3 What to do if you do not understand your older brother

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Kotono judged that Uchiha Itachi had suddenly fallen seriously ill. However, the patient's relative, Sasuke, completely refused to believe Kotono’s absurd explanation involving “tester readings” and “insufficient joyful intake.” The black-haired boy scornfully remarked, “Only idiots like Naruto would get upset over something like that. My brother and I always laugh when we’re together.”

“That’s right; not understanding just shows your mental state is healthy,” she said sternly. “Also, tell your father to keep a distance from your brother lately.”

Sasuke: ?

At that moment, at the classroom door, Naruto shouted loudly to them, “Kotono! Kotono! Let’s go to Ichiraku Ramen! Hokage Grandpa gave me my allowance today!”

“Sure!” Kotono replied instantly.

The girl who had been chatting warmly with him just moments ago instantly changed her expression.

“Maybe next time,” she said briskly, getting up and casually waving her hand. “See you tomorrow.”

??

Sasuke stared in disbelief at Kotono’s retreating figure.

He was hesitating how to start a conversation, hoping to discuss Itachi’s condition further, but she left as soon as Naruto called.

He usually ignored all the girls who wanted to talk to him, yet she...

The black-haired boy frowned unhappily.

In truth, Sasuke had heard some rumors about Kotono.

Some bored boys in class liked to gossip about her behind her back, saying Kotono’s face was very cute, and her red hair was vivid and bright.

“Like a flickering flame!”

The exaggerated tone of that boy’s praise still echoed in his ears.

But Kotono never cared about such subtle attention.

Although she smiled when others greeted her, she was especially close to Naruto.

Perhaps, her actively seeking him out to chat was an exceptional behavior.

“Sasuke, come eat ramen with us. I’ll treat you,” Ino Yamanaka said brightly, her eyes sparkling.

Sakura stood silently beside her, her cheeks slightly flushed, nodding eagerly.

“Boring.” Sasuke snapped back to reality, putting on a cold expression. “I’m going to practice shuriken.”

He put his hands in his pockets and walked away, leaving behind a trail of amazed exclamations: “Sasuke-kun is so cool!”

“Hey, Ino, I’m hungry too. Treat me,” Choji said.

“Buy your own!” Ino turned on him instantly with a glare and dragged Sakura away.

Choji was puzzled. “Why so fierce?”

Shikamaru shook his head, thinking dealing with girls was really troublesome.

It was only Tuesday... well, one more day to Wednesday, then Thursday, which rounds up to the weekend the day after tomorrow.

Ah, the wonderful weekend was coming.

The boy with spiky hair finally regained his enthusiasm for life and pulled Choji home.

...

Naruto’s favorite food was ramen.

Kotono’s favorite food was also ramen.

It wasn’t because she was spoiling Naruto, but in this modern-era world based on the Land of Fire, most dishes didn’t suit her taste.

Tamagoyaki, to her, was more of a snack—okay to eat occasionally.

Side dishes like mixed vegetables, even when restaurants offered them free before, she wasn’t keen on adding them.

She was picky about eel and avoided anything tasting like river or sea delicacies.

Miso soup? Eh, she considered it just water with strange seasonings.

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Since crossing over, every bite Kotono ate was purely to restore chakra and survive.

By comparison, ramen was the dish that best matched her taste.

Now, at the start of each month when they received their allowance, the two kids would go to Ichiraku Ramen to improve their meals for a few days.

Uncle Ichiraku and his daughter were among the few in Konoha who didn’t harbor hostility toward Naruto; they were genuinely kind-hearted.

So even if other restaurants might taste good, Kotono never went.

“I won’t go where Naruto isn’t allowed,” she said.

“Here’s your ramen,” Uncle Ichiraku smiled as he brought over two bowls, “Pork bone chashu ramen.”

“I’m starting!” Naruto’s eyes sparkled as he clasped his hands ceremoniously before diving in.

As for Kotono...

She didn’t like kelp.

“Naruto, you eat it.”

She didn’t like bamboo shoots.

“Naruto, you eat it.”

Plain noodles in broth weren’t very interesting either; she picked some noodles for Naruto.

She kept passing things to him until Naruto’s eyes welled with tears.

“You give me everything. What does Kotono eat?”

“I don’t really like any of these. Don’t waste it,” she said honestly.

But Naruto didn’t believe her. His blue eyes blinked unblinkingly, shimmering like rippling waves.

He sniffled, “Choji said his mom also always says she doesn’t like anything and gives him everything.”

Kotono suddenly understood: “No wonder Choji is so fat.”

Naruto stared at her, cheeks puffed out, then suddenly deflated like a balloon.

“Forget it, Kotono’s an idiot.”

He directed his frustration at the chashu in front of him and bit into it angrily.

