Just as his words fell, the door to the inner room was pulled open.
Naruto poked out his little head, already changed into a clean set of clothes.
His small face had also been washed spotless.
"Uncle Gento! I'm all changed!"
He bounced out energetically, rushing over to hug Gento's leg, tilting his head up with sparkling eyes:
"Let's go eat ramen!"
Gento smiled and ruffled his hair:
"Alright, let's go."
He looked at Kushina:
"Come on, let's go together."
Kushina froze for a moment. She originally wanted to decline, but seeing the anticipation in Naruto's eyes, she ultimately nodded.
...
The sun was setting in the west.
The three of them walked side by side.
Naruto held his mom's hand with one hand and Gento's with the other, his small face full of excitement as he skipped along from time to time.
Gento and Kushina walked on either side of him, looking just like a family of three.
Along the way, villagers occasionally passed by. When they saw Kushina and Naruto, their eyes showed undisguised disgust and indifference.
Some even deliberately went around them, muttering under their breath.
Kushina lowered her head, her steps faltering slightly.
Naruto, however, was completely unaware, still happily pointing at the small shops by the roadside:
"Mom, look! That shop has new toys!"
Gento noticed Kushina's change and gently held her hand.
Kushina's hand trembled slightly, but she didn't pull away.
She raised her head and met Gento's gentle gaze, feeling an inexplicable sense of calm settle in her heart.
"Which way should we go?"
Gento asked Naruto.
Naruto let go and ran ahead to lead the way, waving his small hand:
"Follow me!"
After turning through two streets, a small shop with a blue noren curtain came into view.
On the curtain were the words "Ichiraku."
"This is the place!"
Naruto cheered as he rushed inside.
Gento and Kushina followed behind.
The shop wasn't big. Several wooden tables were neatly arranged, and behind the counter stood a middle-aged man wearing an apron, busy with his work.
Hearing the noise, he lifted his head, a kind smile appearing on his face:
"Oh, Naruto's here!"
"Uncle Teuchi!"
Naruto climbed onto a high stool, leaning over the counter as he leaned his small face forward:
"I want miso ramen! A big bowl!"
Teuchi smiled and replied:
"Got it! One large miso ramen!"
He looked toward Gento and Kushina, who had just entered:
"And you two are… Naruto's family?"
Kushina nodded somewhat awkwardly.
Gento, however, calmly sat down beside Naruto:
"I'll have a bowl of your signature ramen."
"Same for me."
Kushina sat down on Naruto's other side.
Teuchi responded and turned to get to work.
His movements were skillful–cooking the noodles, adding broth, arranging the chashu–all done in one smooth sequence.
Gento noticed that Teuchi's attitude toward Naruto was completely different from those villagers outside.
There was no disdain, no disgust.
Soon, three steaming bowls of ramen were placed on the table.
Naruto eagerly grabbed his chopsticks, clasped his hands together:
"I'm starting!"
Then he buried his head and began eating, slurping noisily.
Kushina watched her son devour the food, and a faint smile finally appeared at the corner of her lips.
Gento took a bite of the noodles and looked up at Teuchi:
"Boss, your ramen is really good."
Teuchi smiled and nodded:
"Thanks for the praise. Naruto comes here often. Seeing the little guy eat so happily makes me happy too."
Naruto lifted his head, broth still hanging at the corner of his mouth, and said unclearly:
"Uncle Teuchi's ramen is the best!"
Teuchi chuckled, wiping his hands with a towel:
"Eat slowly, don't choke."
Watching this scene, Gento nodded inwardly.
Teuchi really was a good person; he didn't distance himself from Naruto because of the rumors in the village.
By the time they finished eating, night had already fallen.
Naruto patted his round belly, looking completely satisfied.
Kushina took out her wallet to pay, but Gento pressed down on her wrist.
"Let me."
He paid the bill, and the three of them walked out of the shop.
Night had descended, and there were far fewer pedestrians on the street.
Naruto walked in the middle, holding his mom's hand with one hand and Gento's with the other, still talking about the taste of the ramen.
