Birthday

Sasuke chased after him for a few steps. The hidden figure appeared.

The masked ninja had wild, spiky long hair. Sasuke remembered Gekko Hayate having short hair. Wasn't he supposed to possess the Transparent Release bloodline? Could this be someone else with the surname Moonlight?

As far as he remembered, there had only been one person capable of Transparent Release. But reality was already like this, so who knew?

The masked man spoke.

"I am an Anbu under the Hokage, carrying out a secret mission. Please do not interfere with my work."

"You're carrying out a mission in my house?"

Silence...

Fine, he had put on enough of an act. With the original Sasuke's intelligence, even if he did not know, he should have been able to guess.

So Sasuke took the initiative and said, "Naruto?"

The masked man nodded, then vanished again, hiding himself.

Although Sasuke could no longer see him without activating the Sharingan, he should still be nearby.

"I'll verify this with Hokage-sama."

He was very curious whether having his surveillance mission exposed would get the guy's pay docked. He would not retaliate over something like that, right? Still, not checking would be a little too careless.

Everyone knew there were two groups in Konoha who wore masks. Sasuke was also curious what Hiruzen Sarutobi would say about this.

At five or six in the evening... school had been out for a long time. He had no idea whether the Hokage had gotten off work yet. Though he said he was going, remembering what that old geezer Third Hokage was like made him less eager to do so.

A gentleman did not stand beneath a crumbling wall. Going somewhere packed with enemies and constantly facing danger? Of course he would go home and switch places with a Shadow Clone. He was not so careless that he would skip using a Shadow Clone and happily run over to offer himself up, right?

A Shadow Clone could activate the Sharingan too. Given the Sharingan's special nature, it was ultimately still his Chakra. Naturally, just like using a ninjutsu, it would correspondingly reduce the clone's duration.

He had never been inside the Hokage Building before. His first time was gone today.

There was no one around, but was there really no one?

After learning that Gekko Hayate was not the only one who knew "Transparent Release," Sasuke wanted to activate his Sharingan and check the road wherever he went. He did not know whether both of his eyes having Two Tomoe had been exposed yet, but activating the Sharingan and looking around everywhere inside the Hokage Building? That would be a little too showy. There was no need to make a spectacle of himself.

He did not even know where the Hokage's Office was, so he could only wander around...

Before he had taken more than two steps, a masked man popped up in front of him.

See? I said there was most likely someone here.

"What business do you have at the Hokage Building?"

The masked man did not even introduce himself and immediately asked about his business. It felt somewhat unpleasant.

"I have something to report to Hokage-sama. May I ask where his office is?"

"Follow me."

The masked Anbu did not say a single unnecessary word and simply led the way.

The Anbu knocked on the door. After waiting several seconds, he pushed it open and gestured for Sasuke to enter himself.

"Sasuke, what is it?"

"Hokage-sama, cough cough cough cough... Fine."

Good grief, they might as well rename the Hokage's Office the Smoking Room!

"Hahaha, Sasuke really is still a child."

The Third Hokage casually pushed open a window. Air flowed through the office, and in one or two seconds, the stale air had been completely refreshed.

Good grief, if he did not know this was the ninja world, he would have thought the Third Hokage was an old wizard.

Sasuke briefly described to the Third Hokage how he had discovered an invisible person entering his home.

"You handled this matter well. I did indeed arrange for them to protect Naruto. You know Naruto's identity, right?"

Of course he did. Wasn't he the Fourth Hokage's kid?

Naturally, he could not say that aloud. "Some Villagers say he is the son of a Fox Demon or something."

The Third Hokage continued to question him. "Then what do you think?"

Sasuke replied as if it were only natural, "Isn't he a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan? The Villagers might not understand, but the Uzumaki Clan's symbol is everywhere in the village. Any ninja would know."

"Is Naruto related to the First Hokage?"

"Do not ask too many questions."

"Yes."

That should count as a fairly plausible explanation...

That was about it. The Third Hokage added one final sentence.

"A mask alone cannot completely prove someone's identity. Anyone can wear a mask. I will not allow Anbu to draw weapons on Naruto. If you encounter them, call for help loudly and find an opportunity to escape. Do not recklessly confront them, understand? You are both important parts of Konoha's future. Your lives matter more than your pride."

"Thank you for your concern, Hokage-sama."

