Yin Seal

The two walked toward the streets of Konoha. Because it was the New Year, everyone was in high spirits. Since Naruto had changed so much, very few people actually recognized him, which saved him a lot of trouble.

They walked along, buying snacks as they went.

"I didn't expect the taste to be surprisingly good." Naruto ate a snack he didn't recognize and handed a skewer to Hinata.

Should I eat less? If Naruto finds out... Hinata looked at Naruto, who was eating with a smile in his eyes, and felt a bit cautious.

Naruto naturally didn't notice Hinata's little inner struggle. With the Six Thief Immortals, Naruto never felt full and didn't need to worry about any additives. This was a foodie's dream that many would kill for, though it was a pity he was in the ninja world.

Slowly, Hinata began to feel surprised. Although she had known before that Naruto could eat a lot, seeing his appetite so clearly this time still shocked her.

For Naruto, as long as it reached his stomach, it was digested; he would never have the feeling of being full.

"Yo, isn't this Naruto? It's been a long time." Just as Naruto was observing his surroundings, an uncle's voice rang out.

Naruto stopped in his tracks, feeling a bit surprised. Because he had been intentional about it, he rarely appeared in public, and with his current drastic changes, few people could recognize him if they didn't look closely.

He turned his head and saw a very familiar storefront: Ichiraku Ramen.

"Uncle Ichiraku, long time no see." Seeing the person who greeted him, Naruto couldn't help but reveal a smile.

If there was anyone in Konoha who didn't hate Naruto, it was this man. All Naruto could ever feel from him was goodwill.

"Naruto, why haven't you come by lately? It's been a long time since I've seen you."

"Yeah, I've been a bit busy lately."

Naruto smiled. The real reason was that he had no money. His survivor's pension wasn't much, and while Ichiraku Ramen wasn't expensive, he couldn't afford many bowls. In the past, Uncle Ichiraku had pitied him and often gave him free meals, but the current Naruto didn't want to simply accept others' kindness.

Once you grow up, it becomes difficult to accept the kindness of others.

But since they had run into each other, he naturally had to have a taste.

"Is this your companion?" Uncle Ichiraku looked at the little girl Naruto had brought along and asked happily. Seeing that Naruto could make friends, a look of relief appeared on his face.

Naruto smiled and nodded, ordering several bowls of ramen. For the first time, Naruto felt it tasted quite good—mostly because the atmosphere was right, with Hinata there and Uncle Ichiraku watching them with a smile.

Hinata was surprised. It was the first time she had seen Naruto show a genuine smile to an ordinary person, and it was also the first time she had seen an ordinary person who didn't hate Naruto. Instinctively, she felt a sense of affection for the man. Seeing Naruto so happy, her own appetite improved, and she accompanied him through several bowls of ramen.

"Yo, Boss, one bowl of beef ramen." Just as Naruto was eating with gusto, he heard a voice.

The door curtain opened to reveal a man with white hair, holding a small orange book in his left hand. Most eye-catching of all were his dead-fish eyes.

Kakashi. I didn't expect to run into him. With such distinct features, Naruto recognized him at a glance, but he only looked once before losing interest.

Kakashi sat down and only then noticed Naruto. Naruto's presence was very low right now due to the lack of chakra, so even an elite jonin like Kakashi found it hard to spot him immediately.

"Yo, it's Kakashi. I've really run into a lot of acquaintances today."

Uncle Ichiraku was very happy to see the newcomer. Both Naruto and Kakashi were old customers; Kakashi had been eating here since he was a child.

Although Uncle Ichiraku didn't know Naruto's true identity, he wouldn't be stingy, if only because Naruto looked so much like the Fourth Hokage.

Naruto finished his meal and paid.

"It's been a long time, little Naruto. This one's on the house," Uncle Ichiraku said with a chuckle.

"No need." Naruto scratched his head and declined. The main thing was that they had both eaten a massive amount. Naruto couldn't help but sneak a glance at Hinata, suddenly remembering that in the original story, Hinata had won a ramen-eating contest against the Akimichi Clan, and that record hadn't been broken until her eldest son grew up. One could imagine just how large Hinata's appetite was.

In the end, Uncle Ichiraku still didn't take Naruto's money, which left Naruto a bit speechless.

He's an honest man. Naruto secretly made up his mind that he would protect this shop.

The plot was about to begin, and Konoha was entering a time of great disaster.

Watching Naruto leave, Kakashi couldn't help but turn his head to look.

"Naruto, huh? He's changed so much." If he hadn't heard the boy's voice, Kakashi would have found it hard to recognize him.

The biggest change was in Naruto's hair. In the past, his hair had been a dull yellow, giving him the appearance of a delinquent brat. But the current Naruto, thanks to the Six Thief Immortals, had undergone significant changes in height and build, and his hair had turned somewhat reddish. If not for Naruto suppressing it, he would surely have a head of fiery red hair.

On Naruto's side, after leaving the shop, the two continued to stroll through the streets.

Thinking of Hinata's appetite, Naruto felt he had to make sure she was full today, while also considering her constitution.

Did Naruto find out?

Startled, Hinata looked at Naruto cautiously. No matter where she was, it was always embarrassing for a girl to be a glutton, so even at home, Hinata never dared to eat her fill.

Naruto remained his usual carefree, foodie self, sharing half of whatever he bought with Hinata. In truth, Hinata was already full, but seeing Naruto eating so happily, she accompanied him.

They didn't know how long they had been eating, but for the first time, Hinata felt stuffed, her little belly bulging out. Naruto, however, remained exactly the same, which made Hinata blush, though it was night, so it wasn't visible.

Naruto, finally catching on, seemed to notice Hinata's condition. He quietly led her away from the snack street, and the two began to walk toward the Hokage Rock. This place had been Naruto's favorite spot in the past, as he could observe the entire village from here.

The fireworks were beautiful, but the person beside him was even more so. Naruto sat there, quietly watching Hinata. Hinata felt a bit shy, but she watched the fireworks in the sky with great excitement.

"I have a gift for you, Hinata. Don't move," Naruto suddenly said.

Hinata's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a wave of shyness.

Is Naruto going to...

Her mind began to wander involuntarily, and at the same time, she felt a sense of anticipation.

Should she close her eyes?

She dared not meet Naruto's gaze.

Naruto did not notice the girl's subtle inner thoughts; he reached out his right hand and pressed a finger to the center of Hinata's forehead.

Hinata was still wondering what this was.

"Close your eyes and sense it," Naruto's voice came through.

Daring not to let her mind wander, she closed her eyes to perceive, and she sensed a space.

At the same time, Naruto's voice echoed in her mind.

"This is my family's ancestral secret technique, the Yin Seal. It can store the excess chakra that you don't use in daily life. After I improved it, it can maximize the maintenance of bodily vitality, delay aging, and keep one forever young. I will seal my own chakra here to replace your accumulation, and you can release the seal if you encounter danger." After Naruto finished speaking, he began to inject his chakra.