It was a hot morning in Konoha. The sun was high in the sky, and the village streets were calm, with the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze. Maybe that's why they called it the Hidden Leaf Village. Very creative.
I strolled down the street, slowly savoring a pocky stick I had bought at the market. This time, I made sure not to cause any incidents with a crazy Akimichi. Lesson learned.
The crunch and the rich chocolate flavor were oddly relaxing, making me temporarily forget about the looming chaos of my future.
Today was an important day. Our first ninja mission. Honestly, I knew it would probably be some ridiculous task like catching a runaway cat, but at least we were finally getting paid.
My savings were running low, and now that I had graduated, I actually had to pay rent for my tiny apartment. Jimei was in the same situation—or worse—since he had the financial management skills of a rock.
At times like this, I really understood that one Akatsuki guy, Kakuzu. The ninja world was expensive as hell. Turns out, even after being reborn in another world, capitalism was still a pain.
Dekai-sensei had told us to meet in front of the Hokage's office. I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about my new sensei. He seemed experienced, but his serious, impersonal vibe made me a little uncomfortable.
Also, he had that summon. A spider summon. I had never seen anything like that before. And Shiragumo… yeah, I never would've guessed she was a summon. She was fascinating… and mildly terrifying.
She was huge, powerful, and humanoid, which intrigued me. I had never seen a summon that looked almost human before. There was something primal and predatory about her, very different from the frogs and dogs I had seen in the anime. Her webs looked inescapable... and deadly.
I vaguely remembered one of Orochimaru's weird subordinates who had a whole spider aesthetic going on. The guy was creepy as hell, but I couldn't recall if he had a spider summon or if he just was a spider enthusiast. Either way... yeah, spiders wouldn't be my first pick.
"This makes me wonder... could I get a summon like that one day?" I mused, absentmindedly staring at the pocky in my hand. "It'd be cool to have a summon contract. Maybe not with spiders, though… something chill, like cats."
I'd always liked cats. Cats seemed like cool summons. I couldn't recall ever seeing one, but I knew getting a contract wasn't easy. Still, it was a nice goal. If I could get a strong summon, I could probably go far.
The idea of having such a powerful ally by my side gave me a little confidence—something I'd definitely need for the battles ahead. But at the same time, it felt way too ambitious. Maybe one day.
I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice the conversation happening nearby until I heard the villagers' voices.
"Tch… that brat is out again."
"They should keep him away from here."
"Yeah, can't even relax with him around."
My chewing slowed. The tone. The malice in their voices. I knew it well.
I followed their gazes and saw a small blond figure, his clothes a little worn, a twig in his hand as he aimlessly kicked a rock, head down.
A couple walked past him and deliberately moved away, like he was carrying some kind of deadly plague. The woman even spoke loud enough for him to hear.
"That boy… should just disappear."
My eyes narrowed. That boy? What could a four-year-old possibly have done to deserve that look?
Without thinking, I walked over and placed a hand on the kid's head. He flinched and looked up at me, surprise flashing across his face, quickly replaced by confusion and something almost like recognition.
Naruto bit his lip, looking at the ground before mumbling
"I… just wanted to take a walk." His voice was quiet. "They don't like me there… They don't like me anywhere."
Oof. Right in the feelings.
I knew Naruto had it rough—being a jinchūriki wasn't easy. People feared and hated the fox sealed inside him.
"Don't say that, Naruto" I said gently. "I like you, after all."
His head snapped up, and I saw his big blue eyes shimmer with unshed tears.
"You… you really like me?" He asked in a small voice.
"Of course I do. That's why I gave you these goggles." I said, kneeling slightly to his level and placed my hands on his shoulders. "And they look great on you, by the way."
He blinked in surprise. Then, like sunshine breaking through storm clouds, his face lit up with a huge, brilliant grin. I had seen that smile on a screen before,
"Really? You think so?" He asked, voice much more animated now. It was a relief to see him a little happier, even if just for a moment.
"Obviously. You know… these goggles used to belong to my dad, and he was a great ninja. Then they were mine, and I don't think I'm half bad. One day, you'll be an amazing ninja too, Naruto."
He fell silent, processing my words. Then, his eyes lit up again, and he let out a nervous laugh.
"I'm gonna wear a ninja headband like yours one day! You'll see! I'll be just as strong as you!"
I chuckled, and he joined in. Naruto's energy and confidence were undeniable. He might've been small and a bit clumsy now, but I knew he had a heart stronger than most.
"You better believe it, Naruto. I'll be here to see you reach your goals. You have what it takes to be a great ninja."
He looked at me with that beaming smile, his eyes full of hope.
"Really? You promise you'll watch me?" He asked, looking up at me.
"Of course."
I glanced down at my hand, noticing the pocky box still had a few sticks left. Without thinking too much, I held it out to him.
"Here," I said with a small grin. "To become a strong ninja, you need energy."
His eyes sparkled like I had just handed him a priceless treasure instead of a simple box of sweets.
"For real?! Thanks!" He snatched the snack enthusiastically.
I looked up at the sky, realizing I had wasted way too much time. And unlike Kakashi, I doubted Dekai-sensei was the type to be fashionably late.
"Alright, listen, I gotta go. My team and I have our first mission today." I explained when I stood up.
"Really?! What kind of mission? Rescuing a princess? Fighting bandits?!" Naruto practically vibrated with excitement.
"Haha! If anything cool happens, I promise I'll tell you all about it later."
I looked at him again. Small… scrawny… but his eyes still sparkled with innocent excitement. I hesitated for a moment before making a quick decision.
"Hey… how about we meet up later at Ichiraku? I'll tell you all about my day."
He froze, eyes wide as if I had just told him he was becoming Hokage right then and there.
"Really?!" His voice was full of hope.
"It's a promise." I held out my pinky. He looked confused. "It's a pinky promise. When we do this, it means I have to keep my word."
As soon as I explained, he quickly hooked his tiny pinky around mine. His joy was pure. Genuine.
I turned to leave after that. Naruto was a good kid. He deserved way more than what this world gave him.
As soon as I said that, he quickly wrapped his pinky around mine. The joy on his face… it was pure. Genuine.
"See you later, Naruto!" I said, waving one last time.
"See ya!"