When they had started down the mountain, the sun had still been hanging high above their heads.
Now, by the time they finally reached the foot of the mountain, the sun was already sinking toward the horizon, painting the sky in layers of orange and crimson.
At the base of the mountain, Uzumaki Naruto bent forward, hands braced against his knees. His chest heaved violently as he gasped for breath, sweat pouring down his face like rain.
Beside him, Ichiro Taraine looked at Naruto and nodded in genuine admiration.
Ichiro knew Naruto's current physical condition better than anyone. After all, it was he who had personally used dark matter to reorganize Naruto's body. Under the immense gravity of this planet, even after basic adaptation, descending the mountain with such a body was no easy task.
Along the way, Ichiro had suggested more than once that Naruto give up and let him carry him down.
Naruto had refused every single time.
He had endured it—step by step—until he reached the bottom.
"…Brother," Ichiro said with a grin, crossing his arms, "I take back what I said earlier. You really do have something special."
Naruto tilted his head slightly to look at him. Ichiro continued, his tone sincere, "You've got the spirit of never giving up and never abandoning the path you chose."
Naruto smiled faintly. With great effort, he straightened his back, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and looked at Ichiro.
"Moving forward without hesitation," Naruto said between heavy breaths, "and doing what you believe in… that's my ninja way."
Ichiro froze for a moment.
When he looked into Naruto's eyes, he saw something extraordinary.
Those eyes were unwavering—burning with resolve.
Even though this body was extremely weak, Naruto carried within him a will that refused to bend.
Ichiro felt a faint shock ripple through him.
He had only ever seen eyes like this once before.
…On his great-grandfather.
"So that's how it is," Ichiro murmured inwardly.
The man in front of him carried the same indomitable spirit.
Ichiro smiled. "Alright. You must be starving after coming all this way. Let's go—I'll take you to the market for dinner."
As he stepped forward, Naruto suddenly called out, "Uh—wait!"
Ichiro turned around. "What is it?"
Naruto smiled weakly. "Help me… I really can't walk anymore."
Ichiro burst out laughing. He walked back, supported Naruto's arm, and teased, "You were so fired up just now!"
Naruto laughed bitterly. "Things are different now. Back then… someone would help me."
"Oh?" Ichiro asked curiously. "Who?"
Naruto unconsciously placed a hand over his stomach and smiled softly.
"A very good friend," he said quietly. "Someone who's been with me since the day I was born."
"…Ah," Ichiro said after a brief pause. "That really is a precious companion."
The two continued forward together. After walking several thousand meters, the outlines of a bustling market finally appeared ahead.
The sun dipped lower, twilight settled in, and lantern lights gradually flickered to life across the streets.
Naruto let go of Ichiro's hand and looked back at the horizon.
"Your sun sets pretty late," he remarked.
Ichiro Taraine followed his gaze and said casually, "From sunrise to sunset, a full day in our world lasts thirty-six hours."
"What?!" Naruto exclaimed in shock. "Thirty-six hours in a day?!"
Ichiro nodded. "Yeah. How long is a day in your world?"
"Twenty-four hours."
Ichiro's eyes widened. "Only twenty-four? Then how do your plants even get enough sunlight?"
Naruto laughed and shook his head.
Only now did he fully understand why the trees and flowers he had seen along the way were so enormous—far larger than those on Earth. With longer exposure to sunlight, their growth was naturally different.
Naruto was no longer the ignorant boy he once was. After everything he had experienced, he understood these differences easily.
Ichiro clapped his hands together. "Alright, enough talking. Tell me—what do you want to eat?"
Naruto didn't hesitate. "Do you have ramen here?"
Ichiro frowned. "Ramen? What's that?"
Naruto scratched his head awkwardly. "Something I really liked back home."
Ichiro shook his head. "Never heard of it. But we do have wide noodles. Want to try those?"
At the mention of noodles, Naruto's stomach growled.
"I'll take it!"
Ichiro laughed and led him forward.
They stopped in front of a noodle shop.
"Boss! Two bowls of wide noodles!" Ichiro called out.
"Hahaha! Young Master Ichiro!" the owner greeted warmly. "Please, have a seat!"
Naruto smiled politely and nodded to the owner.
The owner froze.
So did several of the customers nearby.
If Naruto hadn't been walking beside Ichiro Taraine, someone might have already called the guards.
"Young Master," the owner asked cautiously, "who is this…?"
Ichiro waved his hand casually. "Oh, Grandpa asked me to rescue someone from outside and told me to take good care of him. Don't worry—there'll be a clan announcement soon."
The moment the owner heard the clan leader's guest, his expression changed completely.
"I see, I see! Please come in! Please!"
After sitting down, Naruto looked around.
The noodle shop wasn't as refined as Ichiraku Ramen back in Konoha, but it felt strangely familiar. The layout, the atmosphere—it reminded him of the ramen shops of his past.
The only difference…
The bowl.
It was enormous.
More like a washbasin than a bowl.
Naruto glanced around. The locals were slurping the noodles loudly, each strand nearly as wide as a palm.
"So that's why they're called wide noodles…" Naruto thought.
He picked up the long chopsticks and practiced holding them.
Ichiro noticed Naruto's discomfort and reassured him, "You look different from us—no horns, different skin color. Naturally, people will stare."
"It's fine. Once the clan announcement is made, everyone will understand."
Naruto nodded calmly.
Being stared at didn't bother him at all.
Compared to the looks he received as a child in Konoha… this was nothing.
After a short wait, someone suddenly approached their table.
"Ichiro, who's this?"
Naruto turned his head and saw a young woman with a pleasant appearance and confident posture.
Ichiro looked up and exclaimed, "What?! Why would I run into you here?!"
The woman crossed her arms. "Is it bad to meet me?"
"It's terrible!" Ichiro shot back instantly.
Naruto smiled faintly. From their tone alone, he could tell these two had a complicated relationship.
The woman ignored Ichiro, stepped closer, and looked at Naruto.
"Hello, outsider," she said cheerfully. "My name is Keiko Taraine. I'm Ichiro's wife."
Ichiro nearly choked. "Hey! Don't spread rumors! We're not married!"
Keiko raised an eyebrow, an amused smile appearing on her lips. "What's the difference?"
"There's a huge difference!"
Keiko shrugged. "It's an engagement decided by my grandfather. You can't escape."
Naruto immediately stood up slightly and said respectfully, "Hello, sister-in-law!"
Ichiro froze.
Keiko burst out laughing. "Good boy. You're sensible."
Naruto smiled. "My name is Uzumaki Naruto. Just call me Naruto."
"Alright, Naruto," Keiko said warmly.
Ichiro slammed his hand on the table. "Hey! Whose side are you on?!"
Naruto shrugged helplessly. "I'm just being realistic. If it's decided by the elders, it's only a matter of time."
Ichiro waved his hand dismissively. "Nonsense! I'm not getting married. I'm perfectly happy alone!"
Keiko rested her chin on her hand and said lazily, "When the date comes, you'll behave."
Ichiro instantly deflated, completely speechless.
Naruto watched the scene with a quiet smile.
For the first time since losing everything…
He felt something warm.
Life, it seemed, was beginning again—slowly, from the very bottom.
And this time, Naruto would climb higher than ever before.
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