Amidst the rising steam of delicious mist, the blonde youth slapped the table heavily.
"Uncle Teuchi, I want another bowl of Tonkotsu Ramen!"
"Coming right up!"
Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku Ramen, agreed with a smile. After a series of practiced movements, he quickly delivered a steaming bowl of ramen to Naruto's front.
"Thank you, Uncle Teuchi!"
Naruto pressed his chopsticks together and joined his hands in front of him.
I'm digging in!
Truthfully, Naruto was initially too embarrassed to be treated to a meal by a complete stranger.
But...
This was his favorite Ichiraku Ramen after all!
Usually, his living expenses only allowed for some bread and milk. He couldn't even guarantee a hot bowl of Ichiraku Ramen once a month.
Under such immense temptation, Naruto ultimately succumbed.
"Ugh..."
"So full."
Two large bowls of ramen were easily polished off by Naruto. He wiped his mouth, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
"I didn't expect you to like ramen this much, Naruto."
Sitting next to Naruto, Kimura had also finished his own ramen. Under the warm glow of the lights, a kind smile rested on his face.
"Yeah! I think Ichiraku Ramen is the most delicious thing in the world!"
Naruto spoke with a tone of absolute conviction.
Kimura gave a faint smile. "In that case, how about I treat you to ramen every day from now on?"
Naruto hurried to shake his head. "No way, no way! I'm already very grateful for this one meal from you, Uncle Kimura. How could I eat it every day?"
Seeing Naruto take this stance, Kimura did not push the matter further.
He looked out at the street, which had turned completely pitch black, and said, "It's getting late. We should head back."
"Okay!"
Naruto did not linger, quickly standing up to wave goodbye to Uncle Teuchi.
Teuchi also cheerfully said to Naruto, "Come again soon!"
Leaving the warm glow behind, Kimura met the strange gazes outside the ramen shop and led Naruto into the darkness.
Kimura was like an invulnerable armored warrior; those sharp arrows of judgment had zero effect on him.
Naruto, on the other hand, was flesh and blood. He would be hurt by these rumors, but he was already used to it and had learned to heal himself in silence.
"You seem to like that shop owner a lot?"
On the way back, Kimura asked softly.
Naruto nodded openly. "Uncle Teuchi is a good person."
"Why?"
"Because he's willing to let me inside to eat, and sometimes he's even willing to let me buy on credit!"
As he said this, Naruto's eyes sparkled brightly in the darkness.
"Just because of that?"
Kimura turned his head, looking curiously at this child who was only seven years old.
"Of course! Uncle Kimura, don't you think Ichiraku Ramen is delicious?"
Naruto asked back innocently, as if being able to eat a hot bowl of Ichiraku Ramen was the happiest thing in the world.
"Ichiraku Ramen is indeed delicious. But Naruto, don't you have any thoughts about those gazes? For example, anger or something?"
Kimura looked into Naruto's azure eyes, seemingly trying to see something within them.
Rather than saying Naruto liked Ichiraku Ramen, it was more accurate to say he cherished the kindness Teuchi showed by being willing to accept him.
After all, other businesses wouldn't even let Naruto through the door...
Facing Kimura's question, Naruto fell silent for a moment. Then, he looked up at Kimura and said, "Though I don't know why everyone hates me, I still like the village very much. Because in this village, there are people like the Old Man Hokage, Uncle Teuchi, and you, Uncle Kimura!"
"As long as I keep working hard, one day I will gain everyone's recognition and become a hero just like the Fourth Lord Hokage!"
Kimura looked at the child in front of him with some surprise.
Despite being immersed in such thick and terrifying darkness since childhood, he could always find a tiny bit of kindness within it.
This kindness acted like a spark, igniting within Naruto's heart. It made him want to become a flame, a star in the dark night, or even the moon—the sun that shines upon everyone.
Is this the true Will of Fire?
Simu suddenly felt a wave of emotion.
Although he wasn't particularly fond of the hollow "Will of Fire" Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke of, the fact that Naruto could maintain such an optimistic mindset in this growth environment indeed made him feel...
Admirable.
Simu could no longer be called a human, but he still maintained respect for idealists who could follow through to the end.
Even if their philosophies differed from his own, he respected different ways of thinking.
"Then keep doing your best, Naruto!"
Kimura reached out his palm and placed it gently atop Naruto's blonde hair.
The surrounding scene shifted instantly.
As if switching worlds, Simu's soul began to sink continuously until it finally stopped.
Dim light reflected off the surface of the water, and constant ripples spread out from beneath his stationary feet.
In front of Simu was a red cage of unknown height. Giant pillar-like bars separated him from an unknown, terrifying existence.
So this is the place where the Nine-Tails is sealed?
Simu surveyed the environment.
Although the Konoha higher-ups had maintained a degree of secrecy regarding Naruto being the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, quite a few people still knew.
This included some ninjas who had personally participated in the battle of the Night of the Nine-Tails.
For instance, Iruka, the homeroom teacher at the Ninja Academy, whose parents had sacrificed themselves in the terrible turmoil caused by the Nine-Tails' rampage.
Coupled with the fact that the villagers always called Naruto the incarnation of the demon fox, it wasn't difficult for Simu to confirm his identity as a Jinchuriki.
At this moment, his gaze extended deep into the heavy and terrifying darkness behind the cage.
The strength of this seal is quite a bit stronger than Shukaku's...
As expected of a masterpiece of the Uzumaki Clan.
Just as Simu felt this sentiment in his heart, even larger ripples spread out from the depths of the darkness behind the cage.
A pair of crimson eyes lit up in the dark like suns. An incredibly violent aura instantly swept through the entire space where Simu stood.
Along with this terrifying aura, the spreading ripples instantly turned into a monstrous wave that crashed ruthlessly toward Simu!
"As expected of the strongest Tailed Beast. Just a single thought is enough to trigger such powerful strength?"
Despite his remark, Simu simply raised a hand. The incoming wave was instantly crushed and scattered into a fine drizzle.
Behind the cage, starting from those violent eyes, the massive creature hidden in the darkness finally revealed its full form.
A giant red demon fox!
Even though it was just lying lazily on the water's surface, its massive size and the pervasive, terrifying aura were enough to suffocate anyone.
Not to mention those nine massive tails that were currently swaying in the air like agile pythons.
"Brat, who are you?"