In Konoha Village, the afternoon sun carried a hint of laziness, but it couldn't penetrate the gloom in certain corners.
Naruto, clutching a large cardboard box almost half his height, struggled a bit as he walked home. The box was filled with instant noodles of various flavors, the most noticeable being several beautifully packaged [Limited Edition Flavor Cup Noodles].
This was his newly purchased 'strategic food reserve' from the [Gato Department Store] in the village center.
The Gato Department Store was a large shopping mall that had opened in Konoha Village in recent years. Its wide variety of reasonably priced goods quickly made it the villagers' preferred shopping destination.
For Naruto, however, this place held a special significance. It was one of the few places that didn't look at him strangely, didn't shoo him away, and definitely didn't deliberately sell him expired or poor-quality food.
He even occasionally received small snacks secretly slipped to him by the staff or discounts on near-expiry items.
All because the store's mysterious owner was the esteemed Mr. Gato, and village rumors said Mr. Gato greatly admired a boy named 'Menma', had taken him as a foster son, and Menma was Naruto's best friend.
Although Naruto didn't fully understand the complex story behind this relationship, he clearly felt the store's kindness towards him.
However, the store's kindness couldn't isolate him from the entire village's indifference.
Walking down the street carrying the box, the familiar, nagging whispers and cold stares once again crept in from all sides.
"Look… it's that child again-"
"Tch, buying so many instant noodles-"
"Stay away from him, he's bad luck-"
"I don't know what the Third Hokage was thinking-"
The voices were hushed, but they pierced Naruto's ears like needles. He straightened his small back as much as he could, pretending not to hear, and quickened his pace, wanting only to return to that 'home' which, though empty, could at least block out those stares.
Finally, he reached the familiar apartment building. Naruto took a deep breath, pushed open the stairwell door with his shoulder, and clattered up the stairs.
Standing in front of his door, he silently pulled out his key and unlocked it.
Creeeak-
The door opened, releasing a stuffy air mixed with the smell of instant noodle seasoning packets and a hint of mold.
Naruto habitually took a deep breath, then shouted in the loudest, most energetic voice he could muster:
"I'm home!"
His voice echoed in the empty hallway. Beyond that, there was no response.
The hopeful light in his bright blue eyes quickly dimmed.
The lights inside were off, making it rather dark. Naruto fumbled for the switch on the wall.
Click.
A dim yellow light flickered on, illuminating the scene inside. It was a mess.
Dirty clothes were casually thrown on the sofa, chairs, and even the floor, crumpled into balls.
In the kitchen sink, a mountain of dirty dishes seemed to have been sitting for a long time, giving off a faint, unpleasant odor.
The small table in the living room was covered with empty instant noodle cups, some even containing unconsumed broth.
It was less a 'home' and more a temporary stopover, an untended, lifeless dorm room.
Naruto seemed long accustomed to this. He laboriously moved the new box of noodles to a corner in the kitchen, where several similar boxes were already stacked. He glanced at the sink, his small face scrunching up, and finally decided... to wash them tomorrow.
He walked to the sofa, pushed a few dirty clothes onto the floor to make a small space for himself, and then collapsed backwards into the cushions as if his bones had been removed.
His body sank into the somewhat worn-out sofa cushions. He tilted his head back, staring blankly at the dusty light fixture on the ceiling, his eyes empty.
Silence.
Deathly silence.
Only the occasional sounds of laughter or clattering dishes from other families outside the window could be faintly heard, emphasizing the cold desolation inside.
"...It's so quiet..." Naruto murmured to himself, his voice almost inaudible.
He buried his head in his knees. After a moment, he suddenly lifted his head again, as if to dispel the suffocating loneliness, and leaped up from the sofa!
He ran to the center of the room, cleared his throat, puffed out his chest, put on a stern face, and said in what he thought was a mature, gruff voice: "Cough! Naruto! Did you listen to Iruka-sensei properly at school today? No causing trouble! You must work hard to become an excellent Ninja!"
