Chapter 24. Naruto

Sasuke, hands in his pockets once again, approached Naruto with a nonchalant tone, "Hey, crybaby, why are you in such a mess?"

Wiping away the traces of tears, Naruto responded, "Huh, brat, where have you been recently? I didn't see you by the lake."

Their friendship had roots in childhood, with Sasuke frequently practicing fire escape by the lake. However, Naruto hadn't spotted Sasuke there lately.

Aware of the recent rumors surrounding the Uchiha clan, especially concerning children, Naruto cautiously inquired, "Sasuke, is there something going on at your home?"

Suppressing his initial impulse to get angry, Sasuke merely snorted, "It's okay, I am a very good Uchiha!"

For Naruto, who had endured bullying since childhood and envied the presence of relatives that others had, Sasuke's reassurance meant a lot.

Unlike a lot of people in the village, Sasuke, Hinata, and Shikamaru had never bullied him. 

Deeply concerned about the well-being of his friend's family, Naruto feared that a fate similar to his own, that of an unwanted orphan, might happen to Sasuke if something went wrong.

As Naruto and Sasuke engaged in conversation, several ANBU stood silently on the nearby treetops.

Their mission was to monitor the Nine-Tails Jinchuuriki continuously, reporting every detail of Naruto's activities, meals, and words to the Third Hokage.

Despite Sasuke and Naruto having known each other before, the events surrounding the Uchiha were now different.

Hence, every interaction between Sasuke and Naruto was reported to the Hokage by the ANBU.

Additionally, Natsuki Uchiha, standing on an adjacent tree, observed the conversation.

Fugaku had requested Natsuki to accept Sasuke as his disciple, but Natsuki wanted to assess Sasuke firsthand.

Curious about Sasuke's demeanor before experiencing the Uchiha massacre, Natsuki saw a kind-hearted but slightly arrogant kid during the recent conflict.

Despite Sasuke's elite education and proficiency in shuriken and fire escape, his choice to use physical skills to fend off bullies suggested a merciful nature.

After the brief confrontation, Natsuki continued observing, contemplating whether his initial preconception against Sasuke was unwarranted.

Considering Sasuke's past, the absence of guidance after the Uchiha massacre, and the occupation of his property by Konoha, Natsuki pondered if it was not too late to offer support.

Suddenly, Natsuki jumped down from the tree, surprising both Sasuke and Naruto.

"Sasuke, do you know me?" Natsuki asked, revealing his Sharingan.

Originally wary, Sasuke shielded Naruto behind him but sighed in relief upon recognizing Natsuki's Sharingan, a trait exclusive to clan members.

"I am Natsuki, you have met me," he said with a smile.

As Sasuke observed Natsuki, he began to notice the resemblance between him and the former Uchiha Natsuki. The recognition dawned on Sasuke, "Ah! You are Natsuki-senpai!..."

Hesitatingly, Sasuke inquired, "I heard that you are the deputy clan leader now?"

Dismissing the formalities, Natsuki retorted, "Just call me senpai."

Pleased, Sasuke complied, "Yes, Natsuki-senpai."

Natsuki, taking on a more serious demeanor, asked, "Didn't I ask you to go home immediately after returning to the village? What are you doing here?"

Sasuke, feeling down due to the rumors circulating in the village, explained, "Uh...ah...I..."

Concerned, Natsuki comforted him, "Don't leave me alone. You're hungry. I'll take you to eat." He affectionately rubbed Sasuke's head.

Agreeing, Sasuke felt a bit uncomfortable but couldn't evade Natsuki's gesture.

Naruto, witnessing the interaction, couldn't hide the envy and sadness in his eyes. Attempting to lift his spirits, he chimed in, "Then Sasuke, I'm going home for dinner too!"

Expressing his determination, Naruto added, "Wait a moment," as Natsuki displayed a kind smile. "You are Sasuke's friend."

Introducing himself, Naruto proudly stated, "Yes, uncle! My name is Uzumaki Naruto! I am the man who will be the Hokage in the future."

Puzzled by the term "uncle," he found himself caught between laughing and annoyed, considering he was only twenty years old.

In a world where individuals engaged in war and marriage in their teens, being called "uncle" at twenty was common. However, Natsuki wasn't fond of the title.

Ignoring the second half of Naruto's sentence, Natsuki quietly observed him. Naruto, dressed in rags, still possessed a strikingly handsome face.

The strong physique of the Uzumaki clan likely explained why Naruto hadn't succumbed to hunger despite wearing tattered clothes.

Natsuki couldn't help but criticize Sarutobi Hiruzen's negligence in ensuring Naruto's well-being.

Cursing internally, Natsuki smiled and proposed, "Since you are Sasuke's friend, can I treat you to ramen?"

Overjoyed, Naruto exclaimed, "Oh! Really? Uncle!" Despite the excitement, Naruto's insufficient allowance from his grandfather, the Third Hokage, limited his ability to enjoy such luxuries.

Seeing Naruto's happiness, Natsuki inwardly criticized the Third Hokage and reassured Naruto, "Of course, it's true, but I don't like you calling me uncle. You can call me Natsuki-senpai." He knelt, gently rubbing Naruto's head.

"Okay, Natsuki-senpai!" Naruto responded warmly, appreciating the genuine kindness.

Turning to Sasuke, who maintained a cool exterior with hands in his pockets, Natsuki suggested, "Let's go, Sasuke. Let's go get something to eat first."

Though Sasuke initially grumbled, "Hmph, that's troublesome," he refrained from refusing when he saw Naruto's delighted expression.

Natsuki led the two out of the woods, leaving the ANBU members observing from the trees to exchange bewildered glances.

Uchiha Natsuki, the current deputy chief of the Uchiha clan, was once a superior figure.

His presence near the Nine-Tailed Jinchuuriki raised concerns among the ANBU members.

"Report to the Third Hokage immediately!"

"Yes!" The ANBU promptly relayed the information.

...

Ichiraku Ramen House welcomed Natsuki, Sasuke, and Naruto as the curtain opened.

The cozy shop, known for its hand-made ramen, had no other customers at the moment.

"Uncle! I'm here again!" Naruto exclaimed with enthusiasm, drawing attention to their entrance. Sasuke, feeling a bit embarrassed, averted his gaze and pretended not to recognize Naruto.

Teuchi, with a kind smile, greeted them, "Naruto, you're here. What do you want to eat today?"

Naruto, under Natsuki's stern look, hesitated to use the term "uncle" and sheepishly asked, "Natsuki-senpai, can I have tonkatsu ramen?"

While Naruto eagerly anticipated his order, Natsuki, already perusing the menu, decided to skip the tonkatsu ramen. Naruto's disappointment was evident.

"Give Naruto a grand slam," Natsuki ordered the most luxurious ramen set, featuring various toppings like steak, chicken, eggs, barbecued pork, and more.

Ecstatic, Naruto cheered, "Oh! Long live Natsuki-senpai!" The prospect of enjoying a Grand Slam excited him immensely, as his previous food experiences had been limited to tonkatsu ramen.

Observing Naruto's joy, Natsuki shook his head and turned to Sasuke, saying, "Bring me a tonkatsu ramen. Sasuke, you can order whatever you want."

Amid the ordering excitement, Natsuki sensed a surge of chakra above him. Steady, he suspected that it might be the Third Hokage's telescope technique.

Natsuki chuckled inwardly, finding it amusing that the Third Hokage was noticeably absent when Naruto needed care, yet swiftly appeared when someone approached him.