Naruto: The dungeon I developed went viral throughout the entire ninja world.

Chapter 24 A Belated Apology? I'm Not Hungry

The light curtain dissipated.

The sky returned to its original color, but the midday sun was still quite hot.

The commercial street was packed with people, but not a sound could be heard.

Thousands of people stood here, sweat streaming down their faces; many were nervous, the heat being only one factor.

A commotion was heard coming from the direction of the Hokage Building.

The secret agents came and went, and the medical team carried away an elderly man who had vomited blood and was unconscious on a stretcher.

Everyone had a vague idea of ​​who it was, and they guessed that person was already extremely anxious.

However, no one cared about that side anymore; everyone was staring at the dilapidated wooden door of the small shop.

Suddenly, the wooden door slowly opened, and a small figure emerged from the shadows.

Her golden hair fell down, obscuring her eyebrows and eyes.

Naruto Uzumaki has finally come out of it.

He stood on the steps and saw a dense crowd below.

Just a few hours ago, these same people were yelling at him to get out, spitting on him, and looking at him like he was trash.

It's ironic that these people are still looking at him, but their attitudes have completely changed.

I didn't see any disgust or contempt anymore; instead, I felt like I'd been caught red-handed doing something wrong.

They learned the truth.

This child, who had been bullied by them for seven years, was the son of the Fourth Hokage.

She is also the orphan of a hero who sacrificed his life to protect the village.

Do they feel guilty? Perhaps a little, but deep down, many people feel more fear.

Humans are always filled with fear of the unknown, and they are also afraid of being retaliated against and settled.

At this point, Naruto didn't seem to have any future, but standing behind him was the powerful and mysterious shop owner, who could probably carry even a mediocre person to success.

Moreover, it's not that Naruto is completely without talent; he just needs guidance.

Once he soars to great heights, the good days for those who once bullied him will be over.

After Naruto emerged, he was still deep in thought, as if his experience in the dungeon had been a long nightmare.

The blood of his parents, the claws of the nine-tailed fox, and a warm but fleeting embrace.

"Naruto... Naruto..."

Finally, a faint voice rang out from the crowd, and a plump middle-aged woman squeezed out.

She was wearing an apron covered in flour, her face was full of fat, and her smile looked more like a grimace. Her heart was pounding wildly.

The woman was holding a paper bag in her hands, and the food inside was still steaming, with the aroma of red beans wafting out.

She is also the owner of the bakery on the street corner.

Yesterday afternoon.

Naruto passed by her shop and only glanced at the bread in the window.

The woman rushed out with a broom and hit Naruto hard.

"Get out of my way, you fox spirit! Don't bring me bad luck!"

The wound on Naruto's back from the broom still seemed to throb faintly.

The auntie, holding a steaming hot red bean bun, walked step by step to the front of the steps.

Whether out of fear or guilt, the woman's hands were trembling.

"Naruto...Young Master Naruto..."

Even her voice became trembling.

"Are you hungry? These are freshly baked red bean buns... I saved them especially for you..."

"It was the older woman's fault before... she was blind..."

"Please eat something... don't go hungry..."

She held the paper bag above her head.

That posture looked like it was offering tribute.

Naruto looked at the paper bag, which contained red bean buns, something he really wanted to eat.

Yesterday he searched all his pockets and found only a few coins, not even enough to buy the cheapest white bread.

Now, the most expensive red bean bun is being served to me, still hot.

The crowd around them, seeing that it was within easy reach, felt as if they had discovered a new continent.

The oppressive atmosphere instantly exploded; if not now, when?

Those who come later in the line will likely find it harder to be forgiven, as everyone is rushing to do so.

"Young Master Naruto! This is my family's candy! The sweetest one!"

"This is freshly grilled meat! Here you go!"

"I sell clothes! This new dress is a gift for you!"

Countless hands reached out.

Countless faces crowded around, their faces beaming with fawning smiles.

Some people even knelt down.