He was playing the role of an imaginary 'Father'.
Then, he quickly ran to another spot, put his hands on his hips, deliberately raised his pitch, and imitated the tone of gentle mothers he occasionally overheard: "Naruto-chan~ Are you hungry? Mommy made something delicious for you~ Did you make any new friends today?"
He was playing the role of an imaginary 'Mother'.
In this empty room, he performed a one-man show, sometimes the strict father, sometimes the gentle mother, sometimes switching back to himself, answering the 'parents'' questions.
"I was really good today!"
"Ramen! I want Ichiraku Ramen!"
"Menma, and Choji, and Kiba are all my friends!"
But his performance gradually slowed, his voice growing quieter and quieter. Finally, he stopped, standing bewildered in the middle of the room.
Because he suddenly realized he didn't even know his own parents' names or what they looked like.
'Grandpa Third never told me, and the villagers were tight-lipped about it.'
"Dad... Mom..." Naruto lowered his head, looking at his dirty shoes, a barely detectable sob in his voice, "I wish you were still alive..."
Lunch was, as usual, a bowl of instant noodles made with hot water.
After eating, Naruto felt even more bored.
He longed for school to start. At school, there was at least Iruka, and friends like Menma, Shikamaru, Choji, and Kiba. They could attend class together, pull pranks together, even if they often got scolded for it, and train to be ninjas together. The liveliness could dilute the loneliness.
But it was vacation now.
Vacation meant everyone had their own families, their own things to do.
Shikamaru had to play shogi with his father or was forced to train in his clan's secret techniques.
Choji went to family gatherings or underwent Akimichi Clan's physical training.
Kiba practiced tracking.
Even his best friend, Menma, seemed to only come out to play with him regularly on Saturdays and Sundays.
Most of the time, Naruto was alone.
The afternoon sun grew milder. Unable to stand the stifling atmosphere inside any longer, Naruto decided to go out for a walk.
He wandered aimlessly and, without realizing it, found himself back at the Naka River at the edge of the village. This was a place he frequented. The sound of the flowing river could give him a moment of peace.
He found a flat rock to sit on, picked up small stones nearby, and threw them into the river one by one, watching the ripples spread in circles before disappearing.
He sat there daydreaming like this, watching the sunset gradually dye the sky and the river surface orange-red.
Just then, footsteps sounded on the path above the riverbank.
Naruto instinctively turned to look.
Sasuke was walking along the riverbank, hands in his pockets, his face set in a cool, aloof expression, looking straight ahead. He seemed to be heading home after training.
Their eyes met in mid-air.
Instantly, invisible sparks seemed to crackle.
Naruto immediately turned his head away, letting out a clear 'Hmph!' from his nose.
Sasuke also snorted coldly, lifting his chin even higher.
Just as the atmosphere between the two was both awkward and filled with childish rivalry, another voice, carrying a somewhat lazy tone, came from further down the river.
"Hey, you two, what are you doing here? Posing?"
Naruto turned his head in delight and saw Menma walking slowly up from downstream, hands behind his head, his face wearing his usual, slightly teasing smile.
"Menma!" Naruto called out happily.
Seeing Menma only added fuel to Sasuke's already irritated mood. Standing on the riverbank, looking down, he pointed at Menma and shouted loudly, "Menma! Just you wait! In the practical combat class after the next semester starts, I will definitely defeat you and take back the top spot in the grade!"
Being easily defeated by Menma in the last practical combat class was a great humiliation he couldn't swallow, and he had been training frantically with his brother, Itachi, ever since.
Menma picked his ear, wearing a 'here we go again' expression, and drawled lazily, "Ahhh… Got it, got it. We'll talk about next semester when it comes... Sasuke, you're so naggy."
With that, he ignored Sasuke, who was practically puffing up with anger on the riverbank, and turned to Naruto with a smile, "Let's go, Naruto. I'm hungry. How about some Ichiraku Ramen? My treat."
