Naruto: Returned From Roger's Ship

"Listen well, Konohamaru-sama."

"You are the grandson of the Third Hokage."

"You mustn't associate with that kind of person..."

Perhaps because he had lost face in front of Konohamaru and Hiruzen, Ebisu had been rambling nonstop ever since Naruto left.

He completely failed to notice the complicated expression on Hiruzen's face behind him, or the fact that Konohamaru had long since disappeared.

…

Meanwhile.

Thanks to the summons from Hiruzen, Naruto suddenly remembered that the Genin Graduation Exam was just a few days away.

"Gulp, gulp."

Sitting on the edge of a rooftop, Naruto pulled out a sake flask from who-knows-where, popped the lid, and took a few swigs.

But after just a couple of sips, he resealed it and smacked his lips in dissatisfaction.

"Really... can this even be called alcohol?"

Having grown accustomed to the distilled rum he drank on the high seas, Naruto couldn't help but show clear disappointment at the weak, bland taste of this sake.

He tossed the flask he'd swiped from a certain Hokage aside with a look of disdain.

But after a moment's thought, Naruto stuffed it back into his pocket.

'Better than nothing.'

Pushing the sunglasses he'd taken from Ebisu slightly down his nose, Naruto glanced at the small figure below, pacing back and forth as if searching for something.

"Oi! Kid, did you lose your wallet or something?"

Hearing Naruto's familiar voice, Konohamaru's first instinct was to duck behind a nearby lamppost.

But before he could move, Naruto was already standing right in front of him.

"Your name is... Mushumaru? You've been following me since earlier, huh?"

Naruto bent down, bringing his face close to Konohamaru's.

"It's Ko-no-ha-ma-ru!"

Konohamaru's first reaction was to shout his name loudly, but then, as if startled by Naruto's proximity, he leaped back and crossed his arms defensively.

"W-who's following you?! I, Konohamaru-sama, was just taking a walk!"

"Eh~ Is that so? I was going to help you out if you asked nicely, but never mind. See ya~"

With that, Naruto turned to leave.

"Wait!"

When Konohamaru heard Naruto say this, he hurriedly dashed in front of Naruto, blocking his path.

"...I'll be your underling!"

Konohamaru suddenly blurted out this seemingly random declaration. Before Naruto could respond, he continued, "In exchange, teach me how to get stronger!"

But Naruto just crossed his arms and waved a hand dismissively.

"Nah, what're you talking about?"

"I'm just a Genin, you know. Getting stronger? Don't you already have a teacher?"

Though his words said otherwise, Naruto's gaze as he looked at Konohamaru was filled with approval.

And for good reason.

The Konohamaru standing before him now was exactly like his younger self when he first witnessed just how powerful Roger and the others were.

For a moment, Naruto even saw Konohamaru's figure overlapping with that of his childhood self.

"Heh heh! Don't underestimate me!"

Hearing Naruto's refusal, Konohamaru completely brushed it off.

"I saw it clearly! Glasses-sensei couldn't even lay a finger on you just now! If you wanted to beat him, it'd be a piece of cake!"

Konohamaru planted one hand on his hip and pointed at Naruto with the other, his tone full of conviction.

At these words, though Naruto didn't agree outright, the amusement in his eyes deepened.

"I want to become Hokage! So everyone will acknowledge me, Konohamaru-sama!"

"So please, let Sarutobi Konohamaru become your disciple!"

After saying this, Konohamaru actually bowed deeply to Naruto like a proper adult would… not caring at all that Naruto seemed to be just a kid who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy.

"Even though I'm just a Genin?"

Hearing Naruto's tone soften slightly, Konohamaru immediately lifted his head, his face lighting up with joy.

"That doesn't matter!"

"Even if I am the 'demon fox' everyone talks about?"

As he spoke, Naruto crouched down in front of Konohamaru, locking eyes with him.

The ever-present grin on his face vanished, and in that moment of exchanged gazes, the distant echoes of countless battles seemed to rise around them.

For an instant, Konohamaru felt as though he was being stared down by some dangerous beast. His limbs stiffened, and even forming coherent words became difficult.

But he forced himself to stand his ground, staring straight into Naruto's deep, ocean-like eyes.

The crushing pressure, heavy as a mountain, bore down relentlessly on Konohamaru's nerves, making time feel agonizingly slow.

Then, just as abruptly as it had come, the oppressive atmosphere dissipated, and Naruto's grin returned.

"Hahahaha, not bad kid! Your name is Konohamaru, right?"

Naruto reached out and clapped Konohamaru on the shoulder.

"Y-yeah! That's right, Boss! I'm Konohamaru!"

Catching the shift in Naruto's tone, Konohamaru's face immediately lit up with excitement.

"Well then, you better brace yourself. Getting stronger isn't as easy as you think."

Having said that, Naruto turned and started walking in another direction.

And Konohamaru eagerly scampered around him, chattering nonstop.

"Boss! Where are we going now? Are we starting Ninjutsu training?"

To his surprise, Naruto just glanced back at him and smirked dismissively.

"With a scrawny little body like yours? No way."

Then, raising a finger, he declared:

"Konohamaru, do you know what the first step to getting stronger is?"

Naruto seemed to slip effortlessly into the role of 'teacher', and Konohamaru ate it up, his face brimming with curiosity.

"First, you have to eat!"

"Only when you're full can you build a strong body!"

"Look at these pathetic muscles of yours-"

As he spoke, Naruto rolled up the loose sleeve of his yukata, revealing the corded muscles underneath. He clenched his fist lightly in the air.

Bang!

A sharp crack erupted from his grip.

"Whoa!!"

Nothing could have been more convincing than this. Konohamaru stared at Naruto with pure admiration, his concept of what made a 'strong person' subtly shifting in a certain direction.

The two of them continued walking, chatting idly as they went.

Only after they'd gone quite a distance did Konohamaru scratch his head and hesitantly speak up.

"Uh, Boss… this doesn't look like the way to a restaurant."

Hearing this, Naruto nodded and flashed Konohamaru a wide grin.

"I know. Just follow me."

"O-oh!!"

Truth be told, since he'd just had a dine-and-dash earlier, it wasn't the best time to hit up another place. He'd just have to make a return visit in a few days.

Besides, the portion sizes in the village's restaurants were downright pitiful, not enough for Naruto.

Hadn't he gotten hungry again right after eating?

'If you wanted a proper meal, hunting for it yourself was the only way.'