Chiba looked around, scanning the street for any sign of Yamanaka Ino.
Nothing.
He sighed. "Eat first."
Appeasing his empty stomach came before everything else. Luckily, the warm glow of Ichiraku Ramen's storefront was right in front of him.
After ordering, Chiba found an empty seat and sat quietly, waiting for his meal.
Bored, he decided to test something. He activated his Identification Technique and cast it toward the busy ramen chef.
[Identify — Target Locked]
[Ichiraku Teuchi]
Occupation: Ramen Shop Owner
Status: Lord-Level NPC
Village Reputation: 1,500
Special Ability: [Luck: MAX]
"Lord-level NPCs…?" Chiba blinked, surprised.
No wonder this man seemed extraordinary.
Teuchi had served shinobi since the Kakashi generation—decades of kindness, warmth, and perfect ramen had rooted Ichiraku deep into Konoha's culture.
With that reputation, a score of 1,500 made perfect sense.
But what caught Chiba's eye most was the special ability: [Luck: MAX].
Chiba's lips twitched. "Of course…"
It explained everything—the legendary indestructibility of Ichiraku Ramen. Even when Pain leveled the entire village, the shop was still standing the next day.
"No wonder people joke about 'Ōtsutsuki Ichiraku,'" he thought, smirking. "This man might actually be immortal."
"Please enjoy," said a cheerful voice.
It was Ayame, Teuchi's daughter, placing a steaming bowl of ramen in front of him with a gentle smile.
Chiba smiled back and nodded.
Ichiraku's food was cheap, delicious, and the service—unbeatable.
"With food this good and a girl this charming," he thought, "it's strange they haven't gone nationwide."
He picked up his chopsticks and dug in.
"Uncle, another bowl!"
One bowl turned into two… then three… then nine.
When he finally set his chopsticks down, Chiba leaned back with a sigh of satisfaction.
Since he began serious chakra training, his appetite had skyrocketed. Refining chakra consumed massive amounts of energy, and eating was one of the best ways to replenish it.
"No wonder every ninja's a big eater," he muttered, patting his stomach. "Still… I'm only four years old. I shouldn't be eating like Choji already."
But this was the Hokage World—different standards, different biology. The human body here was several times stronger than in his past life.
After paying the bill, Chiba stepped back into the street.
He took out a small floral wallet from his pocket—the quest item from earlier.
He didn't rush to find Ino; instead, he chose a quiet spot nearby and waited.
"If it's really important, she'll come back to retrace her steps," he reasoned. "And if I'm the one who finds it, that's a perfect chance to leave a good impression."
It was a smart, multi-layered move.
Training could wait; recovery was just as important. Overworking the body only led to burnout. Chiba understood that balance was key. Even in this dangerous world, longevity mattered. A well-maintained shinobi could remain in peak condition into their seventies.
Retirement? Meaningless word.
For now, his work for the day was done.
He hadn't waited long before someone unexpected appeared.
A blond boy walked slowly down the street, wearing orange clothes, black pants, and a red scarf that fluttered slightly in the cold wind.
Uzumaki Naruto.
He kept his head down, avoiding everyone's eyes. The whisker marks on his cheeks stood out against his pale skin.
The moment he appeared, the lively chatter around them died.
Passersby fell silent.
Smiles vanished, replaced by frowns and whispers.
"Disgusting…"
"Demon fox… get out of the village."
The words cut through the air like cold knives.
Chiba's eyes narrowed slightly.
Uzumaki Naruto — son of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato.
The reincarnation of Asura's chakra, heir to the Uzumaki bloodline, and the future savior of the ninja world.
So many titles.
Yet right now, he was just a lonely child, hated by the village that his father died to protect.
His future was destined for greatness—
But his childhood… was nothing short of cruel.
Chiba stayed silent, watching.
To him, Naruto was the embodiment of a utopian ideal—someone who could love even those who despised him.
It was incredible that he hadn't broken under such pain.
Was it Asura's influence that kept his heart pure?
Or maybe something like Kotoamatsukami, subtly guiding his will?
Chiba didn't know, but the idea made him smirk in irony.
The Third Hokage and his council?
What a joke.
Konoha's politics were rotten—smiling outwardly, yet cruelly punishing their own.
"The leaves protect the village," Chiba thought, "but at what cost?"
He tried not to dwell too deeply on it. After all, in his previous life, this world was just a story—a shōnen dream of friendship and heroism.
But standing here now, seeing it unfold in reality, he felt the cold truth beneath the surface.
Where there are people, there will be conflict.
Even in a village of heroes.
The villagers' whispers grew sharper, louder.
"The demon fox should never have been born!"
"Why does Hokage-sama protect that monster?"
Naruto clenched his small fists, lowering his head even more as he walked past.
Chiba watched quietly, a deep frown settling on his face.
He wasn't angry—
But something in his chest stirred.