Naruto: From Fake to Real, Deceiving the Ninja World.

This time, Naruto didn't have to hold it himself.

That strong, large hand firmly grasped Naruto's small, dusty hand, which was frozen in mid-air.

A warmth, like the temperature of sunlight, spread clearly and quickly from their clasped hands, creeping along Naruto's arm and dispelling the previous chill.

Naruto was so moved by the sudden warmth that he felt as if his bones had been removed, and he was easily lifted up by Hyuga Kumokawa's arm.

He steadied himself, still keeping his head down, but his small body was no longer so stiff.

Hinata Kumokawa did not immediately let go of his hand; the warmth enveloped him, giving him an unprecedented sense of security and warmth.

"I'm the one who should apologize."

Hinata Kumokawa said casually, as if the conversation had never happened, and laughed, "You tripped and fell, did it hurt?"

"I see you're here for breakfast. To make amends, how about I treat you to ramen?"

The sudden apology caught Naruto off guard. He quickly shook his head and stammered, "N-no, it's okay... No, that's not right, I was too rash. I couldn't..."

This sudden act of kindness left him somewhat bewildered, even revealing his verbal tic, and he instinctively tried to pull his hand away to escape.

But the next moment, a very clear sound rang out.

Gulu!

The sound came from Naruto's stomach, seemingly in protest, and made all his movements freeze instantly.

Hinata Kumokawa clearly heard the "protest" and let out a low chuckle, a hint of mockery but no malice in it.

"Let's go," he said in a joking tone in a low voice. "You don't want me to let you go back and then you'll be lying in bed crying from hunger, do you?"

(As shown in the picture above, it's still from episode 700 of the anime, I really cried QAQ)

Upon hearing this, Naruto's heart skipped a beat, and he felt a strong surge of emotion welling up inside him. His nose twitched slightly.

Hinata Kumokawa didn't give him any more time to hesitate. With a force that seemed perfectly natural, he pulled the still dazed Naruto along and started walking forward.

The villagers who had not yet dispersed watched this scene with complicated expressions. No one stepped forward to say anything, and surprisingly, there was no resentment.

On the contrary, they genuinely felt that Hinata Kumokawa's personality was really too good. Even when facing a child who was suspected to be a "fox spirit incarnate", he was so gentle, and they inexplicably felt a sense of respect for him.

"Sasuke, I've been looking for you for a long time. What are you doing here?"

As Sasuke Uchiha watched the two figures, one large and one small, leave, a voice filled with laughter and doubt suddenly came from behind him.

Sasuke turned his head in the direction of the sound and saw a boy with long, narrow eyelashes carrying a small katana on his back.

"Brother Shisui," he called out, then looked at the two figures in the distance and said softly, "That must be Hyuga Kumokawa, whom everyone has been talking about lately."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Shisui followed his gaze and looked up at the figure in the distance.

He did not witness what was happening here, and his impression of Hinata Kumokawa was limited to what others had told him.

A war hero, a hardworking genius, a traitor to the Hyuga clan...

For Shisui, who valued his clan and village equally, his first impression of the name Hinata Kumokawa was very good before he even met the real person.

However, as he watched that figure from afar, a figure being observed by everyone on the street, Shisui slowly frowned.

"What's with this feeling...?"

He has now awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan and possesses the strongest genjutsu, "Kotoamatsukami," making him arguably the most skilled genjutsu user in the entire Hidden Leaf Village.

As a master of illusion, one is extremely sensitive to changes in oneself and the environment.

Moreover, because he hadn't witnessed what had just happened, he keenly sensed an invisible and colorless aura and noticed that his emotions seemed to have fluctuated inexplicably.

However, the remaining aura was extremely faint, so faint that he wondered if it was just his imagination...

"Brother Zhishui?"

Sasuke, who hadn't received a response for a long time, turned his head and saw Shisui frowning and staring intently into the distance. He tugged at Shisui's sleeve, puzzled.

Uchiha Shisui's thoughts were interrupted. Knowing his personality, he wouldn't make baseless assumptions, so he simply shook his head to dispel any doubts, looked down at Sasuke, and smiled, saying:

"It's alright, let's go. Your brother has a mission with the Dark Guard today, so I'll accompany you."

