After confirming again and again that there was no one else around, Naruto Uzumaki looked at Ren with a very unbelievable expression. Then, he pointed at himself with his index finger and asked uncertainly: "You mean me?"
Seeing Naruto Uzumaki react like this, Ren couldn't help but sigh in his heart. The son of the dignified Fourth Hokage, treated like this in the village—this Konoha Village is really something else.
"Yes, it's you. Didn't you lose your money? I'm in a better mood today, so I'll treat you to a meal of ramen. Anyway, I'm quite rich." Ren casually lifted the bulging purse in his hand.
"!!" Naruto's eyes suddenly lit up. Looking at Ren, his eyes were full of emotion. In the village, it was the first time someone had invited him to eat ramen, the first time someone had treated him so kindly. Originally, because of losing money, Naruto was facing a hungry stomach. At this moment, he was even moved to tears.
"What are you still hesitating about? Hurry up and eat," Ren urged.
"Coming, coming!" Naruto had a bright smile on his face, walked to Ren's side and sat down, smiling carelessly at Ren: "Hey, then I'm welcome!"
Teuchi-uncle quickly brought two bowls of ramen. Ren and Naruto separated their chopsticks at the same time and said in unison: "Then I'm welcome!"
Slurp slurp~
The two of them slurped down the ramen, making a crisp sound. Ren had just finished fighting with Might Guy, and the chakra in his body had already been used up. At this time, he was hungry and devoured the ramen. Naruto was obviously hungry, too. The speed of his ramen eating was no worse than Ren's. Since beginning physical training, Ren's appetite had also grown. Although he was only seven years old now, he already had an appetite that exceeded that of an adult. After eating one bowl of ramen, Ren was only about 30% full; there was still a long way to go. He remembered that Naruto's appetite in the original story wasn't small, and he looked pitiful now, staring at the Ichiraku ramen in other people's bowls; obviously, one bowl wasn't enough.
"Uncle, two more bowls!" Ren quickly finished a bowl, and watching Naruto next to him also finish a bowl, he shouted loudly towards Teuchi-uncle.
Two bowls of ramen noodles were quickly brought up. "Eat it!" Ren pushed one of the bowls in front of Naruto.
Naruto was stunned for a moment, then asked in a daze, "Is this one for me?"
Ren didn't think anything of it: "Of course. Since I said I'd invite you to eat ramen, you must be full. You should eat it quickly; the noodles won't taste good if they get cold."
"Thank you, thank you!" Naruto's cheeks were slightly red. Immediately, he felt extremely happy in his heart, sighing that his luck today was really good, and he had met such a kind person! Not only did he not show disgust or disdain towards him like everyone else, but he was even willing to treat him to ramen! Woohoo~ What a great guy!
"Uncle, two more bowls!" Ten minutes later, Ren shouted again.
In this way, after Ren ate five bowls of ramen in a row and Naruto ate three bowls of ramen in a row, both of them were finally full. Very satisfied~ The taste of Ichiraku Ramen really lived up to its reputation. After eating, Ren felt that his body was full of energy again, and even the fatigue of the previous battle was reduced a lot. This was the joy of the power of food!
In Naruto's eyes, looking at Ren, there was a look of worship. "Wow, you eat a lot! It's amazing to be able to eat five bowls of ramen at once!"
"You're also very good; you can eat three bowls."
"Hey, my living expenses are relatively low, so I can only eat one meal a day. I'm really thankful for you today, otherwise, I'll have to starve until tomorrow." Naruto scratched his head, with a bit of honesty and innocence on his face. With a shy smile, he said, "By the way, my name is Naruto Uzumaki, a man who is determined to become a Hokage! What's your name?"
Only have one meal a day? It's hard to imagine what kind of life Naruto has been living before... What on earth has Hiruzen Sarutobi done all these years! Ren secretly sighed about Naruto's misfortune. There was a little more sympathy in his eyes.
"My name is Ren."
"That... R-Ren, can I be your friend?" Naruto's expression seemed a little nervous, changing his careless appearance from before, and asked Ren cautiously. Naruto was very anxious. The people in the village did not want to be friends with him. He had finally met such a person who was willing to approach him. Would he also reject him because of the so-called "Fox Demon" rumors?
"Of course!" Ren smiled at him.
"But... aren't you afraid that I'm a fox demon?" Naruto couldn't help asking. Naruto guessed in his heart that Ren might not know yet. Others said that he was a fox demon, but because of this, he wanted to ask about it now. He had regarded Ren as his friend, and he didn't want to hide this from Ren. He was also more afraid that when Ren found out that he was a fox demon one day, he would alienate himself...
"Naruto, but aren't you a kid about my age now?" Ren said indifferently, seemingly not taking the so-called "Fox Demon" rumor into his eyes.
Naruto was stunned in place, and immediately began to stand there and cry.
"Hey, hey, why are you crying?!"
"Yes, sorry, I was just too moved all at once." Naruto kept wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes with the back of his hand and sobbing continuously. "It's just, it's the first time someone sees me as Naruto instead of a fox demon, and it's also the first time someone wants to be my friend, woohoo~~~"
"Okay, don't cry." Ren patted Naruto's shoulder and smiled, "I'll introduce my friends to you later, and you will have many friends in the future! They are also very good people~"
"Really, really?" Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Of course," Ren said with a smile towards Naruto Uzumaki.
At this time, in Ren's mind, suddenly there was a sound from the system:
[Ding! Mission Release: Reach a friendly relationship with Naruto Uzumaki.]
[System Reward: Shadow Clone Shuriken Blueprint]
[Ding! The "Friendship with Naruto Uzumaki" quest has been completed!]
[System Reward: Shadow Clone Shuriken Blueprint]
[Ding! Task release: Collect Nine-Tails Chakra (chakra can be injected into kunai).]
[System Reward: Multi-Shadow Clone Shuriken Blueprints]