Chapter 1
It was a chilly evening in Konoha, and the streets were bustling with villagers finishing up their shopping. But amidst the lively crowd, a small figure stood out—five-year-old Naruto Uzumaki, shoulders slumped, slowly walking away from a food store with a dejected look on his face. His stomach growled loudly, but he tried to ignore it, rubbing his small hands against his empty belly.
Naruto had been kicked out of the store—again. The old man behind the counter didn’t even let him speak before shooing him away, muttering something under his breath that Naruto couldn’t quite hear but felt in his heart. It wasn’t the first time, and he knew it wouldn’t be the last.
As Naruto sulked along the street, trying to push the hunger and hurt away, a voice called out to him from behind.
"Hey kid !"
Naruto turned around, cautiously eyeing the silver-haired older teen who had approached him. He was a shinobi , with the vest and everything . Naruto didn’t know him but he knew enough to be wary. Adults didn’t usually talk to him unless they were angry or upset.
The man , noticing Naruto’s hesitation, looked at him awkwardly. In his hand, he held two plates containing sticks of freshly grilled yakitori, the smoky scent of the savory skewers wafting in the air. He knelt down to Naruto’s level, trying his best to smile , though he wasn’t entirely sure how to approach the boy.
“I, uh... I noticed you back there,” the man started, his tone soft. “It looked like you could use a bite to eat. I bought an extra plate of yakitori—thought you might like one.”
Naruto eyed the skewers suspiciously, his gaze flickering between the food and the man's face. His eyes narrowed slightly, as if expecting a trick. "Who are you ? Why are you giving me food?” he asked bluntly. His voice was small, but there was an edge of defensiveness in it.
The man's smile faltered slightly, but he held out the plate closer to Naruto. “ I am Mizuki. And well.. you look hungry. And because everyone deserves to eat, right?” He paused, then added, “Besides, it’s better to eat with someone than alone.”
Naruto hesitated for a moment longer, his blue eyes scanning Mizuki’s face for any sign of ill intent. But all he saw was genuine concern and maybe a little awkwardness. Slowly, Naruto reached out and took the plate from this Mizuki’s hand.
Maybe this man was not bad after all .
For a moment, there was silence between them as Naruto stared at the plate of yakitori. Then, tentatively, he took up a skewer and took a small bite . The moment the savory flavors hit his tongue, his face lit up with a brilliant, genuine smile—the kind of smile that seemed almost too big for his small face.
“Thank you!” Naruto exclaimed, his voice full of joy and relief. “It’s really good!”
Mizuki smiled , taking a bite of his own yakitori. “Glad you like it. It’s one of my favorites, too.”
"What's your name kid ?"
"Mmph—I'm Naruto Uzumaki!" Naruto mumbled through a mouthful of food, trying to talk and chew at the same time.
Naruto munched happily on his food, his earlier sadness seemingly forgotten. He looked up at Mizuki with wide, curious eyes. “Why were you nice to me?” he asked between bites, his tone more innocent now, almost hopeful.
Mizuki paused, considering his words carefully. “Because… everyone deserves kindness, Naruto. Even when it doesn’t always seem that way. And… well, I think you could use some help."
Naruto blinked at him, as if processing the words. Then , he spoke , his voice smaller than it had ever been .
"Why are you helping me then ? Nobody likes me." There was such a vulnerability in his voice .
The man's face became cold . Naruto should not have opened his mouth, Mizuki offered him food and he had to open his big mouth. Now Mizuki would tell him to go away too-
"Because they are idiots . Cowards and cruel idiots . You don't deserve it . "
He turned to Naruto , and there was a small , soft smile on his face . Then the man put his hands on his head and ruffled his hair .
With an Indignant "Oi" , Naruto leaped away , carefully making sure the plate of food did not fall from his hands . And Mizuki chuckled.
Now , no matter what , Naruto was not the type to stay silent .
Naruto, still munching away, looked up at Mizuki with wide eyes. “How old are you, Mizuki?” he asked, his words coming out in a mix of curiosity and confusion.
Mizuki chuckled. “I’m fifteen. Just got promoted to Tokubetsu Jōnin recently.”
Naruto’s eyes widened in awe. “Fifteen? And you’re already a Tokubetsu Jōnin? Whoa is that’s like… really strong ?” he exclaimed, impressed by the rank even though he didn’t fully understand it.
Mizuki couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s not that strong, Naruto. Just means I’m good at a specific skill—better than most Genin and Chūnin in that area. But I’ve still got a lot to learn.”
Naruto had heard of those words, from Hokage-jiji . He knew , after he passed the Ninja academy, he was going to become a Genin , a ninja too !
“So you’re like a super-special ninja, right?” Naruto asked, his excitement bubbling over. “What’s it like? Is it hard? Do you get to do cool jutsus all the time?”
Mizuki paused for a moment, thinking about how to explain it in a way that Naruto would understand. “Yeah, being a shinobi is tough,” he said, his tone becoming a lot more serious. “There’s a lot of training, missions, and sometimes, things can get dangerous. But the friends you make, the bonds you form, aaaannd" the man dragged , finally a smile on his face , "the jutsus… those are pretty awesome, honestly.”
Naruto’s face lit up as he swallowed another bite of yakitori. “I wanna be a shinobi too! And then I’ll become the best Hokage! Believe it!” he declared with a bright grin, his voice full of determination.
Mizuki smiled at the boy’s boundless energy. “That’s a big goal, Naruto. But with hard work, you can get there. First, you’ll need to go through the ranks—just like everyone else.”
“Ranks?” Naruto tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. “What’s that?”
“Well,” Mizuki explained, settling into the role of teacher, “when you first start out, you’ll be a Genin—the lowest rank of a shinobi. You’ll be doing basic missions, learning the ropes. After you’ve gained enough experience, you can take the Chūnin Exams. If you pass, you become a Chūnin, like I was before my promotion.”
Naruto nodded, his mind already imagining himself in a ninja headband, taking on all kinds of missions. “And then? What comes after Chūnin?”
Mizuki continued the conversation. “After that, if you’re really skilled, you can become a Jōnin. They’re the elite shinobi, taking on the toughest missions and sometimes leading teams. Tokubetsu Jōnin, like me, specialize in one area but aren’t full Jōnin. There’s also Medic-nin, shinobi trained in medical ninjutsu, who are super important, especially on dangerous missions.”
“That sounds so cool!” Naruto exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement. “I’m gonna be the strongest ninja ever, and I’ll know all the jutsus—Genin, Chūnin, Jōnin, everything!”
"With that kind of determination, Naruto, I know you would do it,” he said sincerely. Yes he would . This was the child of miracles after all .
Naruto looked up at him with wide, hopeful eyes. “You really think so?”
Mizuki smiled and placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I know so. Just keep believing in yourself.” It did not change that this was also a lonely boy desperate for kindness and acknowledgement .
Naruto beamed up at him, his earlier sadness completely forgotten. “Thanks, Mizuki! I’ll remember that!” he said, his voice full of gratitude.