Naruto stood at the counter, clutching sothing in his hand as if preparing to pay. Hearing his na called, he spun around with a start, a flash of panic crossing his eyes.
"Iruka-sensei?!"
The mont those words left his mouth, Iruka noticed sothing was wrong—Naruto quickly hid whatever he was holding behind his back, both hands clenched tightly behind his waist. That furtive behavior was completely at odds with his usual mature deanor.
"Hm? What's wrong, Naruto?" Iruka deliberately slowed his approach, his gaze falling on the boy's tense arms. "Why are you hiding your hands behind your back? What good stuff did you get?"
Naruto's eyes darted sideways as he shuffled half a step away, his voice becoming evasive. "This? It's nothing! Just so... nothing worth ntioning!"
"That tone doesn't sound like 'nothing worth ntioning.'" Iruka couldn't help but smile slightly, deliberately putting on a stern face. "What are you hiding?"
"Co on!" Naruto took a small step backward, muttering indignantly. "This isn't even school—Iruka-sensei doesn't have jurisdiction here, right?"
"Hah? What kind of stupid thing are you saying?" Iruka stepped forward twice, his tone carrying so teacherly authority. "As your teacher, I don't have any..."
"Ahem!"
A deliberate cough suddenly cut through the air. Iruka turned toward the sound, and what he saw made his heart sink.
The shop owner stood behind the counter, his eyes churning with undisguised malice as they pierced toward Naruto.
"No chatting in here. Leave imdiately." The owner's voice was cold and harsh, every word dripping with disgust.
Iruka's fingertips unconsciously tightened. So this was how the villagers treated Naruto according to the rumors? That rejection he'd only heard about in whispers was now spread naked before his eyes.
He couldn't help but turn to look at Naruto, only to see the child's face showing no obvious expression. He simply walked silently toward the register, placing what he'd been hiding behind his back onto the counter.
"Uncle, how much for these two things?"
Iruka moved closer to see clearly—just a notebook with a gold-embossed cover and a dull gray lump of clay. It was the material commonly used by beginner ninja practicing earth-style jutsu, sothing perfectly ordinary that could be stored in the body for earth technique coordination.
The owner pressed his lips together and said nothing.
"Uncle?" Naruto called softly again.
"Whatever! Just hurry up and get out of here!" The owner finally exploded, his voice sharp and aggressive.
"I understand." Naruto responded quietly, pulling coins from his pocket. He counted out what seed like the market price, gently placed them on the counter, then picked up the notebook and clay before turning toward the door.
Just as he was about to cross the threshold, a lowered but clear voice ca from behind. "Monster."
Naruto's departing step visibly hesitated. Iruka's heart clenched, but the child only paused for half a second. Without saying anything or looking back, he simply pulled open the door and walked out.
The door creaked shut, and imdiately the shop filled with the owner's grumbling curses. "What bad luck. Why does he have to co buy things from my shop? Who knows what he'll do next."
As he spoke, he hurried to the entrance, grabbed the salt shaker by the door, and scattered a handful onto the floor.
Iruka watched the owner's salt-scattering ritual, feeling like sothing was blocking his chest, making it hard to breathe. So this... was the situation Naruto faced every day?
That rejection hiding in the corners had now manifested as such blatant malice that just watching it made him feel suffocated.
He no longer had any desire to shop for practice ninja tools. Turning around, he rushed out of the stationery shop, his gaze sweeping frantically across the street—not far away, Naruto was walking slowly forward, his pace steady, showing no signs of distress.
"Hey! Naruto! Wait up!" Iruka called in that direction, quickening his steps.
Naruto turned around at the sound and stopped to wait for him to approach.
Iruka ran up to him and looked into Naruto's clear eyes, remaining silent for several seconds before speaking, trying to keep his tone light.
"So... what you bought was just a notebook and clay? Really now, those aren't anything shaful. Why were you hiding them from your teacher earlier?"
Naruto laughed at this. "Iruka-sensei, these aren't just ordinary notebooks and clay... They might look unremarkable now, but they'll soon beco sothing different."
"I see..." Iruka nodded thoughtfully, then pointed ahead. "Well then, it's almost lunchti anyway. Want to grab so ran? Teacher's treat."
"Eh? Really?"
"Of course. Your teacher can certainly afford a bowl of ran." Iruka smiled and patted his shoulder.
Seeing the caring smile on Iruka's face, Naruto understood—Iruka was deliberately trying to comfort him.
Truth be told, what happened in the shop just now was nothing at all. Since his earliest mories, he'd grown accustod to those kinds of stares and words. Like eating als or training, they'd long since beco an unremarkable part of daily life. He couldn't call it hurtful, and certainly didn't take it to heart.
But at this mont, with Iruka's deliberate invitation to ran, his gentle tone and eyes showing not the slightest insincerity—that genuine concern, carrying warm temperature, gently wrapped around Naruto's heart.
He couldn't help but break into a wide grin, his steps light as he followed Iruka toward Ichiraku Ran. "Sure thing, Iruka-sensei! For Uncle Teuchi's miso ran, I want double char siu!"
"You little troublemaker."
Iruka was chard by his energetic appearance and shook his head helplessly. "Alright, alright, double char siu it is. Who told I'm your teacher?"
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