Hi, everyone! MERRY BELATED CHRISTMAS! ^_^ How were all your Christmas and what'd you get? I'd tell you guys about mine but you all don't really care for that XP Lemme start by saying I'm SO happy people are enjoying this story especially considering it's a Boruto story and we know of Boruto's uh…less than stellar….for a lack of better words, reputation in the Naruto community. Then again I suppose such an idea like my story is rather unique then, haha. Thank you all so much as your support is what helps motivate me to complete this story so I hope you all continue to continue reading all the way 'til the end!
Now with all that said, let Chapter 3 commence! ^_^
As Team Konohamaru pulled themselves together, it was only now they realized the pitch black void they found themselves standing in.
"What…just happened?" Sarada asked, wiping her eyes.
"My guess is that was just one of the memories we're going to be experiencing and we got everything we needed to know out of that particular memory." Mitsuki said.
"I still can't believe it though….I never thought….dad's own birth would be so…hellacious." Boruto muttered, wiping and getting every last bit of moisture from his eye.
"At least that explains why Lord Seventh was an orphan as a child." Sarada folded her arms.
"I wonder what else we're gonna discover in these memories…." Boruto looked down at the hand that adorned the diamond shaped seal on it.
"We'll find out soon enough, that's for sure." Mitsuki said.
"And besides you signed up for it so don't tell me you're chickening out, you big cry baby." Sarada smirked as Boruto returned her amused expression with one of his own.
"Me? No way!" Boruto snorted as Sarada playfully smacked Boruto's right shoulder as Mitsuki put his hand on Boruto's left shoulder.
"Now since that's out of the way, I can only wonder what the next memory has in store for us." Mitsuki smiled.
Almost as if granting Mitsuki's request, the bluish-purple fog suddenly appeared, enveloping the team as it encompassed them for the next memory to appear.
As the fog finished consuming the Team, they noticed they were right in the Middle of the Leaf Village.
"We're in the Leaf Village?" Boruto asked as the team noticed it was early morning as the sun was slowly rising.
"And look! The new city is gone!" Sarada pointed to where the New City would normally be located.
"Well given how this is several years in the past, it makes sense why it wouldn't be anywhere around. C'mon, let's walk around." Mitsuki said as the team followed suit.
The first thing the team noticed was how more traditionally architectural the Leaf Village of the past looked as compared to the more futuristic design they were used to. For instance, there weren't any trains nor were the restaurants that the team would frequent were around.
Thanks to his voyage to the past, this wasn't a shock to Boruto as it was to Sarada and Mitsuki.
"Wow…I never realized how dated everything was…." Sarada noted.
"It can't be helped….we're at least twenty years in the past." Mitsuki noted, not having a clear idea on how old Naruto could be in this current memory, "After all, this could be when Lord Seventh was the same newborn infant he was in the last memory or it could be when he's our age."
"One thing's for sure. It's definitely before Granny Tsunade was Hokage." Boruto said as he pointed to the Great Stone Faces as there were four heads, the faces of Hashirama, Tobirama, Hiruzen and Minato.
It was up on the Great Stone Faces where the team noticed a small blip on top of one of the heads.
"What's that up there?" Boruto pointed as the team then noticed where Boruto's finger was.
"Beats me. Let's find out." Sarada said as the three made their way to where the Hokage tower was.
As soon as they reached the Hokage tower, they all gasped as they got their answer. On top of the head of ironically the Fourth Hokage, was none other than a young Naruto Uzumaki who looked to be no older than three years old.
"D-dad!?" Boruto asked before covering his mouth, not wanting to scare the young toddler.
"It's a memory, remember?" Mitsuki laughed as Boruto blushed in embarrassment.
"What in the nine hells is Lord Seventh doing atop of a large rock from such a huge distance!? He can't be any older than two or three!" Sarada nearly pulled her hair out of her hair as she couldn't imagine doing any of this as a toddler. Her mother would've smacked her silly if she even thought of something so insane?
"Well it's not like he has any parents around to tell him anything from right from wrong…" Boruto sadly said as Sarada looked down as Mitsuki frowned.
"During this time period it was said that Hiruzen Sarutobi took the mantle of Hokage after Lord Fourth passed away." Mitsuki explained to his teammates.
"Well where the hell is he and why isn't he getting this child down from there!?" Sarada glared before the team noticed that Naruto was looking off into the distance with a forlorn expression…almost one of…longing.
"I wonder what he's thinking…." Boruto asked as he saw his young father raise his hand, almost as if he were trying to capture the big, wide sun in the sky only to have the shadow of the clouds block his field of vision.
It was then Naruto noticed several birds squawking in the sky as they flew off. Such a spectacle brought a smile to the young boy only for it to go away as they left.
Naruto only sighed before getting down and making his way down to the village.
"What was all that about?" Boruto asked as Sarada frowned at the young child.
"It was….him realizing he's not good enough…." Sarada explained as Boruto raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?" Boruto asked.
"What Sarada means is that Lord Seventh realizes in the end, he's nothing but a small fish in a big pond. He may be mighty and powerful now, but he started off as just a regular kid like everyone else." Mitsuki clarified for the blonde. Although he was probably the last person to say that given his unique origins.
"Pretty hard to believe given what he has inside of him…." Boruto mused as the three followed after the young boy.
As he walked through the village, the team noticed several middle-aged women whisper about it.
"I hear it's true…" A woman with black hair whispered to her friend, a woman with light brown colored hair.
"That boy, huh?" Her friend whispered back as they both looked at the child with expressions full of fear and disgust.
