Chance Encounter with Naruto Uzumaki 1/2

Fighting was out of the question right now. What if he accidentally hurt someone? Who would save the world then?

Besides, if they fought, it might draw out old Sarutobi Hiruzen, or even that ancient old man, the Sage of Six Paths.

So far, Hayato's goal had been simple: survive, and save Neji Hyuga while he was at it. A grand goal like saving the world was better left to the Child of Destiny.

Ichiraku Ramen offered generous portions at affordable prices. As for the taste, in the food-starved world of Naruto, Ichiraku Ramen was the best of a bad lot.

If the Otsutsuki Clan and their descendants had not been stirring things up, Hayato might have opened a hotel, built a chain, conquered the world with food, and reached the pinnacle of life.

Did the Otsutsuki stir things up?

They did!

They really did!

Especially that Otsutsuki placenta. Not only did it stir things up behind the scenes, it also incited and deceived others into stirring things up.

Madara had been developed into Black Zetsu's downline.

As a downline, Madara developed Obito into his own downline.

As the downline of a downline, Obito refused to be outdone. Not only did he develop Nagato as a downline, he also founded the transnational organization Akatsuki to screw over this world.

In summary, this was the story of a pyramid scheme destroying the world.

Hayato, who only occasionally visited Ichiraku, had become a familiar face to Naruto, who came often.

"Want to be my little brother? Naruto's got your back. No one will dare bully you," Naruto said as he looked at Hayato.

Hayato looked himself over.

His clothes were torn in several places, with faint bloodstains visible beneath them—injuries caused when his chakra strings had gone out of control and rebounded. He looked a little bedraggled, but they were only superficial wounds. With a ninja's physique, one night was enough for him to recover completely.

Then he looked at Naruto.

His orange clothes were covered in dust. He had probably fought someone, and he had clearly been the one who got beaten up. Logically, Naruto should have been bruised and swollen right now, yet aside from his slightly crooked goggles, even his hair was untouched. Having an old man with you really was great, even if that old man was a tsundere fox.

Hayato froze for a moment, then laughed.

From today onward, I'm a man with a system by his side too.

From tomorrow onward, I'll face the sea and watch the spring flowers bloom.

"You don't believe in me, Naruto Uzumaki? I'll become Hokage! And I'll be a Hokage greater than every Hokage before me!" Thinking Hayato did not believe him, Naruto jumped down from his chair, the whiskers on his cheeks practically standing on end.

"I believe you. I do," Hayato said with a smile.

Hello there, Seventh Hokage!

"You really believe me?"

Perhaps he had grown too used to mockery and rejection. Hayato's approval left him unable to adjust for a moment, and he stood there in a daze.

"Of course. I'm going to become the Pirate King." Hayato raised a thumb and pointed it at himself. "I'm definitely becoming the Pirate King!"

Naruto Uzumaki's eyes gradually lit up. His lips trembled with excitement as he pointed at Hayato and shouted, "I don't know what the Pirate King is, but it sounds really awesome! I recognize you too. Since we're companions who acknowledge each other, I'm treating you to ramen today."

Hayato wiped the spit from his face. "Really?"

"Of course!" Naruto shouted again. "I say what I mean and do what I say. That is my—Naruto Uzumaki's—ninja way, one I'll never abandon until death, even at the cost of my pride and life!"

"Oh, that's quite the impressive ninja way." Hayato smiled. "Then, boss, add one serving of Narutomaki and a bowl of red bean soup."

After finishing the ramen, Hayato burped contentedly as he picked his teeth.

Naruto held a green frog wallet and counted the few scattered coins inside over and over, questioning his life choices.

"Um, um..."

Haha, not enough money, huh?

Both had lost their parents in the Nine-Tails Uprising, but Hayato received double survivor benefits and never had to worry about food or clothing. He could even save up for ninja tools. Naruto, on the other hand, was the posthumous son of the Fourth Hokage. He had been alone since childhood, enduring scorn and mockery, yet he had somehow grown into a hot-blooded youth with noble values and lofty ideals. It truly was a jaw-dropping miracle in the world of Naruto.

Not even the world shown on the evening news would dare write something like this...

Hayato truly could not understand what Sarutobi Hiruzen had been thinking, or how he could have been so cruel.

"I'm sorry!"

Naruto bowed at a ninety-degree angle in apology.

"Forget it, forget it. It's only one meal."

In the end, Hayato paid for his own food and covered Naruto's bill as well.

"I'm sorry!"

"I told you not to worry about it. Money is only something external. Could the bond between us really be worth less than a meal?" Hayato said, putting an arm around Naruto's shoulders.

"Hayato..."

Naruto's eyes filled with tears.

Uh...

All of a sudden, Hayato had a bad feeling. It felt like he was going to get mooched off for meals a lot in the future.

"This is where I live," Naruto said reluctantly.

Naruto lived in a house by the street, one of Konoha's common wooden homes. It was a little shabby, but enough to keep out the wind and rain.

"See you next time, then." Hayato waved.

"Bye."

Naruto jumped up to the second floor and climbed in through the window.

Who knew where he had picked up the habit? He had a door, yet he never used it.

The second-floor window was propped open by a crack. Naruto watched Hayato's departing back, wiped away his tears, then grinned foolishly again.

For someone walking through darkness, even the slightest bit of light was precious beyond measure.

The days that followed were incredibly fulfilling for Hayato.

Having three more ninjutsu meant he needed to spend far more energy reviewing the old and learning the new.

He finally understood why, despite copying over a thousand ninjutsu, Kakashi repeatedly used only a few the most.

It was simple: people had limited energy.

If the system had not existed, just learning to condense chakra into strings would have taken at least a year.

How long had Minato Namikaze spent developing the Rasengan?

Three years! And it was still the unevolved version.

Then how long would Hayato need to develop Five-Colored Strings, Bullet String, and Overheat based on chakra strings?

Three years after three years, and he still might not make it in time for the Fourth Shinobi World War.

Why did Orochimaru want immortality? So he would have enough time to learn every ninjutsu in the world.

So here was the key point: the system was amazing.

Fulfilling days always passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was the eve of the graduation exam.

Though only a few days had passed, Hayato had changed again.

Host: Hyuga Hayato

Age: 1

Level: Ninja Academy Student

Taijutsu: 744↑

Ninjutsu: 6↑

Genjutsu: 408

Chakra: 587↑

String-String Fruit (Beginner): Five-Colored Strings 80%↑, Overheat 058%↑, Bullet String 1155%↑

Current Mission: None

Current Available Draws: None.

Although the String-String Fruit's progress was obvious, its growth rate slowed as proficiency increased. Often, he had to use an ability several times just to raise it by 001%.

There had also been subtle improvements in other areas—improvements so slight that they were nearly impossible to notice in daily life. Now that they were displayed as data, they looked especially satisfying and motivating.

"Is Hayato home?"

"I'm here." Hayato withdrew from the virtual interface and found three people outside the door. "Uncle, Auntie, Brother, why are you here? Please, come in."

Outside stood Tokuma Hyuga's family.

His uncle, Takaya Hyuga, was a middle-aged man who looked stern and unsmiling.

His aunt, Keiko Hyuga, had once been a ninja herself. She retired after getting married and was now a full-time housewife who looked both gentle and capable.

Tokuma Hyuga was there too, wearing a strange expression.

Thank you to everyone who added this to their favorites. The next chapter will be at 8:00 p.m., so please look forward to it. I'll organize some original character information this afternoon and update it whenever I can.