Or at least a smile. But nothing. Not a word, not even a look. Like I wasn''t even there."

    Ayame paused in her work, glancing at her father, who quietly continued wiping a bowl, both clearly listening but choosing to remain silent. Fujin didn''t say anything either as he continued slurping the noodles.

    Naruto sighed again and leaned back. "Whatever. It''s not like I helped Sasuke just to get noticed. But... it''d be nice to feel like I mattered even a little."

    Ayame smiled and said, "Of course you matter, Naruto. It''s just that her mind was occupied by Sasuke because he had been sick for such a long time. I''m sure you felt relief on seeing him get up too, am I correct?"

    Naruto replied with another long sigh, "You are... But still!"

    He turned his eyes towards Fujin, who always seemed to have a good solution, and wondered, ''Could Fujin give me some tips to get closer to Sakura and make her forget about Sasuke? Hmm, he might. He seems to know everything. I should have asked him sooner!''

    Expectations rose in Naruto''s heart as he waited in anticipation for Fujin''s response. To his surprise, Fujin asked, "You''re done eating, correct?"

    Naruto nodded as Fujin asked again, "Good, how old are you?"

    Naruto answered with a confused look, "Twelve."

    Fujin asked for the third time, "Do you remember what Itachi and his partner said?" @@@@

    Naruto''s expression became gloomy as he remembered their threat. He unwillingly nodded.

    Fujin summarized, "So, if I understand correctly, you, a twelve-year-old kid, are being hunted by two terrifying individuals from a dangerous organization and you''re more worried about being accepted by a girl who rejected you a million times?"

    Naruto could only whisper softly, "Hey, it wasn''t a million..."

    Fujin sighed and muttered, "Looks like Jiraiya''s training was very lax. You have too much time to waste on such frivolous activities instead of training..."

    A hand suddenly clamped on the back of Naruto''s neck. Naruto''s face instantly darkened, a sickly purple hue creeping across it as if all the color had been drained. Fujin said strictly, "Inform Sayaka and the rest that the break is over and to get back to training. I''ll soon overlook your training personally."

    "Wai... Not again!!!" Naruto screamed as Fujin sent him flying with a flick of his wrist. Several people looked above to see Naruto flying and screaming once again. He flew all the way from the Ichiraku shop to the compounds and landed right in front of Sayaka''s little group.

    Yuji looked at Naruto and sighed, "Again? What did you do this time for Sensei to send you flying?"

    Sayaka asked, "More importantly, why did he send you to us?"

    Fujin smiled and greeted, "Lady Tsunade, it''s great to see you in person finally."

    Tsunade smirked and asked, "Oh, so you have seen me in other ways?"

    Fujin chuckled and said, "Nah, other than your Bingo book entry of course. I just heard several stories about you."

    He suddenly placed his hand on the shoulder of an unsuspecting prisoner and said, "Just now, he was saying a lot of things about you."

    The prisoner immediately snapped in horror, "Bullshit! I didn''t utter a word!"

    Tsunade looked at that prisoner meaningfully and said, "Why don''t you come in? We''ll find out what you said and what you didn''t. Fujin, join us."

    No matter how much he screamed, the remaining prisoners saw him being dragged to ''hell'' by the two ''demons''. Even though the ''gates of hell'' shut close, they could still hear his terrified screams.

    As the prisoner was laid on the bed and his movements sealed with more seals, Tsunade said, "Shikaku said you have some knowledge about souls. What do you know?"

    Fujin answered, "It''s hard to say as I don''t have much to reference against. Lord Third was the only one I knew who knew about it, but comparing with him isn''t exactly fair."

    Tsunade agreed without any hesitation. She believed her knowledge in this area exceeded that of Hiruzen, yet she couldn''t reduce a soul to his state without killing the prisoner.

    Fujin added, "In addition, my understanding has some gaps. So, I won''t be able to help you much in that regard, though I don''t think you need it. Shikaku-san said that you were struggling to injure a soul to the same extent as Grandpa. Since I learnt the Soul Transformation jutsu, I might be better suited than you to cutting the soul."

    Fujin''s eyes were focused on the prisoner, so he didn''t notice Tsunade''s pupils dilating. She thought in disbelief, ''He learnt Dan''s jutsu?''

    ————————————

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