Senju Haruto turned his head at the sudden sound and was surprised to see who it was—Uzumaki Naruto.
Eyes tightly shut, he was shouting incoherently while charging forward, waving a wooden stick in front of him.
"Naruto?"
Haruto blinked in surprise.What was Naruto doing here of all places?
He was supposed to be enjoying a bowl of ramen at Ichiraku just moments ago.
Kakashi also recognized the voice and figure immediately.
"I'll leave the rest to you," Haruto said to him.
He glanced at the scattered corpses around the clearing and tossed that sentence to Kakashi without waiting for a response. Then, without hesitation, he sprinted toward Naruto.
No matter what, Naruto was still just a kid.Letting him see the dead Root operatives might leave a serious psychological scar.
Haruto covered the distance in long strides.He grabbed the wooden stick from Naruto's hands, spun them both around, and positioned Naruto so his back was facing the scene, shielding him from the view of the bodies—and from Kakashi.
But even with his eyes covered, Naruto wasn't calming down.Instead, he clenched his little fists tightly and started swinging wildly with all his might—classic, flailing Naruto-style punches.
Haruto sighed in exasperation and casually tossed the stick aside.He reached out and gently held Naruto's hands, trying to keep him still.
Naturally, Naruto began to struggle.
"It's me, Haruto,"Haruto said softly, taking a deep breath.
The moment Naruto heard that name, his struggling slowed.His tightly shut eyes opened just a crack—and then went wide.
He stared up at Haruto in disbelief.Tears began welling up almost instantly, and before long, they overflowed, bursting out like a dam that had finally collapsed.
"You're okay…""Haruto…""Waaahhh—I thought—!"
Naruto broke down crying, bawling uncontrollably.
Haruto glanced over his shoulder.Kakashi had already begun moving the Root bodies, quietly dragging them into the woods to conceal them.He flashed a quick hand signal toward Haruto, urging him to keep Naruto calm.
Haruto nodded in understanding.He gently released Naruto's hands, crouched down, and used his sleeve to wipe the tears from Naruto's cheeks.
"A real man doesn't cry so easily, you know?"Haruto's voice was gentle and full of warmth.
"So, what are you doing all the way out here? Was the ramen that bad?"
From the way Naruto was acting, this definitely wasn't a coincidence.
"I…"
Naruto sniffled, trying to explain.
To him, Haruto was his first real friend—the first person his age to ever treat him to ramen.
Maybe to Haruto, Naruto was just one friend among many.But to Naruto, Haruto was the only one who had ever truly seen him.
When he'd seen those Root ninja take Haruto away, his heart filled with dread.
So, he had abandoned his ramen and ran out of the shop.He'd tailed them the whole way, hidden in the shadows, and watched as the men attacked Haruto.
He had never seen a fight like that before.It terrified him. He had frozen on the spot.
"I'm sorry, Haruto…"
Naruto wept harder as he apologized.
When the fighting started, his first instinct wasn't to help—it was to run away.Even though Haruto was his friend.Even though Haruto had always been kind to him.
"That's why… I'm sorry…"
Naruto was drowning in guilt.
Haruto blinked, caught off guard by what he heard.
He didn't know whether to laugh or to scold him.
The Root operatives may have been no match for him, but Naruto didn't know that.To Naruto, Haruto wasn't some untouchable warrior—just someone stronger than Sasuke.Not invincible. Not untouchable.
And even though he'd run away at first, Naruto still came back.
That alone spoke volumes.
Haruto knew exactly what that took.
When you grow up alone, you understand what helplessness feels like.When you're isolated, you learn to be kind—because you know the sting of loneliness.
"Hey, it's okay. Really."
Haruto gave a bright, reassuring smile—the warmest one he could manage.He gently wiped away Naruto's tears.
"Didn't you come back to help me in the end?"
"But…"
Naruto's voice trembled. He tried to turn around again—probably to look at the scene behind them.
But Haruto quickly pulled him into a gentle embrace, placing a hand behind his head to stop him from turning.
Naruto looked up at Haruto's smile, and something clicked inside him.
"It's all over now," Haruto whispered gently.
"Thank you, Naruto. You didn't abandon me when it mattered most."
"To me, you're already the bravest person in the world."
"...Thank you."
Naruto's eyes widened.
This was the first time—The very first time someone had said "thank you" to him.The first time someone had called him brave.The first time someone had ever praised him like this.
In that moment, Naruto felt like Haruto was an angel sent from heaven, just for him.
No one could compare. No one else had ever made him feel this seen.
But that only made it harder to hold back his emotions.His sobs grew even louder.
"Alright, alright."
Haruto stood up slowly and gave Naruto's head a soft, comforting pat.
Kakashi took the opportunity to slip deeper into the woods.
Haruto didn't rush Naruto.
He let him cry—let him release every ounce of pressure he'd built up inside.
Because Haruto knew—Naruto wasn't crying just because he ran away earlier.
He cried because of everything:
His powerlessness.His loneliness.His fear.His constant, crushing isolation.
That's why Naruto always clung to bonds so fiercely.Why he chased Sasuke.Why he believed in Sakura.Why he admired Jiraiya.
And now—why he looked at Haruto with such devotion.
Haruto didn't know how long Naruto cried.
All he knew was that by the time Naruto's tears dried up, the sun had gone down——and his own shirt was soaked with tears.
"Haruto…"
"I'm here."
Haruto nodded gently.
"Ready to go back?"
But Naruto didn't answer right away.He stood still, lost in thought, as if wrestling with some deep inner decision.
Haruto waited patiently, saying nothing.
At last, Naruto seemed to make up his mind.He looked up at Haruto with fierce determination.
"Will you teach me?"
"Hmm?"
"I want to get stronger," Naruto said, taking a deep breath. His fists clenched tight."I want to become strong."
Haruto chuckled softly.
"So you can become Hokage, huh?"
He figured that's what Naruto was aiming for—power, recognition, and one day, the title of Hokage.
That was always Naruto's dream.
But what Naruto said next caught Haruto off guard.
"Yeah. I want to be Hokage. I want to surpass all the Hokage who came before me. I want everyone to acknowledge me."
He paused, then continued in a quieter voice:
"But more than that…"
"If I'm stronger, I won't run away when I'm scared anymore."
"Haruto… I want the power to protect my friends."