After giving the juice to Momoko, Raizen gave a bottle to each of the other girls as well. As for Reiko, Raizen withheld it for the time being. He would see how she performed in the future.
After sharing some brief, intimate moments with the women, Raizen headed out alone as school was nearing dismissal. Now that he had mastered the Flying Raijin, he needed to make proper preparations—placing formula marks in key locations for any unforeseen circumstances.
He arrived at the Ninja Academy. While waiting for Sasuke, Raizen quietly placed a formula mark on a tree near the school gates.
When the dismissal bell rang, Sasuke emerged from the building, surrounded by a swarm of chattering girls.
"Sasuke!" Raizen called out.
"Uncle! What are you doing here?" Hearing Raizen's voice, Sasuke broke free from the flock of "birds and bees" and ran toward him with excitement.
"I came to pick you up," Raizen said, ruffling the boy's hair. "Come on, I'll take you to get something good to eat."
"Mhm!" Sasuke nodded eagerly.
Raizen took Sasuke's small hand and turned to leave. At that moment, he caught sight of Naruto Uzumaki sitting alone on a swing. The small, thin figure looked profoundly lonely, surrounded by nothing but the mocking glares and cold shoulders of the villagers.
Raizen looked at Naruto but did not approach him. If he took the initiative to contact Naruto now, it would trip the sensitive nerves of the Konoha higher-ups.
Walking away, Raizen squeezed Sasuke's hand. "Sasuke, do you know the taste of loneliness?"
Sasuke nodded. "I do. Before you came back, Uncle, I was all alone. It was lonely and painful. But I'm glad you're back, and that you've brought my aunts home. I have company now; I'm not alone anymore."
"Loneliness is a bitter taste, Sasuke. Find someone just as lonely and make them your friend," Raizen said casually as they walked.
Sasuke looked back at little Naruto, deep in thought. "I understand, Uncle."
In the Academy, he truly didn't have any friends. Consumed by hatred, he had always preferred to remain cold and isolated.
Raizen led Sasuke to Ichiraku Ramen. He placed a formula mark under the counter and decided to treat the boy to a meal.
"Welcome! What can I get for you?" Ayame greeted them with a warm, professional smile.
Raizen smiled back. "Two Deluxe Set Ramens, please."
"Right away! Just a moment!" Teuchi, the owner, chimed in before Ayame could.
While waiting for the ramen, a small figure stopped not far from the shop. The boy cast a lingering glance toward the aroma of Ichiraku before turning to walk away dejectedly.
"Sasuke, isn't that your classmate?" Raizen asked, having noticed the boy out of the corner of his eye.
Sasuke turned to look. "Yes, Uncle. That's my classmate. But we aren't close. Everyone says he's a 'Demon Fox' and won't play with him."
"Since you're classmates, why don't you invite him to join us for a bowl of ramen?" Raizen suggested.
"Huh?" Sasuke blinked, surprised, then nodded. He stood up and ran to catch up. "Hey! Wait a minute!"
Little Naruto stopped, looking bewildered. He turned to Sasuke and asked in disbelief, "Are... are you talking to me?"
"Yes," Sasuke said coolly. "Let's be friends."
"What?" Naruto's eyes went wide. "You... you want to be friends with me?"
Naruto couldn't believe his ears. No one had ever reached out to be his friend. Everyone mocked him, whispered "Demon Fox" behind his back, and forbade their children from playing with him. Today was the first time someone had ever approached him like this.
Naruto's eyes instantly brimmed with tears as he stared at Sasuke.
"What? You don't want to?" Sasuke asked.
"I want to!" Naruto shouted. "You know my name, right?"
"Mhm, I know." Sasuke had always been the genius of the class, surrounded by girls. Naruto had always been envious and had naturally noted Sasuke's name.
Conversely, Sasuke had also noticed Naruto. In their class, only Naruto was as isolated as he was.
Grumble—! Naruto's stomach let out a loud protest.
Sasuke heard it and said, "Come on. My uncle told me to invite you for ramen."
"Invite me for ramen?" Naruto swallowed hard, his tears falling. "Thank you!"
"Let's go. My uncle is waiting." Sasuke took Naruto's hand and pulled him toward Ichiraku Ramen.
"Sit down. I've already asked the owner to prepare another bowl," Raizen said with a smile as Naruto approached.
"Thank you, Big Brother!" Naruto said, deeply moved to find that Raizen didn't look at him with the same cold eyes as the other villagers.
"Hey, Naruto! Don't call him Big Brother. Call him Uncle Raizen," Sasuke corrected him immediately, sounding a bit displeased.
If Naruto called Raizen "Big Brother" while Sasuke called him "Uncle," wouldn't that make Sasuke a generation lower than Naruto? His pride wouldn't allow it.
"Uncle? But he looks so young!" Naruto looked at Raizen, puzzled.
Raizen laughed heartily. "Just call me Uncle like Sasuke does."
At that moment, the aroma intensified. "Ramen is ready!" Teuchi announced, placing two steaming bowls in front of Raizen and Sasuke. He then turned to Naruto with a bright smile. "One more coming up, Naruto. Just a second!"
"Mhm!" Naruto nodded happily.
"Take mine first," Raizen said, pushing his bowl toward Naruto.
Naruto stared at the bowl, his emotions overflowing. Is this what it feels like to be cared for? So warm... so happy...
"Eat up. I can hear your stomach from here," Raizen joked.
"Thank you, Uncle Raizen! Let's eat!" Naruto licked his lips, snapped his chopsticks, and began inhaling the ramen with gusto. "Mmm! It's sooooo good!"
A look of pure bliss spread across Naruto's face.
"You eat too, Sasuke. Don't just sit there staring," Raizen said.
"Mhm! Let's eat!" Seeing Raizen being so kind to Naruto made Sasuke a little jealous, but as soon as Raizen's attention returned to him, the jealousy vanished instantly.
"Here is your ramen, sir," Teuchi said, placing a fresh bowl in front of Raizen.
"Thanks. Let's eat."
In the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep pull from his pipe, his brow furrowed as he watched his crystal ball. The image clearly showed Raizen, Sasuke, and Naruto eating ramen together.
"Logically, Raizen shouldn't know Naruto," Hiruzen muttered. "Is this a mere coincidence... or did Uchiha Raizen arrange this intentionally?"