In a location not far from Konoha.
A team of Anbu was rushing back. At their current pace, it would take roughly three days to reach the village. Soon, they arrived at a secret Anbu outpost and prepared to rest and regroup.
As they settled in, they removed their masks. The team leader was Hatake Kakashi, and at his side was Uchiha Itachi. Kakashi sat on a bench, pulling out some Food Pills to eat.
Just then, Itachi, sitting beside him, spoke up. "Kakashi-senpai..."
Kakashi glanced at him. "What is it?"
"Is war... truly likely to break out?" Itachi asked.
As a front-line combat unit, Itachi and the others naturally possessed first-hand intelligence. For instance, the hostile shinobi they had intercepted were mostly from Kumogakure. Furthermore, a delegation of envoys from the Hidden Cloud had likely already entered Konoha by now. If the negotiations between the Leaf and the Cloud failed to meet their respective expectations, war would follow.
This weighed heavily on Itachi. Due to certain experiences in his childhood, he loathed war from the bottom of his heart.
Kakashi remained silent for a moment. "When I was even younger than you, I asked my Sensei the same question. His answer was that he didn't know. Right now, I can only tell you the same."
Itachi seemed a bit confused by the answer.
Kakashi continued, "But war is something that always strikes unexpectedly. So, we must prepare for the worst."
Itachi nodded, his heart feeling somewhat heavy. As he dwelled on these thoughts, a sudden surge of unease washed over him, as if something terrible was about to happen. He looked around, but neither Kakashi nor the others showed any signs of alarm.
He waited a while longer, and though no immediate threat appeared, the tension in his chest didn't dissipate. After a moment of thought, he suddenly spoke: "Kakashi-senpai, if possible, please allow me to go on ahead."
Kakashi looked at him with some surprise. "What's wrong?"
"I want to return to the village as quickly as possible," Itachi said earnestly.
Kakashi stared into Itachi's eyes in silence. After a long while, he spoke. "Since we've withdrawn from the border, our mission is technically over. There's no strict regulation saying we must move as a group. Moving alone can be dangerous, but we aren't that far from the village now..."
Kakashi listed several justifications before finally saying, "Alright, go ahead."
A faint smile touched Itachi's eyes. "Yes. Thank you, senpai."
Without further delay, Itachi stood up and sped toward Konoha. While the group might take three days, Itachi, traveling alone, could likely make it in two. He had a bad premonition, and every second he could shave off was vital.
…
Meanwhile, in the commercial district of Konoha.
At the Ichiraku Ramen stall.
Naruto was sitting there, devouring a bowl of ramen. Although his current life was far from destitute, in fact, his living conditions were quite affluent, he had still fallen head over heels for Ichiraku Ramen after trying it once, just like in the original tales. Consequently, the young prince of the Fourth Hokage's house was a frequent sight at the shop.
Though Naruto was considered a "dead last" at the Academy, his personality was bright and generous. Coupled with his "noble" status, being the son of the Fourth Hokage and the young master of the Uzumaki Clan, he was well-liked. While the Uzumaki Clan was mostly a shadow of its former self, the prestige of a Great Clan remained, especially in Konoha. After all, every flak jacket worn by Konoha shinobi bore the Uzumaki crest.
In another timeline, he might not have known he was a "young master," but with Kushina still alive, he was well aware of his heritage. In short, Naruto's social standing at the Academy and within the village was excellent. He wasn't the lonely boy sitting on a swing, watching others be happy.
"Old man, more miso please!" Naruto called out, his appetite fully whetted after a few bites.
The man in the shop was no longer the legendary Ichiraku who had once conquered Diarmuid with his noodles, but the younger 'Ichiraku' from memory. Naturally, he looked much younger here.
Hearing Naruto, Teuchi smiled. "You already owe me for ten bowls from the past few days, and you want more miso?"
Naruto didn't panic at all. "Don't worry! My grades were just bad this time, so Mom cut my allowance. When I get first in the class next time, I'll definitely pay you back."
"Hahahaha, but I heard you're the dead last," Teuchi teased. There was no malice in it; otherwise, he wouldn't have let Naruto run a tab.
Naruto pouted. "What 'dead last'? My theory exams aren't bad at all! I just have a little trouble controlling the Chakra in my body for now. And it's not because I lack talent, it's actually because my talent is too high. Sigh, you wouldn't understand."
Naruto had doubted himself once, but Kushina had explained his situation clearly. He understood now: it wasn't that he was incompetent, but that he possessed a power so vast he couldn't yet handle it. Once he mastered it, he would become a powerhouse in an instant. Thus, Naruto remained very optimistic about his prospects.
Just then, the curtain of the ramen stall was lifted. Naruto was sitting directly across from the entrance and felt his waist get bumped by something. He looked back, his eyes widening in surprise. He realized that the object that had accidentally brushed against him was the hilt of a sword.