Upon hearing this, Sasuke Uchiha's expression immediately fell, and he muttered, "It's happening again. You said it would be the last time."

"Alright, alright, don't you know your brother yet?"

Shisui chuckled and pressed his shoulder, talking as she pushed him to turn and leave.

Before leaving, however, he turned his head one last time to look into the distance, taking a deep look at the figure leading the little child as they disappeared around the street corner.

Recently, the dissatisfaction of the clansmen with the village has become increasingly intense, and the things they say at clan meetings have become increasingly bold, making him feel more and more distressed as he is caught in the middle.

He desperately wanted to resolve the conflict between the village and the clan, but he couldn't think of a solution yet. He was already mentally and physically exhausted and had no energy left to worry about anything else.

So, I hope that feeling I just had was just my imagination...

Chapter 144 Naruto Enters the Sealed Space

At this moment, Hyuga Kumokawa was walking down the road, holding Naruto's hand.

He was unaware of Uchiha Shisui's gaze, or rather, he could feel many surprised looks at that moment.

Meanwhile, two barely perceptible scrutinizing gazes were also hidden in the shadows, clearly belonging to the ANBU ninjas responsible for "monitoring" the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Hyuga Kumokawa not only knew they were ANBU ninjas, but he also knew whose eyes were on them.

—Tenzo, and Kakashi Hatake.

However, given the goodwill I've built with the Third Hokage, as long as I don't show any particularly unusual behavior, there won't be any problems even if the two of them report to the Third Hokage.

There's no other way. Hyuga Kumokawa has spent so many years in Konoha, putting in so much effort and time to cultivate such a high level of favorability. Isn't he just keeping it for now?

Even Danzo Shimura, if he knew about his contact with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, probably wouldn't go and whisper sweet nothings in the Third Hokage's ear like he used to.

Currently, Danzo Shimura's main focus is on the Uchiha clan. Otherwise, given Danzo's covetousness for him, he would have already come to instill his "Root Theory" and tried to brainwash him.

Based on Hyuga Kumokawa's understanding of Danzo, he would most likely train him to become the Fifth Hokage, just like he did with Orochimaru, and then rule from behind the scenes.

However, this is exactly what Hyuga Kumokawa wants. Once the Uchiha clan matter is settled, it will be time to use Shimura Danzo...

"..."

At this moment, Naruto Uzumaki, who was being led by Hyuga Kumokawa, was almost passively following along like a puppet.

He was unaware of Hinata Kumokawa's inner thoughts at that moment. He simply looked at the broad back of the man holding his hand in front of him, and then looked down at the hand that was still tightly gripping his.

The warmth and strength emanating from that hand felt so real, gradually dispelling his long-standing coldness and loneliness.

Why does this older brother seem to be glowing?

He was in a daze, letting himself be drawn by that warm power as he walked through streets that were familiar yet seemed somewhat different.

Finally, we stopped in front of a small shop that was filled with the enticing aroma of food.

"We've arrived," Hinata Kumokawa said, interrupting Naruto's thoughts.

Naruto Uzumaki subconsciously looked up and saw the noren (traditional curtain) at the entrance of the shop, as well as the shop's name on it.

Ichiraku Ramen.

Hinata Kumokawa pulled Naruto along, lifted the noren curtain, and went inside.

"Yo! Yun Chuan's here. Same as always?"

The busy middle-aged man looked up when he heard the sound, saw that it was Hinata Kumokawa, and a bright smile appeared on his face as he greeted him warmly.

“Yes, please, Uncle Hand-Struck, I’d like tonkotsu ramen again.” Hinata Kumokawa nodded and added, “And give this kid a ‘super-sized bowl of char siu rib ramen’ as well.”

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Shouda paused for a moment before noticing the somewhat uneasy boy hiding behind Hinata Kumokawa.

Meanwhile, another customer who was about to order food recognized Naruto Uzumaki. His expression changed instantly, and without even saying hello, he got up and left the store.

"Dad, is Yun Chuan here?"

At this moment, Ayame, who was helping out in the shop, also poked her head out. She smiled when she saw Yun Chuan's face, but paused slightly when she saw Naruto.

