The Hidden Leaf Village had been under reconstruction for some time, no longer a desolate place. Scattered wooden houses began to form the outline of a village.
Ichiraku Ramen [Temporary] had reopened, bustling with customers.
In an inconspicuous corner, an unremarkable boy stared at a large bowl of tonkotsu ramen, drooling. His left hand was bandaged, and he clasped his chopsticks between his palms, saying ceremoniously, "Itadakimasu~~"
Slurp~! Slurp~!
Breaking his chopsticks apart, he began to devour the ramen.
Yes, this boyish ninja was none other than Naruto.
In the past, he would reward himself with a bowl of Ichiraku Ramen after finishing his daily training, even after becoming Hokage.
That taste was etched into his soul, becoming a part of his very being.
No ramen, no Naruto!
So even though he was now a rogue ninja, he couldn't resist the allure of that taste. He used the Transformation Jutsu to sneak back into the village, just to savor that familiar flavor once more!
At this moment, Naruto forgot about his grudges and the hardships ahead. He reverted to his true self, a customer lost in the delight of delicious food.
In just three minutes, he finished the bowl, not leaving a single drop of broth!
"Ah~ So full~"
He leaned back in his chair, patting his stomach contentedly. As he turned his head, he saw a familiar figure sitting next to him!
Iruka-sensei... Naruto almost called out instinctively!
For some reason, Iruka looked troubled, his ramen no longer steaming, untouched.
"..." Naruto's gaze dimmed, and he slowly withdrew his outstretched hand.
The student Iruka had high hopes for had become a rogue ninja, a heavy blow for Iruka.
Naruto couldn't bear to see Iruka's sorrowful expression any longer, so he chose to leave.
At that moment, Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku Ramen, looked up from his busy work, wiping sweat from his brow, and was drawn to the departing figure.
"Father, what's wrong?" asked Ayame, Teuchi's daughter.
That figure looked like Naruto, but it must be a mistake. How could it be...
"Nothing."
Teuchi shook his head and continued making ramen.
Naruto walked through the evening streets. People came and went, some familiar faces among them, but Naruto just walked quietly, lost in his thoughts.
Unknowingly, he arrived at a place he knew well.
When he saw the ruins, he snapped back to reality.
"Of course... it's gone now. After Pain's devastation, the Leaf Village was destroyed. How could that place still be here? I was foolish to think otherwise."
Naruto shook his head self-deprecatingly and was about to leave when he saw blood-red words painted on the ruins!
Demon fox, rogue ninja, pig, dog, demon...
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Those twisted words were filled with malice and hatred!
"..." Naruto's face remained expressionless. He had long since experienced the coldness of human nature. At this point, people's misunderstandings and malice couldn't shake him in the slightest!
He observed the ruins and saw that the words were freshly painted, with traces of previous ones being wiped away: "What's going on here?"
As he pondered, Konohamaru, with an OK-bang on his face, carrying a bucket and brush, approached with Moegi and Udon.
Seeing the fresh blood-red words and the unfamiliar boy standing on the ruins, Konohamaru shouted, "Did you write these words 'today'?"
"......"
Before Naruto could respond, Konohamaru shouted, "Listen to me! Naruto-niisan is not what you think he is. He is the strongest ninja and will become the Hokage one day!!!!"
Little Konohamaru's eyes already showed a hint of sharpness!
"Konohamaru, don't be impulsive..." Moegi tugged at Konohamaru's sleeve uneasily.
"Ah, I know. As a ninja, I won't fight over such things!"
Konohamaru said, but the OK-bang on his face seemed to betray him. Ignoring Naruto's presence, he splashed paint over the words.
Naruto smiled slightly, jumped down from the ruins, and walked away with his hands in his pockets.
His eyes shone with a deep light: Actually, there's no need, Konohamaru. After experiencing so much, I won't be blinded by mere grains of sand...
