Naruto walked beside Ino through the streets of Konoha, casting a brief glance in her direction.
"If you're that curious about the secret, how about you buy me dinner at Ichiraku?"
Ino snorted in response. "Fine. I'll pay for your ramen. But you better spill the beans."
Meanwhile, Inoichi had already arrived at the Hokage Tower, his mind still replaying the encounter between Naruto and the villagers. Standing before the Third Hokage, he reported everything that had happened in the market, detailing Naruto's transformation into Sasuke and how the villagers had openly insulted him and called the boy to get out.
The old Hokage listened quietly, his expression growing heavier with concern. "This hatred is becoming dangerous."
Inoichi remained silent, listening to the Hokage's worries.
The Hokage looked out the window toward the village below. "If this continues, Naruto may eventually lose faith in Konoha. And if that happens, becoming a rogue ninja will not be impossible."
Inoichi's expression darkened at the thought. "Then what should we do?"
The Hokage exhaled slowly. "Bring Naruto to me tomorrow. I want to speak with him personally."
Inoichi nodded firmly. "Understood, Lord Hokage." With his orders received, Inoichi turned and left the office.
........
At Ichiraku Ramen, Ayame immediately spotted Naruto approaching and flashed a cheerful smile at the pair. "Naruto! Long time no see!"
Naruto smiled back. "Hey, Ayame. Where's your father? I didn't spot him today."
Ayame sighed, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "He's sick today. So I'm handling everything myself."
Naruto looked around the stall, noticing the evening crowd already beginning to gather. "You look busy."
"I am," Ayame laughed helplessly. "The dinner rush hasn't even started yet. I barely managed to handle the lunch rush, now, it's going to be even harder."
Naruto looked at Ino, then back at Ayame. "We'll help."
Ino immediately frowned, caught completely off guard. "We? Why would I....."
Naruto looked at her knowingly. "You still want the secret, right?....then help me with helping Ayame."
Ino rolled her eyes, but after a few seconds, she sighed in defeat. "Fine, But just this once...I will listen your words."
The dinner rush arrived soon after. To avoid causing trouble for the shop with the villagers, Naruto quickly transformed into another boy his age, and the three of them got to work. The labor was exhausting. While this kind of work wasn't exactly to Naruto's liking, he pushed through it without complaint. Even Ino found herself surprised by just how busy the small ramen stand became during the evening rush.
When the final customer finally left, Ayame practically collapsed against the counter. "I'm exhausted." She laughed weakly, looking at her two saviors. "But thank you both."
Ayame hesitated for a moment, then looked directly at Naruto. "Naruto... Can you teach me some ninja basics sometime?"
Naruto smiled. "Sure. I will help with that. But, I want you to give me a job in return for few days..until I become a Genin."
Ayame's face immediately lit up at the proposal. "Cool, I will talk about your job with dad, tomorrow."
As thanks for their hard work, Ayame prepared large bowls of ramen for both Naruto and Ino, setting the steaming food before them before disappearing into the back room.
The moment she left, Ino leaned towards Naruto. "Alright." Her eyes narrowed sharply. "Secret. Now.....or I'll punch you right at the face."
Naruto laughed. "You're more persistent than I expected."
"Stop stalling."
"Fine."
What neither of them realized was that upon hearing the word 'secret', Ayame had hidden herself behind the doorway, secretly eavesdropping on their conversation. Unaware of her presence, Naruto took a deep breath and prepared himself.
"When I was born, the Fourth Hokage sealed a demon inside me."
Ino froze completely. "A demon? What kind of demon?"
Naruto nodded and said, "The Nine-Tailed Fox."
Her eyes widened in shock as Naruto continued. "Years ago it attacked the village. Caused lot of destruction to life and property. The Fourth Hokage sacrificed his life to seal it inside me."
The expectant smile on Ino's face slowly disappeared.
"It was supposed to stay secret," Naruto said, looking down at his bowl of ramen. "But somehow people got this very info, which was supposed to stay a secret. Ever since then, they look at me and see the Nine tails. Not Naruto. Blaming me, for their loss of family and property, which I never did."
Ino sat in stunned silence. For the first time, many things started making sense to her. She remembered her mother's stern warnings, always telling her not to talk to Naruto and to never get close to him. She hadn't understood why her mom said those words at the time, but now, looking at Naruto beside her, she finally understood it. The villagers' hatred, the strange looks that Naruto received whenever he was in public—everything clicked into place.
Behind the doorway, Ayame felt her chest tighten painfully. She had always known people treated Naruto badly, but hearing the heartbreaking reason directly from him felt much different.
Naruto noticed the deep sympathy appearing in Ino's eyes and immediately shook his head. "Don't pity me."
Ino blinked, startled. "I'm not..."
"You are." Naruto pointed his chopsticks at her. "I can see it. Getting pity from you and others is the least thing I want."
He picked up his chopsticks and started eating his ramen. "That's why I never told anyone this story. I told you because you asked me. I dislike, when other show pity. pity will not give me strength, It will only show me....I am weaker."
Ino looked away awkwardly, chastened by his words. "I understand. You don't need to say this much."
Naruto laughed, the tension breaking slightly as he took another bite of ramen. "Besides. There is another confidential village secret about me."
Immediately, Ino turned back, her curiosity flaring up again. "What?"
Naruto smirked playfully. "No."
Ino nearly slammed her hands on the counter in frustration. "What do you mean no?!"
Naruto looked genuinely amused. "That's a story for another day."
"Naruto!"
Behind the doorway, Ayame leaned forward even more. Another secret? Now she desperately wanted to know it too.
Suddenly, Naruto turned his head, his eyes landing directly on the crack of the doorway. "We've got a snooping cat to catch."
Ino blinked in confusion. "What snooping cat?"
"Ayame."
Behind the door, Ayame froze.
"You can come out now," Naruto called out.
There was a brief silence before Ayame slowly stepped out, her face completely red with embarrassment.
Ino stared in disbelief. "Ayame?!"
Ayame looked down, humiliated. "Sorry... I didn't mean to listen."
Naruto raised an eyebrow at her. "You were practically breathing down the wall."
Ino burst out laughing at the image, prompting Ayame to cover her face in shame.
Naruto just smiled softly. "It's fine. At this point, It's not exactly a secret anymore if whole village knows it." Then his expression became a little more serious. "But let's keep it between us."
Ayame nodded immediately. "I promise."
Ino nodded as well, her tone sincere. "I won't tell anyone."
Relieved, Ayame prepared another round of ramen, this time making a bowl for herself as well.
The three of them sat together, eating and talking as the night went on. The heavy atmosphere from earlier became much lighter. Stories were exchanged, jokes were shared, and genuine laughter occasionally filled the small ramen stand. Without even realizing it, the three of them grew a little bit closer that night.
Later, Naruto escorted Ino home through the quiet streets. When they reached her street, she stopped walking. For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then, Ino looked at him thoughtfully. "You know..."
"Hm?"
"You're not what I expected. you are very different from your previous personality."
Naruto smiled faintly at the observation. "Ohhh.... Most people aren't."
Ino stared at him for a second longer before she huffed and looked away. "Don't get smug."
Naruto chuckled. "Too late."
As Naruto walked away, Ino stood there and watched his back disappear down the street. The image of him lingered in her mind far longer than she expected it to. Annoying, yet undeniably interesting.
Once Naruto took a turn from the main roads and his back was no longer in Ino's sight, he stopped near the wall. Instantly, his facial expression changed.....completely dark and cold
He was visibly frustrated, though he didn't quite know where it had started. How he had responded to Inoichi and how Ino earlier had felt pity...made him pathetic to himself. The girl talk, the laughter, the jokes, the stories—everything was a calculated act.
Naruto clenched his fists as his thoughts raced. 'I wanted allies, I got no connections, I got no strength. I had no people. Becoming rogue means he will be starved outside, had to be slave to others or leave his mind to nine tails. Konoha is peaceful compared to others....I had to build my strength in this Konaha.'
Wearing that same frustrated, guarded expression, he entered his empty apartment. Exhausted by the charade.