Chapter 10: Naruto and Sasuke"Sister! Someone's following you!"
"Huh? Oh, you mean… Naruto?"
Chika was slightly surprised—not because Naruto Uzumaki was following her, but because of Sasuke Uchiha's sharp perception.
Even with only a one-tomoe Sharingan, he already possessed this level of awareness.
"Naruto?"
Sasuke frowned slightly, repeating the name. He had heard it before—the boy the villagers whispered about, the one said to be connected to the fox that attacked the village. Wasn't that someone dangerous?
Seeing the shift in Sasuke's expression, Chika immediately understood what he was thinking. She reached out and gently patted his head, smiling.
"It's not what you think. He's not dangerous, and he doesn't mean any harm."
Then she turned her gaze toward Naruto, who was awkwardly hiding in the distance, and waved.
Naruto froze for a moment, instinctively pointing at himself. After hesitating, he slowly stepped out and walked toward them, his movements stiff and uncertain.
"Sister, what are you doing? He's the one everyone calls the fox—"
"A 'fox,' huh… seems like I need to teach you some history before ninjutsu."
Chika kept that thought to herself.
[Teaching ninjutsu might not be my strong point, but explaining the plot of Naruto? I'm definitely top-tier.]
Sasuke, though dissatisfied, stayed where he was. His puffed cheeks clearly showed his reluctance.
Naruto finally stopped a short distance away, glancing nervously between the two. Forcing a smile, he spoke.
"I-I'm just going this way too, big sister… my house is nearby."
"Do you want to come in for a bit?"
"Huh?"
"I said, would you like to come inside?"
Chika rested one hand on Sasuke's head to keep him from protesting while pointing her thumb toward the Uchiha Clan Compound behind her.
Both boys were stunned.
Sasuke could only pout under her hand, while Naruto looked completely bewildered.
This was the first time… someone had invited him into their home.
"Can I really… come in?"
"Of course. You're welcome anytime."
Chika extended her hand.
Naruto's blue eyes flickered. He clearly wanted to accept—but in the end, he hesitated.
"I… I'll pass today! I've got something to do. Next time—next time for sure!"
He lowered his head and quickly walked past them, heading in the opposite direction of his own apartment.
Watching his retreating figure, Chika sighed softly.
Naruto longed for connection—yet when someone truly reached out, he didn't know how to respond.
It reminded her of that moment after the Uchiha Clan Massacre—when Sasuke sat alone, and Naruto passed by nearby. Two lonely children, drawn to each other, yet unable to take the first step.
Naruto was like that.
And Sasuke… was no different.
"Well, there's still time."
Chika gently patted Sasuke's head again.
Sasuke puffed his cheeks and grabbed her hand.
"Don't pat me like that. I won't grow taller."
"Grow taller? You're not even at that stage yet. Don't worry—you'll grow up just fine."
Smiling faintly, Chika led him back inside. For now, she set aside ninjutsu training and decided to teach him something more important.
"Sasuke, you don't like Naruto, do you?"
"The adults say he's dangerous."
Sasuke answered honestly.
Chika didn't blame him. After all, ever since the Nine-Tails Attack on Konoha, the villagers had treated Naruto as if he were the demon itself. Only a few, like Hiruzen Sarutobi, knew the truth.
Chika sighed and placed a hand on her hip, shifting into "teacher mode."
"Sasuke, Naruto isn't a fox demon. There's no such thing. What's sealed inside him is a tailed beast—the Nine-Tailed Fox."
"Tailed beast?"
Sasuke blinked in confusion. It was the first time he had heard of such a concept.
"There are nine tailed beasts in this world, each possessing power far beyond ordinary shinobi—even beyond most Kage."
One-Tail, Shukaku.
Two-Tail, Matatabi.
Three-Tail, Isobu.
Four-Tail, Son Goku.
Five-Tail, Kokuo.
Six-Tail, Saiken.
Seven-Tail, Chomei.
Eight-Tail, Gyuki.
Nine-Tail, Kurama.
"The Nine-Tails that attacked the village is sealed inside Naruto. And his father… was the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze."
"What?!"
Sasuke's eyes widened in shock.
He had never imagined such a truth.
The son of a hero… treated as a monster.
A child who should have been praised… instead abandoned.
"He's… kind of like me."
Sasuke lowered his head, biting his lip.
After everything, he understood.
"Now that you know, what do you think?" Chika asked gently.
"I… was wrong."
Sasuke spoke quietly.
"I shouldn't have believed those rumors."
He hated gossip—yet he had unknowingly become part of it.
Seeing his expression, Chika felt a quiet sense of warmth, like watching someone grow.
Meanwhile, Naruto ran all the way back to his small apartment.
The room was just as it always was—empty, cold, and poorly maintained. Inside the refrigerator were only instant noodles and a nearly expired carton of milk.
Naruto jumped onto his bed, hugging his pillow as he rolled around excitedly.
"Someone invited me… someone actually invited me…"
His voice was filled with pure joy.
"I should've said yes! Next time—next time I'll definitely say yes!"
A genuine smile spread across his face—different from the forced grin he usually showed the village.
"Friends…"
"I'm finally going to have friends!"