He went to the Leaf Village's cemetery and watched from a distance.
In front of the memorial stone at sunset, Kakashi was mourning Obito as usual, but his expression was more melancholic than before.
Yugao Uzuki, after paying respects to her lover and deceased sister, approached and greeted, "Kakashi-senpai, are you talking to Obito about Naruto?"
Seeing through him, Kakashi said, "Yugao, you caught me..."
Yugao Uzuki said, "Everyone is saddened by what happened to Naruto. Now that Danzo holds the power of the Hokage, public opinion is against him. But I believe that when Lady Tsunade wakes up, she will turn things around."
Kakashi said, "I hope so..."
Too far away to hear their conversation, Naruto gazed at the memorial stone, thinking of his mentor, Jiraiya.
After negotiating with Nagato, Naruto had erected a cenotaph for Jiraiya on his way back to the village.
This time, he didn't do that.
Because in the future, during the battle with the Kara organization, Naruto had seen another Jiraiya.
Koji Kashin.
A clone created by Amado, the chief scientist of Kara, using Jiraiya's cells...
Naruto murmured, "Actually, if I could go back in time, this wouldn't be the ideal point. If I had gone back a month earlier, the Pervy Sage might not have died..."
"But now, it doesn't matter. As long as I find the Pervy Sage's body before Amado..."
Manipulating time has always been considered a forbidden technique for ninjas.
"I, Naruto Uzumaki, have already defied the flow of time. One more time won't make a difference..."
As night fell, Naruto glanced at the new outline being carved next to Tsunade's face on the Hokage Rock, then turned and walked deeper into the village.
"Unauthorized personnel are not allowed beyond this point. This is where the Hokage conducts official duties!"
Two members of the Root, dressed in white robes and wearing animal masks, blocked his path.
Naruto's expression was unreadable: "Oh? The Hokage..."
One of them said, "The Sixth Hokage, Lord Danzo!"
"I see, sorry to bother you..."
After leaving, Naruto entered a deserted alley.
"Danzo has returned to the village. The timing is about right. Those strict guards fit the profile of a frightened bird. But after losing his power, would Danzo stay in the village, waiting for Sasuke or me to come for him? Unlikely. Let me confirm..."
Zzz!
Naruto entered Sage Mode.
"Hmm?" Sensing the Hokage's tent, Naruto's expression changed, then he smiled playfully: "Hmph, just as I thought..."
He placed his left hand on a streetlight pole, leaving a Flying Thunder God mark on it...
Swish!
He disappeared without a trace.
Moments later, several ninjas walked by, including Shikaku, Inoichi, and Choza, the old generation of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.
Choza was drunk, supported by Shikaku and Inoichi on either side.
As they passed under the streetlight, Shikaku suddenly stopped, staring at the pole.
Inoichi asked, "What's wrong, Shikaku?"
That mark... could it be?
"Nothing." Shikaku took note and looked away.
...
In the forest outside the Leaf Village, Konan, Orochimaru, and Kisame stood by a pit.
Swish!
Naruto returned using the Flying Thunder God technique, dispelling his Transformation Jutsu. He threw off his cloak and approached, asking, "How did it go?"
Before infiltrating the Leaf Village, he had given another task.
Kisame said, "My Samehada isn't suited for digging. That guy was indeed here, but it seems he's already..."
Naruto walked to the pit and looked down.
There lay a gray, lifeless head with closed eyes.
It was Hidan!
—Universal Pull!
Whoosh!
Using gravitational force, Naruto pulled Hidan's head from the pit and held it in his hand.
Snap!
Hidan's eyes suddenly opened, glaring fiercely...
But Naruto, without a word, placed it in a box.
Bang! Bang!
The box shook violently, but Naruto paid no attention.
Orochimaru looked at the box, a curious smile on his lips.
Konan stepped forward and asked, "What's the next plan?"
Naruto said, "Let's go back to the Hidden Rain Village..."