Naruto's poverty genuinely shocked Ren.
If he remembered correctly, Naruto was supposed to receive a stipend, wasn't he?
So why did it amount to this little?
"Huh?"
Naruto jumped at the voice behind him. He turned around in a daze, glanced at Ren and Yugao, then seemed to realize something and instinctively took two steps back.
"W-who are you guys?"
"We're going to eat at Ichiraku," Ren said casually, shrugging. "Saw you here on the way."
He rubbed his chin and looked at the frog-shaped wallet in Naruto's hand.
"I was thinking we could get to know each other and maybe have you treat us… but now that I see this…"
"..."
Naruto's eye twitched. He glanced at his shriveled little wallet.
Treat them?
That wallet wouldn't even survive being murdered.
Of course, he didn't dare say that. Having already suffered countless metaphorical—and sometimes literal—"heavy punches" from Konoha's residents, he immediately lowered his head, embarrassed and wronged.
"Sorry… I bought some other stuff, so I ran out of money."
Seeing Naruto like this, Yugao felt unexpectedly at a loss.
She spent most of her time training in ANBU. Even when she returned home, she rarely had any contact with Naruto—only vague rumors.
To be honest, even if she did run into him, she probably wouldn't approach him. She carried resentment toward the Nine-Tails, just like many others.
But the boy in front of her didn't seem to match the rumors at all.
"I see."
Ren wasn't surprised by Naruto's reaction. He even had a strange suspicion that Naruto might have eaten a Kotoamatsukami somewhere—but jokes aside, he had to admit it.
Naruto really was the sun of the shinobi world.
"You're absurdly poor," Ren said bluntly. "What could a kid like you even buy that costs so much?"
"..."
Naruto stayed silent.
He didn't know why everyone in the village seemed to hate him. In that situation, just being able to buy things at all was already a miracle.
So when he could buy something, he bought a lot.
And the money was gone.
But he didn't dare complain. He was afraid of getting hit again—one way or another.
What he never expected was for the older boy in front of him to suddenly say:
"Forget it. Since you're an orphan too, I'll treat you today. But remember—you owe me."
"E-eh?!"
Naruto stared at Ren in disbelief.
"Y-you're treating me?"
"Yeah. You coming or not?" Ren shrugged. "If not, fine. Saves me some money."
"I'm coming! I'm coming!"
Before Ren could finish, Naruto shouted and hurried after him.
He was overjoyed.
Someone who didn't hate him.
Someone willing to treat him to food.
That was incredibly rare in Konoha.
Sitting at Ichiraku Ramen, the three of them had already placed their orders. Teuchi was as warm and welcoming as ever, while his daughter Ayame curiously studied the trio.
On one hand, Ren and Yugao looked unfamiliar.
On the other… she was curious why someone—besides her father—would actually treat Naruto.
"Big brother, big sister," Naruto asked eagerly while waiting, "are you ninja?"
"Us?"
Ren looked at himself, then at Yugao, who had fallen silent. Noticing that neither of them wore forehead protectors, he decisively shook his head.
"Nope. We're not ninja."
"—!"
Yugao nearly choked.
As ANBU, they wore masks, not headbands. And they'd just come from the Hokage's office—of course they weren't wearing them.
How did that turn into not ninja?
"Oh… that's a shame."
Naruto didn't doubt him at all. He pumped his little fist excitedly.
"I'm definitely going to become a ninja! And I'm going to become Hokage!"
"But before becoming Hokage," Ren said calmly, pouring cold water on him,
"don't you at least need enough money to eat?"
"Ninja training costs money. Ninja tools cost money. Food costs money. Right now, I'm the one paying for your ramen, so you—"
"Tch…"
Naruto pouted stubbornly.
"I'll have plenty of money one day! I'll treat you to ramen every day!"
"Try paying us back for one bowl first," Ren said with a grin, mercilessly crushing him again.
Naruto instantly deflated.
Yugao couldn't bear to watch anymore.
"Alright, stop teasing him," she said. "Once you get into the academy, things will get better."
She then turned to Naruto, hesitated for a moment, and asked curiously,
"Why do you want to become a ninja—and boldly claim you want to be Hokage?"
"I'm not being bold!"
Naruto puffed out his cheeks and shook his head. His stomach growled loudly, but he still rubbed it and spoke seriously.
"I don't know why, but everyone in the village seems to hate me. I don't want that.
I want people to like me. To notice me. To acknowledge me.
That old grandpa said that if you become Hokage, everyone will acknowledge you—so I will become Hokage!"
Naruto's words stunned Yugao.
She never expected that answer.
"Longing… for acknowledgment?"
For the first time, Yugao wondered if everyone had misunderstood this child.
Ren, meanwhile, pressed his lips together.
Then why, after entering the academy, did you copy those brats and start pulling pranks?
Sure, it got attention—but that wasn't how you earned acknowledgment.
"Hm?"
Mid-thought, Ren sensed something and suddenly looked up. Yugao did the same.
A white-haired man wearing a mask was walking toward them. Another presence lingered in the shadows not far away.
"Kakashi-senpai?"
Yugao recognized him immediately.
Kakashi Hatake cast a discreet glance at Naruto, then shrugged.
"So you're here. Hope I'm not interrupting. This might be a bit abrupt, but I figured you should meet your new teammate."
"New teammate?"
Yugao leaned forward, also noticing the figure hiding nearby.
"Let's go, senpai," Ren said, standing up without hesitation.
Naruto looked completely stunned.
"Teammate? Wait—aren't you ninja?! Didn't you say you weren't?!"
"Kid," Ren said casually, shrugging,
"consider this today's lesson."
"Ninja aren't playing house. Learn to observe—and never trust people's words too easily."
"But—"
"No 'but.' You lost," Ren cut him off. "As punishment, these three bowls of ramen are all yours."
"Eh?!"
Naruto stared at Ren in disbelief.
Was this guy mistaken?
That wasn't punishment—that was a reward!
Then it clicked.
Ren was doing this on purpose.
For the first time, Naruto felt something warm bloom in his chest—a sense of being acknowledged.
His eyes stung.
"Ah! I forgot to ask their names!"
Kakashi quietly watched the scene, then turned and walked away.
He really didn't want to get stopped by Naruto and questioned endlessly.
His feelings toward the boy were… complicated.
But inwardly, he couldn't help thinking:
That kid… isn't bad at all.
Just as he was about to leave, Teuchi—who had already served Naruto his ramen—hurried out after him.
"Excuse me, Kakashi-san."
"Hm? What is it, Teuchi?"
"The total for three extra-large bowls of ramen comes to—"
"..."
Kakashi's visible eye turned into a dead-fish stare.
It seemed… he might have judged Ren a little too early.
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