Naruto Uzumaki was carrying a plastic bag full of instant noodles with a mixed - up feeling.
After Natsume found out about his identity as the Demon Fox, he still treated him normally, which was really inexplicable.
Or rather, it was a very rare thing for him, so much so that he didn't know how to face it.
"Let's go."
Natsume said, holding a box of instant noodles.
"Huh?"
Naruto Uzumaki came back to his senses, looking completely confused.
What did he just say? I don't think I was paying attention.
"I'll take you to a shop that will sell you things."
Natsume repeated.
"Really? Are there such shops?"
Naruto Uzumaki looked incredulous when he heard this.
It wasn't that he couldn't buy things, but he couldn't buy good things.
Take milk, for example.
He always got nearly - expired milk.
In his past life, Natsume's mother also liked to buy nearly expired milk because it was cheap.
As long as you drank it before it expired, there was no problem.
When Naruto Uzumaki went to buy it, he paid the full price.
Moreover, being a child, he wasn't very careful, and the milk would often be left for too long. As a result, he had never drunk normal milk.
In the original plot, he got diarrhea after drinking expired milk and thought it was his own fault.
It was obvious that no one had ever taught him common sense in life.
"Of course there are."
What Natsume meant was actually his casino.
After nearly three years of development, it had opened a branch in Konoha.
As the chairman, it would be easy for him to ask the owner of the Gunma Casino to take care of Naruto Uzumaki.
Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi found out, it wouldn't matter.
He was Tsunade's apprentice.
He wasn't an apprentice of Tanzo Shimura or Orochimaru, and he didn't have the Uchiha surname.
If Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to do something to him, Tsunade would fight him.
And Tsunade represented the Senju clan. Once they had a falling - out, his reputation would plummet.
As the strongest Hokage, he has all kinds of propaganda. But if he targets the descendants of Hashirama Senju, the hero who founded the village, and Tobirama Senju, his own teacher.
It would undoubtedly be a slap in the face and would chill the hearts of other ninja clans.
No matter how stupid Hiruzen Sarutobi was, he wouldn't do such a thing.
"Hurry up."
When Natsume reached the door and saw that Naruto Uzumaki was still standing there, he waved at him again.
Naruto Uzumaki looked at him, his eyes reddening, but he didn't let the tears flow. He rubbed his eyes and replied loudly, "Coming right away!"
The two of them arrived at the Gunma Casino.
Naruto Uzumaki was a bit confused.
Although he didn't know what gambling was, was a place as luxurious as this really meant for him?
"Let's go to the back door."
Natsume glanced at the female waitresses in battle - damaged kimonos in front of the main entrance, then grabbed him and headed for the back door.
He was too young for such lewd things.
He's too young for such things.
But then he thought that Naruto Uzumaki had developed the Sexy Technique when he wasn't that old either.
This guy was probably a natural pervert.
This guy is probably a natural pervert.
"Boss, why have you come?"
A middle - aged man saw Natsume and quickly stepped forward, asking enthusiastically.
"Masahiro, can't I come?"
Natsume smiled and asked rhetorically.
"What are you saying? You can come anytime."
Masahiro realized he had said something wrong and quickly showed an apologetic expression.
Don't blame him for acting like this.
Since taking charge of the Konoha branch of the Gunma Casino, his family experienced a sudden rise from rags to riches.
Naturally, they really respected Natsume.
Naruto Uzumaki looked stunned.
Was the boss of this huge and luxurious place really this big brother who looked only ten years old?
He was extremely shocked.
"Naruto, his name is Masahiro," Natsume turned around and said. "From now on, if you want to buy anything, you can go to him."
Masahiro was slightly taken aback. He had recognized Naruto Uzumaki as the rumored Demon Fox Jinchuriki, but he still smiled and said, "Little brother, don't worry. We can provide whatever you want here."
His tone and attitude were both very kind.
In his opinion, the so - called Demon Fox Jinchuriki was nothing compared to a single word from Natsume.
After all, Natsume was like a parent who gave him a new life.
Naruto Uzumaki stood there for a few seconds. He wanted to express his gratitude, but tears welled up in his eyes uncontrollably.
