Sign in From Naruto

Xu Fan turned to look and realized that the person approaching was none other than Naruto Uzumaki.

His eyes were closed, and he was holding a stick in his hand. A loud yell came out of his mouth as he rushed toward them.

"Naruto?"

Xu Fan was surprised, wondering how Naruto could appear here.

Wasn't he enjoying ramen at Ichiraku Ramen?

Kakashi also quickly recognized the visitor.

"I'll leave this place to you," Xu Fan said, glancing at the corpses on the ground. He threw these words directly to Kakashi and, without waiting for a response, quickly rushed forward.

No matter what, the current Naruto was just a child. Letting him witness the corpses of Root ninjas would likely cast a psychological shadow on him.

In three steps, Xu Fan snatched the wooden stick from Naruto's hand. Then, with a quick turn, he reversed their positions so that his back was to Kakashi and the corpses of the Root ninjas.

This didn't calm Naruto down, though. Instead, he clenched his small fists and swung wildly.

Xu Fan was speechless, so he had no choice but to toss the wooden stick aside and grab Naruto's hands.

With this, Naruto naturally began to struggle.

"It's me, Xu Fan."

Xu Fan took a deep breath and identified himself.

Once he heard the name "Xu Fan," Naruto's struggling movements paused for a moment. His tightly closed eyes slowly opened.

When he saw that Xu Fan was really standing in front of him, his eyes instantly became moist, and he burst into tears like a river breaking its banks.

"Great..."

"Xu Fan..."

"Ooohhhh... I thought..."

Xu Fan glanced at Kakashi, noting that he had already begun disposing of the corpses, hiding them in the woods for the time being.

At the same time, Kakashi gestured toward Xu Fan, signaling him to calm Naruto down.

Xu Fan nodded and slowly released Naruto's hands. He then squatted down and gently wiped Naruto's tearful eyes.

"A man's tears are not light, you know," Xu Fan said softly. "Why did you run here? Was the ramen not good?"

Judging from Naruto's behavior, it didn't seem like a coincidence that he had appeared here.

"I..." Naruto sniffled, then began to explain.

Xu Fan was the first friend he had ever made and the first person his age to treat him to ramen.

Maybe Xu Fan was just one of many friends to others, but to Naruto, Xu Fan was his only friend.

When those Root ninjas took Xu Fan away, Naruto's heart was filled with worry.

So he ran straight out of the ramen restaurant and followed them until he saw the Root ninjas attacking Xu Fan.

Such a scene was something Naruto had never seen before, and he was instantly shocked.

"I'm sorry, Xu Fan..." Naruto cried while apologizing.

When he saw those people attacking Xu Fan, his first instinct wasn't to help but to turn and run away.

It was clear that Xu Fan was his first friend, yet he had chosen to run away at the critical moment out of fear.

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"Just because of this?" Xu Fan couldn't help but stare, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

Although those Root ninjas were no match for him, Naruto didn't know that.

In Naruto's eyes, Xu Fan was just stronger than Sasuke, not a true ninja.

Even the fact that Naruto ran away out of fear was proof of that.

But even so, Naruto had still come back.

This, in Xu Fan's opinion, required more than just courage.

It was precisely because Naruto was alone that he understood the feeling of helplessness.

It was because of being isolated that he was so gentle with others.

"Alright, alright," Xu Fan said, his lips curling into what he thought was his brightest smile. He helped Naruto dry his tears. "Didn't Naruto come back to save me?"

"But..." Naruto, still sniffling, tried to turn back, but Xu Fan's hand gently held the back of his head, preventing him from looking.

Looking at the smiling Xu Fan, Naruto seemed to understand something.

"It's already... okay," Xu Fan said gently. "Thank you, Naruto, for not abandoning me at a critical moment. In my opinion, you're already the bravest person in this world."

"Thank you."

Looking at Xu Fan, Naruto's emotions became even more intense.

For the first time...

This was the first time someone had said "thank you" to him.

It was also the first time someone had called him brave.

Even more, it was the first time someone had complimented him like that.

At this moment, Naruto felt that Xu Fan was the angel who had descended by his side.

There was no one better than him.

However, this also made it even harder for Naruto to hold back his emotions, and he cried even louder.

"Alright, alright," Xu Fan said, straightening up and gently patting Naruto's head.

Kakashi took this opportunity to hide in the grove.

Xu Fan had no intention of rushing Naruto, letting him release all the pressure he had been holding in.

In fact, Xu Fan knew that the reason Naruto was crying so hard wasn't just because of the guilt of running away out of fear.

There was also the helplessness, weakness, pity, and loneliness he had been feeling all along.

It was also because of this that he was so obsessed with his bonds.

With Sasuke, with Sakura, with Jiraiya...

And now... with Xu Fan as well.

Xu Fan didn't know how long Naruto had been crying, only that by the time he had fully released his emotions, it was dark, and Xu Fan's chest was wet with tears.

"Xu Fan..."

"I'm here," Xu Fan nodded. "Going back?"

Naruto didn't say anything. Instead, he was silent for a long time, as if torn between some kind of choice.

Xu Fan wasn't in a hurry and waited patiently for Naruto.

It was only after a long time that Naruto, as if summoning all his courage and making up his mind, asked Xu Fan,

"Can you teach me?"

"Hm?"

"I want to become stronger..." Naruto took a deep breath and clenched his hands into fists. "I want to become stronger..."

"And then become Hokage?" Xu Fan joked, thinking that Naruto must want to get stronger and then become Hokage, earning the recognition of the village.

In fact, that was Naruto's personality.

However, Naruto's answer surprised Xu Fan a bit.

"Well, I want to become Hokage and surpass all the Hokages, earning everyone's recognition, but..."

Naruto took a deep breath and continued, "If I become strong, I won't have to hold back out of fear anymore. Xu Fan... I want to have the power to protect my companions..."