Chapter 33: The Will of Fire Is Shinobi World's Trash (Note: Skip if You Dislike)
Naruto woke up from his hammock, noticing it was already late. He waved to the four little greenhorns he had just recruited.
"Come on, I'll treat you all to some ramen."
"Okay!"
Another round of cheerful shouts erupted. The four kids, faces full of excitement, followed behind him toward Ichiraku Ramen not far away.
Lifting the warm curtain, Teuchi was just about to say "welcome" when he looked up to see Naruto leading four dirty children inside.
Teuchi froze for a moment, then quickly regained his composure and asked warmly,
"What would you like to eat?"
Naruto wasn't particularly fond of ramen anymore—after a few times, it started to feel repetitive. Still, he wasn't picky, and besides, he wanted to get closer to Teuchi.
For all he knew, this ramen-seller uncle's real surname might be Ōtsutsuki. After all, any ninja who had never eaten Ichiraku Ramen was guaranteed to die sooner or later.
Because of that, Naruto always approached each bowl of ramen like a pilgrimage.
The four kids seemed nervous, standing silently behind Naruto, sneaking quick, timid glances at the price list on the wall.
Although Konoha's orphans generally received subsidies, there were different levels of support. These four weren't particularly well-off—they were just barely getting enough to eat.
Even Ichiraku Ramen was a luxury far beyond their reach.
"I'll have the pork bone ramen," Naruto said. "Give my four friends the same."
"Alright, just a moment." Teuchi smiled and went to the kitchen.
Under the warm light, the four sat uneasily, waiting. Naruto yawned, bored, and struck up a casual conversation.
"Have you ever had pork bone ramen before?"
"No." They all shook their heads in unison.
"Then come eat it every day from now on. Stop when you're sick of it," Naruto said casually, as if making an offhand remark.
He didn't even know their names. He hadn't asked, and they hadn't offered.
"That's impossible," one muttered.
It was very possible—Naruto had more money than he could spend. He had no extravagant habits and no reason to throw money around recklessly.
"You'll see," Naruto replied. "Anyway, meet me at the usual spot tomorrow. There'll be ice cream and ramen again."
"Got it, Boss!" the four answered in unison, faces lighting up with joy.
He was truly bored—that's why he did things that seemed pointless. But until he completed those twenty D-rank missions, he probably wouldn't even be eligible for the Chūnin Exams.
If that was the case, Naruto was destined to waste away through a dull August and September.
Watching the four happily devour their food, Naruto yawned again, completely without appetite. When will these boring days end? Hurry up and bring on the Chūnin Exams.
Night fell, and Naruto parted ways with the four.
This scene happened to be spotted by Ino, who had just finished training. She found it odd that Naruto was hanging around with those kids.
But seeing them part ways, she didn't dwell on it and headed toward Yamanaka Flowers.
Right now, she didn't know how to face Naruto and didn't want to complicate their relationship. She figured it'd be better to cool off for a while.
She hadn't gone far when she brushed past a tall, strangely dressed white-haired man. He wore a fishnet undershirt under a red coat and had a forehead protector with the kanji for "oil" on it.
When did the village get someone like this? Ino glanced back at him several times but didn't follow.
Probably has something to do with the upcoming Chūnin Exams. Plenty of outsiders are coming to the village lately. Makes sense.
Naruto also caught a glimpse of Jiraiya from afar but didn't approach. He headed straight home.
Getting tangled up with Jiraiya would only make life troublesome later.
He had no interest in inheriting any "Child of Prophecy" nonsense. Honestly, Naruto couldn't bring himself to trust anything a toad had to say.
Right now, he was also the so-called "Ninja God." Sure, it was just a puppet title, but it served as a convenient mouthpiece. Even if it was useless in practice, spreading off-color jokes around Konoha had its own charm.
The only catch was that Naruto had to make sure he never got caught. No one else could know he was the complaining "Ninja God."
Back home, Naruto went to bed as usual.
At precisely midnight, his internal clock jolted him awake. He pulled up his panel and promptly posted an update as the Ninja God:
"August 17: The Will of Fire is the Shinobi World's trash."
After sending it, Naruto fell right back asleep.
The next day, Konoha launched a village-wide "Will of Fire" campaign. Ninja handed out pamphlets on every street, and slogans covered the walls.
Kakashi even told Naruto to attend a Will of Fire seminar at the academy—on behalf of Sasuke and Sakura.
"That won't work. I've got D-rank missions," Naruto grumbled.
"You just reminded me," Kakashi said, crouched on Naruto's windowsill, scratching his head. "Tell you what—use Transformation Jutsu to attend for Sasuke and Sakura, and I'll waive your D-rank missions."
"Deal."
"Oh, and," Kakashi added as he was leaving, "tomorrow the three of you need to submit your Chūnin Exam applications at the academy. I've already registered your team."
"Got it."
With that, Kakashi vanished.
"Ah." Naruto dragged himself out of bed to wash up, then suddenly remembered his promise to the four kids—and skipped the seminar altogether.
Outside a convenience store, Naruto and the four of them crouched in a row, ice creams in hand, synchronized as they licked under the blazing sun.
"So, Boss, you don't have to pick up trash today?" one boy asked, a bit disappointed.
"Yeah, not for now. Got other stuff to do." Naruto swallowed the last of his ice cream in one bite, tossed the stick aside, and stood up.
"Wait here for me. Around noon, we'll go for barbecue."
"Um…" The only girl among them looked up from beneath her tangled hair and asked,
"Why are you being so nice to us?"
"No reason." Naruto glanced back at them. "If I don't hang out with you, I don't know what else to do. So…"
"Just stay put here and wait for me."
With that, he walked away without looking back.
Once his figure disappeared, one of the boys—a lanky one—suddenly spoke up, his voice breaking like a teenager in mid-change.
"Tayuya, isn't this Nine-Tails Jinchūriki way too easy to fool?"
The girl called Tayuya shot him a glare.
"Shut up. Say that again, and I'll kill you!"
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