Uzumaki Naruto

On the road...

Ning Xue walked with his head bowed, reflecting on the knowledge he had studied in books today.

The setting sun stretched his shadow long, making him appear exceptionally lonely amidst the warm lights gradually flickering on in the surroundings.

In the small park by the roadside, many children were still chasing and playing, their laughter and shouts ringing incessantly in his ears.

Parents gathered in small groups to chat idly, watching their children at play.

This scene, so full of the vitality of life, seemed to be separated from Ning Xue by an invisible barrier.

His pure white eyes swept calmly over the playing children, his heart devoid of any ripples.

Those simple, carefree antics felt as distant to him as if they belonged to a past life.

Perhaps his own innocence had vanished into thin air long ago, ever since he left the hometown of his memories.

In this life, his heart was already filled with cultivation, the desire to grow stronger, concealment, and the life that lay ahead; there was no room left for the leisure and naivety of an ordinary child.

Because he knew the future would be dangerous, he had to become strong—strong enough to protect the people and things around him.

His thoughts drifted back to the books he had just been reading.

The obscure acupoints on the human meridian chart that he had previously overlooked, which could induce intense numbness or even brief suffocation.

The unique nature of Wind Style chakra, which pursued extreme sharpness and speed.

The various herbs in the illustrated guide that possessed potent paralytic effects and could produce unknown reactions when mixed together.

"I can try practicing according to the book's instructions when I get back."

Ning Xue muttered to himself. He didn't even notice the few children running and playing who nearly bumped into him, merely relying on instinct to nimbly sidestep them without a single pause in his stride.

And those chasing children seemed not to notice the silent youth either.

He walked on like this until he returned to the Hyuga Clan Compound.

"Wind... sharp... cutting... flow." Wind Style chakra gathered in Ning Xue's palm involuntarily.

Recalling the Introduction to Wind Style Chakra Nature Transformation, he attempted the methods taught in the book, sensing the changes in the chakra within his body.

He then condensed a mass of highly aggressive wind element.

It was no longer the resilience of water or the solidification of ice. There was only the sharpness of wind.

Whoosh—

An extremely faint sound, as if the airflow had been sliced open, rang out.

A thin line, like a slash, flashed and vanished.

It had quietly sliced a fallen withered leaf at his feet into two halves.

Success?! Although it was only the most superficial application, and I couldn't even maintain its form.

He was somewhat surprised, then looked around.

After confirming that no one was nearby, he let out a sigh of relief and quickened his pace to return home.

Of course, he took the leaf with him when he left.

Upon returning home, Hyuga Yuki had already prepared dinner, and Hyuga Ning had long since returned.

At the dinner table, his mother asked with concern where he had gone that afternoon; Ning Xue only vaguely replied that he had walked around the streets and read some books.

His parents did not press him further, only urging him not to neglect his usual training.

At night...

Ning Xue returned to his small room, unable to wait any longer.

He sat cross-legged and once again cautiously attempted to guide the sparse Wind Style chakra within his body, which had never been actively mobilized before.

Perhaps the chakra felt it finally had a purpose.

It surged like a wild horse, crashing recklessly within Ning Xue's body. Any slight carelessness caused it to dart through his meridians, bringing a faint, stinging pain.

He focused all his attention, sensing, guiding, and attempting to control it bit by bit...

And so, the night passed.

The next morning was the same.

In the afternoon, he went to the library again, but this time he brought a notebook to conveniently record the things that were useful to him.

He walked straight to the area he had browsed yesterday, his goal clear. He opened his notebook and began recording in a planned manner.

Time slipped away slowly...

Five o'clock in the afternoon...

Ning Xue left the library, feeling satisfied as he clutched the notebook filled with dense, meticulous notes.

The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the streets a warm gold. He intended to head straight home to continue pondering the control of his Wind Style chakra.

Just as he passed Ichiraku Ramen—a place famous in the Leaf Village that he had never visited before—he encountered someone unexpected, yet within the realm of reason.

"Gurgle."

A young boy with golden hair and six whisker-like marks on his cheeks was clutching his stomach, drooling as he stared at the entrance of Ichiraku Ramen.

