Naruto: The new beginning

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The next day, Kiba and Akamaru woke up early in the Morning, running, jumping, and having fun. This morning's practice for them was called "walking."

Shino observed the differences between the insects here and those near Konoha, believing that understanding their habits would help him strengthen his skills.

Hinata wore a black, tight-fitting training suit and practised a set of Gentle Fist techniques outside this was her daily training routine.

Afterwards, she returned to help Kushina prepare breakfast.

In terms of diligence in cultivation, Team 8 was no less committed than Team 7.

Kakashi emerged from the tent and yawned loudly.

He had accidentally read a book half the night but was fortunate enough not to have stayed up all night, allowing him to function reasonably well.

On the other side, Sakura felt a bit depressed. She and Hinata shared a tent, and when Hinata blushed while putting on her form-fitting training clothes, Sakura couldn't help but notice.

Sakura couldn't understand it. Everyone was thirteen years old, and she was even nine months older than Hinata. Why was there such a gap?

The techniques taught by Tsunade-sensei didn't seem to be working for her at all…

The girl's sadness went unnoticed by the others as everyone packed up and continued their journey.

By evening, they arrived at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Bears.

Kakashi raised his hand to signal everyone to stop and said, "In front of you is Bear Valley, which is filled with poisonous gas. We can't rush into it."

Naruto looked ahead. In front of them was an almost vertical cliff, and the valley below was shrouded in toxic fog.

The impatient Kiba jumped forward and asked, "So how are we supposed to get through?"

"Either we wait for the people from Hoshigakure to respond, or…" Kakashi glanced at Naruto.

Naruto quickly took out the Flying Thunder God Kunai. This kunai could be thrown up to 800 meters with ease, and throwing it over 100 meters would be no problem for him.

Sakura asked, "If there's such a natural danger, wouldn't the people from Hoshigakure have a way to communicate with the outside world?"

Kakashi patiently explained, "Those who need to travel abroad wear special gas masks, and the caravan usually hires ninjas from Hoshigakure to accompany them."

As he spoke, Naruto had already thrown the kunai to the opposite side, but his visibility was limited, and he wasn't sure if it had landed correctly. "Hinata?" he called.

"Byakugan!" Hinata activated her bloodline limit and carefully observed. "It's fine, but someone is coming from a distance. It seems to be a ninja from Hoshigakure."

"Let's talk to them first," Naruto said, feeling that with Hinata's Byakugan, it would be a waste not to use it for teleportation.

Everyone nodded in agreement, placing their hands on Naruto as he activated the jutsu, transporting them to the other side of the cliff to wait for the Hoshigakure ninja.

Naruto thought for a moment and split off a shadow clone, handing it a small bottle. "Go collect some of the poisonous gas."

The clone put on a numbered plate reading "001," opened the bottle cap, looked at Bear Valley in front of him, and shouted, "If I don't go to hell, who will?"

Then he opened his arms and performed a 270-degree flip, leaping into the abyss.

Ultimately, Naruto never learned the depth of Bear Valley, as the clone succumbed to the poison before landing.

Fortunately, he remembered his mission. Before his demise, he managed to seal the small bottle with the cap using the Flying Thunder God Jutsu.

Naruto handed the bottle to Sakura. "Sakura, can you try to create an antidote, just in case?"

"Oh, sure." Sakura had taken a detoxification course, and as long as it wasn't too complicated, she felt confident she could handle it.

Kushina looked at Naruto with relief. As expected of him, he was cautious and planned when going out.

But what about that clone? Shouldn't he be taken to the Yamanaka clan for a check-up?

Naruto was busy himself when the Hoshigakure ninja arrived. He was a boy around twelve or thirteen years old, handsome but with an unfriendly demeanour.

The boy said, "Are you Konoha ninjas? My name is Sumaru, and I'm here to escort you."

Naruto perked up. "Sumaru? That's a cool name!"

Sumaru replied impatiently, "I don't have time for idle chatter. Let's get moving."

Hinata tensed, sensing the tension in Sumaru's tone.

"Naruto!" Kushina signalled him to be quiet and addressed Sumaru gently, "Sumaru-kun, could you please lead the way?"

Without responding, Sumaru turned and began to walk away, leading the Konoha team behind him.

Kiba pouted from the back. "What? They entrusted us with this job, yet they act so aloof."

But everyone ignored his complaint. There were all kinds of clients for various missions; perhaps this young man simply didn't feel like running errands today.

The size of Hoshigakure was incomparable to Konoha, and there weren't many people in the streets.

Naruto estimated that if he released the Nine-Tails and rolled around a few times, the village might just be flattened.

At the door of a large house in the village centre, Sumaru knocked, and a middle-aged man's voice called from inside, "Please come in!"

Sumaru pushed open the door and stepped inside, bowing slightly. "Lord Akahoshi, I've brought Konoha's ninja."

Naruto followed and saw a thin man kneeling in the main seat. He gestured for Konoha and his group to sit opposite him. "Thank you for coming from so far. I am Akahoshi, the acting Hoshikage of Hoshigakure."

Kurenai asked suspiciously, "Acting Hoshikage?"

Akahoshi's expression remained unchanged as he explained, "A year ago, the Third Hoshikage passed away suddenly, and no new Hoshikage has been selected yet."

Naruto thought to himself, the third generation is a high-risk job. The Third Hokage, the Third Kazekage, the Third Raikage, and now the Third Hoshikage all of them had faced great danger.

"You dare to call yourself a kage? You're not one of the five great nations," Kiba said, frustrated. His dream was to become Hokage, and it irked him to see someone calling themselves a Kage without the credentials.

Sumaru, standing beside him, defended his village. "What if we're not one of the Five Great Nations? We are just as capable. Though we may still be a small village, we will eventually rise to the level of the Five Great Ninja Villages, and then I will become the Hoshikage!"

Kiba jumped up, fists clenched. "What did you say?"

"Sumaru, don't be rude!" Akahoshi reprimanded sternly.

"Kiba, don't cause trouble," Kushina said calmly.

The two hot-blooded teenagers fell silent, glaring at each other.

Now everyone understood why the boy's attitude was so sour. It wasn't that he disliked Konoha ninjas specifically; he had a disdain for all ninjas from the five major nations.

"I apologize," Akahoshi continued. "As you know, we possess a 'star' that other ninja villages covet. With the power of this 'star,' we will grow into the sixth-largest ninja village sooner or later."

No one responded, their expressions carefully managed, though Sasuke's disdain was evident in his eyes; he felt that no one he encountered along the way could pose a challenge.

Akahoshi remained unfazed and continued, "That's why the 'star' is under constant watch. I hope you can help protect it during this time and eliminate those who harbour ill intentions. Please."

Kushina inquired, "We have a general understanding of the situation. So where is the 'star'?"

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