Naruto uzumaki : The Will To Rise

Naruto didn't believe in luck. For him, it was just another manifestation of the Uzumaki physique. The Uzumaki clan might lack a visible bloodline limit, but their vast chakra reserves and aptitude for sealing techniques set them apart.

In terms of sensory abilities, they had their advantages. A trained Uzumaki ninja could master the Kagura Mind's Eye, a secret technique that allowed them to detect enemies several kilometers away—almost on par with the Hyuga clan's Byakugan. However, Naruto hadn't yet mastered this ability. At best, he could sense the general direction of other ninjas.

What intrigued him more at the moment was the fact that the Nine-Tails, Kurama, was willing to share information with him.

"Big Fox," Naruto asked, "can you sense their exact location?"

"Of course," Kurama replied, his eyes narrowing as he regarded Naruto curiously. "Why? Are you planning to deal with those ninjas spying on you? If you'd just accept my power, none of this would be a problem."

Naruto scoffed. "No way. I still want to live."

He didn't need to guess at Kurama's motives. The fox likely wanted to take over his body, wreak havoc, and leave him to face Konoha's wrath. Naruto had no intention of becoming a prisoner like Gaara.

Unbothered by Naruto's refusal, Kurama accurately described the positions and numbers of the Anbu monitoring him. Surprisingly, only two were assigned to protect him—not the usual three-person team.

Naruto frowned. Only two? They must not think I'm much of a threat. He considered asking Kurama about their chakra levels but decided against it. With his current skills, it wouldn't make much difference.

As time passed during his training, Naruto grew increasingly focused, only stopping when his body was drenched in sweat. Wiping himself down with a towel, he rehydrated with some saltwater and left the training grounds.

On his way home, Naruto scanned his surroundings, looking for hiding places where Anbu might lurk. He asked Kurama for their positions to hone his sensory abilities.

At first, Kurama answered patiently but soon grew annoyed. "One of them left already. You're down to just one observer now."

Naruto smirked. "Probably off to report to the old man."

He understood the Anbu weren't there to spy on him maliciously but to protect him. Still, it irked him. They'd protect him from physical harm, but they were nowhere to be found when villagers ostracized him. This, however, wasn't entirely their fault—it was the Third Hokage who chose not to intervene.

I need to think long-term…

Naruto's train of thought was interrupted when he noticed a familiar shop sign: Ichiraku Ramen. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, and he decided to try some local cuisine.

As he stepped inside, the other diners immediately frowned, and the shop's owner, Teuchi, along with his daughter Ayame, seemed surprised to see him.

"Uncle Teuchi, one super-sized bowl of ramen!" Naruto called out cheerfully as he took a seat.

Teuchi blinked, then smiled. "Alright, one large ramen coming up. It'll be about ten minutes."

The other customers, uncomfortable in his presence, quickly finished their meals and left. Naruto, noticing their unease, found it amusing. As he waited, he struck up a conversation with Kurama.

"Big Fox, can those ninjas still see me?"

"No," Kurama replied. "From this position, they can't."

Naruto frowned. "But I've felt like someone's been watching me ever since I entered the village."

After a pause, Kurama said, "You're right. That someone is the old man—the Third Hokage. He often watches your house."

Naruto's eyes narrowed. "Can you let me know the next time he does it?"

Kurama didn't answer immediately, as if weighing the pros and cons of helping Naruto evade the Hokage's surveillance.

Before Kurama could respond, Teuchi brought over a steaming bowl of ramen.

Naruto's appetite surged as he took a sip of the savory broth. He picked up a slice of Naruto roll with his chopsticks, savoring its soft texture and subtle seafood flavor. It was good, but a bit too rich after a while. Then he tried the dried bamboo shoots, whose tangy and slightly sweet flavor provided a perfect counterbalance to the saltiness of the broth.

He debated which he liked more but ultimately leaned toward the dried bamboo shoots.

After finishing his meal, Naruto noticed that the shop was now empty except for a middle-aged ninja sitting at another table, looking somewhat despondent.

Leaving some money under the bowl, Naruto called out, "Uncle Teuchi, the ramen was great! I'll be back soon."

Teuchi smiled warmly. "Thanks, Naruto. Come by anytime!"

As Naruto left, the middle-aged ninja turned to Teuchi. "That was Uzumaki Naruto, right? The so-called 'demon fox'?"

Teuchi sighed. "He's not a demon fox. He's just a kid whose parents died. People in this village call him that to vent their frustrations, but they don't know anything about him."

The ninja chuckled wryly. "Maybe his parents were heroes who protected the village, or maybe they were irresponsible fools. Who knows?"

Teuchi raised an eyebrow. "Do you know his parents' story?"

The ninja shrugged. "I'm just speculating. But if his parents could see him now, they'd probably regret not being here for him."