“Grandpa, this is my home.”
Pretending not to recognize the Third Hokage, Naruto led Hiruzen Sarutobi into his house.
“Grandpa, this is the kitchen.
The rest is up to you.”
Setting the bucket down in the kitchen, Naruto grinned.
Hiruzen opened the cupboard containing the seasonings and ingredients.
“Hmm.
You’ve got quite a complete selection here.”
Well, of course.
You were the one who had them prepared.
Naruto sneered inwardly, though outwardly he only gave a silly smile.
“I don’t really know much about cooking.
I usually just fry some meat and vegetables.
I don’t even recognize a lot of these seasonings, so I’ve never used them.”
“Haha, is that so?
Then you’re in for a treat today.
I’m quite good at making fish soup.
Hand me the biggest fish.”
Naruto immediately picked up the largest fish and passed it over.
With a single slap—
Smack!
Hiruzen dispatched it effortlessly.
“Grandpa, what about the rest of the fish?” Naruto asked.
“This one weighs over four jin.
It’s enough for both of us.
Save the others for tomorrow.
Just remember to add more water to the bucket, and they’ll stay alive until then.”
“Okay.
Thank you, Grandpa.”
Naruto smiled foolishly and went to fill the bucket with fresh water.
The two of them looked just like a real grandfather and grandson.
It was an unexpectedly warm scene.
Outside, the ANBU standing watch quietly looked away.
________________
Two hours later…
“All right!
It’s finally done!”
Hiruzen carried a large pot into the room.
“Konoha’s special steamed miso fresh fish soup!”
“It smells amazing!”
Naruto immediately started drooling.
After transmigrating to this world, more than ten days of hardship had thoroughly erased every trace of the food fatigue he’d accumulated in his previous life.
On top of that, he’d spent those ten-plus days surviving almost entirely on instant noodles.
He was already sick of them.
The aroma of freshly made fish soup instantly awakened his appetite.
“Haha!
It smells good, but it tastes even better.
Go get the bowls and chopsticks.”
Laughing heartily, Hiruzen beckoned him over.
Naruto immediately brought the tableware.
He served Hiruzen a bowl first before filling one for himself.
Then he politely said,
“Thank you for the meal.”
And immediately began eating.
The warm fish soup spread through his stomach.
The tender fish instantly delighted his taste buds.
“I want another!”
In no time at all, Naruto had emptied his first bowl and eagerly served himself a second.
“Haha, slow down.”
Hiruzen chuckled.
“Be careful not to choke on a fish bone.”
Only then did he begin eating as well.
Naruto had to admit…
He never expected the Third Hokage to make such incredibly delicious fish soup.
“Thank you for the meal.”
After finishing three bowls, Naruto was finally full.
After all, despite his appetite, he was still only a small child.
“Thank you for the meal.”
Hiruzen politely echoed him, indicating that he had also finished eating.
Silence immediately settled over the room.
Afraid that he might accidentally reveal something if the silence continued, Naruto hurriedly spoke.
“Grandpa…
are you going home now?”
“Mm.”
Hiruzen smiled warmly.
“I’m full, so it’s about time I headed back.”
“I see…”
Even in his previous life, Naruto had never been much of a conversationalist.
Although he knew he should keep talking until Hiruzen left, he opened his mouth several times without knowing what to say.
“Haha.”
Hiruzen smiled kindly.
“What is it?
Don’t want Grandpa to leave?”
Clearly, Hiruzen had mistaken Naruto’s awkwardness for reluctance to part.
To him, it meant that he had already begun entering the lonely child’s heart and was becoming someone Naruto could rely on.
He was quite satisfied.
Naruto wasn’t particularly clever.
But he wasn’t stupid, either.
Inspiration struck immediately, and he grasped the emotion Hiruzen wanted to see.
“Mm…”
“Ever since I can remember…”
“You’re the only person who’s ever been so nice to me.”
“You’re the only one willing to stay with me.”
Although Naruto had only moved out of the Sarutobi residence a little over ten days ago…
He wasn’t lying.
To isolate him, even while he had lived there, Naruto had effectively been left alone.
Aside from people carrying out necessary duties—bringing him meals and taking care of essential needs—no one paid him any attention.
