Chapter 343: Arrival in Konoha
Year 55 of Konoha
After enduring three shinobi world wars, the ninja world now basked in an era of prolonged peace. Konoha, the strongest of all shinobi villages, had become a bustling center rivaling even the capital of the Land of Fire. But such tranquility was an illusion beneath the surface, hidden currents threatened to surge. In truth, the wheels of fate had already begun to turn ever since the Nine Tails incident seven years ago. From here, the world's trajectory would be as unstoppable as a boulder rolling down a mountain.
"What an overly 'Japanese' world this is," Ye Wen mused from his vantage point atop the Hokage Rock, looking down with a trace of irony at Konoha's scene of peaceful daily life. But Ye Wen felt no urge to destroy this world; he knew that the sins of war were borne by the few, while the many at the bottom were simply carried along by forces beyond their control. To punish them would be an act of mindless recklessness.
Still, this world was every bit as twisted as he'd expected. In a school that trained child soldiers cloaked in a mission of honoring "noble" shinobi ideals innocent children played at being ninjas, ignorant of the true brutality of the profession.
And among them, one child stood out: short blond hair, a lonely gaze behind blue eyes, and a slight but persistent longing. This boy was the tragic protagonist of this "heroic" world a young shinobi destined to climb from obscurity to greatness. He was Naruto Uzumaki, a descendant of Asura's chakra, future savior of the shinobi world, and the Seventh Hokage.
Naruto attempted to join in with the other children, but each was quick to reject him with disgusted looks and mutterings of "fox demon." Since he had been forced to live alone from the age of three, Naruto was used to this treatment. But even now, he could not escape the sting of rejection, so he quietly sat alone on the swing by the crooked tree, lost in thought.
"What a pitiful and foolish kid," Ye Wen sighed.
Had he understood such things as a child, he wouldn't have been captivated by this story back then. After all, when faced with such unjust treatment, to still crave acceptance from the same people who despise you what utter foolishness. Later in life, Naruto would become a near unstoppable force; the villagers should have been the ones scrambling to gain his approval. In the end, those who embraced him did so not because of his "bright personality" but out of respect for his power. Without that strength, his so called "Talk no Jutsu" would have been a joke.
Ye Wen couldn't help but reflect on Hashirama Senju, another bearer of Asura's chakra. Hashirama was hailed as a unifier, but he had failed to solve the root problems of the shinobi world and instead left behind a ticking time bomb. Kindhearted, perhaps, but dimwitted a trait he shared with Naruto. Yet it was this very quality that Uchiha Madara, the would be destroyer, respected. Madara's appeal to fans lay in his vision for unification through strength, which, though flawed, at least promised order unlike Hashirama's peace, which planted the seeds of a system designed to fail the moment his control weakened. Just one leader with poor foresight was all it took for Konoha to plunge into chaos.
Such a mess, Ye Wen thought, losing interest in Naruto for now. Though he briefly considered helping the boy, his plans took priority. Besides, any intervention that drew attention from Ōtsutsuki Isshiki could jeopardize everything.
The pieces were already in motion, and with Isshiki's characteristics, he wouldn't be hard to find. And while I'm here, Ye Wen thought, how could I pass up visiting such an iconic place?
Ye Wen strolled into the village of Konoha, his presence masked to the point where even the simple protective barriers failed to sense him. The ninja world's "technology" really is bizarre. An odd blend of feudal life and modern conveniences electric poles on every street corner, despite it still being the agricultural era.
Ah, Ye Wen mused as he considered, this world was first imagined in a time when Japan was less digitally connected. It's no surprise that it has this jarring mix of old and new.
Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly caught a waft of something delightful. "This smell…" Even his refined tastes found it tempting. Though he no longer needed food to sustain himself, this scent made him crave a taste.
Years of gourmet experience kicked in, and as he followed the trail, he analyzed it aloud: "A complex, rich aroma. Several kinds of animal bones are simmering in a stock that unmistakable scent of long simmered broth… In this village, that can only mean ramen."
Sure enough, he soon arrived at the source: a shop with a bold sign that read "Ichiraku Ramen." Though Ye Wen wasn't usually one for heavy flavors, he'd always been curious to try Naruto's beloved ramen.
"Welcome!" Two cheerful voices greeted him as he pulled aside the shop's cloth curtain. Behind the counter stood Teuchi, known to fans as "the Ōtsutsuki Uncle," secretly one of the most powerful beings in this world (in fan speculation, at least), and his daughter, Ayame, who looked nothing like him, still young and full of life.
(End of Chapter)
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