The fish Naruto had caught varied in size.
The smallest were only about two fingers wide.
The largest were as big as an adult’s hand.
Grilled fish tonight, then.
Having made up his mind, Naruto tied the fish basket to the riverbank with a sturdy vine, leaving it submerged in the water.
He picked out several of the larger fish.
Using his kunai, he scraped off the scales, gutted them, and cleaned them thoroughly.
Then he skewered them on sturdy branches and gathered plenty of firewood.
...
Naruto suddenly froze.
Wait...
The ANBU are still watching.
How am I supposed to light a fire?
Hidden nearby, both the ANBU operative and Kakashi watched his preparations with growing curiosity.
Naruto’s eyes suddenly lit up.
He took a deep breath and shouted,
"ANBU!"
Hidden in the shadows...
Kakashi and the other ANBU silently exchanged glances.
Neither of them found it strange that Naruto knew about the ANBU.
After all...
Whenever Naruto left the house, he either got into fights or wandered around.
The ANBU had shown themselves plenty of times over the years.
The Third Hokage had even stepped in personally to mediate on more than one occasion.
But...
Why was he calling for them now?
...To help start a fire?
Throughout the village...
Merely hearing the word "ANBU" was enough to frighten most people.
"ANBU!"
Naruto shouted again.
Clearly...
He wasn’t planning to stop.
Seeing no other choice, Kakashi gestured toward the other operative.
The ANBU reluctantly appeared in front of Naruto.
"Naruto Uzumaki."
"You can’t just call for the ANBU whenever you want."
"Help me start a fire."
"...Don’t make unreasonable requests."
"Help me start the fire."
"The ANBU aren’t your babysitters."
"Help me start the fire."
No matter what the operative said...
Naruto stubbornly repeated the same sentence.
"..."
The ANBU was speechless.
"...Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball burst from his mouth.
The neatly stacked firewood ignited instantly.
"Wait."
Just as the ANBU was about to disappear...
Naruto grabbed his sleeve.
"Bring me some seasonings too."
"...Naruto Uzumaki!"
Now you want me to fetch spices?!
"Forget it."
"I’ll go get them myself."
Naruto took two steps toward home before suddenly turning back.
"Oh."
"Don’t steal my fish."
"I know exactly how many there are."
"..."
Who the hell would steal your fish?!
At that moment...
Kakashi’s lazy voice drifted over.
"Go."
"Help him get the seasonings."
"...?"
The ANBU whipped his head toward the tree where Kakashi was hiding.
Did I hear that correctly?
You actually want me to fetch spices for him?
Kakashi repeated calmly,
"Go."
"You can borrow some from a nearby house."
"It’s getting dark."
The meaning behind those words was obvious.
If Naruto went home himself...
The two of them would have to escort him there...
Then accompany him all the way back.
That alone would waste half an hour.
Then they’d still have to wait for him to finish cooking and eating.
By then...
It would already be dark.
Although they could simply order Naruto to return home...
Kakashi had his own reasons.
This was his teacher’s son.
If the kid just wanted to grill a few fish...
There was no real harm in indulging him.
"..."
The ANBU let out a heavy sigh.
Even though every instinct screamed against it...
He had no choice but to obey.
He vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.
A few minutes later...
He returned.
Silently placed the seasonings on the ground.
Then disappeared without another word.
Five minutes later...
Naruto hummed an unfamiliar tune while happily grilling the fish.
A rich aroma drifted through the air.
The ANBU looked down at the military ration pill in his own hand.
His composure shattered instantly.
He felt like blasting off into the sky on the spot.
Nearby...
Kakashi finally looked up from his novel.
In the distance...
A little girl around seven or eight years old was walking toward them curiously.
He glanced at the distracted ANBU.
Still too inexperienced...
His emotions had been thrown off so easily that he hadn’t even noticed someone approaching.
Closing his book, Kakashi appeared beside him and patted him on the shoulder.
"Senior Kakashi?"
The ANBU looked startled.
"Someone’s coming."
Kakashi nodded toward the approaching figure.
"The Uchiha girl from earlier."
The ANBU’s expression immediately turned serious.
"Hm."
"Keep observing."
Kakashi reminded him.
The ANBU normally wouldn’t stop villagers from approaching a Jinchūriki.
The prerequisite...
Was that they could withstand the Hokage’s scrutiny afterward.
Anyone who knew Naruto’s true identity deliberately kept their distance.
Anyone who didn’t...
Avoided him because they believed he was the "demon fox."
Kakashi also knew that the Uchiha Clan had repeatedly instructed its members to avoid contact with the Nine-Tails’ Jinchūriki.
Yet now...
This Uchiha girl was openly walking toward Naruto.
Whether she was simply unaware...
Or had some other reason...
He couldn’t tell.
One thing, however, was certain.
By tonight...
Her complete background report would almost certainly be sitting on the Hokage’s desk.
Meanwhile...
After parting ways with Itachi...
Izumi hadn’t returned to the Uchiha compound.
Today was her father’s death anniversary.
She had paid her respects that morning.
Her mother had gone to the shrine to pray.
Being alone...
Izumi hadn’t even felt like eating lunch.
Originally...
She had wanted to invite Itachi to dinner.
Unfortunately...
Thanks to his overly attached little brother...
He had rushed home almost immediately.
With few friends in the clan...
She wandered aimlessly until she reached the banks of the Naka River.
Then...
A mouthwatering aroma drifted through the air.
Suddenly...
Even the freshly bought dango in her hands no longer smelled appealing.
Right on cue...
Her stomach growled.
Following the scent...
She eventually found its source.
"...Him?"
Recognizing Naruto, Izumi blinked in surprise.
She had never expected the one grilling fish...
To be a little boy who wasn’t even a meter tall.
How old is he?
He can already grill fish by himself?
Did he catch those too?
Kids these days are incredible...
Then...
She couldn’t help thinking of another child around Naruto’s age.
One who spent every day clinging to his older brother and whining.
Comparing the two...
That little crybaby seemed hopelessly spoiled.
Naruto had noticed someone approaching long ago.
At first...
He ignored it.
He assumed the person would recognize him...
Then immediately leave.
To his surprise...
She stayed.
Looking up...
Naruto recognized her immediately.
Oh?
Isn’t this Itachi’s little girlfriend?
"What are you staring at?"
"Never seen a demon fox before?"
He shot back immediately.
"Pfft!"
Seeing Naruto deliberately trying to look intimidating...
Izumi couldn’t help laughing.
She simply walked over and sat beside him.
Looking at the perfectly grilled fish—
Which together were larger than Naruto himself—
She asked curiously,
"Can you really eat all of that?"
"...You want some?"
Naruto saw right through her.
"...Mm."
Izumi nodded softly.
A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
It somehow felt like she was taking food from a little child.
Carefully unwrapping the bamboo leaves around her sweets...
She revealed rows of colorful three-colored dango.
Turning toward Naruto, she smiled.
"How about we trade?"
"Two skewers of dango..."
"For one of your smaller fish."
She pointed at the smallest grilled fish.
Inside the sealing space...
Minato repeatedly wiped away the tears gathering at the corners of his eyes.
"That’s wonderful..."
"Naruto is finally making a friend..."
Kurama looked at him with undisguised disgust.
This...
Is the Fourth Hokage?
Seriously?
Did someone replace him with a fake?
But...
Watching Naruto and the little girl sitting together outside...
Even Kurama couldn’t stop the corners of his own mouth from curling upward.
Author’s Note: