Naruto: With Favorabiltity System

Chapter 228: Why Don't I Have Parents

"Really? You mean it?!" Naruto's eyes lit up with excitement at the mention of Ichiraku Ramen.

"I'm starving! Wait… I guess I didn't eat breakfast. Oh well, that doesn't matter. Let's go, mysterious old man!"

"If you don't mind, you can call me Uncle Haneda. And you can also call…"

Haneda pointed to a young man with silver-white hair hiding behind a tree and smiled.

"…Uncle Kakashi."

Kakashi hesitated briefly, then put down the body of the ANBU ninja he had been holding and stepped out from behind the tree.

The night before, Kakashi had returned to the village from the Land of Grass. Early in the morning, he had spotted a child defacing the statue of his late teacher, Minato Namikaze, with graffiti.

Enraged, Kakashi immediately went to catch the mischievous culprit.

Instead, he stumbled upon Haneda and Minato's son, Naruto.

Deciding to keep this matter quiet, Kakashi intercepted the report intended for the Hokage.

"It's been a while, Naruto," Kakashi said, adopting a casual tone as he approached.

"It's been three years, hasn't it? I even carried you in my arms when you were little."

But Naruto, frightened, clung to Haneda's hand, silently pleading for him to take him away.

Kakashi's smile faltered, his expression stiffening.

"He was your father's student. There's no need to be afraid of him—he won't hurt you."

"My father?"

"I don't have parents!"

Naruto hid behind Haneda, instinctively recoiling from the strange man whose aura was heavy with the scent of blood.

"Never mind, let's talk about this later. Right now, he's unfamiliar with us," Haneda said.

"Let's go grab some food at Ichiraku Ramen, Kakashi."

Haneda ruffled Naruto's hair, and in the blink of an eye, he teleported them to the base of the Hokage Rock.

"Ah, I almost forgot—I left a mark here too," Haneda chuckled. Moments later, the two arrived at Ichiraku Ramen.

Seconds later, Kakashi appeared, using the Flying Raijin Technique to join them.

Naruto stared wide-eyed at the sudden change in scenery and Kakashi's instant arrival, his mouth agape.

"This… this is…"

"The Flying Raijin Technique. It's a jutsu your father taught us," Haneda explained.

Before Naruto could fully process what had happened, Haneda guided him to sit on a stool at the ramen stand.

"What's your favorite?"

"Extra-large miso char siu ramen! Extra-large miso char siu ramen! That's my favorite!" Naruto exclaimed, slapping the counter in excitement, confident that Haneda was treating him.

"Two extra-large miso char siu ramen, Teuchi-ojisan!" Haneda ordered.

Hearing this, Kakashi, who had hoped Haneda would also order for him, sighed in resignation and said,

"Teuchi-ojisan, one extra-large miso char siu ramen for me as well. Thank you."

After ordering, Naruto suddenly remembered something.

He recalled Haneda and Kakashi both mentioning his parents, and with a mix of curiosity and doubt, he asked,

"Do you two know my mom and dad?"

Haneda and Kakashi exchanged glances, silently nodding.

"Then why don't I have parents? Everyone else does!"

"Did they not like me? Did they abandon me?"

Naruto's voice trembled as he pressed them for answers.

From a young age, he had overheard others calling him the "demon fox," warning their children not to play with him for fear of being "eaten."

He sometimes wondered if his parents had abandoned him because he was a demon fox, just as some parents discarded disabled or less capable children.

Perhaps… he was one of those children.

Haneda and Kakashi exchanged another look, neither speaking for a moment.

Finally, Haneda broke the silence:

"Your parents loved you very much, but they passed away when you were born."

"In fact, they entrusted you to me before they died. Kakashi was also one of the people they trusted."

"Then why didn't you come to see me sooner? Why?!"

Suddenly, Naruto bolted from the ramen stand, tears streaming down his face as he ran.

Haneda and Kakashi sat in silence for a moment before realizing Naruto had fled.

Haneda quickly got up to chase after him, while Kakashi stayed back at Haneda's request to pack up the ramen.

Ninja speed was not something a child could match. Within seconds, Haneda caught up to Naruto.

He began to explain:

"You were so young back then, and I had important responsibilities to take care of."

"I thought that with Danzo gone, the Third Hokage would treat you well. I never imagined they would still call you the demon fox."

"I'm sorry."

Hearing Haneda's apology, Naruto slowed his pace unconsciously until he finally came to a stop.

"You mean Hokage-jiji?" Naruto asked. "He's always been kind to me."

"No," Haneda replied. "He is the Hokage, but he failed to fulfill his duties as Hokage."

"You are the child of a hero, the son of the Fourth Hokage!"

"Your father was Minato Namikaze. Three years ago, he sacrificed himself to protect Konoha."

"Your mother was Kushina Uzumaki. She also sacrificed herself three years ago."

"You have always been the son of heroes!"

"I don't believe it!" Naruto shouted.

"If I'm the son of heroes, why do they treat me like I'm disgusting? Why do they avoid me and isolate me?"

"Why do they call me the demon fox—the demon fox that killed the Fourth Hokage? Why?!"

Haneda explained, "The Third Hokage deliberately concealed the truth, and Danzo spread rumors that you were the demon fox."

"Those people didn't know the truth. They were deceived."

At that moment, Kakashi arrived, carrying three takeout containers of Ichiraku Ramen.

"Naruto, actually, I…" Kakashi hesitated. "I'm sorry."

"After your father passed away, Iwagakure started a war with Konoha. I was the commander there and couldn't leave the battlefield."

Hearing the word "war," Naruto asked,

"In wars, lots of people die, and there are many orphans like me, right?"

Kakashi nodded. Naruto grabbed one of the ramen containers from Kakashi's hand, wiped his tears, and smiled.

"Alright, fine. For the sake of my favorite extra-large miso char siu ramen, I'll forgive you."

Naruto looked up at Haneda, who then said:

"Whether you hate me or can't forgive me, I'll accept it."

"But there's one thing you need to know: I was chosen by your parents to take care of you, and I will fulfill my duty."

Naruto asked earnestly,

"Will they still call me the demon fox? Will anyone want to play with me?"

Haneda made a solemn promise:

"Soon, I will run for the position of Fifth Hokage."

"As Hokage, I will announce to all of Konoha that you are the son of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. You will always be the child of a hero!"

Pausing for a moment, Haneda softened his tone and added:

"As for friends, no matter what others think of you, the people in my household will never discriminate against you."

"My older brother's two children won't discriminate against you either."

"You will make many great friends."

"You'll no longer have to face loneliness."

Haneda extended his right hand. After a brief hesitation, Naruto took it.

Holding Haneda's hand, Naruto walked with a spring in his step and a radiant smile.

From that day forward, he was no longer the boy everyone rejected.

He would have many friends.

Haneda and Kakashi exchanged a glance and smiled at each other.

…