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The secret to Naruto's seemingly bottomless pouch was simple: Fuinjutsu. Specifically, he had applied a Spatial Expansion Seal to the interior lining. Rather than a simple bag, the pouch functioned as a gateway to a medium-sized storage crate he had sealed within it.
"This is a Specially-Made Bento," Naruto announced, lifting the lid with a proud flourish. The steam billowed out, carrying the savory aroma of honey-glazed pork and ginger-marinated beef. "I've got a real knack for Sealing Techniques. The food's still hot—let's eat while it's fresh!"
A real knack for Sealing Techniques, huh? Kakashi's lone eye narrowed as a wave of nostalgia struck him like a physical blow. For a fleeting second, the training ground faded, replaced by a memory of a sun-drenched afternoon years ago. He saw a red-haired woman—Kushina—laughing at a table, while a blond man in a kitchen apron poked his head out, blue eyes crinkling with warmth.
"Coming right up!" the memory of Minato Namikaze said.
Feeling the weight of the warm lunchbox, Kakashi felt a corresponding weight in his heart. Truly Minato-sensei's child, he thought, his gaze softening behind his mask.
"Naruto-kun~"
A deliberately high-pitched, playful voice rang out from behind. Before Naruto could turn, a small figure leaped onto his back, tiny hands clamping over his eyes. The girl was light as a kitten and smelled faintly of pressed daisies.
"Guess who I am!"
Naruto steadied his stance, instinctively cupping her legs so she wouldn't slip. With his sensory abilities, he'd felt her chakra approaching a block away, but he hadn't expected the ambush.
"Hmm, let me think... that voice sounds awfully familiar," he mused, dragging out the suspense. He felt the girl on his back hold her breath. "Must be our cutest, most troublesome little friend... Hanabi!"
"Correct!" Hanabi released his eyes and looped her arms around his neck, her soft dark hair brushing against his cheek. "Big sister told me you guys finally made Genin! Have you done any super-cool S-rank missions yet?"
She batted her eyes expectantly, oblivious to Sasuke's stoic silence or Sakura's wide-eyed shock at seeing the Hyuga heiress acting so domestic with Naruto.
"Actually," Naruto said with a dry chuckle, "we just finished a D-rank: weeding an old lady's vegetable garden."
"That sounds totally not cool," Hanabi huffed, hopping down and planting her hands on her hips.
Naruto ruffled her hair. "D-ranks are just chores, Hanabi. They pay between 500 and 50,000 Ryo. C-ranks involve bandits and pay up to 100,000. B-ranks are for fighting other Ninja, and A or S-ranks are for national secrets and wars."
He did the mental math. In this world, 1 Ryo was roughly equivalent to 10 Yen. A bowl of Ichiraku Ramen cost about 75 Ryo (¥750). The cost of living in Konoha was high, and for a Genin, the profit margin was razor-thin.
"Wait," Hanabi calculated, her brow furrowing. "If a mission pays 500 Ryo, the Village takes 10%, the Jonin takes half of what's left... that leaves 225 Ryo. Split three ways... that's only 75 Ryo each! You can't even buy a bag of fancy tea for that!"
"Exactly," Naruto shrugged. "We each earned enough for exactly one bowl of ramen."
"No way! My treat!" Hanabi reached into her kimono and pulled out a petite silk purse embroidered with the Hyuga crest. As the second daughter of the main house, her monthly allowance was more than most Chunin made in a season.
"I'm not letting a little girl pay for my lunch," Naruto said, his tone gentle but immovable.
Hanabi stomped her foot, stretching on tiptoe to brandish her purse. "Big sister says friends treating friends is normal! And I'm not a 'little girl', I'm a kunoichi-in-training!"
Sasuke watched the exchange quietly, his mind drifting to the dusty, heavy money boxes sitting in the basement of his apartment. After the massacre, the Sandaime had ensured the Uchiha fortune was transferred to Sasuke. He was technically one of the wealthiest people in the village, yet he lived like a monk.
"All right, all right," Naruto finally relented, giving Hanabi's cheek a playful pinch. "Next time, I'll invite Hinata over and I'll cook a full feast for everyone."
"Deal! I want Sweet-and-Sour Ribs! And Cola Chicken! And those little taro puffs!" Hanabi chirped, tugging on his sleeve like a happy sparrow. "Sasuke-nii, Sakura-nee, you have to come too! It's better when we're all together!"
Sasuke gave a short, rare nod of approval. Sakura, initially stunned by the social whirlwind, thanked the girl profusely.
As the four of them strolled toward the ramen shop, Naruto noticed a shift in the air. The whispers and glares from the villagers were still there, but they were quieter now. Between his status as a graduate and the prestige of the heirs walking beside him, the "Monster" was slowly being replaced by a "Ninja."
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