His bright blue eyes were wide open, fixed intently on the customers inside enjoying their delicious ramen, especially the steaming bowls, his gaze filled with envy and longing.

He wore a white shirt under a black short-sleeved top, his frame thin and looking even shorter than his peers.

His stomach growled loudly, the sound audible even from a short distance away.

Ning Xue's footsteps faltered slightly.

Uzumaki Naruto?

The name immediately surfaced in his mind.

This was the protagonist his friend and the villagers had mentioned, the Nine-Tails Fox of the village.

He had heard from his friend that the boy's childhood was quite miserable, and looking at him now, it certainly seemed that way.

Ning Xue watched Naruto, who was not far away, with a complex expression—perhaps out of pity, or perhaps out of sympathy.

He saw the passersby casting looks of disgust, fear, or outright indifference toward the boy.

He also saw the hesitant look on Teuchi's face inside the shop.

Yet, Naruto seemed completely immersed in his craving for ramen, oblivious to the surrounding gazes, or perhaps he had simply grown accustomed to them.

Seeing Naruto in such a wretched state, he sighed and made a decision.

"Tch... what a bother."

He muttered, feeling annoyed by his own actions.

He shoved his hands into his pockets, pulled out some coins, and began to walk forward.

He didn't head straight for Naruto, but instead walked directly into Ichiraku Ramen.

Teuchi had just finished his work and was finally free. Seeing a new customer, he spoke politely.

"Welcome! What would you like to have?"

Teuchi didn't brush him off just because the customer was a child; instead, he wore a very kind and gentle smile as he asked what the guest wanted.

Ning Xue walked up to the counter and checked the prices on the menu.

After confirming he could afford a bowl of ramen, he spoke to Teuchi.

"Boss."

Ning Xue's voice was very low, ensuring only Teuchi could hear him, and he cast a quick glance toward Naruto outside the door.

"Use this money to buy that blond boy outside a bowl of ramen."

Teuchi looked at the money on the counter, then at the somewhat aloof-looking boy before him.

He was a bit surprised.

But he nodded immediately, wearing a knowing smile, and lowered his voice as well.

"I understand. Leave it to me, little customer. You really are a kind child."

Teuchi, who had been hesitant, decided to add some extra toppings for the blond kid after the boy paid.

Seeing that the man had agreed, Ning Xue said nothing more, gave a slight nod, and turned to leave.

However, just as he lifted the curtain and stepped one foot out of the shop, Teuchi's voice rang out from behind, intentionally raised and full of enthusiasm.

"Hey! You, the blond kid at the door! Yes, you! Come on in!"

Ning Xue, who was about to leave, paused almost imperceptibly.

"Huh?" Naruto's voice came from outside, filled with surprise and anticipation.

"Congratulations! You're our shop's randomly selected lucky customer for today! You get a free, extra-large bowl of miso chashu ramen!"

Teuchi's voice was loud and infectious, perfectly masking the brief transaction that had just taken place.

"Re... really? Old man! Free? And extra-large?!"

Naruto's voice was instantly filled with unbelievable ecstasy, and he came dashing in with a rhythmic tap-tap-tap of his footsteps.

It was this rush that caused the jubilant Naruto to catch sight of Ning Xue, who was standing at the entrance and seemingly about to leave.

Naruto stopped abruptly, his brilliant smile still hanging on his face, his blue eyes curiously examining the boy who was about his age but possessed rare white hair and white eyes.

Ning Xue's temperament was different from any child he had ever met; he was unnervingly quiet.

Their eyes met.

Ning Xue's pure white eyes were calm and rippleless, merely sweeping over Naruto as if he were nothing more than an insignificant background character.

He didn't speak, simply continuing his departure, sidestepping the excited Naruto as he walked past. The curtain fell behind him, cutting off the warm light and fragrance of the shop.

Naruto watched Ning Xue's disappearing back, stunned for a moment, and scratched his head.

"Strange guy... white eyes... I feel like... I've seen him somewhere before?"

But this small interlude was instantly washed away by overwhelming joy, and he cheered as he lunged toward the counter.

"Old man! Extra-large miso chashu ramen! Thanks a lot!"