"What's their problem?" Sarada asked, not particularly liking their attitude as Boruto remembered Jiraiya's words to him…
"The Fourth Hokage sealed the Nine Tailed within Naruto who was just a newborn. Naruto became the vessel for the Nine Tailed Fox Spirit for the benefit of the village. But the adults in the village don't see Naruto that way.
"It's like Master Jiraiya said…..the Nine Tails was sealed in dad to save everyone but these bastards are too damn ungrateful to differentiate between the demon and its jailor." Boruto spat with pure disgust in his voice as he clenched his fist, barely able to control his anger that was steadily rising as Naruto had clearly heard their words as he stopped walking.
It was a treatment that he was clearly used to, given his body language.
"…It looks like…he's used to this…." Boruto growled out as Sarada blinked, trying to stop her tears.
"He looks to be around three…a three year old shouldn't be going through treatment like that." Sarada sadly commented as though Mitsuki didn't say anything, he shared his teammates' feelings of disgust and disbelief.
He looked hurt and seriously close to crying before he felt something small and rubbery hit his legs.
Naruto smiled as he grasped the ball tightly. Was someone finally going to be nice to him?
"Hey don't play with him."
That comment shattered Naruto's feelings of hopes like a stack of dominos as the ball had come from a small girl. The source of the comment was an older man, potentially her father who held onto her tightly, looking at Naruto as if he had kicked the man's dog.
"Get out of here. You're not wanted here!" The man growled, holding his daughter close as several of the adults murmured their feelings of hatred and consternation.
Naruto nearly teared up and broke down right then and there before he gathered himself together and left.
As Naruto walked around the village, it was the same treatment every time he got if he so much as stepped into public.
"Look it's him!"
"Such a freak!"
"I heard Lord Fourth died for him."
"Where are his parents?"
"They probably abandoned him. I would to, having something like that for a son!"
That last comment set off Boruto as a vein pulsed on his forehead as he breathed hard and slow.
"You bastards! I'll show you a freak!" Boruto yelled, having to be restrained by Mitsuki.
"Boruto, remember this is a memory." Mitsuki reminded his friend although he understood his reasons for being mad and couldn't blame him for being upset.
"Ugh, to think Grandpa died for these bastards! It probably would've been better if they were blown to bits from the Nine Tails." Boruto snarled.
"Boruto, I understand how you're feeling but to say that is going a bit too far, isn't it?" Sarada asked as Boruto scoffed.
"'Too far'? You tell me any of these villagers that we've seen so far that honestly honored Grandpa's wishes for dad to get a hero's treatment." Was all Boruto answered as both teammates were silent…realizing he was indeed right.
Naruto tried his best ward off and ignore all the hateful scowls and degrading comments before coming across a particular shop. It had the Kanji for "Ichiraku" on the outside flap and the delicious aroma of ramen wafted through the air as Naruto felt his stomach rumble in hunger. He searched his pockets before realizing he had no money. Naruto grunted before running off, as the villagers scoffed at his retreating back.
"Wait, so if that Hiruzen guy is back, where is he? Why isn't he helping out dad!?" Boruto asked, frustrated at the Third Hokage who was apparently back in power, yet did nothing to help his starving father.
"I'm sure Lord Third has a lot to tend to. The village did suffer a lot after the Nine Tails and that masked man attacked it." Sarada tried reasoning with her teammate who only scoffed in return.
"You mean to tell me he can't drop in once a while to check up on dad and make sure he's okay? For all the hell I gave dad, he came home to help Himawari and I when we both got sick." Boruto argued back as once again, his teammates had nothing to say.
Naruto then made his way to where he lived, a small apartment complex as he opened the door before letting himself. The team noticed in was moderately clean before Naruto let himself in.
The team were disturbed to see that a young child was left alone in an apartment complex all by himself.
Boruto, not so much due to already seeing his father's childhood home but it didn't stop him from being disgusted regardless.
"Who leaves a child all alone in a building like this?" Sarada asked, crossing her arms, disgusted, wishing she could do something to ease Naruto's pain but alas this was just a memory, events that have already happened.
"Remember, this is the Shinobi World where children are bred to be soldiers as young as five and six." Mitsuki reminded his teammates.
"Yeah but it doesn't mean we have to like it." Boruto frowned as they followed Naruto all the way to his room where he slumped onto his back on his bed.
It was then where the tears Naruto held back finally released themselves.
"….Why? Why doesn't anyone like me? Why don't I have any parents? Why am I always…alone?" Naruto bit his lips as his tears continued following as Team Konohamaru's hearts all went out to the young boy.
"Dad…" Naruto teared up as he tried putting a comforting head on Naruto's head only to pass right through him, making him growl in frustration as he felt like utter trash for the fact that he couldn't do anything to ease his dad's pain. All they could do was just watch it pain….
It was frustrating!
"Lord Seventh…Your parents loved you very much and they gave their lives for you because of their love for you." Sarada gulped back her tears.
"To act like this towards a child…it's clearly inhumane…" Mitsuki shook his head as Naruto wiped his eyes before starting to head out of his apartment building before going to a forest outside of the village, much to the team's curiosity.
"Uh, where is he going?" Sarada asked.
"Guess we'll find out." Boruto shrugged as they followed Naruto all the way to a river stream in a forest where Naruto ran across to where there were several wooden like targets set up.
Naruto grabbed several pebbles before lunging them at the targets, hitting them with ease, making Naruto smile.
"Wait, Lord Seventh can't be older than three here!" Sarada pointed out, amazed at how he hit the targets.
