First Encounter with Naruto Uzumaki

"Finally sent that brat away."

Mitaraishi Anko bit into a dango, her mood brightening somewhat.

"Still, isn't it kind of wrong to trick a kid...?"

A Chunin examiner cautiously asked, apparently wary of Mitaraishi Anko's temper. He quickly added, "Of course, that brat caused plenty of trouble during the exam. Anko, you really helped everyone vent their anger!"

Thanks to that brat Akihara Kagura, the entire Chunin Ninja Exams had become a complete mess.

During the first written test, Akihara Kagura used the Transformation Jutsu to toy with all the examinees, nearly causing the entire Chunin Ninja Exams to collapse.

During the second wilderness survival test, Akihara Kagura destroyed the checkpoint at the finish line and nearly captured every team by himself, making it seem as though he wanted to eliminate every competitor in the second round. The Third Exam had nearly been unable to proceed.

"Forget it."

Mitaraishi Anko waved a hand and watched Akihara Kagura's departing figure. Indifferently, she said, "Lively children like him need a little discipline..."

"What about the remaining examinees?"

"Didn't that brat dispel his jutsu?"

Mitaraishi Anko looked over the sprawled examinees in the Forest of Death. "They should all have been eliminated, but this time, let them fight it out themselves. They're all gathered here, so there should be results soon enough!"

"It's getting dark..."

Konoha gradually quieted down as night fell.

The shops along the streets began closing one after another. Only a handful remained open, along with Ichiraku Ramen, their lights casting a warm orange glow into the night.

"Growl, growl, growl..."

A little blond boy hid beneath an eave, rubbing his hungry stomach as he stared at Ichiraku Ramen in the distance. He opened his palm and counted the few coins he had left.

"This isn't even enough for a bowl of ramen..."

A youngster's voice sounded beside the little boy.

"Yeah..."

The little blond boy nodded instinctively before realizing someone had appeared beside him. He abruptly backed away two steps. "Y-you... Who are you?!"

"Someone who's just as starving."

The youngster rubbed his flat, hungry stomach, then felt around in his empty pockets. "Also someone who's just as broke."

"..."

The little blond boy's eye twitched.

"Come on."

The youngster crouched on the steps beneath the eave and beckoned to the little boy. "Squat down and rest for a while. You won't feel as hungry."

"..."

The little blond boy slowly shuffled over.

Many people in the village cursed at him and never allowed him near them, yet this older brother did not seem to reject him.

The little blond boy was Naruto Uzumaki.

Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, with the most ferocious tailed beast in the ninja world sealed within him.

The youngster was Akihara Kagura. After leaving the Forest of Death, he did not want to return to Root so early, so he decided to take the opportunity to look around Konoha. Unexpectedly, he ran into the little boy Naruto Uzumaki right on the street.

This was...

A child no one could possibly hate.

This little boy's story always inspired countless people to forge ahead bravely.

Even Akihara Kagura had to admit that if not for this little boy's story in his previous life, no one would have come to love this ninja world. He was the warmest sun in this ninja world.

Naruto Uzumaki did not know any of that.

The little fellow was still somewhat happy, as though he had met someone who did not dislike him. Curiously, he started a conversation. "Are you a ninja from the village?"

"Yes."

Akihara Kagura nodded, glanced at the little blond-haired boy beside him, and added, "In a few days, I'll be a Chunin of the village. Do you know what level of ninja a Chunin is? It's a height you'll never reach in your life, brat."

"..."

Naruto Uzumaki's forehead twitched. He pouted unhappily and vigorously waved his little fists. "No way! I'm going to surpass the Hokage! Do you know what kind of person the Hokage is? The strongest person in the village is the Hokage..."

"Then you need to fill your stomach first..."

Akihara Kagura's single sentence instantly crushed the little blond-haired boy's passionate fighting spirit. He continued leisurely, "Children have to eat properly if they want to grow up strong."

"Aren't you hungry too?!"

Naruto Uzumaki rubbed his growling stomach and immediately fired back.

"I could originally have scrounged enough food to stay full for a few days."

Akihara Kagura shifted into another position and sat on the steps, his hands resting between his knees, his gaze dimming somewhat. "Unfortunately, someone tricked me today. Even though I found it troublesome and willingly let her trick me, the fact that she did it still makes me angry."

"...You talk too much."

Naruto Uzumaki picked at his ear.

"I see..."

Akihara Kagura smiled, reached out, and patted Naruto Uzumaki on the head. A smile appeared on his face. "It's fine. Sooner or later, you'll feel the same way."

"No, I won't!"

Naruto Uzumaki loudly retorted, declaring that his intelligence could not possibly be that low. "I won't be fooled as easily as you!"

"Really?"

Akihara Kagura did not seem to believe him.

Just as Akihara Kagura and little Naruto were chatting there, an old man with a pipe in his mouth passed by on the street and suddenly stopped in front of them.

"Grandpa!"

Naruto Uzumaki's face immediately lit up with excitement!

He happened to know this old man. Whenever he felt down or sad, the old man would occasionally appear by his side.

"Yo, Naruto."

The old man puffed out a smoke ring from his pipe and spoke slowly. "It's so late. Aren't you going home to sleep?"

Without waiting for Naruto Uzumaki to answer, the old man's gaze fell on Akihara Kagura. "There's another little fellow here too... Why aren't you resting at this hour?"

"Because I'm hungry."

Naruto Uzumaki tapped his stomach and suddenly raised his head to look at the old man. "Grandpa, take me fishing! He's too hungry to sleep too, so let's go fishing by the river together! As long as we catch fish, we'll have something to eat!"

"Sure..."

The old man kindly reached out and stroked Naruto Uzumaki's head, though his gaze remained fixed on Akihara Kagura. "Little fellow, since you haven't eaten either, come with us!"

"I want ramen."

Akihara Kagura responded slowly.

"..."

This little fellow really did not stand on ceremony!

The old man's eyes twitched, but he quickly adapted to Akihara Kagura's attitude and said with a smile, "When this old man left home, I didn't bring much money... Do you two little fellows have any money on you?"

"This is all I have..."

Naruto Uzumaki showed the old man the coins in his hand.

"My pockets are cleaner than my face."

Akihara Kagura shook his head and stood up on his own. "Forget it. I've had enough fun today. If I go back too late, Lord Danzō will get angry."

"What an obedient child."

The old man smiled and praised him, then said, "I happen to have a friend named Danzo. As I recall, he shouldn't get angry that easily."

Second update