Chapter 8: A Special Day!

The sun hadn't yet risen over Konoha when Yuto awoke, a small grin creeping onto his face. It was October 10—Naruko's birthday. Yuto had been planning this day for the whole week, determined to make it special for his friend. Even though he was just a six-year-old, Yuto's memories from his past life gave him a unique advantage. He knew how much Naruko had suffered, being shunned by the village, and he wanted to make sure she felt loved today.

Quietly sneaking out of bed,while eating a sandwich he had bought yesterday,Yuto made his way to Ichiraku Ramen, where Ayame had kindly prepared a special breakfast for him to surprise Naruko with. As he approached the stall, Teuchi and Ayame greeted him with warm smiles."Here you go, Yuto," Ayame whispered, handing him a box neatly wrapped with a ribbon. "I hope Naruko-chan loves it. You're such a thoughtful friend."

Yuto smiled, thanking them both before making his way to Naruko's apartment. He knocked gently on the door, waiting for a moment before opening it slightly."Hey, Naruko, wake up!" he called softly, stepping inside. "I've got a surprise for you!"Naruko stirred in her sleep, her golden hair messy and her small face scrunched up in confusion. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up, blinking at Yuto, who stood at the foot of her bed, holding the breakfast from Ichiraku.

"Yuto?" she mumbled, still groggy. "What's going on?""Happy birthday!" Yuto grinned, holding out the box. "I brought you breakfast. Ayame made it just for you."Naruko's eyes widened in surprise, and her cheeks flushed slightly. "Y-You remembered my birthday?""Of course I did," Yuto replied, his voice softening. "It's your special day, Naruko. We're going to celebrate!"

Naruko smiled brightly, her usual energy returning as she grabbed the breakfast and started eating. "Thanks, Yuto! This is delicious!"Once she had finished, Yuto took her hand and tugged her out of bed. "Come on, we've got more things to do! First, we're going to train with Guy-sensei. He's got something special for you."

Might Guy stood tall and proud, his wide smile reflecting the morning sunlight as Yuto and Naruko approached him at the training ground."There you are, my youthful students!" Guy exclaimed, giving them both a thumbs-up. "Naruko, Yuto told me it's your birthday, and I couldn't let such a day go by without doing something special!"Naruko grinned, already bouncing on her toes with excitement. "What is it, Guy-sensei?"

Guy knelt down in front of her, his smile softening for a moment. "Before we start, I've got a gift for you." He handed Naruko a small, wrapped box. "It's a little something to help with your training."Naruko eagerly unwrapped the box, revealing a pair of bright orange training gloves, perfectly matching her favorite color. "Wow! Thanks, Guy-sensei!"

Guy beamed, giving her a pat on the head. "Now, let's put them to good use! Today,I am going to teach you some taijutsu katas, and I expect nothing less than your best effort, as always!"Naruko and Yuto spent the next few hours training under Guy's enthusiastic guidance, running through various taijutsu drills for the academy taijutsu style.

When yuto asked why the academy taijutsu katas,Guy replied that the academy taijutsu is like a beginner combat fighting style.And it is made by the second hokage so that when students want to learn advanced taijutsu like his strong fist style,then they will have no difficulty because the academy taijutsu can be used as a base to turn and refine their taijutsu style into their advance form.

The exercises were tough, but Naruko's determination only grew stronger with every punch and kick she threw. Yuto stayed by her side, pushing her forward whenever she got tired,her doing the same for him,and the two of them fed off each other's energy.By the time their training session ended, both were panting heavily, but Naruko's grin never faded.

"That was the best training session ever!" she exclaimed, wiping sweat from her brow.Before they could catch their breath, an ANBU appeared in front of them in a blur, bowing slightly. "The Hokage has requested your presence."In a blink, they were transported to the Hokage's building.As Yuto and Naruko stepped into the Hokage's office, the atmosphere was thick with a sense of authority and warmth. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, looked up from his paperwork, a gentle smile spreading across his face as he recognized the two children.

"Ah, Naruko! And you must be Yuto," he said, his voice friendly and welcoming. Yuto felt a rush of excitement and nervousness. Seeing Hiruzen in person was much different than the one he had seen in the anime. The warmth radiating from him was palpable, and Yuto felt both intimidated and comforted at the same time."Hello, Hokage-sama," Yuto greeted back, his voice slightly shaky but sincere. Internally, he couldn't help but marvel at how the character he had seen so much in the show seemed even more impressive in real life."Hi grandpa!"Naruko replied back cheerfully, throwing the formalities in the dustbin.

