Naruto was at the counter, holding something in his hands, seemingly ready to pay. When he heard his name called, he jumped and spun around, a flash of panic in his eyes.
"Iruka-sensei?!"
The moment he spoke, Iruka noticed something was off—Naruto quickly hid the item behind his back, his hands clenched tightly. This secretive behavior was completely out of character for his usually mature demeanor.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Naruto?" Iruka deliberately slowed his pace as he approached, his gaze falling on Naruto's tense arms. "What are you doing with your hands behind your back? Did you get something good?"
Naruto's eyes darted to the side as he shuffled half a step away, his voice becoming muffled. "...This? It's nothing! Just some... nothing worth mentioning!"
"Your tone doesn't sound like 'nothing worth mentioning'," Iruka couldn't help but smile, deliberately putting on a stern face. "What are you hiding?"
"Honestly!" Naruto took a small step back, muttering defiantly, "This isn't school. You can't boss me around here, Iruka-sensei."
"Hah? What nonsense are you talking about?" Iruka took two steps forward, his tone taking on a teacher's authority. "As your teacher, I have no..."
"Ahem!"
A deliberate cough suddenly sounded. Iruka turned towards the sound... and what he saw made his heart sink.
The stationery shop owner was standing behind the counter, his eyes filled with undisguised malice, aimed directly at Naruto.
"No chatting in here. Leave at once," the owner's voice was cold and hard, every word laced with disgust.
Iruka's fingertips unconsciously tightened. Is this the attitude the villagers have towards Naruto? The ostracism he had only heard about from the shadows was now laid bare before him.
He couldn't help but turn to look at Naruto, but the child's face showed no obvious expression. He just silently walked to the counter and placed the item he had been hiding on it.
"Mister, how much for these two?"
Iruka moved closer to see—it was just a notebook with a gold-leaf cover and a block of gray clay. It was a common material used by novice ninja to practice Earth Style jutsu, an ordinary item.
The owner pursed his lips and said nothing.
"Mister?" Naruto called out softly again.
"Just whatever! Just get out of here!" the owner finally snapped, his voice sharp and rushed.
"...I understand," Naruto replied. He took some coins from his pocket, counted out an amount roughly equal to the market price, placed it gently on the counter, then picked up the notebook and clay and turned towards the door.
Just as he was about to step out, the owner's low but clear voice came from behind him. "...Demon."
Naruto's step faltered for a moment. Iruka's heart clenched, but the child only paused for half a second, said nothing, didn't look back, and just quietly pulled the door open and left.
The door creaked shut, and the owner's cursing immediately filled the shop. "What bad luck. Why did he have to come here to buy things? Heaven knows what he'll do next."
With that, he hurried to the door, grabbed the salt shaker by the entrance, and threw a handful onto the ground.
(This kind of plot point won't happen again, and he will get his revenge by taking the stance of a hero of Konoha who refuses their goodwill and apologies.)
Watching the owner throw the salt, Iruka felt a tightness in his chest, a suffocating feeling. So... this is what Naruto has to face every day?
The ostracism hidden in the corners had now turned into such blatant malice. Just watching it made him feel breathless.
He no longer had the heart to pick out any practice tools. He turned and rushed out of the stationery shop, his gaze urgently scanning the street—not far away, Naruto was walking slowly, his pace steady, showing no signs of being affected.
"Hey! Naruto! Wait up!" Iruka shouted in that direction, quickening his pace.
Naruto heard him and turned, stopping to wait for him to catch up.
Iruka ran up to him. Looking at Naruto's clear eyes, he was silent for a few seconds before speaking, trying to make his tone sound light.
"So... you just bought a notebook and some clay? Honestly, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Why were you hiding it from me earlier?"
Naruto laughed at his words. "Iruka-sensei, this isn't just an ordinary notebook and clay... Though they may not look like much now, they'll soon become something different."
"I see..." Iruka nodded thoughtfully. He pointed to a spot not far away. "Well then, it's almost noon. Want to get a bowl of ramen? My treat."
"Eh? Really?"
"Of course. A bowl of ramen is well within my budget," Iruka said with a smile, patting his shoulder.
