Naruto: Blacksmith

·Naruto: Blacksmith - Chapter: 13sáb 12:03 a. m

After a while, Naruto frowned as if he were struggling with an internal conflict.

"What's wrong?" Kuro asked, looking up from the grill.

Naruto opened his mouth but said nothing.

"…."

After hesitating for a moment, he took a deep breath and looked at Kuro with a determined expression.

"Kuro, do you know… why people treat me that way?"

Kuro looked at him strangely, as if he were staring at an idiot, which made Naruto feel uncomfortable.

"Hey, what's with that look?"

"Nothing, I just realized you're even dumber than I thought."

"What did you say?!"

Kuro pursed his lips as he turned the meat over and commented, "The entire village treats you that way, so it's obvious everyone knows why. Yet you're here asking me… Do you really think I need to answer you?"

"Then you…"

"Why don't I hate you?"

"How do you know what I'm going to say?"

Naruto looked at Kuro, eyes wide open.

Kuro gave a slight smile, popped a piece of pork belly into his mouth, and responded while chewing, "Everything you're thinking is written all over your face."

"… That obvious?"

"Yep."

"…"

Naruto slumped back into his chair, deflated, but quickly regained his usual energy.

"So… why don't you hate me?" he asked again, his face full of uncertainty.

Kuro looked up from the grill and observed him with a hint of curiosity.

"Why should I hate you?"

Naruto pressed his lips together as if debating internally before finally blurting out, "Because everyone says I'm a demon fox! Because the Nine-Tails killed your parents! How can you not hate me?!"

Kuro ignored the outburst with indifference.

But the shout echoed through the restaurant, drawing all eyes back to Naruto, their gazes filled with disapproval.

"There's the demon fox making noise again," someone whispered softly, followed by other similar remarks.

Naruto quickly lowered his head, murmuring apologies to everyone. Then, without looking at anyone, he returned his attention to Kuro, who continued eating calmly.

"Why…?" he asked in a low voice.

"In conclusion, are you that 'demon fox' everyone talks about?" Kuro finished chewing a piece of meat and replied indifferently.

Naruto's eyes widened in surprise at the direct question.

"What did you say?"

Kuro stared at him and calmly repeated, "Are you a fox?"

"No… no, I'm not," Naruto replied, swallowing hard.

"Good. That's all I need to know."

"But all of them…" Naruto began to say, but Kuro cut him off.

"Five years ago, I saw the Nine-Tails destroy everything in its path. I'm completely sure that monster isn't you."

Naruto fell silent, processing those words.

Finally, he sighed in relief.

He had feared that by talking about this with Kuro, he would end up being rejected as he was by everyone else.

But Kuro, while direct and cold, didn't treat him the same way.

Earlier, on the street, Kuro said he was his friend.

Cough...

Well, he didn't say that exactly, but it was something similar.

That's why Naruto believed that, as a friend, there shouldn't be any secrets.

Even though he worried that Kuro might get upset or even hate him after finding out, he still decided to tell him.

Luckily, Kuro was different from everyone else.

…..

Naruto resumed eating, enthusiastically devouring meat while sharing anecdotes about his daily life with Kuro.

Kuro, for his part, listened in silence, occasionally throwing in short comments. While the topics didn't particularly interest him, something about Naruto's chatter made him feel different.

For the first time, someone was accompanying him on his birthday.

It was a simple moment.

…...

After eating for three hours, the street outside had grown dark.

The two parted ways at the restaurant entrance and headed to their respective homes.

As Kuro walked, he briefly considered the problems that might arise from getting too close to Naruto, but a carefree smile appeared on his face.

I'm not the same as I was a month ago.

With his current physique, he could handle much more of the Nine-Tails' chakra. Additionally, with Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan, he could easily detect anyone trying to spy on him.

Now I have more resources, more options.

Half an hour later, he reached his apartment.

When he opened the door, a small, slightly hunched figure stood by the window, hands clasped behind his back.

Kuro blinked, rubbing his eyes.

He looked again, confirming it wasn't an illusion or a dream.

After confirming it wasn't an illusion or a dream, he opened his mouth, incredulous.

"HOKAGE?!"

At the sound of his shout, the figure by the window slowly turned around.

He had gray hair and a face full of wrinkles.

He wore a red kimono under a white robe, and his signature hat with the word "Fire" hung at his waist.

And in his left hand, a pipe magically appeared.

There was no doubt.

It was none other than the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen smiled kindly, his wrinkles deepening with the gesture, "Kuro, you're finally back."

"No, no, no, wait! Why is the Third Hokage in my house?!" Kuro shouted, still trying to process what he was seeing.

"Why such a reaction?" Hiruzen said with a light laugh. "Am I not welcome?"

"No, no, no, of course not! I mean, yes, damn it, I just didn't expect the Hokage to come to my house so late! Please, have a seat; I'll get you something to drink."

Kuro quickly grabbed the teapot from the table, preparing to head to the bathroom to fetch water.

"No need. It's very late," Hiruzen said, raising a hand to stop him.

"No problem, Hokage-sama; I wanted to drink something anyway."

Kuro filled the teapot and lit the stove while Hiruzen watched him in silence.

"Then, I'll trouble you for a bit," Hiruzen said with a slight nod. "I came here for two reasons."

"What are they?"

"First, to wish you a happy birthday."

Liar!

That lie could be smelled from the restaurant, you manipulative old man!

But Kuro didn't show any annoyance, maintaining an expression of happiness. "Thank you, Hokage-sama."

"The second reason," Hiruzen continued, pulling two envelopes and two scrolls from his robe, "is to give you a gift."

Kuro looked at the items with curiosity before carefully taking one of the envelopes.

He opened it and found a thick stack of bills inside.

"What's this…?" he murmured, eyes widening.

It was too much!

Although he hadn't counted the money, he could see thousand Ryō bills.

A bowl of ramen, the cheapest one, costs 60 Ryō…

This is enough to live for an entire month, even with my appetite.

________

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