"Yeah so how is a three year old just as good as seasoned ninja?" Boruto blinked.
"It could be that maybe he set those targets himself and he's gotten adapted over time to what he, himself set up." Mitsuki assumed.
"Okay but where could a three year old get all those tools? Or better yet why aren't more adults watching over him?" Sarada asked in disbelief that any three year old could run so amuck with no adult supervision. Even when she was seven, she was practically on a leash by her mother.
"With everything we've seen, do you honestly need to ask?" Mitsuki asked, humbling Sarada.
While he felt an inner victory at hitting the traps he set for himself, his hunger couldn't be ignored as he suddenly noticed several mushrooms around in the area.
"Wow! I wonder if this is all good!" Naruto asked.
Sarada scanned over all of the mushrooms that Naruto selected with a watchful eye before turning to her teammates.
"Thankfully none of those are poisonous." Sarada clarified for her teammates, thankful for the time she stole and read one of her mother's medical books about food items that were and were not poisonous.
"Well that'a a relief." Boruto rolled his eyes as Mitsuki merely chuckled.
With a trusty hotspot, several mushrooms were collected before Naruto steadily boiled and cooked them before going fishing in a river stream with the help of a string and stick.
It was around evening time when Naruto finally chowed down on his dinner, relieved to be getting some food in his stomach.
"Huh? Who knew dad was such a good cook?" Boruto tilted his head, remembering all the times Naruto would beg Hinata to make him dinner as well as the times he would notice the empty ramen cups on his desk.
"It could be that since he's either become accustomed to eating Ramen at some point in his life that's what he's bothered to eat or he's just decided to go lazy since Mrs. Hinata is such a good cook." Mitsuki surmised with a smile, remembering how tasty the cake she made was.
"I wonder…what caused his ramen addiction anyways…" Sarada put her hand to her chin in thought before a figure came up behind Naruto, making him nearly drop the fish he finished eating.
The man was elderly with spiky white hair and wore a red Kimono under a white set of robes.
"W-who are you?" Naruto asked, suddenly wishing he was a ninja in case this man was a dangerous case of "Stranger Danger".
The man merely smiled at the young boy.
"Me? I'm just an old man passing through." The old man smiled at the young boy.
"Hey, I recognize him from the pictures in dad's office! That's the Third Hokage!" Boruto pointed at Hiruzen in a mixture of shock and anger.
"Wow, it is! I wonder how strong he is…" Sarada marveled at the sight of the Third Hokage while Mitsuki was silent, remembering his father's story of his failed invasion of the Leaf Village.
"Why the hell didn't he do anything for dad!? He's out here starving while that old guy is just chilling all day?" Boruto growled.
"Boruto, I'm sure he wants to help Lord Seventh but look at him, he came back in a state where he wasn't in his physical prime anymore. Not to mention he has to help bring stability to a village that was recently destroyed so he obviously has a lot on his plate." Sarada tried reasoning with her friend who sighed.
"…If you say so…" Boruto muttered.
However, Hiruzen's attention was drawn to the smell of Naruto's freshly cooked fish as his stomach let out a famished gurgle, much to the old man's embarrassment and much to Team Konohamaru's amusement.
"How embarrassing!" Boruto snickered as Naruto also found this funny as he began laughing while Hiruzen even laughed a little, albeit his was in embarrassment.
"Here gramps, eat this." Naruto smiled, handing the old man one of his fish sticks.
"Oh thank you. This looks so good." Hiruzen looked over the fish, amazed that such a young boy could catch and grill a fish so well as Naruto smiled bashfully.
"Heh, well I caught it. So of course, it's gonna taste good!" Naruto proudly stated.
"Oh is that so?" Hiruzen humored the young boy before tasting the fish and yelping as the hot food touched his tongue, "Hot, hot!"
After cooling his tongue off and getting a couple of bites in on his fish stick, he and Naruto stared into the nighttime sky.
"Look at those stars. Each one of those stars is like our world's sun. What do you think? The sheer amount is incredible, eh?" Hiruzen smiled, looking at the starry night as he was no doubt recounting the period of time when he was Naruto's age.
"The sun? That giant thing that shines in the sky during the day?" Naruto tilted his head curiously.
"Yes. This world is boundless." Hiruzen explained to Naruto who looked amazed at Hiruzen's knowledge.
"Oh yeah? You sure know a lot, gramps!" Naruto energetically grinned as Hiruzen chuckled at the young boy's enthusiasm.
"Compared to the vastness of the world, man's existence is very insignificant. The things that insignificant humans fret about are petty indeed." Hiruzen said to the young boy whose eyes marveled in awe at the man's knowledge.
Team Konohamaru were just as amazed.
"Man…this old guy really knows his stuff…..everyone's own plights they may complain about don't really matter in the long run and can easily be resolved if they all sit and talk about it…" Boruto's eyes softened as he remembered his previously strained relationship with his father before they were finally able to talk things through and their relationship had improved tremendously as a result.
"Yeah….kinda like dad and me…" Sarada's gaze softened, thinking of her and Sasuke. Sasuke had really been trying to make up for not being there for Sarada during that Parent and Child Day festival not too long ago and how did she repay him? By essentially scoffing and belittling his efforts.
"And even when we had our disagreements, you both forgave and took me back." Mitsuki smiled at his teammates as Boruto playfully smacked his shoulder.
"You're one of us, man. Now and forever." Boruto smirked.
"Of course." Sarada smiled.
Naruto looked at the stars above as he looked deep in thought.
"No kidding. The world is big, huh?" Naruto asked as Hiruzen merely nodded in response.
