Farewell to Konoha, First Arrival at Mount Myōboku

Konoha, Ichiraku Ramen.

Naruto was eating a bowl of fragrant ramen with obvious relish.

Beside him sat Iruka, watching him with affection and delight.

"Naruto, you're a Ninja who can stand on your own now. Next, you'll be training with Lord Jiraiya. I'm sure you'll grow even stronger."

Iruka's voice softened. "You're getting closer to your dream of becoming Hokage!"

"Heh." Naruto took another bite of ramen and smiled. "Before I become Hokage, I have to protect the people I care about."

"That's right, Naruto!" Iruka nodded approvingly.

"To become Hokage, you first have to earn everyone's recognition and protect the people you care about."

Naruto neither agreed nor disagreed. He knew Iruka had been thoroughly steeped in the Will of Fire, and he had no intention of arguing.

All he needed to know was that Iruka was one of the people he cared about.

"Take care, Iruka-sensei!"

Grinning, Naruto drank the last of his broth, wiped his mouth, and patted Iruka's shoulder. "I'm off!"

"Oh, and Teuchi! I'll come back for your ramen sometime."

Once he saw that a Flying Thunder God Mark had been left on Iruka's shoulder, Naruto waved to the ever-"closed-eyed" Teuchi and vanished.

After saying goodbye to Iruka and Teuchi, Naruto went to Hyuga Hiashi's house and found Hinata training inside.

"Hinata, I'm going away to train with Jiraiya. Will you miss me?"

Naruto walked over. When Hinata stopped training, he took her hand.

Hinata glanced around in a panic. Only when she saw that her father wasn't there did she let Naruto hold her hand as usual.

Though she was used to it, her cheeks still flushed. She lowered her head and murmured, barely louder than a mosquito, "Y-you need to be careful."

"I asked if you'll miss me." Naruto lifted her chin with