How could he sleep at his age?

Eiji's eyes held three parts confusion, three parts shock, three parts sorrow, and one part resignation.

He really wanted to call the police.

Forget teaching the Jinchuriki—even just exchanging two words with Naruto would probably get him tailed by Anbu.

Eiji gritted his teeth. He'd go for it.

If he tried, he might die. If his strength wasn't enough, he'd definitely die in three years anyway.

Eiji let out a breath and walked over to Naruto.

He grabbed Naruto, who was still counting his coins, and headed toward the ramen shop.

"Hey, hey, hey?"

Little Naruto struggled in midair. What did this weird White Hair want?

Was he trying to steal the few small coins he had?

You'd rob a kid's money? Are you even human?

Naruto clutched his coins tightly, ready to throw a couple of punches at the thieving White Hair at any moment.

But to his surprise, the White Hair didn't take his coins. Instead, he set him down on a stool at the ramen shop.

The moment Eiji let go, Naruto bolted.

Before he could get two steps away, though, he heard Eiji say to Uncle Teuchi, "One bowl of ramen for this kid, please. Triple chashu, no bamboo shoots."

Uncle Teuchi chuckled and agreed. "Looks like little Naruto's in luck today. Someone's treating him to a meal."

After a brief moment of surprise, a smile spread across Naruto's face.

This weird, good-looking White Hair didn't seem to hate him. He'd even offered to buy him noodles!

And how did he know he didn't like bamboo shoots?

So Naruto slowly shuffled back and plopped down right next to Eiji.

He carefully stashed his coins away, then even more cautiously asked Eiji.

"Hey, weird big brother, who are you?"

"Someone who made a bit of unexpected money and wants to share it."

"Huh?" Naruto thought the White Hair in front of him might not be all there mentally.

Still, he felt pretty happy. At least the guy wasn't telling him to get lost so he wouldn't dirty his clothes.

"Weird big brother, are you a ninja from the village?"

"Yeah." Eiji pointed at the forehead protector on his brow. "I'm a Chunin. A rank you'll never reach in your whole life."

Little Naruto waved his fists, venting his displeasure.

"I'm gonna be the Hokage one day! You know what the Hokage is, right? The strongest person in this village!"

As the two argued, Uncle Teuchi brought over the ramen.

Just as Eiji had asked, the toppings were piled high, forming a small mountain.

Naruto sniffed hard, his knuckles whitening as he gripped his coins.

He looked at Uncle Teuchi, then at Eiji.

"This... is it really for me?"

"Yes," Eiji said, handing Naruto a pair of chopsticks. "Even the Hokage has to eat."

After getting the confirmation, Naruto was overjoyed. He grabbed the chopsticks and launched a fierce attack on the ramen.

He ate like he hadn't had a meal in three days, splashing broth onto his jacket and sticking out his tongue from the heat, but he refused to slow down.

Eiji frowned as he watched, half-afraid the kid would bite the bowl to pieces.

Between bites, Naruto curiously studied Eiji.

He wasn't popular in the village. Hardly anyone wanted to play with him.

And someone who'd willingly treat him to noodles? That was even rarer.

"Weird big brother, you don't seem to hate me."

"Mm... I'm going to be the Hokage someday. How could I hate a fellow villager?"

Naruto forgot about his food. He realized this weird big brother was a rival for the Hokage seat.

"No way! Absolutely no way! I'm the one who's gonna be Hokage!"

Eiji gently ruffled the Little Blondie's hair. "Then let me ask you—do you know what it takes to become Hokage?"

That stumped Naruto. He only knew his dream was to be Hokage.

But no one had ever told him what he had to do to get there.

Still, Naruto's little brain worked fast. He bared his teeth in a grin and asked Eiji.

"So, weird big brother, how do you become Hokage?"

Eiji thought seriously. "The Hokage needs to bear the expectations and recognition of everyone in the village, to be acknowledged by all."

"Also, don't call me 'weird big brother.' My name is Uchiha Eiji."

"Oh."