"It goes on and on…." Naruto muttered, more to himself than Hiruzen before both of their stomachs growled in unison, making both of them blush and Team Konohamaru snicker before they both looked at each other and laugh.
Naruto then boiled his small hot pot as the mushrooms started to boil.
"Do you want some mushroom soup, gramps?" Naruto asked.
"Are you sure you can spare me some?" Hiruzen raised an eyebrow.
"Sure! You tell great stories, gramps!" Naruto grinned.
"I see! Are you sure these mushrooms are safe?" Hiruzen looked at the soup skeptically.
"Won't know until we try!" Naruto laughed as Team Konohamaru face-palmed at Naruto.
"I hope they're not poisoned." Sarada shook her head.
"At least we know he survives." Boruto sighed as Mitsuki chuckled.
"At least this is a lighter memory than the previous one." Mitsuki joked as Boruto and Sarada couldn't agree with him.
"By the way, who are you old man?" Naruto asked, handing Hiruzen a bowl of Mushroom Soup.
"I am Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage." Hiruzen smiled as Naruto looked at the man in shock.
"Wait, you're the 'Hokage' everyone drools over?" Naruto asked as Hiruzen chuckled at Naruto's choice of words.
"Yes I suppose I am." Hiruzen chuckled as Naruto looked at Hiruzen curiously. The way the Hokage were treated was the exact opposite of how Naruto was treated.
While Naruto was ostracized and ignored, Hiruzen was praised and loved.
Naruto's eyes became downcast as he looked at his now empty bowl.
"…If you're the Hokage then….that means everyone likes you…no one…hates you…" Naruto looks down as Hiruzen looked at the boy with a raised eyebrow.
"…Where does this come from, Naruto?" Hiruzen asked as Naruto looked down as he bit his lip.
"…D-do you….think…I can…become Hokage?" Naruto asked in a voice that didn't sound like himself.
He sounded so frail…almost…broken…
"Lord Seventh…he doesn't sound as confident like he normally does….he sounds so…..fragile…" Sarada frowned as Boruto clenched his fist.
"Because of those bastard villagers. Getting treated like that as a little kid would hurt anyone's confidence…even dad's…." Boruto barely kept the disgust out of his voice as Mitsuki put a comforting hand on Boruto's shoulder.
"At least he became the powerful leader he always wanted to be." Mitsuki smiled as Boruto sighed, not believing how much things changed to the villagers actually crying and grieving over Naruto's fate when he was thought to have been killed by Momoshiki and Kinshiki.
Hiruzen frowned before giving the young boy a warm smile.
"You can become anything if you put your mind to it…." Hiruzen ruffled Naruto's hair as something changed in Naruto's eyes.
A light sparkled and it was something that Team Konohamaru instantly recognized. It was the twinkle of endless confidence and perseverance that let everyone know he could achieve and overcome anything.
"Regardless, if you need anything Naruto, please just know I'm here for you." Hiruzen ruffled Naruto's hair before taking his leave.
Naruto teared up before wiping his eyes and grinning, "YEAH!"
The next morning then came as Naruto laid atop the head of the Fourth Hokage, looking off into the sky, deep in thought.
"…So that's how…." Sarada began.
"Dad got his dream for the future…" A smile adorned Boruto's face as he thought about the kind of man this young Naruto would grow up to be.
"He's right….compared to the world, I'm just….I'm so small, whatever I do…" Naruto murmured in thought.
"Yeah but you'll grow up to become one heck of a man." Mituski amusingly mused.
"Yep!" Boruto smirked.
"But I'm me. That's who I am!" Naruto smirked before doing something completely reckless, he jumped straight off of the Great Stone Faces.
…..
"WHAT THE HELL!?" Sarada and Boruto simultaneously yelled.
Mitsuki only smiled in amusement and amazement.
"So that's where Boruto gets his bashfulness from." Mitsuki smiled as Boruto glared at him.
"Not like that! He can't be older than three!" Boruto pointed out as Sarada shook his head.
"Where is Lord Hiruzen and why isn't he stopping him!?" Sarada looked ready to rip her hair out as she feared Naruto was going to make her get a couple of gray hairs in her memories. Just how did her mother deal with Naruto when he was like that?
"Probably dealing with paperwork." Boruto dryly stated with an eye roll as Sarada blushed, remembering those were her earlier words.
"I'M GONNA BE THE HOKAGE ONE DAY!" Naruto yelled before the scene blackened ending the memory.
"…Well that was definitely…something…" Boruto muttered, still not over his three year old father jumping off from such a high distance. How he didn't squish like a bug was beyond him.
"So that's how Lord Seventh got his dream…." Sarada noted.
"And at least we know he achieves his dream." Mitsuki smiled.
"Yeah…but I wonder what the next memory's gonna be?" Boruto asked and as if granting him his request, the bluish-purple fog enveloped the team before they found themselves standing in the Leaf Village.
Although they found that the village on this particular day was very rainy.
"Ugh, I can't believe this!" Sarada groaned, never liking the rain and was grateful the rain couldn't touch her.
"Where's dad?" Boruto asked, running as he tried finding his father before the sound of a door roughly being shoved open got his attention.
"And stay out!" The voice of a man shouted out as a young boy's cry of pain got the team's attention, Team Konohamaru, instantly recognizing that voice.
"Hey that's dad!" Boruto said as he and his team ran to finding Naruto on his butt in a puddle of rain as the young boy looked at what appeared to be the owner of the shop in a look of grief and anger.