So this was a warning about Root.

Life was certainly important, but actual combat was important too if he wanted to improve. At the very least, he needed to spar with someone evenly matched so his Taijutsu could progress. Obviously, there was no such person among his classmates. If Naruto learned the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, they could practice together, but that was a matter for later.

Seeing that Naruto had no intention of leaving voluntarily, and that it was already getting late, Sasuke asked, "What do you want to eat tonight? A birthday cake, or red bean rice?"

Naruto had never celebrated a birthday either. "What's the difference between a birthday cake and the cakes we usually eat?"

Sasuke thought for two seconds. Come to think of it, his family in his previous life had not had a habit of celebrating birthdays either. "There's no real difference. At the end, they write 'Happy Birthday' on it with colored icing."

Naruto found that rather boring. "Then can't we eat that every day...?"

"Red bean rice, rice cakes, soba noodles? Uh, I think soba noodles are for New Year's."

Sasuke listed off every anime-related food he could think of. Naruto's expression did not improve at all.

"Fine, then what do you want to eat for your birthday?"

The moment Naruto heard Sasuke asking for his opinion, he perked up. "I get to decide?"

"Today, I'll listen to you. While there's still time, anyway. As long as I know how to make it."

Naruto confirmed again, "Really?!"

Sasuke gave him a look and let him figure it out himself.

"Let's go eat Ichiraku Ramen!"

Sasuke: ...I'd actually be surprised if it wasn't instant noodles.

They went all the way from Sasuke's House to Ichiraku Ramen in the center of the village.

"Boss, two Ichiraku Ramen with every topping, plus one serving of roast meat."

Seeing the two little ones enter, Teuchi said, "Sasuke and Naruto, huh? Long time no see."

Naruto also liked this ramen shop owner, who occasionally treated him to free meals. "Hello, Old Man Ichiraku!"

"What brings you here for ramen today?"

"It's my birthday today, and Sasuke is treating me to ramen~"

Teuchi understood at once. His adult self-control stopped him from thinking too much about it. "So it's Naruto's birthday today... Then, as a birthday present, I'll give you a free ramen voucher."

They had already said someone was treating him, so as the owner, it would not be right to steal someone else's gesture.

He pulled out a pen and some card paper from behind the counter, then wrote out two vouchers on the spot: "Ichiraku Ramen Free Voucher, One Use, Valid for One Year."

Looking at the voucher handed to him, Sasuke asked in surprise, "There's one for me too?"

Old Man Ichiraku smiled so broadly his eyes vanished. "Naruto often tells me about you. You take good care of him. You deserve a reward."

So he was being treated like a child. Still, the feeling was not unpleasant.

Naruto was delighted at the word "friend," but he still pretended to be dissatisfied. "He always makes me help him with things. I'm the one taking care of him!"

Hearing Naruto's rebuttal, Old Man Ichiraku burst into laughter.

Then he turned to Sasuke and recommended a new dish. "Last time, you said you wanted Tempura. I tried making some and added it to the menu. It's only seasonal vegetable Tempura, but sales have been unexpectedly good. Want to try some?"

Sasuke had indeed mentioned it to him last time, but the idea of shrimp Tempura had been rejected. Konoha had good geography and climate, but it was not near the sea. Like Chengdu, it occasionally had a few river shrimp, but they were tiny and could not be supplied reliably. Adding them to the menu was out of the question.

Sasuke gladly accepted Old Man Ichiraku's recommendation. After all, it had been his idea.

"Then one serving, please. Thank you."

Naruto's House was not far away, so naturally Sasuke walked him home first.

"Come to think of it, I've never been to your house. We're already at your door. Aren't you going to invite me in?"

Thinking of his cramped apartment, which was filthy and messy and had not been cleaned at all, then comparing it with Sasuke's spacious, clean, tidy home, Naruto immediately became embarrassed. He hurriedly grabbed the doorframe with both hands and feet, blocking Sasuke from coming closer.

"Next time. The room hasn't been cleaned. It's a mess."

Sasuke did not force the issue. He simply wanted to see the legendary refrigerator full of expired milk.

After saying goodbye and walking a few steps away, he heard Naruto's voice behind him.

"I had a lot of fun today. Thank you, Sasuke."

Kids gave their affection way too easily. Sasuke did not turn around, only coolly waved his right hand.

"See you tomorrow."