New family member

It had been three months since Naruto and I had become inseparable friends. In that short time, I had seen firsthand the harshness of his world—the way the villagers looked at him with fear and disdain, treating him as though he were some kind of monster. The weight of their hatred was suffocating, and it hurt me to see how deeply it affected him. The worst of it all was when he was thrown out of the orphanage, a place that was supposed to be a refuge for children like him. My heart ached for him; how could anyone treat an innocent child so cruelly?

About a month ago, I couldn't bear to see him suffer any longer. I gathered my courage and asked my parents if Naruto could live with us. I was terrified they might say no, but to my surprise and immense relief, they agreed without hesitation. My parents, both former ninja, understood more than most the importance of compassion. When the Hokage learned of Naruto's new living situation through his ANBU, I acted the part of the concerned friend perfectly—not that it was entirely an act. The Hokage decided to continue providing us with the same monthly stipend that Naruto's previous apartment had received. My parents, who were well-off merchants and didn't need the money, initially refused, but the Hokage was adamant, and they eventually accepted.

Despite all this, one thing gnawed at me—the constant presence of ANBU around Naruto. I knew it was for his safety, but it made my own training more complicated. I had to be cautious, always mindful of the silent watchers in the shadows. Yet, as the days passed, Naruto became like a little brother to me, and our home felt warmer with his presence. I couldn't help but feel a mix of joy and sorrow—joy that he had found some semblance of a family with us, and sorrow that he had been denied one for so long. It broke my heart to see how quickly he latched onto me as a sister figure, so eager for the love and acceptance he had been starved of his whole life.

Today was a day of reckoning. Naruto and I had devised a plan to expose the cruelty of Konoha's shopkeepers. We approached the Hokage with a serious request: to follow us in disguise and witness something important. He looked at our determined faces and, after a moment of consideration, agreed. With a quick transformation, he became an ordinary villager, while his ANBU trailed behind us at a distance.

We made our way to a grocery store, the Hokage and I hanging back while Naruto went inside. I could feel the tension in the air, my heart pounding with a mix of anger and sadness. I knew what was coming, and I braced myself for the inevitable. The shopkeeper's reaction was swift and brutal. Upon recognizing Naruto, he exploded with anger, his voice dripping with venom as he hurled insults and threw Naruto out like he was nothing more than trash. My chest tightened, and I had to force myself to breathe as I watched the Hokage's face. His expression was one of controlled fury, but beneath it, I saw something that almost broke me—regret. Deep, painful regret.

He turned to Naruto, his voice low and filled with unspoken sorrow. "Naruto, is this the only shop that has treated you this way?"

Naruto's shoulders slumped, and he looked down at the ground, his voice barely above a whisper. "No, Jiji. Except for old man Teuchi, everyone either throws me out or gives me expired food. Sakura nee-chan saw this and brought me to her home."

I watched as the Hokage's eyes softened, the weight of Naruto's words pressing down on him like a heavy burden. "I'm so sorry, Naruto. How about you and Sakura meet me in a few hours? I will take care of this matter. Crow will come with you."

Hearing the name "Crow," my mind raced. Itachi… Was this an opportunity? I couldn't let it slip through my fingers.

After the Hokage handed us some spending money, I decided it was time to help Naruto shed his old image—starting with that bright orange outfit that screamed for attention. We entered a clothing store, and although the salesperson tried to give us trouble, they quickly backed down under Itachi's intimidating gaze. We found Naruto some new clothes, something more fitting for a shinobi-in-training.

As we left the store, I decided to engage Itachi in conversation. "Thank you, Anbu-san," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

He responded with a simple "Hmm," but I could sense the weight of his presence beside us.

Taking a deep breath, I pressed on. "Anbu-san, could you play ninja with us?" I asked, looking up at him with what I hoped were convincing puppy eyes.

To my delight, Naruto's face lit up with excitement. "You'll never catch me, Dattebayo!" he shouted, his voice full of youthful exuberance.

What followed was pure chaos—Naruto dashing through the streets with boundless energy, laughing and shouting as Itachi and I tried to keep up. For a little while, we were just kids, free from the burdens and pain that usually weighed us down. I glanced at Itachi and noticed something unexpected—a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. For all his stoicism, even he couldn't resist Naruto's infectious spirit.

After what felt like hours, we returned to meet the Hokage. His expression was serious as he informed us that he had ordered his ANBU to intervene if anyone treated Naruto poorly from now on. He then asked if there was any reward I wanted for bringing this issue to his attention.

The question caught me off guard. I hadn't planned for this, but I knew I had to be careful. This was an opportunity, and I couldn't afford to waste it. "Hokage-sama, in seven months, I will be joining the Ninja Academy. I would like someone to train me in fitness once I join. If possible, could Naruto also join?"

The Hokage studied me for a long moment, and I felt a flicker of nervousness under his scrutiny. "Tell me, why do you wish to become a shinobi?"

I took a deep breath, my voice trembling with the weight of my conviction. "Because I need to be strong. Only if I am strong can I protect those I love, and only then can I prevent innocent children from suffering the way Naruto has."

For a moment, there was silence. Then the Hokage nodded, his eyes filled with an emotion I couldn't quite place—pride, perhaps? "Very well. If you enter the academy with high scores, I will grant your request. Naruto can join you as well."

Relief flooded through me, and I couldn't help but smile. "Thank you, Hokage-sama."

Naruto, ever the bright light in the room, beamed up at the Hokage. "Thanks, Jiji! I'll become the strongest ninja ever and protect Sakura nee-chan, dattebayo!"

And then the system alerts chimed in:

[Ding! Quest generated!]

[Get to top ten at Academy entrance exam

Rewards: 5000 Exp, Jonin trainer, New feature unlocking]

[Ding! Hidden quest completed!]

[Get the Hokage to acknowledge you.

Exp gained: 1000

Money: +1000 Ryo (will be available once inventory is unlocked)]

I quickly checked my status, feeling a surge of excitement and anticipation.

[LVL 8

INT: 20 >> 23

WIS: 17 >> 20

STR: 10 >> 15

CC: 10 >> 12

DEX: 5 >> 7

SPD: 9 >> 12

VIT: 200 (12/hr)]

Points: 16]

<< Skill >>

[Meditation LVL MAX]: +1 INT to each LVL

[Cooking LVL MAX]: Food cooked can fill chakra and VIT

With these new gains, my resolve hardened. The journey ahead was long and filled with challenges, but I was more determined than ever. I wouldn't just be strong—I would be strong enough to protect those I loved, no matter the cost. And with Naruto by my side, I knew we could achieve anything.