"Really? Awesome!" Naruto instantly forgot his earlier gloom, cheered, leaped up from the rock, and ran over to Menma's side, overjoyed.
The two walked off shoulder-to-shoulder, chatting and laughing, heading towards the village center.
They left Sasuke alone on the riverbank, watching their retreating backs. He stamped his foot in frustration, could only puff out his cheeks, and run off sullenly towards the Uchiha Clan's compound.
Meanwhile, in the dense forest on the opposite bank of the Naka River, three figures stood quietly on a thick tree branch, watching everything happening on the far riverbank through the layered leaves.
It was Menma's true body, along with his parents, Minato and Kushina.
Watching the cheerful backs of Naruto and Menma's shadow clone bickering and gradually disappearing into the distance, a complex yet relieved smile appeared on Minato's face.
He sighed softly, reached out, and patted the shoulder of the Menma beside him. His voice was gentle and full of gratitude, "You've worked hard, Menma. Always... taking care of Naruto like this, silently."
He could imagine how dark and withdrawn Naruto's childhood would have been without Menma's frequent companionship and guidance.
Menma's gaze also followed the bouncing blond figure. He shook his head, his tone flat but carrying a trace of imperceptible warmth, "It's nothing. After all... he's my little brother too."
"And besides me, Naruto has many friends. That show-off kid, despite bickering with Naruto, actually cares about him too. And there's Iruka-sensei at school, classmates like Choji, Shikamaru, Kiba... Naruto's childhood isn't lonely."
Kushina, standing to the side, was frowning slightly, as if trying hard to recall something.
She pointed in the direction where Sasuke had long since disappeared from the riverbank and spoke somewhat uncertainly, "By the way, that black-haired, arrogant little brat just now... he's from the Uchiha Clan, right? I keep feeling he looks somewhat familiar..."
Menma nodded and explained, "Yeah, his name is Uchiha Sasuke. He's the youngest son of the current Uchiha Clan's head, Fugaku."
"Fugaku and Mikoto's youngest son?" Kushina's face lit up with understanding, a nostalgic look appearing, "No wonder he looks familiar! Mikoto was my best friend! When I was pregnant with you and Naruto, I often went shopping with her! She was holding little Sasuke, who had just been born... Time flies. In the blink of an eye, that child is already so big, and he's even classmates with Naruto and the others-"
Her tone held a sense of wonder at the strangeness of fate, and also a bit of longing for her old friend. It was just that now, she was in an Impure World Reincarnated body, while her friend was still in Konoha Village, living a life that seemed peaceful but was actually fraught with undercurrents. They were already in two completely different worlds.
Minato reached out and gently took Kushina's hand, offering silent comfort.
In the distance, the faint, happy sounds of Naruto and 'Menma' arguing about what toppings to add brought a touch of warm vitality to the quiet dusk.
The three figures gradually blended into the twilight of Konoha's forest.
"Come on, Menma! I'm starving!" Naruto yelled, running ahead and looking back to urge his companion, who was following at a leisurely pace.
The spring air still held a chill from the end of winter. The setting sun was warm and lazy, casting its light on the streets of Konoha Village.
Naruto, like an unleashed puppy, was full of energy, his spiky blond hair particularly striking in the sunlight.
A faint, lazy smile played on Menma's lips. His hands were in his pockets, his steps unhurried, "Yeah, yeah, I know. Are you a starving ghost or something?"
The two arrived at the Ichiraku Ramen stand, its enticing aroma wafting through the air.
Lifting the curtain, the familiar, rich scent of the broth greeted them.
At this hour, the shop wasn't very crowded. Teuchi was busy behind the counter preparing soup stock, while his daughter, Ayame, deftly wiped down a table that had just been vacated.
"Yo! Naruto, Menma!" Ayame looked up, saw the two familiar small figures, and immediately broke into a warm smile, especially towards Naruto.
She had a soft spot for this always energetic yet somehow heartbreaking child.