"What's the deal old man? I was just looking at your yummy smelling bread and pastries…" Naruto muttered, his stomach emanating a low grumble.
"He's starving again?" Boruto asked, his right hand clenched in righteous rage. What he wouldn't give to smack this asshole in the face.
"I've got nothing to sell you so get out! I don't like pests anyways!" The bakery owner snarled, Sarada being unnerved to the point as she took a step back in apprehension. It looked like this man seriously wanted to harm Naruto.
"C'mon, I'm hungry….can't I have a nibble?" Naruto asked, pulling his pockets out for emphasis showing he's broke.
To say Team Konohamaru was disgusted was an understatement.
"Old man Hiruzen's too busy, huh!? You have a hungry kid here and this asshole here looks like he wants to kill him!" Boruto shouted, wishing he could smack this man in the head with his vanishing Rasengan.
"…I…I…" As even Sarada who idolized the Hokage to the point of hero-worshipping couldn't answer.
Mitsuki even pondered, questioning for a second, if his father was wrong in his previous resentment of this village.
"No, monsters like you aren't welcome here." The man spat, barely restraining himself from smacking the young boy in the face.
"Now get out, brat!" The man spat before slamming the door hard.
Boruto was having to be restrained by his teammates.
"That bastard! How can he do that to a kid!?" Boruto yelled, wishing he could give that asshole a piece of his mind.
Boruto roughly shoved his teammates off as his teammates weren't faring any better in their feelings of disgust, understanding his feelings of anger and grief.
"I wonder how Lord Seventh could ever grow to want to protect guys like that…" Sarada spat out as Mitsuki shook his head.
"That just goes to show how kind of a person he is." Mitsuki said.
"I know…..and to think I thought he was just a scumbag…" Boruto shook his head, remembering how he used to actually think his father didn't care about him? If anything…with the type of environment he had to grow up in, it makes sense he wasn't as adept as being a father like Shikadai's or Chocho's.
Team Konohamaru followed as it was the same thing with Naruto entering a shop with him getting shoved out and warned to never come back by the owners of several bakeries, cafes and restaurants.
The villagers around merely scoffed at Naruto's sight.
"To think Lord Hokage would soil our village with that brat!"
"I know, our village has fallen!"
"To think Lord Fourth is dead instead of him."
"It should've been him instead."
"Such a little monster. I don't want my kids associating with him one bit!"
"He even comes near my kid and I'll yank them aside myself."
Sarada was in tears seeing Naruto harshly treated at such a young age while Boruto and Mitsuki could barely contain their distaste at the treatment of such a young boy.
"Lord Seventh…" Sarada choked as it was breaking her heart to see a young boy being denied food just for being the container of a demon.
"And these are the people Grandma and Grandpa died for…unbelievable…" Boruto snarled clenching his fists hard to the point where it started to hurt him but it didn't matter as it was nothing compared to the pain Naruto was going through. It was driving him crazy hearing Naruto's stomach rumble as he was being denied nourishment.
Naruto continued trekking through the rain before coming across a shop, the same shop with the name "Ichiraku" on the outer flap of the restaurant shack.
Soaked and cold, Naruto hesitantly looked into the shop before coming across a young man with closed eyes.
"Who is that?" Sarada asked, her eyes dry as Boruto smiled.
"That's Old Man Teuchi!" Boruto smiled in recognition of the younger version of Teuchi.
"Teuchi?" Mitsuki asked.
"He's the owner of Ichiraku Ramen! Or was…until Big Sis Ayame took over…I wonder how he's doing…" Boruto smiled despite his sour mood.
Teuchi immediately noticed the young boy and smiled as he extended a hand forward.
"Come on in here, little boy. It's safe." Teuchi warmly encouraged the young boy to enter the shop.
Naruto however, used to the horrible treatment of the villagers, tensed up before slowly creeping out of the shop.
"Wait! Come back! I promise I won't do you wrong." Teuchi called out to the young boy who meekly came into the shop, something that shocked the team of genin watching. Seeing that such a confident person like Naruto being reduced to a timid, frightened toddler was something that made even Mitsuki unnerved and on edge.
"…..Really?" Naruto timidly asked.
"Really." Teuchi confirmed with a small smile as Naruto nervously sat at a desk where his food would get served.
"Unbelievable. A kid shouldn't be scared to get a meal!" Boruto spat, hatred and anger present in his voice.
"How could the villagers be so cruel and harsh to a child?" Sarada asked, just as repulsed.
"Here. You look a little wet." Teuchi wiped off Naruto with a warm towel before handing it to the young boy.
"T-thank you…." Naruto meekly thanked as Boruto smiled tenderly at his three year old father.
"How nice…" Boruto smiled as such a scene was enough to bring a tear to Sarada's eyes.
It took little to no time as Teuchi set down a nice, steaming bowl of ramen down for the young boy.
"Here you are! A big bowl of miso ramen with extra chasu and pork!" Teuchi smiled as the young boy marveled at the sight of the tasty bowl of ramen. His stomach roared with anticipation as his mouth salivated uncontrollably.
"Whoa, that looks really good!" Boruto drooled, his stomach suddenly feeling empty as he suddenly missed Ichiraku's ramen, his hunger replacing his anger.
"Down boy!" Sarada smacked Boruto's skull. If only her words could actually work in setting his ass down whenever he got out of line.
Maybe such a world existed….
Naruto looked unsure as Teuchi put a hand atop Naruto's head.
"Go ahead. Eat while it's still hot." Teuchi smiled kindly as Naruto decided to take a couple of bites, his hunger getting the better of him before his eyes suddenly lit up in childish excitement.
