"Knock, knock, knock."
Accompanied by the knocking sound, a gentle and pleasant voice reached Uchiha Furin's ears.
"Furin, time to get up. If you don't get up soon, Mom is coming in."
Mom? Then the person outside should be Uchiha Mikoto. Thinking this, Furin took small steps over and opened the bedroom door.
Opening the door, she looked up. A gentle face appeared before Furin's eyes.
"Ding. Quest assigned."
"Quest Name: A Loving Title."
"Quest Description: As the saying goes, filial piety comes first. A sweet form of address is the first step to closing the distance between parents and child. Please call Mikoto 'Mom'."
"Quest Reward: Slight increase in Chakra, mastery of Mikoto's culinary skills accumulated over a lifetime."
Listening to the quest issued by the System, Furin smiled with quiet confidence. Too weak, I thought it would actually be difficult.
Even without the System issuing a quest, Furin would have called her that anyway. Since she had taken over the identity of someone else's daughter, she ought to shoulder the corresponding obligations.
"Mom? Is something the matter?" Furin looked at Mikoto, asking with a trace of confusion.
"I just feel like Furin is getting prettier and prettier. Come, let Mom give you a hug."
Before Furin could react, she was pulled into Mikoto's embrace.
A mass of snowy white blocked Furin's vision, followed immediately by a tight hug.
So tight, she couldn't break free at all.
After trying a few times, Furin gave up and simply let herself rest in Mikoto's arms.
"Honestly, ever since Furin turned five, you haven't been close to Mom anymore. You won't even sleep with Mom. Without Furin keeping me company, Mom can't sleep well at night," Mikoto said, looking at Furin with a mock-resentful expression.
What kind of wild talk is this? Madam, please mind your language.
No, no, no, too tight, I can't breathe! Feeling the pressure of Mikoto's grip increase, Furin couldn't take it anymore.
"Mom, it's too tight. Can you let me go?" Furin's little face turned red, her tone soft and spoiled.
"Not a chance, unless Furin promises to sleep with me tonight," Mikoto said leisurely, a sly smile appearing on her face.
After trying repeatedly with no results, Furin surrendered.
"Fine," Furin muttered in embarrassed vexation.
Hearing Furin's answer, Mikoto leaned in close to Furin, took a deep breath, and only then reluctantly loosened her embrace.
"Hehe, little Furin smells so good, there's a hint of citrus scent too. Did you secretly spray perfume?"
"I did not! Mom is just making things up."
Furin thought to herself that this was probably the effect of the Spirit Liquid Phantom Fragrance, which was basically a portable perfume where you could smell however you wanted.
"Alright, alright, Furin. Mom was just teasing you." Seeing Furin's shy little expression, Mikoto laughed.
So that was it. I actually thought...
"Then why did Mom come looking for me?" Shaking away those unwholesome thoughts, Furin asked.
"Here, this box is yours. This one, take it to Sasuke." Mikoto picked up two bento boxes and placed them into Furin's hands.
"Then what about Dad and Brother Itachi's?" Furin asked, thinking it over.
"Itachi is a squad leader now. He's very busy, so you don't need to worry about him. Hmph, as for your father, never mind him. Who told him to be so busy with work every day that he doesn't keep me company?" Mikoto said with a huff.
"O-okay then. I'm heading out." Carrying the two lunchboxes, Furin stepped out the front door.
At that moment, the sun was bright and a gentle breeze was blowing.
Humming a little tune, Furin stepped out with cheerful strides toward the Ninja Academy.
Opening the System, she checked the reward she had obtained.
Her mind was suddenly filled with detailed instructions for numerous dishes. Without a doubt, Furin was now a master chef.
Secondly, Furin felt a slight increase in her Chakra; her body felt warm all over, though the sensation didn't last long.
"System, System, can I beat up the big white goose at the village entrance now?" Feeling the improvement in her body, Furin asked the System eagerly.
"Not by a long shot, Host. Right now you could at most defeat a little kitten. Keep working hard and training!"
