Chapter 32

"Finally got that little brat out of the way."

Anko Mitarashi, biting into her dumpling, started to feel somewhat relieved.

"I wonder if it's not so good to deceive a kid..."

A chunin examiner asked cautiously, seeming afraid of Anko Mitarashi's temper, and added: "Of course, that little devil caused a lot of trouble in the exam, Anko, you've really helped everyone blow off some steam!"

Because of that little troublemaker Kagura Akihara, the entire chunin exam had been a bit chaotic.

In the first round, the written test, Kagura Akihara had used the transformation jutsu to completely confound all the examinees, almost causing the entire chunin exam to collapse.

In the second round, the survival exercise, Kagura Akihara destroyed the end point for passing the test and almost single-handedly captured all the teams, creating the impression that he was trying to eliminate all competition in the second round, almost making the third round impossible to carry out.

"Whatever."

Anko Mitarashi waved her hand, watching Kagura Akihara's retreating figure, and spoke nonchalantly: "These lively kids just need a little discipline..."

"What about the rest of the candidates?"

"Didn't that little devil dispel the jutsu?"

Anko Mitarashi eyed the group of disoriented examinees in the Forest of Death: "We should have disqualified all of these guys, but this time let them fight it out. They're all gathered here, so the results should come quickly!"

"It's getting dark..."

The village of Konoha gradually quieted down at night.

The shops on the street started closing, leaving only a few shops and the warm orange light of Ichiraku Ramen illuminating the night.

"Gurgle gurgle..."

A blonde boy was hiding under the eaves, rubbing his hungry stomach, looking at Ichiraku Ramen not far away, and counting the few coins he had left in his palm.

"This money isn't enough for a bowl of noodles..."

A teenager's voice appeared next to the little boy's ear.

"Yeah..."

The blond boy subconsciously nodded, then realized that someone had appeared beside him, he hastily stepped back: "Who... who are you!"

"Just another person starving."

The teenager rubbed his flat stomach and reached into his empty pocket: "Also someone equally broke."

"..."

The corner of the blond boy's eye twitched.

"Come on."

The teenager squatted down on the steps under the eaves, beckoning to the little boy, "Sit and rest for a while, you won't feel so hungry."

"..."

The blond boy slowly shuffled over.

Many people in the village would curse him as a demon fox, never allowing him to approach, yet this older boy did not shun him.

This blond boy was Naruto Uzumaki.

The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki of Konoha Village, within whom the fiercest beast of the shinobi world was sealed.

This teenager was Kagura Akihara. After leaving the Forest of Death, he didn't want to return to Root so early, so he decided to enjoy the scenery of Konoha. Unexpectedly, he ran into the little boy Naruto Uzumaki on the street.

This is...

A child who is impossible to dislike.

The story of this little boy always inspires many to move forward.

Even Kagura Akihara had to admit, if it wasn't for the story of this little boy in his previous life, no one would have loved the shinobi world. He was the warmest sun of this shinobi world.

Naruto Uzumaki didn't know these things.

The little guy was a bit happy, seemingly having met someone who didn't dislike him. He started a conversation curiously: "Are you a ninja of the village?"

"Yes."

Kagura Akihara nodded, glanced at the little blond boy beside him, and added, "In a few days, I will be a chunin of the village. Do you know what level of ninja a chunin is? It's a height you little devil will never reach in your lifetime."

"..."

Naruto Uzumaki's forehead twitched, he pouted unhappily and waved his little fists vigorously: "That's impossible! I'm going to surpass the Hokage! Do you know what kind of person the Hokage is? The strongest person in the village is the Hokage..."

"But first, you need to eat..."

Kagura Akihara's words instantly defeated the little blond's passionate fighting spirit. He continued at a leisurely pace: "Kids need to eat well to grow up strong."

"You're also hungry!"

Naruto Uzumaki rubbed his growling stomach, immediately retorting.

"I could've managed a few days' meals."

Kagura Akihara changed his posture, sitting on the steps, hands on his legs, his gaze somewhat dim, "Unfortunately, I was deceived today. Although I thought it was a hassle and willingly let her trick me, the fact that she did trick me is still annoying."

"...So naggy."

Naruto Uzumaki dug into his ear.

"I see..."

Kagura Akihara chuckled, reaching out to pat Naruto Uzumaki's head, a smile appearing on his face, "It's okay, one day, you'll feel this too."

"No way!"

Naruto Uzumaki loudly rebutted, asserting that his intelligence couldn't possibly be that low, "I won't be tricked as easily as you!"

"Really?"

Kagura Akihara seemed somewhat skeptical.

Just as Kagura Akihara and Naruto were chatting leisurely, an elderly man with a pipe passed by them on the street and suddenly stopped in front of them.

"Grandpa!"

Naruto Uzumaki's face immediately lit up with excitement!

He recognized this elderly man. Whenever he felt down or upset, this old man would occasionally appear by his side.

"Yo, Naruto."

The old man exhaled a puff of smoke from his pipe and spoke slowly, "So late and you're not home sleeping yet?"

Without waiting for Naruto Uzumaki's reply, the old man's gaze fell on Kagura Akihara, "This little guy too... why aren't you resting at night?"

"Because I'm so hungry."

Naruto Uzumaki patted his stomach and looked up at the old man, "Grandpa, take me fishing! He can't sleep because he's hungry too. Let's go to the river and fish! As long as we catch fish, we'll have something to eat!"

"Alright..."

The old man kindly extended his hand, patting Naruto Uzumaki's head, yet his gaze still lingered on Kagura Akihara, "Little guy, since you haven't eaten, you come with us too!"

"I want to eat ramen."

Kagura Akihara slowly replied.

"..."

This kid was really blunt!

The old man's eyes twitched, quickly acclimating to Kagura Akihara's attitude, he grinned, "When this old man came out, I didn't bring much money... Do you two little ones have any money?"

"I only have these..."

Naruto Uzumaki showed the old man the coins in his hand.

"My pockets are cleaner than my face."

Kagura Akihara shook his head and stood up on his own, "Forget it, I've had enough fun for today. If I return too late, Lord Danzo will be angry."

"What a well-behaved child."

The old man praised with a grin, saying, "I do have a friend named Danzo, and as I recall, he isn't someone who would get angry so easily."

--x--

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