"Yummy!" Naruto yelled as Teuchi heartily laughed at the scene as Naruto savored every single bite.
"Huh? You know something? Dad doesn't eat as sloppily as he normally does." Boruto observed as Mitsuki's gaze suddenly became downcast.
"…It's probably because this is the first time he's had a warm meal like this. He can't eat out of the forest forever." Mitsuki dully noted as Sarada and Boruto looked down.
"Dad….what you went through…." Boruto muttered, knowing he would only go through more down the line….
"And you can have another bowl on the house!" Teuchi grinned, pouring the leftover Ramen he had left into Naruto's bowl.
"Wow! Thank you!" Naruto grinned as he ate the second bowl just as fast.
Teuchi smiled softly at the young boy as he was quite aware of who his parents were. He had his father's hair and eye color but his facial features and eye shape were all his mother's. To say his daughter Ayame was excited about the baby that Kushina was carrying was an understatement.
Teuchi was also aware of what the boy was carrying inside of him…However unlike a majority of the village, he didn't hate or resent the boy. Naruto was just a boy and the Nine Tails was the Nine Tails.
"Thank you so much, Old man! I'm Naruto Uzumaki and I'm gonna be the Hokage one day!" Naruto grinned as Team Konohamaru smiled at the kid.
"Damn right!" Boruto grinned as Teuchi heartily laughed.
"I know you can achieve it one day. I believe in you." Teuchi smiled, cleaning his food area off as Naruto's eyes widened.
…Was this guy serious? Did this man seriously believe in him?
Sensing Naruto's comfort, Teuchi walked from behind his counter before making his way over to the child and hugged him tightly.
Naruto's eyes filled with tears as he found himself buried in Teuchi's arm, as his body shook and rattled with sobs as he decided to let all of his grief out as Teuchi only held onto him tighter.
"It's okay, Naruto….this shop will always be welcome to you. No matter what anyone says." Teuchi soothingly rubbed Naruto's back as Naruto couldn't stop the happy tears streaming down his face. Teuchi knew serving someone regarded as a "monster" or "freak" would be disastrous in terms of the economy of his restaurant and people would stop coming but a starving child was something he would never tolerate!
Team Konohamaru couldn't stop themselves from tearing up at the scene, or rather Boruto and Sarada.
"Such a kind man…" Sarada smiled through her tears, happy that such a kind soul existed in such a disastrous world yet was ashamed she didn't eat at Ichiraku's that much. Such a kind man deserved every penny she had.
"…Now I know why dad loves Ramen…" Boruto wiped his eyes as he looked at Teuchi.
"When we get out of here…I'm gonna take dad to see Teuchi…" Boruto vowed as the man deserved it. He, along with Hiruzen, were along ones of the first ones who genuinely accepted and cared for Naruto in the beginning.
"Yes, I believe that sounds good." Mitsuki smiled as Boruto wiped his eyes, ready to see more.
However, much to Team Konohamaru's confusion, the scene suddenly shifted to a street side where snow poured from the sky.
"Wait, what just happened!?" Boruto asked, alarmed as he wiped his eyes.
"It must be because since we're viewing a large portion of Lord Seventh's movies it must be divided in parts or scenes." Mitsuki explained.
"Oh, you mean like a movie?" Sarada tilted her head.
"I suppose you could say that." Mitsuki mused as Boruto snorted.
"Heh, to think we're all watching a movie. Sounds like some sort of anime." Boruto laughed as the sounds of foot crunching got the attention of the team as they looked to see Naruto walking through the snow as he was wearing a winter style coat over his regular clothes coupled with green goggles with the name "Naruto" etched into the top part of him.
Naruto however stopped his walking as he noticed something in the snow.
"Who's that?" Naruto asked, running before noticing a girl with short blue-colored, lime shaped hair, wearing a purple kimono. The team instantly recognized the girl who raised her soft styled face.
"Mom!" Boruto exclaimed, pointing at his mom. Already being somewhat acquainted with the younger version of his mother thanks to his trip to the past, he wasn't surprised to see she was meeker than the "scary" version that he's used to. What really concerned her was the fact that she was three years old just alone in a street in the dead of winter all alone by herself. Where was Grandpa Hiashi?
"Why is a kid alone at this time at night? Seriouly! I've said it once before and I'll say I again, where are the parents?" Sarada asked as Naruto made his way to the girl.
"What're you doing out here?" Naruto asked, although the meek Hinata was slightly taken aback with Naruto's blunt, straight forward personality.
"I…I…" Hinata shyly answered as Naruto walked over to where he was directly forward in front of her. Although he may've been a pariah in the village, loathed by the adults, maybe he could win over some of the kids. Besides, it wasn't in his character to just leave someone along in a freezing street.
"Where's your house?" Naruto smiled at Hinata who looked down, almost as if she didn't want to return.
"I wonder…what's with mom?" Boruto raised an eyebrow, concerned at the fact that there were also tears in her eyes.
"Obviously not something good." Sarada answered.
"Oh well, come on. Let's go!" Naruto smiled, grabbing Hinata's hand and pulling her forward as she was even more surprised with how to the point this boy was.
"Well that's a way to do it." Mitsuki chuckled as Boruto and Sarada snorted.
"Even now, dad's like 'let's do it!'" Boruto laughed as the team watched as the two children made their way through the snow before Hinata pointed to the Hyuga compound that Boruto was accustomed to.
"…Uh….over here…" Hinata pointed to her house as Naruto stopped before letting her go.
