A Departure Under Moonlight
Naruto's living allowance—
he couldn't spend it all.
Not even close.
The problem wasn't the amount.
It was that he had nowhere to spend it.
Aside from Ichiraku Ramen, most shops in the village wouldn't even sell to him.
So at this stage—
Naruto needed someone to help spend that money.
Kamizuki Gen didn't mind being that person.
Unfortunately—
he was about to leave Konoha.
So before departing, he might as well help Naruto "ease his burden" a bit—spend some money for him.
Better than letting the kid waste it all on limited-edition ramen or stockpiling junk food until he got sick.
"Gen-senpai, you're hurt?"
After slurping a mouthful of noodles, Naruto finally noticed the faint scratches on Gen's cheek.
Gen replied casually:
"On the way home, I handled an S-rank mission. Got grazed a bit. Just a dirty sleeve—nothing serious."
Naruto's eyes went wide, sparkling as he froze mid-bite.
"S-rank?! Aren't those missions only for the Hokage?!"
He had just entered the Academy, still forming his understanding of the world.
And since he never paid attention in class—
his knowledge of the shinobi system was mostly guesswork and imagination.
"As expected of Gen-kun!"
Ayame looked thrilled, then corrected him:
"Usually only Jonin can take S-rank missions. But I'm sure Gen-kun will become a Jonin easily!"
"Wow… that's amazing! Gen-senpai, aren't you still a genin?!"
Naruto's admiration practically overflowed.
A genin handling S-rank missions—
even a child knew that meant an extraordinary future.
And yet—
after completing such a mission, this person still brought him out for ramen.
Naruto was deeply moved.
His thoughts began to drift.
One day, he would become a real ninja.
By then, Gen-senpai would be Hokage.
And after he retired—
Naruto would take over.
Under the two of them, Konoha would become great again.
Gen shook his head.
Honestly, compared to Naruto becoming Hokage as a genin—
himself taking on an S-rank mission as a genin wasn't that impressive.
"By the way, Naruto—I have something to ask you."
Gen set down his chopsticks, getting to the point.
Naruto perked up immediately.
"Just say it, senpai! If I can do it, I'll give it everything I've got!"
He cherished this hard-earned friendship deeply.
So he was willing to give it his all.
Gen nodded.
"I'm heading out on a long trip soon. Not sure when I'll be back."
"Senpai…"
Naruto's excitement instantly deflated.
Losing his only friend—
his life would return to loneliness and dullness.
That was the last thing he wanted.
"My house, and the cat and dog—I've asked Kurenai-sensei to look after them," Gen continued.
"But as a team leader, she won't always be in the village."
He looked at Naruto.
"So when she's away, I'll need you to take care of them. Can you do that?"
Naruto didn't hesitate.
He nodded firmly, face full of determination.
"Of course! I'll take good care of them!"
"Good."
Gen gave a satisfied nod.
"Consider it a D-rank mission from me. When you graduate and become a real ninja, I'll come back and pay you."
"Senpai… I'm not doing well at the Academy. Can I really become a ninja?"
"Of course."
"In my eyes, you're someone who'll become Hokage one day."
Those words—
hit harder than anything.
Naruto's vision blurred instantly, a thin layer of tears forming in his eyes.
Hokage…
Senpai believes I can become Hokage…
At this point in his life, Naruto was still shunned, insulted just for walking down the street.
Being believed in—
was the thing he desired most.
His voice trembled.
"Senpai!!!"
Gen nodded calmly.
"Mm. I'm full."
"Alright then—since we're celebrating your future as Hokage in advance…"
"This meal's on you."
Naruto froze.
The emotion vanished instantly.
Even the snot he was about to cry out—
he sucked it right back in.
"…Senpai, you really have no shame."
"This is the twenty-fifth time you've made me treat since I met you."
But still—
Gen always found ways to cheer him up.
And Naruto fell for it every time.
After finishing the meal, Naruto pulled out his bulging green frog wallet and paid.
They said goodbye to Ayame and Teuchi.
Then stepped out into the night.
"Senpai, when are you leaving? I'll skip class to see you off!"
Gen reached out and patted his head.
"You're already seeing me off."
"…Huh? That soon?!"
Naruto froze, then slowly slipped his hand into his pocket, gripping his wallet—
as if making some kind of decision.
…
Hokage Office.
Watching through the crystal ball—
Hiruzen's expression darkened.
"That brat… scamming money from an orphan? He's completely shameless!"
Then he paused.
…Wait.
Kamizuki Gen was also an orphan.
An orphan scamming another orphan?
That made it even worse.
More importantly—
that money came from him.
Which meant—
Gen was practically slapping him in the face.
Still…
at least the boy truly treated Naruto as a friend.
He had no ulterior motives.
Sure enough—
in the crystal ball, Gen parted ways with Naruto, donned a cloak—
and headed alone toward Konoha's gates.
…
Moonlight filtered through the trees, scattering across the forest floor.
The deep autumn night was silent.
Before Konoha's massive gates—
Kamizuki Gen stopped.
He turned back—
and spoke softly:
"Farewell, Konoha."
"Goodbye… cage."
From this moment on—
to the world, he was a rogue ninja.
A target to be hunted by Konoha.
In truth—
he was an undercover agent, bearing the burden of infiltrating the Akatsuki.
Only the Hokage knew that secret.
Fortunately—
he had already struck at Root.
Not because he wanted to provoke Danzō—
but because once he defected, Root and ANBU would swarm him like flies.
Better to cripple one in advance.
Less trouble later.
He sighed.
Making money was hard.
Living was harder.
Who would've thought—
even after transmigrating, he'd still be working.
In this world—
if he wanted true freedom—
to stand above coercion and control—
there was only one path:
Grow strong enough to crush Kaguya Ōtsutsuki beneath his fist—
and trample the Ōtsutsuki beneath his feet.
Fortunately—
he had a system.
And he was on the right path.
In a world ruled by bloodlines—
without cheats, you couldn't survive at all.
With that thought—
he vanished into the forest.
His figure flickered across the treetops, racing toward Amegakure.
As he moved—
He began reviewing the rewards he had recently obtained.
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