Friends

"Ino!"

Samu Kokaze called out in a low voice. Hearing Ino's words, he wiped the smile from his face and said steadily, "Never accept something as true just because of what others say. Unless we've seen it with our own eyes, we should maintain a basic level of doubt about anything."

After saying that, he paused and looked at Ino with a serious expression.

"Others say he's a monster, but I've never seen him turn into one. Instead, I saw him go help a child from the Hyuga Clan, fully prepared to get beaten up for it."

"During the fight, he even said that as long as he was still standing, no one could attack my back. He paid the price of getting battered and bruised, but he did what he promised me. From that moment on, he became a friend I acknowledged."

Facing Samu Kokaze's serious gaze, Ino puffed out her cheeks, looking a little unhappy. In her mind, she had clearly been worried about him, yet he had scolded her instead.

Still, she finally bowed to Naruto somewhat aggrievedly and said, "Fine, I said the wrong thing just now. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called you a monster!"

"It's... it's okay!" Naruto was so excited that he could barely speak. Looking at Ino bowing in apology, he did not even know where to put his hands.

"Ha..." Seeing Naruto so nervous, Ino, who had lowered her head to apologize, suddenly burst into laughter. She looked him over and said, "You don't look anything like a monster. Feng was right—it was all just nonsense they spread around. How awful!"

A flash of indignation passed through her eyes as she spoke.

Seeing Naruto so excited that he could barely speak, Samu Kokaze smiled gently and said, "All right, Naruto. You've been standing outside for so long that you must be freezing. I just got back and haven't eaten either, so let me show you my cooking!" Then he turned to Ino and asked, "Ino, are you going home, or eating here with me?"

"Ugh!" Ino made a bitter face. "I ran around all day today, and Dad caught me sneaking out this morning. If tomorrow weren't my birthday, he might have grounded me. I can't go home too late."

"All right then! Go home early. I'll come find you tomorrow!" Samu Kokaze nodded.

"Yeah! Be there at four tomorrow afternoon, okay! And Naruto, you too!" Ino called back with a smile from the entrance of her family's flower shop.

"I... I can come too?" Naruto asked, dazed by everything that had happened today as he pointed at himself.

"Of course. If you're Feng's friend, then you're my friend too! Naturally, you're welcome!" Ino nodded firmly.

Watching Ino push open the door and go inside, Naruto's lips trembled with excitement as he kept muttering to himself. Listening closely, one could make out words like, "I finally have friends too."

"Let's go! It's way too cold out here. I don't want to catch a cold from freezing tomorrow!"

As he spoke, he pulled the speechless-with-joy Naruto into the shop.

"Whew..."

Feeling the warmth inside, Samu Kokaze let out a long breath, took off his coat, and placed it on the counter.

He turned toward Naruto, who was staring at the wooden carvings around the room with eyes full of amazement, and smiled. "I carved all these when I had spare time. What do you think? They're pretty good, right?"

"You're amazing, Feng!" Hearing that Samu Kokaze had carved them all himself, Naruto opened his mouth in astonishment.

"They are pretty good, aren't they? I think so too! You look around for now. I'll tidy up and make dinner." Accepting the praise without the slightest modesty, Samu Kokaze stretched a little and headed into the back room of the shop.

"Mhm!" Naruto nodded, utterly stunned by the exquisite wooden carvings before him.

Entering the back room, Samu Kokaze frowned at the mess covering the table.

"Seriously, I should've cleaned up the house before going out!"

With a sigh, he tossed the bowls and chopsticks from the table into a large pot on the floor, then carried it toward the kitchen.

The night was bright, with countless stars glittering in the sky. The lights in the Konoha Hokage Building office had not gone out. Sitting in his chair, the Third Hokage looked at the image displayed in the crystal ball on his desk with a gratified expression.

"Minato, your child has made friends now too. Things will only get better for him!"

He tapped the ash from his pipe, picked up a document from the desk, and began reading it again.

If Samu Kokaze had been here, he would have been astonished to find that the document recorded every major and minor event he had experienced since birth, along with a rigorous analysis of his personality.

"Loves helping others, cheerful and generous. Through his woodcarving craft, he has even built some connections with the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and the nobles. Not bad. Another child who has inherited the Will of Fire!"

The Third Hokage pondered briefly with his pipe between his lips, then raised a hand and lightly tapped the desk, producing a dull knock... knock...

"Whoosh..."

A sharp sound of rushing wind echoed through the room as a figure abruptly appeared in the Hokage's office.

"From now on, there is no need to stop Samu Kokaze from interacting with Naruto. Unless something unusual happens, there is no need to report it either. Just keep a record."

The Third Hokage spoke as he looked at the half-kneeling figure before him.

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

The figure immediately answered. After the Third Hokage signaled that he could leave, he vanished from the spot with another whoosh.

Looking at Naruto's figure in the crystal ball, the Third Hokage let out a long sigh and murmured softly, "Minato..."

"You're amazing, Feng! Do you usually cook for yourself? Where's your family?" At some point, Naruto had slipped into the kitchen and was looking at the busy Samu Kokaze in amazement.

Hearing Naruto's question, Samu Kokaze smiled and calmly said, "I'm an orphan. Ever since I can remember, I lived in an orphanage. When I was five, I received the inheritance my parents left for me and opened this woodcarving shop here. Since I live by myself, well, I got used to it long ago." After smiling, he looked at Naruto and asked, "What about you? How do you usually live, and why do people say you're a monster?"

When Naruto heard that Samu Kokaze was also an orphan, his expression shifted slightly. But after hearing the question, he said somewhat dejectedly, "I don't know why they call me a monster either, but..." Then Naruto suddenly shouted with renewed spirit, "As long as I become Hokage, everyone will definitely acknowledge me!"

"Oh! Your dream is to become Hokage and earn everyone's acknowledgment?" Samu Kokaze asked as he used a ladle to stir the food in the pot.

"Yeah! Old Man Hokage said that becoming Hokage requires everyone's acknowledgment, so as long as I become Hokage, everyone will definitely acknowledge me!" Naruto said expectantly.

"Then I hope your dream comes true. Oh, dinner's ready!" Samu Kokaze offered his blessing as he turned around, then spoke again when the fragrance from the pot reached him.