"Ayame-neechan!" Naruto greeted loudly, skillfully sliding onto a stool at the counter, his eyes fixed eagerly on the bubbling pot of soup and the various toppings laid out beside it.
Ayame finished wiping the last table, walked over smiling, and habitually ruffled Naruto's messy blond hair first before turning her gaze to Menma beside him. A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes, "Huh? Menma-kun, you came alone today? Didn't bring that pretty young lady from the Hyuga Clan with you? Did you two have a fight?"
Menma sighed helplessly, long accustomed to this topic. Ever since Big Sis Hinata made her 'territorial declaration' during the school introductions, his relationship with Hinata had become a frequent subject of teasing, especially among those who knew them.
"Ayame-nee, please stop teasing me," Menma sighed, pulling up a stool to sit down, "Hinata has clan training today. She couldn't come."
"Ohhh~ So the strictly-raised young lady has to practice," Ayame deliberately drew out her words, continuing to tease him, "I suppose someone feels like something's missing, and even eating ramen doesn't taste as good?"
Menma rolled his eyes, deciding not to take the bait, and turned directly to call out to Teuchi, "Teuchi-san! The usual! Two bowls of the signature Tonkotsu Ramen!"
Teuchi's booming voice came from the kitchen area: "Alright! Naruto's with double narutomaki, Menma's with extra menma, right? Coming right up!"
He had long memorized these two kids' preferences.
"Yep! Thanks, Teuchi-ojiisan!" Naruto cheered, brandishing his chopsticks, already poised and waiting for the ramen to arrive.
Just then, the curtain was pushed aside again.
A seemingly ordinary man and woman walked in. The man was tall, wearing common dark blue casual clothes, with brilliant blond hair, though the ends seemed slightly duller, and a gentle yet somewhat distant smile.
The woman had vibrant red hair tied into a neat ponytail, her face full of curiosity and excitement as she looked around this place that felt both intensely familiar and strangely unfamiliar in her memory.
They were, of course, Minato and Kushina, using Transformation Techniques.
In the Ninja World, blond and red hair weren't particularly special colors… many clans had members with such hair. But the combination still felt vaguely familiar to Teuchi.
Minato's eyes quickly scanned the small shop, then naturally fell upon Naruto and Menma sitting side-by-side.
A complex, indescribable emotion flashed in his gray eyes… guilt, relief, and deep love. He struggled to maintain a calm expression.
Kushina, however, could barely control her emotions, especially when she saw Naruto's small back. Her eyes grew slightly hot.
She quickly took a deep breath, forced herself to look away, and pretended to be very interested in the menu on the wall.
"Welcome!" Ayame immediately went to greet them, "Please, sit over here."
Minato nodded politely, his voice deliberately altered to sound slightly deeper, "Thank you. One Tonkotsu Ramen for me, please. Extra menma and narutomaki."
The flavor he ordered unintentionally matched the combination of Menma and Naruto's orders exactly.
Kushina also leaned in, looked at the menu, and said in as normal a tone as she could manage, "Then I'll have the... um... the [Family Delight] Ramen! One with all the toppings!"
Ayame smiled and acknowledged the order, gesturing, "Sure thing! Please wait a moment. You two can sit over there-"
Before she could finish, Minato and Kushina very 'naturally' walked towards the counter and, quite 'coincidentally', chose the two empty stools right next to Naruto and Menma.
Minato sat on the other side of Naruto, while Kushina sat on the other side of Menma, effectively sandwiching the two children between them.
Naruto, who had been intently watching Teuchi kneading the ramen dough, felt someone sit down beside him and instinctively glanced over.
Seeing the blond man next to him, he blinked his bright blue eyes, tilted his head, and a look of pure confusion appeared on his face.
"Huh?" Naruto muttered quietly, "I feel... something strange..."
But his straightforward mind was quickly captured by more important matters. Teuchi was placing two steaming, generously topped bowls of ramen in front of him and Menma.