Noticing the gazes of the two, Naruto's body stiffened slightly.

He knew the customer left because of him, which worried him that his boss and his wife would be angry.

However, unexpectedly, Ayame and Teiji exchanged a glance, their smiles remaining unchanged.

"One tonkotsu ramen and one 'super-sized bowl of char siu rib ramen,' coming right away. Please wait a moment, gentlemen." The two said in unison.

After saying that, the two went to the kitchen, and Naruto, who was holding onto Yun Chuan's clothes, suddenly let go.

"Don't worry, Uncle Teji and his daughter Ayame are very pure people. In their eyes, anyone who likes ramen is a good person."

Hinata Kumokawa sat comfortably on a high stool in front of the bar, then patted the chair next to him, gesturing for Naruto to sit down, his tone relaxed and casual.

Naruto climbed onto the high chair, his feet barely touching the ground, dangling and swaying slightly.

After a moment, he seemed to have made up his mind, looked at Hinata Kumokawa beside him, and whispered, "Big brother, my name is..."

"Uzumaki Naruto."

Before Naruto could say his name, he was gently interrupted by Hyuga Kumokawa's voice, who chuckled, "My name is Hyuga Kumokawa."

Naruto looked up at him in surprise and blurted out, "You know my name?"

“Of course.” Hinata Kumokawa nodded. “It’s not just me, many people know your name, and you will know it in the future.”

"Many people know my name?"

Naruto scratched his head, puzzled.

Clearly, the older brother in front of him, named Hinata Kumokawa, was the only one who called him by his name; everyone else referred to him as "the fox spirit" and "that child"...

If so many people really know me, why haven't I met them?

Naruto didn't understand, but he didn't dare to ask again.

"One bowl of tonkotsu ramen, and one 'super-sized bowl of char siu rib ramen' are here."

Just then, Tetsuya and Ayame came out carrying two large bowls of steaming, fragrant ramen, which were carefully placed on the table in front of Naruto.

The golden broth is piled high with thick slices of char siu pork, richly sauced spare ribs, vibrant green scallions, a halved, soft-boiled egg, and seaweed sheets...

"Gudong!"

The enormous bowl almost filled Naruto's entire field of vision, and the warm aroma mixed with the scent of meat and fat enveloped him, causing him to subconsciously swallow the saliva that was rapidly secreting.

Seeing this, Ayame and Tetsuya's smiles widened, and they reminded each other with a smile, "Guests, eat slowly, be careful it's hot."

The father and daughter were indeed among the few truly pure-hearted people in the villagers of Konoha.

Naruto looked at the bowl of food in front of him, which seemed to be glowing with a dreamlike light, and then secretly glanced at Hyuga Kumokawa, who was smiling at him from the side.

This was the first time he had ever sat in a brightly lit shop, facing a large bowl of steaming food that belonged only to him, without any cold looks or malice.

An emotion he had never felt before welled up inside him, making his nose tingle.

"I'm starting to eat," Hinata Kumokawa said with a smile, picking up his chopsticks.

He awkwardly picked up his chopsticks, mimicking Hinata Kumokawa, and said in a low but very solemn voice, "I, I'm starting to eat."

Then, he picked up a small piece of pork rib, carefully blew on it, and slowly put it in his mouth.

The tender, fall-off-the-bone meat, the rich and sweet sauce, melts instantly in your mouth, blending with the wheaty aroma of the chewy noodles and the warm, delicious bone broth...

good to eat!

It's so delicious it's indescribable!

It was ten thousand times tastier than any food he had ever eaten before!

“Naruto,” Hyuga Kumokawa suddenly said, “it’s not your fault.”

Upon hearing this, Naruto stiffened and silently lowered his head.

The ultimate satisfaction brought by delicious food is intertwined with the loneliness and grievance of previously having to chew and swallow alone, as well as the complex emotions brought about by recognition.

The intense emotions, like a surging tide, finally broke through the dam that had been held up for so long.

Snap... Snap...

Large tears, which could no longer be held back, welled up and splashed into the steaming, golden soup, creating ripples.

Slurp! Slurp~