“Picky eating isn’t good for kids,” a kind, elderly voice sounded behind them.

Naruto swallowed the chashu and joyfully said, “It’s Hokage Grandpa!”

Kotono stopped poking at her noodles with chopsticks and looked back curiously but cautiously.

Naruto had mentioned Hokage Grandpa more than once before.

Although everyone here was an orphan, Naruto’s living allowance was always personally delivered by Hokage Grandpa.

“And whenever I’m sad, Hokage Grandpa almost always shows up suddenly. He’s the best,” Naruto said.

Something about that sounded off.

Kotono became alert toward any elderly men appearing near Naruto.

She wasn’t sure if the Third Hokage was the reincarnation of Tokiomi Tohsaka or Zouken Matou.

If he was Tokiomi’s reincarnation, that would be fine. Tokiomi was the biological father of Rin and Sakura, and though he often failed at crucial moments, he could still be considered a decent person.

But if he was the reincarnation of Zouken Matou...

That would mean he was the villain who sealed the filth inside Naruto, trying to create a fake Holy Grail—the evil old beast she had tried to kill countless times in games!

Kotono hoped the Third Hokage wasn’t that old scoundrel, because Naruto liked him very much, and the Hokage was the highest leader of Konoha, a strong world-class boss.

But if he was truly tormenting Naruto...

Even the Sage of Six Paths would have to show a health bar to her.

Kotono would kill without hesitation.

*

Before them appeared an old man in a white robe, who had unfortunately become bald as a result of male-pattern baldness.

The Third Hokage lifted the door curtain, seemingly off work and relaxing, smiling warmly: “Every time I come to Ichiraku Ramen, it always smells so good.”

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Naruto was happy to see him: “Ichiraku Ramen is the best, but I don’t have money to treat you, Hokage Grandpa.”

“That’s alright, Grandpa has money. Did you come straight here after school today?”

“Yeah, yeah.” The little boy slurped noodles, nodding repeatedly.

The Third Hokage sat beside them, glanced at Naruto, then at the girl next to him.

She had striking, bright red hair, a fair face, and long lashes framing bright, clear brown eyes, looking intelligent and sweet.

“Such beautiful red hair. Little girl, who are you...?”

“She’s Uzumaki Kotono, my best friend, my family!” Naruto swallowed his noodles and said eagerly.

Kotono was looking at the Third Hokage’s character panel.

[Name: Sarutobi Hiruzen]

[Chakra: 209,876 points]

A terrifying two hundred thousand chakra points, which made Kotono count the digits involuntarily.

No wonder the Hokage could defeat two hundred Sasukes with a single punch.

Using Ino’s phrase, he was “Hiruzen-kun, so cool.”

Surprised by Naruto’s declaration of family, the Third Hokage stroked his beard, then smiled with relief.

“The last time I saw Naruto, he was eating ramen alone. Now he already has good friends and family.”

The old man spoke slowly: “You all share the Uzumaki name; maybe you truly were once family.”

Through the steam rising from the ramen, the old man’s gaze grew misty, as if he saw some old acquaintances in these two little figures, one gold and one red.

During the meal, the Third Hokage asked more about Kotono.

But his questions were subtle and skillful, focusing on school life. Naruto, proudly boasting about his friends, didn’t notice and answered everything.

Top first and bottom first, huh...

The illusion of old acquaintances immediately faded.

Minato and Kushina were once the unstoppable duo at ninja school, ranking among the best.

But these two little heads, golden and red, sitting close together now...

Well, who says they aren’t the children of old acquaintances?

Thinking this, the Third Hokage’s eyes showed more kindness and satisfaction.

There was no more war now; let the children grow up carefree in ninja school.

Wasn’t Minato and Kushina’s sacrifice for this day?

Seeing Kotono’s picky eating, the Third Hokage kindly ordered two extra dishes and some snacks for her.

“Thank you, Third Hokage Grandpa,” Kotono imitated Naruto’s tone.

The old man stroked his beard, kindly not denying it.

He observed Kotono, and Kotono observed him.

He seemed like a rather kind old grandpa.

Added to the observation list, along with Uchiha Itachi for further monitoring.

As the main characters gradually took the stage, Kotono felt an unprecedented sense of urgency.

—Her chakra was only two thousand points now, and she didn’t even have a single attack skill!

She couldn’t slack off just because this was a period of building relationships and accumulating strength.

Naruto was already saying his stomach hurt and asking for her help.

Kotono Uzumaki firmly decided: she must quickly understand how far the Holy Grail fragment inside Naruto had developed.

Because when the incomplete Holy Grail inside Naruto lost control, it would cause him immense pain and push the situation into an irretrievable state.

Uzumaki Kotono would never turn a blind eye to Naruto’s suffering.