"Uncle Gento, can we come again next time?"
Gento looked down at him:
"As long as you behave, we can come anytime."
Naruto nodded vigorously.
Kushina walked at the side without saying a word, watching this scene as a complex emotion welled up in her heart.
This feeling was so strange.
The three of them, with Gento… seemed just like a family, strolling under the moonlight.
Gento suddenly spoke:
"Kushina."
Kushina raised her head.
"I came to see you today because there's something important."
He paused before continuing:
"The Uchiha clan's Ninja Academy has been completed. It's different from the Hidden Leaf's school; on our side, children can enroll at five years old. They start by learning theory, understanding the shinobi world, and then gradually come into contact with ninjutsu."
"In principle, the Ninja Academy only recruits members of the Uchiha clan."
"But I want Naruto to come study there as well."
Kushina seized up.
Gento looked at Naruto:
"Naruto, do you want to come study at the Uchiha clan's Ninja Academy?"
"There are many children around your age there. You can play together and learn together."
"You'll be able to make new friends there."
Naruto's eyes lit up instantly:
"Really? I can go?"
Gento nodded.
Naruto immediately looked up at his mother, his eyes filled with anticipation:
"Mom! I want to go!"
Kushina opened her mouth, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Gento continued:
"Also, the school has just been built and is short on teachers. I know your strength very well; you're more than capable of teaching children. The salary is three hundred thousand ryo per month."
"After all, you can't leave the village to take missions, and you can't keep relying on the village's relief funds. Being a teacher at the Ninja Academy suits you well."
Kushina fell silent.
She did indeed need an income.
The relief funds were only enough to barely get by. If she could go teach for the Uchiha…
She looked at Gento, meeting his serious gaze.
Under the moonlight, the lines of his profile were soft, and there was concern in his eyes.
Kushina's heartbeat skipped a beat.
"Mom…"
Naruto tugged at the corner of her clothes.
Kushina took a deep breath, bent down, and looked at Naruto:
"Naruto, do you really want to go?"
Naruto nodded vigorously and said loudly:
"I want to go! I want to become a ninja! I want to become really, really strong!"
Kushina couldn't help but smile and reached out to rub his head:
"Why do you want to become a ninja?"
Light flickered in Naruto's bright blue eyes:
"I want to become Hokage! I want to gain everyone in the village's recognition!"
Kushina's hand paused.
She looked at her son's serious little face, and her eyes suddenly felt a bit sore.
Gento also smiled and crouched down to meet Naruto at eye level:
"Gaining others' recognition doesn't necessarily require becoming Hokage."
Naruto showed a puzzled expression.
Gento, however, did not continue explaining.
The three of them continued walking forward.
The moonlight stretched their shadows long, blending them together.
When they reached the doorstep, Kushina stopped and turned to look at Gento.
"I agree."
She said softly, a sense of relief in her eyes:
"Let Naruto attend the Uchiha clan's school. As for me… I'm also willing to go and be a teacher."
Gento smiled:
"Good. Tomorrow morning, bring Naruto to the Ninja Academy."
"After that, come to my office. I'll give you onboarding training."
Kushina nodded.
"Today… thank you."
Gento waved his hand:
"No need to be polite with me. Go on inside."
Kushina carried Naruto into the house. Before closing the door, she glanced back at him once more.
The door closed gently.
Gento stood outside, looking at that door, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips.
Steady!
After Gento left, inside the house, Naruto suddenly looked at Kushina and said:
"Mom, you like Uncle Gento too, right?"
"Can you let Uncle Gento be my dad?"
Kushina's face flamed at his words:
"You child, what are you saying!"
"Hurry back to your room and go to sleep!"
...
Near Naruto's house.
A shadowy figure vanished from the spot and swiftly headed toward the Root base.
Entering the base, he skillfully made his way to Danzo and knelt on one knee.
"Danzo-sama, Gento Uchiha has once again made contact with the Jinchuriki!"
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going! [Patreon.com/RedZTL]