"Fertility Day?"
Naruto blinked in confusion and looked at the two people in front of him.
"What is Fertility Day?"
Ichiro Taraine opened his mouth, clearly intending to explain, but before he could say anything, Keiko Taraine spoke first, her tone calm and natural, as if she were explaining something extremely ordinary.
"When our clan first migrated to this planet," Keiko said, "there were very few people. Population survival became the most important issue. So the clan leader designated the middle day of each year as Fertility Day."
She paused briefly, then continued without the slightest embarrassment.
"On that day, all men and women who are physically capable of reproduction must participate in matching. After the matching is completed, childbirth becomes mandatory. This is considered the great plan for the continuation of our race."
Naruto's eyes widened slightly.
Mandatory… childbirth?
Before he could process it fully, Keiko turned her head toward Ichiro, her lips curling into a satisfied smile.
"I'm different," she said cheerfully. "Under the arrangement of the clan leader, I've already been designated to Ichiro."
As she spoke, Keiko leaned closer, clearly intending to rest her head against Ichiro's shoulder.
Unfortunately for her, Ichiro leaned away almost reflexively.
"Can you move a little farther?" Ichiro said stiffly.
Keiko pouted, clearly displeased. "No. I like being close to you."
Ichiro shuddered visibly.
At that exact moment, salvation arrived.
"The noodles are ready!"
The shop's waiter came over with three massive bowls.
"Three bowls of wide noodles. Please enjoy."
Ichiro immediately grabbed his chopsticks, pushing one bowl toward Naruto. He made it very clear that he had absolutely no intention of dealing with Keiko any further.
Keiko didn't mind at all. As she ate, her eyes kept drifting toward Ichiro, full of amusement.
Perhaps because of her presence, Ichiro ate at an astonishing speed.
The moment he finished, he stood up and grabbed Naruto's sleeve, clearly planning to leave.
Naruto froze.
"Eh? I'm not done yet…"
He stared awkwardly at the noodles still left in his bowl.
Ichiro sighed. "Then hurry up."
Naruto responded with an obedient "Oh," and started eating faster.
Keiko snorted lightly.
"Eat slowly, Naruto. He doesn't dare do anything to you."
She then turned her gaze toward Ichiro, her lips pursed.
"Brother Ichiro, do you really hate me that much?"
Ichiro's body stiffened. He nearly spat out the noodles he had just swallowed.
"Please," he said weakly, "stop torturing me, Sister Keiko. I surrender."
Naruto finally finished his noodles.
He placed the chopsticks down with satisfaction and sighed happily.
"Ah… that was delicious. Though honestly, Ichiraku Ramen is still the best."
The moment Ichiro saw Naruto stand up, he slammed one hand onto the table, turned around, brushed past Keiko, and stepped into the street.
"Let's go, Naruto!"
"Oh—okay!"
Naruto hurried after him.
Keiko snorted, set her bowl down, and stood up as well.
"Boss, she's paying!"
Ichiro pointed back at Keiko without even turning his head, then pulled Naruto along and ran straight out of the shop.
Naruto could only mutter "Oh, oh" as he struggled to keep up.
Keiko was furious and tried to chase after them, but the shop owner quickly blocked her.
"Miss Keiko, please pay for the noodles."
Keiko stamped her foot in frustration, then reluctantly paid.
By the time she stepped outside, Ichiro and Naruto were long gone.
"That damn man…" she muttered coldly. "Let's see how long you can hide. You'll be mine sooner or later, Brother Ichiro."
She licked her lips unconsciously, then turned around and left with her hands clasped behind her back, looking rather pleased with herself.
Ichiro dragged Naruto through several streets, turning corner after corner before finally stopping.
"Oh my god… I'm exhausted!" Ichiro bent over, hands on his knees, breathing heavily.
Naruto stared at him in disbelief.
I'm the one who just climbed down a mountain…
"Ichiro… how are you this tired?"
Ichiro waved his hand weakly. "I'm not tired. I'm scared."
Naruto laughed helplessly.
"Ichiro, honestly… Keiko doesn't seem bad. She clearly likes you. Why don't you like her?"
Ichiro sighed deeply. "How can I like her? I just… can't. Forget it. Let's go buy some water."
He dragged Naruto into a nearby shop and bought two bottles of ice water.
What shocked Naruto was the cooling method.
The drinks were stored in a huge container filled with real ice.
"You're… using ice directly?" Naruto asked in surprise.
Ichiro looked at him like it was obvious. "What else would we use?"
Naruto watched as the shop owner placed water into a mold, tapped it lightly, and the water instantly froze. He broke the ice apart and tossed it into the container.
Ichiro explained casually, "Anyone who can run a shop like this has mastered ice-type dark matter. It's nothing special."
Naruto took the drink and stared.
"Ice-type… dark matter?"
Ichiro nodded. "Yeah."
Seeing Naruto's expression, Ichiro waved it off.
"Don't worry about it now. Grandpa said adaptation comes first. You'll learn this later."
Naruto nodded obediently and took a drink.
Ice… dark matter…
For some reason, it sounded suspiciously similar to chakra natures.
But he pushed the thought aside.
There was something more important.
"By the way," Naruto said, "you still haven't told me why you don't like Keiko."
Ichiro stopped walking.
"…Alright," he said after a moment. "Let's sit."
They sat down on a roadside bench—carved directly from a massive tree trunk.
Ichiro took another sip, stared into the distance, and finally spoke.
"I watched Keiko grow up."
Naruto frowned slightly. "And?"
"I saw her grow from a baby into what she is now. I taught her how to control dark matter myself."
Ichiro let out a helpless laugh.
"When I close my eyes, I can still remember what she looked like as a child. I held her, protected her, watched her grow. To me… she's always been a younger sister."
He turned to Naruto seriously.
"Tell me. How am I supposed to marry someone I raised like that? I have no feelings for her at all."
Naruto nodded slowly.
"…I see."
From that perspective, it really was uncomfortable.
He thought for a moment, then asked curiously,
"So… are you blood-related?"
Ichiro glared at him.
"That's not the point! Even if we're not related, I watched her grow up!"
Naruto scratched his head. "Isn't that… kind of better?"
Ichiro stared at him with disbelief.
"…You really are something else."
Naruto laughed awkwardly.
But as the laughter faded, his expression slowly became serious.
Standing in this unfamiliar world, stripped of his former power, Naruto felt the weight of reality more clearly than ever.
No Kurama.
No Six Paths chakra.
No overwhelming strength.
Only himself.
Yet…
I'm still alive.
And as long as he lived, he could walk forward again.
Slowly.
Painfully.
One step at a time.
Just like climbing down that mountain.
Naruto clenched his fists lightly.
No matter how long the road is…
I'll walk it again.
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