"Oh okay." Naruto said as he scanned over the large, traditional architectural design of the Hyuga household as there was a huge sign with the name "Hyuga" etched into the center of the building. He looked at Hinata before turning back to the compound with a confused expression on his face.
"You live in a big house like this and you're crying?" Naruto asked as Sarada looked at the young boy in confusion.
"Why would he say something like that?" Sarada asked.
"…It's because he probably views rich kids as happy and thriving…." Boruto muttered, thinking back to his comment he made to his mother about how his pain of having his father being too busy being as comparable to the type of childhood he assumed he thought his father had. How could he have been so naïve and inconsiderate? No…things were different now.
"I don't have anyone but I never cry…" Naruto's eyes softened as the scene shifted again as Team Konohamaru saw the scene of Naruto crying to himself in his apartment.
Hinata looked at Naruto in amazement as she couldn't believe a young boy her age could be all alone but yet so…cheerful?
"Never! Anyways, just remember, you're never alone." Naruto grinned as Hinata was speechless. Just…who was this eccentric boy?
"Later!" Naruto waved as he ran off but before Team Konohamaru could fully digest the scene the scene shifted to a place they recognized as the Ninja Academy although not as modernized as the one today. Although the Team were quick to note that it was still winter time due to the snow in the area though it was clearly daytime, preferably in the morning due to the position of the sun in the sky.
"Okay….these scene changes are gonna take a lot to get used to…" Boruto muttered.
"You're telling me." Sarada shook her head as Mitsuki raised an eyebrow at the appearance of the Academy.
"It sure is crazy seeing how different things look in comparison to now." Mitsuki observed before noticing a familiar kid on a swing set etched on the outside of the Academy as he slowly swung, backwards and forwards.
"Hey, it's dad!" Boruto pointed.
"He looks so…lonely…." Sarada frowned at the sight of the young boy and his downcast expression.
"…It's not like any of those parents will let him around their children." Boruto sighed.
However the sound of voices of other children quickly got Team Konohamaru's as well as the young Naruto's.
"What's going on?" Naruto asked, voicing the thoughts of the team of genin.
"Hey that's mom!" Boruto pointed, seeing her surrounded by three young boys, one was chubby, another had a gap in his teeth with a red hat and other looked like some deranged horse. They looked no older than seven or eight.
"If you're really a Hyuga then show us your Byakugan!" The boy with gapped teeth jeered at Hinata.
"But if you're gonna, don't look at us." The chubby boy scoffed.
"Yeah, your eyes are creepy!" Horse-Face shuddered at the thought of seeing veins around someone's eyes like he heard. Obviously, he never looked in a mirror.
"I bet you're some kind of monster, aren't you?" Gap Teeth snickered.
"Yeah a Byakugan monster!" The chubby boy laughed as his two friends joined in as Hinata was reduced to the point of tears much to Team Konohamaru's repulsion.
"Hey you damn brats! Leave my mom alone!" Boruto yelled out with his face red in anger as he was about to show those brats who was really a monster, remembering all the warmth, love and comfort his mom would give him and for her to be bullied by kids who looked like the asses of baboons was nothing short of infuriating.
Mitsuki was quick to hold him back, "Remember, it's a memory." Mitsuki reminded his friend who growled in frustration.
"Seriously? Kids close to ten picking on a toddler? Once again, where are the parents?" Sarada shook her head in disgust.
However, none were more repulsed than Naruto as he growled before quickly jumping off the swing. If there was one thing Naruto didn't tolerate was bullying, especially on the weak.
"Hey! Cut it out!" Naruto yelled, just as pissed at Boruto. The bullies then gave Naruto their undivided attention, ignoring Hinata for now.
"That's right dad, defend yo' woman!" Boruto smirked.
"Look it's the shrimp!" Gap tooth laughed.
"Who are you?" Horse face snorted at Naruto as he ignored their laughter.
"I'm Naruto Uzumaki. And I'm the future Hokage!" Naruto vowed as Boruto and Sarada cheered on Naruto.
"Damn straight!" Boruto pumped his right hand in his left fist.
"You tell those brats!" Sarada smiled, already knowing the events of what would happen in the future.
However, the bullies were far from impressed. In fact, they looked ready to double over in laughter.
"Oh the future Hokage, huh?" Gap Tooth scoffed.
"C'mon, what're you, stupid?" Horse Face snorted as Naruto suddenly put his hands together for a hand sign.
"I'll show you guys! Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto asked, as both Team Konohamaru and the bullies' eyes widened in alarm.
"Wait, did he just say Shadow Clone Jutsu?" Sarada asked.
"And he's only three. I knew it was dad's specialty but he could use it as a baby?" Boruto asked, amazed yet excited to see the brats who bullied his mom get their just desserts.
However as the two poofs of smoke erupted, the clones were well….different than what everyone, especially Naruto expected….
The two clones were practically the size of ants.
"Come at me! Bring it!" One "Shadow Clone" yelled, raising a fist. Although his voice was how Naruto would sound if he got high off of helium.
"Ya know!" The second clone, raised his fist, ready to fight as well.
Team Konohamaru and the bullies stared blankly at the scene for a couple of seconds.
"…Oh man dad…that's really…uncool…." Boruto blinked, slightly disappointed he wouldn't see the bullies get their asses handed to them. Even Sarada who idolized Naruto couldn't disagree.
"Well…remember he is only around three here." Sarada tried arguing in defense of Naruto as Mitsuki only laughed at the scene.
However none were more embarrassed than Naruto as a drop of sweat trailed down his face.