Looking at the concerned smile on Iruka's face, Naruto knew in his heart—Iruka was trying to comfort him.
Honestly, what had just happened in the shop was nothing. Ever since he could remember, he had grown used to such looks and words. Like eating and training every day, it had become an insignificant part of his life. It didn't hurt, and he certainly didn't take it to heart.
But now, Iruka's specific invitation to eat ramen, his gentle tone, the genuine concern in his eyes—that sincere care, with its warmth, gently wrapped around Naruto's heart.
He couldn't help but grin, a big smile spreading across his face. He happily followed Iruka towards Ichiraku Ramen. "Alright, Iruka-sensei! For Old Man Ichiraku's miso ramen, I want a double portion of chashu!"
"You little rascal."
Iruka was amused by his energetic demeanor and shook his head helplessly. "Fine, fine, double chashu it is. After all, I am your teacher."
-------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (114 Chapter (Simulpub-Full) )
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (420 Chapter)
Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (260 Chapter) (Simulpub-Full)
MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (160 Chapter)
BLEACH: Blade of Purification (180 Chapter)
Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (420 Chapter)
My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (160 Chapter)
The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (200 Chapter)
Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(100 Chapter)
Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (220 Chapter)
Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (250 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (160 Chapter)
Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (120 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (170 Chapter)
My Wife is a General, but I'm an Emanator of Abundance! (180 Chapter)
Type-Moon: My Nine-Fold Path (160 Chapter)
Uma Musume: They're Peeking at My Diary, and All of Tracen is Panickin (Ending)
The Wild History of Type-Moon world (70 Chapter)
Reborn in Conan, But I Refuse to Be the Bad Guy (80 Chapter)
Ruan Mei is begging me to go back? But there's no going back anymore (160 Chapter)
Just a Slacker at Tracen Academy (200 Chapter)
Survival in Blue Archive (70 Chapter)
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Doma Wasn't Hated Today, Either (120 Chapter)
The Vibe of This Chat Group is a Little Off (120 Chapter)
Heartbreak Simulator: I Broke Them and Made Them Cry (80 Chapter)
The Talentless Trainer Doesn't Want to Restart (60 Chapter)
A Journey Starting as a Quincy (100 Chapter)
Uma Musume: The Master of Romance Obstruction (100 Chapter)
Uma Musume: You Can't Be a Hero Without a Little Chemical Enhancement (40 Chapter)
Honkai Impact 3rd Your Boyfriend is Really Amazing (40 Chapter)
Warhammer 40K: My Fiancée, Fulgrim (180 Chapter)
Classroom of the Elite: Trying to Capture Me! (140 Chapter)
Genshin Impact My Named Senji Muramas (160 Chapter) (Simulpub-Full)
A Chef, the Vice-Captain of the Rocks Pirates? (180 Chapter)
Naruto : My Uchiha Girlfriend is Too Tsundere (170 Chapter)
Type-Moon: Reincarnated in a Lostbelt, I Became the Alien God (120 Chapter)
The Way These Horse Girls Look at Me Is Terrifying! (180 Chapter)
Naruto: Tsunade's Deskmate (160 Chapter) (Simulpub-Full)
I Just Want to Live a Normal (80 Chapter).
Genshin Impact: A Hundred Confessions? It's Just a System Task (70 Chapter)
OnePiece : Starting as a Veteran of the Roger Pirates (100 Chapter)
Uma Musume : I Have Special Horse Taming Techniques (200 Chapter)
Uma Musume : My other self is a Horse Girl (140 Chapter)
Jujutsu Kaisen : All Affection Stats Maxed Out (200 Chapter)
Satou Kazuma's Decision to Live by Swindling, Starting from Re:Zero (60 Chapter)
Bleach : Ichigo! Take Over the Soul Society (80 Chapter) (Simulpub-Full)
Crossover Anime: The Master of Plagiarism with a 'Love Obstacle (130 Chapter)
Arknights Succubus Nurturing System, But I'm a Quiet Office Worker (80 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: Using My Personas to Break the Hearts of Players (50 Chapter)
One Punch Man : i am King? (150 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it