Sasuke shoved his hands into his pockets again. "Hey, crybaby, why do you look so pathetic?"
Naruto wiped the gloom off his face. "Hmph, you arrogant brat, where've you been lately? 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 hadn't seen him around lately.
Recently, there had been a lot of rumors about the Uchiha clan—none of them good. And for kids, rumors usually only spread the worst things. No matter the world, brats were always the same.
"My father sent me out for a while. I've been locked up at home every day—it's annoying." Sasuke casually explained.
Naruto asked cautiously, "Sasuke, did something happen to your family?"
Sasuke was about to get angry, but seeing Naruto's careful expression, he only snorted. "Nothing happened. The Uchiha are doing just fine!"
To Naruto, who had been bullied since childhood, Sasuke's life was enviable. He had his whole family with him, while Naruto was just a lonely orphan with no parents—only the Third Hokage, "Grandpa," occasionally came to visit.
Naruto didn't understand many things. He didn't know why people called him a demon fox, or why they wouldn't be his friends. But Sasuke, Hinata, and Shikamaru had never bullied him, so they were people he could get close to.
That's why he worried. If something happened to Sasuke's family, if he ended up like Naruto—a lonely orphan—Naruto would feel awful.
Meanwhile, as Naruto and Sasuke talked, several ANBU were standing in the treetops nearby.
They had been assigned by the Hokage to monitor the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki twenty-four hours a day. Everything Naruto did—what he ate, where he went, what he said—had to be reported to the Third.
Although Naruto and Sasuke already knew each other, the Uchiha clan's situation had changed drastically. So when Sasuke approached Naruto, one ANBU immediately went to report to the Hokage.
And yet, perched in the same trees, was another figure—Uchiha Natsuki.
Fugaku had asked him to take Sasuke as his disciple, but before that, Natsuki wanted to see for himself what Sasuke was really like before the Night of the Massacre.
From the earlier fight, Sasuke seemed like just a kindhearted kid with a bit of pride.
Raised in a clan of elites, Sasuke was already practicing shuriken techniques at home, and he even knew Fire Release. Yet just now, he had only used taijutsu to chase off the bullies—and then comforted Naruto afterward.
Watching for a while, Natsuki rubbed his chin. Maybe he had been too prejudiced against Sasuke.
After all, once the Uchiha were massacred, their property seized by Konoha, and Sasuke left without guidance, it was no wonder he went astray.
Hmm… it wasn't too late to change things.
Natsuki leapt down from the tree. Both Sasuke and Naruto were startled.
"Sasuke, do you know me?" He revealed his Sharingan.
Sasuke immediately tensed, shielding Naruto behind him. But upon seeing the Sharingan, he relaxed—he was looking at a clansman.
"I'm Natsuki. You've seen me before." Natsuki smiled.
Sasuke stared at him, and slowly the image overlapped with his memory of Uchiha Natsuki. It wasn't his fault he didn't remember clearly—they'd only met a few times before.
"Ah! You're Senior Natsuki! …" Sasuke finally recognized him.
Then he hesitated. "I heard, Senior Natsuki… you're the clan's vice-chief now?"
Natsuki didn't like putting on airs. He had to maintain authority in the clan, sure, but not in front of Sasuke. He frowned. "Forget that vice-chief stuff. Just call me 'senior.'"
Sasuke smiled. "Yes, Senior Natsuki."
Natsuki tilted his head. "Didn't I tell you to go straight home after returning to the village? What are you doing here?"
"Uh… I…" Sasuke had only wandered here after hearing all the rumors about his clan.
"Enough with the excuses. Hungry? I'll take you to eat." Natsuki ruffled his hair.
"Alright." Sasuke squirmed awkwardly, but couldn't dodge his hand.
Naruto stood by, his eyes filled with both envy and sadness.
"Then I'll head home for dinner, Sasuke!" Naruto tried to sound cheerful, not wanting Sasuke to see his gloom. At home, there should still be one cup of instant noodles left.
"Wait."
Natsuki smiled warmly. "You're Sasuke's friend, right?"
Naruto sniffled. "Yes, sir! My name is Uzumaki Naruto! I'll be the future Hokage!"
"Sir!?" Natsuki almost laughed. He was only twenty, but in a world where teenagers went to war and married early, being called "uncle" at twenty wasn't unusual—though he didn't like it.
He ignored the Hokage part. He had already glanced over Naruto earlier—ragged clothes, malnourished face. If not for the Uzumaki clan's sturdy constitution, the boy would've been sick or dead long ago, surviving on spoiled milk and scraps.
Damn Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Since you're Sasuke's friend, how about I treat you to ramen?" Natsuki said with a smile.
"Really, mister?!" Naruto's eyes lit up. Usually, the money Grandpa Hokage gave him wasn't enough, and he could only eat ramen once in a long while.
Seeing Naruto's joy over something so small, Natsuki silently cursed the Third again.
"Of course it's true. But don't call me 'mister.' Call me Senior Natsuki." He crouched and patted Naruto's head.
"Okay, Senior Natsuki!" Naruto had endured scorn his whole life, but he could always sense who was genuine. He was truly happy now—an adult who didn't despise him.
"Let's go, Sasuke. Time to eat." Natsuki waved to Sasuke, who was trying to look cool with his hands in his pockets.
"Hmph, such a hassle." Sasuke muttered, but seeing Naruto so happy, he didn't object.
Natsuki glanced upward, then led the two boys out of the forest.
The ANBU in the trees exchanged looks.
Uchiha Natsuki—the famous vice-chief of the clan—was now approaching the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki?
"Report this to the Hokage immediately!"
—
Ichiraku Ramen.
The curtain lifted as Natsuki entered with Sasuke and Naruto.
The shop was empty, with only Teuchi and Ayame inside.
"Uncle Ichiraku! I'm here again!" Naruto shouted as soon as he entered. Sasuke turned his head away in embarrassment, pretending not to know him.
Teuchi smiled kindly. "Naruto, welcome. What would you like today?"
"Unc—" Under Natsuki's glare, Naruto swallowed the word. "Senior Natsuki, can I have a pork-bone ramen?" he asked shyly.
Natsuki was studying the menu, running his finger down the list. "Pork-bone ramen won't do."
"Eh? I can't?" Naruto lowered his head in disappointment.
"Give him the Grand Slam." Natsuki pointed to the most expensive ramen set.
It came with extra toppings—meat cutlets, chicken, eggs, chashu—everything piled on top. The most luxurious ramen.
"Whoa! Senior Natsuki, you're the best!" Naruto had never eaten a Grand Slam before. Pork-bone ramen was the best he'd ever had until now.
Watching Naruto glow with happiness over a meal, Natsuki shook his head.
"I'll have a pork-bone ramen. Sasuke, order whatever you want."
Just then, Natsuki sensed a chakra sweeping over his head.
He didn't look up. The Third's telescope technique?
Hmph. When Naruto starved, you weren't there. But the moment someone approached him, you rushed in like lightning.
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