First Meeting with Naruto

This was the first time Narak had seen Uzumaki Naruto since arriving in the world of the Hokage.

At this moment, Naruto was covered in dirt, his clothes torn in several places, with blood streaks on his face and hands—all injuries he'd sustained protecting Hinata.

"Hinata, Naruto, you're both hurt. Let me heal you," Narak said, using his Responded technique to restore their wounds one after another.

The white light of Responded shone, and the minor injuries slowly closed up.

"That's amazing..." Naruto stared at the miraculous sight, his face full of awe.

"Much better now. Hey, Naruto, it's almost dinner time. To thank you for protecting my little sister, let me treat you to a meal," Narak invited.

"Ah... no need, I couldn't possibly," Naruto refused with a smile.

"Grrr..." As soon as he spoke, his stomach growled.

Naruto clutched his belly with one hand and rubbed his head with the other, looking up at Narak with an awkward grin.

"Haha, don't say no. Come on, I'll take you both to Ichiraku Ramen," Narak laughed.

"Mmm... so good... slurp..."

Inside Ichiraku Ramen, Hinata, Narak, and Naruto sat side by side, with Naruto wolfing down his noodles.

"Haha, Naruto, slow down. There's more if you want."

Watching Naruto, Narak felt a pang of pity in his heart.

As a child, Naruto often went hungry or ate too much. Without parents, he lived on the village's relief funds, but that meager amount was never enough to fill him up, forcing him to eat expired food sometimes. Seeing him this ravenous, he probably hadn't eaten much all day.

"Mm-hmm, boss, another bowl, please!" Naruto said cheerfully to the ramen shop owner.

Half an hour later, Naruto sat on the stool, patting his bloated stomach with a satisfied look.

"Hey, big brother, thanks for the meal. I'm so full today."

Naruto turned to Narak, who was smiling at him, and remembering his own eating habits, his face flushed with embarrassment.

"What are you saying, Naruto? If anyone should thank you, it's me. If you hadn't stepped in, who knows how badly those brats would've bullied my sister."

"By the way, Naruto, do you really like Teuchi's ramen that much?"

"Of course! Big brother, haven't you noticed how delicious this ramen is? It's the best food in the whole world!" Naruto's eyes lit up.

Narak thought for a moment and said, "How about this, Naruto? Whenever you want ramen, come here, and it's on me."

Then he turned to Teuchi. "Boss, no matter how much ramen Naruto eats from now on, put it all on my tab. Come to the Hyuga Clan to settle it."

Hearing this, Naruto quickly waved his hands in refusal.

"I can't do that, big brother. I can't just eat your food for free. Treating me to this meal is already thanks enough for helping your sister."

"Hey, Naruto, what did you just call me?"

Narak smiled at Naruto's refusal and asked.

"I... I called you big brother... Why? Is something wrong?"

Faced with Narak's question, Naruto thought for a moment, puzzled.

"Haha, see? You call me big brother, so that makes you my little brother. What's wrong with an older brother looking after his younger brother and treating him to a meal?" Narak ruffled Naruto's hair.

"Brother..." Naruto murmured the word, his heart jolting as if something deep inside had been touched.

He lowered his head silently, rubbing his reddening eyes with a small hand. Once upon a time, that word had been so far out of reach for him.

For three years, ever since Naruto could remember, he had endured the villagers' cold stares.

The adults warned their children that Naruto was a "Fox Demon" and told them to stay away. So Naruto had never had a friend, let alone a word as intimate as "brother."

Poor Naruto had no idea what he'd done wrong.

He looked up at Narak and asked, "Do you really want to be my brother? But everyone says I'm a Fox Demon, a bad kid."

Seeing the anxious look on Naruto's face, Narak dropped his smile.

"Naruto, I know what the villagers think of you. Honestly, they're just too ignorant.

Since they reject you now, work hard to earn their recognition. If you don't know how, set yourself a small goal—like becoming the Hokage."

"The Hokage... Can I really become the Hokage?" Naruto stared at Narak in shock.

"Why not? Naruto, believe in yourself. You're no worse than anyone else. In fact, you're better than most. You have potential beyond your imagination.

People need dreams to live! Dreams give you drive. Don't get hung up on temporary wins or losses. Be brave enough to create your own tomorrow. That's how you make your life better, right? So keep going, Naruto. Show them a different side of you."

Narak encouraged him.

"Dreams give you drive... create your own tomorrow... make life better..." Naruto repeated the words, his face thoughtful.

Seeing Naruto lost in thought, Narak shook his head slightly.

In Narak's view, he only said this because it was Naruto. Naruto's personality was naturally optimistic and forgiving. No matter how badly the villagers treated him, he held firm to his conviction to protect them.

If it were him, why would he care what others thought of him, or bother trying to win them over? As long as he was strong enough, everything would be his to decide.

Lost in thought, Naruto slowly lifted his head, his small face growing more resolute, as if he had made some kind of decision.

Suddenly, he looked up and said, "Ah, big brother, you're right. I'm going to work hard to show myself in front of others. My goal is to become Hokage. Thanks, big brother!"

"Oh, that's great, Naruto. Then fight hard for that goal. Ganbatte!"

"Osu! I'll definitely work hard to become Hokage. Big brother, you just wait for that day."

The sky was growing dark. Having made up his mind, Naruto waved goodbye to Narak and ran off toward home.

Narak watched Naruto's small receding figure, a faint smile on his face. He couldn't help but wonder what Naruto would do to show himself to the people of Konoha.

Shaking his head, Narak dismissed the thought, took Hinata's little hand, and said, "Hey, Hinata, we're going home now. If we don't get back soon, Mom's going to scold us."

"Mm-hmm." Hinata nodded obediently.

In the middle of the night, Naruto tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, thinking about how to show himself to everyone. Suddenly, his eyes lit up.

"Got it. Starting tomorrow, I'll do this." As if he had thought of a great idea, a happy smile spread across his face.

And so, from the next day onward, Konoha gained a brat who spent all day playing pranks and driving the whole village crazy!