Inside the bustling marketplace, the air was filled with the aroma of food and the noise of vendors shouting.
Keiko was standing in front of a wide-noodle restaurant. When she saw Ichiro Taraine walking over with Naruto, her eyes immediately lit up.
"Hey! Over here, over here!" she waved excitedly.
Ichiro Taraine and Naruto walked toward her. Keiko smiled brightly and said, "I've already reserved the seats. I was just waiting for you two!"
Ichiro Taraine nodded and gestured for Naruto to go inside first.
Naruto glanced at Keiko, who returned his look with a gentle smile.
It seemed that the relationship between these two was really progressing well.
After entering the restaurant, Keiko told the owner to start preparing their noodles. Then she led Ichiro Taraine and Naruto to their seats.
After sitting down, Keiko naturally sat beside Ichiro Taraine.
This time, Ichiro Taraine didn't dodge or feel awkward. Instead, he raised his hand and said,
"Keiko, get me and Naruto two bottles of iced drinks."
"Okay!" Keiko replied softly and quickly went to get them.
When Keiko left, Naruto secretly gave Ichiro Taraine a thumbs-up.
Ichiro Taraine looked proud, as if saying, "Of course."
Soon, Keiko returned with the drinks.
She thoughtfully inserted a straw into Ichiro Taraine's bottle first.
After finishing with him, she was about to help Naruto as well.
But Naruto hurriedly waved his hand.
"No, no, I can do it myself!"
He quickly opened his drink and took a sip.
"Mmm… tastes great."
Keiko noticed the sword resting beside Naruto and smiled happily.
"Congratulations, Naruto. You've graduated!"
Naruto scratched his head and laughed.
"Ah, thank you."
Hearing this, Ichiro Taraine immediately became energetic.
"You know what?" he said proudly. "Grandpa always likes talented people. Your graduation time was even faster than mine—only two days later!"
As he spoke, he raised his iced drink and took a big gulp.
Naruto praised sincerely, "Brother Ichiro is amazing!"
Ichiro Taraine waved his hand.
"It's nothing. Just basic stuff."
Keiko sat beside him, looking at him with admiration.
In her eyes, Ichiro Taraine seemed perfect.
No matter what he did, she felt it was worth admiring.
At this moment, Naruto suddenly saw Hinata's shadow in Keiko's gaze.
Back in Konoha, Naruto had always been treated as an outcast because of the Nine-Tails.
People avoided him.
Children didn't want to play with him.
He grew up longing for warmth and bonds.
He still remembered how he had once protected Hinata when she was bullied.
He had been beaten badly for it.
But since then, Hinata had quietly watched him.
Every time he trained.
Every time he failed.
Every time he was injured.
She was always there, silently supporting him.
When Naruto later learned the truth, he felt regretful.
Why had he been obsessed with Sakura for so long?
The person who truly loved him had been beside him all along.
That was why he had once told Ichiro Taraine:
"The way Keiko looks at you is exactly the way my wife Hinata looks at me."
At that time, Ichiro Taraine didn't believe him.
But now…
Naruto knew he was right.
"The noodles are here!"
The waiter shouted while carrying a large tray with three bowls of wide noodles.
"Enjoy your meal!"
After the waiter left, Ichiro Taraine picked up his chopsticks.
"Come on, Naruto, eat!"
They started eating together.
While eating, Naruto suddenly asked,
"Brother Ichiro, you said that after becoming a master, we can enter the academy. What kind of place is it?"
Keiko looked at Ichiro Taraine in surprise.
"You didn't tell him?"
Ichiro Taraine was chewing noodles. He shook his head and swallowed before answering.
"It's basically like what you said before… kind of like a ninja academy."
Naruto nodded.
"Oh."
That made sense.
On such a large planet, there had to be a formal place for training.
But another question arose in his mind.
Why did graduating require forging a sword?
Why not a hammer?
Or a blade like the chakra weapons used by the Ōtsutsuki?
He wanted to ask again, but when he saw Ichiro Taraine and Keiko interacting so naturally, he decided not to disturb them.
Some things could wait.
After eating, Ichiro Taraine wanted to invite Naruto to walk around the market.
But Naruto waved his hand.
"No, no. I won't be your light bulb anymore. I'll go back first."
Keiko blinked in confusion.
"Light bulb? Isn't that only used for lighting?"
Naruto laughed.
"It's just a saying."
"Anyway, I don't want to disturb you two."
Ichiro Taraine nodded.
"Alright. I'll get you a carriage. Go back and rest well. I'll find you tomorrow morning."
Naruto nodded.
"Okay."
Ichiro Taraine took Naruto to the carriage station and found a carriage.
At first, the coachman hesitated.
That area was where the so-called "abnormal" Tsuchigen clan members lived.
He didn't really want to go.
But after hearing Ichiro Taraine's name, he had no choice.
When he learned that Naruto was the passenger, he looked surprised.
Ichiro Taraine said calmly,
"He's the guest announced by Grandpa."
The coachman's attitude instantly changed.
"Oh! So he's the clan leader's guest! Please, get in!"
Naruto smiled helplessly and climbed into the carriage, holding his sword.
Ichiro Taraine and Keiko stood together, watching him leave.
On the way back, the coachman chatted with Naruto from time to time.
He asked where Naruto came from and why he carried a sword.
Naruto didn't hide anything and told him the truth.
The coachman listened with great interest.
After all, Naruto was the first outsider he had ever carried.
When they reached the destination, the coachman stopped.
"We're here, Naruto."
Naruto got down and smiled.
"Thank you, Uncle."
"You're welcome," the coachman replied nervously. "I… I'll leave now. I can't stay here too long."
Naruto nodded awkwardly.
He understood.
Even he had been scared on his first night here.
"Drive!"
The coachman immediately whipped the reins and left.
Naruto shook his head with a bitter smile.
They had been chatting happily just now, but the fear of this place was too strong.
Holding his sword, Naruto walked into his courtyard.
As soon as he stepped inside, the door next door suddenly opened.
The girl came out.
She glanced at his sword and asked quietly,
"Y-You… have you graduated?"
Naruto was slightly surprised.
Then he nodded and smiled.
"Yeah."
He raised the sword slightly.
"See?"
"Hmph! So what if you graduated!"
She turned around immediately and slammed the door shut.
Bang!
Naruto stood there, stunned.
"..."
He scratched his head helplessly.
"What did I do wrong now?"