"Hey, mister! Why won't you sell this to me! I have money!" A yellow-haired boy in a black outfit and shorts yelled, taking out his frog wallet and opening it to show the coins inside to the middle-aged man in front of him.
The middle-aged man just glanced at the boy, his look a mix of indifference and disgust, before ignoring him. He paid no more attention, no matter how much the boy shouted.
Naruto, ignored, fell silent. He quietly closed his wallet, stuffed it in his pocket, and after one last longing look at the cool goggles, he walked away.
As Naruto passed by, the villagers on the street all cast looks of disgust and hatred at him. Naruto seemed at a loss under these gazes, walking with his head down, arms swinging stiffly.
At this time, Naruto was an orphan, his parents both dead.
Because the Nine-Tails, controlled by Obito, had rampaged and killed in Konoha, and because the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had concealed the news that Naruto's father was the Fourth Hokage and that both his parents were heroes who had protected Konoha, Naruto, as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, was despised by almost all the Konoha villagers.
He only occasionally received "warmth" from the "Kind Grandpa Third".
Ignored, lonely, and in pain...
This was also why the later Naruto would use pranks to get others' attention.
Naruto planned to go back to his residence. It was a place Grandpa Third had provided for him, and his living expenses were also given by Grandpa Third. Although buying things was still very troublesome, because he would be ignored...
But in his heart, Naruto was still very grateful to Grandpa Third.
This was also what made Naruto set his sights on becoming Hokage.
He tried his best to ignore the stares, watching the ground as he walked, one step at a time.
"This is for you," Naruto suddenly heard a calm voice from behind him.
At the same time, an item was placed on his head.
'What?'
Naruto felt the thing on his head about to fall off. He quickly caught it with both hands and brought it in front of his eyes.
It was the goggles he had wanted to buy just now!
Naruto was a little surprised and delighted. He turned to look behind him.
He found a big brother smiling at him. A very good-looking big brother... Most importantly, Naruto didn't see the kind of disgust in this big brother's eyes that he saw in the other villagers' eyes.
In that instant, he felt that the person in front of him was different.
"Thank you!" Naruto's voice trembled a little. This was the first time he had received a gift from someone other than Grandpa Third, and the first person other than Grandpa Third to smile and show kindness to him...
"I'm glad you like it," Lexon said warmly.
Looking at the young Naruto before him, Lexon's nose twitched, sensing his surroundings.
'Three.'
'The scents of three tense ninja.'
'Two hundred meters away on a tall building, one hundred meters away in an alley, and sixty meters away in the food shop.'
'Sarutobi Hiruzen really did send people to watch him in secret.'
After noticing, Lexon didn't look in those directions, but just continued talking to Naruto naturally.
"My name is Lexon, what's yours?" Lexon exuded kindness toward Naruto. He didn't use his Uchiha name, but his real name to get to know Naruto.
"Naruto Uzumaki!" When saying his name, Naruto's expression and posture were quite confident.
After all, Naruto's personality was naturally lively and optimistic.
"Hello," Lexon extended his hand to Naruto.
"Ah..." Naruto held the goggles in one hand, and quickly wiped his other hand on his clothes before shaking Lexon's. Faced with Lexon's politeness, even the lively and optimistic boy seemed a little timid. "H... hello."
[Sign-in]
[Sign-in successful]
[Congratulations on obtaining "Adamantine Sealing Chains": The Adamantine Sealing Chains are a unique ability of the Uzumaki clan. When used, multiple chakra chains extend from the user's back. They can be used not only as a powerful offensive weapon, but also to create barriers and seal Tailed Beasts.]
'Oho...'
'So I got this...'
Lexon was a little surprised to have signed in and gotten the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
'This is the sealing jutsu Naruto's mother, Kushina Uzumaki, left inside Naruto to restrain the Nine-Tails.'
'It's a powerful sealing jutsu.'
'But it's a pretty good haul...'
Lexon didn't dwell on it.
"Do you have anything to do next?" Lexon asked Naruto.
"I'm planning to go home!" Naruto replied, full of energy.
"Then can I be a guest at your home?" Lexon asked.
Naruto hesitated for a moment. "Grandpa Third told me not to talk to strangers, and not to bring strangers home..."
"I've already given you a gift, and we've exchanged names and talked. We're not strangers anymore, we're 'friends'," Lexon smiled.
"That seems right!" Naruto clapped his hands, as if in realization. "Then come with me!"
After speaking, he started walking forward, his head held a little higher, unlike his self-conscious posture from before.
"Friends... hehe... I have to tell Grandpa Third I made a friend..."
Lexon, following behind, could hear Naruto's happy muttering.
'A lively, optimistic, and innocent child... I don't dislike him...'
Lexon thought to himself, watching the happy Naruto.
Lexon subtly and inadvertently swept his gaze over the three monitoring ninjas' positions.
'They're not stopping me... It seems Sarutobi Hiruzen really does intend to let me contact Naruto...'
'What are you thinking... Sarutobi Hiruzen.'
Naruto's residence was a bit far, and it took over ten minutes to walk there.
It was a slightly remote and run-down apartment building.
Lexon paid special attention and noticed that, as expected, there were no other residents in the apartment besides Naruto.
He followed Naruto up the old wooden stairs and watched as Naruto turned the key and opened the door.
"Welcome!" This was Naruto's first time inviting a friend to his place. He didn't know what to say, so he vaguely imitated the greeting he heard from shops.
"Pardon the intrusion," Lexon said with a slight smile.
Naruto, however, had already dashed into the house like a little rabbit and turned on the light.
The inside was a bit messy, with things strewn about and instant noodle cups piled in the corner.
Naruto himself seemed a little embarrassed, his face flushed, and he ran around, trying to tidy up.
Lexon stood in the entryway, quietly watching Naruto's small figure darting around the room.
Ever since entering the room, Lexon sensed that the monitoring gazes had disappeared.
'Obviously, trying to observe the room from outside would be too conspicuous.'
'In that case...'
Lexon looked directly at Naruto's small figure.
The next moment, the scene suddenly changed. It was no longer Naruto's room.
Lexon's surroundings became extremely dark. The ground around him was covered in puddles of water. In front of him was a massive iron cage.
Inside the cage, a giant shadow was faintly visible, lying down...
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]