40 Chapter 40 - An offer

Alright, so this is a head's up. I'm going on a vacation with my family for about two and a half weeks, and due to our planned course, I won't be able to write any new chapters. Basically, until the 14/8 I won't be able to upload again.

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In the bustling streets of the Hidden Leaf Village, a young boy with spiky blond hair desperately sprinted, trying to escape a pack of older teens armed with rocks. The village was lively and full of color, with people going about their daily activities, creating a stark contrast between the vibrant environment and the cruel actions of the villagers.

"Catch him! Father will be proud of us if we hit him, maybe we'll even receive a prize!" one of the teens yelled, spurring on the others with a malicious gleam in his eyes.

Despite the commotion, the other citizens in the streets did nothing but step aside for the boys, leaving the young child to fend for himself. Everything continued as usual, and no one batted an eye toward the small blond kid who was running as if his life depended on it.

The bleak situation of the boy only got worse, as the impatient teens started to hurl their rocks with increasing force and accuracy. The chase intensified, with the older boys narrowing the gap between them and their prey.

Miss, hit, miss, miss, miss, hit. The young boy managed to dodge most of the rocks, his body moving with practiced agility as if he had been in this situation countless times before. Still, he couldn't evade them all, and dark bruises began to form on his skin at an alarming rate.

As the chase wore on, the boy's breath grew ragged, and sweat trickled down his face. He gritted his teeth, determined not to let the pain slow him down. Glancing back, he saw that the older boys were relentless, their faces twisted into cruel sneers. Panic surged within him, urging him to run faster.

With a final burst of speed, the boy managed to exit the tightly packed streets and entered the lush forest at the edge of the village. The vibrant greens of the foliage and the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees provided a stark contrast to the scene he had just left behind.

Darting between the trees, the boy used his knowledge of the forest to his advantage. He twisted and turned, doubling back on his path and weaving through the undergrowth. The sounds of the pursuing teens grew fainter and fainter until, at last, they were lost in the distance.

Finally, feeling the weight of his exhaustion, the boy allowed himself to slow down, his chest heaving with each ragged breath.

"Ow... The day has barely started, and they're already so full of energy?" Naruto complained, rubbing his sore limbs as he threw his hands up in exasperation. "That's saying something, coming from me!" Despite his pain, he managed a lighthearted tone. "Well, since I'm already here, I might as well go fishing." He scratched his head, trying to recall where he had hidden his fishing rod. With a determined nod, Naruto headed to the nearby lake where he usually caught his meals.

"Ah-ha!" Naruto exclaimed as he discovered his prized possession tucked away in a small crevice. After scouting the area for a bit, he found a tranquil pond and sat down on its grassy bank. Casting his fishing line into the water, he watched the ripples created by the impact with fascination.

"Maybe if I give that seller a big fish, he'll give me some food without a fuss this time," Naruto mused aloud. "Though, it is fun to see his face when I snatch it!" He giggled, letting his thoughts wander.

"A thief, are you?" A voice suddenly came from his side, startling the young boy. "Ah!" Naruto yelped, his heart racing.

"Heh, were you scared?" Ryu asked, smirking as he sat down beside Naruto. "No! I was just surprised!" Naruto retorted defensively.

"Who are you? Are you here to steal my fish?!" Naruto inquired cautiously, eyeing the stranger with suspicion. Ryu shook his head, chuckling softly. "You haven't even caught any yet. What would I have to steal? Even if you did catch something, I'm not here for your fish. I wanted to become your friend. Can you tell me about yourself?" Ryu asked, his tone sincere and inviting.

"You want to be my friend?! Really?!" Naruto's eyes widened in surprise and happiness. "Yup," Ryu confirmed with a smile. "How about we share some stories while we catch some fish? After all, I want to get to know my new friend better."

"Um, do you have a fishing rod? If not, you can use mine," Naruto offered, noticing that Ryu didn't have one.

"Don't worry about it," Ryu replied, picking up a small pebble and transforming it into a fishing rod. "Wow!" Naruto exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with amazement.

"Now, tell me about yourself. What do you like to do?" Ryu asked, genuinely curious. He had some understanding of Naruto's situation from Hiruzen's memories, but he wanted to hear the details directly from the boy.

"I like fishing, camping, and pranking those annoying villagers!" Naruto smirked proudly. "Oh? How do you prank them?" Ryu questioned, intrigued.

"I paint their stores and houses, sometimes I take a mask or two from a store. They throw them at me anyway if I bug them for it, so I enjoy it more this way. Then I use those masks to jumpscare people!" Naruto explained, his eyes shining with excitement.

"I see," Ryu nodded. "And how often do you go camping? Do you have any equipment, like a tent?"

"No," Naruto admitted, his voice growing louder. "I asked the shop owner, and he said it cost a couple of thousand Ryo. When I finally saved up that much, he said the price went up. I came back later, and someone else bought it. But I don't need it! I love sleeping on the grass and gazing at the stars more anyway, ya know?"

"Heh, I bet you do. But you still haven't answered my first question. How often do you go camping?" Ryu asked.

"About two times a week," Naruto replied. "It's peaceful here, and I don't have to worry about someone throwing stones at me or something," he added, his face taking on a gloomy expression.

"Is that so? Well, Naruto, it seems that what you want is a quiet environment, right? As it turns out, I'm building a smithy at the edge of the village. Would you like to move near me? I can build a house for you," Ryu offered.

"No thanks," Naruto declined firmly. "I'll fight through this, and one day they'll acknowledge me as the greatest Hokage!" His determination surprised Ryu.

"Do you want to be Hokage for the acknowledgment of others? Or is it because 𝐲𝐨𝐮 truly want to be Hokage?" Ryu asked pointedly. "It's because I want it!" Naruto responded without hesitation.

"Then don't do it for the acknowledgment of those who abandoned you. I think I understand why you pull your pranks; it's for attention, right? You want them to treat you in some way, any way, just not to ignore you. But that's not the way to go about it. If you want them to treat you right, take that motivation and use it to better yourself instead of resorting to pranks. Work on yourself, and they'll have no choice but to admit they were wrong once they see what you've become," Ryu advised.

"...But how will I do it?" Naruto asked after thinking for a bit. Ryu's words made sense, but he didn't know what to do next.

"Come to my smithy from time to time. I may not look like it, but I'm one of the strongest in this village. I might even be stronger than the Hokage," Ryu said with a wink, leaving the young boy astonished.

"No way! The Hokage is the strongest in the village!" Naruto shouted, unable to believe Ryu's claim.

"Well, as you can see, it's not always so clear-cut. If you come to my smithy, I'll help you become a fine shinobi. How about you drop by tomorrow at noon?" Ryu suggested before suddenly vanishing from his spot, leaving Naruto to ponder his unexpected offer.

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Alright, so just to clear out some stuff since I saw some concern about it in the last chapter. Ryu won't turn into a babysitter or something, he'll just help Naruto from time to time.