Even before tossing them into the sea for a swim, Naruto had already lifted the little puppy, gently placing it on the ground where the thin kid named Inari picked it up.
Apologizing sincerely, Inari held the lost dog, "Thank you for saving me. Can I invite you come to my house which is nearby and have dinner with us?" Despite his embarrassment at not being able to swim despite living by the sea, Inari extended the invitation.
With a sigh, Naruto agreed, "Alright, I have some time to spare."
Delighted by Naruto's acceptance, Inariled him to their home, the two walking away together. Yet, as they departed, Naruto's face betrayed an amused expression—he felt like he had forgotten something.
Meanwhile, not far away, under a large tree, a man stirred awake. Rubbing his eyes, he muttered, "Seems like it was noisy just now? Ah, never mind; it's time to start working."
.....
Inari bought grilled fish on their way home, their mouths stained with sauce by the time they arrived. Inari's family welcomed them into their small house, consisting of Inari's great-grandfather Tazuna, his mother Tsunami, and Inari himself. Tazuna, a carpenter, made a living building and repairing ships for others.
Noticing the puppy's soaked state, Tsunami inquired, "What happened? Why are you soaked all over?"
Inari quickly explained the situation, clearing up any misunderstandings. Tsunami warmly ushered them into the living room, although it was somewhat sparsely furnished with repaired furniture and lacked many household items. Naruto couldn't help but compare it to the subsidized houses in Konoha Village, even for orphans, which were better equipped.
It became apparent that the environmental and economic challenges were significant, contrasting starkly with Naruto's previous experiences.
Tsunami warmly welcomed Naruto into her home, urging Inari to change clothes before joining them.
....
In the evening, Tazuna returned with side dishes and seafood, catching Naruto in a contemplative mood as he pondered the local fishing technology, envisioning the possibility of catching giant lobsters and king crabs.
Noticing Naruto's presence, Tazuna listened as Inari excitedly recounted the day's events, expressing gratitude for Naruto's assistance. Naruto's seating across from Tsunami and Inariseemed to momentarily unsettle the household.
In a surprising turn, the family found themselves uncertain about how to address Naruto due to their lack of knowledge about his age. Sensing their confusion, Naruto casually clarified that he was only eight years old. The revelation left Tazuna dropping the fish he was holding, and Tsunami's forehead met the tabletop in disbelief.
"Eight years old?" Tsunami exclaimed, mirroring the disbelief shared by the entire family.
Oblivious to the potential misunderstanding, Naruto nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world, unaware of how his unexpected age had reshaped their perception of him.
As dinner approached, an awkward atmosphere lingered, and Naruto, ever perceptive, sensed the discomfort. Choosing to diffuse the tension, he decided to bid farewell to the family and depart overnight—a calculated move to distance himself from potential complications.
Standing outside, gazing at the sky, Naruto found himself lost in contemplation. His singular focus on defecting from Konoha, once the driving force behind his actions, now left him adrift without a clear purpose.
Free from the village's constraints, he faced the challenge of defining his path in this newfound ambiguity. In a moment of uncertainty, Naruto mused aloud about the possibility of returning to Konoha Village and burning it to the ground.
However, he stopped himself, recognizing the value of patience. Like aged wine, revenge was best enjoyed slowly rather than hastily consumed. Time was on his side, allowing him to grow stronger while putting his plans into motion.
He resolved to start with Gato and gradually expand his power and influence. Mere destruction of Konoha was not enough; he aimed to dominate the entire ninja world.
And once he controlled this realm, he would consider extending his influence to other worlds, confident that if he could transmigrate once, he could find a way to do it again—this time maintaining his strength.
.....
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