Naruto

Sasuke shoved his hands into his pockets again.

"Hey, crybaby, how did you end up looking so pathetic?"

Naruto wiped the gloom from his face.

"Hmph, you stuck-up brat, where have you been lately? I haven't seen you by the lake."

Sasuke and Naruto had known each other since they were little. Sasuke often practiced Fire Release by the lake, but Naruto had not seen him there at all lately.

There had been many unfavorable rumors about the Uchiha Clan recently.

As far as children were concerned, rumors usually focused on the bad parts.

No matter the world, brats like this were all the same.

"My father sent me out for a while. I've been shut in the house every day, and it's driving me crazy."

Sasuke explained casually.

Naruto asked cautiously, "Sasuke, did something happen to your family?"

Sasuke had wanted to get angry, but seeing Naruto's careful expression, he merely snorted coldly.

"Nothing happened. My Uchiha Clan is doing just fine!"

Naruto had been bullied since childhood. He envied Sasuke deeply, because Sasuke had all his family around him.

Meanwhile, he himself was merely an orphan with no father or mother. Only the Third Hokage Grandpa came to see him occasionally.

There were many things he didn't understand. He didn't know why those people called him the Demon Fox.

Nor did he know why those people refused to be friends with him.

But Sasuke, Hinata, Shikamaru, and the others had never bullied him. They were people he could be close to.

He was very worried that something had happened to his friend's family, that Sasuke would become an unwanted orphan like him.

While Naruto and Sasuke were talking, several Anbu stood on the nearby treetops.

They had all been assigned by the Hokage to watch the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki around the clock.

Everything Naruto did, ate, and said each day had to be recorded and reported to the Third Hokage.

Sasuke and Naruto had known each other before, but the Uchiha Clan of then was already different from the Uchiha Clan now.

Therefore, the moment Sasuke came into contact with Naruto, one Anbu had already gone to report to the Hokage.

While Naruto was being watched, another person stood in a nearby tree: Uchiha Natsuki.

Fugaku had asked him to take Sasuke as his disciple, but he wanted to come take a look first.

What exactly was Sasuke like before he experienced the Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall?

Judging from the fight just now, Sasuke Uchiha was just a kind child with a bit of pride.

Sasuke had received an elite education at home. He practiced Shuriken at home every day, and he could even use Fire Release.

Yet he had only used taijutsu to drive off several children.

Afterward, he had even comforted Naruto.

Natsuki watched for a long time, stroking his chin in thought. It seemed he had held some prejudices against Sasuke before.

After Sasuke's clan was wiped out, Konoha had seized his family's assets. With no one to guide him, it was no wonder he later went astray.

Little Sasuke, who had not experienced the destruction of his clan, was still a cute child.

Hmm, it wasn't too late yet.

Natsuki jumped straight down from the tree, startling both Sasuke and Naruto.

"Sasuke, do you know who I am?" He then revealed the Sharingan.

Sasuke was wary at first and stepped in front of Naruto. But when he saw Natsuki's Sharingan, he relaxed.

Anyone with the Sharingan was a clansman.

"I'm Natsuki. You've seen me before," Natsuki said with a smile.

Sasuke looked at Natsuki's face, and it gradually overlapped with the Uchiha Natsuki he remembered.

It was no wonder he could not remember clearly. Natsuki's original self had only met Sasuke a few times before.

"Ah! You're Senior Natsuki!" Sasuke suddenly recognized him.

Then he hesitantly asked, "I heard that Senior Natsuki, you... are the Vice Clan Head now?"

Natsuki had no habit of putting on airs. He needed to keep a stern face in the clan to maintain his authority.

There was no need for that in front of Sasuke. He said irritably, "What Vice Clan Head? Just call me Senior."

Sasuke said happily, "Yes, Senior Natsuki."

Natsuki looked up, then asked, "Didn't they tell you to go straight home after returning to the village? What are you doing here?"

"Uh... ah... I..." Sasuke had heard many rumors as soon as he entered the village.

That was why he had come here in a gloomy mood.

"Stop stammering. You're hungry, right? I'll take you to get something to eat." Natsuki rubbed Sasuke's head.

