Ryuxi slowly scanned the environment where she would live in the future, and suddenly noticed a greenish object lying on the ground. She squatted down and picked it up—it was a frog-shaped wallet.
"A wallet?" Her eyes lit up as she quickly opened the frog's mouth, almost sticking her head inside to examine it closely. "Ah. No money." Despite being disappointed, she checked it several times, but it remained empty. Crestfallen, she let out a sigh and glanced towards the refrigerator. Gathering his spirits, he walked towards it and eagerly reached out to open it. Then, he sat on the ground, holding his head in his hands, and began shaking it vigorously. "Ah, there's not even instant noodles left. Am I going to starve here?" Naruto slumped his shoulders in frustration.
"Well, I'm already this broke." Naruto pursed his lips, wearing a grimace. He sat on the ground with a frown, contemplating his situation.
"Ma~, it's okay." He lay flat on the ground, hands spread out, revealing a bright smile. "Things will work out. Let's take it one step at a time." He nodded to himself in approval, admiring his own cleverness and wit.
"But, this body is really small." He raised his palm and looked at his short fingers with a hint of annoyance. Disgruntled, he brushed off his clothes and stood up, tiptoeing to the door and walking out.
He strolled slowly down the street, with the air of someone taking a leisurely stroll before dinner.
People kept their distance, and the snippets of conversation that drifted into his ears were mostly along the lines of, "Ah, it's that darn Nine-Tails!" "Stay away from that dangerous guy." "Hey, don't get too close to him. He's the ferocious Nine-Tails." "That's the Nine-Tails that killed many people in the village, the darned beast!" It was the same old rhetoric, but Naruto couldn't help but smirk, his smile surprisingly innocent.
He smiled and walked past the gossiping crowd, realizing that right and wrong weren't always so clear-cut.
Humans hunted animals, and animals resisted humans—it was just a cycle. It was all about survival of the fittest.
Because he was weak now, they could freely discuss him, but because of the powerful Nine-Tails within him, they feared and coveted the power of the "monster" inside him. Just the typical thoughts of the weak.
Humans, no matter how much time passed, remained selfish and humble creatures.
Understandable, because, well, so was he. With that in mind, he lazily yawned.
So, anger, sadness, hatred, and all that, it was just harming oneself and others.
But, now he needed strength. Because he wanted to prove to these people that he, Naruto Uzumaki, would definitely become a towering figure and protect weaklings like them!
Tilting his face up, squinting at the almost blinding sunlight, he smirked.
"Naruto Uzumaki. The Third Hokage is looking for you. Come with me." With a cold voice, a silver-haired masked man landed in front of Naruto. Although he was somewhat surprised by the sudden appearance of this man, Naruto carefully concealed his surprise and tried to act like an ordinary child.
With an adoring expression of a five-year-old, he grabbed the man's sleeve. "Onii-san~ (Big brother~), you're so amazing~"
The man in front of him didn't even acknowledge him, not even a glance. Instead, he simply clamped him under his armpit, leaped onto the roof, and with a few jumps, they entered a room.
Naruto, thinking, "Geez, you're jumping around rooftops and barging into people's rooms. Isn't that a skill reserved for perverts?"
Still, he managed to barely suppress his dizziness and slowly straightened up his body. Then, he began to discreetly survey the office-like room, as his memory guided him.
Sitting in front of what resembled a desk was an old man. As Naruto roughly scanned the room's layout, the old man put down the papers he was grading and looked straight at him. The gleam in the old man's eyes made Naruto realize that this guy was not just any ordinary old man. But according to Naruto's memory, he lazily smirked, acknowledging that he was indeed the Third Hokage of the village.
"Ah, Naruto.…" The old man's face was full of sorrow, but his myriad of words condensed into just a light sigh. Naruto was somewhat surprised by this, but he still managed to mask his own feelings. Then, as his memory instructed, he put on a slightly expectant and nervous expression.
"Ah, take this." Catching the envelope the old man tossed to him, Naruto opened it to find money inside.
Suppressing the joy in his eyes, Naruto respectfully bowed to express his gratitude—"Thank you so much, sincerely. I would have starved to death otherwise…"
"Ah, I'm the Third Hokage, after all. Work hard to become the Hokage, Naruto." Hearing these words, Naruto looked up at the old man.
Yes. If he became Hokage, that would prove it, wouldn't it? He could fulfill the wishes of that boy. Suddenly, he felt clear-headed.
Kakashi looked at the sudden brightness in the young boy's eyes. A faint sense of unfamiliarity crossed his mind. Then, a bitter smile crept onto his lips. This kind of passion, perhaps he had lost it.
Naruto flashed a brilliant smile, nodding vigorously.
"But this boy's smile is even brighter than the sun." Kakashi had this thought.
Looking at the young boy in front of him, Kakashi suddenly remembered his dear friend from his past life. The one who always smiled foolishly, making him feel that he was not suited for the profession of a ninja—Obito Uchiha.
"Heh." The old man smiled gently. "You must work hard, Naruto. I have great faith in you."
Naruto thumped his chest proudly. "Yes. I will definitely become a man who can stand at the top as Hokage."
Although somewhat childish, his voice was full of determination, resounding in the room.
