Chapter 5: Blue sky

Chapter 5

The warm sunlight filtered through the leaves as Saturo and Naruto sat on a flat rock, sharing a modest meal. Rice, dried fish, and a small piece of sweet bean cake — nothing grand, but to Naruto, it was a feast.

As Naruto happily munched on his food, Saturo glanced at him.

"Say, Naruto," he asked casually, "how old are you right now?"

Naruto paused, chewing for a second before answering proudly, "I'm four years old, Saturo-san!"

Saturo blinked, then gave a thoughtful nod. "Hmm…"

"Four…?" he thought. "To be this expressive, this aware… is it the effect of that positive energy flowing in this world? Or… the entity sealed within him?"

He glanced at Naruto again — the way he smiled, the light in his eyes, the scars on his cheeks. "I don't know what it is… but I'll figure it out eventually."

He smiled gently.

Then Naruto tilted his head. "How about you, Saturo-san? How old are you? And why do you dress like that? And… why do you always keep your eyes closed?"

The questions came quickly, one after the other. Naruto's curiosity was showing.

Saturo let out a small chuckle.

"I'm twenty-nine," he said, tapping his chin. "And as for my eyes… they're very sensitive."

"Sensitive?" Naruto repeated, blinking.

"Yes. I can see things normal people can't." Saturo then slowly opened his eyes.

Naruto's breath caught in his throat.

The eyes staring back at him were stunning — clear, pale blue, like the ocean he'd only read about in books. They looked like the sky after the rain. Bright, endless… powerful.

"Woooahh…" Naruto said, stunned. "Your eyes… they're just like mine!"

Saturo chuckled again. "Maybe we're secretly related?"

Naruto's mouth dropped open in shock.

"Kidding," Saturo added quickly, laughing. "And as for my outfit? Well… I was in the middle of fighting a very strong monster before I ended up here. But of course, I'm stronger than that guy. That's why I wear clothes like this — I have to look cool, you know?"

He spoke with his usual confident grin. But inside, his thoughts were distant.

"If only I hadn't let my guard down at the end… I might've survived. I hope my students… could defeat Sukuna..."

His smile faltered for a brief second.

Naruto, sharp in his innocent way, noticed.

"Saturo-san… are you okay?" he asked.

Saturo blinked, then smiled again and ruffled the boy's hair. "Yeah. Just spacing out."

He changed the topic.

"So, Naruto… when does your ninja training begin?"

Naruto's eyes lit up like fireworks.

"When I turn six! So not yet, but soon!"

Saturo noticed the spark — the joy that bloomed every time Naruto heard the word "ninja." It was clear: this dream meant everything to the boy.

But Saturo also noticed other things — the way Naruto's clothes were worn down, the small bruises on his hands, and the subtle look of hunger that no child should have.

"He's an orphan… no support, no one to guide him. Maybe even basic math is a mystery to him."

He gave Naruto a gentle smile.

"Then come here every day," Saturo said.

Naruto blinked. "Huh? Why?"

Saturo leaned back, arms behind his head. "Because I'll train you. Help you become a strong ninja. Maybe even as strong as me."

He grinned smugly.

Naruto's jaw dropped. "R-Really?! You mean it?!"

Saturo gave a confident nod.

Naruto jumped up and down with joy, nearly tripping over his excitement. "YATTA!!!"

Saturo laughed, watching him.

"Poor kid… he doesn't need just strength. He needs guidance. A teacher. A… family."

He looked up at the sky.

"I'll teach him a little — how to fight, how to think. Maybe even how to smile without forcing it."