Hiruzen observed Yuto carefully, noticing the determination in the young boy's eyes. He had been keeping an eye on Yuto, ensuring that the boy genuinely cared for Naruko. Hiruzen had seen Yuto preparing for her birthday celebration, and it made him genuinely happy to see Naruko forming a bond with someone so caring.

However, there was a flicker of concern in Hiruzen's mind. He knew that Danzo could use Naruko's feelings against her. The thought of Danzo manipulating Naruko by threatening or killing Yuto was troubling. If something were to happen to Yuto, it could trigger a berserk response in Naruko, giving Danzo the leverage he sought to exploit.

"I'm glad to see you both here," Hiruzen said, shifting his focus back to the children. "Happy birthday Naruko, I have a gift for you."Naruko's eyes sparkled with excitement as she leaned closer. "Really? What is it?" Hiruzen reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a black coloured delicate hair clip adorned with a floral design. "I thought this might suit you well," he said, offering it to her.

"It's beautiful!" Naruko exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy as she accepted the hair clip.Yuto recognized it immediately; it was similar to one that Kushina had worn in one of those manga about Minato.He had seen Minato giving it to her.She used to wear them on her forehead bangs to keep her hair mostly towards her left side."Thank you so much,grandpa!" she said,her voice filled with gratitude.Yuto also added, "Thank you for taking care of naruko,hokage-sama."

"Just call me Grandpa," Hiruzen said, waving off the formalities with a playful grin, making both children giggle.As the interaction concluded, Hiruzen's mind was already at work. He decided it was essential to ensure Yuto's safety. Knowing that Kakashi needed a distraction from his own troubles—having recently lost his sensei and Kushina—Hiruzen planned to assign Kakashi to watch over Yuto. Given that Yuto spent a significant amount of time with Naruko, Kakashi would also be able to keep an eye on her.

For lunch, Yuto took Naruko to Ichiraku Ramen, where Teuchi and Ayame were waiting for them with wide smiles. The smell of fresh ramen filled the air as they sat down."Happy birthday, Naruko-chan!" Ayame said brightly, handing her a special coupon. "Here's your birthday present—a free bowl of ramen every day for the next month!"

Naruko's eyes grew wide in disbelief. "Every day? For a whole month?!"Teuchi chuckled warmly. "That's right. We know how much you love ramen, so consider it our gift to you."Naruko nearly jumped out of her seat in excitement, hugging Ayame tightly. "Thank you! You're the best!"They ate together, laughing and enjoying their meal as the day continued to unfold, every moment making Naruko feel more and more cherished.

After lunch, Yuto led Naruko to play in the village, the two of them running through the streets and having fun together. Naruko's laughter echoed around them as they played hide-and-seek, tag, and climbed onto rooftops, savoring the freedom of their day. She even ignored the glares of the villagers as they didn't matter to her.All that mattered to her was the people who cared about her,like the one she was trying to catch right now.As the sun began to lower, Yuto grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the Hokage Mountain.

"Where are we going?" Naruko asked curiously, her eyes wide with excitement. "You'll see," Yuto grinned.When they arrived at the top of the mountain, Naruko's jaw dropped in awe. A small picnic was laid out in front of them, with blankets, snacks, and a perfect view of the sunset over Konoha.

"You did this for me?" Naruko whispered, her voice cracking slightly.Yuto nodded, sitting down on the blanket and patting the spot next to him. "I wanted your birthday to be perfect. Let's watch the sunset together."They sat in peaceful silence, watching as the sky turned shades of pink and orange. As the stars began to twinkle above, Yuto reached into his pocket and pulled out his gift for her.

"These are for you," he said, handing her two hairbands. Each one had a small blue coloured ninja star attached on them, perfect for her two signature braids.Naruko's eyes filled with tears as she held the hairbands in her hands. "Yuto, this… this is the best birthday ever," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you… for being my friend."Yuto smiled softly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "We're best friends, Naruko. Always."Naruko couldn't hold back her tears anymore. She hugged him tightly, sobbing into his shirt. Yuto didn't say anything, just holding her close until she cried herself to sleep in his arms.

When the night finally settled in, Yuto carefully carried Naruko back to her apartment, tucking her into bed before heading back to his dorm, a satisfied smile on his face. Today had been perfect, and he was glad he could make Naruko feel special, even if just for a day.

(Pls give me some power stones!)

(Find out next time on Naruto:eye system)