The day passed quickly as the sun began its slow descent over the village. Naruto was a quick learner once the initial blockage in his system was cleared. After he figured out the basic concept of the Shadow Clone, it only took a few tries for him to master the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu. He was a natural at generating volume, even if his fine control still needed work.
The rest of the afternoon was spent on the usual training fundamentals. Minato had him practice tree climbing and walking on the surface of water. Considering the boy was still quite young, Minato only permitted him to create $20$ clones for this specific task.
With $20$ versions of himself working in perfect sync, Naruto finished the tree climbing exercise in less than $0.5$ hours. Since he had already built a solid foundation with the trees, it did not take him much longer to get the hang of walking on water. With the basics out of the way, it was time to move on to the actual cultivation of the Rasengan.
However, this was a completely different challenge. Unlike the movement exercises, Naruto saw no immediate progress even with the help of his clones. He stood there with a water balloon gripped tightly in his palm. He let out a loud shout, trying to force his energy to spin, but the balloon only gave a few weak twitches.
Phew, I am still not getting anywhere with this! Dammit! Naruto wiped the sweat from his forehead. He had been pushing himself for a long time, and the lack of results was starting to make him feel anxious.
Minato looked up at the sky and saw the orange hues of dusk. It is getting late, so we should stop here for today. Let's go find something to eat.
Ah! In that case, how about I treat you to Ichiraku Ramen? Naruto's eyes lit up at the mention of food. He was eager to show off his favorite shop, which he considered to be a hidden treasure trove.
Ichiraku Ramen, huh? Minato rubbed his chin thoughtfully. In the world he came from, this shop had not opened yet. He recalled some information about a ramen shop opening around the time the original version of himself became a Jonin, but he was not sure if those records were accurate.
Then let's go. Minato nodded. He was genuinely curious to see what the legendary noodles tasted like in this timeline.
The two of them arrived at the small shop a short while later. The owner, a man named Teuchi, was busy pulling fresh noodles behind the counter. Welcome! He started to greet them, but his hands froze mid-motion when he saw the faces of his customers.
Mi—Minato? Teuchi whispered the name in total disbelief.
Uncle, do you know Minato too? Naruto was surprised by the reaction. He's a great friend I just met today!
Ah, I see. Teuchi looked back and forth between the boy and the man. He found it hard to process the word friends in this context.
Minato gave a polite smile as he scanned the menu hanging on the wooden wall. We will have two bowls of the Deluxe Seafood Ramen, please.
Deluxe seafood? Naruto paused. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his small wallet to count his coins. He realized he did not have enough and felt a wave of guilt wash over him.
Don't worry about it, the meal is on me. Minato laughed softly when he saw the boy's worried expression.
I can't let you do that! You already agreed to teach me ninjutsu for free! Naruto gave a pure, wide smile. Don't worry, I have plenty of money!
Is that so? Minato gave him a knowing look, sensing the lie immediately. Alright then, if you insist.
It did not take long for two steaming bowls of Deluxe Seafood Ramen to be placed on the counter. Enjoy your meal! Teuchi watched them closely, his eyes filled with an unreadable emotion.
I'm digging in! Naruto began shoveling noodles into his mouth. Minato was much more graceful. He picked up his chopsticks and ate at a steady, unhurried pace. Even though he did not look like he was rushing, his first bowl vanished in seconds.
I would like another bowl, please! Coming right up! Slurp—make that another one! Coming right up! And another one!
Teuchi began to sweat profusely as he worked the noodle press. His face showed a look of deep existential confusion. He had served plenty of big eaters in his time, and he had known the original Minato Namikaze, but he had never seen a version of the man who could eat like a monster. He began to wonder if there was some secret connection between the two. Perhaps the boy was an illegitimate son? Maybe the mother was from the Akimichi clan?
While the cook's mind wandered, Naruto sat in pure shock. By the time Minato finished his fifth bowl, Naruto was already too full to move. He watched in silence as Minato polished off dozens of bowls.
Ah, you ate way too much! Naruto looked at the massive stack of empty bowls on the counter. He felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if his heart was breaking for his empty wallet. If I knew you were going to eat this much, I never would have offered to treat! Those were the most expensive bowls on the menu! What kind of person eats like this?
I told you I would pay. Minato reached into his pocket and pulled out a stack of bills, handing them to Teuchi. The taste was truly excellent. I enjoyed it very much.
Hahaha, if you liked it, you must come back again! Teuchi laughed heartily. Hearing that praise from a face like Minato's made all the hard work feel worth it.
Actually, there is something I should mention. This money technically does not belong to this world and might disappear later on. Minato looked at the bills he had given the man. Just in case that happens, I will come back and make up the same amount. If the money stays, just consider it a pre-payment for Naruto's future meals.
What do you mean by that? Teuchi's face turned pale. A cold sweat broke out across his back. The idea of a man who looked like the deceased Fourth Hokage telling him his money was not from this world was terrifying. He began to wonder if he was talking to a ghost.
My name is Minato Namikaze, and I come from a parallel timeline. Minato gave a polite nod. I want to thank you for taking care of Naruto all these years.
Teuchi stood there like a statue, completely stunned by the revelation. His daughter, Ayame, had a complex look on her face as she listened. They had heard Naruto say the name earlier, but they had been too polite to ask. Hearing the truth directly from him was deeply moving.
A parallel world? Don't even say it, helping the boy was only right! Teuchi's eyes began to tear up. He had suspected Naruto's parentage since the very beginning. He just never thought he would see the Fourth Hokage again in his lifetime.
Forget about the money, this one is my treat! As long as you are in this village, meals are on the house for both of you! Teuchi gave a thumbs-up and wiped a tear from his eye. The only pity is that Kushina did not come with you. I really wanted to see the two of you together again. Never mind, it is nothing.
Kushina? Naruto felt his heart skip a beat when he heard the name. He did not understand why it felt so important. Uncle, do you know Minato? You seem to know a lot about him. Wait, did you say the food is free now? Hahaha, it's too bad I'm so full, or I would eat another bowl right now!
The two of them stood up and left the shop. Naruto patted his rounded stomach as they walked down the street. By the way, Minato, what exactly is a parallel world?
If I tried to explain it to you now, you probably wouldn't understand the physics involved.
Then who is this Kushina person? Naruto asked. He could not stop thinking about the name.
Kushina. Her full name is Uzumaki Kushina. Minato spoke the name softly. In the world I come from, she is currently my committed partner. In this world, she is your mother.
What?! Naruto stopped in his tracks, looking absolutely horrified. He pointed a finger at Minato and shouted. You're actually dating my mom?!
Minato let out a long, weary sigh. He looked at the boy and felt a dark thought cross his mind. Perhaps in the future, I should just make sure the first child I have with Kushina never happens.
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