Naruto responded, but clearly didn't understand.

"So, Big Brother Eiji, how do you become Hokage?"

Now it was Eiji's turn to get a headache.

Theoretically, if Naruto wrote an essay titled "My Hokage Father," it would solve quite a few problems.

But it didn't seem quite appropriate yet.

Looked like he'd have to switch to a simpler way of asking.

He looked at Naruto. "The Hokage has to do what others can't. Can you do that?"

Naruto put down his chopsticks and nodded firmly.

"Of course I can!"

"Like, I don't have anyone by my side, but I never, ever cry."

After saying that, Naruto looked up at Eiji. "Does that count as being a good ninja?"

Eiji's expression grew heavy. He ruffled Naruto's little blond hair and said, word by word.

"You're a good ninja."

[Naruto received your affirmation, his heart filled with joy, and he became more confident in becoming a great Hokage]

[You have obtained Water Style: Water Dragon Bite Burst]

Having received Eiji's affirmation, Naruto cheered up a lot.

He wiped his eyes and buried his head in his noodles again.

Soon, Naruto finished the last bite.

He patted his round little belly. "It feels so good to be full."

Then he stood up and nodded to Eiji in thanks.

"Thanks for the meal, Big Brother Eiji. When my allowance comes in next month, I'll treat you to the best instant noodles."

"Mm," Eiji nodded in agreement. "Get back and rest early."

"Okay, I'm off. Bye!"

Naruto hummed a happy tune, waved goodbye to Eiji, and soon disappeared around the corner.

Only after Naruto's figure vanished did Eiji withdraw his gaze.

Eiji let out a long, quiet sigh and lowered his head to eat the now-cold noodles.

From the moment he'd made contact with Naruto, he'd sensed chakra fluctuations from several directions.

"Besides Anbu, there are probably Danzo's men too."

Eiji ate a few more bites of noodles, set down a bill, then stood up and headed in another direction.

After Eiji left, two masked ninjas emerged from the shadows.

The silver-haired one made a hand signal, and the other understood, following the direction Naruto had gone.

As for him, he trailed Eiji from a distance, only stopping when he saw him enter the Uchiha Clan Compound.

A few minutes later, that ninja met up with Kakashi at their rendezvous point.

"Senior Kakashi, should we report this to the Hokage?"

Kakashi nodded matter-of-factly. "I'll go see the Hokage first thing tomorrow. You keep an eye on Eiji's movements."

"Understood."

"Almost time. Switch shifts."

On the other side, the door to Danzo's office burst open.

"Lord Danzo, the Uchiha clan has made a move!"

Danzo, who had been drowsy, snapped his eyes wide open. "Speak."

When he heard his subordinate say that a member of the Uchiha clan had made contact with the Jinchuriki, Danzo could no longer contain his excitement.

In his mind, he had already concocted an elaborate scenario.

The inherently evil Uchiha clan, for some reason, had grown dissatisfied with Konoha.

So they had devised a very dangerous plan.

Emulating Uchiha Madara from years past, they would control the Nine-Tails and use it as a weapon to oppose Konoha.

If this plan succeeded, it would cause immense damage to the village!

At that thought, Danzo slammed his hand hard on the desk.

"Send men to surround the Uchiha and arrest them all—every single one!"

His guard, Aburame Ryoma, did not act upon hearing this order, looking visibly hesitant.

"Lord Danzo, a large-scale operation like this still requires the Hokage's approval."

Danzo snorted coldly. The Hokage, the Hokage, always the Hokage.

The Hokage's word carried weight in Konoha, but his, the Hokage Assistant's, did not!

It truly did not.

Fine. For now, he would endure.

Danzo snatched the scroll back and stormed toward the door, fuming.

"Lord Danzo, where are you going?"

"I'm going to report to the Hokage!"

Ryoma was helpless. "Lord Danzo, it's so late—the Hokage is already asleep..."

Danzo ground his teeth in fury.

All he ever did was sleep. Hiruzen, at your age, how can you still sleep so soundly!