Konoha.
"Uncle Shiro, I want that!" Naruto trotted over to a small stall, pointed at the takoyaki inside, and turned back to shout at Shiro.
"Yeah, yeah, fine, I'll buy it. Honestly, you didn't come out on an empty stomach on purpose, did you? You already ate three bowls of ramen just now. You can still eat?" Shiro looked at Naruto suspiciously as he dug money out of his pocket.
"Hehe, don't worry about that. I'm not wasting anything, anyway!" Only after Shiro paid did Naruto accept the takoyaki the owner had already handed over, then bowed. "Thank you, mister."
"Honestly, Naruto, you pay every time. Can't you let me treat you once?"
"Hehe, no way. Right now, you're treating me because of my dad, and I don't want that. If you really want to treat me, mister, wait until my name, Uzumaki Naruto, is known throughout the Shinobi World, then you can treat me!"
At that moment, Naruto held his head high, unusually proud, his eyes shining brightly. His hair was still messy, but he had gained a bit of handsomeness—of course, it would have been more convincing if his mouth hadn't been stuffed full of takoyaki.
Smack! Shiro slapped Naruto on the back of the head. "What did I teach you? Don't eat while you're talking to people!"
"Urk~ urk~ urk~ pff, pff!!" Naruto, who had nearly choked from Shiro's slap, glared at him angrily. "Uncle Shiro! I almost choked to death, you know!? Is this how you're supposed to take care of me?"
"Mm, don't like how I do it? Fine, then. Let's go. We'll head home. I could use a rest anyway." As he spoke, Shiro made as if to turn and leave.
Naruto panicked and immediately bowed ninety degrees. "I was wrong! Uncle Shiro!"
Despite