Naruto Uzumaki

Seeing the tiny figure lingering in front of Ichiraku Ramen, Arata felt that it would be wrong to keep pretending not to notice.

"Izumi, how about we try this ramen place?"

He stopped and made the suggestion.

Arata was never particularly picky about food. When he had been younger, he had relied on Military Ration Pills to quickly restore his chakra during training.

Those pills cared only about their restorative effects, leaving taste as their lowest priority.

"Sure."

Izumi Uchiha had seen through the boy's intentions and did not refuse.

After all, the tiny figure called the Nine-Tails before them, like Arata, was an orphan.

But before they could approach, Naruto Uzumaki immediately became guarded. The longing and yearning in his eyes instantly turned ice-cold.

Who knew how much exclusion he had suffered over all those years?

Clearly, he and Izumi were supposed to be his peers.

"Want to eat with us?"

Arata was truly terrible at socializing.

He directly ignored the little Nine-Tails' hostility and got straight to the point.

"Heh."

Naruto Uzumaki did not answer. Instead, he gave a scornful snort and shifted slightly backward.

He would absolutely, absolutely not fall for such a childish "trap" again!

Besides, he recognized that fan-shaped clan crest.

Those people who patrolled everywhere all day did not mock him as openly as ordinary villagers did, but the way they looked at him was no different.

"We don't mean any harm."

Izumi Uchiha subtly tugged at the boy beside her. With that cold, aloof expression of his, it would be strange if he earned the other boy's trust.

Yet Naruto Uzumaki still showed resistance toward this beautiful older sister's invitation and intended to turn around and run away.

"In this world, the only person who's truly good to me is that white-haired old grandpa!"

"Everyone else is the same!"

Seeing the tiny figure's movements, Izumi wanted to say something else, but Arata moved even faster. "Boss, three bowls of tonkotsu chashu ramen."

Actions were better proof than empty words.

Besides, neither he nor Izumi had any obligation to get too deliberately close to the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Outside the territories of the various clans, the entire Hidden Leaf Village was monitored by Anbu and Root.

Letting an Uchiha with the Sharingan approach the little Nine-Tails was practically touching Konoha's higher-ups right on their sore spot.

"Coming right up."

Uncle Teuchi, standing inside the ramen stall, immediately answered.

He had also paid close attention to the blond little boy in his sight. But whenever he called out for him to come have a bowl of ramen, the little fellow would always bolt away.

Now, there were finally some kindhearted people.

After glancing once more at the two young Uchiha, Teuchi turned around and got busy.

Members of that clan rarely came to his ramen stand.

"Let's head over first, Izumi."

With that, Arata took the lead toward the ramen stall.

As they drew near, the aroma of the broth rushed over them without warning. No wonder the little Nine-Tails always lingered here.

That kind of smell was lethal to children.

Watching Arata's actions, Izumi's eyes took on a slightly complicated look.

It seemed she had underestimated this younger clansman. Though his manner toward people and things left much to be desired, he always seemed able to spot the heart of the problem.

"Arata is becoming more and more like Itachi."

"But is that really a good thing?"

Looking at Arata's back, Izumi seemed to see Itachi's figure. For a brief moment, the two overlapped before immediately separating again.

Similar, yet different.

"Well, I'm his older sister. If I can't manage Itachi, can't I at least manage you?"

The girl clenched her little fist, and a smile returned to her face.

Even though the two unfamiliar older siblings had shown him kindness again and again, Naruto Uzumaki still did not follow them.

Ichiraku Ramen... he really wanted to eat it!

He had only tasted it once, but that tempting flavor could never be erased from his memory.

I want to eat it.

I want it so badly!

Naruto Uzumaki stared blankly at the ramen stall. Even though his little stomach was rumbling like a drum, he ultimately did not take a step forward.

He was used to being driven away, rejected, and deceived. He still could not adapt to other people's kindness.

Especially this kind of kindness that he could not tell was real or fake.

But just as Naruto was about to leave, his gaze inadvertently caught the unfamiliar older boy's movement.

The first bowl of ramen was pushed to the far-left seat, two or three spaces away from him.

Was he leaving me a safe distance?

The little Nine-Tails hesitated.

The warm bone broth slowly flowed down Arata's throat and into his stomach, making it a perfect match for this season that was just turning warm after the cold.

At that very instant, Arata wanted to sell off all the Military Ration Pills he had stockpiled at home for dirt cheap!

The difference in taste between the two was like heaven and earth.

But that thought lasted only a moment.

Military Ration Pills had effects that ordinary food could not compare with. Apart from filling one's stomach, they could also restore a certain amount of chakra.

A delicacy like Ichiraku Ramen was fine to enjoy once. Thinking about it too often would affect his training.

Not long after Arata and Izumi began eating, the chair at the far left of the counter suddenly moved. The standard stool seemed a little difficult for its new occupant, who had to put in some effort to climb up. Then came the eager slurping of noodles, followed by coughing from eating too fast and choking.

The scene froze there.

Three boys and girls of similar age quietly ate the ramen in their own bowls without exchanging a single word.

Quiet and peaceful.

Other customers came by during that time, but upon seeing the only remaining seat and the little Nine-Tails wolfing down noodles, they cursed their bad luck under their breaths and turned away.

But this time, Naruto Uzumaki did not argue furiously like a cat with its fur standing on end. After only a brief pause, he continued shoveling ramen into his mouth.

But Boss, why does this broth taste a little salty?

"Here."

After setting down his chopsticks, Arata pulled a ten-thousand-yen note from his pocket.

He normally used the money Uncle Yashiro gave him only to buy Military Ration Pills, so he had accumulated quite a large balance.

"Kid, do you have any smaller bills?"

Teuchi froze when he took the note.

He knew the Uchiha were rich, but this was just a bowl of ramen. Did he really have to start with a ten-thousand-yen note? Was this kid trying to clean him out of change?

"No need for change."

"When we come back in the future, just deduct it from that."

As Arata stood up, he deliberately emphasized the word "we." With Uncle Teuchi's social awareness, he would definitely understand.

That was all he could do for the little Nine-Tails.

Any further contact, and the Anbu hidden at the street corners would likely be unable to hold themselves back.

"I understand."

Teuchi nodded gently. The Uchiha had their own commercial district and rarely came here for ramen, so the remaining money was naturally being left for Naruto.

"Thank you for your patronage."

Without saying goodbye to the little Nine-Tails, Arata and Izumi lifted the ramen stall's curtain and headed toward the clan compound.

But at that moment—

"Hey! Your name—what's your name?"

The little Naruto, who had been wolfing down ramen, had somehow already stood up. Broth still stained the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were still red.

Hearing that, Arata Uchiha stopped. His expression remained as indifferent as ever. "Shouldn't you introduce yourself first when asking someone else's name?"

The little Nine-Tails froze. Only after a moment did he snap back to his senses, raise his sleeve to fiercely wipe his eyes, and shout back:

"My name is Naruto."

"Naruto Uzumaki!"