Grilled Meat, Ramen, and… Someone's Unfulfilled Appetite**
The campfire crackled in the middle of the dark forest, spreading a comforting warmth.
The sizzling sound of grilled meat mixed with the aroma of steaming hot ramen, making everyone's stomachs growl uncontrollably.
Kakashi, Obito, and Gai sat around the fire, each holding a large bowl of ramen, accompanied by skewers of perfectly roasted golden-brown meat.
Satoru, as expected, was the most voracious eater.
He was devouring his seventeenth skewer while simultaneously slurping down a massive bowl of ramen, completely unbothered by etiquette.
Obito watched in horror.
"Sensei… do you even have a bottom to your stomach…?"
Gai, ever enthusiastic, decided to join in on the eating competition.
"YOSH! I will eat alongside Sensei! Youth is eternal!"
Kakashi, meanwhile, just glanced at the growing pile of bones next to Satoru and let out a deep sigh.
"…At this rate, my family's going bankrupt because of him."
Eren remained silent, quietly observing without joining the conversation. The scene before him… felt both familiar and foreign.
A simple meal, but filled with laughter.
No Titans' roars.
No gunfire, no blood-soaked battlefields.
Just a peaceful night.
Something he had long lost.
---
**A Kunai of Advanced Craftsmanship and the Hokage Dream**
After the meal, the three kids dusted themselves off, preparing to head home.
Satoru snapped his fingers and pulled out a gleaming silver kunai, handing it to Kakashi.
"Take it."
Kakashi caught it, his eyes widening slightly as he felt the perfect weight of the weapon.
"This is…?"
Satoru smirked, patting Kakashi's shoulder. "Top-tier quality. Cutting-edge metallurgy, a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Ultra-alloy material, sharper than regular kunai by several times."
Hearing that, Obito immediately jumped up.
"Sensei! Why are you giving it to Kakashi and not me?!"
"This is unfair! I'm clearly the one most suited for that kunai! Hand it over!"
Satoru calmly shoved his hands into his pockets, smiling slyly like a seasoned schemer.
"Relax, Obito. If you can beat Kakashi tomorrow, you can have it."
Obito: "…"
Kakashi: "…"
Gai: "Will you win, Obito?!"
Obito clenched his teeth, but deep down, he already knew the answer.
"…This is tough."
No matter how much he hated to admit it, he had never beaten Kakashi once.
"Why is that guy always one step ahead of me?!"
Satoru watched the young Uchiha and smirked.
"Obito, do you want to get stronger quickly?"
Obito immediately straightened up.
"Yes! Sensei, do you have a way?!"
Satoru crossed his arms, speaking slowly.
"I already have a plan. Each of you will have a unique path tailored to your own strengths and talents."
"As long as you work hard, everyone will become stronger."
Obito's enthusiasm flared up, his eyes shining like a beacon.
"Alright! The future Hokage—me—is on his way!"
He imagined himself standing tall atop the Hokage tower, a red cloak billowing behind him, one hand on his hip, the other waving to the people.
Beside him, Rin would cling to his arm, exclaiming:
"Obito, you're amazing!"
*Bam!*
Obito… started drooling.
Kakashi and Gai watched in silent judgment.
"…There's no saving him."
---
**Farewell, and a Subtle Change in Eren**
The three kids waved goodbye to Satoru and Eren before heading home.
"Good night, Sensei!"
"Good night, Eren-san!"
Eren remained where he stood, silently watching their silhouettes fade into the night.
A strange feeling stirred within him.
Very faint, but…
He felt it.
For the first time in a long while.
His lips curled up—just slightly.
So subtle that no one would have noticed.
Except Satoru, who secretly caught it.
He didn't say anything, just smiled faintly.
---
**Returning Home, and the First Steps Toward a New Path**
The two of them returned to their small lodging.
The night was quiet, the moonlight silvering the rooftops of Konoha.
Under the dim glow of an oil lamp, the room looked even more humble than usual.
A single bed, an old table, and a few neatly stacked academy textbooks on the shelf.
Satoru stretched and yawned.
"I'm exhausted. After all that training today, I just want to pass out."
Then he turned to Eren.
"But before that…"
He grabbed a stack of books from the shelf and placed them in front of Eren.
"You need to understand this world first."
Eren glanced at the books, his expression unreadable.
Satoru continued.
"What is a ninja? What is chakra? How do the village systems and political landscapes work?"
"It's all in here."
Eren picked up a book, flipping through a few pages.
He skimmed through, but most of the concepts were foreign to him.
One thing was certain, though…
This world was entirely different from his old one.
Eren slowly nodded.
"I understand."
Satoru smirked.
"Good. Then study up. I have something else to do."
He crossed his legs on the bed, took a deep breath, and began meditating.
---
**Meditation – The First Step to Unlocking Power**
Satoru closed his eyes, focusing entirely on his inner self.
Inside him, chakra flowed through his pathways, circulating through every cell.
All the food he consumed… was gradually being converted into energy.
Following the methods of medical ninjas, he carefully regulated his chakra, guiding it to strike at his *Governing Vessel Meridian*.
Slowly, his body heated up, muscles tensing.
If successful, he could break past his current limits, elevating his chakra reserves to a higher level.
---
**Eren – A Stranger in a New World**
Eren continued reading under the oil lamp's dim light.
His gaze was cold, but deep within…
A small ember had started to burn.
He had nothing left.
No home.
No purpose.
But…
Maybe, just maybe… he could start over here.
In Konoha.