Naruto walked beside Ino through the streets of Konoha and glanced at her.
"If you're that curious about the secret, how about you buy me dinner at Ichiraku?"
Ino snorted.
"Fine. I'll pay for your ramen. But you better spill the beans."
Naruto chuckled.
"We'll see."
Meanwhile, Inoichi had already arrived at the Hokage Tower.
He remembered Naruto and villagers expressions.
Standing before the Third Hokage, he reported everything that had happened in the market, from Naruto's transformation into Sasuke to the villagers openly driving him away.
The old Hokage listened quietly.
His expression grew heavier with concern.
"This hatred is becoming dangerous."
Inoichi remained silent.
The Hokage looked out the window toward the village below.
"If this continues, Naruto may eventually lose faith in Konoha."
His voice was low.
"And if that happens, becoming a rogue ninja will not be impossible."
Inoichi's expression darkened.
"Then what should we do?"
The Hokage exhaled slowly.
"Bring Naruto to me tomorrow."
"I want to speak with him personally."
Inoichi nodded.
"Understood."
After that, he left the office.
At Ichiraku Ramen, Ayame immediately spotted Naruto approaching.
She greeted both Naruto and Ino.
She flashed a cheerful smile.
"Naruto! Long time no see!"
Naruto smiled.
"Hey, Ayame. Where's your father? I didn't spot him today."
Ayame sighed.
"He's sick today."
She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"So I'm handling everything myself."
Naruto looked around.
The evening crowd was already beginning to gather.
"You look busy."
"I am."
Ayame laughed helplessly.
"The dinner rush hasn't even started yet."
"I barely managed to handle the lunch rush, now, it's going to be even harder."
Naruto looked at Ino.
Then back at Ayame.
"We'll help."
Ino immediately frowned.
"Help? Why would I....."
Naruto looked at her.
"You still want the secret, right?....then help me with helping Ayame"
Ino rolled her eyes.
A few seconds later she sighed in defeat.
"Fine, But just this once...I will listen your words."
The dinner rush arrived soon after.
Naruto quickly transformed into another boy his age to avoid causing trouble for the shop.
Then the three of them got to work.
They carried bowls.
Cleaned tables.
Served customers.
Moved nonstop.
Hours passed.
Even Ino was surprised by how busy the ramen stand became.
When the final customer finally left, Ayame practically collapsed against the counter.
"I'm exhausted."
She laughed weakly.
"But thank you both."
Naruto smiled.
"You survived."
"Barely."
Ayame groaned.
Then she hesitated.
"Naruto..."
"Hm?"
"Can you teach me some ninja basics sometime?"
Naruto smiled.
"Sure. I will help with that."
"But, I want you to give me a job in return for few days..until I become a Genin."
Ayame's face immediately lit up.
"Cool, I will talk about your job with dad, tomorrow."
As thanks, Ayame prepared large bowls of ramen for both Naruto and Ino.
Then she disappeared into the back.
The moment she left, Ino leaned across the counter.
"Alright."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Secret. Now.....or I'll punch you right at the face."
Naruto laughed.
"You're more persistent than I expected."
"Stop stalling."
"Fine."
After hearing the word secret, Ayame secretly eavesdropping them from inside hiding herself behind the door.
Naruto didn't notice.
At least not yet.
He took a deep breath.
"When I was born, the Fourth Hokage sealed a demon inside me."
Ino froze.
"A demon?"
"What kind of demon?"
Naruto nodded and says.
"The Nine-Tailed Fox."
Her eyes widened.
Naruto continued.
"Years ago it attacked the village."
"Caused lot of destruction to life and property"
"The Fourth Hokage sacrificed his life to seal it inside me."
The smile on Ino's face slowly disappeared.
"It was supposed to stay secret."
Naruto looked down at his bowl.
"But somehow people got this very info, which was supposed to stay a secret"
"Ever since then, they look at me and see the Nine tails."
"Not Naruto."
"Blaming me, for thier loss of family and property, which I never did"
Ino sat quietly.
For the first time, many things started making sense.
Her mother's warnings.
(Ino remembered her mom's words, as her mom always warns her to not to talk with Naruto and not to get close with him. She didn't understand why her mom said those words at that time. But, now she finally understand it.)
The villagers' hatred.
The strange looks at Naruto, when ever he is in public.
Everything.
Behind the doorway, Ayame felt her chest tighten.
She had always known people treated Naruto badly.
But hearing the reason directly from him felt different.
Much different.
Naruto noticed the sympathy appearing in Ino's eyes.
He immediately shook his head.
"Don't pity me."
Ino blinked.
"I'm not..."
"You are."
Naruto pointed his chopsticks at her.
"I can see it."
"getting pity from you and others is the least thing I want."
He then started eating ramen, placing chops in bowl.
"That's why I never told anyone this story."
"I told you because you asked me."
"I dislike, when other show pity."
"pity will not give me strength, It will only show me...."
"I am weaker"
Ino looked away awkwardly.
"I understand. You don't need to say this much"
Naruto laughed.
Then he took another bite of ramen.
"Besides."
"There is another confidential village secret about me."
Immediately, Ino turned back.
"What?"
Naruto smirked.
"No."
Ino nearly slammed her hands on the counter.
"What do you mean no?!"
Naruto looked genuinely amused.
"That's a story for another day."
"Naruto!"
Behind the doorway, Ayame leaned forward even more.
Another secret?
Now she wanted to know it too.
Naruto suddenly turned his head.
His eyes landed directly on the doorway.
"we've got a snooping cat to catch."
Ino blinked in confusion, "What snooping cat?"
"Ayame."
Ayame froze.
"You can come out now."
Silence.
Then Ayame slowly stepped out.
Her face was completely red.
Ino stared.
"Ayame?!"
Ayame looked embarrassed.
"Sorry..."
"I didn't mean to listen."
Naruto raised an eyebrow.
"You were practically breathing down the wall."
Ino burst out laughing.
Ayame covered her face.
Naruto smiled.
"It's fine."
"At this point, It's not exactly a secret anymore if whole village knows it"
Then his expression became a little more serious.
"But let's keep it between us."
Ayame nodded immediately. "I promise."
Ino nodded as well. "I won't tell anyone."
Ayame prepared another round of ramen.
This time she made one for herself too.
The three sat together eating and talking.
The atmosphere became much lighter.
Stories were exchanged.
Jokes were shared.
Laughter occasionally filled the small ramen stand.
Without realizing it, the three grew a little bit closer.
Later that night, Naruto escorted Ino home.
When they reached her street, she stopped.
For a moment neither spoke.
Then Ino looked at him.
"You know..."
"Hm?"
"You're not what I expected."
"you are very different from your previous personality"
Naruto smiled faintly.
"Ohhh...."
"Most people aren't."
Ino stared at him for a second.
Then she huffed and looked away.
"Don't get smug."
Naruto chuckled.
"Too late."
As Naruto walked away, Ino watched his back disappear down the street.
The image lingered in her mind longer than she expected.
Annoying.
Interesting.
After Naruto taken a turn from the roads, his back is no longer in the sight of Ino.
Naruto stopped there.
His facial expression got changed....
Dark. Cold.
He is visibly frustrated.
He don't know where it started.
How he respond to Inoichi and Ino, Pathetically.
This girl talk, laughter, jokes, stories.
Everything was an act.
Naruto thinks, 'I wanted allies, I got no connections, I got no strength. Becoming rogue means he will be slave to others or leave his mind to nine tails. Konaha is peaceful compared to others....'
with that same frustrated face he enters his apartment.
Then he sleeps in his apartment.
(...to be continued)