The Third Hokage was momentarily stunned, but his smile became even brighter. Naruto, you've grown up. A little more growth, and you can shoulder the village.
"Go ahead." The old man, known as the Third Hokage, lowered his head, a hint of melancholy flashing across his face, which Naruto noticed. The old man took a drag from his pipe and nodded slightly to the silver-haired ninja. Seeing the expression on the old man's face, Naruto wisely kept his mouth shut.
With a light nod from the silver-haired ninja, he flew out of the room with Naruto.
When he came to his senses, he was standing on the street. It's really amazing. Ninja, huh… Naruto smiled softly, murmuring to himself. It's quite interesting.
Ah, but most importantly, the wallet was finally full…
He grinned, feeling much better. Finally, he could eat. Rubbing his flat stomach, he squinted happily.
"Oh, a ramen shop…" He stopped in his tracks, looking at the door with the name "Ichiraku" written on it. Maybe ramen would be good? Just as he was thinking, the curtain was suddenly lifted, and then that gentle voice interrupted his thoughts, "Hey, little one, want a bowl of noodles?" Looking up, he saw a gentle face at the door.
Suddenly, a warm feeling surged in his left chest.
Naruto raised his face, revealing a bright smile. "Yeah!"
Ah! Delicious…
Naruto stared blankly as he picked up the noodles and brought them to his mouth, a faint sense of something lingering in his heart.
This familiar taste…
Mom…
Tears suddenly began to stream down his face, and the vague figure from his memory became clear.
"I'm sorry, Ryui. Take good care of Ryuko, okay, Ryui?"
"Ryui, my beloved daughter…"
It's as if that person's gentle features are right in front of me, as if her gentle smile has never disappeared. That person… with her jet-black, cascading hair, and ink-black eyes shining with gentle determination. She stood in front of the outsiders, resolutely defending our tribe with her blood.
At that time, she stood outside the Saint Taro clan, amidst the flying blood and corpses, and watched as the injured tribe members were carried into the village for treatment. The surviving people in the village started to rebuild their homes with great enthusiasm. And there were those who lost their loved ones, crying out in powerless anger at the injustice of the heavens. And she stood there, staring blankly at the two twisted corpses in front of her, suddenly losing all expression on her face. There was also her younger brother, who had always relied on her, stubbornly tugging at her clothes.
Her younger brother, who seemed to have cared about her from the moment he was born.
Because both parents were warriors, unable to stay. So her younger brother relied on her as his everything.
Naruto's face flashed with a hint of obscure and unclear emotions.
Ryuko... I've also taken care of you as my everything.
At that time, she simply ruffled his head gently, watching a faint trace of melancholy flicker in his eyes.
Even if... it's not intimate, it's still... family. If you leave, you'll still feel lonely, won't you?
She gave a slight smile, her steps firm. She would always protect him, because he was her only brother.
Mom, I know. Born as a sacrifice, and a hero since birth, huh?
So you can't be so cruel with love. Neither me nor my brother. It's doomed to be a slaughter for the two of us...
If there's love, there will be attachment. If there's attachment, there will be a desire to survive, and then the whole clan will be finished.
I know all this.
Have you forgotten? I've always been such a smart child.
So I'm willing to be killed by him. Willingly.
Mom, I don't hate you. From birth, I knew the responsibilities I had to bear and the feelings I had to protect. Because he's my favorite brother, it's okay. —Ryui, no, we should call him Naruto with some nostalgia. The tears in his eyes had disappeared, replaced by a radiant smile. His heart's tenderness flowed like a river.
He swallowed the noodles, tears mixed in, and then drank the soup in one gulp.
"Ah, so delicious~ (≧▽≦)/~" He showed a big smile, cheerfully placing the big bowl down.
Even for a Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, there are still people who care. Naruto concealed the touched emotions in his eyes, squinting with a mischievous smile at the old man.
"Ah, today, no need to pay, okay?" The old man turned around and looked at the blond youth, feeling a soft emotion stirring in his heart. Although he knew there might really be a monster inside this child's belly, so what? After all, he was just a child. Why were these people... Perhaps the unknown is really frightening.
Thinking this, the old man looked at the young boy with a bit of pity in his eyes. He didn't want to hurt this emotionally sensitive child, so he thought for a moment and said, "Consider it a gift for your first visit to this shop."
Naruto looked at the faint pity in the old man's eyes, feeling a tug at some corner of his heart. The old man smiled softly, his eyes full of warmth.
"Really? Old man, you're so kind~" He said, revealing a brilliant smile, making an exaggerated move that he probably hadn't even thought of himself. He kissed the old man's cheek with a "mwah."
Seeing the old man's stunned expression, he mischievously blinked at him. "This is my thank-you gift."
——The cute old man's face even had two little red clouds floating on it...
Naruto watched him chuckle, covering his mouth.
After waving goodbye to the old man, Naruto turned and headed home.
——Home, what a warm word.
Naruto raised an eyebrow, feeling even more lighthearted. Maybe having a meal really does wonders for the body's functions. Hehe.
The old man watched the young boy walk away, his brows creased with a faint softness. No matter whether there was a monster inside this boy's belly or not, he was just a grateful, gentle, and polite child.