I Want to Become Stronger

I Want to Become Stronger

Xu Fan turned around and saw that the newcomer was none other than Naruto Uzumaki from earlier.

His eyes were shut tight, and he held a stick in his hand as he charged over, yelling at the top of his lungs.

"Naruto?"

Xu Fan was surprised. He couldn't understand why Naruto had suddenly appeared here.

Wasn't he enjoying ramen at Ichiraku Ramen?

Kakashi quickly recognized the newcomer as well.

"I'll leave this to you." Xu Fan glanced around at the corpses scattered across the ground, tossed those words to Kakashi, and rushed forward without waiting for his response.

No matter what, Naruto Uzumaki was still a child. Seeing the Root Shinobi corpses with his own eyes might leave him traumatized.

Xu Fan covered the distance in a few strides, snatched the wooden stick from Naruto's hand, then spun around and switched their positions, making sure Naruto's back faced Kakashi and the Root Shinobi corpses.

But that did not calm Naruto down. Instead, he clenched his tiny fists and wildly threw punches.

Xu Fan was speechless. He casually tossed aside the stick and grabbed both of Naruto's hands.

Naturally, Naruto began struggling.

"It's me, Xu Fan."

Xu Fan took a deep breath and had no choice but to reveal his identity.

The moment he heard Xu Fan's name, Naruto's struggles paused. His tightly shut eyes slowly opened as well.

When he saw Xu Fan really standing before him, his eyes immediately welled up. Then, like a burst dam, he started crying loudly.

"That's great..."

"Xu Fan..."

"Waaah... I thought..."

Xu Fan glanced at Kakashi and noticed that he had begun dealing with the bodies, temporarily hiding them in the woods.

At the same time, Kakashi gestured to Xu Fan, telling him to calm Naruto down.

Xu Fan nodded, slowly released Naruto's hands, then crouched down and wiped the tears from little Naruto's eyes.

"Boys aren't supposed to cry so easily."

Xu Fan's voice was exceptionally gentle. "Why did you come here? Was the ramen not good?"

Judging by Naruto's reaction, his appearance here was no accident.

"I..."

Naruto sniffed, then began explaining.

Xu Fan was the first friend he had ever made, and also the first person his age to treat him to ramen.

Maybe, to Xu Fan, he was only one friend among many.

But to Naruto, Xu Fan was his only friend.

When those Root Shinobi took Xu Fan away, Naruto had been terribly worried.

So he had run straight out of the ramen shop and followed them all the way, until he saw the Root Shinobi attack Xu Fan.

Naruto had never seen anything like that before. He had been frightened out of his wits.

"I'm sorry, Xu Fan..."

Naruto apologized to Xu Fan as he cried.

When he saw those people attacking Xu Fan, his first instinct had not been to help, but to turn and run.

Even though Xu Fan was his first friend.

Yet at the crucial moment, he had chosen to run away out of fear.

"Just because of that?"

Xu Fan froze, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Those Root Shinobi had not been his match, but Naruto did not know that.

In Naruto's eyes, Xu Fan was only stronger than Sasuke, not a real ninja.

In fact, Naruto running away in fear was proof enough of that.

Yet even so, Naruto had turned back.

In Xu Fan's view, that was not something one could accomplish merely by summoning courage.

Because he was alone, he understood that feeling of helplessness.

Because he had been isolated, he treated others gently.

"Alright, alright." The corners of Xu Fan's lips rose into what he thought was his brightest smile. He wiped Naruto's tears dry. "Didn't Naruto come back to save me?"

"But..."

Naruto was still sniffling. He wanted to turn around, but discovered that Xu Fan's hand was cradling the back of his head, stopping him from looking back.

Looking at Xu Fan's smile, Naruto seemed to understand something.

"It's already... alright." Xu Fan said gently. "Thank you, Naruto. You didn't abandon me at the critical moment. To me, you're already the bravest person in this world."

"Thank you."

Looking at Xu Fan before him, Naruto became even more emotional.

For the first time.

This was the first time someone had said thank you to him.

It was also the first time someone had called him brave.

And the first time someone had praised him like this.

At that moment, Naruto even felt that Xu Fan was an angel who had descended to his side.

No one could be better than him.

But that only made it harder for Naruto to contain his emotions, and he cried even louder.

"Alright, alright."

Seeing this, Xu Fan could only straighten up and gently pat his head.

Kakashi took that opportunity to slip into the woods.

Xu Fan did not rush Naruto, allowing him to release all the pressure he had been carrying for so long.

In truth, Xu Fan knew that Naruto was crying so hard not only because he blamed himself for turning and running away in fear.

There was also all the helplessness, weakness, pitifulness, and loneliness he had endured for so long.

That was precisely why he was so persistent when it came to feelings.

He was like that with Sasuke, with Sakura, and with Jiraiya.

And now... with him as well.

Even Xu Fan did not know how long Naruto cried. He only knew that by the time Naruto had completely released that pressure, night had fallen, and Xu Fan's chest was soaked through.

"Xu Fan..."

"I'm here." Xu Fan nodded. "Want to go back?"

Naruto said nothing. Instead, he remained silent for a long time, as though struggling with a choice.

Xu Fan was not in a hurry and patiently waited for him.

After a long while, Naruto finally seemed to gather all his courage and make up his mind as he asked Xu Fan.

"Can you teach me?"

"Hm?"

"I want to become stronger..." Naruto took a deep breath and clenched his hands into fists. "I want to become stronger..."

"And then become Hokage?" Xu Fan teased, thinking Naruto surely wanted to become stronger, become Hokage, and earn the village's recognition.

In fact, that was just the kind of person Naruto was.

However, Naruto's answer surprised Xu Fan.

"Yeah, I want to become Hokage, surpass every Hokage, and earn everyone's recognition, but..." Naruto took a deep breath and continued, "If I become stronger, I won't have to shrink back because of fear anymore. Xu Fan... I want the strength to protect my companions..."