Location: Konoha – Ren's Apartment | Time: Midnight, Hours After Naruto's Departure
The night air in Konoha was still. Too still.
Ren Uzumaki sat alone on the edge of his bed, the moonlight pouring in through the half-open window and painting pale lines across the floorboards. His uniform vest was tossed carelessly on the nearby chair, and he still wore the shirt he hadn't changed out of since dinner.
He leaned forward, elbows on knees, staring at nothing.
The silence used to be comforting.
Now it just echoed.
Naruto was gone.
Ren exhaled slowly, closing his eyes. His thoughts drifted—backward.
Back to when they were five.
Back when Naruto tripped down the academy stairs trying to prove he could "run like a ninja."
When he tried to dye his hair red with crushed berries to "look more like a real Uzumaki." Ren spent an hour cleaning his scalp while Naruto whined.
Back when he stole three dumplings from the market, then marched right up to the old merchant a day later to apologize… and somehow talked his way into free mochi for a month.
Back when he got his head stuck in the training dummy because he wanted to see how strong his chakra was. Ren had to pry the entire frame apart with a crowbar.
Back when he fell asleep on the roof during lessons and Ren climbed up, not to wake him—but to sit beside him.
He remembered Naruto yelling, laughing, fighting, failing, standing back up—always.
Loud. Wild. Unfiltered.
Ren ran a hand through his hair, fingers brushing his forehead.
"…Idiot," he muttered.
But a soft smile tugged at his lips.
"He's gonna drive Jiraiya insane."
The wind rustled outside. Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked once and fell quiet again.
Ren stood, moved to the window, and looked out at the dark village.
"He better come back stronger," he said under his breath. "Or I'm never letting him live it down."
Silence again.
But this time… not so heavy.
Because Ren knew his brother would return.
And when he did, Konoha—and the world—would know the name Naruto Uzumaki.
And so would he.