The person who had entered was a man with striking black hair, neither long nor short, tied into a small ponytail at the back, resembling a wandering swordsman from a story. He wore a pure white haori and hakama, spotless and without adornment, giving off an air of ethereal freshness.
The blade hanging at his waist looked formidable, and a delicate tobacco pipe hung from the scabbard. Finally, Naruto looked at the man's face, which was the real reason for his surprise.
Because this man was incredibly handsome!
He looked to be in his twenties, perhaps thirty at most, with a slight beard on his chin that added a touch of mature charm to his youthful features. His facial structure was perfectly balanced, giving him a dashing appearance. Most importantly, his eyes were exceptionally bright; deep within his pupils, there seemed to be a faint, shimmering glow.
Overall, Naruto's first impression was that this man was "cool," way cooler than that stuck-up Sasuke at school.
"Ah, sorry. I bumped into you by accident. You okay?" the man asked, looking at his sword hilt and then giving Naruto an apologetic look.
This man was, of course, Diarmuid.
He recognized Naruto at a glance. If things were on track, the boy should be six years old, having just entered the Ninja Academy. However, likely due to proper nutrition and the healthy development of his Uzumaki physique, he looked a bit taller and sturdier than his peers, unlike the scrawny child of the original story.
Entering at six, graduating at twelve...
It sounded slow compared to the likes of Kakashi or Itachi, who were prodigies. But in reality, those rapid graduations were products of wartime or instability. In this era of relative peace, one couldn't graduate simply by being strong; even Neji and Sasuke had to wait until they met the age requirements. However, there were no limits on rank advancement later. Neji, for instance, would graduate at twelve and become a Jonin by fifteen. The title of "Genius of the Hyuga" was well-earned.
"Ah, it's nothing. A little bump won't hurt," Naruto snapped out of his daze and waved it off with a grin.
"Is that so?" Diarmuid smiled and nodded. He didn't say more but took a seat next to Naruto. He looked at Teuchi and clicked his tongue. "It's been a long time since I smelled this scent. I wonder how much you've learned from your old man. Give me a bowl of ramen."
Teuchi looked at Diarmuid with hesitation. "Customer, you look a bit familiar. From the way you talk, did you know my father?"
Teuchi had seen Diarmuid years ago, but the memory was faint. If the man hadn't been so handsome, he would have forgotten him entirely.
"Hahaha, you could say that," Diarmuid laughed but didn't elaborate.
Seeing this, Teuchi didn't pry and turned to prepare the noodles. Only Diarmuid and Naruto were in the shop. As Naruto ate, he kept glancing up at Diarmuid, clearly curious.
Diarmuid stroked his chin and looked at the kid. "What is it? Why do you keep looking at me? Is it because I'm too handsome?"
Naruto blinked. This guy... he's handsome, but isn't he a bit shameless?
"No, I'm just curious. Are you a samurai?" Naruto asked.
Hearing this, Diarmuid felt a momentary flash of nostalgia. The first time he had come to Konoha, right here, he had seen Obito, Kakashi, Anko, Rin, and Guy. It seemed they had asked him the exact same question.
"No, I am not a samurai," Diarmuid said with a smile after coming back to himself. "You can think of me as a wandering traveler. Hahaha, doesn't that sound romantic?"
Naruto didn't quite understand. He was about to ask what a "traveler" was when the curtain was pushed open once more.
A tall man with waist-length black hair, wearing a somewhat formal brown yukata and an expression of slight joy, walked in. Naruto instinctively looked back, then immediately jumped off his stool and bowed respectfully.
"Hiashi-sama, it's been a long time!"
Indeed, the newcomer was Hyuga Hiashi, the head of one of Konoha's top noble clans. Hiashi was a key member of the Hokage's faction and had maintained a good relationship with Minato. After Minato's passing, he had looked out for Naruto and Kushina. Despite his stern and meticulous exterior, he was surprisingly a kind-hearted man.
"Ah, Naruto. I didn't expect to run into you here. Hahaha, my Hinata still talks about you, saying she hasn't properly thanked you for last time. When are you coming over to visit?" Hiashi said to Naruto with great friendliness.
However, his gaze remained fixed on Diarmuid.
Before Naruto could reply, Hiashi spoke again: "It feels like it's been ages since I last saw you. Do you simply not age? You're still so young. Also, to be honest, you're the first person who has ever invited me to eat ramen at a street stall."
Diarmuid laughed. "Well, the big shot of the Hyuga Clan looks like he's maintained himself well, too. Hahaha. As a friend, of course I have to recommend good food to you."
Naruto was stunned. This handsome guy actually knew Hiashi-sama? And they seemed to be on good terms?