"Oh."
She checked the time. It was still early before class let out, so Furin decided to stroll around for a bit and take in the local customs and culture of the Shinobi World.
Looking across the entire Naruto series, there might be plenty of delicious foods, such as Barbecue Q, Tri-color Dango, and rock-grilled saury, but Furin believed the most classic of all was still Ichiraku Ramen.
Naruto ate it from childhood to adulthood, eating it all the way from episode one to episode 720—you know the feeling, right?
Ichiraku Ramen, Ichiraku Ramen—wait, where was Ichiraku Ramen again?
Oh well, better go deliver the food to Sasuke first. Maybe she could get Sasuke to treat her; a real brother wouldn't refuse, right?
Heave-ho, heave-ho, and so Furin set off once more on her lunch-delivery journey.
…………
"Phew, finally here." Wiping away her sweat, Furin caught sight of the Ninja Academy.
At that moment, sitting on the swing at the entrance of the Ninja Academy was a little blond-haired boy, wearing casual yellow clothes, with a few whisker-like marks on his cheeks.
Furin walked closer and took a look. Wasn't this Naruto?
"Ding. Quest assigned."
"Quest Name: First Friend."
"Quest Description: The Shinobi World is not just about killing; it's about human relations and social savvy. Naruto, the future Seventh Hokage and the strongest person in the Shinobi World, will undoubtedly rise smoothly and roam freely across the Shinobi World by befriending such a figure. Please seize this noble person and make friends with Naruto."
"Quest Reward: [Friendship Cheat Sheet]."
"Hello, what are you doing here all by yourself?"
Driven by the quest reward, Furin sped right up to him.
Naruto raised his head and saw a little girl with white hair and red eyes looking at him with curiosity.
Such a pretty, adorable girl. Is she an angel?
"Are, are you an angel?" Thinking this, Naruto accidentally spoke the words aloud.
Furin covered her mouth with a giggle, set down her lunchbox, and sat down next to Naruto.
"Not an angel! My name is Uchiha Furin. What's yours?"
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto."
Although he didn't understand why this girl wasn't afraid of him, Naruto was very happy right now that someone was willing to chat with him.
"Brother Naruto, are you a student at the Ninja Academy?"
"That's right. What about you?"
"I'm here to bring lunch to my brother."
"Is that so? Your brother must be really happy." Rubbing his nose, Naruto said with a hint of envy.
"Oh, by the way, my brother's name is Uchiha Sasuke. Do you know him?"
Uchiha Sasuke? She's actually the sister of that stuck-up Sasuke. Damn it, I'm so jealous.
"Aren't you a student at the Ninja Academy? Why aren't you in class?"
Turning his head to meet those clear eyes, Naruto lowered his head with a guilty conscience.
"I skipped class..."
"Is that so? Then Brother Naruto must have your own reasons, right?" Furin smiled gently.
She isn't angry? Shouldn't she think I'm a bad kid who skips class?
Naruto felt a warmth in his heart. Usually, all he encountered was overwhelming malice from others; to actually have someone care about him at a time like this...
"Right! My dream is to become the Hokage. I skipped class just to go train in advanced Ninjutsu by myself!"
This guy Naruto is actually lying? That's rare. He probably didn't want to disappoint me, right?
Thinking this, Furin decided not to expose Naruto's lie.
"Mm, I believe Brother Naruto will become the Hokage! Do your best!" Wagging her small fist, Furin encouraged him.
"Really? Thank you, Furin." Naruto rubbed the back of his head and laughed foolishly.
The fish has taken the bait; time to reel the net in.
"Brother Naruto, we're friends now, right?" Furin small hand grasped Naruto's hand, a happy smile blooming on her face.
"Yeah! Of course!" Naruto's expression lit up with joy.
Friends—someone is finally willing to be friends with me, my very first friend! Furin, I will definitely protect you well. This smile is something I'll guard!
Naruto looked at the girl before him. Seeing the innocent smile hanging on the young girl's delicate face, Naruto silently made a decision in his heart.