"Good day, Young Master Aiden~"
"Young Master Aiden, what brings you here today?"
"We just got a new batch of fruit in—please have a taste!"
The moment Aiden appeared on the commercial street, the shop owners instantly swarmed him with enthusiasm.
After all—
more than half of Konoha's commercial district belonged to the Sarutobi and Shimura clans.
As for how they acquired it…
Those who knew, knew.
And nearly everything built afterward belonged to those two families as well.
Thanks to Root having Yamato—Konoha's human construction jutsu—
building houses was basically free.
As a result, most shop owners were renting Sarutobi properties.
Being polite wasn't optional.
Aiden ignored them all without a second glance.
At the same time, the shopkeepers noticed Naruto following behind him.
Unease flickered through their hearts—
but not a single one dared show any disgust toward Naruto in Aiden's presence.
Naruto, who had been worried at first, froze slightly.
The smiles around him—
they weren't the kind of smiles he was used to.
In fact, he'd never seen them before.
Confused and unsure how to speak, Naruto could only follow behind Aiden in a daze.
Yet deep down—
something subtle was beginning to change.
Soon, the two arrived at a barbecue restaurant.
A slender figure was already waiting for them.
"Young Master Aiden, everything has been arranged."
It was Uchiha Izumi, now Aiden's personal attendant.
Seeing how respectfully Izumi treated Aiden, Naruto felt another stab of envy.
But that feeling was quickly replaced—
by the sizzling sound of meat dripping with oil.
Gulp.
Naruto swallowed hard.
He had never eaten barbecue before.
Seeing this, Aiden felt both amused and strangely heartbroken.
"Eat."
"Huh?! Really? You're treating me?!"
Naruto's eyes lit up—but he still looked at Aiden cautiously.
As if he were trying to figure out—
what exactly he had done to deserve this kindness.
It was like someone who'd lived in darkness for too long.
When light suddenly appeared, the first instinct wasn't to embrace it—
but to test it, carefully.
Aiden saw through him immediately.
"Eat."
"Aren't you trying to be my friend?"
"What—getting scared now?"
Naruto scratched his head awkwardly, then finally dug in.
The first time eating real barbecue.
With his very first friend.
As he chewed, a faint glimmer of tears flashed at the corner of Naruto's eyes—
quickly wiped away.
After all, surviving this long hadn't been easy for him.
Aside from Ichiraku Ramen, most shops refused to serve him.
Even in stores, he could only buy near-expired food.
Going hungry was common—sometimes he even fished just to fill his stomach.
Thinking about that, Aiden's resolve hardened.
Naruto should have grown into a scheming, thick-skinned menace—
yet somehow became the sun that saved the world.
That was scientifically unsound.
Once they were full, Aiden gestured lightly to Izumi.
Understanding immediately, she closed the private room door.
"Naruto."
"Do you want to know why the villagers hate you?"
Naruto tensed instantly.
"Why?"
Years of suffering made him desperate for the answer.
Aiden nodded slightly toward Izumi.
In the next instant, Izumi's eyes spun—
and her Sharingan activated.
The world around them shattered.
When their vision stabilized, they found themselves standing in a dark sewer.
"This place…"
Naruto frowned.
It felt strangely familiar.
As if something had always been calling him here.
Following instinct, the two walked forward—
until a massive iron gate appeared before them.
Behind it—
a gigantic, crimson-furred fox slowly lifted its head.
"Brat…"
"Come."
"Rip off that seal."
"Set me free, and I'll give you power."
"Power to destroy everything."
"Kill those who mocked you."
"Those who hurt you."
The seductive whispers flooded Naruto's mind.
His eyes gradually turned red.
Step by step, he moved forward—
completely entranced.
Aiden sighed.
Then punched him.
Thump!
"Ow!!"
"Aiden-bro, why'd you hit me?!"
Naruto clutched his head, eyes watery and aggrieved.
Aiden ignored him completely and walked straight up to the iron gate.
The Nine-Tails, annoyed that its plan had been interrupted, was just about to erupt—
when it saw Aiden standing before it.
Its mood instantly flipped.
"You—yes, you!"
"Hurry! Tear off the seal!"
"I'll give you power!"
"Unmatched power!"
Hearing this, Aiden burst out laughing.
"Pfft."
"You got sealed by a bunch of ninjas."
"What kind of power do you think you can give me?"
That sentence detonated the Nine-Tails' fury.
It slammed its claws against the gate, metal screeching violently.
"You damn brat!!!"
"Let me out!"
"I'll tear you into pieces!!!"
"Oh?"
"Then I'll come in."
"Let's see if you can tear me apart."
Before the Nine-Tails could finish its threats—
Aiden vanished.
And reappeared inside the seal.
Right in front of it.
The sudden turn left the Nine-Tails stunned.
Then—
ecstatic.
"You asked for it!"
It lashed out with a massive claw.
BOOM!!!
The seal space shook violently.
Water surged like a tidal wave, crashing in every direction.
Aiden slid back a step, tongue clicking.
"Tch."
"Worthy of being the Nine-Tails."
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