"Okay." Sasuke felt a little awkward, but he could not avoid Natsuki's hand.

Naruto stood nearby, his eyes filled with both envy and gloom.

"Then I'm going home to eat too, Sasuke!" Naruto tried hard to cheer up, not wanting Sasuke to see his sadness.

There should still be a cup of instant noodles at home.

"Wait."

Natsuki wore a friendly smile.

"You're Sasuke's friend, right?"

Naruto sniffed.

"Yes, Uncle! My name is Naruto Uzumaki! I'm the man who'll become Hokage someday."

"Uncle!?"

Natsuki really did not know whether to laugh or cry, though he was already twenty.

In a world where people went to war and got married in their teens, being called uncle at twenty was perfectly normal. But Natsuki did not like it.

Ignoring Naruto's last remark, he had quietly sized Naruto up just now. His clothes were ragged, and his face was sallow.

It was only because of the Uzumaki Clan Physique that Naruto had not fallen ill from going hungry one meal and full the next, and drinking expired milk.

Hiruzen Sarutobi really was a piece of work.

Natsuki cursed inwardly.

Natsuki smiled and said, "Since you're Sasuke's friend, how about I treat you to ramen?"

"Oh! Really, Uncle?" Naruto was overjoyed. The Third Hokage Grandpa normally did not give him much money.

It took him a long time to save up enough for ramen even once.

Seeing Naruto's happy expression, Natsuki cursed the Third Hokage fiercely once more in his heart.

"Of course it's true. But I don't like being called uncle. Call me Senior Natsuki."

Natsuki crouched down and rubbed Naruto's head.

"Oh! Okay, Senior Natsuki!"

Naruto had endured all kinds of cold looks since childhood. He could vaguely tell who was genuinely kind to him.

He was truly happy now. There was an adult who did not dislike him.

"Let's go, Sasuke. Let's get something to eat first." Natsuki waved at Sasuke, who was standing beside them with his hands in his pockets, trying to look cool.

"Hmph, what a hassle." Sasuke sounded tsundere, but seeing Naruto's happy expression, he did not say anything to refuse.

Natsuki glanced upward, then led the two of them out of the woods.

The Anbu standing in the trees all exchanged looks.

Uchiha Natsuki was a famous figure, and now he was the Vice Clan Head of the Uchiha Clan.

He had previously left the entire Hokage loyalists looking thoroughly embarrassed.

And now he was approaching the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

"Report to Lord Hokage immediately!"

"Yes!"

Ichiraku Ramen Shop.

The curtain was lifted, and Natsuki led Sasuke and Naruto inside.

There were no other customers in the shop, only Teuchi and Ayame.

"Uncle Ichiraku! I'm back again!"

The moment Naruto entered, he began shouting loudly. Sasuke turned his face away in embarrassment, pretending not to know Naruto.

Uncle Ichiraku wore a kind expression as he said with a chuckle, "Naruto, you're here. What would you like today?"

"Un—" Under Natsuki's glare, Naruto swallowed the word back down.

"Senior Natsuki, can I have Tonkotsu Ramen?"

Naruto asked somewhat sheepishly.

Natsuki was already studying the menu. His finger moved across it.

"No Tonkotsu Ramen."

"Can't I?" Naruto lowered his head in disappointment.

"Give Naruto a Grand Slam." Natsuki pointed at the most expensive item on the ramen menu.

Besides the ramen itself,

it came with every possible topping: various meat cutlets, chicken, eggs, char siu, and more. It was the most luxurious ramen set.

"Oh! Senior Natsuki, you're the best!" Naruto had never eaten a Grand Slam before.

The best thing he had ever eaten was Tonkotsu Ramen.

Natsuki shook his head as he watched Naruto's face fill with happiness over just a little food.

"I'll have a Tonkotsu Ramen. Sasuke, order whatever you want..."

At that moment, Natsuki sensed a wave of Chakra sweep over his head.

He did not look up. The Third Hokage's Telescopic Jutsu?

Heh. You were nowhere to be seen when Naruto needed looking after, but the moment someone approached him, you moved faster than anyone.