"Are you Lord Kazuki?"
Although Mitarashi Anko already had the answer in her heart,
she couldn't help but hesitate as she looked at the youthful face of the young man before her.
She had heard of Kazuki's name before, but she had never actually met him in person.
This was their first meeting.
Anko sighed inwardly.
So young.
Too young.
Her direct superior was unbelievably young.
"It's me," Kazuki nodded.
Mitarashi Anko immediately dropped to one knee, bowing respectfully.
"Mitarashi Anko greets Lord Kazuki."
During the Chunin Exams, Kazuki was Anko's direct superior, so she naturally did not dare to show any disrespect.
"Rise," Kazuki said calmly.
"Yes." Anko stood up, then asked, "Did Lord Kazuki summon me to discuss matters regarding the Chunin Exams?"
"That's right," Kazuki replied. He spoke with humility, "Since I was promoted directly to Jonin by the Hokage, I have never actually participated in the Chunin Exams myself. Now that I've suddenly been appointed as an examiner, there are many details I'm unfamiliar with, and I'll need your guidance."
"…"
Guidance?
Anko sighed inwardly.
Lord Kazuki… Are you sure you're not just showing off?
Even as she thought this, Anko maintained her professional demeanor. She retrieved a scroll from her ninja pouch and handed it to Kazuki.
"Lord Kazuki, I have recorded the details of this Chunin Exam on this scroll.
Hokage-sama has instructed me in advance:
Although you are the chief examiner for the second stage of the Chunin Exams—the Forest of Death—
your role does not require much direct intervention. As your assistant, I will handle most of the arrangements.
However, if any unexpected incidents occur during the exam,
Lord Kazuki, please be prepared to enter the field and ensure the safety of the genin."
"Understood."
Kazuki took the scroll and placed it inside his robe. Then, with a serious expression, he turned to Anko and added:
"By the way, there's something else I need to tell you."
"Yes, Lord Kazuki?" Anko asked respectfully.
"…Eat fewer dango and sweets."
"…Huh?"
Anko blinked, confused.
Meow?
What?
"If you eat too much, you'll gain weight," Kazuki said solemnly. "And then you really will become an 'Aunt Anko.'"
He couldn't help but recall the future Anko from the original timeline—her figure noticeably rounder.
It would be a shame.
Before Anko could react, Kazuki disappeared in a flash, vanishing from sight.
Anko stood there in a daze, staring at the skewers of dango in her hand.
Eat? Not eat?
Her expression twisted into one of extreme conflict.
After discussing the Chunin Exams with Anko,
Kazuki returned home.
As soon as he stepped inside, Tenten walked up to him and said,
"Big brother, Kakashi-sama came by earlier looking for you."
"Kakashi? What did he want?"
To be honest, his relationship with Kakashi wasn't particularly close. They rarely interacted outside of official duties.
"It's about Naruto," Tenten said, frowning slightly. "He's been really down lately.
Ever since he returned from his last mission,
he's been staying at home and hasn't gone out at all."
Even when Kakashi took the initiative to treat his students to barbecue and invited Team 7, Naruto didn't go. That was unusual.
That's why Kakashi-senpai was a little worried. That's why I came to ask you."
"Is there still some problem…?"
Kazuki pondered for a moment before turning to Tenten.
"Alright, I understand. I'll go check on Naruto. You go ahead and eat—you don't have to wait for me."
As soon as he finished speaking, Kazuki vanished from the yard.
However, instead of heading directly to Naruto's apartment, he first stopped by Ichiraku Ramen. After ordering and packing two bowls of ramen, he made his way to Naruto's place and knocked on the door.
After a brief pause, the door creaked open.
Naruto stood there in his pajamas, his hair messy and unwashed for days. He looked disheveled and worn out.
When he saw Kazuki standing at his door, his eyes widened in surprise.
"Big Brother Kazuki? What are you doing here?"
"I brought you something to eat. I figured you haven't been eating properly these past few days."
Kazuki stepped inside, carrying the two bowls of ramen. His gaze swept across the room and landed on the dining table, which was cluttered with empty instant noodle cups that hadn't been thrown away.
"I'll clean up now!"
Embarrassed, Naruto hurried to gather the trash, stuffing everything into a garbage bag and taking it outside. Once the table was cleared, he finally made space for Kazuki.
"Big Brother Kazuki, I—" Naruto started, but Kazuki cut him off.
"Eat first. We'll talk after."
"Oh." Naruto nodded and obediently sat down.
Despite everything he had been feeling, he still listened to Big Brother Kazuki's words.
The room was soon filled with the quiet sound of slurping noodles. The warmth of the ramen was comforting—it was always delicious, and both Kazuki and Naruto loved Ichiraku's food.
By the time they had finished, both of them let out small, satisfied burps.
Naruto's mood had visibly improved.
After cleaning up the dishes, Kazuki ruffled Naruto's hair.
"Let's go for a walk."
"If you keep staying inside like this, you'll end up growing mold."
Naruto lowered his head, his expression darkening again.
Kazuki smirked teasingly. "What's wrong? You don't want to go out with me?"
Naruto quickly shook his head.
"No, it's not that, Big Brother Kazuki!"
"I'll do whatever you ask, but… I just don't really want to go outside right now."
As he spoke, his voice grew softer, and his face was filled with loneliness.
Kazuki sighed.
Dropping his usual playful tone, he walked over, took a seat beside Naruto, and pulled him down to sit as well.
"You don't know how to face the people of Konoha, do you?"
At this point, Naruto was still young.
He hadn't yet met Jiraiya, who would eventually become his mentor and treat him like family.
And because of Kazuki's presence, his bond with Iruka wasn't quite the same as in the original timeline.
Ever since Kazuki had revealed the truth about his parents, Naruto had been forcing himself to smile. But deep down, the weight of everything had been growing heavier.
Alone in his apartment, he kept thinking about his past, about his time in Konoha… and he didn't know what to do.
His parents were heroes who had saved the village.
And yet, as the son of those heroes, he had been used as a vessel to contain the Nine-Tails, Konoha's greatest calamity.
Why, then, did the people of Konoha hate him?
Why was Kazuki the only one who stood by his side?
Why had he been forced to grow up alone, surviving only on the small relief funds provided by the village?
Why did the food he bought sometimes turn out to be leftovers, or even have grit mixed in?
Naruto didn't understand. He truly didn't understand.
After learning the truth from Kazuki, he had even gone out of his way to research his parents.
Kakashi-sensei had been his father's student.
Kakashi-sensei knew he was the son of the Fourth Hokage.
And yet…
Kakashi-sensei never told him anything. He never acknowledged Naruto as the son of the man who had saved the village. He didn't even act like the other sensei who guided their students with patience. More often than not, he showed up late, even for missions.
In this world… other than Big Brother Kazuki, it felt like no one was truly by his side.
Naruto felt utterly alone.
Visit patreon.com/shirokendama for more chapters