At this time, a slight surprise appeared on Chiharu's delicate little face.
She felt her whole body growing warm, just like taking a hot bath, very comfortable.
"Brother, this feeling of warmth all over my body, is it chakra?"
Chiharu looked at Naruto and asked softly.
Naruto didn't know how to sense chakra yet, so he couldn't detect that it was condensing in Chiharu's body.
However, he recognized the feeling she was describing, having gone through the same stage himself.
When Chiharu's question came out, Naruto's jaw nearly dropped.
He had practiced hard for nearly half a year to achieve what Chiharu had accomplished in an instant.
After his initial shock, Naruto smiled bitterly and pursed his lips.
After observing the change in his facial expression, Chiharu immediately dropped her hand seal.
With her big eyes shifting thoughtfully, Chiharu ran to Naruto, pulled his sleeve, and asked, "Brother, I forgot what the seals were just now."
Chiharu started to make hand seals in front of Naruto, but when she reached the third seal, she made a mistake.
Naruto looked suspicious—Chiharu had mastered the hand seals perfectly just moments ago.
But she had definitely made a mistake now.
Without thinking too much about it, Naruto smiled and said, "Then I'll show you again."
He placed his hands together and started forming the hand seals. The bitterness in his eyes from moments ago lessened slightly.
All of this was observed by Minato.
He couldn't help but show a relieved smile on his face.
Naruto couldn't see through it, but Chiharu's pretended clumsiness couldn't hide from Minato's eyes.
She had made the wrong hand seal on purpose to divert Naruto's attention and keep him from feeling bad about himself.
What surprised Minato even more than Chiharu's talent was her ability to be attentive to others' feelings at such a young age.
"Oh, so that's how it is."
In front of him, Chiharu looked at Naruto with a face of sudden understanding.
She pretended to be a little slow in making hand seals and kept making mistakes.
Naruto, usually impatient, taught Chiharu very carefully this time.
To some extent, the two siblings had inherited the best qualities of both Minato and Kushina.
Two months later.
"Naruto, Dad and Mom aren't home, so you must take good care of your sister."
Kushina, wearing her ninja outfit, spoke to Naruto with a serious tone.
Now that Naruto was older, she didn't need to ask Mikoto to watch the children every time she went out.
"I know, leave it to me!" Naruto patted his chest, assuring Kushina.
Minato bowed slightly and said, "I'll try to come back at noon to prepare lunch for you."
Unexpectedly, Naruto shook his head and replied, "Dad, don't worry about it. I'll handle lunch myself."
"Oh?" Minato looked at Naruto with interest.
He smiled, not objecting to Naruto's proposal. "In that case, I'll leave everything to you, man."
"Leave it to me!"
Naruto gave a thumbs-up to Minato and Kushina.
Kushina still looked a bit worried, but after catching Minato's reassuring glance, she relaxed.
Swish!
Minato grabbed Kushina's arm, and with a slight movement, they disappeared from Naruto and Chiharu's sight.
"Chiharu, I'm going to practice now."
After their parents left, Naruto immediately walked toward the front yard.
"Brother, I want to come too." Chiharu followed quickly.
During the day, Naruto usually practiced the basics of taijutsu.
The old tree in the front yard of Minato's house was over 30 years old. It had been planted before Minato was born.
It had witnessed Minato's growth over the years.
There were shallow marks on the tree, all left by Naruto's practice.
Naruto kept striking the tree, though with his strength, he certainly couldn't move the trunk that was so thick three people couldn't wrap their arms around it.
Chiharu sat on the steps of the house, watching Naruto quietly.
Under the shade of the tree, sweat gradually dampened the boy's short bangs.
This practice continued until lunchtime.
After a whole morning of exercise, Naruto's face was flushed, and his clothes were soaked with sweat.
"Brother, here."
Naruto turned to see Chiharu holding out a towel with both hands.
"Thanks." Naruto took it with a smile.
"Okay, we should go have lunch."
"Where are we going?" Chiharu asked.
"Ichiraku Ramen."
When he mentioned the name of the shop, Naruto's face immediately lit up with anticipation.
"Mom said that kind of ramen isn't very nutritious, so it's better not to eat it too often."
Chiharu said. She knew that her brother had been going out by himself over the past six months, and their parents would give him some pocket money.
"Once in a while is okay. Let's go!"
Naruto smiled, then hurriedly took Chiharu's hand and ran out of the house.
Ichiraku Ramen Shop.
"Old man, please give me two bowls of ramen."
Naruto stood on the stool at the ramen shop, poking his head above the counter.
"Oh, it's Naruto!"
Teuchi said, looking slightly puzzled about why Naruto wanted two bowls of ramen.
But as he glanced to the side, he saw Chiharu standing next to Naruto.
Almost everyone in the village knew that Minato, the Hokage, had a son and a daughter, so when they saw Chiharu, they weren't surprised, though there was a touch of curiosity in their eyes.
"Is she Naruto's sister? What a beautiful little girl," Teuchi said with a smile.
"Hello, uncle. My name is Chiharu." Chiharu greeted him politely, then looked at Naruto beside her. "Brother, I don't think I can eat a whole bowl of ramen."
Chiharu was only one and a half years old, so her appetite wasn't very big.
"Don't worry, nothing will go to waste!" Naruto said expectantly, and then his stomach growled loudly.
"It seems you really love the ramen here." Chiharu laughed and didn't argue anymore.
"Yeah!" Naruto smiled and nodded.
"It's delicious!"
In front of Naruto sat two empty large bowls. He patted his bulging belly with satisfaction.
"It really is delicious."
Chiharu also had a new appreciation for ramen, with a satisfied look in her eyes.
"Uncle, here's the money."
Naruto immediately took out money from his pocket and handed it to Teuchi.
"This meal is on me, for you and your sister. No need to pay."
Teuchi said with a smile.
"That won't work." Naruto insisted that he accept it, and the two began a back-and-forth of refusals.
"Chiharu, let's go."
Suddenly, Naruto slapped the money on the counter of the ramen shop, then took Chiharu's hand and quickly ran out.
However, just as he stepped outside the ramen shop, he collided with a small figure running toward them.
Naruto lost his balance and fell to the ground.
"Ouch, that hurts," he cried out in pain.
Chiharu hurried to his side and asked with concern, "Brother, are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
Naruto smiled at her, then turned with an angry look.
Chiharu's eyes also settled on the person who had bumped into Naruto.
Then came a trembling and extremely weak apology.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that."
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