Marvel: Randomly Load a Protagonist Template - Chapter 97
“Can he really stay for only one hour?”
Seeing Hawking disappear into thin air, Sakura couldn’t help but sigh:
“Hawking seems like a very kind and gentle person.”
Although they had only interacted for an hour, Hawking left a very good impression on her.
It wasn’t just his generosity and comfortable way of speaking, though that was part of it.
It was mainly the feeling he gave, something different from their world.
In the entire ninja world, Konoha was already the most peaceful and prosperous place, yet it still hid a lot of darkness.
Not just from their experiences over the years, but even the Chunin Exams had given her a deep understanding of this.
From becoming a ninja, you inevitably experienced some of this.
Unlike Naruto, who was naturally cheerful, it was hard for anyone to maintain pure innocence. Most ninjas had some psychological issues, even herself.
Hawking felt special. It wasn’t that he was completely innocent, but there was something she couldn’t quite explain.
If Hawking knew Sakura’s thoughts, he would understand what she meant.
Is Hawking a good person? Not necessarily, but he grew up in a truly peaceful era.
His upbringing wasn’t perfect, lacking familial love, but he grew up healthy.
He didn’t start taking missions, killing, and getting his hands bloody at eleven or twelve, watching friends, comrades, or even family die.
Sometimes, they had to do things against their conscience for the village’s sake.
At eleven or twelve, he hadn’t even graduated from elementary school.
Even when he arrived in the Marvel universe and started getting his hands bloody, his mind was already mature, and his values were set.
Even in the Marvel universe, he acted according to his heart, doing what he believed was right, with a loving family and people he wanted to protect.
So, he might seem cunning, hard to deal with, and calculating, but he wouldn’t have a twisted, perverse, or dark psyche.
These are the fundamental differences brought by different worlds and environments.
Sakura wasn’t too bad off. Look at Naruto, ostracized by the entire village, or Sasuke, who saw his beloved brother annihilate their clan, carrying a heavy burden of revenge.
“Yeah, being with him feels relaxing, and he’s very strong!”
Naruto murmured as he looked at the spot where Hawking disappeared:
“If I were as strong as Hawking, maybe I could have brought Sasuke back last time.”
“Is he stronger than Sasuke?”
Sakura’s eyes widened. Hawking didn’t seem that strong to her.
Naruto nodded:
“His physical skills are very strong. I think he might be stronger than Sasuke!”
Sasuke was strong; Naruto had felt it personally at Orochimaru’s base. But despite the strength, the gap didn’t seem unbridgeable.
But Hawking was different. While sparring with Hawking at Mount Myoboku, Naruto realized that even with all his strength and techniques, he couldn’t harm Hawking or even touch his clothes.
It felt like the first time he encountered Orochimaru during the Chunin Exams.
So, Naruto believed Hawking’s physical skills were very strong. If he fought, even Sasuke might not be his match.
Especially since he had seen Hawking sparring with Gama Kousaku.
Gama Kousaku, slightly smaller than the Great Toad Chief, wielded two massive swords. Yet, even in terms of strength, he didn’t have the upper hand against Hawking.
On the other side, Sai took out his notebook, starting to write furiously.
He wasn’t noting down the information about Hawking from Naruto and Sakura’s conversation. Instead, he seriously wrote:
“Methods to strengthen bonds with friends: Give gifts and treat them to meals, showing greater strength than friends.”
After learning from a book that nicknaming friends could enhance bonds, only to get beaten by Sakura, he began seeking experiences from his surroundings.
Like today, he learned valuable lessons from Hawking, planning to experiment with them next time.
But what gifts should he give?
December 25, 2003, Christmas Day.
Everyone got up early, turned on the heater and the TV, and sat on the living room carpet. They took out large stockings filled with gifts from under the Christmas tree and enjoyed the joy of unwrapping presents.
The Oleg couple had prepared gifts for Wanda, Pietro, and Hawking.
To them, Hawking was still an underage child.
The gifts were of little value or use to Hawking now, but he carefully put them away with joy.
After unwrapping gifts, the family happily watched the Christmas special on TV.
In the afternoon, Hawking and Elena started preparing the Christmas dinner, with Hawking making Chinese dishes and Elena making Sokovian dishes.
Today, Hawking didn’t train, go to the company, or visit Konoha. He wanted to spend a peaceful Christmas with his family.
However, peace was elusive.
As Hawking was pounding the minced meat into a bowl to prepare lion’s head meatballs, the urgent doorbell rang.
“Who is it?”
Pietro quickly ran to the door with his ability and opened it, exclaiming:
“Professor Ororo, why are you here?”
“Is Hawking home? I have an urgent matter!”
Storm asked anxiously.
“What’s wrong, Professor Ororo?”
Hawking, hearing the commotion, appeared behind Pietro in a flash.
Seeing Ororo’s expression, he had a bad feeling.
“The school is in trouble. Magneto appeared with a group and forcibly took the Professor!”
Ororo quickly explained.
Hawking frowned immediately:
“The Professor was taken? Let’s go back to the school, explain on the way!”
With the Brotherhood of Mutants’ power, taking Professor X forcibly should be nearly impossible.
Except for Magneto with his helmet, the other Brotherhood mutants would instantly be paralyzed or controlled by Professor X.
Magneto alone couldn’t take Professor X under the protection of the X-Men.
There must be other factors involved.
“Pietro, I’m going back to the school. If I don’t make it back for dinner, don’t wait for me.”
Leaving instructions for Pietro, Hawking removed his apron and flew to the school with Storm.
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