"Sorry," he wiped his tears and said. "Big bro, you're the second person who has been so nice to me. I'm happy, but I don't know why I just started crying."
Natsume sighed.
It's really tragic!
Most adults would find it hard to endure the daily cold words and sneers even if they were adults.
Many people couldn't even stand the online bullying they didn't even see in person.
Naruto Uzumaki was only three years old and was being bullied face - to - face in real life, yet he could still stay optimistic. That was really amazing.
Maybe this was the answer Hiruzen Sarutobi was looking for.
The stability of a vessel and a weapon.
What was even more outrageous was that he wasn't the only one suffering like this.
For example, Gaara, the One - Tailed Jinchuriki from the neighboring Sunagakure Village, was just as unfortunate as Naruto Uzumaki, if not more so.
Even a dog would shed tears hearing this!
Training a dog has never been this harsh!
Natsume gave a subtle signal, and Masahiro understood and left.
"Who was the first one? Why didn't he buy things for you?"
After a while, Natsume asked casually, like it just popped into his head.
"It's an old man. I don't know who he is," Naruto Uzumaki wiped away his tears and said. "He's very nice to me. He comes to see me regularly and gives me money."
"What does he look like? Maybe I know him. Then you can go to him anytime."
Natsume's words made Naruto Uzumaki's eyes light up.
Actually, when he was being ignored, the first thing he thought of was the old man's kindness.
It was a pity that he didn't know where the old man lived and couldn't go to see him.
"Let me think. He's not very tall. His beard and hair are both white, and he sometimes smokes a pipe."
Naruto Uzumaki's description was very vague. An ordinary person wouldn't be able to figure it out at all.
However, Natsume already knew the answer. He asked this way so as not to arouse Naruto Uzumaki's suspicion.
"Um, it sounds a bit familiar," he pretended to be deep in thought.
Naruto Uzumaki looked at him expectantly.
After a moment, Natsume suddenly seemed to realize something and said, "Come with me."
He led Naruto Uzumaki to the street and pointed to the third face on the Hokage Rock. "Do you think it looks like him?"
"Hey, it does seem to be him."
Naruto Uzumaki was a bit in disbelief.
Although he was only three years old, he knew about the Hokage Rock.
The faces of four Hokages were carved on it.
So, the person who often came to see him was actually the Third Hokage?
Thinking of this, he suddenly felt very touched.
His wish to become a Hokage was definitely right.
Grandpa Hokage was so kind!
Seeing the change in his expression, Natsume could probably guess what he was thinking.
Have to say, Hiruzen Sarutobi's tactics were really good.
How could a kid resist this kind of tactic?
The so - called child of destiny was just a puppet whose fate was being manipulated by others.
Apart from his character, Naruto wasn't really good at other things.
For example, when he used his Talk No Jutsu on Nagato and said he would change Amegakure Village, but in the end, the village got worse and worse.
If Nagato knew, he'd probably rise from the grave in anger.
"He is really Grandpa Third!"
Naruto Uzumaki said excitedly.
The only person who was nice to him turned out to be the Hokage.
Suddenly, he felt that the attitudes of other people didn't seem that important anymore.
"Is it really the Hokage - sama?"
Natsume showed a confused look on his face and asked, "If he's the Hokage, it's strange. Why didn't The Third stop others from treating you like that?"
Naruto Uzumaki's smile immediately froze.
Right.
The Hokage was the leader of Konoha.
Everyone had to listen to him.
If The Third spoke up, he wouldn't have to face the villagers' disgusted looks and vulgar insults anymore.
Since The Third was so nice to him, why didn't The Third stop them?
"Maybe it's because Grandpa Third is too busy and didn't notice."
Naruto Uzumaki quickly came up with a reasonable explanation.
"Then you can remind him next time you meet."
Natsume didn't say more and just dropped a hint.
He knew very well that the intervention of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, wouldn't work.
Cold words would turn into cold - shouldering.
In a sense, it would be even more painful.
It's impossible to change Naruto Uzumaki's view with just one conversation.
Anyway, he now regularly went to Gunma Casino to buy things, so the chances of meeting each other in the future would increase greatly.
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