[Why won't Grandpa Third tell me about my parents?]
[Is it because my parents are connected to that demon fox somehow?]
[Could there be clues in the library?]
Chu Ran began steering Naruto Uzumaki's thoughts from within his subconscious.
Naruto's origins and parents had always been a mystery to him, a puzzle he longed to solve.
But for a child, especially one with Naruto's carefree personality, finding clues was nearly impossible.
In the original Naruto story, Naruto was more focused on earning everyone's acknowledgment than uncovering his parentage.
Chu Ran knew that to push Naruto toward darkening, he needed to ignite curiosity about his origins early.
He couldn't let Naruto learn everything at once; instead, he had to uncover hints gradually.
Outside the subconscious, Naruto's eyes gleamed with determination.
He sprinted toward the Hidden Leaf Village's largest library.
Normally, a place like the library would be the last place Naruto would visit.
But today was different. Driven by his longing to know about his parents, he even tapped into the chakra he had just learned to use that day.
Channeling chakra to his feet, Naruto moved faster.
Instead of running through the streets, he leaped across rooftops.
In mere moments, he arrived at the Hidden Leaf Village's library.
Stepping inside, he was greeted by towering bookshelves stretching as far as he could see.
"So many books…"
Naruto's lips twitched, a hint of intimidation crossing his face as he gazed at the sea of books.
[I can't give up. If Grandpa Third won't tell me…]
[Then I'll find out myself!]
Just as Naruto wavered, Chu Ran's voice echoed in his mind again.
Give up now, after coming this far? Not a chance.
Naruto exhaled softly, his gaze hardening with resolve.
Following Chu Ran's subtle mental nudges, he began wandering through the library.
Soon, he arrived at a particular bookshelf.
This section held books on the Hidden Leaf's history and biographies of its legendary figures.
"Second Hokage's Notes: Heroes of the Ninja World War…"
Naruto randomly pulled out two books and began flipping through them.
For the first time, he was able to focus on reading a book.
Time passed quickly. By the time Naruto finished the two books, the sky outside had darkened.
Yet, engrossed in the Hokages' records and tales of powerful ninjas with their remarkable techniques and achievements, Naruto didn't feel tired.
Normally, reading made him want to nap instantly.
Gurgle!
As Naruto reached for a third book, his stomach growled loudly.
Having eaten only a small amount that morning, hunger hit him hard.
"Guess I'll come back tomorrow."
Naruto rubbed his stomach, returning the book to the shelf.
He stepped outside, the quiet, dimly lit streets urging him to quicken his pace.
At this late hour, most food stalls on the main street were closed.
But Naruto had a destination in mind.
Soon, a small shop with a ramen sign came into view.
Ichiraku Ramen—Naruto's favorite food, bar none.
Since childhood, he'd loved ramen. Even with the modest stipend from Hiruzen Sarutobi, he'd visit a couple of times a month.
"Uncle, miso ramen! A big bowl!"
Spotting Ichiraku's sign, Naruto hurried his steps.
He slid open the curtain, plopped onto a stool, and inhaled the aroma of ramen, his hunger intensifying.
"It's Naruto! Congratulations."
"You're officially a Ninja Academy student today."
Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku Ramen, smiled warmly upon seeing Naruto.
In Naruto, Teuchi was one of the few early characters who didn't shun Naruto for the Nine-Tails sealed within him.
He even occasionally treated Naruto to free ramen.
"Uncle, hurry up, I'm starving!"
Naruto nodded with a grin but urged Teuchi to speed up.
Though it was just the cheapest miso ramen, it was a delicacy Naruto couldn't wait to devour.
"Alright, alright, coming right up."
Teuchi chuckled, his hands moving deftly.
"You're Naruto Uzumaki, right?"
As Naruto's eyes were glued to Teuchi, a voice from beside him made him turn.
A seemingly kind smile greeted him, and Naruto recognized the face.
It was a teacher from the Ninja Academy.
"I'm Mizuki, one of your future instructors."
"I heard about your performance today from Iruka-sensei."
"Your talent is impressive, Naruto. Mastering the Three Basic Techniques on your first day—keep working hard."
Mizuki's warm smile and encouraging words painted him as a kind, caring teacher.
But only Chu Ran, lurking in Naruto's subconscious, knew Mizuki's true nature.
[Someone acknowledged me?]
Naruto's face broke into a smile, Chu Ran's subconscious nudging making him feel validated by Mizuki's words.
"Thank you, Mizuki-sensei."
Naruto beamed, thanking Mizuki earnestly.
Mizuki gently pushed his plate of fried dumplings toward Naruto.
"This is a reward for your hard work."
"Go ahead and eat. The owner's dumplings are delicious."
Mizuki smiled, not only offering the dumplings but also personally handing Naruto a pair of chopsticks.
Naruto's eyes trembled slightly as he stared at the dumplings.
He glanced at Mizuki, confirming it was real, then picked up a dumpling and popped it into his mouth.
"Delicious!"
Naruto's eyes widened, his mind consumed by the word "tasty."
At that moment, Teuchi brought over the ramen.
"Uncle, I ordered miso ramen, didn't I?"
Naruto looked at the large chunks of char siu in the bowl, confused, thinking Teuchi had made a mistake.
"Eat up. It's to celebrate your successful enrollment."
Teuchi gave Naruto a thumbs-up, smiling warmly.
An indescribable warmth wrapped around Naruto's heart.
His eyes began to glisten—encouragement from a teacher, care from Teuchi.
For the first time, he realized he wasn't a monster despised by everyone in the village.
"Naruto, be careful heading home after you eat."
"I'll head out now. Keep studying hard at the academy."
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Hello I will be updating this story once per day. But for a review or 5 Power Stones I would be giving additional 1 chapter. Thank you and Enjoy!