"Lucky?" Naruto didn't think so.
That wasn't luck; it had to be one of the many abilities inherent to the Uzumaki clan. Although the Uzumaki don't possess a clear bloodline limit, they are known for their vast chakra reserves and mastery of sealing techniques, among other traits.
In terms of sensory abilities, they also hold considerable advantages.
A fully matured Uzumaki ninja, using the secret technique Shingakugan, can even lock onto enemies several kilometers away—rivaling the Hyuga clan's Byakugan.
Naruto hadn't mastered Shingakugan yet; he could only sense the general direction of other ninjas.
What mattered more to him now was the fact that the Nine-Tails was actually willing to share information with him.
After some consideration, Naruto asked the Nine-Tails, "Big Fox, can you sense their exact location?"
"Of course…" The Nine-Tails opened its eyes and looked at Naruto with curiosity. "What, planning to take action against the ninjas watching you? If you accept my power, none of this will be a problem."
"No, I want to stay alive…" Naruto mentally groaned. He could already guess what the Nine-Tails was really after.
It was nothing more than wanting him to stop resisting so it could control his body and rampage wildly. Eventually, the Leaf's jonin would suppress him harshly, and he'd end up a prisoner like Gaara next door.
The fox, though sealed inside his body, was surprisingly reckless.
The Nine-Tails wasn't angry at being seen through. It was just boasting, fully aware that the Leaf had the power to restrain it.
After sensing carefully, the Nine-Tails accurately reported the distance and exact number of the ANBU members—a professional display like a radar.
So it wasn't the standard three-man squad. Only two were sent to keep watch on him?
Naruto muttered to himself but didn't press for details about the chakra levels of these two. At his current genin-level strength, the strength of ANBU operatives didn't really matter.
Time flew by while Naruto immersed himself in training.
He wiped the sweat from his body with a towel, drank some saline to replenish electrolytes, and left the outdoor training ground.
On his way home, Naruto scanned possible hiding spots while asking the Nine-Tails about the locations of the ANBU to further hone his sensing abilities.
At first, the Nine-Tails answered patiently but soon grew a little impatient. "Kid, the number of ninjas watching you dropped from two to one. The other already left."
That one must've gone to report back to the Third Hokage, Naruto thought.
He understood that the ANBU's surveillance was a form of protection, but it still made him uncomfortable.
Those ANBU only protected his life. When the villagers gave him cold stares, they disappeared.
But that wasn't really their fault; the real reason was the Third Hokage's neglect. He simply didn't want to change the villagers' discrimination against Naruto and chose to ignore it.
If that was the case, Naruto knew he needed to think more long-term…
Suddenly, he stopped walking. Above a nearby shop hung a sign reading "Ichiraku Ramen."
Feeling the hunger in his stomach, Naruto decided to try some local cuisine for a change.
He pushed aside the curtain and entered. His arrival caused the other diners to frown, and the eyes of the chef Teuchi and his assistant Ayame fixed on him with surprise.
"Uncle Teuchi, I'll have an extra-large bowl of ramen!" Naruto called out confidently, sliding into a seat and waving the menu at Teuchi.
Teuchi blinked, then said, "Alright, one extra-large ramen coming up. Please wait about ten minutes."
The other diners' frowns deepened; the atmosphere grew tense.
They didn't want to share a room with the Fox Demon—they found it unlucky—but they dared not mention the word "fox" in front of him, which made them uncomfortable.
Seeing the villagers uneasy, Naruto's mood lifted. He watched Teuchi knead the dough while chatting with the Nine-Tails.
"Big Fox, can those ninjas still see me now?"
"No. From your current position, they can't see you at all."
"But I feel like someone else is watching me. Ever since I entered the village, that feeling hasn't left."
The Nine-Tails paused, then said, "You're right. Someone is watching you. It's the Third Hokage, the old man who often visits your house."
"Big Fox, can you tell me next time when the Third Hokage is watching me?"
The Nine-Tails didn't reply, hesitating. Naruto avoiding the Third Hokage's surveillance was actually good news for it.
While the Nine-Tails wavered, Teuchi brought the steaming ramen to Naruto's table.
Looking at the hot bowl, Naruto's appetite surged.
He sipped the salty broth and used his chopsticks to pick up a Naruto Roll from the noodles. Sweet, soft, with a subtle seafood flavor—delicious and also the origin of his name.
But after eating a lot, it did get a bit rich.
He then tried the side dish—menma, or bamboo shoots.
Compared to the Naruto Roll, menma was much stronger in flavor—spicy and sour with a touch of sweetness—perfect to cut through the ramen's saltiness and more suited to his taste.
So which to choose: Naruto Roll or menma?
Naruto found himself leaning toward the menma.
After finishing the ramen, Naruto felt about seventy percent full. Looking around, only he and a middle-aged ninja with a weathered face remained in the shop, the latter looking depressed and unfulfilled.
The others left immediately after eating.
Placing his payment under the ramen bowl, Naruto stood up and said to the busy Teuchi, "The money's here. Uncle Teuchi, your ramen tastes great—I'll be coming here often."
Teuchi smiled. "Thanks for liking it. You're Naruto, right? Come anytime."
After Naruto left, the middle-aged ninja glanced in his direction and smiled. "Boss Teuchi, is that the Uzumaki Naruto—the village's Fox Demon?"
Teuchi sighed. "Fox Demon? Just rumors. He's just a kid who lost his parents, labeled a demon by the village to vent their anger. No one really knows who his parents were."
"Maybe a hero who protected the village. Or maybe irresponsible superiors and parents."
Teuchi seemed interested and looked at the man. "You know the kid's background? Can you tell me? I've always thought his parents weren't ordinary people."
The middle-aged ninja chuckled. "Just guessing. Who really knows? But if his parents knew what he's going through, they'd surely regret it."
(End of chapter)
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