"We don't know!"

"That old bastard Danzo deceived us all!"

"We are victims too!"

"The son of the fourth generation lord...we are guilty..."

The sounds of kowtowing, crying, and begging for mercy created a chaotic scene that sent chills down Naruto's spine.

They rushed to shove the gifts at him, as if as long as Naruto accepted the presents and ate a single bite, their sins of the past seven years could be wiped clean.

Then they can tell themselves with a clear conscience.

"Look, we've already apologized, and he's forgiven us. We're still good people."

Iruka stood at the front of the crowd.

He didn't push his way through; his tears had long since dried up. Looking at his small figure surrounded by the crowd, his heart ached.

"Naruto..."

Iruka wanted to rush forward and hug the child.

I wanted to tell him that the teacher was there.

He took a step forward, then stopped.

Iruka saw Naruto's profile but showed no expression, neither joy nor sorrow.

His indifferent attitude suggested that he no longer cared about these things.

Iruka dared not go forward again, much less approach.

The current Naruto felt like a stranger to him.

"That's human nature."

Roy leaned against the doorframe, speaking lazily.

He looked down at the villagers behaving so disgracefully and activated the system broadcast simultaneously.

"Did you see that?"

"This is your apology."

Where were you yesterday when he was so hungry he was rummaging through the trash?

"Where were you when he was beaten bloody from the head yesterday?"

"Now that the truth is out and the Fourth Hokage's identity has been revealed, are you starting to get scared?"

"Ultimately, what you fear is not the pangs of conscience, but the power and the potential retaliation in the future."

Roy toyed with the bottle of soda in his hand, his eyes filled with sarcasm.

"Only when the truth is revealed and there is profit to be made or a threat is faced will evil people pretend to be good."

"What kind of kindness is this? This is called opportunism, or to put it even worse, it's called... being a jerk."

These words were like slaps to everyone's faces.

The woman holding the red bean bun froze, her hand holding the gift stopped in mid-air, and the person kneeling on the ground forgot to kowtow.

Naruto finally moved and raised his hand.

The woman's eyes lit up, thinking he was going to take it.

Naruto slapped the paper bag with the back of his hand, and the bag immediately flew away, the steaming red bean bun rolling on the ground, covered in dust.

The entire audience was stunned.

Naruto looked at the older woman, the outstretched hands of the others, and their insincere smiles.

"I'm not hungry."

Naruto spoke.

"besides……"

He took a step forward.

"Make way, don't block the way."

The aura has changed.

The underachiever who used to only play pranks to get attention, the fool who would just laugh when bullied, seems to have suddenly awakened.

A faint red aura of chakra emanated from him.

The Nine-Tails' response was also a projection of his inner self.

The woman was so frightened that she fell to the ground, and the surrounding crowd frantically backed away.

No one would risk bad luck at this time, nor would anyone want to die, so a path was immediately cleared for them.

Naruto walked down the steps.

My foot stepped over the puddle of red bean paste, leaving a dirty footprint.

He walked into the crowd, and the crowd parted automatically, just as Moses parted the sea.

No one dared to come within a meter of him.

Naruto stared straight ahead, his back ramrod straight.

He didn't need cheap charity or belated apologies; the villagers' hurt was etched into his very bones.

Expired milk, cold eyes, stones hitting you.

These things can't be smoothed out with just a red bean bun.

Iruka stood by the roadside, watching Naruto turn and walk towards the shop owner, wanting to quickly greet him.

"Naruto..."

Iruka called out.

Naruto didn't stop, completely ignoring Iruka.

Iruka sensed it.

This child has closed the door to his heart.

Roy stood at the shop entrance, watching Naruto's small figure from behind.

There was no persuasion; this is the price of growth, and also the beginning of awakening.

"very good."

Roy said softly.

"Remember this feeling."

"We don't need their approval, nor do we need their charity."

"You are Naruto Uzumaki."

"Starting today, live for yourself."