The caretakers were little different from the ANBU now monitoring him.
They merely prevented him from getting into dangerous situations and helped him bathe or change clothes when he was too young to do it himself.
Once he learned to manage those things on his own, even that stopped.
No one played with him.
No one talked with him.
Living in the Sarutobi household had been little more than existing as a living puppet.
Now that he had moved out, he at least possessed a measure of freedom.
At the very least…
He could grow vegetables as he pleased.
“Haha.”
Hiruzen beckoned.
“Naruto, come with me.”
He led Naruto outside.
By now, night had completely fallen.
Yet the Hokage Rock, illuminated by lights, still shone brightly against the darkness.
“Naruto.”
Hiruzen pointed toward it.
“Do you know what that is?”
“Huh?”
Naruto widened his eyes in surprise.
“That stone face…
it looks just like you, Grandpa!”
“Haha.”
Hiruzen smiled.
“Do you know what that represents?”
Naruto deliberately shook his head in confusion.
“It represents the recognition of everyone in the village.”
“It also means that every one of you is my family.”
“And to protect my family…”
“I am willing to give everything.”
His voice was filled with unwavering conviction.
“I don’t understand.”
Naruto continued wearing a puzzled expression.
“Haha.”
“You don’t understand now.”
“But someday…”
“You will.”
Naruto simply stared blankly.
Inside, however…
He couldn’t help but sneer.
“Naruto.”
Hiruzen asked again,
“Do you know what a ninja is?”
Naruto shook his head once more.
“A ninja is someone who possesses the strength to protect the village.”
“They protect us every moment of every day.”
“Because of them, our village enjoys peace and tranquility.”
Looking over Konoha’s brightly lit streets, Hiruzen sighed with emotion.
“War is cruel.”
“It is also filled with suffering.”
“Ninjas shoulder that cruelty and pain themselves, sacrificing everything so that the people of Konoha may enjoy happiness, peace, and a better life.”
“Our village is peaceful, happy, and wonderful?”
Naruto tilted his head innocently.
“Hasn’t it always been like this?”
“Haha.”
“You’re still young.”
“When you grow up, you’ll understand just how precious this peace truly is.”
“Okay.”
Naruto nodded obediently.
“And the pinnacle of all ninja…”
Hiruzen pointed toward the Hokage Rock.
“…is the Hokage.”
“That monument is called the Hokage Rock.”
“Oh!”
Naruto opened his eyes even wider, putting on the perfect innocent act.
“So everyone whose face is carved up there is a Hokage?”
“That’s right.”
Hiruzen nodded.
“Wow…”
Naruto exclaimed in amazement.
“So there were three other people just as amazing as you, Grandpa!”
“Haha.”
Hiruzen laughed proudly.
“At the moment, though, Grandpa is the strongest one.”
“Well…”
Stretching lazily, he smiled.
“I’ve talked enough.”
“It’s time for me to head back.”
“For the sake of the village…”
“For everyone who lives here…”
“For all of my family…”
“I need to work even harder.”
“Mm!”
Naruto nodded vigorously.
“Good luck, Grandpa!”
“Oh, I’ll certainly keep working hard.”
Hiruzen smiled.
“But you need to work hard too.”
“At the very least…”
“Don’t lose your temper like you did today and knock over the mask shop owner’s display rack again.”
“Huh?”
Naruto cried out in surprise.
“Grandpa…
how do you know about that?”
Hiruzen laughed proudly.
“Did you forget what I told you?”
“I’m the Hokage.”
“Of course I know.”
“So amazing!”
Naruto stared at him with wide, admiring eyes.
“Haha.”
“I already told you.”
“The Hokage stands at the pinnacle of the ninja world.”
“Mm!
You’re amazing!”
Naruto continued staring at him with exaggerated admiration.
Hiruzen shook his head with a smile.
“You really don’t understand anything yet, do you?”
The smile gradually faded from his face.
“All right.”
“It’s time for me to go.”
“Goodbye, Naruto.”
“Goodbye, Grandpa.”
Before long, Hiruzen disappeared into the night.
Only after watching him leave did Naruto return to his house.
The innocent expression vanished.
His face became completely calm once more.
ADD TO COLLECTION.