Having grown tired of Naruto's BS, gap tooth ran over to Naruto who was still preoccupied with the pitiful state of his clones to notice him coming before slamming his fist dead into Naruto's nose. Blood leaked from Naruto's broken nose as he fell back, clearly losing consciousness.
"Oh…that's gonna leave a mark." Sarada winced as Boruto growled, not liking his dad being relegated to a punching bag.
"I already know Mitsuki, don't even say it." Boruto looked down in annoyance as Mitsuki could only shake his head for his friend.
"Heh, I took him down in one punch!" Gap Tooth jeered as the all noticed the red scarf along Naruto's neck. Like typically bullies did, they removed it from Naruto's unconscious form before all three grabbed it before stretching it.
Boruto's eyes then widened as he remembered Hinata and Naruto telling them that how they got together was helped by the presence of a red scarf, something they likened to being a red thread of fate.
"Future Hokage, right? You think you're so cool, wearing this ugly red scarf!?" Gap tooth smirked as he and his friends did everything to ruin it such as stretching it to where the elasticity was stretched, stretching it up and down a tree, pulling the threads and even going as far as to stomp on it.
"These brats are really pissing me off…." Boruto growled, upset how a gift that would eventually lead to his parents eventually was being treated with so little care.
"Once again I ask, where are the parents?" Sarada demanded more than asked, annunciating the last four words.
Eventually the bullies grew bored before leaving.
"Future Hokage my butt!" All three brats laughed away.
However, Team Konohamaru was touched that rather than leaving Naruto alone, Hinata chose to stay by his side until he would eventually wake up.
"That's mom for you. As nice as always." Boruto smiled as Sarada and Mitsuki smiled in agreement.
Ironically after they left was when Naruto awoke.
"Hey wait, hold on! This time I'll do a super duper jutsu and…" Naruto looked up with his right eye swollen for the three bullies only to find out they dipped.
"Ugh…." The feelings of both pain and embarrassment running through Naruto's mind as he slumped to the ground rubbing his swollen right eye.
"Are you okay?" Hinata asked, looking at Naruto in concern.
"…Yeah….it's nothing I'm used to it…" Naruto replied, a bit softly and a little close to tears as Team Konohamaru stared somberly at the young boy.
"He shouldn't have to be 'used to it'…" Boruto sighed sadly remembering how his childhood was so innocent compared to his father's.
"Oh…your scarf…those three boys they…." Hinata showed Naruto what was left over from his scarf as he sighed before waving her off.
"…I'm really sorry…" Hinata apologized, feeling empathy for Naruto. If only she was stronger, he wouldn't have gotten his butt handed to him.
"Nah forget it." Naruto smiled at the girl, reassuring he had no bad blood towards her.
"Yeah it's not your fault kids are total asshats mom."Boruto smiled as Sarada and Mitsuki nodded, although Boruto would never use the word "asshats" around his mom. He found out the hard way what would happen if he swore in front of his mother….
Naruto was about to run off before Hinata stopped him.
"…U-um…I…I just wanted to say thank you very much…." Hinata bowed to Naruto as he looked at the girl in confusion.
…Was someone actually thanking him for being around?
Having gratitude shown to him was something that really touched him as tears started to fill his eyes. But he wouldn't show his feelings so upwardly so he smiled off his feelings.
"See ya!" Naruto waved to Hinata before going off.
Team Konohamaru didn't miss the look of admiration and adoration Hinata sent to Naruto's retreating back before the memory steadily darkened as the fog enveloped the team.
Here's the third chapter for you guys! Now it was a lighter memory compared to the previous one dealing with Minato and Kushina's deaths however it wasn't as light since Team Konohamaru are seeing the beginning stages of Naruto's harsh treatment from the villagers although this was coupled with him meeting the Third Hokage in addition to his first encounter with Teuchi from Ichiraku and finally meeting his future wife, Hinata.
With Naruto's childhood, I've noticed how most FF stories tend to portray the villagers actually beating on Naruto but can someone show me where that was explicitly shown? Because I'm sure that was never a thing, even in the fillers and also, would Naruto be so loyal to a village that actually physically abuses him?
And as a small fun fact, the whole bit with Teuchi and Naruto was from a section of the Konoha Hiden: The Perfect Day for a Wedding novel! So when you think about it, Naruto's obsession with Naruto is actually quite sad...BUT that's why we as a fandom universally love Teuchi since he was one of the few who genuinely accepted and showed Naruto kindness before he became the cultural icon he is today so YAY FOR TEUCHI! ^_^ I might have some ramen in honor of him for lunch today XP
And as an even bigger and more fun, fun fact, Naruto's first few years in the village actually weren't quite that bad. Actually the villagers had no idea he was the Jinchuuriki of Kurama and the reason they found out was because of Danzo. Yep, you read that right, Danzo was the one who leaked out the secret of Naruto's connection with Kurama to the villagers as shown in the Itachi Epilogue Novels. So if you readers hate Danzo, there's some extra fuel for you guys!
And I hope you all liked the NaruHina moments I had in the chapter! Given that Boruto would wanna know how his parents met, I decided this chapter would be perfect to put those exact moments in!
Either way, next chapter is when things start to get interesting for our favorite Orange Hokage and you can all expect Chapter 4 of "A Hero's Journey" to come out next Wednesday, January 1st so look forward to that as a New Year's present from me to you all! ^_^
Until the 1st of the next year, please enjoy the chapter and please let me know your thoughts on this chapter and the story as a whole so enjoy the last four days this year has until we hit a new decade!
Later, guys! ^_^
