The Night Before Departure
Konoha Hospital.
Private ward.
Shimura Danzō sat with his single eye tightly shut, his face twisted in pain as one hand pressed against his forehead.
Across from him sat the hospital director, conducting an examination.
His injuries weren't severe.
After all, Kamizuki Gen had been his equal.
Their all-out battle had ended in mutual exhaustion—a draw.
And yet—
since arriving at the hospital, a bizarre, maddening sound had been echoing in his mind.
Sometimes loud.
Sometimes faint.
But always there.
It grated on his nerves.
At first, Danzō suspected Gen had planted some hidden genjutsu on him.
But after checking himself thoroughly—
there was no abnormal chakra disturbance.
The director frowned, puzzled.
"My apologies, Danzō-sama. Your ears show no signs of injury. There's nothing physically wrong."
"This may be stress-induced tinnitus or auditory hallucination caused by intense combat. With proper rest, it should resolve on its own."
"No." Danzō shook his head firmly. "This is not tinnitus. Check again."
Seeing his insistence, the director hesitated before asking carefully:
"Then… Could you describe what you're hearing?"
"…What did you say?"
Danzō's expression twisted further.
The strange noise in his ears suddenly amplified, triggering ringing so intense it briefly drowned out all sound.
The director repeated the question.
Danzō finally snapped:
"Who… are you? I can hear it… I can hear it!"
The noise surged endlessly.
It wouldn't stop.
It simply wouldn't stop.
"???"
The director fell silent for a long moment before cautiously asking:
"What does that mean?"
…
…
Hokage Building.
Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned back in his chair, slowly turning to face the darkened village beyond the window.
Homura and Koharu had already been dismissed.
He lit his pipe, took a deep drag, and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. His expression flickered between light and shadow.
Kamizuki Gen's strength…
had exceeded his expectations.
To fight Danzō to a standstill—
he truly lived up to being compared with Itachi.
It was fortunate—
he hadn't chosen to have this boy assassinate him.
Perhaps fate still favored Konoha.
Two monsters in the same generation.
The village's future—
was secure.
And yet…
Hiruzen sighed.
Such a promising candidate for Hokage.
Such a gifted talent.
And yet—
he couldn't be used normally.
Uchiha Itachi.
Kamizuki Gen.
Both, in their own ways—
were too extreme.
Itachi could slaughter his entire clan without hesitation.
And Gen…
Hiruzen was certain—
if given the opportunity, he would just as readily wipe out any clan in Konoha without blinking.
Just like how he attacked Danzō tonight.
The boy undeniably possessed the Will of Fire.
He obeyed orders.
But his way of thinking—
was dangerously abnormal.
Such a person…
could not remain in the village.
"…Has Kamizuki Gen left Konoha yet?"
Hiruzen suddenly asked, standing by the window.
The smoke behind him stirred.
An ANBU operative appeared silently.
"Hokage-sama, not yet."
"Oh?" Hiruzen frowned.
The ANBU replied flatly:
"After leaving the Shimura compound, he returned home. He bathed, changed into clean clothes, fed his cat and dog…"
"…Then he went to see Yuhi Kurenai and entrusted all his assets to her."
Hiruzen's expression darkened slightly.
Even with his protection—
the official bounty wouldn't be issued until morning.
But this boy…
was far too relaxed.
Not even concerned that Danzō might retaliate immediately.
"…At least he values his relationships," Hiruzen said casually.
"Is he preparing to leave now?"
The ANBU shook his head.
"No. Before I returned, he had gone back toward the central district."
"…Toward the Nine-Tails jinchūriki's residence."
"…What?!"
Hiruzen's expression changed instantly.
Don't tell me—
is he planning to capture Naruto and offer him to the Akatsuki as a token of loyalty?
That was absolutely something Kamizuki Gen might do on a whim.
Hiruzen quickly turned, retrieving a crystal ball from his desk.
He activated the Telescope Technique.
Moments later—
the image stabilized.
Naruto.
Kamizuki Gen.
Both sitting inside a ramen shop.
Only then did Hiruzen finally relax.
…
…
Ichiraku Ramen.
Teuchi set down two bowls of braised pork tonkotsu ramen, his daughter placing them in front of the shop's only two customers.
The shop had originally closed for the night.
But Ayame had woken her sleeping father the moment she saw who had arrived.
Back in the Academy—
the girls had been divided into two camps.
One admired Uchiha Itachi—brilliant, gentle on the surface, yet distant.
The other admired Kamizuki Gen—equally strong, even more handsome, and carrying an air of mystery due to his condition.
Ayame wasn't a ninja.
But she had always admired Gen.
After all—
a flaw only made someone more endearing…
especially when paired with a perfect face.
"Gen-kun, take your time! If it's not enough, I'll make you more—free of charge!"
She smiled sweetly, quietly slipping an extra marinated egg into his bowl.
"…"
Teuchi watched in silence.
Naruto immediately jumped up.
"Ayame-nee! Me too! I want more too!"
"Of course, Naruto," Ayame replied with a smile. "One extra serving is 30 ryō. An egg is 5."
"Eh?! Then why does Gen-senpai get it for free?!"
"Because your Gen-nii is a ninja. Ninjas work very hard every day."
"Then when I become a ninja, can I eat ramen for free too?"
"Hehe… we'll see."
Ayame chuckled, no longer engaging with him. Instead, she sat to the side, quietly admiring Gen's face.
Even injured—
even with his eyes wrapped in white bandages—
his features remained flawless, carrying a quiet, untouchable mystery.
Gen said nothing.
He simply ate.
As for his friendship with Naruto—
it began after graduating from the Academy.
After becoming a genin and helping Kurenai complete several high-level missions, he had earned quite a bit of money.
And he spent it all.
In his previous life, he couldn't even afford a restroom in the city.
In this life—
he went all in on real estate.
Three houses.
Three storefronts.
All paid in full.
The shops were located near Ichiraku Ramen in one of the safer commercial zones.
And one of those houses—
was directly across the street from Naruto's home.
Property in the village meant peace of mind.
Of course—
it also meant he was broke again.
As for ANBU surveillance around the jinchūriki—
Kamizuki Gen, a native Konoha civilian whose parents died in the war, was as "safe" as it got.
Living across from Naruto, seeing him daily, exchanging greetings—
before long—
he had become Naruto's only friend in the village.
His trusted "Gen-nii."
After all—
they were both orphans.
Shared the same miserable childhood.
And as a transmigrator, Gen had no reason to look down on Naruto like the ignorant villagers did.
But the most important reason their friendship worked?
Simple.
Naruto—
was rich.
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