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Chapter 7N
🕑 Added 2025-06-22 21:16:19 +0000 UTCChapter 7N
The Uchiha clan's compound was located in the northeastern part of the Hidden Leaf Village, by the lower reaches of the Naka Riverâquite a distance from the village center. In other words, Naruto had a long way to walk home. Letting a five-year-old child make that journey alone was clearly irresponsible.
Especially considering Naruto was the Nine-Tailâs JinchĆ«riki.
If anything were to happen to him along the way, not even he could explain it away for the Uchiha clan.
To ensure his safety, RÄn personally escorted Naruto home.
âRÄn, be careful on the road.â
An elderly man, nearly seventy years old, was still energetic and stood tall, his back straight like a blade tempered through countless trials. He stood at the door, giving heartfelt advice to his promising grandson. âItâs dark nowâbe careful walking at night!â
âI will, Grandpa!â
RÄn smiled faintly. âI even brought out the treasure Iâve kept hidden for a long time.â
He wore the Uchiha clanâs traditional navy-blue long robe, with the fan crest emblazoned on the back. A long sword was strapped across his waist. But what drew the most attention was the massive object wrapped in bandages on his backâit looked as large as a door.
ââŠGood.â
Uchiha Genshi said no more and turned back inside.
Anyone who had returned alive from the battlefield needed only a word of cautionâthere was no need for extra talk.
âSee you at school tomorrow, Naruto.â
Fujika had also come out to see off the only underclassmanâor perhaps the only friendâshe had at the Ninja Academy.
She waved goodbye to Naruto.
âYeah, see you at school.â
Naruto nodded vigorously. He was clearly very happy.
It was his first time sitting at such a lively dinner table, and the food wasnât instant ramen or cup noodlesâit was a heartwarming experience unlike any heâd had before. Even when facing RÄn now, he no longer felt that same fear or warinessâthough he wasnât exactly close with him yet either.
Once Uchiha Masashi and his wife Saoki led their daughter inside, only RÄn and Naruto were left standing at the doorway.
âAlright, Naruto, time to head home.â
RÄn reached out and ruffled Narutoâs hair. His messy spikes stood wild and untamed. He looked malnourished, yet his hair quality was surprisingly good. Maybe it was the bloodline of the Uzumaki clan?
As they walked along the path home, Naruto kept sneaking glances up at RÄn. After walking about a hundred steps, he finally gathered enough courage and asked, âUm, Fujikaâs brother⊠I, uhâŠâ
âWhat is it? Gotta use the bathroom? Number one or number two? Forgot toilet paper?â
âNo! Thatâs not it!â
âHaha!â
RÄn burst into laughter at Narutoâs flustered response.
âKid, donât be so tense. Iâm not some kind of villain. Iâm actually glad you became friends with Fujika. Sheâs ten years younger than me, the youngest in our familyâand a girl too. Grandpa, Dad, even Iâweâve all spoiled her since she was little. Thatâs probably why sheâs such a handful nowâŠâ
RÄnâs smile faded, and he spoke with a rare seriousness:
âI worry she wonât make any friends at the Academy⊠that sheâll be left out, maybe even bullied. So the fact that youâre willing to befriend her despite her temper really puts me at ease. Naruto, thank you.â
ââŠFujikaâs brother, I should be the one saying thank you!â
Naruto kicked at a stone on the ground as they walked, his voice quiet.
âI was really happy today. I made my first friend at the Academy. It was my first time being invited to someoneâs home. And the fried chicken was so delicious⊠I should be the one thanking you!â
RÄn glanced sideways in surprise at Narutoâs lowered head.
Was this really that thick-headed, hot-blooded knucklehead protagonist from the future? He was more sensitive than Fujika!
âAnd also⊠sorry, um⊠does Fujika really see me as a friend? Most of the other kids at school avoid me⊠maybe because of me, she wonât make other friends either. IâŠâ
âYouâre Fujikaâs friend. She invited you to our home. If you have something to say, say it to her directly. Why are you telling me? Listen up! I hate being a message courier. If youâve got something to say, say it yourselfâdonât go asking others to do it for you.â
ââŠFujikaâs brother, you really donât mind me being friends with Fujika?â
Naruto looked at RÄn with disbelief.
He had played with kids his age at the local park before, but the encounters were always brief. Whenever adults saw him, theyâd take their children awayâand never come back to that park again.
âI already told youâwhat goes on between you and Fujika has nothing to do with me. Youâre not trying to be friends with me. But, brat⊠Fujika is my precious little sister. Donât go getting any funny ideas!â
RÄn warned him. Not that it mattered muchâNaruto had no clue what âfunny ideasâ even meant. He wasnât yet the pervy little brat whoâd later invent the Sexy Jutsu just to shock people.
At this age, five-year-old boys and girls could still sleep on the same mat without knowing the difference.
Naruto didnât understand the second half of what RÄn said. But the first half was clear enough: he wasnât being forbidden from being friends with Fujika! Having grown up under strange looks from others, Naruto had learned to sense the malice in people.
He didnât feel any of that hostility or rejection from RÄn.
Even from the start, his fear of RÄn wasnât the same as that directed at adultsâit was more primal. Like the instinct he had last summer when he saw a water python by the stream in the forest. The feeling wasnât identical, but similar.
But other than that, from beginning to end, he had never felt that cold, soul-crushing malice from anyone in Fujikaâs family.
âFujikaâs brother⊠thank you!!â
ââŠWhat are you thanking me for, brat? Youâre just a little kid, donât act like an adult. Kids should act like kids.â
RÄn knocked Naruto on the head without holding back. But Naruto didnât get madâhe just rubbed his head and grinned.
âUm⊠Fujikaâs brother, Fujika said youâre a really, really strong ninja. Is that true?â
âOf course itâs true.â
RÄn stood tall and proud.
âDid you really cut down six mosquitoes in one slash?â
âIs it true your sword can catch fire? Doesnât it burn your hands?â
âAnd, andââ
Veins twitched near RÄnâs temple. This kid was way too talkative. His little mouth rattled off like a machine gun.
And what the heck had Fujika told him? Theyâd only known each other for one dayâhow come it felt like sheâd already spilled all her brotherâs secrets?
And so:
The two of them chattered away as they walked down the road, leaving the Uchiha compound behind.
The path ahead was wide and desertedâno other people in sight. The area the Uchiha had recently moved to was pretty remote. Other than clan members, there were no nearby residents. Between the compound and the rest of the village lay a long, uninhabited stretch of forest.
RÄn glanced around cautiously, narrowing his eyesâ
This placeâŠ
Was perfect for an ambush.
