[Ichiraku Ramen Shop]
"Uncle Ichiraku! I'm here!", Naruto lifted the curtain, extremely excited.
Teuchi had a kind face, smiling as he said, "Naruto, you're here. What do you want to eat today?"
Naruto grinned, "Uncle Ichiraku, today I want the Grand Slam!"
Teuchi was stunned for a moment, then nodded with a smile, "Alright, I'll go make it for you now."
Although Naruto was poor, he never ate for free, and Teuchi also never asked too much.
"Sister Ayame, long time no see," Naruto also waved to greet Ayame.
Busy Ayame also gave Naruto a smile, "Naruto, long time no see!"
Very quickly, the steaming Grand Slam was placed in front of Naruto.
This bowl was even bigger than Naruto's head, and was filled with all kinds of toppings, making one's appetite surge just by looking.
"Here, Naruto, the pork cutlet is a bit small, so I added one more piece for you."
Naruto held chopsticks and put his hands together, "Then thank you, Uncle Ichiraku!"
"Let's dig in!"
Slurp!
Slurp!
Naruto made huge slurping noises and began to inhale the noodles like a storm.
Seeing Naruto eating so enjoyably, Teuchi also showed a smile.
This was recognition of him as a chef.
In just ten minutes, the super-sized Grand Slam was eaten by Naruto.
Burp~
Naruto let out a full burp, put his hands together.
"Very delicious, thank you for the treat, Uncle Ichiraku's ramen is the best!"
Teuchi also let out hearty laughter, "Come often in the future."
Naruto nodded repeatedly, then took out two hundred to pay Ayame.
"Sister Ayame, Uncle Ichiraku, goodbye!"
Ayame watched Naruto leave into the distance, then turned and asked Teuchi, "Dad, Naruto seems… different."
Teuchi nodded slightly, "Mm, it's a good thing after all."
———
Naruto walked happily, heading home.
He was about to know what his mom looked like, and was very excited inside.
Flourishing Konoha, not only were there many villagers, but also many outsiders.
The Ichiraku ramen shop had a good location, and the nearby streets were also full of people.
Normally, this would be no problem, but in the past two days, spies surging into Konoha had increased exponentially.
After today's incident at the convenience store at noon, ANBU had already reported to the Third Hokage.
But when they report, they naturally cut corners and embellished the matter.
Considering that even ANBU couldn't handle some thorny situations, Jiraiya also joined in monitoring Naruto.
Bang!
Naruto wasn't watching the road and bumped directly into someone.
"Ow!", Naruto fell onto his butt.
Because people around didn't scold him today, Naruto felt a bit strange, so he was looking around and didn't watch the road.
And normally most villagers avoided Naruto, so he naturally didn't expect to bump into someone.
"Kid, don't you watch where you're going?"
Naruto looked up at the two big sisters in kimono in front of him, feeling a bit helpless.
In his mind came the voice of Uzumaki, ["You bumped into someone, so you should apologize, understand?"]
Naruto quickly got up and said, "Sorry, sister, I wasn't watching."
Kimono-wearing Guren was about to say something when Orochimaru beside her gave her a look, "Hmph, we'll let it go this time, be careful next time."
Naruto scratched his head and gave a silly smile.
In the past, no one cared about him, now that someone taught him, he wasn't annoyed at all. On the contrary, he was a bit happy.
Jiraiya crouched on a nearby tree, watching Naruto being polite and thinking he was not bad.
Although people on both sides of the street ignored Naruto, Naruto was still the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, which was understandable.
It's just that among the two beauties who had just passed Naruto, the one who didn't speak, Jiraiya had a very familiar feeling, but was sure he hadn't seen her before.
He shook his head. If not for watching over Naruto, he would've made contact no matter what.
After Naruto had gone far, Orochimaru finally spoke, "Jiraiya was just nearby earlier, you were a bit impatient."
Orochimaru spoke with an ethereal female voice, since this newly changed body was female.
Guren realized she had almost exposed herself, "Sorry, my lord."
Orochimaru lightly waved a fan, covering her mouth, "Letting Jiraiya personally watch Naruto… looks like the old man is getting anxious."
Guren had never appeared in Konoha's line of sight.
Orochimaru had changed bodies, so naturally no one could recognize her.
So the two were both wearing kimono, swaggering through Konoha.
Just like two tourists visiting Konoha.
They brushed past several Konoha ninja.
Even Jiraiya, who had just passed Naruto, without any conversation, didn't recognize Orochimaru at all.
They weren't the earliest to arrive. Now, more and more people were gathering near Konoha.
Any time now, people would come test the waters in Konoha.
"Let's go back first, the play is about to start."
———
Under Jiraiya's surveillance, Naruto first went to the stationery store to buy watercolor pens and paper.
Then went to the sushi shop to buy some sushi, as well as milk biscuits and other food, before going home.
After yesterday's ANBU warning and today's incident at noon, these stores didn't dare not sell to Naruto.
After all, this was a special time, and ANBU didn't want any more problems on Naruto's side.
Jiraiya knew nothing about the earlier incident, only monitored Naruto until he returned home, then handed the duty to ANBU.
On the way here, he had already spotted some disguised people.
These suspicious people were being tailed by other ANBU.
By tonight, they could be taken down in one sweep.
———
[Naruto's Home]
["Your mother is one meter sixty-five tall."]
"Oh! That tall?"
["A little taller, mm, about right here."]
Naruto held the watercolor pen, moved a stool, went to the door frame, and gestured around, finally finding where 165 cm roughly was.
After confirming the spot, Naruto didn't draw on the door frame.
Instead, he picked up the watercolor pen and, following Uzumaki's instructions, began drawing his mom on a blank piece of paper.
["Your mother had long red hair…"]
Naruto lay on the table, seriously listening to Uzumaki describing what his mom looked like.
Then tried hard to draw her.
Although Naruto was serious, it was obvious he didn't have any drawing talent.
The final result was very abstract (child's drawing), barely looking like a red-haired woman.
But Naruto was very happy, holding up his drawing, looking at the height mark on the door frame, imagining what his mother looked like.
Kushina, seeing Naruto's eyes full of longing and yearning light, almost burst into tears.
She really wanted to tell Naruto right now that she was his mom, but now wasn't the time.
For Naruto's safety, Kushina could only harden her heart and say, ["The Third Hokage will definitely ask you, do you know what to say then?"]
Naruto, still looking at his drawing, nodded, 'I know, just say I dreamed it.'
[🎉 Shoutout to Amainses, Wilver, Odds, Roger_Manon, Adolf_Cruz, Lord Clamiral, Kamron, Azurae for joining patreon. Thank you very much.🤗]
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